1 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:07,420 - Well, good morning. 2 00:00:07,420 --> 00:00:09,940 I said good morning. 3 00:00:09,940 --> 00:00:10,780 There you are. 4 00:00:10,780 --> 00:00:12,140 If you're joining us on live stream, 5 00:00:12,140 --> 00:00:13,240 we wish you were here, 6 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,380 but I'm glad that you're joining us nonetheless. 7 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:18,340 A few things as you guys are coming 8 00:00:18,340 --> 00:00:20,180 and giving this morning. 9 00:00:20,180 --> 00:00:23,660 First of all, just something noteworthy. 10 00:00:23,660 --> 00:00:25,740 Josh McCloud, where are you? 11 00:00:25,740 --> 00:00:26,560 Oh, he's coming. 12 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,660 Come here real fast. 13 00:00:28,780 --> 00:00:30,180 I'm putting him on the spot. 14 00:00:30,180 --> 00:00:33,220 I'd like you one minute. 15 00:00:33,220 --> 00:00:35,580 I just want you to share what you shared a few moments ago. 16 00:00:35,580 --> 00:00:39,220 I think it's predominant today's 20 years. 17 00:00:39,220 --> 00:00:40,780 Come here, come here. 18 00:00:40,780 --> 00:00:41,620 - Sure. 19 00:00:41,620 --> 00:00:52,740 This is a place that produces exponential kingdom 20 00:00:58,260 --> 00:01:00,440 and that's just what it is. 21 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,100 The kingdom of God is without end 22 00:01:05,100 --> 00:01:08,500 and of his kingdom there will be no end. 23 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:11,420 So this is a super significant day for me. 24 00:01:11,420 --> 00:01:14,820 20 years ago today, I stood on this stage 25 00:01:14,820 --> 00:01:17,760 as the first day of Watermelon Ministries. 26 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:25,240 And that significant, the 20 year mark is to me 27 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,640 is probably the most significant mark 28 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,640 because I learned that it takes an oak tree 20 years 29 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:39,620 to create from one acorn to produce another acorn 30 00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:41,480 takes 20 years. 31 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,240 And we often in ministry, we think like, 32 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:46,880 why isn't this like what happened? 33 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,240 It's three years, like it's five years, it's 10 years. 34 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:51,760 Why this struggle? 35 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:53,640 But when God creates something 36 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,400 that's going to multiply greatly, 37 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,200 he often has to season for a long season. 38 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:03,860 And so this is the 20th year of Watermelon 39 00:02:03,860 --> 00:02:07,160 and so I'm grateful to this church. 40 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,600 You have been exponentially kind to my family 41 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,400 and that has allowed us to be exponentially kind 42 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,140 to the world. 43 00:02:16,140 --> 00:02:18,120 I mean, Instruments of Joy was started 44 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:19,540 because of Watermelon Ministries, 45 00:02:19,540 --> 00:02:22,860 1400 musicians in 71 countries 46 00:02:22,860 --> 00:02:25,320 given a quality musical instrument in Jesus name. 47 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,000 Picture the Nations was started 48 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,740 because of Watermelon Ministries, 49 00:02:29,740 --> 00:02:33,800 like more than 10 nations represented 50 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:34,960 by the beauty of their people 51 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:36,380 instead of the stigma of their poverty. 52 00:02:36,380 --> 00:02:40,080 We had a gallery at the National Airport this year. 53 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,600 Countless sermons and teachings and leaders equipped, 54 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,480 but it would not have happened without this congregation. 55 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,320 And I just, I'm super excited about the next 20 years. 56 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,760 So thanks brother. 57 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:52,840 - Amen. 58 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:54,460 Joshua would be happy to meet you 59 00:02:54,460 --> 00:02:56,840 and tell you about his ministry after the gathering. 60 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:58,440 They don't harvest watermelons 61 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,940 for those who have not been with us for 20 years, 62 00:03:00,940 --> 00:03:02,840 but he's got a real powerful ministry. 63 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:03,800 He'd love to tell you about it. 64 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:04,720 A couple other things. 65 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,460 Next Sunday is gonna look a little different here. 66 00:03:07,460 --> 00:03:08,520 Next Sunday, we're gonna have 67 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,480 our Springhouse Christmas party 68 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,400 and we're excited about that. 69 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,180 So here's what's going on next Sunday. 70 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:16,300 At nine o'clock, for those of you who want to come 71 00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:18,160 and be a part of worship in the word, 72 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,800 we're gonna have a nine o'clock gathering. 73 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,360 It's gonna be the 12 Sunday school class moved in here. 74 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:23,760 We're gonna have worship in the word. 75 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,000 And then during this gathering at 1030, 76 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,600 we're going to have a special guest 77 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:28,920 who's going to be with us, 78 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:32,020 followed by a Christmas party between the hours of 12 and two. 79 00:03:32,020 --> 00:03:32,860 We're gonna feed you. 80 00:03:32,860 --> 00:03:34,380 We've got games, a rock climb. 81 00:03:34,380 --> 00:03:37,800 We've got a candy bar, candy bar, candy bar. 82 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,040 It's gonna be great and delicious and all of the things. 83 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:42,640 We want you to come and be a part of that. 84 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,480 Bring a friend next week. 85 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:45,620 We're gonna celebrate the Lord 86 00:03:45,620 --> 00:03:47,320 and celebrate our community together. 87 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:48,760 Does that sound good? 88 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,800 All right, and then mark your calendars. 89 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:55,120 December 20th is our 37th annual Carols by Candlelight. 90 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,280 And we want you to be a part of it. 91 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,880 I have kind of gotten a glimpse or heard a couple of things 92 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:03,000 that are happening in there 93 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,320 that's gonna make this one super special. 94 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,040 Make plans to be here. 95 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:09,400 Bring family, bring friends. 96 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,240 It really sets the tone as you're leaning into the week 97 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:13,120 for Christmas Day. 98 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaking of Christmas, things have changed around here. 99 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:21,120 And we are into our Advent series, God with us. 100 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:22,520 Emphasis on the word with 101 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,840 because the miracle is that He is with us. 102 00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:27,800 So we're doing a three-week series today. 103 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,000 We're gonna talk about God with us in the past 104 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,960 leading up to His birth. 105 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,880 The next message will be God with us in the waiting, 106 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,040 in the present waiting. 107 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,860 And our last message of the series will be God with us 108 00:04:38,860 --> 00:04:40,780 as He's gonna come back and get us. 109 00:04:40,780 --> 00:04:44,520 And we're gonna be with Him for all eternity, amen? 110 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,520 Today, bringing our first message in the series 111 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,720 is Pastor Justin, would you please welcome him? 112 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,280 (congregation applauding) 113 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:52,960 Hey, all right. 114 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:57,400 I was gonna say something and then this messed me up. 115 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,760 So that's totally, oh, I know what I was gonna say. 116 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,960 Hey, a couple of weeks ago, I preached a sermon 117 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,960 and it was a closeout series for the church. 118 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,000 And I preached a sermon called Wake Up 119 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,600 and I shared about how Paul preached all night long 120 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,320 and a guy fell asleep and he fell out of the window 121 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,500 and the guy got resurrected and then they went back upstairs 122 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:22,240 and he kept talking because Paul had a lot to say. 123 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:23,560 I got a lot to say this morning. 124 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,340 So prepare your heart now. 125 00:05:26,340 --> 00:05:31,080 If it hits 1201 and I'm not done, Paul went all night. 126 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,540 I promise I won't keep you here too long, 127 00:05:33,540 --> 00:05:35,920 but I feel like that God has a word for us 128 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,480 as we prepare in this waiting season. 129 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,720 So just go ahead and prepare your heart 130 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,560 if we run long this morning, amen? 131 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:43,560 Amen. 132 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:45,600 If you're able, go ahead and stand 133 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,400 and we'll get into the scriptures. 134 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:48,600 We're gonna read one passage. 135 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,480 This is out of Isaiah chapter seven. 136 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,640 Okay, here we go. 137 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:54,740 Are we ready? 138 00:05:54,740 --> 00:05:56,000 Read with me. 139 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,880 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. 140 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,960 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son 141 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,160 and shall call his name, Emmanuel. 142 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:08,800 Father, we thank you so much for this day 143 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:09,640 that you've given us. 144 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,800 We thank you for the many blessings you poured out on us. 145 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,120 God, we ask that you would be with us now, 146 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,320 that your anointing would rest on me, 147 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,240 that our hearts would be open to an encounter 148 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:19,600 with your Holy Spirit, 149 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,720 and that we would see what you want us to see, 150 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:23,800 hear what you want us to hear, 151 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,400 and we'd be changed and transformed more 152 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,000 into the image of your son Jesus 153 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,280 through the power of the Holy Ghost. 154 00:06:28,280 --> 00:06:30,080 It's in Christ's name I pray, amen and amen. 155 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,160 Did you need something for me, brother? 156 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:32,000 You need a pack? 157 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,760 You need to make sure it's on. 158 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:35,480 Golly, wouldn't that be something? 159 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:40,640 It was off, now it's back on. 160 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:41,960 Hey, can you hear me? 161 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,400 Look, see how they blame me for that? 162 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:48,840 It's like, it's your fault. 163 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:51,800 It's been in your pocket for two hours. 164 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,740 You know what, life's like that sometimes, right? 165 00:06:53,740 --> 00:06:55,280 You just gotta own it. 166 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:57,140 And part of humility is saying, 167 00:06:57,140 --> 00:06:58,840 yeah, it was my bad, I was wrong, 168 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:02,920 and being able to accept it and move on, amen. 169 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:04,360 That was free, it's not in the notes. 170 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,880 Here we are, folks, it's December, okay? 171 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:10,320 It's the first week of Advent. 172 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,980 So what is Advent? 173 00:07:12,980 --> 00:07:14,180 And why do we observe it? 174 00:07:14,180 --> 00:07:17,920 Well, the Bible doesn't say anything specifically 175 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,880 about observing the tradition of Advent. 176 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,280 This tradition has existed within the global church 177 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:24,480 for centuries. 178 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,960 In fact, this tradition can be dated as far back as 380 AD 179 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,880 to the Council of Saragossa, 180 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:35,120 and that is a council that met in Saragossa, Spain. 181 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:40,120 Advent means the arrival of a notable person 182 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,480 thing or event. 183 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:43,320 I hit it twice. 184 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,400 Look, see, this is me messing this up, ain't it? 185 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:46,980 Here we go. 186 00:07:46,980 --> 00:07:50,880 Advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. 187 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,280 The word Advent means coming. 188 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:54,100 It means coming. 189 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:57,680 So the tradition of Advent is waiting 190 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,240 for the Messiah to arrive, 191 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,800 and this has been an integral part of the lives 192 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,040 of God followers for thousands of years. 193 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,200 Our early brothers and sisters were waiting 194 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:09,640 on the Messiah to come, 195 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:10,520 and then He came, 196 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,000 and now we are waiting for the Messiah to come back. 197 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:20,000 The earth is in this perpetual state of waiting on the King. 198 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,220 Since the very first prophecy, 199 00:08:23,220 --> 00:08:27,200 waiting has been the faith-defining hallmark 200 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,380 of patience and hopefulness in God's people. 201 00:08:30,380 --> 00:08:33,200 For us, we wait not on His coming, but His return, 202 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,480 and what a glorious and terrifying day that will be. 203 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:39,920 It will be glorious for those who are prepared 204 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,300 for their King to come back and get them. 205 00:08:42,300 --> 00:08:46,040 It will be terrifying for those who have fallen asleep 206 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,900 and are not ready when the King comes back. 207 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:50,700 Keep your lamps burning. 208 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:54,260 But we, mankind, humanity, 209 00:08:54,260 --> 00:08:57,880 haven't always been waiting and watching. 210 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,480 In fact, there was a time in history 211 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,240 where man communed with God in a perfect and harmonious state. 212 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:05,120 I wanna let you guys know 213 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,200 that man was created for a purpose. 214 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,080 Man was not created and then given a purpose. 215 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,160 Man was created for purpose. 216 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,680 Everything that has ever been created and made 217 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:17,680 was created for a reason. 218 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:19,740 Created for a reason. 219 00:09:19,740 --> 00:09:22,920 You don't just make something and then give it a purpose. 220 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,580 It's made for a purpose. 221 00:09:24,580 --> 00:09:27,240 That chair was made for a reason. 222 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:28,600 Could be several reasons, 223 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,600 but mankind was created for purpose on purpose. 224 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:38,600 Adam was created as a regent of planet earth 225 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,640 and a member of God's cosmic family. 226 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:46,640 He was made to rule and to fellowship with the family. 227 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,560 He was made to rule and to fellowship with the family. 228 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:55,800 Genesis chapter two says, 229 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,240 "When no bush of the field was yet in the land 230 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,120 "and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up, 231 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:05,020 "for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, 232 00:10:05,020 --> 00:10:08,560 "and there was no man to work the ground. 233 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:10,720 "And a mist was going up from the land 234 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,040 "and was watering the whole face of the ground. 235 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,720 "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground 236 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,040 "and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 237 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:22,920 "And the man became a living creature. 238 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,720 "And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east 239 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,860 "and there he put the man whom he had formed." 240 00:10:29,860 --> 00:10:34,860 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden 241 00:10:34,860 --> 00:10:37,300 to work it and to keep it. 242 00:10:37,300 --> 00:10:39,280 And the Lord God commanded the man saying, 243 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,400 "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 244 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,480 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, 245 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,020 "you shall not eat for the day that you eat of it, 246 00:10:47,020 --> 00:10:49,440 "you shall surely die." 247 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,920 Then the Lord God said, 248 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,900 "It is not good that the man should be alone. 249 00:10:54,900 --> 00:10:57,620 "I will make him a helper fit for him." 250 00:10:57,620 --> 00:10:58,780 Now out of the ground, 251 00:10:58,780 --> 00:11:01,060 the Lord God had formed every beast of the field 252 00:11:01,060 --> 00:11:02,300 and every bird of the heavens 253 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:04,660 and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. 254 00:11:04,660 --> 00:11:07,340 And whatever the man called every living creature, 255 00:11:07,340 --> 00:11:08,980 that was its name. 256 00:11:08,980 --> 00:11:12,620 The man gave names to all livestock 257 00:11:12,620 --> 00:11:15,300 and to the birds of the heavens, to every beast of the field 258 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:18,140 but for Adam, there was not a helper found 259 00:11:18,140 --> 00:11:20,720 that found a helper fit for him. 260 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,640 So the Lord God caused the deep sleep to fall upon the man. 261 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,660 And while he slept, took one of his ribs 262 00:11:25,660 --> 00:11:28,180 and closed up its place with flesh. 263 00:11:28,180 --> 00:11:33,140 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man, 264 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:35,580 he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 265 00:11:35,580 --> 00:11:36,420 Then the man said, 266 00:11:36,420 --> 00:11:41,420 "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. 267 00:11:41,420 --> 00:11:43,700 "She shall be called woman 268 00:11:43,700 --> 00:11:46,400 "because she was taken out of man. 269 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:51,200 "Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother 270 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,500 "and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh. 271 00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:57,020 "And the man and his wife were both naked 272 00:11:57,020 --> 00:12:00,260 "and they were not ashamed." 273 00:12:00,260 --> 00:12:02,880 They were not ashamed. 274 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,900 Mankind communes with their maker 275 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:09,780 who walked among the trees in the cool of the day in Eden. 276 00:12:09,780 --> 00:12:12,500 The word Eden actually means delight. 277 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:16,180 This is emblematic of the father's house 278 00:12:16,180 --> 00:12:19,300 and represents the fellowship of the divine family. 279 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:22,540 There was, God had created the earth 280 00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:25,980 and he didn't have a man in place to tend it and keep it. 281 00:12:25,980 --> 00:12:27,420 He created a man. 282 00:12:27,420 --> 00:12:29,900 He realized it's not good that this guy's out here 283 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:31,100 all by himself. 284 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:32,660 So let's find him a helper. 285 00:12:32,660 --> 00:12:35,220 He brings all of the animals, all of creation 286 00:12:35,220 --> 00:12:37,900 and not a suitable helper was found for him. 287 00:12:37,900 --> 00:12:40,980 So he took one of his ribs and made a woman for him. 288 00:12:40,980 --> 00:12:45,380 Adam said, "At last, you've brought all these things 289 00:12:45,380 --> 00:12:47,760 "before me that were not suitable helpers. 290 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,560 "And at last, you found me someone who can help me 291 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,800 "that is suitable for this task that you have given us 292 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:59,800 "to rule and subdue the earth and commune with you." 293 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,600 And so what did God do? 294 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,740 He created a family and he placed him in Eden. 295 00:13:06,740 --> 00:13:10,540 The man was made in the wild and placed in Eden. 296 00:13:10,540 --> 00:13:14,660 So parents and little boys, when they act wild, this is why. 297 00:13:14,660 --> 00:13:19,800 They were made out in the wild. 298 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,440 And we come alive in the wild, we're like, 299 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,500 "Let's go outside and do something." 300 00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:29,620 What? It doesn't matter what we're doing. 301 00:13:29,620 --> 00:13:31,740 Let's get out there. 302 00:13:31,740 --> 00:13:34,060 And then for me, I got a jestling and you know, 303 00:13:34,060 --> 00:13:35,160 and she's just as wild. 304 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,700 I'm like, "This is not how it's supposed to be. 305 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:39,360 "You're supposed to go to the garden." 306 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:44,360 And, but God placed man and his wife in the garden. 307 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:45,220 Why? 308 00:13:45,220 --> 00:13:48,020 That has very symbolic meaning. 309 00:13:48,020 --> 00:13:51,580 That was the place where God communed with his family. 310 00:13:51,580 --> 00:13:53,160 He said, "Outside of this garden, 311 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,600 "it's wild and it needs to be tamed and subdued, 312 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,960 "but inside of this garden, there's peace and tranquility. 313 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:00,900 "And this is where I'm gonna meet with you 314 00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:01,900 "in the cool of the day. 315 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:03,520 "I'm gonna meet with my family. 316 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,120 "We're gonna spend time together. 317 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,000 "We're gonna have a relationship. 318 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,600 "You've got work to do out there, 319 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,440 "but in here you get to rest in my presence 320 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,120 "and we get to hang out." 321 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,800 There's work to do and rest is holy. 322 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,000 And God made them both for the man and his wife. 323 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:25,800 Mountains and gardens are very symbolic in scriptures. 324 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,460 Eden, Paradise, the Father's house, these are all synonymous. 325 00:14:30,460 --> 00:14:32,420 In ancient Near Eastern culture, 326 00:14:32,420 --> 00:14:35,840 a lot of kings would create these elaborate gardens 327 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,160 where they would bring their family 328 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:38,980 and they would bring loved ones in 329 00:14:38,980 --> 00:14:40,680 to that special place that they were reserved. 330 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,020 You ever heard of the hanging gardens of Babylon? 331 00:14:43,020 --> 00:14:47,500 These were gardens created inside of temples and palaces. 332 00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,700 Okay, they were very important. 333 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:53,560 Not only was Adam created to rule the planet, 334 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:57,120 but he was created to enjoy the fellowship 335 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,460 with his father as one of his sons. 336 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:05,460 Adam was created to enjoy fellowship with the father. 337 00:15:05,460 --> 00:15:07,940 Are you hearing me? 338 00:15:07,940 --> 00:15:11,560 He wasn't created just to rule as a regent, 339 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,320 rule the planet, subdue the earth. 340 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,940 He was created to have fellowship with his father. 341 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:21,180 God is our father and he desires to commune 342 00:15:21,180 --> 00:15:22,200 with his sons and daughters. 343 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,080 And there's three important things I want you to know 344 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,980 about fatherhood that we can see very early on 345 00:15:27,980 --> 00:15:29,400 right here in this passage. 346 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:32,920 Fatherhood means access. 347 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,420 Fatherhood means access. 348 00:15:35,420 --> 00:15:37,960 Adam and Eve had access to God. 349 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,380 He was accessible to them. 350 00:15:40,380 --> 00:15:45,440 Fatherhood means acceptance. 351 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,380 Did you notice they were welcomed in his presence? 352 00:15:48,380 --> 00:15:50,420 The scripture says they were naked 353 00:15:50,420 --> 00:15:52,460 and they were not ashamed. 354 00:15:52,460 --> 00:15:55,060 They were not ashamed and they were naked. 355 00:15:55,060 --> 00:15:55,900 Why? 356 00:15:55,900 --> 00:15:58,660 Because I'm just being who you created me to be. 357 00:15:58,660 --> 00:16:02,300 Anytime you start walking in who God created you to be, 358 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:03,220 you're free. 359 00:16:03,220 --> 00:16:06,680 You're not held down by expectations 360 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,420 or unmet qualifications that someone or somebody else 361 00:16:10,420 --> 00:16:13,140 or even yourself have put on you. 362 00:16:13,140 --> 00:16:16,360 A lot of the expectations we put that are put on us 363 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,420 are put on us by ourselves, not by God. 364 00:16:19,420 --> 00:16:20,700 And you're not living up to them 365 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:23,660 so you feel some sense of failure and disappointment 366 00:16:23,660 --> 00:16:27,020 when God's like, listen, you're accepted in my presence. 367 00:16:27,020 --> 00:16:30,240 There are things that are not acceptable in your life, 368 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,180 but you are accepted in my presence. 369 00:16:33,180 --> 00:16:34,180 Are you hearing me? 370 00:16:34,180 --> 00:16:37,580 So when you're accepted in his presence, 371 00:16:37,580 --> 00:16:39,380 he begins to work on those things 372 00:16:39,380 --> 00:16:42,520 that are not acceptable in his presence. 373 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:44,360 But that's not you. 374 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:45,900 You understand what I'm saying? 375 00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:49,640 You can only get that around your father. 376 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,620 Also fatherhood means attention. 377 00:16:51,620 --> 00:16:54,360 When they fail, who went looking for who? 378 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,080 Who went looking for who? 379 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,440 If you don't know, you'll find out in about 30 seconds. 380 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:00,760 It's the next passage. 381 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,680 Okay, you can read three chapters of the Bible 382 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,020 before you get, you know, move on, okay? 383 00:17:05,020 --> 00:17:07,280 He went looking for them. 384 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:08,680 He said, Adam, where you at? 385 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,080 When our shame and sin comes in, 386 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,160 most of the time we want to run and hide 387 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,160 and who goes looking for who? 388 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,480 God says, hey, where you at, Cole? 389 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,760 I hid, I was afraid, I was ashamed. 390 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,840 I'm right here. 391 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,820 God, what if I do this same thing again? 392 00:17:25,820 --> 00:17:27,520 I'll still be here. 393 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,060 I'm still coming and looking for you. 394 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:30,900 Why? 395 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:32,600 Because you have access to me. 396 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:34,260 You have acceptance in my presence 397 00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:36,080 and you have my attention. 398 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:36,920 Why? 399 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,160 Because you are sons and daughters. 400 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:40,780 He created a family. 401 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,400 He didn't just create workers to do stuff for him. 402 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,280 He created a family. 403 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:51,280 And this early revelation of the Lord 404 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,420 is one of the most foundational for us as believers. 405 00:17:54,420 --> 00:17:56,680 And we can trace this throughout scripture. 406 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:01,300 If we can just get this, that God is a good Father, 407 00:18:01,300 --> 00:18:04,520 then a lot of other things will work themselves out. 408 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,200 Well, so what happened? 409 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,480 So if they've got this, they've got a great thing going, 410 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,120 they've got a good job, okay? 411 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:15,560 They're experiencing fellowship with each other 412 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,740 and with God in the garden, 413 00:18:17,740 --> 00:18:21,020 walking among the trees in the cool of the day. 414 00:18:21,020 --> 00:18:22,720 They have intimacy and fellowship. 415 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,060 They got a really good thing going. 416 00:18:25,060 --> 00:18:29,840 There's birds flying, nobody's killing nobody, right? 417 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:30,780 They hadn't. 418 00:18:30,780 --> 00:18:34,740 So what happened? 419 00:18:34,740 --> 00:18:36,720 Our first parents were deceived 420 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,640 by the serpent and the haush. 421 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,540 And as a result, fellowship and communion with the Father. 422 00:18:42,540 --> 00:18:43,380 Took a hit. 423 00:18:43,380 --> 00:18:46,100 This is Genesis three. 424 00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:50,560 Now, now, this is right after what we've just read 425 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,060 in Genesis two, where they were naked 426 00:18:53,060 --> 00:18:54,680 and they were not ashamed. 427 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,700 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast 428 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:00,420 of the field that the Lord God had made. 429 00:19:00,420 --> 00:19:03,620 He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 430 00:19:03,620 --> 00:19:07,820 "you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?" 431 00:19:10,940 --> 00:19:14,140 This thing is, I'm about to go to the scriptures. 432 00:19:14,140 --> 00:19:20,460 Genesis three, it's three pages in, here we go guys. 433 00:19:20,460 --> 00:19:22,780 So why about you knew it wasn't gonna take too long, okay? 434 00:19:22,780 --> 00:19:24,100 Listen, it's not on them. 435 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:25,940 They've had some technical difficulties as well. 436 00:19:25,940 --> 00:19:26,900 If it's up here, it's up there. 437 00:19:26,900 --> 00:19:27,780 If it's not, it's not. 438 00:19:27,780 --> 00:19:29,600 Here we go, just listen along. 439 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,980 Now the serpent was more crafty 440 00:19:31,980 --> 00:19:35,760 than any other beast of the field that the Lord had made. 441 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,980 He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 442 00:19:37,980 --> 00:19:41,100 "you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?" 443 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:42,520 And the woman said to the serpent, 444 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,740 "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 445 00:19:44,740 --> 00:19:47,520 "but God said, you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree 446 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,120 "that is in the midst of the garden. 447 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:52,460 "Neither shall you touch it, lest you die." 448 00:19:52,460 --> 00:19:56,780 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 449 00:19:56,780 --> 00:19:58,600 "For God knows that when you eat of it, 450 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,080 "your eyes will be opened 451 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,360 "and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 452 00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:06,140 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, 453 00:20:06,140 --> 00:20:07,540 that it was a delight to the eyes 454 00:20:07,540 --> 00:20:09,640 and the tree was desired to make one wise, 455 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:11,500 she took of its fruit and ate. 456 00:20:11,500 --> 00:20:13,860 She also gave some to her husband who was with her 457 00:20:13,860 --> 00:20:14,900 and he ate. 458 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:17,200 Then the eyes of both were opened 459 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,480 and they knew that they were naked 460 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,380 and they sewed fig leaves together 461 00:20:22,380 --> 00:20:25,980 and made themselves loincloths. 462 00:20:25,980 --> 00:20:30,240 Then in Genesis 3 14, it says, 463 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,740 and I'm just gonna keep reading, Genesis 8. 464 00:20:33,740 --> 00:20:35,700 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking 465 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:36,900 in the garden in the cool of the day 466 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:38,660 and the man and his wife hid themselves 467 00:20:38,660 --> 00:20:39,860 in the presence of the Lord God 468 00:20:39,860 --> 00:20:41,360 among the trees of the garden. 469 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:43,180 But the Lord called to the man and said to him, 470 00:20:43,180 --> 00:20:44,940 "Where are you? 471 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:46,620 "Where are you?" 472 00:20:46,620 --> 00:20:50,420 That's obviously a rhetorical question. 473 00:20:50,420 --> 00:20:52,760 We're talking about the creator of the universe, 474 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,300 maker of heaven and earth, asking Adam, "Where are you at?" 475 00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:59,400 I know everywhere my kids hide. 476 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,580 I didn't realize until last year 477 00:21:03,580 --> 00:21:06,420 that my parents knew exactly everything I was doing. 478 00:21:06,420 --> 00:21:08,220 I thought I was smarter than them. 479 00:21:08,220 --> 00:21:13,300 And we got the first dad and the first son on earth, okay, 480 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:18,100 hiding from God, hiding from him. 481 00:21:18,100 --> 00:21:21,020 He said, "Where are you?" 482 00:21:21,020 --> 00:21:23,620 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden 483 00:21:23,620 --> 00:21:27,180 "and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself." 484 00:21:27,180 --> 00:21:30,440 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? 485 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:31,500 "Who told you? 486 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:33,060 "Have you eaten of the tree 487 00:21:33,060 --> 00:21:35,300 "of which I commanded you not to eat?" 488 00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:36,660 The man said, "What?" 489 00:21:36,660 --> 00:21:42,120 So dumb. 490 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:46,740 And if you listen, he didn't even blame her, he blames God. 491 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:48,740 He blames God, look at his back up there. 492 00:21:48,740 --> 00:21:56,060 He said, "The woman you gave me to be with me, 493 00:21:56,060 --> 00:21:58,400 "she gave me the fruit of the tree and I ate. 494 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,080 "Then the Lord God said to the woman, 495 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:01,420 "what is this that you have done? 496 00:22:01,420 --> 00:22:04,460 "The woman said, well, the serpent deceived me and I ate. 497 00:22:04,460 --> 00:22:06,520 "The Lord God said to the serpent, 498 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,480 "because you have done this, 499 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,680 "cursed are you above all livestock 500 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,200 "and above all beasts of the field. 501 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:13,840 "On your belly you shall go 502 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,280 "and eat dust all the days of your life. 503 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,260 "I will put enmity," 504 00:22:18,260 --> 00:22:21,600 this is the very first prophecy of the coming king. 505 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,900 This is the very first prophecy we see 506 00:22:24,900 --> 00:22:27,740 concerning the Messiah in scripture. 507 00:22:27,740 --> 00:22:31,580 I will put enmity between you and the woman, 508 00:22:31,580 --> 00:22:34,220 between your offspring and her offspring. 509 00:22:34,220 --> 00:22:39,220 And he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. 510 00:22:39,220 --> 00:22:42,720 The virgin birth is actually predicted in this. 511 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,340 There are some translations that say the seed of the woman, 512 00:22:47,340 --> 00:22:48,620 the seed of the woman. 513 00:22:48,620 --> 00:22:50,260 I don't know if you guys understand biology, 514 00:22:50,260 --> 00:22:52,420 but that's not how seed works. 515 00:22:52,420 --> 00:22:55,840 That's not how seed works. 516 00:22:55,840 --> 00:23:02,200 So if you have a divine father and a human mother, 517 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:03,940 you would have the seed of the woman. 518 00:23:03,940 --> 00:23:06,720 And I wanna tell you something even crazier than that. 519 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,840 When the baby is in the mother's womb, 520 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,820 the baby's blood and the mother's blood don't mix together. 521 00:23:12,820 --> 00:23:15,380 They don't. 522 00:23:15,380 --> 00:23:19,020 So now you have a baby whose blood is not mixed 523 00:23:19,020 --> 00:23:23,140 with his mother with no biological earthly father. 524 00:23:23,140 --> 00:23:25,940 His blood is completely divine. 525 00:23:25,940 --> 00:23:29,800 It's completely divine. 526 00:23:32,020 --> 00:23:35,500 Then he says in verse 24, is this working again? 527 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:37,440 I don't know today. 528 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,140 We're just gonna, oh, praise the Lord. 529 00:23:39,140 --> 00:23:42,020 "He drove out the man, 530 00:23:42,020 --> 00:23:43,660 "and at the east of the garden of Eden, 531 00:23:43,660 --> 00:23:45,740 "he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword 532 00:23:45,740 --> 00:23:48,220 "that turned every way to guard the way 533 00:23:48,220 --> 00:23:50,380 "to the tree of life. 534 00:23:50,380 --> 00:23:53,300 "Paradise had been lost along with access 535 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:54,780 "to the father's house." 536 00:23:54,780 --> 00:23:59,400 Paradise had been lost along with access 537 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,380 to the father's house. 538 00:24:01,380 --> 00:24:06,380 But God in his sovereignty provided a way back to the house. 539 00:24:06,380 --> 00:24:08,540 And unfortunately, it would require 540 00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:12,820 a cosmic level sacrifice, incredible long suffering, 541 00:24:12,820 --> 00:24:15,660 and patience for the plan to unfold. 542 00:24:15,660 --> 00:24:17,580 And this is where we get into prophecy. 543 00:24:17,580 --> 00:24:18,860 So why prophecy? 544 00:24:18,860 --> 00:24:20,060 Why prophecy? 545 00:24:20,060 --> 00:24:23,560 Well, I don't claim to know God's reasons for prophecy. 546 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:30,220 But we can extrapolate some reasons 547 00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:33,260 that I believe the text revealed to us. 548 00:24:33,260 --> 00:24:35,900 So these are some reasons, 549 00:24:35,900 --> 00:24:40,220 but they may not be God's specific reasons for prophecy, 550 00:24:40,220 --> 00:24:41,100 but they're here. 551 00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:44,380 The first one I believe is, 552 00:24:44,380 --> 00:24:48,120 I believe God uses prophecy for this reason. 553 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:50,980 God's plans are often veiled and nuanced. 554 00:24:50,980 --> 00:24:54,460 God's plans are often veiled and nuanced. 555 00:24:54,460 --> 00:24:58,740 How many in this room, believers, have ever prayed, 556 00:24:58,740 --> 00:25:00,580 God, what is your will for my life? 557 00:25:00,580 --> 00:25:04,900 Seven of y'all, the rest of y'all need to get to praying. 558 00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:08,580 What a joke, only seven of us wanna know 559 00:25:08,580 --> 00:25:10,380 what God's will for our life is. 560 00:25:10,380 --> 00:25:14,840 Okay, you seven guys. 561 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:20,980 Most of the time what we're saying is 562 00:25:20,980 --> 00:25:22,460 when we ask God for his will, 563 00:25:22,460 --> 00:25:24,340 God, tell me your will for my life, 564 00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:26,140 we really wanna know what's the plan. 565 00:25:26,140 --> 00:25:28,420 God, I just need to know the plan. 566 00:25:28,420 --> 00:25:30,660 And sometimes it's from selfish reasons, 567 00:25:30,660 --> 00:25:32,460 sometimes it's a control thing. 568 00:25:32,460 --> 00:25:34,380 Sometimes we wanna know what the plan is 569 00:25:34,380 --> 00:25:35,980 so we can start figuring it out 570 00:25:35,980 --> 00:25:37,260 and how we can get there quicker 571 00:25:37,260 --> 00:25:39,500 or how we can completely avoid it. 572 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:41,180 Depending on which way your life is gonna go, 573 00:25:41,180 --> 00:25:42,940 you're like, I don't wanna do that. 574 00:25:42,940 --> 00:25:45,020 Don't wanna do that. 575 00:25:45,020 --> 00:25:49,060 That one involves sacrifice. 576 00:25:49,060 --> 00:25:54,700 My two oldest kids just moved out. 577 00:25:54,700 --> 00:25:57,300 I've got one and a half 'cause we got split custody. 578 00:25:57,300 --> 00:25:59,220 It's quiet around here. 579 00:25:59,220 --> 00:26:02,660 Well, how about you take four more? 580 00:26:02,660 --> 00:26:09,180 If you guys don't know, I'm in the process 581 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:11,700 of adopting four kids out of foster care. 582 00:26:11,700 --> 00:26:13,580 There's some new people there, it's not a pat on the back. 583 00:26:13,580 --> 00:26:16,500 I'm just saying I had it figured out and God was like, 584 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:18,620 well, I'm not gonna tell you all the steps of the plan, 585 00:26:18,620 --> 00:26:19,980 I'm just gonna tell you follow me 586 00:26:19,980 --> 00:26:21,780 and trust me in the process. 587 00:26:21,780 --> 00:26:25,460 And he kept giving me breadcrumbs along the way, okay? 588 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:26,820 I didn't wanna know the plan 589 00:26:26,820 --> 00:26:29,060 not so I could control it. 590 00:26:29,060 --> 00:26:30,780 But sometimes we don't know where the plan 591 00:26:30,780 --> 00:26:32,380 so we can avoid it. 592 00:26:32,380 --> 00:26:35,220 So I can avoid it. 593 00:26:35,220 --> 00:26:41,660 God's plans are often veiled and nuanced. 594 00:26:41,660 --> 00:26:42,860 Here's further proof. 595 00:26:42,860 --> 00:26:46,060 If he had come out, if he had come right out with it 596 00:26:46,060 --> 00:26:47,380 and said, here's the plan, 597 00:26:47,380 --> 00:26:50,140 here's how I'm gonna destroy you Satan. 598 00:26:50,140 --> 00:26:52,140 Here's how it's all gonna go down. 599 00:26:52,140 --> 00:26:53,900 Then all the forces of darkness 600 00:26:53,900 --> 00:26:55,860 would have been converged at ground zero. 601 00:26:55,860 --> 00:26:58,660 Yahweh gives him a glance of how he's gonna do it. 602 00:26:58,660 --> 00:27:01,660 He said, the seed of the woman is what's gonna be used 603 00:27:01,660 --> 00:27:03,460 to destroy you ultimately. 604 00:27:03,460 --> 00:27:06,460 He gave him a hint, a micro hint 605 00:27:06,460 --> 00:27:09,840 and just a few chapters later, 606 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,300 there's a plan in full effect to corrupt the genome 607 00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:13,580 and the bloodline of the Christ 608 00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:15,260 by the Genesis six incursion. 609 00:27:15,260 --> 00:27:16,980 Just three chapters later, he's like, 610 00:27:16,980 --> 00:27:20,240 well, I'll just corrupt all of the blood of mankind. 611 00:27:22,780 --> 00:27:27,540 Example number two of why prophecy. 612 00:27:27,540 --> 00:27:31,120 Prophecies are clues for those who are looking. 613 00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:35,700 So listening to something by Mike Winger a few days ago, 614 00:27:35,700 --> 00:27:39,020 how many people in here have ever seen the Karate Kid? 615 00:27:39,020 --> 00:27:40,100 More than first gathering. 616 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:42,380 There was two people in first gathering. 617 00:27:42,380 --> 00:27:43,220 I thought to myself, 618 00:27:43,220 --> 00:27:45,740 whoa, this is gonna take a lot longer than, 619 00:27:45,740 --> 00:27:47,820 if you've never seen a Karate Kid, okay. 620 00:27:47,820 --> 00:27:51,980 There is a Karate Master, his name is Mr. Miyagi 621 00:27:51,980 --> 00:27:54,940 and there is a student, his name is Daniel's son 622 00:27:54,940 --> 00:27:56,660 and Daniel wants to learn karate. 623 00:27:56,660 --> 00:27:59,660 He wants to get the Cobra Kai bullies off his back 624 00:27:59,660 --> 00:28:03,540 and Mr. Miyagi is a Karate Master 625 00:28:03,540 --> 00:28:06,820 and he asked Miyagi to train him and Miyagi says, no, 626 00:28:06,820 --> 00:28:11,020 but instead you can help me paint my fence. 627 00:28:11,020 --> 00:28:13,240 And so he teaches Daniel how to paint his fence 628 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,100 and nobody paints a fence like this. 629 00:28:15,100 --> 00:28:17,000 Look, if you come to my house and you're painting like this, 630 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:18,760 you're leaving immediately. 631 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:19,700 You're immediately leaving. 632 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:22,300 This is not how you paint teenagers. 633 00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:23,580 Y'all go on these mission trips 634 00:28:23,580 --> 00:28:24,940 and paint these children's homes 635 00:28:24,940 --> 00:28:26,940 and they're over there like this, right? 636 00:28:26,940 --> 00:28:28,620 Okay, so he teaches him to paint 637 00:28:28,620 --> 00:28:32,780 and he has him painting like this and painting like this. 638 00:28:32,780 --> 00:28:36,060 And then he's like, hey, Miyagi, can you teach me karate? 639 00:28:36,060 --> 00:28:37,140 He's like, absolutely not, 640 00:28:37,140 --> 00:28:39,060 but you can help me wax my cars. 641 00:28:39,060 --> 00:28:41,460 He's telling me, you gotta do it like this. 642 00:28:41,460 --> 00:28:44,140 You gotta wax on and you gotta wax off, okay? 643 00:28:44,140 --> 00:28:46,660 And then he's like, you gotta wax on, you gotta wax off. 644 00:28:46,660 --> 00:28:48,280 You gotta wax on and wax off. 645 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:50,760 So Daniel gets fed up with this 646 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:54,500 and he goes to confront Miyagi, the karate master, right? 647 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:56,560 He starts yelling at him, "Dad, come to Miyagi. 648 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,120 You said you were gonna teach me karate." 649 00:28:58,120 --> 00:28:59,360 And Miyagi doesn't even say that. 650 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:00,760 He just starts attacking him. 651 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:01,940 He starts punching at him. 652 00:29:01,940 --> 00:29:06,000 And Daniel's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, stop trying to fight me. 653 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:07,540 What are you doing, right? 654 00:29:07,540 --> 00:29:09,960 And he starts, you know the movie. 655 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,540 You know exactly what I'm talking about 656 00:29:12,540 --> 00:29:15,940 'cause he had been learning karate the whole time 657 00:29:15,940 --> 00:29:17,420 and didn't even know it. 658 00:29:17,420 --> 00:29:18,880 Why did I just tell you that? 659 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,940 Why did I just tell you that? 660 00:29:21,940 --> 00:29:28,460 Prophecies exist as a way to teach us before we need it 661 00:29:28,460 --> 00:29:30,720 so we recognize it when we see it. 662 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:37,420 There were so many, there were so many 663 00:29:37,420 --> 00:29:40,040 that when Jesus finally came, they said, 664 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:45,020 "That's him," right? 665 00:29:45,020 --> 00:29:46,320 When he picked his disciples, 666 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:47,660 they went and told their brothers, they said, 667 00:29:47,660 --> 00:29:50,960 "Come, find the one, this is the one we finally found him, 668 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,520 the one that the scriptures have been telling us about, 669 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,820 the one that our parents have been telling us about, 670 00:29:55,820 --> 00:29:58,600 the one that our ancestors told stories 671 00:29:58,600 --> 00:29:59,560 around the campfire. 672 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:01,520 He's finally here." 673 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,060 How did they know? 674 00:30:04,060 --> 00:30:05,700 Because for centuries, 675 00:30:05,700 --> 00:30:09,440 they were passing down these prophecies, these specifics. 676 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:10,680 Here's what it's gonna look like. 677 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:12,080 Here's what he's gonna look like. 678 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:13,700 Here's exactly where he's gonna be born. 679 00:30:13,700 --> 00:30:15,340 Here's some of the things he's gonna do. 680 00:30:15,340 --> 00:30:16,700 Here's some of the things he's gonna say. 681 00:30:16,700 --> 00:30:18,340 Here's who's gonna proceed him. 682 00:30:18,340 --> 00:30:19,640 Here's how this is all gonna look. 683 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:21,020 Here's how it's gonna all work out. 684 00:30:21,020 --> 00:30:24,620 But he veiled it and nuanced it in scriptures 685 00:30:24,620 --> 00:30:26,920 where you think he's talking to somebody, 686 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:28,880 but he's really talking to someone else. 687 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:30,440 Are you following me? 688 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,960 And they're learning karate the whole time 689 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:34,120 and don't even know it. 690 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:40,340 Scholars estimate, this is a weird number, 691 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,500 that Jesus fulfilled between 300 and 500 692 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:47,420 and something prophecies. 693 00:30:47,420 --> 00:30:49,240 Now, why the discrepancy? 694 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,260 Well, you gotta take into account, 695 00:30:51,260 --> 00:30:53,420 there are double prophecies in scripture. 696 00:30:53,420 --> 00:30:58,420 So for example, when someone in the New Testament 697 00:30:58,420 --> 00:31:03,580 is citing an Old Testament prophecy, that counts as two. 698 00:31:03,580 --> 00:31:04,520 You see what I'm saying? 699 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:08,040 So it's not like he may have done 300, he may have done 500. 700 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:12,140 It depends on how many nuances and actual double countings 701 00:31:12,140 --> 00:31:13,580 you're doing, but I'll break it down 702 00:31:13,580 --> 00:31:14,980 a little bit closer for you. 703 00:31:14,980 --> 00:31:19,540 This is statistically impossible for someone to do. 704 00:31:19,540 --> 00:31:23,500 Like there's no odds on how can someone do this? 705 00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:24,640 And here's proof. 706 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:30,280 The odds of one person fulfilling eight, just eight, 707 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:31,140 can you say eight? 708 00:31:31,140 --> 00:31:35,720 Of the 60 major messianic prophecies, 709 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,800 the odds of one person fulfilling them 710 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:41,760 are one in that number. 711 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:46,520 10 to the 17th power. 712 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:50,280 It's actually called a quadrillion, sounds made up. 713 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:51,720 I think they did make that up. 714 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:53,560 Well, obviously somebody made it up. 715 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:57,980 Who's the villain on awesome powers? 716 00:31:57,980 --> 00:31:59,580 One quadrillion. 717 00:31:59,580 --> 00:32:03,180 If you don't understand, like if you can look at that number 718 00:32:03,180 --> 00:32:04,320 you're like, I don't even know, 719 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:05,540 that doesn't make sense to me. 720 00:32:05,540 --> 00:32:07,660 Let me try to break it down a little further. 721 00:32:07,660 --> 00:32:10,640 You take one quarter, quarter, 25 cent piece, 722 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,800 American currency, and you write Jesus 723 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:15,640 with a Sharpie on it, okay? 724 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,020 And you put it in a pile. 725 00:32:17,020 --> 00:32:20,920 And this pile is quarters laid side by side, 726 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,640 two feet deep over the entire state of Texas. 727 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:26,140 Are you tracking? 728 00:32:26,140 --> 00:32:27,080 That's that number. 729 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,320 Ask one person to put on a blindfold 730 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:31,680 and just pick that quarter out. 731 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:35,660 That is the odds of one person fulfilling eight, say eight. 732 00:32:35,660 --> 00:32:39,600 And he fulfilled every single one. 733 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:45,020 Every single prophecy concerning the Messiah 734 00:32:45,020 --> 00:32:48,760 was proven true in Jesus Christ. 735 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:51,660 And that's eight, that's the odds of eight. 736 00:32:51,660 --> 00:32:53,080 Don't shoot me guys. 737 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:56,520 That's the odds of eight. 738 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:01,100 So what are some of the prophecies concerning Jesus? 739 00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:06,100 It says he will be born in Bethlehem. 740 00:33:06,100 --> 00:33:10,280 But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, 741 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,800 who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, 742 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,480 from you shall come forth from me, 743 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:17,440 one who is to be ruler in Israel, 744 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:20,060 whose coming forth is from days of old, 745 00:33:20,060 --> 00:33:21,320 from ancient days. 746 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,220 Isaiah says he be preceded by a messenger. 747 00:33:25,220 --> 00:33:26,840 Isaiah 40, verse three. 748 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:29,060 It says, 749 00:33:29,060 --> 00:33:32,460 please work. 750 00:33:32,460 --> 00:33:36,500 Flipping, here we go. 751 00:33:36,500 --> 00:33:39,600 There it is, you guys know, listen. 752 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:40,480 It's gonna take me a little longer. 753 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:42,600 If you don't hear them right spaces, pages turning, 754 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:43,680 you don't know what are you even doing? 755 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:44,780 Here we go, all right. 756 00:33:44,780 --> 00:33:49,460 Your word I have hid in my heart 757 00:33:49,460 --> 00:33:51,460 that I might not sin against you, right? 758 00:33:51,460 --> 00:33:57,920 If you're just relying on the screen, 759 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,140 or if you don't have access to the book, 760 00:34:00,140 --> 00:34:01,780 where is the word? 761 00:34:01,780 --> 00:34:05,520 Where is the word? 762 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:09,820 Do you even know there are prophecies concerning Jesus? 763 00:34:09,820 --> 00:34:12,240 Do we even know what the word says about him? 764 00:34:12,240 --> 00:34:17,660 Are we reliant on external sources to tell us? 765 00:34:17,660 --> 00:34:20,020 Parents, it is your responsibility 766 00:34:20,020 --> 00:34:21,540 to tell these to your children, 767 00:34:21,540 --> 00:34:23,500 and their children, and their children, 768 00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:26,180 until you pass from here and cross over Jordan, 769 00:34:26,180 --> 00:34:27,780 and then it's their responsibility 770 00:34:27,780 --> 00:34:30,500 to carry this on into the coming of our King 771 00:34:30,500 --> 00:34:31,920 so that they are ready. 772 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:36,640 A voice cries in the wilderness, 773 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:38,780 prepare the way of the Lord. 774 00:34:38,780 --> 00:34:42,400 Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 775 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:46,960 John the Baptist fulfilled that, he even said it. 776 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,420 I'm the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 777 00:34:49,420 --> 00:34:51,860 prepare the way of the, he literally quoted it. 778 00:34:51,860 --> 00:34:55,920 Second Ryan nine, he went into Jerusalem on a donkey. 779 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:57,520 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, 780 00:34:57,520 --> 00:34:59,360 shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. 781 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,380 Behold your King, your King is coming to you, 782 00:35:02,380 --> 00:35:04,340 righteous and having salvation as he, 783 00:35:04,340 --> 00:35:06,840 humbled and mounted on a donkey on a colt, 784 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:09,460 the foal of a donkey. 785 00:35:09,460 --> 00:35:11,960 He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. 786 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:14,160 Then I said to them, if it seems good to you, 787 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:16,600 give me my wages, but if not, keep them. 788 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:19,880 And they weighed out as my wages 30 pieces of silver. 789 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,360 Then the Lord said to me, throw it to the potter, 790 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:25,220 the lordly price at which I was priced by them. 791 00:35:25,220 --> 00:35:27,100 So I took the 30 pieces of silver 792 00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:30,060 and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter. 793 00:35:30,060 --> 00:35:33,340 How many pieces of silver did Jesus betray Jesus for? 794 00:35:33,340 --> 00:35:34,300 All right, and then what did he do? 795 00:35:34,300 --> 00:35:36,020 He felt bad, went back, threw it back at him, 796 00:35:36,020 --> 00:35:37,820 threw all the silver back in there. 797 00:35:37,820 --> 00:35:42,300 This was written a long time before that happened. 798 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:47,700 And there's so many more, there's so many more. 799 00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:49,900 He was hated without cause. 800 00:35:49,900 --> 00:35:53,580 He was silent before his accusers. 801 00:35:53,580 --> 00:35:56,880 He was executed by crucifixion. 802 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:01,040 And this one gets me because at any point in time, 803 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:02,660 the Messiah could have been born. 804 00:36:02,660 --> 00:36:07,660 But he chose the time period where the most brutal 805 00:36:07,660 --> 00:36:12,640 and excruciatingly painful and length of time 806 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:16,080 of a death that could occur was in that time period. 807 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:19,240 He said, I'll come take the most amount of pain 808 00:36:19,240 --> 00:36:21,120 for the longest amount of time, 809 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:23,320 if that's what it takes for my family 810 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:25,040 to be restored back to me. 811 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,800 God said, I don't care how long it takes, 812 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:32,000 I will do whatever it takes, 813 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:36,180 whatever it takes to have my family back. 814 00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:41,740 He was given vinegar to quench his thirst in Psalm 69. 815 00:36:41,740 --> 00:36:46,560 He was executed as a thief, among thieves. 816 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:50,420 Isaiah says, he was raised from the dead. 817 00:36:50,420 --> 00:36:53,080 And the prophecy which started it all, 818 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:56,160 the one to be born of a virgin that we started with, 819 00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:01,160 Isaiah 7, 14, that says this, 820 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:03,980 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, 821 00:37:03,980 --> 00:37:06,480 "behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son 822 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:10,440 "and shall call his name, Emmanuel." 823 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:14,400 God with us. 824 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:20,320 So much different being on this side of prophecy. 825 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:24,280 It's so much different being on this side, 826 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:26,400 because we can look at the scriptures, 827 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,200 we can look at the historical record, 828 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,040 we can understand that Jesus came 829 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:33,380 and he did all of these things. 830 00:37:33,380 --> 00:37:37,440 He fulfilled these prophecies and promises. 831 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,560 So what does this teach us about God? 832 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:41,760 I just said it, there's no length he won't go to 833 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:43,720 in order for his family to be restored. 834 00:37:43,720 --> 00:37:46,640 There's no length he won't go to 835 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:48,320 for his family to not be restored. 836 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:49,200 And what does that tell us? 837 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,380 It tells us that we can trust him. 838 00:37:51,380 --> 00:37:54,140 He is trustworthy. 839 00:37:54,660 --> 00:37:57,020 He said, "I'm gonna give you some veiled promises 840 00:37:57,020 --> 00:37:59,820 "and when they come true, you'll believe me 841 00:37:59,820 --> 00:38:01,740 "that I am who I said I am, 842 00:38:01,740 --> 00:38:03,780 "that I'm gonna do what I said I'm gonna do 843 00:38:03,780 --> 00:38:06,660 "and that I have not forgotten about you." 844 00:38:06,660 --> 00:38:11,420 Some of us have grown impatient in our waiting. 845 00:38:11,420 --> 00:38:13,060 Ask me how I know. 846 00:38:13,060 --> 00:38:15,180 How many of you have gotten on your phone 847 00:38:15,180 --> 00:38:17,260 while you're waiting on whoever's at the restaurant 848 00:38:17,260 --> 00:38:19,300 waiting to come back from the bathroom? 849 00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:22,300 Can you wait two minutes? 850 00:38:23,580 --> 00:38:27,840 Get impatient at a convenient drive-through. 851 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:32,560 You don't have to buy coffee out, you know that, right? 852 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:36,820 Let me let that settle for a second for you. 853 00:38:36,820 --> 00:38:41,100 This pool of water I've created here. 854 00:38:41,100 --> 00:38:47,820 Some of us have grown impatient, does he even see me? 855 00:38:47,820 --> 00:38:48,820 Has he forgotten me? 856 00:38:48,820 --> 00:38:51,840 No, God has not forgotten you. 857 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:55,120 These promises and prophecies teach us 858 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:57,600 and invite us to trust him and to trust his plan. 859 00:38:57,600 --> 00:38:59,180 We're being restored back to the family. 860 00:38:59,180 --> 00:39:01,380 Isaiah 41 is a promise that he was with us 861 00:39:01,380 --> 00:39:03,900 even now as we wait for his return. 862 00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:06,540 Isaiah 41, eight through 10 says this, 863 00:39:06,540 --> 00:39:09,360 "But you Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, 864 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:11,360 "the offspring of Abraham, my friend, 865 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:15,300 "you whom I took from the ends of the earth 866 00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:16,980 "and called from its farthest corners, 867 00:39:16,980 --> 00:39:19,740 "saying to you, 'You are my servant, I have chosen you,' 868 00:39:19,740 --> 00:39:21,940 "and not cast you off. 869 00:39:21,940 --> 00:39:25,880 "Fear not, for I am with you. 870 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:28,400 "Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 871 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:30,160 "I will strengthen you. 872 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:31,500 "I will help you. 873 00:39:31,500 --> 00:39:35,580 "I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 874 00:39:35,580 --> 00:39:38,580 God was with them as they looked for redemption 875 00:39:38,580 --> 00:39:42,220 and redemption has come, his name is Jesus. 876 00:39:42,220 --> 00:39:47,360 Emmanuel, God with us, and God is with us now 877 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:50,500 as we wait and we do so with joyful expectation. 878 00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:52,260 Worship team, you guys can come out. 879 00:39:52,260 --> 00:39:54,820 It worked out like this. 880 00:39:54,820 --> 00:39:56,620 I promise you I'm not trying to manipulate you. 881 00:39:56,620 --> 00:39:58,520 I try to prepare you just the same way 882 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:00,060 I tried to prepare the first gathering. 883 00:40:00,060 --> 00:40:03,180 I told you guys beforehand that it was gonna run long 884 00:40:03,180 --> 00:40:06,020 and I was gonna go over, right? 885 00:40:06,020 --> 00:40:08,120 And here we are and we're right on time. 886 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:12,440 You were prepared. 887 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:18,380 You had prepared your heart to wait for a reason. 888 00:40:18,380 --> 00:40:26,860 You prepared your hearts to be okay in the waiting 889 00:40:26,860 --> 00:40:29,020 for however long it took. 890 00:40:29,020 --> 00:40:31,100 And some of us have grown impatient 891 00:40:31,100 --> 00:40:36,100 because it's taken 20 years, God. 892 00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:40,800 Why am I not over that thing? 893 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,780 Why is it still coming back into my life, God? 894 00:40:43,780 --> 00:40:45,220 I'm tired. 895 00:40:45,220 --> 00:40:47,520 Why do I still have to walk through this? 896 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:50,520 And we get impatient in our waiting. 897 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:53,280 But when you prepare your heart in advance to wait 898 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:55,820 for whatever it takes, for however long it takes 899 00:40:55,820 --> 00:40:58,840 for God to show up and move and you don't stop praying, 900 00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:01,920 you don't stop looking, you don't stop praising, 901 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:04,100 but you're okay in the waiting. 902 00:41:04,100 --> 00:41:07,300 You're okay in the waiting. 903 00:41:07,300 --> 00:41:09,960 This is from my devotional today, 904 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:12,000 Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth again, 905 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:13,920 whether you believe it or not. 906 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:16,000 The question is, have we done more to prepare 907 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:17,840 for the celebration of a past event 908 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:19,880 than we have for a future one? 909 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:21,280 We may be all ready for Christmas, 910 00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:23,800 but are we ready for the return of Christ? 911 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,560 Spend all this time celebrating the birth 912 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,680 and the incarnation and we have to. 913 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:31,840 That's when God stepped out of eternity 914 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:34,880 and into our planet to become with us, 915 00:41:34,880 --> 00:41:38,200 literally human flesh, took on flesh. 916 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:40,840 But are we doing more to prepare for this 917 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,240 than we are for Him coming back to get me again 918 00:41:43,240 --> 00:41:45,880 and take me to a place I long for, 919 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:49,000 take me back to somewhere I've never been? 920 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:50,080 Are you hearing me? 921 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:53,200 Take me back to somewhere I've never been 922 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:55,760 and I want you to go with me. 923 00:41:55,760 --> 00:42:00,760 And sometimes it's hard, I lose trust in His plan. 924 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:03,000 Sometimes I feel like He's forgotten me 925 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:04,800 or He's lost sight of me. 926 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:07,640 And then I remember between the end of the Old Testament 927 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:12,640 and the beginning of the New, it was 400 years of waiting. 928 00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:16,000 And I get frustrated waiting two, three, 15, 20. 929 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:25,040 So this season, as we enter into this Advent season, 930 00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:28,640 yes, let us remember the Advent, 931 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:30,320 let us remember the Christmas season, 932 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:34,120 let us remember that Christ came to be with us, 933 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:36,360 but understand that we can trust Him 934 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:38,360 even if we don't know the plan. 935 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:41,880 We're active in our waiting. 936 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:44,120 We ask Him to restore our hope and trust 937 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:45,720 as we walk through this season, 938 00:42:45,720 --> 00:42:47,840 a season of expectant hope and active waiting. 939 00:42:47,840 --> 00:42:50,960 I'd like the elders and anyone that has been called to pray 940 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:52,640 for our people to come on down. 941 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:54,280 And if you have a need, what if you have a need? 942 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:55,440 What if you're sick in your body? 943 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:57,120 You need somebody to anoint you with oil 944 00:42:57,120 --> 00:42:59,680 and lay hands on you according to the Scriptures 945 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:02,360 and believe in you with faith, that's available. 946 00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:04,120 What if you say, God, I feel like you've forgotten me, 947 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:07,760 I'm frustrated, I don't wanna wait on your healing anymore, 948 00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:09,680 I don't wanna wait anymore on you 949 00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:11,360 to show up in this situation, 950 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:14,240 I'm tired of waiting for this relationship to be fixed. 951 00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:15,480 Now I'd like you to come. 952 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:19,760 Because if these prophecies have shown us anything, 953 00:43:19,760 --> 00:43:21,760 it's that God can be trusted. 954 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:27,040 You don't have to understand everything to trust. 955 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:30,200 Part, there's a major faith element that says, 956 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:33,280 God, I don't get it, but I'm gonna trust you. 957 00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:36,080 Not blindly, I've acknowledged the reality 958 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:37,880 that I've tried to do this on my own 959 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:39,920 or I've went a hundred different ways, 960 00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:42,880 but at the end of the day, they've all failed. 961 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:44,520 'Cause I've failed to realize 962 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:46,120 that you're the one in control. 963 00:43:46,120 --> 00:43:48,400 So if you have any prayer need 964 00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:50,200 or God has stirred your heart in any way, 965 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:51,440 the altars are here for you to come, 966 00:43:51,440 --> 00:43:54,000 and if not, then let's praise. 967 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:55,200 Let's run to the Father 968 00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:57,560 'cause we have access to the Father now, 969 00:43:57,560 --> 00:43:59,200 even though we're still looking for that day 970 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:02,280 where we get to be in His presence for all eternity, amen. 971 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:05,280 So if you have a need, then come. 972 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:09,520 And if not, let's worship with our brothers and sisters.