WEBVTT 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:04.080 Now, I'm a black preacher, so feel free to talk back to me. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:06.559 This brown skin ain't for show. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:10.560 I mean it's for show, but it ain't for show. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:12.000 Whatever. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:13.759 You got the joke. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.440 But I'm telling you, God is at work. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:24.719 And what the enemy meant for evil, I believe that the Lord is turning around in this season for our good. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:47.600 That when Satan came in and tried to divide us according to skin color, I believe in this season it's going to be the greatest testimony ever told because God is doing something in his church, and it's not a white thing, it's not a black thing, it's not a Hispanic thing, it's an us thing, it's a bright thing, and we're gonna be one. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:01:11.280 You know, when the testimony goes out that the church is dealing with her stuff, the stuff that's divided us, the stuff that's kept us separated, the stuff that that has rendered us ineffective in a world filled with division, when the world gets a wind of that, guess what? 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:13.680 They're gonna begin to inquire. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:15.519 Who are they inquiring about? 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.799 About the man Christ Jesus. 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:23.840 And he said that if I be lifted up, I would do the drawing. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:42.640 So I believe that as we unite together, as we seek to be the one bride that he desires, as we seek to pursue oneness, I believe that there's a testimony that goes out to the world about who our Jesus is, and we're gonna see an influx of harvest. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:47.200 We're gonna see people begin to come to faith, we're gonna see people begin to inquire. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.799 And guess what, y'all? 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:50.719 It's not too far off. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:02:11.520 And so when I talk about the 400 conference, when I talk about One Race, when I talk about what took place on Stone Mountain, I get excited all over again because I know that when we get this right, that there's an influx, that there's a soul-winning mechanism in place to handle it all once it happens. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.159 And it's the church, y'all. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:16.960 So let me just give you the 400-year narrative. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:18.080 You ready? 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:19.439 Y'all ready? 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:23.599 All right, now I know I'm talking about race and culture. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:25.680 I'm not gonna talk about it the whole time, all right? 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:27.520 So some of you guys can be relieved. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:38.639 Um, but I'm gonna talk about it for a few more moments because I think if we get this right, I think we understand where we are in the present, and I think we can write a prescription for where we need to go in the future. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:43.039 So for 400 years, black folk have been in this country, right? 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:49.680 In 1619, at Jamestown, Virginia, the first slave ships landed here. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:55.759 This year marks the 400th year anniversary since that occurrence, right? 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:02.560 And when I look back through history, that's one of the most egregious things to ever happen here in America. 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:06.479 When we think about the present, I believe it's tied to the past. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:14.000 When we think about white people and black people and different cultures and classes being divided, I believe it has a root in our past. 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:28.000 For 246 years, from the time of the colonies through America becoming America until the Emancipation Proclamation, 246 years, slavery was instituted in this country. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:28.800 Right? 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.400 246 years. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.840 And then you fast forward out of that to equality? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:34.319 No. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:37.120 Jim Crow, separate but equal. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:38.560 That was a thing. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:41.360 We legislated racism. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:51.199 And then we've lived the last 54 years with the semblance of equality, but we still have stuff like Charlottesville happening, right? 00:03:51.520 --> 00:04:03.360 We still have things happening on social media where it's spiraling out of control, where where there's depolarization and devolving into racist feuds. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:05.680 400 years. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:15.280 So when I think about the last two, uh, 346 years, that's 87% of our history until the civil rights movement. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:18.959 87% of our history was legislated racism. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:24.079 And then the last 54 years, we've had equality but not fully realized. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:25.360 You know why? 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:30.720 Because all of our memories in the past are marked by this stuff. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:41.279 When we think about the division of the present, we immediately have to think about the fact that we've got more bad history behind us than we do good memories in the present or ahead of us. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.000 And so we've got work to do, right? 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:47.439 And so it shouldn't be a moment where we disengage. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:56.720 It should be a moment where we go, well, we've done a lot of things here in this country that's promoted separation, that's promoted divisiveness, that's promoted us being separated. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:59.680 Now it's time for us to do the work of uniting. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:03.759 It's time for us to do the work of calling us together. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:06.160 And that's what one race has sought to do. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:14.000 There at Stone Mountain, we saw about 23,000 folks and 500 leaders gather there for that exact reason. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:26.240 To see to it that the division stops, to see to it that we have better common memories, us together seeking to be brothers and sisters in one family. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.160 And that's what we want to see happen throughout Atlanta. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.720 That's what we want to see happen throughout the Southeast. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:36.000 That's what we want to see happen in the body of Christ at large. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:36.879 Amen. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:49.439 And so, and so at the 400 conference, we're gonna take some time to show you my shirt, my wonderful yellow shirt here. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:51.600 We've got these for s in the back. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.519 They're supplying, no, never mind. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:54.720 I won't say anything bad. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:55.759 Say anything bad. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:56.879 Yes, I will. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.839 Uh they're putting my kids through school. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.519 No, joking, joking they're not. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.600 They're helping us to fund the ministry. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:05.279 None of it comes to me. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.560 Um, there are three points that we've built this season around. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:13.920 And it's know the story, own the story, change the story. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.040 Know the story. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.279 When I say know the story, what do you think I mean? 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:19.439 Know the story of our history. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:21.759 Know that 400-year narrative. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:26.879 Know that we've got more bad history behind us than we've lived good history out. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:29.519 Know my story. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.199 Know your story. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:37.519 Us knowing each other's stories and experiences helps us to understand one another. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:42.480 You know it's hard to hate someone up close and personally, right? 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:46.959 Proximity allows us to see each other. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:52.800 And a lot of the things that we think are divisive and dividing us really can be resolved. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:56.000 I'm not saying all of it can be, but a lot of it can be. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:00.160 We need to know each other's story and we need to know the story of the church. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.399 The second piece is we need to own that story. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:13.759 Some of it's bad, some of it's broken, which means we need to go before the Lord as the church and take these problems to him because he's the only one that can intervene and change anything. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.720 We've got to own it before the Lord. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:24.000 If we believe that God, who created all things, is able to intervene, then why are we not taking it to him? 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:26.160 We should take it to him. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:28.000 We should own it before his throne. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:31.519 And then finally, we need to change the story for future generations. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:37.120 I don't want my kids living through and having some of the same experiences that I've had. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:43.600 I'm sure you don't want your kids having the same similar experiences to some of the ones that you've had. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.560 We want to leave a better church behind. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:49.680 We want to leave a more united church behind. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:56.000 And the only way that we can do it is by banding together in this time and forging a new path ahead. 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:56.800 Amen? 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:58.079 Amen. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:01.040 Whew! 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.439 So I said all of that. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:05.519 And so we're going on a journey. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:11.360 Um, so it starts with the 400 conference, and then we jump, and that's on August 2nd and 3rd. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:12.800 That's an absolutely free conference. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:20.240 Louis Giglio, Leon Scrump, Latasha Morrison, Justin Gibbony, Eddie James, and a whole lot of other folks are gonna be there. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:21.360 You should be there. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:22.639 It's gonna be dope. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.879 All right, hey, listen, I'm not not the dope you smoke. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:29.360 I know some some of you went all the way there. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:31.439 No, not the dope you smoke. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.279 Um, but it's gonna be really cool. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:38.240 And then we've got the 21-day fast kicking off on August 4th through the 25th. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:41.840 And what we're doing is we're calling the church to own it before the Lord. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.600 We're saying we're gonna fast until we see this thing shift. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:47.679 We believe that God can intervene. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:51.840 And when we fast, we partner with heaven, inviting the king to get involved. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:09:05.519 And then finally, we conclude with the Day of Remembrance, where churches throughout the Southeast will put on a Sunday morning service, saying the same thing, doing the same things, all in an effort to see the church united. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:06.320 Amen? 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:10.639 And so we're calling that the journey, that's our August initiatives. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.000 So, with that said, can we pray? 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:15.759 Can we pray for the church? 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:17.759 And then I want to pray for this message. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.440 And I feel like I've got a word. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:23.360 I feel something a little different in this service than I felt in the last service. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:28.799 So maybe the prophetic flow might come in here and we might not even talk about what we thought we'd talk about. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.799 Let's just see what the Lord does. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:53.360 Father, as we stand here on the eve of this 400-year narrative, as we stand here on the precipice of this 400-year anniversary, we're reminded of how at the end of 400 years you freed the Israelites, raising up Moses as the great deliverer. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:10:18.639 We're reminded that after the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom fell and the 400 years of intertestamental silence took place, you raised up the ultimate deliverer, the man Christ Jesus, the one who delivers us from death, hell, and the grave, who allows us to enter into your kingdom, to be born again, to know who you are, to be in right fellowship with you. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:24.960 We stand here on this eve, reminded of those things, and we're saying, do it again, Lord. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:29.519 Do it again in your church, do it again in America. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:46.480 I pray that on this 400th year anniversary, that you would raise up deliverers, the body of Christ, willing to speak truth to culture, calling out those things that divide us, calling out those things that keep us separated. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:56.639 I ask, Father, that you would raise up a host of deliverers, those that will speak truth to culture, those that will that will esteem one another rightly. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:03.679 I ask, Father, that you would raise your body up in this time, that we could be an example to the world. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:10.480 I ask, Father, that your church would be the light, the city set on a hill. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:19.279 Uh not not the light under a barrel, no, no, no, the city set on a hill that all might look on her and wonder about her God. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:23.600 I ask you to come and do something fresh and new in your church. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.759 It's in Jesus' name I pray. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:27.919 And visit us in this message too, Lord. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.799 We need your help today, understanding the nature of your kingdom and what role we play in it. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:33.919 Help us, Lord. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.519 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.399 Amen. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:37.919 Amen. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:39.360 All right. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:46.960 I get excited when we start talking about the church because I feel like the Lord has allowed me to be a messenger in this time. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:50.080 And I want to be a good friend of the bridegroom. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:54.799 I want to be one who helps the bride get ready for his return. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:56.799 I want to be an advocate for her. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:04.080 I want to see her beautified and adorned and without spot or wrinkle, which is what Jesus requires of her. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:07.519 And so I get excited when we start talking about those things. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:10.799 Today I want to camp out in Matthew chapter 16. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:15.279 I've got five ideas on the kingdom that I want to share with you. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:20.240 Um, I think that this kingdom narrative runs throughout all of Scripture. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.120 It's all about a king and his kingdom. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.279 From the beginning to the end. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.159 In the beginning, we find that he wants a family. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:35.279 In the middle, we find that that family has gone waywardly, and he has to do some things to get things back on track. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:41.679 And in the end, he's gonna have an eternal kingdom, and his reign is going to know no end. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:46.320 It's all about a kingdom, and it's all about a king. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:49.039 And secondly, it's about a father and a son. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:56.879 It's God the Father and Christ the Son, and them working things out on our behalf. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.799 And then finally, it's about a bride. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.399 It's about a bride and her authority. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:20.720 It's about the church knowing who she is to this kingdom, knowing her rightful place, knowing the authority to which she's called to, knowing what God has secured through the man Christ Jesus and what we're called to. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:23.759 It's about a bride and her authority. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:29.120 When Lakeisha and I got married, it was a precious, precious occasion. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.559 And I should probably say this. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:32.559 My wife is sitting here on the front row. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:36.879 She's bad and fine and glorious, and I just love her. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:42.639 We're coming up on nine years, and she's been putting up with me for nine whole years. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.879 Y'all give her a round of applause. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:49.279 I know I look put together, but I'm a piece of work. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.799 Come on, somebody. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.559 Oh, your husbands are too. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.120 It's cool. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:53.519 I know. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.000 I know. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.759 I live in this marriage. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.879 Um, but I'm grateful for her, and we've got two boys. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:03.360 If you'll throw up the picture of my family, we've got two boys. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.080 Langston, who's the big one. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.600 We call him the big one. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.039 It's super complicated. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.919 He's two, turned two in June. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:13.919 And then we've got Dukey. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:16.080 Um, Duke, and I call him Dukey. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.759 I'm setting him up for all kinds of fights. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.559 I know. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.600 It is what it is. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.039 Daddy's a boy. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:28.320 He's six months old at this point, and my boys are the sharp, sharp boys. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:34.159 The the big one has discovered that he is a boy, if you if you can read between the lines. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:39.200 And so everywhere we go, he's taking off his diaper. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.960 Daddy, look at my pee-pee. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:46.240 I'm like, kid, kid, people are going to think bad things of me, your father. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.320 Don't do stuff like this. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.080 But he still does it. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:50.960 Pray for me. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:55.440 And then the little one, he's he's a little, he's an interesting bird. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:58.240 He's very joyful, but he's a firecracker. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.480 And so he kind of goes off the deep end sometimes. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.759 Just an interesting boy. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:06.240 He started tormenting his big brother, and I'm just like, I don't know what's going to become of my life. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.279 So, y'all pray for me. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.039 My kids need to get saved. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:14.080 I'm given nightly altar calls, hoping that they'll come down and respond. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.919 They still have not yet. 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:20.879 Um, anywho's, but but that's all the outgrowth of our marriage. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:24.000 And if you'll throw the picture of our wedding day up there, that'd be amazing. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:29.360 That's all the outgrowth of our marriage, the love between me and my wife, right? 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:36.639 That we get to have this beautiful family with these memories together and these stories that I love to tell. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.799 And this is us on our wedding day. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:43.919 This is me turned toward the door just before my first look at her. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:16:01.279 Uh, my beautiful bride there, and she's full of joy because she knows I get to look upon her on the day that we get to be one, on the day that our family would begin, the day that she decided that she would clean up my underwear for the rest of her life. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:09.679 I don't know why, I don't know what, I don't know if it's a disease, but you just pile them up in the floor, and the Lord's still trying to help me be a better husband. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:13.840 Um, but we decided that we would do life together. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:18.159 And and and I see this picture and I think about Jesus. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:25.200 I think about Jesus on the day that he gets the bride, us, presented to him. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.480 It will all be worth it for him. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:33.360 The same joy that I've experienced, the same joy that Lakeisha's experienced. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.840 It's going to be that exponentially. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:39.679 He's looking forward to the day where we get to be his. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.799 We get to be united with him in love. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:50.639 Um, and the bride gets to be presented to him and rule and to reign in this kingdom forever. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.320 It's a wonderful thing. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:08.880 And so I want to call our attention to our role and Jesus' role in this kingdom, and hopefully, we have some revelations along the way about who we are in this eternal kingdom. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:14.799 Because when you said yes to Jesus, you ultimately said yes to being a part of this kingdom. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.759 You were born into a different reality. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:23.440 A reality that the God the Father knew before he established the world would be the reality. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:28.319 And you've said yes to spending eternity with him. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:32.240 Y'all acting like y'all sad about that. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.160 Did I tell y'all's a black preacher? 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.519 Let's go talk back. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:40.240 Ain't no need to be sad about that. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.680 Y'all want me to talk about hell? 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.799 I can tell you about hell, and we can, and then y'all will be like, hell yeah, we want to, we want to go to heaven, it'll be good. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:48.799 Cool. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.559 So let's pick up in Matthew chapter 16, verse 13. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.440 Matthew 16, verse 13. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.960 Uh picking up right there at the start. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:01.279 It's one of my favorite texts here. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:15.920 Because Jesus, after the Pharisees have tried him and they're trying him all the time, he drops some of the greatest knowledge in Scripture, in my opinion, uh, about the kingdom and our role in that kingdom. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:22.400 And I want to pick this up and tease out five points for you that I think will be helpful as you journey in faith. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.839 Verse 13. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:33.920 Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:36.079 Who do people say that I am? 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.519 I think that's a fair question. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:42.319 You know, if I'm Jesus, I'm 100% God, 100% man. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:19:03.920 I've just left the cushiness of heaven, because heaven has to be cushy, it has to be amazing, to put on this flesh, to sweat, and to walk on streets where there was feces and manure, and to put up with these disciples and these Pharisees, and to know that I have to go to Calvary to be beaten and bruised and take on sin? 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:06.240 Well, I want to make sure that you're getting it. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.160 I I'm with Jesus on this one. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.319 Who do you say that I am? 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:14.400 Are you understanding what I'm trying to say to you? 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:17.920 Are you understanding the words that are coming out of my mouth? 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.480 Do you get it? 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.400 Can you hear me now? 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:25.279 What Jesus is saying. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:28.400 Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:38.240 And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:44.400 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:48.480 It's one of the most important questions in human history. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.240 It's who do you say that the Son of Man is? 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.400 It is the most important question in human history. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:00.720 Because if we don't get the king right, we don't get the kingdom. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:04.240 And eternal damnation is our portion. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:12.640 We don't get access to the promises, we don't get to get the rights to the kingdom because we didn't get the king right. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:15.920 So who do you say that he is? 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.920 I believe in culture right now. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:20.000 That's one of the most pressing questions. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:24.000 People are trying to figure out who is this figure of God? 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.359 Is he an essence? 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.480 Is he a vibe? 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.079 Is he the universe? 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:32.720 Oh, if someone else refers to God as the universe, I might lose it on them. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:37.279 He's not the universe, he's the uncreated God. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.799 He's the one that at the beginning of time he existed. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.119 He didn't have to ask your permission. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.640 He doesn't need your right. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:50.079 No one crafted him, no one fashioned him after someone, he just exists. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.119 Who do you say that he is? 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:01.599 Culture is begging that question. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:07.039 We find so many idols in culture presently, mainly ourselves. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:14.559 We want a God that looks like us, that's sensible, that's that that that I want to be nice because y'all don't know me that well. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.480 So I'm gonna not say those things. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:22.319 We want all of our delicacies to be appeased. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:26.880 We want something that feels like us, a God made in our image. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.200 And we find this in the Old Testament as well. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:33.920 And the Lord demolished those prophets, if you remember, at Mount Carmel. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.960 It's one of the most important questions. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:39.680 Who do you say that the Son of Man is? 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:42.720 And I think we have to get the answer correct. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.680 And I'm gonna talk about that here in just a few moments. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.400 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:56.960 And Jesus answered him Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who's in heaven. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.759 And I tell you, you are Peter. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:05.599 And on this rock, Peter, I will build my church. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.519 And this is the exciting part. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.640 And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.799 We win. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.039 We win. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:24.319 In the end, we, you, and I, those of us who are in the kingdom, some of y'all weren't so sure just a moment ago, but now you want to be sure, huh? 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.079 You're trying to be a bandwagon jumper. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.359 Okay, I see you. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.720 We win in the end. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.640 We win. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.960 The gates of hell will not prevail against it. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:43.200 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.079 I'm giving you authority in this kingdom. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:51.440 I'm giving you the right to proclaim the gospel. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:56.079 I'm giving you access to the promises that this kingdom has. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.720 I'm giving you right to something that's not your own. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.519 This is the kingdom. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:11.440 And so I want to call out five ideas from this text that I think will be helpful for you as you journey in this kingdom. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.160 Is that okay? 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.000 Can you guys hold up the number five? 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.359 Five ideas. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:15.920 Okay? 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:22.799 The first one is God is preparing a kingdom in which Jesus is king. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.079 Get that right. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.519 Don't mess that up. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.279 Jesus is king. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:35.920 God the Father in the beginning said in his heart that he was going to provide a kingdom for his son, Jesus. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.519 Right? 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:41.519 Where do we find this idea of the Father preparing a kingdom? 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.119 Well, Matthew chapter 6. 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:50.480 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.920 What on earth as it is in heaven? 00:23:54.160 --> 00:24:03.519 And we find at the end of the book that Jesus is the king of this kingdom that the Father is preparing for him. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.480 Jesus is the king. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:15.680 The second point that I want to call out to you is the kingdom is built on the revelation of who Jesus is. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:20.319 Meaning that when we get Jesus right, we get the kingdom right. 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:34.559 Meaning, when we say yes to the gospel, that Jesus lived a sinless life and came, suffered, and died for you and I, that a reconciliation took place between us and God, making us right with him. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:39.440 That is what the kingdom is built upon. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:43.359 It's the revelation of who Jesus is as the Messiah. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:46.799 It's the revelation of what he did on Calvary. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:52.160 It's a revelation that I am a part of this family when I said yes to him. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.400 It's built on who Jesus is. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.960 Don't get that wrong. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:09.680 Number three, the church, individuals that make up the collective, are citizens of this kingdom. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:17.599 You know, he says to Peter, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who's in heaven. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:23.039 And I tell you, Peter, on this rock I'm going to build my church. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:28.720 Now, many people will translate the word church there as called out ones. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:31.519 Meaning that if there was a group, right? 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:38.400 If I were a part of the group out there and Justin came and called me out from among them, I would be called out, right? 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.880 I'm standing here on stage alone, you guys are looking at me. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:45.039 It's kind of awkward sometimes with you looking at me, but it's good because I'm called out. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.759 I'm called out. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:54.960 But I actually like a different definition to this word ecclesia or the church, and it's witnessing body. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.799 It's witnessing body. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.799 What are we witnessing unto? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.119 We're witnessing unto who he is. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:05.359 We're witnessing unto the gloriousness of Jesus. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:12.400 We're witnessing unto that power and that grace and that mercy that we have found ourselves in. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:15.039 We're his witnessing body. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:21.200 We witness unto that, but we also witness to a world that needs to know who he is. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.359 We're a sort of missionary, hallelujah. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.920 We're a sort of evangelist. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:36.240 We're witnessing unto what he's done, but we're also witnessing to a world who he is. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.480 That's important to know. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:48.880 Ecclesia, the witnessing body, the church, individuals that make up the collectives, make up the collective, are citizens of this kingdom. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:57.359 So when I think of myself as a witnessing body, I also need to know that I'm a member or a citizen in this kingdom. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:27:02.720 So when I go to Israel, I can go, well, let's just back that up. 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.000 Let's do a different analogy. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.160 When I go to Washington, D.C. 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:10.000 and I go down Embassy Row there, it's beautiful down Embassy Row. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.599 It's like driving through the nations. 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:15.519 If you've never been down Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., I suggest you do it. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:26.240 It's an experience to be had because it's like the nations coming right here to America, and we get to see the nations right here in our own backyard. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.880 Right? 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:31.519 You've got houses that are Mediterranean, that are Spanish, that are Asian. 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.839 They just have a different feel. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:41.440 And these different embassies that line the street, there's an ambassador that lives in these houses, right? 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:45.599 That ambassador isn't a citizen of America. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:50.160 That ambassador is a citizen of wherever that ambassador is from. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:28:01.680 And we, like that ambassador, are here on earth and we're members of that kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, but we get to do business here on earth. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:06.079 I believe 2 Corinthians chapter 5 says that we are God's ambassadors. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.839 We are Christ's ambassadors. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:12.480 It's as if God is making his appeal to the world through us. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:23.519 And that's exactly what the ambassadors do there in DC, they make the issues of their nations a point, a priority there in D.C. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.119 in the nation's capital. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:28.000 We are called his ambassadors. 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:31.599 We are those that get to press the issues of heaven. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:34.160 We get to promote the agenda of the king. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:38.000 We are not of this world, we are of a different kingdom. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:46.400 So when things are exploding in America and Twitter wars are going on, people are losing their doggone minds. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.279 Guess what? 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:51.759 I don't worry because I'm not of this kingdom. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.240 And my king got my back. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.920 My king has my back. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:07.839 The church, individuals that make up the collective, are citizens of that kingdom. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:11.200 Point number four. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:11.920 Thank you. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.119 Someone's tracking with me. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.319 God bless you over there. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.119 Come on. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.480 That's what I'm talking about. 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:20.240 That sister said, foe! I said, yes, girl. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.440 Foe. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:23.200 I love it. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:32.400