WEBVTT 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:07.360 Hey, I'm Pastor Steve Hole. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.759 I want to empower you today to walk in your true identity as a worshiper and warrior. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.839 Today, embrace the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.120 Welcome to the Born for War podcast. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.879 All right, so turning your Bibles to Romans 11. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.399 You that are guests with us today, we're going through the book of Romans. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:37.200 I am going to be taking the rest of June and a little bit into July off as a study break. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:42.079 I'm working on a new book, and I'm not having time to do it unless I just focus in on the book. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:44.320 And I'll give you a little idea of the book. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:50.560 It's going to be Strong and Courageous as a title, The Eight Habits That Will Transform Your Life. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:53.119 So I'm excited to start working on that. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:54.960 Tomorrow I'll be doing that. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:00.479 But we're going to camp on Romans 11, and then when I get back, we'll pick it up Romans 12. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:05.200 And then in the fall, I want to do a series on the kingdom of God. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:06.959 What is the kingdom of God? 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:08.879 How does the kingdom of God work? 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:15.840 Now I'm entitling this message today: A Kingdom of God Revolution is coming to all nations. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.519 And so look at verse 25. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:26.000 So in Romans 11, the theme verse is verses 25 and 26. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:27.680 So let me read that to you. 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:30.239 I'm just going to read 25. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:42.879 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:48.560 And then first part of 26, and so all Israel shall be saved. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:02:03.359 So this is one of the great prophecies of the last days that God in his economy is going to bring about this worldwide move of God that's going to affect all nations of the world. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:23.840 Now, I don't believe that means that everybody in Israel will be saved, but what it does mean is that there'll be such a move of God among the Jews that Israel will be a Christian nation. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.120 That's what I think it means. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:47.120 Because the reason I say that is based on the great commission of Matthew 28, which is, go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and commanding them or teaching them and training them in all the things that I've commanded you in. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:53.599 So either Jesus is an abject liar or he's planning to do that. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:01.759 It's like me saying to my kids, you'll cut the grass on Saturday. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:05.199 And then they don't cut the grass on Saturday, and I'm fine with that. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:09.840 But God gives commands and then he's going to work it out. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.439 It's going to happen. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:17.439 And so our responsibility is not all nations, our responsibility is El Paso County and Colorado Springs. 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:20.879 So God wants to bring a kingdom of God revolution here. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:55.039 I believe in our lifetime that there's going to be such a move of the Spirit of God in El Paso County, in Colorado Springs, in the Rockies, because it'll overflow, that just as the rivers flow from the Rockies, the spine of America, either to the east or to the west, they flow down, the gospel's going to flow down out of Colorado in a mighty and powerful wave. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:58.159 It's going to be mighty rivers of the Spirit flowing. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:07.599 So he's saying that, that tied intricately together with Israel getting saved is that all nations are going to be getting saved. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.360 So this is a move of God. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:10.960 That's pretty good news. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:19.360 So after the service, I come down, and here's this precious couple that are ministering in Nicaragua, and we support them. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:24.160 He says, Steve, you're not going to believe what's happening in Nicaragua right now. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:35.199 And he shows me pictures of 70, 80, 90, 100,000 coming to these gatherings, these meetings, and just tens of thousands getting saved. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:43.040 And that's with Daniel Ortega as a president, but more of a socialist slash communist regime there. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:56.480 Because the fomenting of rebellion that's happening from the Catholic priests. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:04.560 And here's what he said: He said the Catholic priests here are fomenting rebellion, and the evangelicals here are bringing healing. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:10.399 And so, you guys, a kingdom of God revolution is a peaceful revolution. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.879 It's a revolution of love, it's a revolution of transformation. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.600 It's Luke 4, 18 and 19. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:21.120 Jesus said, I came to heal the brokenhearted. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.160 I came to give sight to the blind. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:29.040 I came to announce freedom to the captives. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:32.079 That's the kingdom, you say, Well, what's the kingdom of revolution, Steve? 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:33.279 That's the kingdom of revolution. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:39.680 We're bringing freedom to captives, we're bringing sight to the blind, and we're healing the brokenhearted. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:41.199 Who doesn't want that? 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:47.839 Evidently a lot, but the reality is that if they heard it and they heard it that way, I don't think many would deny it. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:48.800 They're longing for that. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.000 People are longing for that. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:54.240 So let's look at Luke 11 and starting at verse 1. 00:05:54.480 --> 00:06:04.240 And you guys, um, I'm gonna give you five witnesses that I see in chapter 11 for a kingdom of God revolution coming to all nations of the world. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.079 This is in our future, it's gonna come, and Israel's gonna get saved too. 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.680 I say then, as God cast away his people, certainly not. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:17.360 For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.920 So the first witness is Paul himself. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:21.519 Paul got saved. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:31.519 Paul was just going to Tarsus in Asia Minor, moving along, persecuting Christians, and suddenly a blinding light hits him. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.399 He goes blind for three days. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.600 A guy named Ananias is sent by God. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:39.839 This is all found in Acts chapter 9. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:58.959 Is told to come, he lays hands on him, his sight comes back, he gets baptized, he gets saved, he gives his life to the Lord and becomes one of the great revivalists and great missionaries of his time and really in history, most of the New Testament written by John and by Paul. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.800 So here's what's interesting. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:11.920 Over the last 25 years, Muslims are coming to Christ in unprecedented numbers. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.680 And they're coming to Christ through visions and dreams. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.000 The testimonies are incredible. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:40.879 Put in, you can just go look on a Google search, put in visions and dreams, Muslims, and you'll see tens of thousands who aren't seeking God necessarily, not religious per se, not unreligious per se, but God's giving them visions and dreams of this man coming to them with white robes, and they know it's Jesus because he's one of their prophets. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:42.319 They consider Jesus one of their prophets. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.680 And they and they wake up and they get saved and they become Christians. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:46.959 It's like crazy. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:48.720 It's never happened in history. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:53.759 And then I have this beautiful couple come up and tell me what's happened in Nicaragua. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:08:01.360 Folks, God is on the move, and we are on the winning team. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:03.360 And that's what he's prophesying here. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:07.439 Verse 2 God is not cast away his people whom he foreknew. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.560 Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah? 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.480 So he's now this is the second witness. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:28.560 His second first witness is Paul, second witness is Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, Lord, they've killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life now. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:31.439 But what does the divine response say to him? 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:36.240 I have reserved for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:43.600 Even so, then, at this present time, there's a remnant according to the election of grace. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:09:00.799 So what he's saying here is just like Elijah, remember, he was on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal against King Ahab and his wife, and in the process of that, he calls down fire. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:02.480 He says, Soak, soak the altar. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:09.919 They soak it with water, and he says, Now you guys, you prophets of Baal, why don't you have your God come and light the altar? 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:11.360 Come and light the altar. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.600 And they can't do it, and they cut themselves and they dance, and nothing happens. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:25.600 And then Elijah calls down fire from heaven, lights this thing up, and then Ahab's wife, Jezebel, says, Kill Ahab. 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.600 So Ahab runs for his life. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:36.639 He the all that courage that was in him turns actually into depression and fear, goes down to Sinai, and then he says, I'm the only one left. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:39.440 I'm all that's left. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.919 And he has a martyr complex. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:44.240 Any of you ever struggle with a martyr complex? 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.559 You liars, you know you do. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.039 Okay? 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:53.679 And so you you you have this, he has this martyr complex, and then God says to him, Look, you're not the only one left. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:55.519 You're not that special. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:59.519 I've got 7,000 other prophets out there. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:03.120 And they haven't bent their knee to Baal either. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:04.879 I have a remnant. 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:08.320 And he's saying, look, in Israel, there's a remnant today. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:10.720 In church, there's always a remnant. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:19.679 God never allows the enemy enough room that there's not a remnant church still there. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.200 Some of us in this room, I think we could consider ourselves a remnant church. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:27.120 We're a remnant of God's word and his spirit. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:30.240 But that's not something to boast about, that's something to be thankful for. 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:33.440 And we pray for revival to hit every church in the city. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:35.679 We pray for a mighty move of God. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:57.279 I pray regularly for pastors in our city that they would have spiritual and theological backbone, to have courage, to speak the truth in love and speak the truth with power and with anointing, and not let popular opinion or public opinion sway them away from truth that's in God's word. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:01.759 And so he's saying here, even so, look at verse 5. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:08.240 Even so, then at this present time, there's a remnant according to the election of grace. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:16.080 In other words, God is working out a plan, a great and mighty plan. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:19.200 Jeremiah 29. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:28.799 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:37.360 Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, I will listen to you, and you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:40.720 That's God's plan for all of us in this room. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:48.799 His plan is if you'll seek him, if you'll search for him, he will let himself be found by you. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.159 Isn't that great? 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:57.279 So when you tell someone, you're talking to someone about the Lord, and they don't want the you know, they don't want to hear it or whatever, you say, why don't you seek him? 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:03.519 Why don't you ask the Lord, Lord, if you're real, reveal yourself to me. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.480 He will. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:10.879 He promised if you search for him, you'll find him if you search for him with all of your heart. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:17.679 And if by grace, verse 6, then it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:23.519 But if it is of works, it is no longer grace, otherwise, work is no longer work. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:32.000 So, men and women, the problem that we all have is with religion. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:36.559 Because religion's about you being a good person. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:39.440 And being a good person, I mean, it's better than being a bad person. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:41.039 Let me just say, good person's good. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:41.600 Okay. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:45.279 But good being a good person doesn't save you. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:52.480 Being a good person doesn't qualify any of us in this room for salvation. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.840 It's by grace. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.039 It's God's grace. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.799 It's what Christ did on the cross. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:03.600 So I like to say, you've heard me say it many times before, you'll never be good enough to get saved, but you can be bad enough. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:16.559 So if you when you recognize that you're a sinner and that you don't have the capacity to save yourself, and you come to Christ by faith, that's what saves us. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:30.240 It's the unqualified work of the Christ on the cross that we accept by faith that releases salvation into our hearts. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:35.120 So repentance doesn't save us, but Christ saves us. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.879 Baptism doesn't save us, but Christ saves us. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:46.960 So it's a work internal that spreads to the external, not the external spreading to the internal. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:47.840 Does that make sense? 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:52.720 So religion says, work your way toward God and then God will accept you. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:14:03.360 Christianity says, quit working yourself to God because God's already done the work, accept the work that He's done, and you'll be saved. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:11.279 That's an internal heart work that then works itself out in our outer life. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.200 That's what he's saying here. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:14.639 He continues. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.480 Verse 7, what then? 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:24.879 Israel has not obtained what it seeks, but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.879 Just as it is written. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:33.840 God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.759 To this very day. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:43.039 David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.519 Very interesting phrase here. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:51.360 Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:15:00.799 Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see and bow down their back always. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:10.159 So in these three chapters, 9, 10, and 11, the Old Testament is used eighty times. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:17.440 So Paul is directing their thoughts toward what God has done. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:23.519 Now in verse 9, where he says, Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling block. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:29.039 Here's what he's saying is that God, and I it's a mystery, okay? 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:52.720 It's a mystery, but God in his mysterious way is actually using the scriptures, using the law, using the prophets that they read actually as a snare, because what was meant to lead them to faith and salvation has led them to believe that the law is how they get saved. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:59.279 But there's gonna be a day coming when the tables are gonna be turned where God's gonna do something different. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:01.360 So now look at verse 11. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:05.440 I say then, had they stumbled that they should fall. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.399 Certainly not. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:08.320 So in other words, it's not complete. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:12.240 It's not a complete falling out, it's a stumble. 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:20.080 But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.639 So this is our third witness, the Gentiles. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:27.279 The Gentiles are the third witness of a coming kingdom of God revolution. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:38.720 Now, if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:55.600 For I speak to you, Gentiles, inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, in other words, fellow Jews, and save some of them. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:06.960 For if their being cast away is a reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:18.720 In other words, if there's been a great blessing to the Gentiles because the Jews have rejected the gospel, think about what will happen when the Jews accept the gospel. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.480 I mean, that's like crazy. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:27.920 So what we're seeing right now is all across the globe, billions of people are getting saved. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:32.640 I mean, I think it's like right now three billion people in the world who call themselves Christians. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.680 That's pretty significant. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:36.400 Still, don't let anybody fool you. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:38.319 Oh, Christianity's not growing. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:42.640 It is growing by leaps and bounds. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.559 Now, it's not growing in this country. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.559 Here's an interesting statistic with Gallup. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.000 I was looking at a Gallup poll this week for something else I was doing. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:55.519 And, you know, we keep hearing that people are less and less going to church. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.039 Well, that's true in mainline churches. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:07.839 So more and more Roman Catholics are leaving the church, more and more episcopals are leaving the church, more and more Methodists are leaving the church, Presbyterians just by droves. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:13.039 Those churches lost four million people last year. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:19.440 But non-denominational churches are growing almost at the exact same number on the other side. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:25.039 So when they give you those statistics, they're looking at the whole, they're taking all of it in. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:37.119 But if you take churches like ours, which I think are what we would call word-rooted, spirit of life, culturally engaged churches, churches like that, it just they're growing by leaps and bounds. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:40.319 We've tripled since COVID. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:43.599 So whatever Polis was trying to do, it didn't work very well, did it? 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.640 At least in our church. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:52.400 It worked in other churches because I know of churches right now that have never recovered from COVID because of the shutdown. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:57.680 And we didn't, when we shut down, we drank the Kool-Aid about five weeks. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.720 Because I didn't know. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:01.119 I mean, I thought, well, heck, I don't want everybody getting sick and everything. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:04.960 But then when we started realizing what was going on, we opened and nobody died. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:08.160 I mean, I think we have one person in our church die in the whole church. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:14.240 So the protocol that Pam developed and all that, I mean, holy smokes. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.559 She and her protocol, three over 3,000 people got healed in El Paso County alone. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.960 That's pretty good, right? 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.039 I mean, I can I hear one little amen. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.799 I mean, that's pretty good. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.480 So that's that's amazing what God did through Pam. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:34.240 Well, because she's a kingdom of God revolutionary, and God does that through you. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:37.519 How many of you lost your jobs during COVID? 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:42.000 Anybody here lose their job during COVID because you wouldn't get the vaccine or you didn't agree with something? 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.799 Anybody like that? 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.200 Okay. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:47.200 We probably had about 25 people in our church that lost their jobs. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.240 All of them. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:53.200 As far as I know, all of them have gotten way better jobs as a result. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:20:01.200 So I'm saying, what the enemy sometimes does in your life that's really hard, God can use it for good. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.240 He really, he really can. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.680 Look at Romans 8. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:08.559 Go back to the left and go to Romans 8. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:11.680 And you guys know it, but I'm gonna read it for those that don't. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.440 Romans 8, 28. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:20.960 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:28.160 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:34.240 You see, see, God sometimes uses bad things in our life to do great things in our life. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.160 And he gets our attention. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:40.000 And some of you have been through some really hard stuff this year. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:42.240 Trust God. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:52.559 Give it to him, surrender it to him, and he can turn something that is super bad into something that's astronomically really, really good. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.000 That's what he's saying. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:21:00.240 He's saying, look, there's a blindness right now, and look what good it's done to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:08.319 Well, think about when the day comes and there's a kingdom of God revolution among the Jews, what that's gonna do worldwide. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.079 Verse 16. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:15.680 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.759 And if the root is holy, so are the branches. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:34.319 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:39.839 But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:45.359 So here's what he's saying he's saying, an olive tree speaking of the nation of Israel. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.160 Okay? 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:59.039 He's talking about the nation of Israel here, and he's saying that this is what I believe he's saying the first fruit of Christianity began with the Jews. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.640 Remember that? 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.599 Pentecost. 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:03.519 3,000 got saved in one day. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.160 A few weeks later, 5,000 get saved. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:11.440 So suddenly it's 8,000, almost all of them are Jews in Jerusalem. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:17.920 Then the Pharisees begin to lock down on the early church, and that's where persecution relates. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:20.799 There's actually more persecution from the Jews than from the Romans. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:29.279 So he's saying that was the first fruits of the new age, the church age that is now come in the last days. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.519 Well, that's holy. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.079 That first fruit, don't forget that. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:40.720 Don't forget the root of what God did at the beginning, even though now they've turned their back on God. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:43.920 I'm still saying that because of that first fruit, the rest is holy. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.400 He's actually quoting from Numbers 15. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:54.960 So in Numbers 15, he's talking about a little bit of the dough dedicated to God makes the whole dough holy. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:58.640 Now, this is true in so many areas of our life. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:00.559 Let's just take finances. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.640 Learning to tithe. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:09.519 The Lord says, if you'll tithe, if you'll give me 10% of your income, I'll bless the rest of the, I'll bless 100%. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.400 And I learned that at 21. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:20.720 When I figured that out at 21, I mean the rest of my life, really financially, has been one miracle after another. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.480 I'll give you one, this is a great example. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:24.319 I don't share this much, but it's pretty cool. 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:27.519 So when I came out of college, I had$7,000. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:31.359 Okay, that's from doing odd jobs in the summer. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:34.880 I was a foreman for a construction company, did different things. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:37.759 Anyway, I had$7,000, but I was going on the mission field. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:46.799 So I go to Japan for 10 years as a missionary, but I invested the$7,000 in a bunch of different investments. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.400 Forgot about it. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.200 Completely. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.880 Do you guys remember CDs? 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:55.440 If you're over 55, you know what a C D is. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:57.440 Okay, if you're under 55, you probably don't know what it is. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.640 It's not something you play music on, okay? 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:08.400 So there's this little known president from Georgia who came along as I was graduating. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:10.960 His name was Jimmy Carter. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:18.079 He was a peanut farmer, uh, naval uh officer who became president of the United States from 76 to 80. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:20.400 Interest rates skyrocketed. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.960 We had interest rates as high as 22%. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.119 So you think you got it bad now? 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.480 Think about when I was in college. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.279 That was 22%. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:31.119 I locked those in in CDs and investments. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:42.000 So when I came back from the mission field and Liz and I were planning to go to seminary, I had over$100,000 from the$7,000 in just 10 years. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:45.680 Now do you think that's just luck? 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.680 Or I'm smart with my money? 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.440 Yeah, I am smart with my money. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:55.200 I know that if I tithe 10% and I give it to the Lord, he'll take care of the whole dough. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.200 So that's what he's talking about. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:00.640 He's saying, look, the first fruits of the kingdom were the Jews. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:05.519 They got saved in Jerusalem, and that root, that root is still there. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:12.079 It's still acceptable to God and it supports you now. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:18.400 In other words, church, anti-Semitism is so bad. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:24.640 Any kind of prejudice is bad, but anti-Semitism is bad because that's our root. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.799 That's the roots of our church. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:34.880 We would not be here if it weren't for the Jews who gave us the scriptures and gave us the Old Testament, and it was Jews who wrote the New Testament who got saved. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.160 So we love that. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.200 It's beautiful. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:46.559 That's why on the inside of Liz and I's wedding rings, not this one, because my first one got stolen, but this one doesn't have it. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.839 But they used to have it. 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.279 Psalm 67. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:51.200 Let me read Psalm 67 to you. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.759 God be merciful to us and bless us. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.920 Cause your face to shine upon us. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:59.599 That you may be known all over the earth. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:01.839 Your salvation among all nations. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.839 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.359 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:09.200 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:13.680 For you judge the people righteously and you govern the nations of the earth. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.680 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.440 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:19.920 Then the earth shall yield her increase. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:25.839 God our God shall bless us, and he shall bless us to the very ends of the earth. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.960 They shall fear him. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.720 You know what he's saying? 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:33.680 He's saying, look, just like what the Jews gave us, it's going to go to the ends of the earth. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:37.440 And so we are blessed by that, and let us not forget that. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:41.920 So the fourth witness is the Jewish patriarchs, the Jewish nation. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:43.119 Verse 19. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:47.200 You will say then, branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.240 Well said. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:52.079 Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:55.200 Do not be haughty, but fear. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:59.920 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he may not spare you either. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:04.799 Therefore, consider the goodness and the severity of God on those who fell. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.160 Severity. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.920 But toward you, goodness. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:13.839 If you continue in his goodness, otherwise you will also be cut off. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:19.920 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, they'll be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.359 He's talking about us. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:34.880 For if you were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:37.039 So here's what he's saying. 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:42.240 He's saying, be careful about being haughty. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:46.160 Be careful about pride and arrogance in your life. 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:51.920 Like you're so special that you know everything, that you've got it all figured out. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:56.319 Because it's God's grace extended to us. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:03.920 And he even says, don't be so haughty as to think that you're saved if you're not. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:15.680 And I want to just say this if you in this room you struggle with that battle within your heart of assurance that you're saved. 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.240 In other words, let me ask the question. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:24.640 If you were to die tonight, are you assured in your heart that you would go to heaven? 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:31.519 Or are you hampered with those doubts that come where you're not sure? 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.920 Well, seal the deal today before we take communion. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:38.480 Give your heart to Christ. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:50.799 You may have been baptized, may have grown up in the church, may have been through catechism class, but are you sure with the confidence of peace that comes that you know Christ as your Lord and Savior in your heart? 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:55.519 If you have any doubt, give your heart to him today. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.440 I'll give you that opportunity. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.519 And then here's where he goes with it. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.799 We read it earlier. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:11.759 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:14.400 So all Israel will be saved. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:16.480 That's the kingdom of God revolution. 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:22.559 As it is written, the deliverer will come out of Zion, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:28.079 For this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins. 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:31.359 Concerning the gospel, they're enemies for your sake. 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:35.680 But concerning election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:38.880 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:44.799 So Jesus is saying, fifth witness, God Himself, He's the witness. 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:47.279 Listen to Genesis 12. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:50.240 This is God speaking to Abram. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:56.000 Get out of your country from your family and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:58.720 I will make you a great nation. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:03.200 I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:07.759 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:16.720 And in you, in you, in Abram, all the families, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.839 So this is a side issue. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:26.480 But I know enough about the way we are, the way our nature is. 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:36.000 And we know the history of nations, especially Germany, of anti-Semitism, haughtiness against the Jews. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:38.400 Folks, we can never go there. 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:58.000 It is because of the Jews that God is working out a great and a marvelous plan that when the revival hits, the move of God goes across the globe with the Kingdom of God revolution to the Gentiles, it's then going to bring a great move of God even to the Jews. 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:00.960 Isaiah 9, 6 and 7. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:07.680 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:15.359 And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.960 Now listen to the next part. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:24.160 Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:32.880 Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it and establish it with judgment and justice. 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:38.400 From that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.839 Isn't that incredible? 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:43.359 God is so, He's moving right now, church. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.160 He's moving in this city. 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.480 It's like yeast, though. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:56.160 Yeast is so little, and you just get a little bit in there, man, it gets in the whole dough. 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.720 It's a mustard seed. 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:00.400 It's the principle of the mustard seed. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:02.799 It's so small, but it becomes a great tree. 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:07.279 Subliminal kingdom revolution. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:11.599 It's concealed, but it's happening. 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:13.359 It happened in your life. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:15.440 It's happening, and we're a part of it. 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.640 Marvelous. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:18.480 Isaiah 11, 9 and 10. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:20.160 Isaiah 11, 9 and 10. 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:32.559 For they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:35.200 That's pretty good news. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:39.839 God is gonna cover the globe with the glory of God. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.599 Acts 2. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.519 Peter preaching at Pentecost. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:52.559