WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Ark of the Covenant Publishing Date: 2026-02-08T02:04:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/ark-of-the-covenant/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.400 Last week, Pastor Mike was talking about a spring breaking open for us. I was looking 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:23.600 at that in the scriptures, and you have references to that in Isaiah 35, 6, and 7 where it says, 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:47.600 So these are words, and one of the ways we deal with the prophetic is to look at it in scripture words spoken last Sunday about springs breaking open for Acts 29. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:55.600 So when you look at springs breaking open for Acts 29, I just want you to remember these scriptures and go check them out later. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:01:05.600 One of them is Isaiah 35, verse 6 and 7. It says there in verse 6, 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:27.600 And so that's one scripture that I really want you to look at. 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:39.600 As in, what do you mean by looking at it? As in saying, Father, if this is the word that you sent us last Sunday, then I just want to read it and say yes, because it's for the church as a whole, not just for an individual. 00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:53.600 So remember that. And then the other scripture is Isaiah 41, 18 to 20, which was on those cards that we had on each table. Isaiah 41, 18 to 20. 00:01:53.600 --> 00:02:09.600 And there it says, 00:02:09.600 --> 00:02:31.600 The idea of again, springs breaking open and whenever they break open things that are dry suddenly come to life. And then the last one is Isaiah 43, 19. 00:02:31.600 --> 00:03:00.600 So these are the three scriptures that you need to go look at. 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:17.600 This is how, I mean, at a time when the prophetic is under scrutiny and stuff like that, one of the ways the church begins to respond to it well is by deciding that, okay, if these are the scriptures that talk about springs being opened, we'll go read them and then we'll agree with God. 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:21.600 That's how we go about it. 00:03:21.600 --> 00:03:36.600 Yeah, so these are three scriptures and then even during the worship today, people had images of God as someone who was waiting to break over us. 00:03:36.600 --> 00:03:56.600 There was Heidi who had a dream two nights ago where one of the dreams was how the clock had come back to 12 and it was beginning a new phase. And the other one was people at Acts 29 taking their old clothes and throwing them in a pile because new clothes were being given to them. 00:03:56.600 --> 00:04:00.600 These were not visions, these were dreams that she had. 00:04:00.600 --> 00:04:05.600 And these are things that need to be noted. 00:04:05.600 --> 00:04:16.600 This church has come this far just because we've listened to the voice of God, listen to visions, dreams. And even if we don't understand we've stepped out. And because of that we are where we are. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:21.600 And so that will continue, and it will be measured against the word. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:22.600 Yeah. 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.600 Cool. 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:27.600 Prashanth, you look like you're in Hawaii, man. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:32.600 Summer. 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:48.600 So on one hand, streams talk about that, but then I just want to bring up another consideration for us, we'll talk about it later. In Genesis 711, Genesis 711. 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:59.600 You find that, no that was not a prophetic word asking you to get a job there. This is Genesis 711. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.600 Just in case. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:22.600 Genesis 711, and it says there, in the 600th year of Noah's life, on the 17th day of the second month, on that day, all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of heavens were opened, and rain fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:39.600 So here there's a breaking open of springs, but it's kind of different from the springs we were talking about. So it's been 1656 years since Adam, when this happens. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:59.600 In Genesis 1-6, God divided the waters. He called the waters above the sky, and he called the waters below the sea, because otherwise in Genesis 1-2, we see that the earth was just water, and then he divides the water. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:18.600 But strangely enough, in Genesis 711, the springs of the deep broke open, and the waters came back, so that at the end of the day, what God was doing there was resetting. 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:38.600 He resets things. And I'm saying to you that given where we are at, and you look at different things that are happening in different parts of the world, I believe that we are, this church is at a time, or this church is poised at a time when God is pressing the reset button all over the place. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:55.600 And it's a good time. God does this often. You'll find, not just in recent history, but in biblical history too, you'll find that God does this. He causes systems that were set in place that are now decaying, corrupt, to collapse. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:12.600 And when it collapses, God hits a reset. And when he hits a reset, he finds people that are faithful, like a Noah. You know what the word Noah means, right? Rest. He finds a person called Noah. He finds him and gives him a garden just like he gave Adam. 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:28.600 He gives Noah a vineyard. Genesis 9, verse 20. And then he renews his commitment or covenant with Noah. Same covenant. Genesis 9, 7 or 8 talks about the same covenant. Go forth, multiply, replenish. 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:44.600 And this church is poised at a place where God is hitting the reset in different places in the world. And we are at this place where God is saying, hey, I brought you to this place. Wherever I send you, just go. And go thoughtlessly. Go recklessly. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:54.600 Go as I show you. Once you get there, I'll tell you what to do. That's the place we are at. Any questions on those comments before I go on? 00:07:54.600 --> 00:08:17.600 The beautiful thing is there's reset and then there's Ruach, which is the Holy Spirit. And you find him in Genesis 1, 2 hovering over the waters. And you find him in Genesis 8, 1. It says the wind was beginning to hover over the waters. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:38.600 In both cases, the Holy Spirit is at work. And then you have the restoration of the covenant. It's almost like a pattern. He did this in Egypt too. Collapsed everything in Egypt. And he often does it with water as a symbol. Collapsed everything in Egypt and restarted again. 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:56.600 Just be aware of it. And what are the covenants that he will have us walk in? Very simple. 2. Isaiah 61, 1 to 5, and Hebrides 2.0. So I just want to go over that promise with you. Don't know if you remember it. 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:21.600 Hey, what's the score? Sorry? 904? Who else? Oh my God. Do you remember the promise from Hebrides 2.0? Can someone start it off? 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:44.600 I'm sending a purifying fire that will burn up all historical and religious junk. And then I will enter as divine warrior. And? Setting young men and women free. Calling them from nations into the kingdom. 00:09:44.600 --> 00:10:04.600 Calling them sons and daughters. Calling them into the circle of abundance, dancing and joy. Before the lion and the lamb. And I'll raise for myself a generation that will go forth and will not return empty. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:19.600 Just try that again. These are important things, guys. This is like your preamble. Isaiah 61 is easy to remember because God said it here. It was put together by people hearing what God had said. So let's try it again. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:44.600 Let's try it again. I'm sending a purifying fire that will burn up religious and historical junk. And then I will enter as divine warrior. And I will? Setting young men and women free. I'll call them from the nations into the kingdom. 00:10:44.600 --> 00:11:05.600 I'll call them sons and daughters. I'll call them into a circle of abundance, dancing and joy. Before the lion and the lamb. And I will raise for myself a generation, a torch bearing generation. Sorry. A torch bearing generation that will go forth and will not come back empty. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:21.600 Please remember these. These are things he wants to renew with us. It's precious, eh? It's going to happen. Sorry. Jacob had a question. Go ahead, Jacob. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:42.600 Okay. So in 2023, one of the things that Lot had said was that we will be both announcers and igniters of a revival that will catch the 20s and the 30s. 00:11:42.600 --> 00:12:01.600 And so one of the first places we went to, beginning of Jan 2023, was to a place called Stornoway in Wales, where 75 years ago, God turned up in these little villages and they could literally sense the heavy presence of God where people would begin to weep and they wouldn't know why they're weeping. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:17.600 And we went there and we met one of the guys whose dad was the one who prayed and it started. And one of the things Lot said was that that was Hebrides 1.0. 2.0 is about to start where there will be nations where 20s and 30s will be affected by God. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:29.600 And therefore, while we were there, we began to write down what God was saying and this is what it sounded like. So I'll recite it one last time for you, Jacob, because you have a great name. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:46.600 And so I am sending a purifying fire from heaven that will burn up religious and historical junk. And then I will enter as divine warrior. I will set young men and women free. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:13:02.600 I will call them from nations into the kingdom. I will call them my own sons and daughters. I will invite them into a circle of abundance, dancing and joy before the lion and the lamb. 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:17.600 And I will raise for myself a torch bearing generation that will go forth and will not return empty. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.600 Cool. 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:30.600 So today we begin with what we said we would begin with. And that was the Ark. Not Noah's Ark, the other Ark, the Ark of the Covenant. 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:51.600 And we said that the Ark was the symbol of presence, power, worship and government. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:57.600 Are we going to start with this? 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:06.600 So the Ark was about 45 inches by 30 inches by 30 inches. 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:18.600 Or if people like feet, 3.75 into 2.75 into 2.75 feet. It was made of wood. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:27.600 And then it was inlaid and covered with gold. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:36.600 The wood was representative of our humanity. The gold was representative of divinity. 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:45.600 People assumed that it was about 80 to 100 kilos heavy. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:55.600 And so in a sense, guys, if you didn't look at the base, then this was the size of the Ark. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:03.600 So it was about four feet across. And if you measure it to here, it's about almost exactly the dimensions of the Ark. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:10.600 That was what it was. And it was made with acacia wood and then gold. 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:17.600 And it carried three items. And all these will become important as we talk about this in the future, too. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:26.600 It carried three items and the three items were manna. 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:33.600 Go to Hebrews 9, 4. Hebrews 9. Hebrews 9. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:43.600 Hebrews 9. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:48.600 Hebrews 9, starting at verse 1. 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:54.600 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:16:01.600 A tabernacle was set up in its first room where the lampstand, the table, the consecrated bread, this was called the Holy Place. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:09.600 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold covered Ark of the Covenant. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:19.600 That's what we are talking about. This Ark contained the gold jar of manna, errand stuff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:26.600 Above the Ark were the cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:29.600 But we cannot discuss these things in detail right now. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:58.600 So you had manna, which was basically, we'll talk about it, the proceeding word of God, full of grace, for our daily dependent sustenance. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:03.600 For now, just write this down. We'll break this, not today, but in the future. 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:15.600 Because that was what manna was. Manna was basically the proceeding word of God, as in, he said, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:23.600 And the intent was, listen, I'll tell you how to live. I don't want you to live by bread that you bake. I'll speak and it'll happen for you. 00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:29.600 And so at some point we'll discuss the proceeding word of God, full of grace, as in, it has everything you need. 00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:36.600 It has all sufficiency in it, not for tomorrow, but for daily dependent sustenance. That was the intent of manna. 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:44.600 Then after the manna came Aaron's rod, Aaron's rod, or Aaron's staff. 00:17:44.600 --> 00:18:01.600 And that was the symbol of the order of the household and the government of God. 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:16.600 And we will talk about that. If you go to Numbers 17, can you go to Numbers 17? Numbers 17, 1-10, just so you can have a quick look at it right now. Numbers 17, 1-10. 00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:36.600 The Lord said to Moses, Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. 00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:43.600 Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:55.600 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites. 00:18:55.600 --> 00:19:04.600 So Moses spoke to the Israelites and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for each leader of each of the ancestral tribes and Aaron's staff was among them. 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:19.600 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the testimony. The next day Moses entered the tent of the testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:27.600 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord's presence to the Israelites. They looked at them and each man took his own staff. 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:37.600 The Lord said to Moses, Put back Aaron's staff in front of the testimony or the ark to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me so that they will not die. 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:42.600 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. So we'll talk about that. 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:54.600 And then finally there was the tablets. These are the contents of the ark. They are the tablets and the tablets were the moral nature. 00:19:54.600 --> 00:20:10.600 The tablets are basically symbolic of the moral nature, the moral nature of a covenantal God or a covenant-keeping God, the moral nature of a covenant-keeping God 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:16.600 who dwells in the midst of his people. 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:24.600 And we'll talk about that too. It's beautiful when you actually take it out of just 00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:29.600 Judaic observances and you look at what it actually means. It's brilliant. 00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:38.600 When you take the Ten Commandments and you actually look at it, you'll find that the first three are about you and God, the next seven are about you and your neighbor. 00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:48.600 And that what Jesus comes and does is take every one of those laws and just ratchets it up. 00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:54.600 You shall not commit murder. Hey, if you're angry with your brother, you've already committed murder. 00:20:54.600 --> 00:21:02.600 He just changes it. He ups the bar and then he begins to have you live that standard by living in you. 00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:07.600 We'll talk about that. It's brilliant. 00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:20.600 So those were the things in the ark. So how should we look at the ark? We should look at the ark as a painting, say, that Phoebe does for 00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:26.600 What's his name? Sheldon. Yeah, that Phoebe does for Sheldon. 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:39.600 So when children draw houses, tell them to draw their family and they'll have a house and then be a big fat Sheldon and a relatively thinner Jane and a relatively good looking Phoebe. 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:47.600 And that's usually how most children draw. Now, would you say this is an accurate representation of the family? 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:54.600 No. But what is it? It is a picture that kids draw of the family. It's genuine. It's genuine. 00:21:54.600 --> 00:22:05.600 They put a few hearts also. It's genuine. And it's a visual representation or aid. 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:15.600 It's a visual representation of a spiritual reality. In this case, I'm talking about the ark of a spiritual reality. 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:23.600 So the ark doesn't explain it all. It's an understandable copy. It's an understandable copy. 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:30.600 That's why when Paul writes about it in Hebrews, he says these are copies of the heavenly things. 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:38.600 They're not an exact replica, but it helps us understand. So here's the thing, guys. There was a box like this. 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:44.600 The difference was it was about the same dimensions. The difference was that it would be covered with gold. 00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:54.600 And on top here, there would be a cover and the cover would have two angels, one angel on this side, one angel on this side with a wing stretched out like this, just about this side. 00:22:54.600 --> 00:23:00.600 So it wasn't some massive thing. And then at the bottom, there would be poles here. 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:12.600 There would be poles because most of the pictures we see, we see them carrying the ark on their shoulders, but usually the poles are here or here. 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:21.600 And that was not true. The poles were at the feet of the box. Why? Because this was in the Bible, it says the ark was like the throne of God. 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:26.600 And if the ark was like the throne of God, he would be carried above. 00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:32.600 You still see it in the Middle East or Middle Eastern stories or Asian stories or Indian stories. 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:42.600 You would have these kings come in these things called palanquins where there would be people who would have them carried on their shoulder because the king had to be higher. 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:50.600 And so the ark was actually called the throne of God. Let's look at scriptures that say so. 00:23:51.600 --> 00:24:09.600 If you look at Exodus 25, Exodus 25, Exodus 25, that's the entire description of the ark. Exodus 25, verse 12. 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:18.600 The king would now cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet with two rings. So it would be right at the feet. 00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:22.600 And imagine four people carrying a 200 pound thing, eh? 00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:39.600 And so the ark was, the ark was God's localized presence, God's localized presence in their midst. 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:49.600 So you're talking about the eternal, infinite, transcendent, 00:24:49.600 --> 00:25:15.600 holy, invisible, immense God who fills time and space and spills over, as in he goes even beyond that. 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:28.600 He decides to be localized amongst a sinful people. 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:37.600 It's crazy. It's not like God lived in the box, okay? 00:25:37.600 --> 00:25:44.600 But the box became the localized presence of God. His presence fills the universe and beyond. 00:25:44.600 --> 00:26:01.600 But this box became the localized presence of God. The immense, invisible, eternal, infinite, transcendent God who fills time and space and goes beyond made his presence in this box. 00:26:02.600 --> 00:26:10.600 And for Israel it was a big deal because they had seen him on Mount Sinai. They had seen how a whole mountain burst into fire and smoke. 00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:16.600 They knew what it was to have this God on their side. There was no other God on earth who had done anything like this. 00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:22.600 It was magnificent and frightening at the same time. 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:30.600 And yet as soon as this box begins to be carried by the priests, they realize that the same God is now with them. 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:37.600 And by the way, when Israel was journeying through the desert, we need to know that there were two tents. 00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:41.600 We sometimes think it was just one tent that Moses went into. 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:48.600 The song that we sang, Linger, that Tune had written, it was the first tent. It wasn't the second tent. 00:26:48.600 --> 00:27:02.600 So you'll find that after the Golden Calf incident, what happened was Moses decided that he would take a tent and set it outside the camp. 00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:11.600 And so every time he wanted to meet with God, he would leave the camp and he would go outside the camp and meet with God. 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:21.600 And whenever he would meet with God, the pillar of cloud would begin to hover over the tent and Moses would come out with his face shining. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:31.600 But even though Moses started there, he had been given a pattern and orders by God saying, I want to dwell in the midst of the people. 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:44.600 And that began the construction of the Tabernacle with the outer court, with the bronze lava, with the altar for sacrifice, with the holy place, 00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:55.600 with the menorah and the table with the bread on it, the lampstand and the table, and then the Holy of Holies, which was completely dark. 00:27:55.600 --> 00:28:00.600 But in that darkness, there was a box like this overlaid with gold. 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:10.600 And God said, Moses, I want this box or this Ark of the Covenant, or as the message calls it, the chest of God. 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:14.600 I want this right in the center of the camp. 00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:22.600 And once it was inaugurated, and you hear about its inauguration in Exodus 40. 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:32.600 Once it was inaugurated, the cloud would come and it would be over the Holy of Holies right above the spot. 00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:37.600 And then when the cloud would move, the people would move. Why? 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:42.600 Because they knew that this was symbolic of the presence of God. 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:48.600 Why would they move if God didn't move? Did they know where they were going? No. 00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:54.600 Did they trust the one who dwelt in the midst? Yes. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:29:00.600 And to get to that tent, and they're called two different names. 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:04.600 The name of the tent that Moses used to go outside the camp was called the tent of meeting. 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:08.600 This was called the tent of testimony. Why? 00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:16.600 Because within this Ark, there were things that testified of what God wanted to do. 00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:21.600 People would have to line up to even get near this tabernacle. 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:25.600 They could come into the outer courts, but only one man went into the inner courts. 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:31.600 Why am I saying all this? Because you must realize what Jesus, your friend, has done for you. 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:41.600 Take me past the outer courts, into the holy place. 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:48.600 I want to see, pass the braves and altar. Lord, I want to see your face. 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:53.600 Take me past the crowds of people, and the priests who sing your praise. 00:29:53.600 --> 00:29:58.600 I hunger and thirst for your righteousness, and it's only found in one place. 00:29:58.600 --> 00:30:02.600 Take me into the holy of holies. 00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:06.600 Take me in by the blood of the lamb. 00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:11.600 Take me into the holy of holies. 00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:16.600 Take the call. Touch my lips. Here I am. 00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:21.600 We don't realize the dramatic change in the privilege that we have. 00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:27.600 One man, once a year, scared for his life, going in, coming out. 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:37.600 And so, this God who, for Israel it was a big delay, and the Ark was a throne of God. 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:40.600 The Ark was a throne of God. 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:50.600 And so you can read about that in Genesis, Exodus 25, 12, where they put the ring so that it could be held up. 00:30:50.600 --> 00:31:00.600 And the Ark was a throne of God, carried above the shoulders, like this, like you read in stories, carried above the shoulders, 00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:12.600 with the shout of people, because the king was in their midst, with the shout of the king in their midst. 00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:17.600 They understand where all the songs and the writings of David are coming from. 00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:23.600 Be exalted, O King of the heavens, let your glory fill the earth. 00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:27.600 There's a tribe set apart for this called the Kohatites. 00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:33.600 Only they were allowed to carry the Ark on their shoulder. 00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:35.600 And they knew he was king, eh? 00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:37.600 They wouldn't go anywhere without him. 00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:42.600 Now you can see why Uzzah and Ahio did something that was heinous. 00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:46.600 Not they, they got caught for it. 00:31:46.600 --> 00:31:52.600 David was the one who did it, brought it in on an ox cart. 00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:58.600 The king of the universe, and he had specified how he wanted things done. 00:31:58.600 --> 00:32:00.600 And they bring it in on an ox cart. 00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:05.600 It is a recipe for disaster. 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:08.600 This God is to be revered. 00:32:08.600 --> 00:32:12.600 In our times of worship, always exalt him as king, eh? 00:32:12.600 --> 00:32:20.600 He's your, like it says in the Chronicles of Narnia, he's your friend, but he's not tame and he's a king. 00:32:20.600 --> 00:32:24.600 Revered him, he's a king. 00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:29.600 He's not tame and he's a king. 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:33.600 Revered him while, I mean, that's why I love that song. 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:35.600 It says, you are our king. 00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:40.600 And then it talks about thank you for the cross, my friend. 00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:42.600 He calls me friend. 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:47.600 These are terms that are so mixed, but we don't forget who he always is. 00:32:54.600 --> 00:33:01.600 The lid of the box that was placed above was literally called the mercy seat. 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:08.600 If you read Exodus 25-17, make an atonement cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits and a cubit and a half wide. 00:33:08.600 --> 00:33:12.600 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:14.600 And so the idea of atonement was mercy. 00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:18.600 Mercy means someone who covers what you have done wrong. 00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:20.600 So that's the, it was called the mercy seat. 00:33:20.600 --> 00:33:23.600 And I love what God says he'll do for them. 00:33:23.600 --> 00:33:27.600 And go to the last verse, verse 22. 00:33:27.600 --> 00:33:37.600 There above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the arc of the testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for Israel. 00:33:37.600 --> 00:33:45.600 There was at some point when Moses would turn up into the tent of testimony, somewhere here, God would actually speak. 00:33:45.600 --> 00:33:48.600 What did it even sound like? 00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:50.600 Or was it, how was it conveyed? 00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:51.600 We do not know. 00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:58.600 But he says, between the cherubim at the mercy seat, I will speak to you. 00:33:58.600 --> 00:34:03.600 This was just the privilege of Moses. 00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:09.600 Countless pressures the fact how we get to have conversations with God. 00:34:09.600 --> 00:34:16.600 This church must move from seeking answers from God to having conversations with God. 00:34:16.600 --> 00:34:21.600 One of the things that was said about Moses was, with other people I talk to them in dreams and visions, 00:34:21.600 --> 00:34:27.600 but with Moses I talked to him as a friend would talk to his friend face to face. 00:34:27.600 --> 00:34:31.600 It was in conversations that Moses would find out things. 00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:43.600 But his idea of facing God in a dark tent where the only light was the light that came from his glory. 00:34:43.600 --> 00:34:45.600 And he would actually talk. 00:34:45.600 --> 00:34:47.600 We get to do this every day. 00:34:47.600 --> 00:35:01.600 Do not fall short of the privilege that you've been given and train to take advantage of it. 00:35:01.600 --> 00:35:04.600 Any questions before we go on? 00:35:04.600 --> 00:35:10.600 If the question is how do we train, just go listen to the 100 messages in the last 20 years and you'll get it. 00:35:10.600 --> 00:35:19.600 Yeah, because that's like a moot question. 00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:25.600 It's a shame if I live short of the privilege that I have been called to and given. 00:35:25.600 --> 00:35:30.600 And it's a shame if I don't push into the privilege that I've been called to and been given. 00:35:30.600 --> 00:35:33.600 Two things, if I fall short of it, if I don't push into it. 00:35:33.600 --> 00:35:42.600 You fall short of it because you don't push into it. 00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:48.600 Any questions? 00:35:48.600 --> 00:35:54.600 Can you speak a little louder, Betty? 00:35:54.600 --> 00:35:59.600 Yeah, let's assume that Derek is flying to London today 00:35:59.600 --> 00:36:08.600 and he doesn't realize that his ticket affords him the signature lounge that's not even for normal people. 00:36:08.600 --> 00:36:10.600 It's only for certain people. 00:36:10.600 --> 00:36:17.600 He goes, sits there and then a Porsche EV is supposed to pick him up from the signature lounge and drive him to the plane. 00:36:17.600 --> 00:36:21.600 So he doesn't have to walk on that silly little walkway to the plane. 00:36:21.600 --> 00:36:25.600 And he has these privileges because he's at the airport right now, by the way. 00:36:25.600 --> 00:36:28.600 And so he has these privileges and he doesn't know it. 00:36:28.600 --> 00:36:34.600 So you fall short of your privileges, things that were offered to you, you do not take advantage of. 00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:36.600 So that's one. 00:36:36.600 --> 00:36:43.600 Two, this thing of not pushing into knowing what God has for you. 00:36:43.600 --> 00:36:48.600 Where God has plenty, but it's either humility or laziness. 00:36:48.600 --> 00:36:51.600 I don't know which one or a mixture of both. 00:36:51.600 --> 00:36:53.600 Or disappointment. 00:36:53.600 --> 00:36:55.600 Things that keep you from pushing into God. 00:36:55.600 --> 00:37:05.600 Humility, like bad humility, laziness and disappointment. 00:37:05.600 --> 00:37:12.600 These prevent us from pushing into God. 00:37:12.600 --> 00:37:15.600 So must get past that, eh? 00:37:25.600 --> 00:37:27.600 Fourth one, fear of man. 00:37:27.600 --> 00:37:28.600 Fear of man. 00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:31.600 Humility, laziness. 00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:33.600 Third one was what? 00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:36.600 Humility, laziness, disappointment, fear of man. 00:37:36.600 --> 00:37:38.600 Four things that prevent you from pushing into God. 00:37:38.600 --> 00:37:39.600 Where do we see it? 00:37:39.600 --> 00:37:44.600 There was a king who was told to ask whatever he wanted in terms of a sign. 00:37:44.600 --> 00:37:46.600 And he started saying, no, no, no, I don't want a sign. 00:37:46.600 --> 00:37:48.600 It was Ahaz, I think. 00:37:48.600 --> 00:37:51.600 And the prophet has to come and say to you, what's wrong with you? 00:37:51.600 --> 00:37:56.600 God is giving you a privilege to ask for a sign and you're choosing not to. 00:37:56.600 --> 00:37:57.600 So that's one. 00:37:57.600 --> 00:38:00.600 When it comes to fear of man, Nicodemus. 00:38:00.600 --> 00:38:05.600 The guy could have had a relationship with Jesus like nobody. 00:38:05.600 --> 00:38:09.600 Because he had this one-on-one encounter in the middle of the night with Jesus. 00:38:09.600 --> 00:38:15.600 And he had a choice and he chose not to because of the fear of his compatriots. 00:38:15.600 --> 00:38:18.600 You've got another guy like Jehoash. 00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:24.600 Who, you can imagine how Jehoash felt on the day of the fourth battle. 00:38:24.600 --> 00:38:26.600 And the fifth battle. 00:38:26.600 --> 00:38:28.600 And the sixth battle. 00:38:28.600 --> 00:38:32.600 Because he struck the ground three times and then he stopped. 00:38:32.600 --> 00:38:34.600 The third battle he knew he would win. 00:38:34.600 --> 00:38:36.600 And then they come again. 00:38:36.600 --> 00:38:37.600 And they come again. 00:38:37.600 --> 00:38:39.600 And they come again. 00:38:39.600 --> 00:38:42.600 And you can imagine the regret. 00:38:42.600 --> 00:38:46.600 It's not laziness as in physical laziness. 00:38:46.600 --> 00:38:51.600 It is a spiritual lethargy or sluggishness that begins to take hold. 00:38:58.600 --> 00:39:02.600 The mercy seat was where God would talk with them. 00:39:02.600 --> 00:39:05.600 And here's another thing. 00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:09.600 If you go to Leviticus 16, 2, you will see why Moses told Aaron, 00:39:09.600 --> 00:39:13.600 Hey Aaron, don't go into the holy of oldies. 00:39:13.600 --> 00:39:15.600 If I'm not here, don't even risk it. 00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:16.600 Don't go in there. 00:39:16.600 --> 00:39:19.600 And you would wonder why Moses was saying that to Aaron. 00:39:19.600 --> 00:39:23.600 And then in Leviticus 16, 2, you kind of see why. 00:39:23.600 --> 00:39:25.600 Leviticus 16, 2. 00:39:32.600 --> 00:39:35.600 Anyone here who's read Leviticus in the last two months? 00:39:37.600 --> 00:39:38.600 Really? 00:39:39.600 --> 00:39:40.600 Oh my Lord. 00:39:42.600 --> 00:39:43.600 Leviticus 16, 2. 00:39:45.600 --> 00:39:48.600 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, 00:39:48.600 --> 00:39:50.600 who died when they approached the Lord. 00:39:50.600 --> 00:39:51.600 The Lord said to Moses, 00:39:51.600 --> 00:39:54.600 Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses 00:39:54.600 --> 00:39:57.600 into the most holy place, behind the curtain, 00:39:57.600 --> 00:39:59.600 in the front of the atonement cover, on the ark, 00:39:59.600 --> 00:40:04.600 or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. 00:40:05.600 --> 00:40:09.600 If anyone ever looked, they would find between the cherubim, 00:40:09.600 --> 00:40:14.600 on the atonement cover, the cloud of glory, the Shekinah. 00:40:16.600 --> 00:40:18.600 In a dark room, it was the only light. 00:40:18.600 --> 00:40:20.600 There was nothing else there. 00:40:20.600 --> 00:40:22.600 The lamp was outside. 00:40:22.600 --> 00:40:24.600 The table of showbread was outside. 00:40:24.600 --> 00:40:27.600 In the Holy of Holies, there was only one thing. 00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:28.600 Light. 00:40:29.600 --> 00:40:32.600 And that was the light that was not earthly. 00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:38.600 It is the light that no darkness can swallow. 00:40:39.600 --> 00:40:44.600 It is divine light that came sheerly out of the glory and the holiness 00:40:44.600 --> 00:40:47.600 of the God you and I were singing to, and we serve. 00:40:48.600 --> 00:40:51.600 And he says, don't come in, because when he talks about the cloud, 00:40:51.600 --> 00:40:53.600 he's not talking about smoke. 00:40:53.600 --> 00:40:57.600 He's talking about the Shekinah that we read about so often in the Old Testament. 00:40:57.600 --> 00:40:59.600 There's the Shekinah of God came in. 00:41:03.600 --> 00:41:08.600 In fact, in Exodus 40, after Moses sets up the entire tent of meeting, 00:41:08.600 --> 00:41:13.600 he finishes putting the last touch, and guess what happens? 00:41:14.600 --> 00:41:19.600 The Shekinah, instead of staying within the wings of the angels, 00:41:19.600 --> 00:41:22.600 fills the place to the point where it says, 00:41:22.600 --> 00:41:27.600 Moses could not enter to minister. 00:41:27.600 --> 00:41:28.600 It is impossible. 00:41:32.600 --> 00:41:34.600 This is what we are talking about, guys. 00:41:34.600 --> 00:41:36.600 This is who we are dealing with. 00:41:36.600 --> 00:41:41.600 But he was confined to that and to a man who could see him once a year, 00:41:41.600 --> 00:41:45.600 besides Moses, and that cannot be. 00:41:46.600 --> 00:41:49.600 But the same privilege is being open to us. 00:41:49.600 --> 00:41:52.600 Question is, can you and I take advantage of it? 00:41:55.600 --> 00:42:01.600 Outside the times of worship, to the point where our worship is a result, 00:42:02.600 --> 00:42:04.600 to the point where our worship is a result. 00:42:18.600 --> 00:42:22.600 When people come in here, my dream, and it's not a far-off dream, 00:42:22.600 --> 00:42:27.600 when people come in here, my dream is that the presence of God will bring assurance, 00:42:27.600 --> 00:42:31.600 will bring confidence, will bring reverence, will bring restoration, 00:42:31.600 --> 00:42:34.600 will revive things in people that come in. 00:42:36.600 --> 00:42:40.600 Whether they are believers or not, when they come in, that it first happens to us. 00:42:40.600 --> 00:42:45.600 That when I come in here, there will be an assurance, there will be a confidence, 00:42:45.600 --> 00:42:49.600 there will be a reverence, there will be a reviving, 00:42:49.600 --> 00:42:54.600 there will be a restoration of things because I am in the temple of God. 00:42:54.600 --> 00:42:59.600 Remember what we are called. We are not the ark. We are the temple. 00:42:59.600 --> 00:43:01.600 Christ is the ark. 00:43:02.600 --> 00:43:08.600 No longer do we need a symbol of His presence because His presence now dwells somewhere. 00:43:08.600 --> 00:43:12.600 Remember that the Holy of Holies, the curtain tore. 00:43:12.600 --> 00:43:16.600 And when the curtain tore, God no longer lives in buildings. 00:43:16.600 --> 00:43:20.600 God decided He will live in people. People become the temple. 00:43:20.600 --> 00:43:25.600 People become the temple. 1 Corinthians 6.19, you are the temple of the living God. 00:43:25.600 --> 00:43:28.600 Acts 29, you are the temple of the living God. 00:43:28.600 --> 00:43:30.600 Don't you know that you do not belong to yourself? 00:43:30.600 --> 00:43:32.600 You are the temple of the living God. 00:43:32.600 --> 00:43:37.600 Which is why we sing songs like the blood because it could only be the blood. 00:43:37.600 --> 00:43:43.600 It could only be the blood that washes us clean and prepares us for a transcendent, 00:43:43.600 --> 00:43:52.600 invisible, eternal, holy, brilliant God who now has a place, a place to dwell in. 00:43:56.600 --> 00:43:58.600 We become that temple. 00:44:00.600 --> 00:44:03.600 His presence now dwells amongst the people. 00:44:03.600 --> 00:44:11.600 Therefore, when someone comes in, they must know the assurance, the confidence, 00:44:11.600 --> 00:44:19.600 the revival, the reverence and the restoration that is present in the room because the people have gotten it. 00:44:21.600 --> 00:44:27.600 Because they've gotten the forgiveness they need because they heard the voice at the seed of atonement. 00:44:27.600 --> 00:44:33.600 And they are, the glory in His presence. It's something that they know. 00:44:33.600 --> 00:44:38.600 Understand this, that us as human beings, especially once we are born again, 00:44:38.600 --> 00:44:46.600 it is natural for us to feel and think and know and recognize the presence of an invisible God. 00:44:48.600 --> 00:44:53.600 If I'm not feeling that, I can quickly adjust. I can quickly attune myself to it. 00:44:53.600 --> 00:45:00.600 You can ask any of these musicians. These musicians can come here feeling pretty unmusical. 00:45:01.600 --> 00:45:08.600 And then they come here and the music begins and they can easily attune themselves to begin to play. 00:45:10.600 --> 00:45:13.600 Soccer players the same way. Hockey players the same way. 00:45:13.600 --> 00:45:22.600 You might be running a fever till an hour before, but you come there and you draw everything you can out of you 00:45:22.600 --> 00:45:26.600 because you know who you are, the temple of the living God. 00:45:26.600 --> 00:45:31.600 But Jacob, how can I be a temple of the living God? Listen to what 1 Peter 2 says. 00:45:31.600 --> 00:45:36.600 You, Keziah, are a living stone. You, Matt, are a living stone. You, Meera, are a living stone. 00:45:36.600 --> 00:45:42.600 You, Tuni, are a living stone. And that these living stones have been put together 00:45:42.600 --> 00:45:46.600 so that we can become the temple of the living God. 00:45:49.600 --> 00:45:52.600 And therefore it matters. This is why it matters. 00:45:52.600 --> 00:46:01.600 This is why it matters. This is why it matters when someone is struggling to be part of a temple made up of living stones. 00:46:01.600 --> 00:46:06.600 This is why it matters. This is why it matters when a stone wants to become a brick. 00:46:06.600 --> 00:46:12.600 This is why it matters when a stone is beginning to crack. This is why it matters. 00:46:14.600 --> 00:46:19.600 Because what is being built here is the most beautiful construct on the face of the earth. 00:46:20.600 --> 00:46:22.600 A dwelling place for God. 00:46:26.600 --> 00:46:29.600 And then people come in and they recognize him. 00:46:32.600 --> 00:46:38.600 What makes him recognizable? The intimacy, the closeness of a people. 00:46:39.600 --> 00:46:43.600 That's what makes him recognizable. He can manifest himself like the song says. 00:46:44.600 --> 00:46:51.600 He can manifest himself. But you go to a house and you will always know who is the best friend of the host. 00:46:54.600 --> 00:47:00.600 If I come to your house and your best friend is there, it doesn't matter that you are serving us all the same amount of food, 00:47:00.600 --> 00:47:05.600 giving us the same drink, same chairs. I'll spot your best friend in seconds. 00:47:13.600 --> 00:47:18.600 We are his temple in the wilderness in a sense. He is the Shekinah glory. 00:47:23.600 --> 00:47:27.600 They carried him on their shoulders because he was king. 00:47:28.600 --> 00:47:32.600 I want us to understand something about the idea of king. 00:47:32.600 --> 00:47:36.600 Where the king is, is the place where he is. 00:47:37.600 --> 00:47:41.600 I want us to understand something about the idea of king. 00:47:41.600 --> 00:47:52.600 Where the king is, there his government is. 00:47:53.600 --> 00:47:57.600 Where the king is, there his government is. 00:47:57.600 --> 00:48:12.600 When a king speaks, his whole government is speaking. 00:48:12.600 --> 00:48:33.600 When he moves, his rule moves with him. 00:48:33.600 --> 00:48:42.600 Where the king is, there his government is. 00:48:42.600 --> 00:48:49.600 What is government? Let me define government. 00:48:49.600 --> 00:48:58.600 Government is to steer with a rudder. 00:48:58.600 --> 00:49:04.600 This is why it says govern your tongue. How your tongue goes, so your body goes. 00:49:04.600 --> 00:49:08.600 James Sabatri. Government is to steer with a rudder. 00:49:08.600 --> 00:49:23.600 Steer with a rudder. It's a system under which the right to make laws 00:49:23.600 --> 00:49:40.600 and the right to enforce laws belongs to a person. 00:49:40.600 --> 00:49:57.600 And he can delegate it to someone or a people or a nation. 00:49:57.600 --> 00:50:03.600 That's what government is. 00:50:03.600 --> 00:50:10.600 It might be only one man called Christ, the king. 00:50:10.600 --> 00:50:15.600 It might look like just one person. But in that person lies all power. 00:50:15.600 --> 00:50:21.600 Which is why we go here. Where the king is, there his government is. 00:50:21.600 --> 00:50:25.600 So when the king is present here, his rule is here. 00:50:25.600 --> 00:50:29.600 What does this rule look like? Very simple. 00:50:29.600 --> 00:50:35.600 You see his rule in Isaiah 61, 1-5 being read out in Luke chapter 4. 00:50:35.600 --> 00:50:40.600 That's his rule. We'll touch on that. His rule is very simple. 00:50:40.600 --> 00:50:46.600 He's a benevolent, magnificent, brilliant, kind, generous, God full of goodness. 00:50:46.600 --> 00:50:50.600 That's his rule. Full of goodness. That's his rule. 00:50:50.600 --> 00:50:54.600 And we look at it. But where the king is, there his government is. 00:50:54.600 --> 00:51:00.600 The question is, what is your expectation? What is my expectation when the king is somewhere? 00:51:00.600 --> 00:51:05.600 What is your expectation? We must understand the story of a roof being ripped open 00:51:05.600 --> 00:51:11.600 and people lowering their friend. Not so much about faith, but about expectation. 00:51:11.600 --> 00:51:19.600 There was an expectation that if King Jesus is in this house, then something good is going to happen. 00:51:20.600 --> 00:51:29.600 Faith always carries expectation. There is no forward movement of the feet without expectation. 00:51:29.600 --> 00:51:39.600 That is why it says of Abraham that there was a meshing of what he believed and what he did. 00:51:39.600 --> 00:51:47.600 And therefore he gets called what? Friend of God. 00:51:47.600 --> 00:51:55.600 So where the king is, there is rule is. These are things if we somehow learn and remember, 00:51:55.600 --> 00:52:06.600 then when you come here or when you gather together, you will always be aware of the expectation you can come with. 00:52:06.600 --> 00:52:12.600 I'm aware not only of the expectations that I have, I'm aware of the expectations I have for Aaron and Reni. 00:52:12.600 --> 00:52:19.600 I'm aware of the expectations I have for Matt and Rachel. I know the expectations I have for what's her name? 00:52:19.600 --> 00:52:26.600 Shireen. I know the expectations that I have for Sedeq. It's not just expectations of myself from God. 00:52:26.600 --> 00:52:33.600 It is what I expect from the king who is present and his rule to break out into the lives in his temple 00:52:33.600 --> 00:52:39.600 made up of living stones like you and I. And is anything too difficult for him? 00:52:39.600 --> 00:52:45.600 Where the king is, there his government is. Where a king speaks, his government speaks. 00:52:45.600 --> 00:52:53.600 A prophetic word that is tested out is like the decree of a king. Even if, hear me, so that there be no mistake about this. 00:52:53.600 --> 00:52:58.600 Even if it does not have a scriptural worth in it. 00:52:58.600 --> 00:53:10.600 Because when the king speaks, his whole government is speaking. 00:53:10.600 --> 00:53:21.600 And then when he moves, his rule moves with him. Which is why, when God tells you to move, 00:53:21.600 --> 00:53:30.600 move with him because his whole rule, his whole government moves with him. 00:53:30.600 --> 00:53:37.600 What do we define his rule as? 00:53:37.600 --> 00:53:44.600 A system under which the right to make laws and the right to enforce laws. 00:53:44.600 --> 00:53:56.600 Making laws is not enough. If you have to make laws and then pass it through the House and the Senate, you ain't a king. 00:53:56.600 --> 00:54:06.600 To make laws and to enforce laws and then a step further. It belongs to a person and he can delegate it. 00:54:06.600 --> 00:54:21.600 He can delegate it. 00:54:21.600 --> 00:54:28.600 I love the fact that one of the ways of describing the law of God is in the Republic. 00:54:28.600 --> 00:54:32.600 It's not a democracy. It's not an autocracy. It's not a monarchy. 00:54:32.600 --> 00:54:42.600 I'll tell you what it is for us guys and don't forget this. 00:54:42.600 --> 00:54:57.600 It's not democracy, autocracy, monarchy, Republic. 00:54:57.600 --> 00:55:13.600 There's nothing else man in Israel knew it. It is God with us. That's what it is. 00:55:13.600 --> 00:55:20.600 That is what Israel knew. That is why it was important that the ark go before them. 00:55:20.600 --> 00:55:26.600 If the ark went before them, they knew victory was theirs. 00:55:26.600 --> 00:55:31.600 If the ark went before them, they knew seas would part. 00:55:31.600 --> 00:55:40.600 If the ark was captured, they found out that other gods would fall. 00:55:40.600 --> 00:55:47.600 This is who we learn to be. This is not learned in a day, but it is learned over time. 00:55:47.600 --> 00:55:52.600 That it is not a democracy. It's not an autocracy. It's not a monarchy. It's not a Republic. 00:55:52.600 --> 00:56:06.600 It is God with us. And then when if we were in the Old Testament and you had James and Pavan and Prosper and Aaron carry this thing, 00:56:06.600 --> 00:56:23.600 200 pounds on their shoulders, we would confidently follow because we actually believed that the presence of the only God Yahweh actually was with us because there was a cloud over that box. 00:56:23.600 --> 00:56:33.600 And we would go anywhere. We would do anything. And I'm here to say that we have someone far greater than the ark here. 00:56:33.600 --> 00:56:40.600 In the person of Christ who is Shekinah, who is the glory of God. 00:56:40.600 --> 00:56:48.600 To be able to somehow connect with things that are invisible but eternal instead of things that are visible and temporal. 00:56:48.600 --> 00:56:58.600 The ark disappeared. I think it was King Hades or one of those guys who burned the temple down to bits and the ark was burned too. 00:56:58.600 --> 00:57:03.600 You won't find it when you go to Turkey, me. 00:57:03.600 --> 00:57:08.600 But we are looking at someone who is invisible and eternal in our midst right now. 00:57:08.600 --> 00:57:13.600 Who's thrilled at what we are talking about. 00:57:13.600 --> 00:57:20.600 Who walks like he walks among the lampstands. He walks amongst us. Angels stoop to hear these truths. 00:57:20.600 --> 00:57:27.600 And he walks here thrilled at the fact that we are coming to the realization that we are actually not our own, but we are his. 00:57:27.600 --> 00:57:38.600 And that we are actually living stones that he brought alive and that we are actually being put together to form a temple so that his Shekinah can dwell here right now. 00:57:38.600 --> 00:57:43.600 What is your expectation of your Shekinah, of his Shekinah when it is invisible? 00:57:43.600 --> 00:57:51.600 What is your expectation of his Shekinah when it is invisible? 00:57:51.600 --> 00:57:56.600 Come on, man. We've got to become spirit people, yeah? 00:57:56.600 --> 00:58:03.600 To go where we are supposed to go, we cannot depend on our senses and what we feel. 00:58:03.600 --> 00:58:08.600 We have the ability, church. 00:58:08.600 --> 00:58:12.600 And we don't need to switch off. 00:58:12.600 --> 00:58:15.600 We are spirit men and women. 00:58:15.600 --> 00:58:19.600 Our spirits are constantly alive, saturated with the Holy Spirit. 00:58:19.600 --> 00:58:23.600 The same Shekinah that dwells there now dwells in here too. 00:58:23.600 --> 00:58:26.600 I'm a spirit man. 00:58:26.600 --> 00:58:30.600 Born again by the word. Born again by the spirit. 00:58:30.600 --> 00:58:33.600 Occupying a body that he made that will be transformed. 00:58:33.600 --> 00:58:36.600 And a soul that's been constantly renewed. 00:58:36.600 --> 00:58:41.600 But I'm a spirit man and I know the spirit of Christ who is present here. 00:58:41.600 --> 00:58:44.600 We can follow him. We can follow him. 00:58:44.600 --> 00:58:48.600 We can follow an invisible spirit of the living God who is here. 00:58:48.600 --> 00:58:50.600 This is who we are. 00:58:50.600 --> 00:58:54.600 We don't live by flesh and blood. Come on. 00:58:54.600 --> 00:58:59.600 And the people that begin to think like this can easily identify him. 00:58:59.600 --> 00:59:02.600 They can answer what Jesus asked naked emers. 00:59:02.600 --> 00:59:06.600 Can you see the spirit? No, I can't see the spirit but I can see him moving in the trees. 00:59:06.600 --> 00:59:09.600 The wind moves in the tree. And he said that's how it is. 00:59:09.600 --> 00:59:12.600 That is, don't know where he's going but you can track him. 00:59:12.600 --> 00:59:16.600 And when you track him, leave everything and follow him. 00:59:16.600 --> 00:59:20.600 It brings satisfaction guys. 00:59:22.600 --> 00:59:25.600 Don't switch off eh? 00:59:25.600 --> 00:59:29.600 When the body is tired, when the mind is weary and fatigued, 00:59:29.600 --> 00:59:32.600 there is one that still is highly alive. 00:59:32.600 --> 00:59:37.600 The spirit of man, completely energized by the Holy Spirit. 00:59:39.600 --> 00:59:42.600 This was what made people like Moses different. 00:59:42.600 --> 00:59:45.600 In an Old Testament when his spirit was still corrupt, 00:59:45.600 --> 00:59:49.600 he had the ability to go into the presence of God. 00:59:49.600 --> 00:59:51.600 This was what made Joshua different. 00:59:51.600 --> 00:59:57.600 A young man, as young as you, sitting there, not wanting to go away. 01:00:02.600 --> 01:00:06.600 When we leave here, when we go and eat shawarma at al-Basha, 01:00:06.600 --> 01:00:09.600 you're still alive as a spirit man. 01:00:12.600 --> 01:00:14.600 It prevents you from going off keel eh? 01:00:14.600 --> 01:00:17.600 You stop operating in the flesh. 01:00:17.600 --> 01:00:23.600 You spend more and more time, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% of your time as a spirit man. 01:00:27.600 --> 01:00:29.600 This is real guys. 01:00:30.600 --> 01:00:33.600 This is why Paul said, hey, our outer man is wearing out, 01:00:33.600 --> 01:00:35.600 but the inner man is being continuously strengthened. 01:00:35.600 --> 01:00:37.600 Come on, that's a name we should have. 01:00:37.600 --> 01:00:40.600 You don't have to wait till your hair go gray 01:00:40.600 --> 01:00:43.600 and you're beginning to look like Dilna. 01:00:43.600 --> 01:00:46.600 You can begin this process early. 01:00:46.600 --> 01:00:48.600 We are still young. 01:00:54.600 --> 01:00:57.600 Dilna gave me a hug after the 20th anniversary. 01:00:57.600 --> 01:01:00.600 Dilna gave me a hug after the 20th and said, I love being in this church. 01:01:00.600 --> 01:01:02.600 And I thought for a second, why? 01:01:02.600 --> 01:01:04.600 But then... 01:01:04.600 --> 01:01:11.600 So, yeah, we have to focus on being continuously 01:01:11.600 --> 01:01:14.600 in the process of strengthening the inner man. 01:01:16.600 --> 01:01:21.600 Because the outer man wears away sometimes just because you've had a terribly hard day. 01:01:27.600 --> 01:01:30.600 Ephesians 1, 21 and 22, read from the message. 01:01:30.600 --> 01:01:34.600 Ephesians 1, 21 and 22, from the message. 01:01:38.600 --> 01:01:41.600 Hey, are you guys OK if I end it in 10 minutes? 01:01:41.600 --> 01:01:44.600 You don't mind? 01:01:44.600 --> 01:01:47.600 You won't feel like you were robbed, 01:01:47.600 --> 01:01:50.600 didn't get your money's worth? 01:01:50.600 --> 01:01:52.600 Oh, sorry, the jacket's gone. 01:01:52.600 --> 01:01:54.600 Forget what I said. 01:01:54.600 --> 01:01:58.600 Yeah, Ephesians 1, 21 and 22. 01:01:58.600 --> 01:02:00.600 Verse 20. 01:02:00.600 --> 01:02:03.600 All this energy, issues from Christ, 01:02:03.600 --> 01:02:08.600 God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven. 01:02:08.600 --> 01:02:11.600 And he was raised from the dead. 01:02:11.600 --> 01:02:14.600 And he was raised from the dead. 01:02:14.600 --> 01:02:17.600 And he was raised from the dead. 01:02:17.600 --> 01:02:21.600 And he was raised from the dead and set him on a throne in deep heaven. 01:02:21.600 --> 01:02:23.600 When they were in the wilderness, 01:02:23.600 --> 01:02:26.600 they set him on a throne that looked something like this, 01:02:26.600 --> 01:02:28.600 and they carried him around. 01:02:28.600 --> 01:02:31.600 But now he's set him on a throne in deep heaven. 01:02:31.600 --> 01:02:33.600 And then I love the next bit. 01:02:33.600 --> 01:02:36.600 In charge of running the universe, 01:02:36.600 --> 01:02:39.600 everything from galaxies to governments, 01:02:39.600 --> 01:02:43.600 no name and no power exempt from his rule. 01:02:43.600 --> 01:02:46.600 And not just for the time being, but forever. 01:02:46.600 --> 01:02:50.600 He is in charge of all of it, has the final word on everything. 01:02:50.600 --> 01:02:54.600 At the center of it all, at the center of all this, 01:02:54.600 --> 01:02:56.600 Christ rules the church. 01:02:56.600 --> 01:03:01.600 The church you see is not peripheral to the world. 01:03:01.600 --> 01:03:05.600 The world is peripheral to the church. 01:03:05.600 --> 01:03:08.600 The church is Christ's body in which he speaks and acts, 01:03:08.600 --> 01:03:11.600 by which he fills everything with his presence. 01:03:11.600 --> 01:03:14.600 It goes back to what I was saying here. 01:03:14.600 --> 01:03:17.600 Where the king is, his government is. 01:03:17.600 --> 01:03:21.600 Where the king is, where the king speaks, 01:03:21.600 --> 01:03:24.600 his whole government is speaking. 01:03:24.600 --> 01:03:27.600 When he moves, his rule moves. 01:03:30.600 --> 01:03:33.600 It's hard to wrap our heads around it, 01:03:33.600 --> 01:03:36.600 our hearts around it in one sitting. 01:03:36.600 --> 01:03:39.600 Blessed are they that meditate on the truth. 01:03:39.600 --> 01:03:42.600 What is meditation? God-directed self-talk. 01:03:42.600 --> 01:03:44.600 God-directed self-talk. 01:03:44.600 --> 01:03:46.600 Where you take something God has said, 01:03:46.600 --> 01:03:49.600 and you go over it again and again. 01:03:49.600 --> 01:03:50.600 Self-talk with God. 01:03:50.600 --> 01:03:53.600 God-directed self-talk is what meditation is. 01:03:56.600 --> 01:03:59.600 Go to Isaiah 9, 4. 01:04:06.600 --> 01:04:08.600 You know the other crazy thing about this king 01:04:08.600 --> 01:04:11.600 is that this king owns everything. 01:04:11.600 --> 01:04:15.600 Philippians 2, verse 9 to 11. 01:04:15.600 --> 01:04:17.600 I've given him a name that is above every name. 01:04:17.600 --> 01:04:18.600 Nothing is exempt from him. 01:04:18.600 --> 01:04:20.600 He owns everything. 01:04:24.600 --> 01:04:27.600 Every time we turn up here together like this, 01:04:27.600 --> 01:04:30.600 or in any gathering, know that he shows up, 01:04:30.600 --> 01:04:32.600 and he shows up in his full authority. 01:04:32.600 --> 01:04:35.600 His authority does not reside in a place, 01:04:35.600 --> 01:04:37.600 it does not reside in a document, 01:04:37.600 --> 01:04:39.600 it resides in him personally. 01:04:39.600 --> 01:04:41.600 The closer you get to him, 01:04:41.600 --> 01:04:44.600 the greater is your experience of his authority. 01:04:48.600 --> 01:04:50.600 Therefore, when he takes a signet ring, 01:04:50.600 --> 01:04:54.600 and puts it on the finger of a church, 01:04:54.600 --> 01:04:56.600 it's like the king saying, 01:04:56.600 --> 01:04:59.600 listen, now if you stamp, I'll back it. 01:05:01.600 --> 01:05:04.600 Let's for a moment assume that Hebrides 2.0 01:05:04.600 --> 01:05:06.600 is a signet ring given to this church. 01:05:06.600 --> 01:05:08.600 That it is actually true. 01:05:08.600 --> 01:05:09.600 Now there'll be skeptics, 01:05:09.600 --> 01:05:12.600 there'll be people who want evidence and results for it 01:05:12.600 --> 01:05:14.600 in a period of time. 01:05:14.600 --> 01:05:15.600 That's okay. 01:05:15.600 --> 01:05:18.600 But what if he has given a signet ring? 01:05:20.600 --> 01:05:23.600 Then when you stamp it, all of heaven 01:05:23.600 --> 01:05:25.600 knows your name and backs you up. 01:05:35.600 --> 01:05:37.600 Hey, aren't these shoes nice? 01:05:38.600 --> 01:05:41.600 I just thought they matched the green on this. 01:05:41.600 --> 01:05:43.600 I was hoping someone would comment, 01:05:43.600 --> 01:05:45.600 finally I decided I've got to do this. 01:05:46.600 --> 01:05:49.600 Thank you, you should have thought of this long ago. 01:06:01.600 --> 01:06:03.600 What does this rule look like? 01:06:03.600 --> 01:06:06.600 What does this rule look like? 01:06:09.600 --> 01:06:16.600 What does his government look like? 01:06:21.600 --> 01:06:25.600 It's Isaiah 61, 1-5, 01:06:27.600 --> 01:06:32.600 in Luke 4, 16-21. 01:06:32.600 --> 01:06:34.600 So let's go to Luke 4, 16-21. 01:06:34.600 --> 01:06:36.600 Let's go to Luke 4, 16-21. 01:06:36.600 --> 01:06:39.600 Luke 4, 16-21. 01:06:51.600 --> 01:06:53.600 It's one of my favorite passages. 01:06:54.600 --> 01:06:57.600 Because I can so see it's happening. 01:06:59.600 --> 01:07:03.600 So he's finished the time in wilderness 01:07:03.600 --> 01:07:04.600 and he's coming back. 01:07:04.600 --> 01:07:05.600 Verse 14. 01:07:06.600 --> 01:07:10.600 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit 01:07:11.600 --> 01:07:14.600 and news about him spread through the whole country. 01:07:14.600 --> 01:07:16.600 You know, sometimes what blows me away 01:07:16.600 --> 01:07:18.600 is that as we're reading the scriptures, 01:07:18.600 --> 01:07:20.600 he's here and he's hearing this. 01:07:21.600 --> 01:07:23.600 It's very hard then to focus on the scripture 01:07:23.600 --> 01:07:24.600 because he's here. 01:07:24.600 --> 01:07:27.600 This is about him and he's here. 01:07:27.600 --> 01:07:29.600 We're reading it out and he hears it. 01:07:30.600 --> 01:07:32.600 And he pays attention to how we are hearing it. 01:07:32.600 --> 01:07:35.600 And then by his Spirit, he quickens our heart 01:07:35.600 --> 01:07:37.600 as his word is read because the word is life. 01:07:37.600 --> 01:07:40.600 It's strange how this whole thing works. 01:07:42.600 --> 01:07:43.600 Plus, it gets more complicated. 01:07:43.600 --> 01:07:45.600 He knows everything I'm going to say next. 01:07:46.600 --> 01:07:49.600 Sometimes I wish I could slip one in, but... 01:07:52.600 --> 01:07:54.600 Going back to Luke 4. 01:07:54.600 --> 01:07:57.600 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit 01:07:57.600 --> 01:08:00.600 and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 01:08:00.600 --> 01:08:03.600 He taught in the synagogues and everyone praised him. 01:08:03.600 --> 01:08:06.600 He went to Nazareth where he had been brought up 01:08:06.600 --> 01:08:08.600 and on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue 01:08:08.600 --> 01:08:10.600 as was his custom. 01:08:11.600 --> 01:08:13.600 As he stood up to read, 01:08:13.600 --> 01:08:15.600 the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. 01:08:15.600 --> 01:08:19.600 I mean, orchestrated from the beginning of history. 01:08:19.600 --> 01:08:21.600 As he stood up to read, it was his turn to read. 01:08:21.600 --> 01:08:22.600 Now, guess what? 01:08:22.600 --> 01:08:24.600 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. 01:08:24.600 --> 01:08:28.600 Unrolling it, now he decides where he'll read from. 01:08:28.600 --> 01:08:31.600 Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written. 01:08:31.600 --> 01:08:33.600 And then he begins to read. 01:08:33.600 --> 01:08:35.600 The Spirit of the Lord is on me 01:08:35.600 --> 01:08:37.600 because he has anointed me 01:08:37.600 --> 01:08:39.600 to preach the good news to the poor. 01:08:39.600 --> 01:08:42.600 He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, 01:08:42.600 --> 01:08:44.600 recovery of sight for the blind, 01:08:44.600 --> 01:08:46.600 to release the oppressed, 01:08:46.600 --> 01:08:48.600 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 01:08:48.600 --> 01:08:50.600 Then he rolled up the scroll, 01:08:50.600 --> 01:08:53.600 gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. 01:08:53.600 --> 01:08:56.600 The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 01:08:56.600 --> 01:08:58.600 And he began by saying to them, 01:08:58.600 --> 01:09:01.600 today the scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. 01:09:01.600 --> 01:09:03.600 This is his government. 01:09:03.600 --> 01:09:05.600 This is his rule. 01:09:05.600 --> 01:09:06.600 Now go to Isaiah 61, 01:09:06.600 --> 01:09:08.600 and you'll get the longer version of it, 01:09:08.600 --> 01:09:10.600 which you and I must memorize. 01:09:10.600 --> 01:09:12.600 Isaiah 61, 01:09:14.600 --> 01:09:16.600 1 to 5. 01:09:18.600 --> 01:09:20.600 This is his rule. 01:09:23.600 --> 01:09:25.600 Isaiah 61, 01:09:25.600 --> 01:09:28.600 he changed the word some when he was reading it out to them. 01:09:28.600 --> 01:09:30.600 He has the right to. 01:09:31.600 --> 01:09:33.600 But if he was living today, 01:09:33.600 --> 01:09:36.600 they would say he took it out of context. 01:09:36.600 --> 01:09:38.600 Isaiah 61, 01:09:38.600 --> 01:09:40.600 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me 01:09:40.600 --> 01:09:42.600 because the Lord has anointed me 01:09:42.600 --> 01:09:44.600 to preach the good news to the poor. 01:09:44.600 --> 01:09:47.600 He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted. 01:09:49.600 --> 01:09:52.600 He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 01:09:52.600 --> 01:09:55.600 to proclaim freedom for the captives, 01:09:55.600 --> 01:09:59.600 release from darkness for prisoners, 01:09:59.600 --> 01:10:02.600 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, 01:10:02.600 --> 01:10:04.600 meaning to proclaim Jubilee, 01:10:04.600 --> 01:10:07.600 and the day of vengeance of our God, 01:10:07.600 --> 01:10:10.600 to comfort all who mourn, 01:10:10.600 --> 01:10:13.600 to provide for those who grieve in Zion, 01:10:13.600 --> 01:10:17.600 to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 01:10:17.600 --> 01:10:20.600 the oil of gladness instead of mourning, 01:10:20.600 --> 01:10:23.600 a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 01:10:24.600 --> 01:10:26.600 They will be called oaks of righteousness, 01:10:26.600 --> 01:10:29.600 a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 01:10:29.600 --> 01:10:31.600 They will rebuild ancient ruins, 01:10:31.600 --> 01:10:33.600 restore places long devastated. 01:10:33.600 --> 01:10:35.600 They will renew ruined cities 01:10:35.600 --> 01:10:38.600 that will have been devastated for generations. 01:10:40.600 --> 01:10:42.600 That's his rule. 01:10:42.600 --> 01:10:46.600 And that's what he wants to bring through us into the world. 01:10:51.600 --> 01:10:53.600 We are the temple. 01:10:53.600 --> 01:10:57.600 He is the Shekinah in our midst, 01:10:57.600 --> 01:11:01.600 and then through us, in our midst, 01:11:01.600 --> 01:11:03.600 and then through us. 01:11:03.600 --> 01:11:06.600 We'll do the rest when we meet next. 01:11:06.600 --> 01:11:12.600 But there is something called governmental grace, guys. 01:11:12.600 --> 01:11:14.600 Governmental grace. 01:11:21.600 --> 01:11:23.600 Governmental grace. 01:11:23.600 --> 01:11:28.600 You can go read about it in 2 Chronicles 1.10. 01:11:28.600 --> 01:11:34.600 You can read about it in Proverbs 29.4. 01:11:34.600 --> 01:11:38.600 You can read about it in Psalm 72. 01:11:38.600 --> 01:11:40.600 Solomon recognized it. 01:11:43.600 --> 01:11:45.600 David recognized it. 01:11:46.600 --> 01:11:48.600 And they asked for it. 01:11:50.600 --> 01:11:52.600 And we need this. 01:11:52.600 --> 01:11:54.600 It is the grace of God. 01:11:54.600 --> 01:11:56.600 I'm just setting you up for the next time. 01:11:56.600 --> 01:11:58.600 It's the grace of God 01:12:00.600 --> 01:12:03.600 given first to the church 01:12:10.600 --> 01:12:12.600 and then 01:12:14.600 --> 01:12:16.600 for the cities we live in 01:12:21.600 --> 01:12:24.600 and the nations we will father. 01:12:25.600 --> 01:12:27.600 Yeah, nations. 01:12:36.600 --> 01:12:38.600 And how do we go about it? 01:12:38.600 --> 01:12:40.600 We recognize it in Scripture. 01:12:42.600 --> 01:12:44.600 Is it real? 01:12:44.600 --> 01:12:47.600 Does Scripture say that it exists? 01:12:48.600 --> 01:12:50.600 Then we define it, 01:12:50.600 --> 01:12:52.600 now that we've seen it. 01:12:54.600 --> 01:12:56.600 Then we receive it 01:12:57.600 --> 01:12:59.600 by faith, 01:12:59.600 --> 01:13:02.600 because we are very ordinary nobodies. 01:13:06.600 --> 01:13:08.600 Then we execute it 01:13:10.600 --> 01:13:13.600 in our areas 01:13:13.600 --> 01:13:16.600 with the power of the Spirit. 01:13:17.600 --> 01:13:19.600 Then we practice it 01:13:23.600 --> 01:13:25.600 in increasing circles, 01:13:29.600 --> 01:13:31.600 increasing radius. 01:13:33.600 --> 01:13:35.600 Then we explore it further. 01:13:39.600 --> 01:13:41.600 And finally, we convey it 01:13:41.600 --> 01:13:43.600 to sons. 01:13:43.600 --> 01:13:45.600 It's a genderless term 01:13:45.600 --> 01:13:47.600 who are tested. 01:13:52.600 --> 01:13:54.600 It's beautiful, eh? 01:13:54.600 --> 01:13:56.600 We recognize it in Scripture. 01:13:58.600 --> 01:14:00.600 One of the places you see this in Psalm 72. 01:14:00.600 --> 01:14:02.600 Psalm 72 is a coronation psalm. 01:14:02.600 --> 01:14:04.600 And David is crying out saying, 01:14:04.600 --> 01:14:06.600 Oh God, 01:14:06.600 --> 01:14:08.600 I am a sinner. 01:14:08.600 --> 01:14:10.600 And David is crying out saying, 01:14:10.600 --> 01:14:12.600 Oh God, I need 01:14:12.600 --> 01:14:14.600 the ability, the grace to rule. 01:14:14.600 --> 01:14:15.600 I don't have it. 01:14:15.600 --> 01:14:17.600 Give me the grace to rule. 01:14:17.600 --> 01:14:19.600 In 2 Chronicles 1.10, 01:14:19.600 --> 01:14:20.600 God says to him, 01:14:20.600 --> 01:14:22.600 Solomon, ask whatever you want. 01:14:22.600 --> 01:14:24.600 Whatever you want. 01:14:24.600 --> 01:14:25.600 And you know what he asks for. 01:14:25.600 --> 01:14:26.600 He says, 01:14:26.600 --> 01:14:27.600 Give me the wisdom 01:14:27.600 --> 01:14:29.600 and the grace that I require 01:14:29.600 --> 01:14:31.600 to rule your people. 01:14:32.600 --> 01:14:33.600 And then God says, 01:14:33.600 --> 01:14:34.600 Because you ask for this 01:14:34.600 --> 01:14:35.600 and not for wealth and riches, 01:14:35.600 --> 01:14:36.600 you can have this 01:14:36.600 --> 01:14:38.600 and I'll give you wealth and riches too. 01:14:38.600 --> 01:14:40.600 It's governmental grace or wisdom to rule. 01:14:40.600 --> 01:14:42.600 And once we, 01:14:42.600 --> 01:14:44.600 so how do we go about it? 01:14:44.600 --> 01:14:46.600 Because this is an important process 01:14:46.600 --> 01:14:48.600 for most things, eh? 01:14:48.600 --> 01:14:50.600 In this church, especially going forward. 01:14:50.600 --> 01:14:52.600 Recognize it in Scripture. 01:14:52.600 --> 01:14:54.600 Once you recognize it in Scripture, 01:14:54.600 --> 01:14:56.600 define it. 01:14:56.600 --> 01:14:58.600 Because when people ask, 01:14:58.600 --> 01:15:00.600 I must give a reasonable explanation. 01:15:00.600 --> 01:15:02.600 Define it. Once you define it, 01:15:02.600 --> 01:15:04.600 receive it with faith. 01:15:04.600 --> 01:15:05.600 It cannot be received if not by faith. 01:15:05.600 --> 01:15:07.600 Because we are nobodies. 01:15:08.600 --> 01:15:09.600 Receive it by faith. 01:15:09.600 --> 01:15:11.600 Next, in your little area, 01:15:11.600 --> 01:15:12.600 begin to execute it 01:15:12.600 --> 01:15:14.600 by the power of the Spirit. 01:15:14.600 --> 01:15:16.600 See how it works. 01:15:16.600 --> 01:15:18.600 Next, now that you know how it works, 01:15:18.600 --> 01:15:21.600 practice it and let it increase in radius. 01:15:22.600 --> 01:15:24.600 After that, explore it further. 01:15:24.600 --> 01:15:27.600 There's never a limit to the things of God. 01:15:28.600 --> 01:15:30.600 And once you explore it further, 01:15:30.600 --> 01:15:33.600 convey it to sons that are tested 01:15:33.600 --> 01:15:36.600 so that they don't have to start working all over again. 01:15:38.600 --> 01:15:40.600 Yeah, we'll stop there. 01:15:40.600 --> 01:15:42.600 Keep your spirit sharp. 01:15:42.600 --> 01:15:45.600 You're a spirit man or a woman. 01:15:45.600 --> 01:15:47.600 Keep your spirit sharp. 01:15:47.600 --> 01:15:49.600 It'll prevent you from walking in the flesh 01:15:49.600 --> 01:15:52.600 and satisfying the desires of the flesh. 01:15:52.600 --> 01:15:54.600 You'll be surprised how easy it is 01:15:54.600 --> 01:15:56.600 to go from keeping your spirit sharp 01:15:56.600 --> 01:15:59.600 to two and a half hours of social media. 01:15:59.600 --> 01:16:01.600 How easy it is. 01:16:04.600 --> 01:16:06.600 There's an old Simon and Garthacool song, 01:16:06.600 --> 01:16:08.600 Slip Sliding Away. 01:16:10.600 --> 01:16:12.600 Slip sliding away. 01:16:12.600 --> 01:16:14.600 No, we won't end on that note. 01:16:14.600 --> 01:16:15.600 Okay. 01:16:15.600 --> 01:16:16.600 If you need prayer, 01:16:16.600 --> 01:16:18.600 someone will be here to pray with you. 01:16:18.600 --> 01:16:21.600 Otherwise, I'll see you not this week, 01:16:21.600 --> 01:16:23.600 but I'll see you the week after. 01:16:23.600 --> 01:16:25.600 And we'll say hello from Columbia. 01:16:25.600 --> 01:16:26.600 Yeah? 01:16:26.600 --> 01:16:28.600 Bless you guys. 01:16:29.600 --> 01:16:31.600 Good. Someone put... 01:16:33.600 --> 01:16:35.600 I'll see you next week.