WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Church in the Peak podcast. 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:04.080 We hope you enjoy this message. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:10.160 For more information, visit churchinthepic.org or come and join us at tenam every Sunday. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:11.359 That's good. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.279 Um so uh could we put the first slide up? 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:16.160 Yeah, great. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:20.480 So we're in chapter eleven and um just a question for you. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:34.799 Who likes an apol an apol I can't even say the word Apolyptic film Apocalyptic film. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:37.359 Who enjoys that apocalyptic film? 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:37.920 Yeah. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:41.759 Sorry, I struggled my words this morning. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:45.759 You're gonna get it mixed up with apostolic. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:47.840 So I'm trying to get it out of the basically. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:49.119 That's what it is. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:54.079 Um anyway, just in out of interest, you just put slide two up. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:57.679 Feature films. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:04.000 These are all the ones you can go and watch that are available through different streaming platforms. 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:11.439 Well, that's how many films have been made either about apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic uh events. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:16.400 And of course, Hollywood loves to glamorise something that it's gonna be like that, don't they? 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:25.359 And you I'm sure you've seen some of those films, and then we have, and uh most of them have nothing to do with the Bible. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:27.680 Occasionally, there's little bits that you see. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:34.159 I can see where they've kind of put a bit of scripture into that, but most of it has nothing to do with it whatsoever. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:42.719 But here we are coming into Revelation 11, and then there's a time here of that period that we're looking at. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:53.120 It's in that period of uh post-rapture, post-church being taken out, and things happening in the world are not great. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:02:02.239 Uh, it's an awful time, but we are coming into looking at this where God is still involved, he's not given up. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:12.400 And because he's gracious and loving and kind, he's giving man every opportunity to come to Jesus. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.479 But there's gonna be time when it's much harder to do that than it is right now. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.199 That's why we need to be sharing the gospel. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:25.759 Because it's a good time right now to share the gospel, and there's gonna be a time coming when it's not gonna be so good. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:03:02.240 Interestingly, and someone knows this as well, our friends in India they're struggling at the moment because the Indian government are, or certainly across the states, are trying to introduce anti-conversion laws that you cannot transfer from one faith to another, and having and lots of Christians are signing papers to say that they did it willingly, they weren't coerced in any way to convert to Christianity, and having to fill that out, and that's quite a big thing in India now, and we can see the increase of the influence of the enemy over society, can't we? 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.879 Um, while we don't see it so much in the UK yet, but it's happening around the world. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:11.759 So, um, if we can just move on to the next slide if you will, thank you. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:18.719 So, we're gonna read the first part, verses 1 to 14 of uh Revelation 11. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:22.560 I'm gonna put my glasses on for this bit so I don't get it wrong. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:57.199 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the outside, do not measure the court outside the temple, leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months, and I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:03.520 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:09.439 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.599 If any one would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:29.040 They have the power to shut the sky that no rain may fall during those the days of their prophesying, and they have the power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:38.720 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:48.720 And their dead bodies will lie in the streets of the great city that's that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:05:00.160 For there, for three and a half days, some uh from the peoples and tribes and languages and the nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:11.040 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets have been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:20.879 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on all those who saw them. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:33.920 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here, and they went up into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them, and at the hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:41.519 Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:47.360 The second woe has passed, behold, the third woe is to soon come. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.439 We'll leave it there. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:53.839 Sounds to be a terrifying time. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:56.480 Who wants to be around then? 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:59.120 I know I don't. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:03.120 You get these guys that prophesy. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:10.160 There's two prophets, 1,260 days of prophecy. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.920 Wow, that's quite a feat. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.920 That's a prophetic gift they have. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:23.439 But these are the lampstands, it says, and the two olives who stood before God, two olive trees. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:36.560 They are mighty men, they have been given power and authority in the earth at this time to speak the word of God, to declare the kingdom of God, and they are hated for it. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.439 They are hated, they didn't like what they were hearing. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:43.360 The prophecy is not uplifting, encouraging like we've had this morning. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:52.560 It's about the kind of Old Testament time prophecies, about doom, about gloom, about what's to come, is being prophesied here. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:58.240 And they have power and authority, incredible power and authority given to them. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:06:59.600 It's an incredible time. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:04.240 If you could put the next slide up, well, we've got it oops, didn't see that. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.279 I mean, there's a sequence of what happens. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:14.079 Interestingly, 1260 days is the 42 months, which is the three and a half years. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:21.439 There's some parallels here to Old Testament prophets, parallel here to Elijah, who it didn't rain for three and a half years. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:28.319 It's the same kind of authority that they given that Elijah had in his day, where he could declare it won't rain. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:31.120 And it didn't. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.959 It's an interesting time. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.680 So, why two? 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:38.079 Why two people? 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:39.439 Why not just send one? 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:40.560 What was the purpose of two? 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:46.959 Well, of course, we know from scripture that very often God worked in twos, didn't he? 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.680 He sent out disciples two by two. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:08:00.480 We find that Joshua and Caleb were two witnesses who went into the promised land, who reported back good reports. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:03.600 There were two angels at the tomb of Jesus. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:12.240 It's just a biblical model, and of course, in Jewish law, it required two witnesses to establish a case. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:25.040 There had to be two witnesses, and so it's true in the even in the New Testament, Paul, when he talks about if someone's got something against an elder, an accusation against the elder, it must be by two witnesses at least. 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:26.560 Two witnesses must do that. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:36.399 It's a biblical kingdom principle, is that there be two witnesses, not just one on their own, not just one maverick. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:39.600 So even maybe that's why we have two hosts on a Sunday morning. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.200 Two witnesses. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:57.039 It's really important actually we recognize that there are two witnesses for everything, and God set that as a principle, both for the Jews and their law, and also into the New Testament, into what we have today. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:02.559 Two witnesses for everything that we do, and two to go out and share the gospel. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.679 And it's important that we work by that. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:27.840 Jesus sent it out two by two, filled with authority to share the kingdom of God, to declare the kingdom of God is here, and that's why we encourage when we're praying for one another, and we do ministry in this church, we say, do it in twos, because there's accountability as well as confirming one another, helping, and yeah, we're here in God together. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:34.000 It's not just we're not kind of mavericks doing our own thing, but we work together in team. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.159 Second thing was who are they? 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.919 It's kind of the sense that you get that they had functioned perhaps in this role before. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:10:06.799 Somewhere in history, these two men that were chosen or beings that were chosen to go and uh prophesy had done this role, they carried out this, they were full of authority from heaven, they got power over different things, they'd been given this place to go and serve, and they'd done it because they'd experienced in this, they'd done it before. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:20.799 So, as we see that through history, maybe they were part of some that Jesus that God sent out even into the Old Testament to bring prophecy into the world and to speak to the old prophets of the Old Testament. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.080 And what was their purpose? 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:34.240 Seems like they show up suddenly out of nowhere, suddenly they appear on the scene. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.720 We haven't heard of them before in Revelation. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:48.399 Suddenly, these two witnesses appear and they start prophesying preaching the gospel, explaining what God is doing and what he will do next, and to expose Satan and his work. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:56.960 That's what their primary function was, and to lead people to Jesus, to point them to God. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:05.759 Um, expose Satan and his and the Antichrist and their evil schemes, because and they were given great power. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:12.399 And anything that we see now is just a mirror image of what is in heaven already. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:22.080 They have greater power than we see right now, and that's not yet been released, but that's to counteract the greater increase of the enemy's work as well. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:34.960 Greater power from heaven was needed to counteract that time because it says this they have the power and authority to execute judgment as they see fit. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:40.080 If anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.919 Does not happen to me. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.919 God hasn't given me the gift to pour fire from my mouth. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:52.080 Uh that consumes my foes, be nice. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:56.639 If anyone would harm them, this is how they're doomed to be killed. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.799 By fire from the mouth. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.840 Not a nice way to go, I don't suppose. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.440 They have power to shut the sky that no rain will fall. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.440 So they have power over the elements. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:16.159 They've been given great power over the earth and the elements of the earth. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:22.159 Number four, they're props to have power over waters to turn them to blood, so you can't drink. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:33.440 Incredible power has been given to these particular two, and they can release every kind of plague on the earth. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.879 So their enemies are going to be on the run, aren't they? 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:39.919 Surely they're going to run from these. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:47.440 And that's maybe why they don't hear the gospel, they hear the truth, they hear what God's saying, and they don't turn to Jesus. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:51.360 Because their enemies will run because of fear of them. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.480 And there was fear. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.159 It says so, there was fear. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:02.720 But of course, there's parallels here with the Old Testament, there's parallels into the New Testament, three and a half years, three and a half days. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:05.360 Kind of mirrors Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:19.440 It mirrors what happened with Elijah, mirrors other times in Old Testament of what God did, and the vision of the uh two olive trees and the two lampstands was actually seen by Zachariah earlier. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:21.759 It's the same thing. 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.440 God is giving insights right through history. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:37.360 It's God's the Bible is God's story, and he's revealing right the way through what is going to happen, and he gives us glimpses into the future, even in the Old Testament. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.399 We've got glimpses into the future of what God plans to do. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:44.000 I picked up so if you haven't read, I encourage you to read Daniel. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:49.840 You'll find that Daniel's dreams are very much in line with what has been revealed in Revelation. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:55.919 It's all part of God's plan through history to reveal the future to us in glimpses. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:05.279 And it's great that God gives us glimpses into the future because it helps us, helps us to understand and respond to Him. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.960 And we all want those glimpses. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:16.080 We want there's a song around or an album around, uh, I think Chris Tomlin was called Glimpses of Glory. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:27.600 And God wants to give us insights into his kingdom, because his kingdom is far above ours, far above what's on the earth, but he gives us some insights. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:32.320 And during this time, these two guys were protected. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:34.399 Why were they protected? 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:49.120 Because they're to authenticate their their ministry, they're prophesying, so nothing could touch them, and to protect them for the sake of the ministry, that it might have great effect in there to bring people to Jesus. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:54.399 And those that would respond would respond, and those that wouldn't would flee because of the fear. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.000 Fear of them. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:04.960 And so the sequence of events is three and a half years, they prophesied, then they were killed. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:12.559 Three and a half days, they were dead, and they were watched over, and there was great rejoicing over their deaths. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:17.679 Party was going on, shared gifts, gave gifts to one another. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:22.320 Again, it's almost like what we do at Christmas over Jesus coming. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.240 Some mirror things here, parallels. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.720 And then they were taken up to heaven. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:34.080 Their time ends when they've completed their God-given mission. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.639 That's when it all ends. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:44.799 And what I felt God wanted to say out of this is that for all of us, that is true. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:52.159 God loves us and He has a plan for our lives, and He has things for us to accomplish while we're here. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:58.799 And while we're here, in that time frame that we have here, we have opportunity to do it. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:05.840 And then when we've completed and accomplished all that God's given us to do, we go to glory. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:11.600 And so our responsibility is what has God given us to do? 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:16.720 These two have been given a time, a season to prophesy in that moment. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:23.360 We've got time now in the earth to fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.399 What has God called you to do? 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:29.279 What are the dreams that God's put in your heart? 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.799 What has He given to you? 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:40.080 This statement from uh Jeff and his book says, When you're faithfully serving Jesus, you are immortal until you have fulfilled God's purpose for your life here. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:49.759 God loves you and has a plan for you, and if you have your life in agreement with that plan, you can trust that you won't go until it's your time to go. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.200 Simple as that. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.519 Ian, you've got a story, haven't you, about that? 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.360 I'm just getting a mic. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:04.640 Um I wasn't expecting to share this at the moment. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.599 I'm struggling, as you can see. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:12.400 A few minutes I'm not sure yet. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.920 Sorry folks. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.319 Some background. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.759 I'll do my best here. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.680 It's a bit of a surprise. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:26.160 I was walking um a few months ago in Italy in the happy night. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:34.240 Just wait for it to work. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.319 I'm sorry. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.079 I was in lots of agony. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:51.920 Each day I was walking and my chest was was was painful. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:57.599 One particular night it was so bad, I thought I was about to die. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:05.599 So I was on my knees and I was praying, Lord, I know I'm in your hands, regardless. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.680 If I die, I die. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:11.599 But please can I go home first and be with my family? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.119 And then I felt a bit better. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.960 I slept and I carried on, still having pain. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:26.640 When I got back to England, um, I discovered then I'd had a heart attack. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:30.000 I was in the hospital and they operated. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.000 And sometimes during this period, I forget exactly when it was. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.000 This is the crux of the story. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:45.680 I was praying, and God showed me a picture of a leather-bound book with pages written in or typed in or whatever. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:54.880 But at the back of the book, there was a number of blank pages, and he told me, these are your life ahead. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.720 The pages are blank. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:00.640 Together, we will write the rest of the story. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:10.160 And I sensed my hand with a pen and his hand upon my hand, writing the story of the rest of my life. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:13.039 Now, I don't know how long those pages will last. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:15.519 They may last until tomorrow. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:17.440 They may last for 10 years. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.640 I don't know. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:26.240 I only know that he and I together are writing the story of my life, the rest of my life. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:36.160 I I don't imagine it's going to be a glorious story of going to a foreign continent and seeing thousands saved. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:50.960 I think it's going to be a story of living to bless God, to honour him, to love him and care for people and grow more like Jesus each day, in probably a very low-key way. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:56.319 But if that's what God wants, then he and I will write that story together. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.680 Fantastic even. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.559 Thank you. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:08.640 And we hope it includes baking more cakes. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.279 We're all in that place, aren't we? 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:19.839 We've got a story, God's story for us, God's story for our lives. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:24.000 God's got a plan for us, a purpose for each one of us to fulfill. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:38.240 And it might not be stood up here preaching, it might not be out there doing amazing works in that sense, where God's placed you, what he's given into your hands, the gifts he's placed in your hand to do, use them for his glory. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.920 Use them for him. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:52.079 Allow him to work through you in your situation, your circumstance, the sphere of influence God's given you where you are, your workplace, your community, your neighbors, wherever it might be. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:56.079 Allow him to use what he's given you. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:59.680 Because we've all got blunt plages to write. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.720 We've all got a story to complete. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:10.559 And I remember feeling similar to that in a sense when we'd planted a church and things hadn't quite worked out how I thought it was going to be. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:18.720 I got to a point of saying, Well, God, if this is it and this is my time, you've done with me, you've done everything, you've fulfilled everything you wanted me to do. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.319 Is it time to go? 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:25.119 And uh it just felt like I ain't finished yet. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.119 Ain't finished yet. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:38.000 There's still stuff to do, and that's why I'm still here, that's why Ian's still here, that's why you're here, because he's still got things for you and for me to fulfill. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:49.759 Where through us, his people here in the Peak District, he wants to show his splendor, he wants to demonstrate his kingdom through us in whatever place he's placed us, whatever he's given us to do. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:53.920 And we might think it's insignificant, we might look at it and think, well, it's nothing much. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.519 I've got nothing here. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:59.759 But when we bring it, if you think of the story of the young brother. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:05.920 With five loaves and two fishes, it wasn't enough for 5,000 men plus their families. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.839 It wasn't enough. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:19.680 But when we offer the little we have that seems so insignificant and insufficient, God multiplies it and makes it so much more than it is. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.000 And I pray that every time I preach. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.839 I say, God, I've not got much here. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.039 I don't know what I'm doing with this. 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:28.240 I don't know where I'm going with this. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:31.599 I'm trusting you, God, that you take it and you use it for good. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:36.960 You take it and multiply it into lives that brings about your plan and purpose for them. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.759 And that's what God wants to do with us. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:44.799 And I think even this prayer week has been about God wanting to do that with us. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:47.359 God wanting to take us on. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:55.680 God leading us on to fulfill every good plan and purpose for us individually and corporately as Church and Pete across the Peak District. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:58.559 To multiply and to multiply. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:02.960 So Ian even said to me after prayer, one of the prayer meetings, I can't remember which one this week. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:05.920 And you said, you just said three to five. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:08.079 I had no idea what that meant. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:12.960 And I still really don't, other than, yeah, you could look and say we've got three sites, could be five. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:23.279 Um it'd be great if we went not just to four, but immediately to five as we grow, as God multiplies us, but it's going to take all of us to be involved in that. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:30.400 You see, this place, God said to us, When we got this building, fill it for the big picture. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:34.880 So we filled it and we've given away, and it's not full anymore. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.720 So what do we do? 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:42.000 We fill it again, we fill it again for the big picture. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:54.720 We go again and see God move and add and save people into this place and bring people to us or help us build the kingdom of God here so we can go again and we can multiply again. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:58.559 And it may not be just out of here, but it might be out of all our sights. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.640 Then do it, but it doesn't matter. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:12.799 Let's be obedient to what God's putting our hands to do, let's do it diligently, let's do it with faith and courage and obedience to follow what God's putting our hands to do. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:18.960 Because it's still an adventure to write, it's still an adventure to be had with God. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:22.640 And me and Sally are just asking God, what's the next adventure for us? 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.400 We don't know, we haven't heard anything yet. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.319 We just keep holding on. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.279 But what is the next adventure for us? 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:32.000 What's the next adventure for you? 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:34.079 What's God got in store for you? 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:37.039 Because he hasn't brought you here to fill a seat. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:40.400 He hasn't brought you here to make the numbers up. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.519 He's brought you here because he's got a plan and a purpose. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:51.759 And those of you who have moved from different parts of the country into the peak district to be here, it's because God has a plan and a purpose. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:57.759 He didn't move you up several hundred miles for some of you, some a bit less than that. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:04.319 He didn't move you just to come and live in a nice place, although you do, and it's great and it's to be enjoyed. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:09.119 But there's more because God's always got more as He stirred us this morning. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.759 There's more. 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:17.279 As I brought that prophecy this morning, I was just so stirred that actually God's waiting, eager to give us more. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:22.880 He's eager to do more, he's eager to use us more, he's eager to take us into more. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.480 You've just got to go with him and be willing to do it. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:34.559 We've got to be the ones who allow him to work through us and say, yes, let's live in agreement with him. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:38.799 Live in agreement with his plan and his purpose. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:43.279 Because the plan and purpose is not just about us individually, it is about us corporately. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:47.200 Because he works it together, because he's building a church that's together. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:57.119 So even last week, as I spoke there from uh Ephesians 2, is that we are being built together for a dwelling place for him. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:07.119 And this really follows on from that in that we they had these two guys had a very specific purpose in the earth. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.839 So do we. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.000 So do you. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:17.519 And some of us maybe we've not even come into beginning to do what God's got planned and purpose for us. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:23.599 Some of us may have been on the journey for a while, some of us might feel like we are getting towards the end of the journey. 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.000 Just because of our age. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.680 But I want to break that lie. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.480 Because age is nothing to God. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.759 We know that from reading Moses' story. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:51.920 God speaks to him at 80 and says I'm gonna give you a different flock of sheep for the next 40 years. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.880 Age was no barrier. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:59.279 Age is no barrier for us. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:04.160 God's got a plan that He will fulfil it. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:18.079 And even some of the things we think we struggle with of, well, I am getting old, my body's getting tired, and it's wearing out, and things are still not working quite the same they used to, it's still no hindrance to God to use you. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:24.160 It just might be that he puts you in a different place to use you, to what you've been used to, to what you know. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:28.559 Maybe he puts you in contact with different people because of it. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:33.200 But he uses it for good and he allows for good. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:49.359 And when the end does come, sometime, you know, it will be glorious because we'll be in heaven, and we will be raised to new life, and we'll be in the presence of God, but it will be you know we want to hear those words, don't we? 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:52.720 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:28:02.799 We've arrived because we've been faithful and we've done what we were called to do, we've done what God chose us to do and called us for and equipped us for and gifted us for. 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:09.119 We've done it, we've accomplished it, and we're with him forever, and that will be great. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:13.759 And sometimes we question why has somebody already been taken? 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.960 Why has somebody gone? 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.319 And that's hard, and it is. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:31.920 We feel the loss, and it's painful, but also their story came to an end, but also God maybe saved them from something more that worse that was going to come, and in his grace and his mercy, he's saved them and taken them home. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:36.799 Because God's gracious and full of grace and full of love and full of truth. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:46.559 So, my encouragement this morning out of just this first part of 11 is they, these two guys, fulfilled what God said. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:49.440 Let's us be the same, let's find what it is. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:53.920 And if you don't know, and I hear it very often, I don't know what my gift is, I don't want to do well. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:57.680 Just what do you I usually say, what do you enjoy doing? 00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:59.359 What is it you enjoy doing? 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.559 Go and do that. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:12.480 And we are so blessed to have some great bakers in our church, Mandy and with uh Ian, and there's plenty of cakes to be had after this meeting because these guys have been baking. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:16.319 It's what they love doing, go and do it, and it blesses us all, doesn't it? 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.400 We're all blessed by it. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:52.000 So, whatever you can do, others will be blessed by, even though to us it can look like it's just very practical, it can look like it's not very spiritual at all, it looks like it's very little, very small thing, but actually we're all blessed, and we're all encouraged because somebody else played their part, and that's what I want to encourage us to do as a church as we're looking forward, we're moving forward, we want to see people saved and added, we want to see this baptistry used on a regular basis. 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.680 Let's all just find what it is. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.799 What does God put in our hand to do? 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.680 What am I good at? 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:57.039 I'll go and do that. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:00.880 I'll start there, and then God will increase it. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:05.920 Because He does, He multiplies what we have in our hand. 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:14.559 I was never a preacher, not sure I am now, even, but I was never a preacher. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:24.480 When I was very first asked to preach, I preached on, I can't even remember what I preached on actually, because I wasn't on my feet for anything more than five minutes. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:32.319 I think I was lucky if I got to five minutes, and I sat down and I said, I am never ever doing that ever again. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:37.839 Never say never with God, it doesn't work. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:45.039 We've all got things, we just don't know it sometimes. 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:59.359 We've all got things God's given us and we're not aware of it, and actually it takes time to grow and develop, it takes time for God to mature us in that, it takes time for God to work out and knock off the edges of us to be able to do that, and that's true. 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:02.480 He I know God's still probably knocking the edges off me. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:18.160 Well, I know he is, I don't have to say I think he is, I know he is, but he is true of us, but he's shaping us to join us together, to build us together, that together we fulfill the calling of God for each one and corporately together. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.759 Need to move on. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:31.759 So we come to the second part of this, and we come to the sound of the seventh trumpet, and this is an amazing sound now. 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:33.599 This is a glorious moment. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:52.640 We've been in on earth, and we've experienced the what's going on on earth and the judgment that's taking place and the conflict on earth, and suddenly we're transported into heaven, into where there's a great worship service going on in heaven. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:57.039 We're out of conflict and into the presence of the king. 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:59.039 So let's just read these few verses. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:03.759 Reading from um 15 to 19, just four verses, five verses. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:17.279 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:32.960 And the 24 elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worship God, saying, We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:49.119 The nations raised, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for the rewarding of your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:55.599 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. 00:32:55.759 --> 00:33:02.720 There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, pills of thunder, an earthquake, and heavenly hail. 00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:08.480 What an amazing scene in heaven. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:21.359 What an incredible moment when this trumpet sounds and this suddenly great rejoicing in heaven, like you've never heard. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:31.920 We enjoy some times of great worship here, but it's only a small mirror image of what we're going to experience in heaven. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.799 Multitudes, every tribe, tongue, and nation. 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:45.200 Imagine them there, all in their colourful dress, all with their own languages, all worshiping together as one. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.480 It's amazing. 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:52.319 We're all going to be able to sing the same song at the same time in a different language and be in sync. 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:55.440 I find that hard when I'm not when I'm abroad. 00:33:55.599 --> 00:34:01.920 I find it really hard singing songs that I know we sing, we sing here, and we know I know them well. 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:05.839 They're all being sung in another language, and I'm trying to sing along in English. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.599 I am not in sync. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.880 Because the words don't tie up to the music the same. 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:13.840 So they're singing slightly different to me, and it's all over the place. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.199 And I'm thinking this is awful. 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:17.840 So I just shut up singing because I can't sing it. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:22.800 But when we're in heaven, it's going to be amazing. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:27.679 The sound that's going to be there is going to be incredible. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.039 Like we've never heard. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:32.480 The best PA ever is going to be in heaven. 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:39.039 Best worship bands, the best voices, all coming together. 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:42.400 My voice is terrible here, but it's going to be amazing in heaven. 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:46.079 Looking forward to that day. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:48.159 I can actually properly sing. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:55.760 And the kingdoms of this world become fully subject to Jesus. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:59.920 He will truly take up his reign. 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:11.760 And of course, we have in scripture in Matthew 4, verse 8 to 10 says, Again, the devil, this is Jesus being tempted in the wilderness forty days. 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:18.079 And the devil took him to a high very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:21.280 And he said to him, All these will be I'll give you. 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:31.119 If you fall down and worship me, then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:34.480 Jesus was never going to give in to Satan. 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:42.880 Adam was given rule over the earth, and it was given away to Satan then. 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:45.519 Jesus came to restore it. 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:48.880 Jesus came to buy back what was given away. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:52.800 And he came to buy it through his death and resurrection. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:58.480 But he could have bowed to Satan, but he would have always been subject to Satan then. 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:01.280 Satan would have been his ruler. 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:03.519 But Jesus is king. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:06.960 And he was never going to bow to Satan. 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:12.719 He was never going to, but he is going to rule on the earth over all things. 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:16.880 That day will come when every kingdom on earth will bow to Jesus. 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:22.400 But it happens because he's of his death and resurrection, not because he bowed to Satan. 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:26.000 And he's coming back to claim that which is his. 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:56.880 And it's going to be a glorious day of great rejoicing in heaven. 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:59.519 And heaven suddenly becomes opened. 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:04.159 You can just go on to the last slide. 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:08.159 And we see heaven opened. 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:26.320 And again, it's incredible that at this moment, when the Ark of the Covenant, the true Ark of the Covenant, because what was in the Old Testament that was amongst the people of God, amongst Israel, and was carried around, and David took back, was all just a mirror image, again, a small image of what is in heaven. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:30.719 And we're going to see the true ark of the covenant, the presence of God when we're in heaven. 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:32.239 And it's going to be revealed. 00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:41.519 And in this scene, John's seeing it in his vision here, is seeing that moment that we're going to experience when it's all revealed to us. 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:42.800 The presence of God. 00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:47.760 The thing is, when it's truly revealed, it has effect right across the cosmos. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:56.000 Thunder and lightning, earthquakes, when that is truly revealed, it's going to affect everything. 00:37:56.400 --> 00:38:01.599 When he's revealed in all its glory, all his presence is revealed to us. 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:03.519 It's going to be an amazing time. 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:06.960 And we should be stirred to look forward to that. 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.880 Are you looking forward to that day? 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:12.079 When we yeah, absolutely. 00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:14.880 You know, that's how this book ends. 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:18.960 Spirit and the bride say, Come. 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:21.679 And that's what we want to see. 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:24.719 So, how do we apply all this into our lives? 00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:27.360 I'm running out of time, so I'm gonna have to miss a few bits out. 00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:33.599 Are we living in hope of glory? 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:42.000 Are we living in that place where we know one day we're gonna see experience what John is revealing to us in scripture here? 00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:44.400 We're gonna see it as it really is. 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:47.360 We're not just gonna read about it in a story we've read about. 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:49.920 It's actually a revelation we'll be a part of. 00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:51.280 Because we're called to be part of this. 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:54.559 Do you realize we are heirs with Jesus Christ? 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:56.719