Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father, and our God,
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what a joy it is
to be in Your house.
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What a joy it is
to have Your word.
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A sure compass in a
world that is confused
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and appears to be
spinning out of control.
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We ask Father that
through the study of Your word
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You will come and inspire us.
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That You will fill our lives,
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that You will help us
being more like Jesus.
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We thank You for
hearing our prayer
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for we ask it in
Jesus name, amen.
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I'd like to begin our study
today by turning in my Bible
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and inviting
you to turn in yours
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to the Book of Psalms,
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actually Psalms 48:1, 2.
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Psalms 48:1, 2.
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Today we're gonna study
about the story of Absalom
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who was the son
of David, of course.
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And I would like to
begin by reading this passage
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which describes the scene
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where this story transpires
or this story takes place.
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It's says there in Psalm
48:1, 2 "Great is the Lord,
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and greatly to be
praised in the city of our God,
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in His holy mountain.
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Beautiful in elevation,
the joy of the whole earth,
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is Mount Zion on
the sides of the north,
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the city of the great King."
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Now if you compare
Matthew 5:35 you'll notice
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that instead of
speaking about Zion
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it speaks about
Jerusalem, because the city
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which is been spoken of
here is the city of Jerusalem.
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So the story that
we're gonna study today
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takes place in the
city of the great King.
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And of course,
in the Old Testament
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the great king is David.
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The city of the
great king is Jerusalem.
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And you'll notice that Jerusalem
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according to this is
in the sides of the north.
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And the story is
going to involve not only
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the great king in Jerusalem,
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but his very own son Absalom.
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Now the name Absalom
means father in peace.
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And so actually it's a
prophecy that we're saying that
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David his father
was going to have peace.
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In other words his
rebellion was a failure
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before it even began
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by looking at
the name of Absalom.
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Now I like to
invite you to turn with me
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to 2 Samuel
14:25, 2 Samuel 14:25
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where we find the description,
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the physical
description of Absalom.
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It says there and by the
way most of our time today
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we're going to spend in 2
Samuel Chapters 14 through 18,
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so you might want to
keep your finger there.
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It says there "Now in
all Israel there was no one
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who was praised as much as
Absalom for his good looks."
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Actually the King
James Version says
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"For his beauty."
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"From the sole of his
foot to the crown of his head
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there was no blemish in him."
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So you have the son of
David, beautiful, no blemish,
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perfect you might say
physically from head to foot.
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But we're gonna
find that his beauty
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and his wisdom and his power
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led him to rebel
against his own father.
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Go with me in fact
to 2 Samuel 15:1-6.
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And let's read about
what happened with Absalom.
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It says there beginning
at verse 1 of chapter 15
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"After this it
happened that Absalom
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provided himself
with chariots and horses,
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and fifty men
to run before him."
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This is normally
what the king would do.
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See, he is actually
trying to impress people
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with the idea
that he is the king.
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Now notice verse 2.
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"Now Absalom would rise early
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and stand beside
the way to the gate.
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So it was, whenever anyone
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who had a lawsuit came
to the king for a decision,
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that Absalom would
call to him and say,
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'What city are you from?'
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And he would say,
'Your servant is from such
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and such a tribe of Israel.'
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Then Absalom would say to him,
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'Look, your case
is good and right,
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but there is no deputy
of the king to hear you.'
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Moreover Absalom would say,
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'Oh, that I were
made judge in the land,
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and everyone who has any
suit or cause would come to me,
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then I would give him justice.'
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And so it was,
whenever anyone came
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near to bow down to him,
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that he would put out his
hand and take him and kiss him.
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In this manner Absalom
acted toward all Israel
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who came to the
king for judgment.
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So Absalom stole the
hearts of the men of Israel."
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And so you have this
beautiful son of David.
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Now, not only
beautiful but wise.
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Not only wise but powerful.
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Now David had faced
many enemies up to this point
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but the enemies
that he had faced
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were enemies from outside.
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In other words, they were
external enemies of the kingdom.
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But this enemy was
an enemy from inside
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and it was his own son,
his own image and likeness.
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You see the problem with Absalom
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is that he actually
fell in love with his beauty,
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with his wisdom,
with his popularity.
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He was infatuated with himself.
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In fact as we read the story
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we discover that he
perverted his beauty.
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He perverted his
wisdom, his riches and his power
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and he began to frame
questions, on the way in which
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his father David
actually governed the kingdom.
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He stated to
everyone in the kingdom
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but he
sympathized with their plight
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that his father was an
unfair and rigid ruler.
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That they went to his father,
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they would find
absolutely no justice
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and that if they should
place him on the throne,
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the plight of
everyone would greatly improve
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and everyone would be freer
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and their cases
would be listen to
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and their cases would
be decided with justice.
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And so Absalom did everyday
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as the Israelites came
to the king for justice.
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Now we noticed that
Absalom worked at first
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in an underhanded way.
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He worked underground.
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In fact, if you'll
notice with me in 2 Samuel 15:7
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Absalom actually made a
request to his father David.
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He said to David,
I'd like to go to Hebron
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to fulfill a vow
that I have made.
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Let's read that
verse 2 Samuel 15: 7.
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It says "Now it came to
pass after forty years that
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Absalom said to the king,
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'Please, let me go to
Hebron and pay the vow
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which I made to the Lord.' "
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You see Absalom actually had
not gone to Hebron to pay a vow,
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he had actually
gone there to recruit
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as many subjects of the
king for his cause as possible.
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And soon the
underhanded rebellion of Absalom
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becomes open
rebellion among Israel.
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In fact discontent
soon spreads like fire.
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And many in Israel begin siding
with Absalom against David.
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You see the rebellion
which at first had been covert
00:10:41.44\00:10:45.11
now becomes open revolt.
00:10:45.14\00:10:49.69
In fact, let's
notice 2 Samuel 15:10-14
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on this open revolt that ensued
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as a result of Absalom's
catering to the desires
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and wishes of the congregation.
00:11:02.80\00:11:05.87
It says there "Then Absalom
00:11:05.90\00:11:08.22
sent spies throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying,
00:11:08.25\00:11:13.42
'As soon as you hear
the sound of the trumpet,
00:11:13.45\00:11:16.17
then you shall say,
"Absalom reigns in Hebron!'
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'' And with Absalom
went two hundred men
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invited from Jerusalem,
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and they went along innocently
and did not know anything.
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Then Absalom sent for
Ahithophel the Gilonite."
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Remember that name because
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we're gonna come back to it.
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"David's counselor,
from his city from Giloh
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while he offered sacrifices.
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And the conspiracy grew strong,
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for the people with Absalom
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continually increased in number.
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Now a messenger
came to David, saying,
00:11:59.23\00:12:02.02
'The hearts of the men of
Israel are with Absalom.' "
00:12:02.05\00:12:08.92
And so now the secret rebellion
00:12:08.95\00:12:11.71
has become open rebellion.
00:12:11.74\00:12:14.31
And Absalom goes
among the Israelites
00:12:14.34\00:12:16.98
recruiting followers for
himself against his own father,
00:12:17.01\00:12:21.34
against King David.
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It's interesting to notice
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the way in which
David faced this rebellion.
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You would think that he
would stay inside the city
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and he would
get an army together
00:12:33.90\00:12:36.83
and he would go out to fight
immediately against Absalom,
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but that's not
the way it happened.
00:12:40.96\00:12:44.24
In fact, we're told
in the story that Absalom
00:12:44.27\00:12:47.70
when he came near
Jerusalem David decided
00:12:47.73\00:12:51.28
that in order to
spare the lives in the city
00:12:51.31\00:12:54.73
he would actually
leave the city of Jerusalem.
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And it's
interesting to notice that
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when David actually
leaves the city of Jerusalem
00:13:01.59\00:13:04.92
the Ark of the
Covenant is carried
00:13:04.95\00:13:07.11
a certain distance with him,
00:13:07.14\00:13:09.01
but then David
says to the high priest,
00:13:09.04\00:13:12.17
take the Ark of the
Covenant back to the city.
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In other words David was now
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leaving the city forsaken
by the Ark of the Covenant
00:13:18.74\00:13:22.96
which was a symbol
of the presence of God.
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Let's read about
this in 2 Samuel 15:24-27
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and you're gonna notice
some very interesting details
00:13:33.48\00:13:36.26
that are going to be repeated
later on in human history.
00:13:36.29\00:13:40.48
It says there
"There was Zadok also,
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and all the Levites with him,
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bearing the Ark of
the covenant of God.
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And they set
down the ark of God,
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and Abiathar went up until
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all the people had finished
crossing over from the city.
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Then the king said to Zadok,
00:14:02.69\00:14:05.53
'Carry the ark of
God back into the city.'
00:14:05.56\00:14:10.09
" And notice this.
00:14:10.12\00:14:12.02
"If I find favor in
the eyes of the Lord,
00:14:12.05\00:14:17.13
He will bring me
back and show me both it
00:14:17.16\00:14:22.55
and His dwelling place.
00:14:22.58\00:14:25.78
But if He says thus,
'I have no delight in you,
00:14:25.81\00:14:30.25
' here I am, let Him do to me
00:14:30.28\00:14:35.32
as seems good to Him."
00:14:35.35\00:14:39.57
In other words, David has
left the city a Jerusalem.
00:14:39.60\00:14:43.56
He is forsaken
by the ark of God,
00:14:43.59\00:14:46.14
a symbol of God's presence.
00:14:46.17\00:14:48.56
And he actually says
I am willing to abide
00:14:48.59\00:14:52.72
by the will of God.
00:14:52.75\00:14:55.02
If God is pleased with me
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He will bring
me back to the city
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if not His will be done.
00:14:59.51\00:15:05.29
It's interesting to
notice as David leaves Jerusalem
00:15:05.32\00:15:09.91
forsaken by the
Ark of the Covenant
00:15:09.94\00:15:12.96
how he actually climbs
00:15:12.99\00:15:17.24
the ascent of
the Mount of Olives.
00:15:17.27\00:15:21.27
Notice 2 Samuel 15:30, 31,
00:15:21.30\00:15:25.93
2 Samuel 15:30, 31.
00:15:25.96\00:15:30.02
It says "So David
went up by the Ascent
00:15:30.05\00:15:34.22
of the Mount of Olives."
00:15:34.25\00:15:36.15
And now notice.
00:15:36.18\00:15:37.82
"And wept as he went up,
00:15:37.85\00:15:41.27
and he had his head
covered and went barefoot."
00:15:41.30\00:15:45.96
It says a signal of affliction.
00:15:45.99\00:15:48.80
You see, he
feels forsaken of God,
00:15:48.83\00:15:51.15
ascended the Mount of Olives.
00:15:51.18\00:15:53.18
And it says "And all
the people who were with him
00:15:53.21\00:15:56.28
covered their heads and went
up, weeping as they went up."
00:15:56.31\00:16:02.48
So David leaves
the city of Jerusalem
00:16:02.51\00:16:06.35
humbled and
ascends the Mount of Olives
00:16:06.38\00:16:10.51
weeping with bared head.
00:16:10.54\00:16:13.93
With head covered and bare feet.
00:16:13.96\00:16:17.16
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 731
00:16:17.19\00:16:19.93
we find this remark
00:16:19.96\00:16:21.78
about this aspect
of the life of David.
00:16:21.81\00:16:26.79
It says "In humility and sorrow
00:16:26.82\00:16:28.80
David past out of
the gate of Jerusalem."
00:16:28.83\00:16:32.31
Driven from his
throne, from his palace,
00:16:32.34\00:16:37.45
from the ark of
God by the insurrection
00:16:37.48\00:16:41.89
of his cherished son.
00:16:41.92\00:16:44.74
"The people followed
in long, sad procession
00:16:44.77\00:16:48.95
like a funeral train."
00:16:48.98\00:16:51.96
Very, very
interesting way of describing
00:16:51.99\00:16:55.37
the experience of David as he
has left the city of Jerusalem
00:16:55.40\00:16:58.93
and ascends the Mouth of
Olives afflicted and fearing
00:16:58.96\00:17:04.09
that he has been
forsaken by the presence of God.
00:17:04.12\00:17:09.20
Now you remember the individual
00:17:09.23\00:17:10.82
that I've mentioned a
few moments ago Ahithophel,
00:17:10.85\00:17:15.00
he was actually a
counselor of David,
00:17:15.03\00:17:18.97
but he turned against David
00:17:19.00\00:17:22.68
and he actually
sided with Absalom.
00:17:22.71\00:17:26.38
Notice what we find in
Psalm 41:7-9 on this experience.
00:17:26.41\00:17:30.90
You know, scholars believe
that Psalm 41:7-9 is describing
00:17:30.93\00:17:37.16
this betrayal by
Ahithophel against David
00:17:37.19\00:17:42.07
when he sided with Absalom.
00:17:42.10\00:17:44.70
Here David is
speaking and he says
00:17:44.73\00:17:47.15
"All who hate me
00:17:47.18\00:17:49.60
whisper together
against me against me,
00:17:49.63\00:17:53.08
against me they devise my hurt.
00:17:53.11\00:17:56.97
'An evil disease,'
they say, 'clings to him.'
00:17:57.00\00:18:00.97
" Notice that an evil
disease clings to him.
00:18:01.00\00:18:05.33
"And now that he lies
down, he will rise up no more."
00:18:05.36\00:18:09.79
And then noticed these words.
00:18:09.82\00:18:11.96
"Even my all familiar
friend in whom I trusted"
00:18:11.99\00:18:17.72
that's Ahithophel by the way.
00:18:17.75\00:18:20.72
"Who ate my bread,
00:18:20.75\00:18:23.35
has lifted up
his heel against me."
00:18:23.38\00:18:28.99
Now little bit later on
you're going to discover that
00:18:29.02\00:18:33.71
Ahithophel gives
counsel to Absalom
00:18:33.74\00:18:37.53
on how to
overthrow and overcome David.
00:18:37.56\00:18:41.33
But the counsel
that the Ahithophel
00:18:41.36\00:18:43.43
gives to Absalom
actually backfires.
00:18:43.46\00:18:46.82
And I want you to
notice what Ahithophel does
00:18:46.85\00:18:50.35
according to 2 Samuel 17:23.
00:18:50.38\00:18:55.45
It says "Now when Ahithophel saw
00:18:55.48\00:19:00.27
that his advice
was not followed,
00:19:00.30\00:19:03.47
he saddled a donkey,
00:19:03.50\00:19:06.32
and arose and went home
to his house, in his city.
00:19:06.35\00:19:11.44
Then he put his
household in order."
00:19:11.47\00:19:14.66
And notice this.
00:19:14.69\00:19:16.20
"And hanged himself, and died,
00:19:16.23\00:19:20.49
and he was buried
in his father's tomb."
00:19:20.52\00:19:24.98
Are you starting to
catch an interesting picture
00:19:25.01\00:19:27.87
in this story of Absalom
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.37
which is gonna be
repeated on a far larger scale
00:19:30.40\00:19:34.37
later on in history.
00:19:34.40\00:19:37.28
Notice the remark in Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 743.
00:19:37.31\00:19:43.25
It says here speaking about
00:19:43.28\00:19:45.20
the final battle
which is gonna take place.
00:19:45.23\00:19:49.13
It says "From the
walls of the city"
00:19:49.16\00:19:52.28
this is not the
city of Jerusalem,
00:19:52.31\00:19:53.93
it's another city
where David has taken refuge.
00:19:53.96\00:19:57.28
"The long lines of the
rebel army were in full view.
00:19:57.31\00:20:02.44
The usurper was
accompanied by a vast host,
00:20:02.47\00:20:07.50
in comparison with which David's
force seemed but a handful."
00:20:07.53\00:20:12.90
In other words
those outside are actually
00:20:12.93\00:20:16.15
far greater in
number then the few David
00:20:16.18\00:20:20.15
and his
followers that are inside.
00:20:20.18\00:20:22.73
"But as the king looked
upon the opposing forces,
00:20:22.76\00:20:26.91
the thought uppermost in
his mind was not of the crown
00:20:26.94\00:20:31.28
and the kingdom,
nor of his own life,
00:20:31.31\00:20:35.24
that depended
upon the wage a battle.
00:20:35.27\00:20:38.82
The father's heart was
filled with love and pity
00:20:38.85\00:20:41.81
for his rebellious son.
00:20:41.84\00:20:43.91
As the army filed
out from the city gates
00:20:43.94\00:20:47.19
David encouraged
his faithful soldiers,
00:20:47.22\00:20:49.72
bidding them go forth
trusting that the God of Israel
00:20:49.75\00:20:52.89
would give them the victory.
00:20:52.92\00:20:54.78
But even here he
could not repress
00:20:54.81\00:20:57.88
his love for Absalom."
00:20:57.91\00:21:01.41
And so the battle takes place.
00:21:01.44\00:21:04.22
And in the course of the battle
00:21:04.25\00:21:07.40
Absalom actually is left
hanging between heaven and earth
00:21:07.43\00:21:14.02
by his hair in a tree.
00:21:14.05\00:21:16.19
Let's read about
it, 2 Samuel 18:9.
00:21:16.22\00:21:22.79
It says "Then Absalom
met the servants have David.
00:21:22.82\00:21:26.80
Absalom rode on a mule.
00:21:26.83\00:21:29.43
The mule went
under the thick boughs
00:21:29.46\00:21:31.87
of a great terebinth tree,
00:21:31.90\00:21:34.80
and his head
caught in the terebinth,
00:21:34.83\00:21:39.43
so he was left hanging
between heaven and earth.
00:21:39.46\00:21:44.86
And the mule which
was under him went on."
00:21:44.89\00:21:49.59
But the story doesn't end there,
00:21:49.62\00:21:50.95
he wasn't there, he was
hanging by his long hair,
00:21:50.98\00:21:53.96
but he was still alive.
00:21:53.99\00:21:55.70
And so we're told in
verse 14 and 15 of chapter 18.
00:21:55.73\00:22:00.40
"Then Joab said, 'I
cannot linger with you.'
00:22:00.43\00:22:04.03
And it took three
spears in his hand
00:22:04.06\00:22:06.68
and thrust them
through Absalom's heart,
00:22:06.71\00:22:09.73
while he was still alive
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.00
in the midst of
the terebinth tree.
00:22:11.03\00:22:13.52
And ten young men who bore
Joab's armor surrounded Absalom,
00:22:13.55\00:22:18.39
and struck him and killed him."
00:22:18.42\00:22:22.63
He who had aspired to
occupy the heights of the throne
00:22:22.66\00:22:27.78
in the city of Jerusalem
00:22:27.81\00:22:29.69
his very father's throne
in the sides for the north
00:22:29.72\00:22:34.12
now it's slain.
00:22:34.15\00:22:38.09
And I want you to notice
what happened with his body.
00:22:38.12\00:22:43.17
We're told in 2
Samuel 18:17, 18 this.
00:22:43.20\00:22:50.93
"And they took
Absalom and cast him
00:22:50.96\00:22:54.27
into a large pit in the woods."
00:22:54.30\00:22:58.53
I want you to
remember that word pit.
00:22:58.56\00:23:00.36
They cast him into a
large pit in the woods.
00:23:00.39\00:23:04.68
"And laid a very large
heap of stones over him.
00:23:04.71\00:23:09.52
Then all Israel
fled, everyone to his tent.
00:23:09.55\00:23:14.75
Now Absalom in
his lifetime had taken
00:23:14.78\00:23:18.76
and set up a pillar for himself
00:23:18.79\00:23:22.01
which is in the King's Valley.
00:23:22.04\00:23:24.42
For he said, 'I have no son
00:23:24.45\00:23:28.41
to keep my name
in remembrance.'"
00:23:28.44\00:23:32.83
In other words Absalom's
posterity was wiped out
00:23:32.86\00:23:38.29
and they were not remembered.
00:23:38.32\00:23:40.05
And Absalom of
course was buried in a pit
00:23:40.08\00:23:44.63
according to the
testimony of Scripture.
00:23:44.66\00:23:47.70
Now you might think that David
00:23:47.73\00:23:49.31
when this
happened actually said,
00:23:49.34\00:23:51.93
oh, you know, he got
just what he deserved.
00:23:51.96\00:23:57.19
He tried to take my throne,
how does he think he raise?
00:23:57.22\00:24:02.01
And yet we find that
David did not delight
00:24:02.04\00:24:05.17
in the destruction
of his son Absalom.
00:24:05.20\00:24:09.52
In fact we're told
in 2 Samuel 18:32, 33.
00:24:09.55\00:24:15.39
There's a Cushite messenger
that comes to give the news
00:24:15.42\00:24:18.39
about the death of Absalom.
00:24:18.42\00:24:19.95
It says "And the
king said to the Cushite,
00:24:19.98\00:24:22.65
'Is the young man Absalom safe?'
00:24:22.68\00:24:26.11
So the Cushite answered,
00:24:26.14\00:24:28.05
'May the enemies
of my lord the king,
00:24:28.08\00:24:30.27
and all who rise
against you to do harm,
00:24:30.30\00:24:34.19
be like that young man!'
00:24:34.22\00:24:36.70
Then the king was deeply moved,
00:24:36.73\00:24:39.06
and went up to the
chamber over the gate, and wept.
00:24:39.09\00:24:42.91
And as he went, he said thus,
00:24:42.94\00:24:45.54
'O my Son Absalom--
my son, my son Absalom--
00:24:45.57\00:24:52.52
if only I had
died in your place!'"
00:24:52.55\00:24:58.01
Very prophetic
words incidentally.
00:24:58.04\00:25:01.01
O Absalom-- my son, my son
00:25:01.04\00:25:05.73
O that I had died in your place.
00:25:05.76\00:25:11.44
And then the story
continues by saying
00:25:11.47\00:25:13.35
that David returns triumphantly
to the city of Jerusalem
00:25:13.38\00:25:17.48
and in the midst
of the jubilation,
00:25:17.51\00:25:19.98
of the
congregation and the multitude
00:25:20.01\00:25:22.34
he has reinstate
once again on his throne
00:25:22.37\00:25:26.50
from which he had been exiled
00:25:26.53\00:25:28.77
by the rebellion
of his very own son.
00:25:28.80\00:25:34.18
Now the question is why
did God give us the story?
00:25:34.21\00:25:37.99
Is this simply a story
of events that took place
00:25:38.02\00:25:42.31
in the Old Testament during
the period of the Hebrew kings
00:25:42.34\00:25:45.75
specifically during
the reign of King David
00:25:45.78\00:25:49.11
or is there perhaps a
greater dimension to this story?
00:25:49.14\00:25:53.36
Actually, folks, all the
stories of the Old Testament
00:25:53.39\00:25:56.80
are prophecies of future events.
00:25:56.83\00:25:59.75
They are historical events,
00:25:59.78\00:26:01.83
but the
historical events foreshadow
00:26:01.86\00:26:04.54
greater worldwide
events in the future.
00:26:04.57\00:26:09.39
You see, we're going to
discover in the next few minutes
00:26:09.42\00:26:13.43
that Absalom actually
represents another rebellion
00:26:13.46\00:26:19.12
which took place in heaven.
00:26:19.15\00:26:22.96
In fact, go with me
to the Book of Ezekiel
00:26:22.99\00:26:26.10
Chapter 28, Ezekiel Chapter 28
00:26:26.13\00:26:29.99
and I want to read
verses 11 and also verse 17.
00:26:30.02\00:26:36.09
Here it's speaking about a being
00:26:36.12\00:26:38.44
who we know as Lucifer.
00:26:38.47\00:26:42.30
And I want you to notice
00:26:42.33\00:26:43.38
the physical
description of this being.
00:26:43.41\00:26:47.20
It says here
00:26:47.23\00:26:50.01
"You were the
seal of perfection,
00:26:50.04\00:26:55.22
full of wisdom
and perfect in beauty.
00:26:55.25\00:27:02.29
Your heart was lifted
up because of your beauty,
00:27:02.32\00:27:06.44
you corrupted your wisdom
for the sake of your splendor."
00:27:06.47\00:27:12.03
And so we find
another being perfect,
00:27:12.06\00:27:15.99
beautiful, full of wisdom,
00:27:16.02\00:27:20.64
who actually was the
creation of Jesus Christ.
00:27:20.67\00:27:25.67
He was the son of
Jesus by creation.
00:27:25.70\00:27:29.83
Not only was he
beautiful and wise,
00:27:29.86\00:27:33.15
but he also had great riches
00:27:33.18\00:27:37.12
like Absalom had the
riches of his father.
00:27:37.15\00:27:40.77
Notice what we're told in
the Book of Ezekiel 28:4, 5
00:27:40.80\00:27:46.26
on this being.
00:27:46.29\00:27:47.68
It says "With your
wisdom and your understanding
00:27:47.71\00:27:52.40
you have gained riches."
00:27:52.43\00:27:54.37
Now notice.
00:27:54.40\00:27:55.45
"For yourself, and gathered gold
00:27:55.48\00:27:59.13
and silver into your treasuries,
00:27:59.16\00:28:02.28
by your great wisdom in trade
you have increased your riches,
00:28:02.31\00:28:06.72
and your heart is lifted
up because of your riches."
00:28:06.75\00:28:12.02
Actually there
were several reasons
00:28:12.05\00:28:13.86
that led to the
downfall of Absalom
00:28:13.89\00:28:16.64
which led to the
downfall also of this being
00:28:16.67\00:28:19.94
which we know as Lucifer.
00:28:19.97\00:28:21.94
First was beauty,
00:28:21.97\00:28:25.25
secondly was
wisdom, corrupted that is
00:28:25.28\00:28:30.16
and the third
place it was riches
00:28:30.19\00:28:32.73
and in the fourth place
00:28:32.76\00:28:34.27
it was a hunger
and thirst for power.
00:28:34.30\00:28:38.61
In fact notice what
we're told in Isaiah 14:12-14,
00:28:38.64\00:28:44.38
Isaiah 14:12-14.
00:28:44.41\00:28:49.04
You're gonna find
several interesting
00:28:49.07\00:28:51.21
details in this passage
00:28:51.24\00:28:52.60
which are parallel to the text
00:28:52.63\00:28:54.23
that we began
our study with today.
00:28:54.26\00:28:56.96
Isaiah Chapter 14 and
beginning with verse 12.
00:28:56.99\00:29:02.21
"How you are fallen from heaven,
00:29:02.24\00:29:04.79
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
00:29:04.82\00:29:07.86
How you are cut
down to the ground,
00:29:07.89\00:29:10.56
you who weakened the nations!
00:29:10.59\00:29:13.32
For you have said in your heart,
00:29:13.35\00:29:16.63
'I will ascend into heaven,
00:29:16.66\00:29:19.99
I will exalt my throne
00:29:20.02\00:29:22.48
or my throne
above the stars of God,
00:29:22.51\00:29:25.87
I also will sit on the
mount of the congregation
00:29:25.90\00:29:30.74
on the farthest sides" of where?
00:29:30.77\00:29:33.32
"Of the north."
00:29:33.35\00:29:35.64
What was in the north?
00:29:35.67\00:29:37.51
The city of what?
00:29:37.54\00:29:38.92
The city of the Great King.
00:29:38.95\00:29:40.88
He says "I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds,
00:29:40.91\00:29:44.97
I will be like the Most High."
00:29:45.00\00:29:48.50
In other words, I
will no longer be creature
00:29:48.53\00:29:50.95
I want to occupy the
throne of my Creator,
00:29:50.98\00:29:54.23
the throne of my father.
00:29:54.26\00:29:57.86
And so we're told in Scripture
that this being Lucifer
00:29:57.89\00:30:01.62
began an attack
against his Creator Jesus,
00:30:01.65\00:30:07.00
but he did not do
it openly at first
00:30:07.03\00:30:09.49
he did it by subterfuge.
00:30:09.52\00:30:12.90
In others words,
he started working
00:30:12.93\00:30:14.77
in an underhanded secret way.
00:30:14.80\00:30:19.35
He spread rebellion secretly
among the loyal angels of Jesus.
00:30:19.38\00:30:25.16
He spread the
spirit of discontent
00:30:25.19\00:30:27.83
and he actually began saying,
you know, the God is a dictator,
00:30:27.86\00:30:32.81
God enforces the
laws in a rigid manner,
00:30:32.84\00:30:36.30
He takes away your freedom,
00:30:36.33\00:30:37.82
but if you would
place me upon the throne
00:30:37.85\00:30:40.84
the plight of
everyone would improve
00:30:40.87\00:30:43.61
and I would
certainly do you justice.
00:30:43.64\00:30:48.46
And so Lucifer began to steal
00:30:48.49\00:30:51.07
the hearts of
the angels in heaven.
00:30:51.10\00:30:55.33
He aspired to overthrow his
very own father by creation.
00:30:55.36\00:31:01.76
Notice how this is described
in Revelation Chapter 12,
00:31:01.79\00:31:05.14
Revelation 12:4.
00:31:05.17\00:31:08.24
And there is a particular word
that I want us to notice here.
00:31:08.27\00:31:10.62
speaking about
this great red dragon
00:31:13.24\00:31:15.29
who is identified
as the devil and Satan.
00:31:15.32\00:31:17.66
It says
00:31:17.69\00:31:19.66
"His tail drew a
third of the stars of heaven
00:31:19.69\00:31:26.29
and threw them to the earth."
00:31:26.32\00:31:30.02
What was it that swept the
third of the stars from heaven?
00:31:30.05\00:31:33.75
The what? His tail.
00:31:33.78\00:31:37.94
Now that's a strange expression
00:31:37.97\00:31:39.63
the tail of the
great dragon actually
00:31:39.66\00:31:43.33
scooped up a third of the Angels
and threw them to the earth.
00:31:43.36\00:31:46.83
What can that
possibly mean his tail?
00:31:46.86\00:31:50.92
Well, we don't have to guess.
00:31:50.95\00:31:53.17
Notice what we're told
in the Book of Isaiah 9:15,
00:31:53.20\00:31:58.15
Isaiah 9:15.
00:31:58.18\00:32:00.08
What does the tail represent?
00:32:00.11\00:32:02.19
The tail is the symbol
00:32:02.22\00:32:03.73
just like the heads of
the dragon are symbols.
00:32:03.76\00:32:06.65
The horns are symbols.
00:32:06.68\00:32:08.21
We're dealing with symbols here,
00:32:08.24\00:32:09.55
so the tail must
represent something.
00:32:09.58\00:32:12.73
It says there in
the Book of Isaiah.
00:32:12.76\00:32:16.10
"The elder and
honorable, he is the head,
00:32:16.13\00:32:23.27
the prophet who teaches lies,
00:32:23.30\00:32:27.25
" he is what? "He is the tail."
00:32:27.28\00:32:31.53
So what does it mean that
of-- that his tail swept away
00:32:31.56\00:32:36.15
a third of the stars
or a third of the angels?
00:32:36.18\00:32:39.55
It means that he
swept them away by his what?
00:32:39.58\00:32:43.54
By his lies.
00:32:43.57\00:32:45.83
Lies about whom?
00:32:45.86\00:32:47.83
Lies about his
Creator, lies about Jesus.
00:32:47.86\00:32:52.23
In fact, I want to
read you a statement that
00:32:52.26\00:32:53.96
we find in Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 37.
00:32:53.99\00:32:58.07
Notice how
Lucifer worked in heaven.
00:32:58.10\00:33:01.72
It says "Leaving his place
00:33:01.75\00:33:04.57
in the immediate
presence of the Father."
00:33:04.60\00:33:06.83
Just like Absalom
left the presence of David
00:33:06.86\00:33:09.17
and went to Hebron
to spread his rebellion.
00:33:09.20\00:33:13.18
"Lucifer went forth to diffuse
00:33:13.21\00:33:17.23
the spirit of
discontent among the angels.
00:33:17.26\00:33:21.31
He worked with
mysterious secrecy,
00:33:21.34\00:33:26.29
and for a time
concealed his real purpose
00:33:26.32\00:33:30.33
under an appearance
of reference for God.
00:33:30.36\00:33:34.55
He began to insinuate
doubts concerning the laws
00:33:34.58\00:33:39.33
that governed heavenly beings,
00:33:39.36\00:33:42.08
intimating that though
laws might be necessary
00:33:42.11\00:33:45.68
for the
inhabitants of the worlds,
00:33:45.71\00:33:48.23
angels, being more exalted,
needed no such restraint,
00:33:48.26\00:33:53.90
for their own wisdom
was a sufficient guide.
00:33:53.93\00:33:57.93
They were not beings that
could bring dishonor to God,
00:33:57.96\00:34:01.13
all their thoughts were holy,
00:34:01.16\00:34:03.62
it was no more possible for them
then for God Himself to err.
00:34:03.65\00:34:08.24
The exultation of the Son
of God as equal with the Father
00:34:08.27\00:34:11.63
was represented as an injustice
to Lucifer, who, it was claimed,
00:34:11.66\00:34:16.88
was also entitled
to reverence and honor.
00:34:16.91\00:34:20.83
If this prince of
angels could but attain
00:34:20.86\00:34:23.05
to his true,
exalted position great good
00:34:23.08\00:34:26.54
would accrue to the
entire host of heaven,
00:34:26.57\00:34:29.23
for was his object to
secure freedom for all.
00:34:29.26\00:34:33.34
But now even the liberty
which they had hitherto enjoyed
00:34:33.37\00:34:37.58
was at an end,
00:34:37.61\00:34:39.01
for an absolute Ruler
had been appointed them,
00:34:39.04\00:34:41.99
and to his
authority all must pay homage.
00:34:42.02\00:34:45.68
Such was the subtle deceptions
00:34:45.71\00:34:48.70
that through
the wiles of Lucifer
00:34:48.73\00:34:50.74
were fast obtaining
in the heavenly courts."
00:34:50.77\00:34:56.22
So Lucifer basically
worked in the same way
00:34:56.25\00:34:59.14
in which Absalom did
by subterfuge, by secrecy,
00:34:59.17\00:35:05.00
by gaining allies on his
side through lying about God,
00:35:05.03\00:35:09.96
making God look like a being
who wanted to execute justice,
00:35:09.99\00:35:16.11
who had no
interest in His creatures.
00:35:16.14\00:35:19.12
And so we're told
that the secret rebellion
00:35:19.15\00:35:22.24
now broke into open war.
00:35:22.27\00:35:26.45
Revelation 12:7, 8
00:35:26.48\00:35:29.98
describes this open
rupture, this open revolt.
00:35:30.01\00:35:33.99
We're told their
in versus 7 and 8
00:35:34.02\00:35:37.07
"And war broke out in heaven,
00:35:37.10\00:35:40.67
Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon,
00:35:40.70\00:35:43.54
and the dragon and
his angels fought."
00:35:43.57\00:35:48.50
Interestingly
enough Jesus Christ
00:35:48.53\00:35:52.78
because of the
rebellion of Lucifer in heaven
00:35:52.81\00:35:55.22
as well as
planting sin on planet earth
00:35:55.25\00:35:59.97
had to leave the
New Jerusalem in heaven
00:36:00.00\00:36:05.55
and had to come to this
earth to fight and defeat
00:36:05.58\00:36:10.75
the rebellion of his own son.
00:36:10.78\00:36:14.64
Just as David had
left the earthly Jerusalem
00:36:14.67\00:36:18.21
and felt forsaken by his father
00:36:18.24\00:36:21.68
and agonize as he
ascended the Mount of Olives.
00:36:21.71\00:36:27.22
And as David had said,
00:36:27.25\00:36:29.17
his will be done
if he's pleased in me.
00:36:29.20\00:36:32.54
I know I will
see this place again
00:36:32.57\00:36:35.77
and as David had felt
forsaken by the ark of God
00:36:35.80\00:36:39.61
the same
experience came to Jesus.
00:36:39.64\00:36:46.26
Because Jesus left not
only the heavenly Jerusalem
00:36:46.29\00:36:49.74
he also left the earthly
Jerusalem for the last time.
00:36:49.77\00:36:53.49
Notice Matthew 26:30
00:36:53.52\00:36:58.09
speaking about what transpired
after the Last Supper it says
00:36:58.12\00:37:01.65
"And when they had sung a hymn,
00:37:01.68\00:37:03.43
they went out to
the Mount of Olives."
00:37:03.46\00:37:07.67
And you know what
happened to Jesus there
00:37:07.70\00:37:10.32
in the Garden of Gethsemane
on the Mount of Olives.
00:37:10.35\00:37:12.86
Jesus felt
forsaken by His Father.
00:37:12.89\00:37:15.83
He begged His Father
to take the cup from Him
00:37:15.86\00:37:18.25
if it were possible.
00:37:18.28\00:37:19.94
And as Jesus is
hanging on the cross
00:37:19.97\00:37:21.60
He says Father, into your
hands I commend my Spirit,
00:37:21.63\00:37:24.16
if I pleased you allow Me
once again to see Your face,
00:37:24.19\00:37:28.60
allow Me once again
to be in Your presence,
00:37:28.63\00:37:31.09
allow Me to be
in Jerusalem again.
00:37:31.12\00:37:36.04
Now it's interesting to notice
00:37:36.07\00:37:37.51
that a very
close adviser of Jesus
00:37:37.54\00:37:42.29
had a very similar
experience to Ahithophel.
00:37:42.32\00:37:47.04
In fact if you go
with me to John 13:18
00:37:47.07\00:37:52.17
you're gonna notice that
Psalm 41 is actually quoted.
00:37:52.20\00:37:57.05
The Psalm which refers
to the betrayal of David
00:37:57.08\00:38:00.57
by Ahithophel is
actually quoted by Jesus
00:38:00.60\00:38:04.95
and He's applying it to whom?
00:38:04.98\00:38:07.01
He's applying it
to Judas Iscariot.
00:38:07.04\00:38:11.12
We're told their in John 13:18,
00:38:11.15\00:38:15.85
here Jesus is speaking.
00:38:15.88\00:38:17.30
"I do not speak
concerning all of you.
00:38:17.33\00:38:20.49
I know whom I have chosen,
00:38:20.52\00:38:23.44
but that the
Scripture may be fulfilled,
00:38:23.47\00:38:26.56
'He who eats bread with Me
00:38:26.59\00:38:29.41
has lifted up his
heel against me.' "
00:38:29.44\00:38:34.10
Where does that
quotation come from?
00:38:37.55\00:38:40.41
It comes from Psalm 41.
00:38:40.44\00:38:43.10
But what
happened with the council
00:38:43.13\00:38:45.66
that Judas actually gave
to the religious leaders.
00:38:45.69\00:38:51.60
It what? It backfired.
00:38:51.63\00:38:55.21
The council that he gave
00:38:55.24\00:38:56.90
to have Jesus
delivered actually backfired,
00:38:56.93\00:39:01.64
because he didn't expect
the Jesus to deliver Himself.
00:39:01.67\00:39:06.14
And so what did
Judas actually do?
00:39:06.17\00:39:09.14
Judas went out and
just like the Ahithophel
00:39:09.17\00:39:14.39
he hung himself.
00:39:14.42\00:39:17.19
Are we dealing
with coincidences here?
00:39:17.22\00:39:20.57
This is actually a
repetition of history
00:39:20.60\00:39:23.90
on a much broader scale.
00:39:23.93\00:39:26.90
And then of course at
the cross Satan was defeated
00:39:26.93\00:39:32.13
and Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:39:32.16\00:39:33.95
You can read it in the last
three pages of Desire of Ages
00:39:33.98\00:39:36.70
also Revelation Chapter 4 and 5.
00:39:36.73\00:39:39.51
And in midst of the
jubilation of the heavenly hosts
00:39:39.54\00:39:44.41
Jesus is given
his crown once again
00:39:44.44\00:39:48.35
and he's given his royal role
00:39:48.38\00:39:50.71
and He sits with His
Father on His throne,
00:39:50.74\00:39:55.08
because He has
defeated the enemy.
00:39:55.11\00:40:00.10
Now let me ask you,
00:40:00.13\00:40:02.64
what eventually is going
to happen with this enemy
00:40:02.67\00:40:05.28
because Jesus won
the victory on the cross,
00:40:05.31\00:40:07.61
but the final
battle is gonna take place
00:40:07.64\00:40:09.62
when the wicked led by
Satan surround the New Jerusalem
00:40:09.65\00:40:14.15
and those who are
outside the holy city
00:40:14.18\00:40:16.63
are far more in number
than those who are inside.
00:40:16.66\00:40:20.66
In fact we're told
that their number is
00:40:20.69\00:40:22.93
as the sand of the sea.
00:40:22.96\00:40:26.20
Are the armies
outside the holy city
00:40:26.23\00:40:28.59
going to be
destroyed? Yes they are.
00:40:28.62\00:40:31.25
And what's gonna
happened to the leader?
00:40:31.28\00:40:35.02
The leader is also
going to be destroyed.
00:40:35.05\00:40:37.29
And I want you to notice
what's gonna happen with him
00:40:37.32\00:40:39.39
Isaiah 14:15, Isaiah 14:15.
00:40:39.42\00:40:45.54
Speaking about
this being Lucifer.
00:40:45.57\00:40:50.45
"Yet you Shelby
brought down to Sheol."
00:40:50.48\00:40:58.14
That's the grave the tomb.
00:40:58.17\00:41:00.62
To the lowest
depths of the what?
00:41:00.65\00:41:04.20
"To the lowest
depths of the Pit."
00:41:04.23\00:41:10.03
What happened with Absalom?
00:41:10.06\00:41:12.86
He was thrown in a pit
00:41:12.89\00:41:15.37
and a pile of stones
were thrown over him.
00:41:15.40\00:41:18.03
What's gonna
happen with this Lucifer
00:41:18.06\00:41:20.20
who became proud of his
beauty and proud of his riches
00:41:20.23\00:41:23.35
and proud of his
wisdom and proud of his power?
00:41:23.38\00:41:27.47
We're told that
he will be defeated
00:41:27.50\00:41:29.25
along with all of his armies.
00:41:29.28\00:41:30.94
And he will be brought down
to the lowest parts on the pit.
00:41:34.08\00:41:39.32
And how many of his posterity
00:41:39.35\00:41:42.95
will exist after
he is destroyed? None.
00:41:42.98\00:41:47.67
Notice Malachi 4:1,
we all know this verse.
00:41:47.70\00:41:51.48
Malachi 4:1.
00:41:51.51\00:41:53.49
It says "'For
behold, the day is coming,
00:41:53.52\00:41:56.80
burning like an oven,
and all the proud, yes,
00:41:56.83\00:42:02.02
all who do
wickedly will be stubble.
00:42:02.05\00:42:05.33
And the day which is
coming shall burn them up,
00:42:05.36\00:42:07.51
' Says the Lord of hosts,
00:42:07.54\00:42:08.76
'That will leave
them'" neither what?
00:42:08.79\00:42:11.65
"Neither root nor
branch." Who is the root?
00:42:11.68\00:42:15.85
Satan.
00:42:15.88\00:42:17.84
Who are the branches?
00:42:17.87\00:42:20.17
His followers.
00:42:20.20\00:42:22.59
The seed of the
wicked will not be named.
00:42:22.62\00:42:26.49
Their names will be blotted
out according to the Scripture
00:42:26.52\00:42:30.83
from the Book of Life.
00:42:30.86\00:42:34.40
So we have these two stories,
00:42:34.43\00:42:37.60
story of Absalom and
the story of Lucifer.
00:42:37.63\00:42:43.45
One story
illustrates the other story.
00:42:43.48\00:42:49.32
But what does
this have to say to us?
00:42:49.35\00:42:53.74
You know, there's a
very important principle
00:42:53.77\00:42:55.73
involved in this
story or in these stories.
00:42:55.76\00:43:00.13
And Jesus expressed
the core and central lesson
00:43:00.16\00:43:03.92
that He wanted to us to
learn from these stories
00:43:03.95\00:43:10.04
as He was speaking to
the Scribes and the Pharisees
00:43:10.07\00:43:15.26
He expressed in a very
succinct short way these words.
00:43:15.29\00:43:21.95
"And whoever exalts himself
00:43:21.98\00:43:28.38
will be humbled,
00:43:28.41\00:43:31.92
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted."
00:43:31.95\00:43:39.78
Do you see this in
the story of Absalom?
00:43:39.81\00:43:43.46
Very clearly.
00:43:43.49\00:43:45.64
See, Absalom was down
here what did he want to do?
00:43:45.67\00:43:49.55
He wanted to take
the place of David.
00:43:49.58\00:43:52.24
So what he did
was exalt himself.
00:43:52.27\00:43:56.13
But what happened
to Absalom as a result?
00:43:56.16\00:43:59.99
He was humbled.
00:44:00.02\00:44:04.28
What a contrast
between Absalom and David.
00:44:04.31\00:44:11.18
David actually humbled himself
by going up the Mount of Olives
00:44:11.21\00:44:17.69
weeping with head covered,
00:44:17.72\00:44:21.69
feet without any
shoes, crying out.
00:44:21.72\00:44:28.61
He humbled
himself and as a result
00:44:28.64\00:44:32.24
he once again came to
Jerusalem and he was exalted
00:44:32.27\00:44:36.00
among the
jubilation of the Israelites.
00:44:36.03\00:44:39.93
Notice 1 Timothy
3:16 speaking about Jesus,
00:44:39.96\00:44:45.60
the Bible speaks about
two mysteries by the way,
00:44:45.63\00:44:47.69
the mystery of godliness
and the mystery of iniquity.
00:44:47.72\00:44:50.01
We're dealing with those two
mysteries in our study today.
00:44:50.04\00:44:53.06
1 Timothy 3:16.
00:44:53.09\00:44:54.65
I want you to notice
the movement in this verse.
00:44:54.68\00:44:58.48
It says "And without controversy
00:44:58.51\00:45:00.27
great is the mystery godliness."
00:45:00.30\00:45:05.20
Now what is the
mystery of godliness?
00:45:05.23\00:45:07.84
God was up here was what?
00:45:07.87\00:45:15.05
Manifested in flesh.
00:45:15.08\00:45:17.67
In other words the God who
was up here what did He do?
00:45:17.70\00:45:20.87
He came down,
He humbled Himself.
00:45:20.90\00:45:26.15
But now notice,
because he humbled Himself
00:45:26.18\00:45:28.43
I want you to
notice what happens.
00:45:28.46\00:45:31.46
"God was
manifested in the flesh."
00:45:31.49\00:45:33.87
Now the movement is
gonna start upwards.
00:45:33.90\00:45:36.55
"Justified in the spirit."
00:45:36.58\00:45:37.86
That means that He
resurrected "seen by angels"
00:45:37.89\00:45:41.98
as He's ascending
"preached among the Gentiles,
00:45:42.01\00:45:47.21
believed on in the
world, and received in glory."
00:45:47.24\00:45:51.80
When it says
received up in glory
00:45:51.83\00:45:53.50
it's not talking
about His ascension,
00:45:53.53\00:45:55.05
because the preaching of
the gospel to the Gentiles
00:45:55.08\00:45:57.73
has not taken place yet.
00:45:57.76\00:45:59.39
It's talking about the final
receiving of Jesus in glory
00:45:59.42\00:46:02.74
when He returns to
heaven with His people.
00:46:02.77\00:46:05.79
In other words
He who was up here
00:46:05.82\00:46:07.86
came down and took flesh
00:46:07.89\00:46:10.44
and therefore from down here
you have the movement upward
00:46:10.47\00:46:15.47
until finally He sits
upon the throne again.
00:46:15.50\00:46:19.00
But there's another
mystery mentioned in the Bible.
00:46:19.03\00:46:20.98
It's known as the
mystery of iniquity.
00:46:21.01\00:46:23.30
There's two
mysteries in the Bible.
00:46:23.33\00:46:25.59
And I want you to
notice the mystery of iniquity
00:46:25.62\00:46:27.65
in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.
00:46:27.68\00:46:31.56
2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.
00:46:31.59\00:46:36.12
This is speaking
about the final antichrist.
00:46:36.15\00:46:40.34
"Let no one
deceive you by any means,
00:46:40.37\00:46:44.23
for that Day
will not come unless
00:46:44.26\00:46:45.75
the falling away comes first,
00:46:45.78\00:46:47.95
and the man of sin is
revealed, the son of perdition,
00:46:47.98\00:46:51.38
who opposes and exalts"
notice "and exalts himself
00:46:51.41\00:46:55.53
above all that is called
God or that is worshipped,
00:46:55.56\00:46:58.85
so that he's sits as
God in the temple of God,
00:46:58.88\00:47:02.76
showing himself that he is God."
00:47:02.79\00:47:07.44
In other words,
with the antichrist
00:47:07.47\00:47:11.42
you have the
opposite as with Christ.
00:47:11.45\00:47:14.60
With Christ the word
who is God is made flesh.
00:47:14.63\00:47:19.78
And then when He
humbles Himself he is exalted
00:47:19.81\00:47:24.35
even to the point of
God's throne again and in fact,
00:47:24.38\00:47:29.28
He will be crowned at
the end of thousand years.
00:47:29.31\00:47:33.44
He will be placed on His
own thrown, His throne of glory.
00:47:33.47\00:47:37.03
Amidst the jubilation of all
of the beings of the universe
00:47:37.06\00:47:41.83
but the mystery of
iniquity functions differently.
00:47:41.86\00:47:45.11
The mystery of
iniquity is when a mere man
00:47:45.14\00:47:49.10
is not satisfied
with his position.
00:47:49.13\00:47:52.38
He wants to sit
in the temple of God
00:47:52.41\00:47:56.07
showing himself that he is what?
00:47:56.10\00:47:59.00
That he is God.
00:47:59.03\00:48:00.67
Now what's gonna
happen to this antichrist
00:48:00.70\00:48:03.27
who seeks to take the positions
or the place of Christ.
00:48:03.30\00:48:07.39
Actually we're
told a little later on
00:48:07.42\00:48:09.30
in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2
00:48:09.33\00:48:11.44
that this power is
going to be destroyed
00:48:11.47\00:48:16.30
by the brightness
of the coming of Jesus.
00:48:16.33\00:48:20.27
And so he who exalted himself
will be humbled and destroyed.
00:48:20.30\00:48:25.81
He who humbled
himself will be what?
00:48:25.84\00:48:29.78
Will be exalted.
00:48:29.81\00:48:31.38
This is the essence of
the teachings of Jesus.
00:48:31.41\00:48:35.10
We can talk a lot of-- about
a lot of things concerning Jesus
00:48:35.13\00:48:38.17
and He talk a lot of very
important theological points,
00:48:38.20\00:48:42.85
but the center or core
00:48:42.88\00:48:44.68
of the teachings
of Jesus is this.
00:48:44.71\00:48:46.90
He who exalts
himself will be humbled
00:48:46.93\00:48:49.22
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted.
00:48:49.25\00:48:53.87
Let me ask you, what
do we do about beauty?
00:48:53.90\00:49:01.77
Are we filled with ourselves,
because of our beauty?
00:49:01.80\00:49:06.29
What do we do with our
wisdom and our intelligence
00:49:06.32\00:49:10.51
and the understanding
that God has given us?
00:49:10.54\00:49:12.27
Most of the world has
corrupted their wisdom
00:49:12.30\00:49:15.46
to bring glory to themselves.
00:49:15.49\00:49:18.04
What do we do with our riches?
00:49:18.07\00:49:20.40
Do we use them to
glorify ourselves?
00:49:20.43\00:49:24.50
The world is filled
with the thirst of power.
00:49:24.53\00:49:28.15
What do we do with the
powers that God has given us?
00:49:28.18\00:49:31.31
Are they for the
honoring glory of God
00:49:31.34\00:49:33.88
or are they for our
own honor and glory?
00:49:33.91\00:49:38.13
You know, this makes me thinks
of the story of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:49:38.16\00:49:40.97
Perfect illustration
once again of the same issue
00:49:41.00\00:49:43.84
he who exalts
himself will be humbled
00:49:43.87\00:49:45.85
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted.
00:49:45.88\00:49:49.33
You know,
Nebuchadnezzar one day goes out
00:49:49.36\00:49:51.30
to the balcony of his palace.
00:49:51.33\00:49:54.88
You find this in Daniel 4:30.
00:49:54.91\00:49:57.67
And he says these words.
00:49:57.70\00:50:01.38
"Is not this great Babylon,"
00:50:01.41\00:50:06.73
that I have built,
00:50:06.76\00:50:09.30
"that I have built
for a royal dwelling
00:50:09.33\00:50:13.37
by my mighty power and
for the honor of my majesty?"
00:50:13.40\00:50:20.37
Can you hear the
conceit in those words?
00:50:20.40\00:50:23.51
Say
Nebuchadnezzar lived for self.
00:50:23.54\00:50:25.20
All of his riches were
for people to look at him,
00:50:25.23\00:50:27.83
all of his wisdom was
to make his kingdom great.
00:50:27.86\00:50:31.24
All of his power was to subject
all of the nations to himself.
00:50:31.27\00:50:38.18
And so God hears those words.
00:50:38.21\00:50:41.98
And so God says is that so.
00:50:42.01\00:50:46.19
Well, I'll tell you
what, I'm gonna remove
00:50:46.22\00:50:48.24
the pearl of reason from you
00:50:48.27\00:50:54.75
and from a human being you're
gonna become like an animal.
00:50:54.78\00:50:59.71
And so the great king
00:50:59.74\00:51:02.40
who boasted about his
greatness was humbled.
00:51:02.43\00:51:09.49
In fact he was humbled so much
00:51:09.52\00:51:12.66
that we're told that he
had to live like the beasts.
00:51:12.69\00:51:15.11
You know, grew great big nails.
00:51:15.14\00:51:19.81
And, you know,
his hair grew long
00:51:19.84\00:51:21.26
like the feathers
of an eagle we're told.
00:51:21.29\00:51:24.08
You can imagine like a mad man,
00:51:24.11\00:51:27.13
because he thought that he
was great because of himself.
00:51:27.16\00:51:31.65
After seven
years a vegetarianism,
00:51:31.68\00:51:35.07
actually veganism
00:51:38.77\00:51:42.43
we find Nebuchadnezzar
receiving from God
00:51:42.46\00:51:45.27
once again the pearl of reason.
00:51:45.30\00:51:48.85
See if God gives
us reason we have,
00:51:48.88\00:51:50.94
if God doesn't give
us reason we have not.
00:51:50.97\00:51:54.06
So let's not
think we're so great.
00:51:54.09\00:51:57.72
Let's not be proud of our
beauty, and our intelligence,
00:51:57.75\00:52:00.80
and our wisdom, and our
power, and our greatness,
00:52:00.83\00:52:04.96
and our things that we have.
00:52:04.99\00:52:06.93
Let's not bring
glory to ourselves
00:52:06.96\00:52:09.25
through all of these things.
00:52:09.28\00:52:11.45
Finally when he snaps out of it
00:52:11.48\00:52:12.78
we find in
Daniel 4:37 these words.
00:52:12.81\00:52:16.26
Listen to the
change in attitude.
00:52:16.29\00:52:18.23
"Now I,
Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol
00:52:18.26\00:52:24.75
and honor the King of heaven,
00:52:24.78\00:52:28.26
all of whose works are
truth, and his ways justice.
00:52:28.29\00:52:32.34
And those who walk in pride
00:52:32.37\00:52:35.73
He is able to put down."
00:52:35.76\00:52:40.88
Did you catch that?
00:52:40.91\00:52:42.71
All walk in pride,
He's able to put down.
00:52:42.74\00:52:44.86
And by the way, I'll just
mention this verse in Job 41:34
00:52:44.89\00:52:50.20
where it speaks about Leviathan.
00:52:50.23\00:52:52.49
You know who
Leviathan, is right?
00:52:52.52\00:52:55.54
Leviathan in
Isaiah 27:1 is spoken of
00:52:55.57\00:52:58.51
as the coiled
serpent and the dragon.
00:52:58.54\00:53:01.57
In others words Leviathan
is the symbol of Satan.
00:53:01.60\00:53:04.34
And the last verse in chapter
41 of the Book of Job says
00:53:04.37\00:53:09.30
that "Leviathan or Satan is king
00:53:09.33\00:53:13.78
over all of the
children of pride."
00:53:13.81\00:53:19.35
So people who are
proud are whose children?
00:53:19.38\00:53:23.94
Leviathan's children.
00:53:23.97\00:53:27.74
You all know that
statement in Proverbs 16:18
00:53:27.77\00:53:30.40
where it says "Pride
goes before destruction,
00:53:30.43\00:53:35.41
and a haughty
spirit before a fall."
00:53:35.44\00:53:42.30
The greatest grace
that the church needs
00:53:42.33\00:53:44.23
these days is the
grace of humility.
00:53:44.26\00:53:47.57
To realize that
anything that we are
00:53:47.60\00:53:49.50
everything that
we have is not ours.
00:53:49.53\00:53:52.34
The honor and the
glory belongs to God.
00:53:52.37\00:53:56.97
You know, if I can
speak just a moment
00:53:57.00\00:53:58.32
about my own
personal experience.
00:53:58.35\00:54:01.30
I go please
places and people say,
00:54:01.33\00:54:02.82
wow that was
just awesome sermon.
00:54:02.85\00:54:05.35
I've never heard that before.
00:54:05.38\00:54:08.53
Where do you get these things?
00:54:08.56\00:54:10.39
You know, and there's
always a temptation saying,
00:54:10.42\00:54:13.96
well, yeah, you know,
00:54:13.99\00:54:17.94
I'm pretty great
nobody's seen this before.
00:54:17.97\00:54:23.73
But I've learned in
the course the years that
00:54:23.76\00:54:26.33
that anything that I have
00:54:26.36\00:54:27.66
and I have to
remind myself every day
00:54:27.69\00:54:30.18
that everything that
I have is due to God.
00:54:30.21\00:54:35.29
I mean first of all He's the one
who gave me the breath of life.
00:54:35.32\00:54:41.15
Secondly He gave me
something to preach.
00:54:41.18\00:54:44.73
I didn't have this God's word
00:54:44.76\00:54:46.56
I wouldn't have
anything to talk about.
00:54:46.59\00:54:49.17
And third He gave me a
mouth, He gave me a tongue,
00:54:49.20\00:54:57.15
He gave me lungs and
He gave me vocal cords.
00:54:57.18\00:55:00.91
So where is the
reason for glory?
00:55:00.94\00:55:03.89
The book is His, the equipment
is His and the life is His.
00:55:03.92\00:55:11.13
So we can't
boast about anything.
00:55:11.16\00:55:13.73
That's what led to
the destruction of Absalom
00:55:13.76\00:55:17.51
and it will eventually lead
to the destruction of Lucifer.
00:55:17.54\00:55:23.03
I'd like to end by
reading Philippians 2:5-11
00:55:23.06\00:55:26.23
or you see this movement.
00:55:26.26\00:55:29.29
Do you notice
with Lucifer it says
00:55:29.32\00:55:31.18
I will ascend to the highest and
I will be like the most high?
00:55:31.21\00:55:33.82
God says I'm gonna
throw you down to the pit.
00:55:33.85\00:55:36.55
He who exalts
himself will be what?
00:55:36.58\00:55:38.85
Will be humbled.
00:55:38.88\00:55:39.91
But notice the
contrast with Jesus.
00:55:39.94\00:55:42.75
"Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:55:42.78\00:55:47.38
who, being in the form of God,
00:55:47.41\00:55:51.62
did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God."
00:55:51.65\00:55:54.10
Actually He did not
consider equality with God
00:55:54.13\00:55:55.98
or something to be hung on
to, something to be grasped.
00:55:56.01\00:55:59.56
He was equal with
God, he was caught.
00:55:59.59\00:56:03.16
"But made Himself
of no reputation."
00:56:03.19\00:56:06.17
God didn't force Him.
He made Himself, He chosen.
00:56:06.20\00:56:08.86
"He made Himself
of no reputation,
00:56:08.89\00:56:10.93
taking the form
of a bondservant,
00:56:10.96\00:56:14.06
and coming in
the likeness of men.
00:56:14.09\00:56:17.31
And being found in
the appearance as a man,
00:56:17.34\00:56:20.49
He humbled Himself
00:56:20.52\00:56:22.49
and became obedient
to the point of death,
00:56:22.52\00:56:24.61
even the death of the cross."
00:56:24.64\00:56:26.14
That's the humbling
part. Now notice the result.
00:56:26.17\00:56:28.52
It says "Therefore God
also has highly exalted Him
00:56:28.55\00:56:35.09
and given Him the name
which is above every name,
00:56:35.12\00:56:38.64
that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow,
00:56:38.67\00:56:41.54
of those in heaven,
and of those on earth,
00:56:41.57\00:56:43.69
and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should
00:56:43.72\00:56:46.54
confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
00:56:46.57\00:56:49.12
to the glory of God the Father."
00:56:49.15\00:56:52.91
He humbled Himself,
therefore He was exalted.
00:56:52.94\00:56:58.63
How about us?
00:56:58.66\00:57:02.41
You know, we can
either humble ourselves
00:57:02.44\00:57:04.66
or we will be humbled
00:57:04.69\00:57:05.80
because the
humbling is our work.
00:57:09.83\00:57:11.17
He who humbles
himself will be exalted.
00:57:11.20\00:57:13.18
And he who exalts
himself will be what?
00:57:13.21\00:57:16.22
Will be humbled.
00:57:16.25\00:57:18.64
It's my prayer
00:57:18.67\00:57:20.86
that our experience
would be one of humbling,
00:57:20.89\00:57:23.90
so that we might be exalted
with Jesus very, very soon.
00:57:23.93\00:57:28.30