WEBVTT 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.679 You're listening to the road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:17.359 Do you realize there could be a curse on your family because of your ancestors? 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:25.839 Do you realize there could be a curse over your life because of things that have been said to you or things that people put on you? 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:28.800 Assignments for the enemy is assignments for the enemy. 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:32.240 But do you know you can break that? 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:39.359 You can break that in the power of the Holy Spirit and reject that in the name of Jesus. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:45.600 Today, Pastor Steve continues his series on the Book of Revelation. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:51.439 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:56.000 For more information on the road, visit theroad.org. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:01.280 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.879 Hey, good morning everyone. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.159 Welcome to The Road. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.439 We have uh something we're gonna start with here this morning. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:14.719 It's kind of an emergency situation that's come up. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.519 Uh Victor, many of you know Victor Marks and All Things Possible. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:30.400 Um he's been asked to be a part of kind of brokering a situation with some SUNY leaders, and it's gonna happen this week. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:35.120 And I feel like we should pray and annoy him and pray for him. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:41.359 So, Victor, would you come up and share with the group kind of what you're going into and how we can pray? 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:48.879 Hey, so thank y'all uh for those of you who have already prayed for us, for those of you who follow us on social media and Facebook. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:55.439 Obviously, I can't put on social media you know details because it you know people die. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:01.840 But I'll just share two minutes with y'all this morning on uh the opportunity God has provided. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:07.120 I mean, how many of you know everything that's going on in the Middle East and Iraq and ISIS is a mess right there? 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:13.520 Yeah, and yet this type of such pronounced evil has given an opportunity. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:20.879 So in the middle of all this evil, and what social media's or the media's not ever gonna tell you is God's doing great things over there. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:22.319 Great things. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:28.800 And here's one is that uh, you know, in Islam, there's the Sunni side and the Shia, right? 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:36.639 So Sunnis predominantly being blamed for ISIS, the outcrop, because it the extremism comes out of there to some degree. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:50.879 Well, the head of the Sunni, I'll say just the Sunni side, the person who's in charge of all of the mosque, not only in Iraq, but also the Levant, has agreed to meet with us. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:56.319 And um he wants to find out about a recipe for gumbo. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:00.240 So I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna give him my family secret. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:02.080 I thought it was John Balaya. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.800 Oh we have to work up to that. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:12.479 So uh we we have to meet a neutral country. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:16.800 His convoy was attacked three weeks ago by ISIS with an RPG. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.199 He wasn't in the vehicle that got hit. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:25.360 But he is he has publicly turned and denounced everything that ISIS is doing. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:27.199 How many know that's a good thing? 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:29.360 It's a very good thing. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:31.919 Uh so they want to smoke him. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:52.080 The other gentleman is someone we've been developing a relationship with for eight months and um and multiple things, and but he's the scholar, the most respected scholar at the university theological level who trained uh the senior leadership of ISIS in Islamic law. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:56.560 He's the one for they trained on him for five years, he signed their PhD. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:00.400 I've never really told this publicly because of the the risk involved. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:12.800 Well, he's become a very dear friend, and uh and he's the one that actually led us to an abandoned church that had about 13 families that had fled ISIS. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:15.280 And he goes, Can you help them? 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:21.199 All those families now, as of about three weeks, are all out of Iraq. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.959 Persecuted Christians out. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.879 Safe, nice place. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:26.319 It's good. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:32.079 Um, so God is doing amazing things. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:41.120 We have an associate team right now on the front lines, advancing into Mosul with the Peshmerga, showing families and people the love of God, praying, doing medical court. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.279 But it's very, very dangerous. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.959 He just sent me a private email last night. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:53.600 There are more details than I won't say, but 13 ISIS guys tried to break the perimeter breach through a trench. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:58.560 Ten of them didn't make it, three of them did, and then didn't make it. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:03.040 And uh I think we sustained one injury. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:08.399 And these are, you know, this is the reality of evil being manifested, right? 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:17.199 So God has given us a small window in time to make a difference on a strategic level uh with what could happen. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.079 And here's the outcome of this meeting that we're hoping for. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:35.279 One, we're gonna talk about a religious rights resolution that allows us to start rebuilding Christian churches in Iraq without the fear of overt persecution and retribution, at least from the higher up. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:38.319 You're always gonna have people who want to, you know, whack you. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.600 To hey, welcome to Iraq. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:45.759 The other thing, what was the other thing? 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:47.040 I know it was the big one. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:06:01.600 Oh, here's the other thing is we're putting together, we're gonna film this meeting, y'all, and then it's gonna be edited and then distributed among Islamic social media networks. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:14.480 And it's the head of the Sunni, Salafist, professor, and me talking and denouncing and giving a message of countering the messaging of ISIS's ability to recruit. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:17.040 That will move the needle. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:22.319 Not only there, but in this world and here in the US for those that are being radicalized. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.399 So to say we need prayer is an understatement. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:33.759 We I you know, I I I head out with my team this week, and if you can't in the lobby, don't ask for details, I'm not gonna tell you. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:40.079 But once we're in the meeting, I'm gonna make it known social media-wise and email so that y'all can pray. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:44.000 Because once we're in it, them getting to us, you know. 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.879 Now once we're out, that's a whole different story. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:48.879 For me, that's the last thing I say. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:52.399 It changes our family's dynamics. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.680 Do you understand? 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:07.040 Our head of security in Iraq, uh, who's the former commander of the counter-terrorism unit of all of Iraq, he goes, he goes, uh, ooh, this changes a lot for you. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:09.439 Thanks a lot. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:10.800 But you know what? 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.519 A lot of people have come before us called Christians, right? 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:17.279 Who risked everything, and there are people that are still risking. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:25.120 We're doing it for the cause of the gospel, to advance Christ, the kingdom, and to help people that are being oppressed and held captive. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:26.000 Amen? 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:28.399 Well, good morning, you guys. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:55.920 Um I want to open before we get into the book of Revelation again this morning about the election, because they did mention it and the issue of Supreme Court justices that became a pretty viral video that my son Isaac made, and he turned it a 23-minute message into a six-minute message, and uh, and it was watched by a lot of people. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:11.360 But all of the major networks, media outlets, political experts, and historians are calling this 2016 election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, quote, the most shocking upset American politics has ever seen. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.319 There's no doubt that America is in a state of change. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.399 80% of the people who voted for Mr. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:27.439 Trump said in interviews that we were on the wrong path morally, economically, and spiritually. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:40.399 I shared with you a couple weeks ago in that message that before God brings his wrath, before God brings his judgment, he warns his prophets. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.480 He warns his leaders. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.840 And I gave you the example of Abraham and Sodom. 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:54.559 And I remember Billy Graham saying many years ago that if God doesn't judge America, then he needs to apologize for Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:08:55.519 --> 00:09:12.639 And so he came to Abraham, if you recall, and Abraham pleaded with God if there were 50 righteous, if there were 40 righteous, if there were 30 righteous, if there were 20 righteous, and then finally if there were 10 righteous, and there wasn't, and so he judged Sodom. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:17.200 I share with you that God sometimes changes his mind. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:27.679 And as one who's who's reformed light theologically, I can't explain. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:34.799 That's above my pay grade to understand how God, who knows all and I believe he's sovereign over all, changes his mind. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:39.519 But he definitely did not change his mind with Sodom. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:47.120 I believe, it's my conviction as your pastor, that God changed his mind on America. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:54.159 People have been animated, frustrated since the election. 00:09:54.720 --> 00:10:02.240 But I want to talk about the fact that I believe hundreds of thousands of people prayed before this election. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:12.159 And it was the one thing that I continued to hold on to during the midst of everything, and Donald Dre Trump was not my first choice in the primaries. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:30.799 But I saw report after report in the media, on Facebook, uh, messagings that I got, friends that I have, that almost every major group that believes anyway, anyhow, about prayer was praying. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:33.679 Some for 40 days and 40 nights. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:38.799 And we had a 24-hour war room where we prayed here at the road. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.399 I don't believe God changed his mind. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:56.240 Christianity Today reports four in five evangelical Protestants voted for Trump on Tuesday, quote, at their highest margin since 2004, 81% voted for Trump. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:07.600 Quote, evangelicals strongly identified as pro-life, and the top, two top party candidates' positions on abortion appear to have had a strong sway on evangelical votes. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:15.120 According to Pew Research, 75% of evangelical Protestants believe that having an abortion is morally wrong. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:23.039 So it makes sense that Democrat Hillary Clinton's extreme pro-abortion position did not sit well with this large block of voters. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.480 So what does all this mean? 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:33.440 So I woke up the next morning, and it wasn't not, I always have to say this because I don't want anybody to get the wrong impression, it was not an audible voice. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.200 It was not an audible voice. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:45.679 But in my spirit, I heard as clearly as anything the Lord say, Church, make Jesus great again. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:53.519 Not make America great again, make Jesus great again. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:57.759 And if we make Jesus great again, he'll make America great again. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:01.120 And that we've been given a window of opportunity. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.120 It might only be two years. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.759 It might only be a hundred days. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.440 We don't know. 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:22.399 But men and women, God's hand of judgment has been lifted for a period of time, and I believe this is an opportunity to make Jesus great again through the church. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.399 So I've changed. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.919 Amen. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.799 So I've changed my messages. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:33.039 Next week I'm not gonna be in Revelation. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.279 And on Thanksgiving, I'm not gonna be in Revelation. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:42.240 But I'm gonna go back to some messages that I gave years ago on the founding of our nation. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:50.480 And so I'm gonna talk next week on what the foundations of America were when the pilgrims came, what their vision was. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:53.759 And I'll give you straight quotes from the pilgrims. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:59.679 The next week on Thanksgiving, I'm gonna speak on the Puritans and what the vision of America was. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:03.919 Some of you have never heard this in your schooling. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:10.799 That cites me, Ryan, that at TCA they were quoting the Gettysburg Address. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:34.240 But we are a nation that was founded by men and women of religion, and in our case, Christianity, who were being persecuted in Europe, and they came here with the vision that this nation would be a light on a hill that would take the gospel to the nations of the world. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:39.360 That is a mandate upon our country. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:46.559 And we've just heard Victor share about what's going to be happening in the Middle East with him. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.840 What a tremendous opportunity. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:58.799 We have Marcus here who works with a ministry that's all about the 1040 window and reaching into Muslim nations. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:07.279 We have a city in Colorado Springs that we need to be a light on a hill to. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:12.080 I do not, I have zero interest in any political arguments. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.039 Zero. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:17.679 I'm all in for talking about Jesus. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:30.399 And so my son, who's at a major university in Denver, is watching stuff go crazy up there, and he's hearing stuff from his professors. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:32.960 And I said to him, I said, enough is enough. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.840 Set up an appointment with the chancellor. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:43.440 I would love to meet her personally and share some of my feelings about what's going on. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.159 Look at Luke 9.57. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:15:00.399 This seems like an obscure passage when we read it, but follow with me what Jesus is saying in Luke 9.57. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:07.840 This is Jesus calling men and women to be wholehearted disciples. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:12.080 And in so doing, he begins to get excuses. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:21.120 And as we read this, think of this in terms of your own personal life, because we've all had our story, haven't we, of not following Christ fully. 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.480 Nobody follows Christ fully all the time. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:30.320 But also look at it as we read it as kind of a story of the church in America, too. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:38.159 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road that someone said to him, Lord, I will follow you wherever you go. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:47.200 And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:50.000 Then he said to another, Follow me. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:53.600 But he said, Lord, let me go and bury my father. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:16:00.080 But Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:08.720 And another also said, Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.120 Now look at verse 62. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:23.120 Jesus says this no one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:35.360 Men and women, this is a time, a unique time in American history to once again put our hand to the plow. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:46.000 We do not know what forces of evil are at work to take away your freedom, to take away the opportunity that we have before us. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:49.919 Put your hand to the plow and move forward. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.000 And listen, be wholehearted disciples. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.840 Be all in. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:58.720 Be wholehearted at work. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.559 Do your job well. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.240 Start new companies. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.600 Start new works. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:05.039 Be entrepreneurial. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:09.519 But at the same time, please be a Jesus disciple. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:12.000 Don't cut corners. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:14.960 Don't show a lack of integrity. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.559 Begin to repent of your immorality. 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:22.559 Come to Christ wholeheartedly. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:31.359 There's blessing awaiting you as we walk in wholehearted discipleship in everything that we do. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.720 It's a new day. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:38.480 It's time to be a light on a hill, and a window of opportunity has been given to us. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:50.240 We should be judged for the immorality, the unethical behavior in businesses, Wall Street, all of that has come out loud and clear. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:18:02.240 One thing WikiLeaks has certainly shown us is the amount of hypocrisy that goes on in political arenas. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.359 I don't know about you, but I'm sick of it. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:08.960 And we do not have to follow the culture. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:11.839 We need to mold the culture. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.119 And the only way to do that is to be brave. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.920 Men and women, be brave. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.240 Be courageous. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:20.880 Men. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.359 Be men. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.839 Stand up. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:28.960 So here's three ways. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:35.039 Let me give us three ways for the church at the road to be wholehearted Jesus disciples. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:37.440 Three ways to make Jesus great again. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.880 Number one, pray. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.400 Number one, pray. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.559 Pray for revival and awakening. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:44.720 Men and women, that has not come yet. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.839 Have you figured that out? 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:51.680 Revival and awakening did not come with president-elect Donald J. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:52.319 Trump. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.799 He's a political leader. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:59.759 We need a spiritual revival and awakening. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:05.519 I would say, pray for President Obama, pray for President-elect Trump. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:08.160 Every day, pray for their safety. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:10.640 It's so crazy out there. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:25.359 It's not hard to believe that one of these Looney Tunes that's running around tearing up businesses, burning cars, and running in the streets wouldn't take our president's life if he had the opportunity or our president-elect's life. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:28.079 So pray for safety. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:33.759 Pray for the right kind of Supreme Court justice to be nominated. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.000 Number two, so first pray. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:42.079 And we have, as you heard, the 20, our next 24-hour war room is in January, and that's where we're going to pray for 24 hours. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.920 Number two, proclaim. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.359 Number two, proclaim. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:52.160 What I mean by that is be a Jesus disciple with your deeds and your words. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.799 Not just your words, but proclaim it by being it. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:59.119 By living it. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:03.200 Don't say to someone something that you're not living. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:08.559 Let's be authentic, winsome men and women of God. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.160 Joyful. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:17.519 And if you if you're not joyful most of the time, then look in the mirror and figure out why. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:25.519 Because joy is the greatest witness of the splendor and beauty of Jesus Christ. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:30.400 And then lastly, thirdly, remember the poor. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.839 Number one, pray. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.960 Number two, proclaim. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:35.599 Number three, remember the poor. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:40.319 Never forget those that everybody else forgets. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:46.079 Never forget those who everybody else forgets. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.440 The poor. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.680 Those that are struggling financially. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:51.519 Those who've hit hard times. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:53.839 Those who've never had good times. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:58.799 It could be racial, it could be economic, it could be religious. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.680 We don't know why. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.319 And you know what? 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:04.000 I don't believe it's our job to determine why someone's in that place. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:10.240 Our job is to love them, paint their houses, tutor their kids, be involved. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:15.200 Look for ways to be involved in our city and be Jesus. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.480 And I love what St. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:23.680 Francis of Assisi said many years ago, and he said, in all things you do and wherever you go, proclaim Jesus. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.920 And if you have to, use words. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:33.680 So, Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you, we praise you, we bless you. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:41.920 We receive this word to make Jesus great again here in Colorado Springs. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:54.240 And God, as we open your word, as we as we open up the book of Revelation, would you show us the importance in these last days of making your name great? 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.440 In your name we pray. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.160 Amen. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.960 And that's my memo, okay? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.319 All right, look at Luke chapter 4. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:09.839 This seems to have no relevance at all to the book of Revelation, but it has a huge relevance, in my opinion. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:18.079 But look at Luke 4, starting at verse 18, and this is the mission of Christ. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:21.599 My son was recently in a class in his political science class. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:41.359 I was, this is one of many things that have happened to him at his university, where the class became kind of an uproar about how the Bible supports slavery and Christianity is all about slavery, and that if you believe that homosexuality is wrong, then you also have to eat shellfish or something like that. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:51.119 You're often dealing with people that have little or no knowledge of the scriptures, and so we were talking about how to deal with that. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:53.839 And I said, this is the passage you you take it to. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.000 This is the passage you work from. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:03.119 By the way, and I would say that to all of you, if you get off in these arguments, don't go, don't, don't answer a fool according to his folly. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.839 Rather, stay on Jesus, focus on Jesus. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:12.319 Here's what Jesus said The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he is anointing me to preach the gospel to the poor. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:27.440 He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:33.839 Now what Jesus is doing is he's quoting Isaiah 61, 1 and 2. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.880 But he leaves out a phrase. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:39.839 He leaves out a phrase. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:46.799 So look at Isaiah, go to the Old Testament, turn to the left and keep going to Isaiah 61. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:55.519 And Jesus was in a church setting, a synagogue setting in Galilee, and he gave that word. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:58.079 You could say this was Jesus' first sermon. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:01.039 And but he doesn't say something. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.720 Pretty interesting what he doesn't say. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:07.519 So let me let's quote Isaiah 61, 1 and 2, but let's see the part that he's missing too. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:12.960 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord is anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:19.279 He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.400 Now look at verse 2. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:22.240 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:26.000 He said that, but then he left out the next two stanzas. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:32.640 And the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:44.799 Now listen, men and women, when Jesus came and we are still in a grace dispensation, we believe that these are the times, and we're speaking today of a window of opportunity that God gives us in America. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.240 We speak of God's love. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:51.519 And I've had a number of appointments with men and women here in the church talking about sharing our faith. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:25:00.480 And I share, and I believe this to be true, that I like starting any discussion that has to do with the basic gospel with God's love. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:03.839 And I believe that's where that's the direction to go, is God's love. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:06.559 And that he comes to heal the broken heart and that he loves you. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.039 And then we move to sin and we talk about sin after that. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.640 But I like to start with God's love. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:13.440 This is the season. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:19.920 This is the time in history to speak of, live out, proclaim God's love. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:29.119 But there's a time coming, church, that the book of Revelation is giving us an opportunity to look into that is in the future. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:37.920 It could be beginning now, but it is definitely in the future of a time when there will be a day of vengeance of our God. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:45.039 Now I find it interesting that he says, and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:26:02.400 The reality is there's a day coming that actually the vengeance and judgment of God will be a comfort to those who are believers in Christ, because they will have been persecuted and suffered so greatly that in that the rule and the reign of Christ coming will be a good thing. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:10.799 And so last week we looked at the martyrs there at the altar in the heavenly realm crying out for vengeance. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:14.799 They're saying, God judge, they're not saying, God, oh, just love the people of the earth. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.720 This their time is up. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:23.039 There will be a time when the grace period is over. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:30.000 And when that happens, everybody will be proclaiming that the rocks will fall them. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.759 They'll be praying to rocks. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:40.160 They'll be praying to mountains, that they would fall upon them because the vicious judgment of God is on the move. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:44.799 It will be violent as God moves across the face of the earth. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:47.200 And so we're in Revelation chapter 7. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.440 We're looking at the opening of the seals. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:27:03.279 And chapter 7 is kind of a parentheses, a station break, as it were, in our study of the opening of the seven seals, a reprieve between the opening of the sixth seal and the seventh seal. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.440 Chapter 6, verse 17. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:10.960 Last week we read, Who will be able to stand during this period? 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:15.519 Now, in the coming weeks, I want to deal with the rapture. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:28.720 I believe God's kind of giving us a little bit of a break, station break, also in relation to the series, because next week I want to talk about the founding of our nation, part one, and the next week on Thanksgiving weekend, the founding of our nation part two. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:31.279 But when we get back, I want to talk about the rapture. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:42.799 And I believe it's happening here in 6 and 7, and I'll briefly touch on it here this morning, but I really want to go into more detail the next time we meet on Revelation. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:48.960 So we've been looking at the martyrs who were who were slain during this period, as I've shared with you. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:51.599 I don't even believe this is a great tribulation period. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:57.680 I believe this is a lead up to the great tribulation period, and many disagree, and many agree. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:03.680 If you have a study Bible, there's like a million, you know, interpretations. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:17.279 And uh and I'm taking my own, and I kind of ride between kind of a dispensational and uh uh mid to post view of the rapture, but I dig the pre too. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.480 I mean it's kind of a pre. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:22.480 It's how you define, it's how you define the tribulation. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.759 I'm still pre, but whatever. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:27.279 And then some of you are like, what is he talking about pre and don't worry about it. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.559 Don't worry about it. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:31.200 I'll explain it um in few in future days. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:35.519 And I explained it in the introduction, but you can go back and listen to that one. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.440 So here's what we're talking about in chapter 7. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.240 It's pretty interesting. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:43.759 A hundred and listen to 144,000 Jewish billigrams. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:49.759 Okay, a hundred and forty four thousand kosher billigrams. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:52.000 This is wild stuff. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:54.400 And by the way, it's not Jehovah's Witnesses. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.119 Okay? 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.279 If you had any doubt. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:01.039 A fourth of the world has perished from the sword of the Antichrist. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:06.319 There's been a mighty earthquake, and these Christian martyrs are crying out to God for vengeance. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:08.000 So this is our setting. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:13.599 The first half are those who've been preserved by God during this time. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:18.960 The second half of the chapter shows those who have perished under the persecution of the Antichrist. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:23.920 And we will have some insight into what all of this is happening in heaven in just a moment. 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.039 So look at verse one. 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:39.839 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or any tree. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.559 That's what I mean. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.680 It's kind of a halftime. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:46.559 There's kind of this reprieve, and sailors call it the doldrums. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:50.000 Sailors call it the doldrums when there's no wind. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:52.559 And so you're out in the ocean and literally no wind. 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:57.440 So it seems like there's gonna be this period of time over all of the earth there's no wind. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.839 And that is, you know, is that the wind of the spirit? 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.599 I mean, is that speaking of the wind of the spirit? 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.880 Does it mean literal wind? 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:08.559 I think it probably could be both, but but we know it's it's probably literal wind. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:10.480 And it, you know, the earth is a globe. 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.799 And so what do you mean, four corners? 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:18.000 The only way I can think of how to describe that would be looking at a compass. 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:23.359 And when I look at a compass, when I'm out in the field, um, I have north, south, east, west. 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.240 There's quadrants. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:30.880 So I so I see that somehow God looks at the globe, he looks at the face of the earth in quadrants. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:35.440 And there's actually ways to lay out a map that show the four quadrants of the earth. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:44.319 So these four quadrants, and then these winds just stop because of the four angels. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:48.079 So four mighty angels stopped the wind. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:53.759 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:31:01.839 And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and sea. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:17.039 So these are warrior angels about to be unleashed upon the earth, saying, Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:21.839 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 140,000. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:29.119 Listen, of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:44.720 So the picture I have is that you got four angels, they're watching the persecution, they're watching the church be devastated, they're watching Christians going through all of this persecution, and they can't wait. 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:49.839 They're ready to roll, they're ready to take out the bad guys. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:54.640 These are God's special ops. 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:55.920 Like ready to go. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:32:00.400 And he and then it's almost like God says, wait, wait, wait, wait, this is getting a little out of control. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:11.359 It's so it's like he sends this angel from the east who's got the seal of the living God, and he has to cry out to the angels, do not, don't, don't move yet. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:20.240 Okay, don't harm the sea, don't harm the earth, don't harm the trees, till we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads. 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.440 So here's what that says to me. 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.160 It says a couple things. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:24.640 One, it says, the angels don't have all knowledge. 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.279 They don't know. 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.799 God has to instruct them. 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.880 They are, as the scriptures say in Hebrews, they are messengers of God. 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:32.880 So God gives them, so they don't know. 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:38.640 And they're just like, they're looking at this and they're watching this, and they just want to take these guys out. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.119 They can't wait. 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:44.480 You know, and then God says, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, it's not time yet. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:51.359 Because I've got these 144,000 evangelists that I'm about to raise up across the globe. 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:56.079 Now, I'll talk more about this in three weeks when we talk about the rapture. 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:59.759 But it's really important that we understand how God works. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:07.279 I believe God holds back wrath because of his love for you and me. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:10.000 We have so many examples in scripture. 00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:10.960 Let me just give you a few. 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:11.839 Noah. 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:22.240 Noah gets inside intelligence from the Lord through angels that there's a flood coming, and he begins to build the ark and he's saved. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:36.559 Lot and his family, starting with Abraham getting information from God through angels that he's about to judge Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham gets Lot and his family out, and then the wrath comes. 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:41.119 The Jews in Egypt, the angel of death comes and marks the doors. 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:48.160 They've marked the doors, and when they see the marked doors, they pass over, and judgment comes upon the Egyptians. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:57.279 You remember the story with Elijah of the 5,000 prophets that the scriptures say had not bent their knee to ball. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:07.519 In Ezekiel 9, the angel goes through Jerusalem and seals the forehead of those who have not given themselves to idolatry. 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:16.000 And so, men and women, what's going to happen in these latter days is there's going to be two kinds of seals, two kinds of marks. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:20.960 There's going to be the mark of the beast, and there's going to be the mark of the Lord. 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:31.039 What we're going to see in just a moment is that God actually remembers idolatry in two of the tribes of Israel, and they're missing in the list. 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:37.280 God hates idolatry in any form. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:42.159 And God loves righteousness. 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:50.320 Ephesians 1, we read this, and you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:54.559 Having believed, you are marked in him with a seal. 00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:56.400 You're already marked. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:58.320 Folks, you're already marked. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:17.679 You're marked with the seal, and it says, of the Holy Spirit, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory. 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:26.159 If you have given your heart to Jesus Christ, if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you're already marked with a seal. 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:29.280 You can't see it, but God can see it. 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:34.719 He knows those who are his, and the angels somehow can also see it. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:36.880 So then he gives the list. 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:40.559 Of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were sealed. 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:43.360 Of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 were sealed. 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:46.239 Of the tribe of Gad, 12,000 were sealed. 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:49.039