WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:06.040 Thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm keeping 2 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:10.560 my cap on, not to disrespect Jesus or you, but 3 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:16.120 I've been spending too many nights in aeroplanes crisscrossing the world, 4 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:20.800 and my body is no longer taking the lack of 5 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:25.960 sleep and air conditioning in the plane, so it's good 6 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:31.359 to keep my cap on. We are very privileged to 7 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:38.039 be celebrating the Reformation Sunday with you. On the thirty 8 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:47.399 first of October fifteen seventeen, Martin Luther, professor, pastor and 9 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:52.880 academic pastor. He nailed the ninety five Theses, which is 10 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:58.840 his criticism and correction of what the Europeans believed at 11 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:01.799 that time and how they were practicing. 12 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.760 He nailed his criticism. 13 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:08.400 And correction on the door of the Castle church in 14 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:12.799 the city of Wittenberg. This was a call for an 15 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:19.400 academic debate, and he nailed them at the door of 16 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:19.920 the church. 17 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:22.879 Because the church was the university. 18 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:28.719 All the universities in Europe came out of the church, 19 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:36.319 out of monasteries or cathedrals, and this was no exception. 20 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:48.760 He was calling for a debate and that triggered that 21 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:54.680 triggered a movement that created the modern world. 22 00:01:55.760 --> 00:01:59.079 So it was a battle for truth. 23 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:05.599 That we must believe what is true, we must live 24 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:08.879 according to what is truth, and that we looked and 25 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:09.639 studied that. 26 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:12.960 In the first service. So if you were not here 27 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:13.280 in the. 28 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:18.439 First service, please audio recording is available and I would 29 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:24.280 encourage you to listen to that. But you are an 30 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:33.439 unusual church which is optimistic, that believes that future twenty 31 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:39.039 first century can be greater than the past. That is 32 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.719 not typical a Christian church in America. So I'd like 33 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:49.879 to study in the second sermon the theme of hope. 34 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:58.280 Because Reformation was reforming the Middle Ages, and those Middle 35 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:05.240 Ages were brutal, a young man, William Tyndale, a scholar, 36 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:11.319 attempted to translate the Bible into English. 37 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:13.439 He approached three bishops. 38 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:18.400 Translating the Bible had been illegal in England since the 39 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:23.319 time of Wickliffe one hundred and thirty forty years before Tyndale, 40 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:29.159 so he had to leave England, and leaving the shores 41 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:34.159 of England without permission was also illegal. So he left England, 42 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:39.520 came to Wittenberg, where Martin Luther was and began translating 43 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.599 the Bible into English. But then he came to Belgium 44 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:48.319 and the English Channel where he printed that and had 45 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:52.280 to smuggle it into England. And for the crime of 46 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:59.360 translating the Bible into English, he was strangled and burnt 47 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:04.439 at the stake. John huss a reformer prior to that, 48 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:09.919 had also been burnt at the stake. So the Church 49 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:16.360 in Europe was brutal. This was the age of darkness 50 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:19.600 that we call the Middle Ages. A lot of good 51 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.920 things were happening during the Middle Ages, but it was 52 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:31.519 still dark Ages. But the Reformation believed that the world 53 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:35.639 can be changed, the world can be better because Jesus 54 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:40.560 is making all things new. So that's the theme for today, 55 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:44.040 and I want to look at the first epistle of 56 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.639 John with you. We will look at few verses. So 57 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:51.720 if you have your Bible and do please open that. 58 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.000 I'd like to begin, because we have more young people 59 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:57.720 now than we had in the morning, I'd like to 60 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:02.879 begin with one John two fourteen. I'll read the whole verse, 61 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:05.759 but focus on the second part of the worse One 62 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:11.439 John two fourteen. I write to you, dear children, because 63 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:16.439 you know the Father. I write to you fathers, because 64 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:21.079 you know him who is from the beginning. I write 65 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:26.240 to you young men, because you are strong and the 66 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:30.920 word of God lives in you, and you have overcome 67 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:38.199 the evil one. Now those are amazing statements. John is 68 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:41.600 saying that he's writing to you, young men and women, 69 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:48.560 because you are strong and the word of God lives 70 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:49.240 in you. 71 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:54.639 And you have overcome the evil one. 72 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:58.879 Who are we to overcome the evil one? We can't. 73 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:02.879 The world has go from back to verse until the 74 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:06.439 rider on the white horse comes and slays the Antichrist 75 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:11.600 and establishes kingdom. He has to slay the Antichrist. We 76 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:17.920 can't overcome the evil one. That's the mindset on much. 77 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.720 Of the American Church and European Church. 78 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:29.040 But John is actually repeating in verse thirteen what he 79 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.319 has said in verse fourteen, what he has already said 80 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:37.800 in verse thirteen, so that repetition is emphasized in the point. 81 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:42.360 He says in verse thirteen, I'm writing to your fathers 82 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:43.120 because you. 83 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.759 Know him who is from the beginning. 84 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:51.519 I'm writing to young men because you have overcome the 85 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:56.519 evil One. Now, with significance of it, we might have 86 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:59.399 time to look at the end. This is like the 87 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:05.439 ancient saying to Gideon in a Judges six that God 88 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:10.160 is with you a mighty young man. And Gideon says, 89 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:14.519 what look at all the Midianites, and look at all 90 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:19.319 the Amlakites. Whatever we plant a harvest, they come in 91 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:24.000 and they overrun the whole land. They've taken over all 92 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:29.839 the Protestant universities and Christian colleges, and they have they're 93 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:36.000 robbing the Church of her children. Seventy percent of the 94 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:39.319 Christian children who grew up in Christian homes. First year 95 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:42.319 in college university, they're robbed. 96 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:49.120 And who am I? Angel says to Gideon. 97 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:55.639 You go in your strengths and you will deliver Israel. 98 00:07:55.759 --> 00:08:02.959 You will change the future. But my clan is the 99 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:08.600 least in Israel, and I'm the smallest in my family. 100 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:19.079 You're talking ridiculous. That's what John is saying here that yes, 101 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:28.319 the great, mighty, famous men and women of God, they 102 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:30.480 have already been defeated. 103 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:37.639 But you're strong, you will overcome. That's like Joshua. 104 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:40.679 If you have time to go back and read Joshua 105 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:49.759 Chapter one, Moses is dead. Here are these people in 106 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:54.759 the wilderness, and God is saying, you have stayed long 107 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:59.799 enough in this camp. Back up your camp and march 108 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:00.960 in to this land. 109 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:02.840 That I'm going to. 110 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:08.480 Give you what All those lands, the universities and political 111 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:17.039 parties and municipalities and the big industries in Seattle, they're 112 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:24.200 already already occupied by the giants. They control the money, 113 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:29.559 they controlled politics, they control the press. Who am I? So? 114 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:32.840 Joshua was one of the twelve spies who had gone 115 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:37.480 into the Promised Land to spy out the land before 116 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:40.879 they are going to take it over, and ten of 117 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:43.799 them had returned and said, we went there. It is 118 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:53.879 a great land, just like Seattle. But we're grasshoppers in 119 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:58.440 front of those giants, right, Who are we? We can't 120 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.559 take it over. We will get Let's go back into 121 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:09.519 slavery in Egypt. Joshua and Caleb said, well, if this 122 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:12.720 really is God's battle, if he really is with us, 123 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:16.039 if he really brought us out of Egypt, we. 124 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:18.799 Can take over that land. 125 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:24.080 So, when Joshua is being commissioned to take Moses's place 126 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:30.000 after thirty three years, no it was forty years, he 127 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:33.799 is being told three times in Joshua Chapter one, be 128 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:40.720 strong and very courageous, because God is with him. This 129 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:48.240 land possessed, controlled, ruled, and ruined by the giants. I'm 130 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:52.399 giving it to you. So That's what John is saying 131 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:59.120 in chapter one, verses thirteen and fourteen, that young men, 132 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:04.000 young women, I'm writing to you because you're strong, even 133 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:09.480 if you don't believe it, and because you have overcome 134 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:15.120 the evil one, Satan has no right to rule the USA. 135 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:23.679 Why because John says in the same chapter, chapter two, 136 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:30.279 a verse eight. Yet I'm writing to you in New command. 137 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:34.159 Its truth is seen in him. We talked about truth 138 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.200 in the first service. It's truth is seen in him 139 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:45.039 and in you. Because the darkness is passing and the 140 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:49.639 true light is already shining. Oh no, the true light 141 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.200 will shine only after the second coming. 142 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:55.519 Right now, the. 143 00:11:55.519 --> 00:12:04.200 Darkness is overtaking the USA. Right now, evil is destroying 144 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:10.600 our families, our marriages, our children. But John is saying, no, no, no, no. 145 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:15.200 The light came the first time, and the true light 146 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:21.960 is shining. It's worse. Eight, it's already shining. And that 147 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:26.080 light you're going to be reflecting. I am the light 148 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.600 of the world. He who follows me shall not walk 149 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:32.720 in darkness, but shall receive the light of life. You 150 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:36.399 are the light of the world. So John is repeating 151 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:40.200 what Jesus has already said in the Gospel of John 152 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:44.960 chapter eight, etc. But we won't go there. In chapter 153 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:50.200 three of one John, were taking off now. In the epistle, 154 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:54.120 First Epistle of John, in chapter three and verse eight, 155 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:59.000 he explains what he has said in the previous chapter 156 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:04.799 one John three eighth. The one who does what is 157 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:09.200 sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been 158 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:14.200 sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God 159 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.399 appeared for the first time was. 160 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:20.159 To destroy the devil's works. 161 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:27.399 So he already came to destroy the devil's work. Therefore, 162 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:34.879 devil is already defeated. His coming on the cross was 163 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:40.759 his coming in his glory and power. Ah, that's the 164 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:45.840 subject for another time, because most of American theology doesn't 165 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:53.960 believe that the cross is Christ coming in victory, in power, 166 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:58.480 in glory in his kingdom to defeat the works of 167 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:02.879 the evil one. I won't go there today. In chapter 168 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:09.679 four one John, Chapter four, verse four, John says that 169 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:16.559 you dear children, are from God and have overcome them. 170 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:21.879 That's the them means Antichrist. One John is the only 171 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:25.159 epistle where the phrase Antichrist is used, and he says, 172 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:28.600 there are spirit of Antichrist, and there are many Antichrists 173 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:35.120 who are post Christ already walking around. But you have 174 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:40.840 overcome the Antichrist because the one who is in you 175 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:44.720 is greater than the one who is in the world. 176 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.799 The one who is in you, he said, you are 177 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:54.120 strong because the Word of God lives in you, and 178 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:57.960 you have overcome the evil one. And the one who 179 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:04.200 is living in you is greater than the one deceiving 180 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:13.559 the world, ruling the world. Let's in the same chapter 181 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:22.879 he says in verse seventeen that the last phrase that 182 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:28.799 in this world we are like Jesus. Is Jesus victorious? 183 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:35.519 Is he the light? In this world? We are like Jesus. 184 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:41.720 Let's look at chapter five one, John five, verse four. 185 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:47.200 For everyone born of God, and we'll talk about that 186 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:52.360 in a minute. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. 187 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:56.080 This is the victory. 188 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:59.000 That has overcome the world. Even our faith. 189 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:02.720 Born of God overcomes the world. 190 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:07.879 Why then, is the American Church a defeated church? Why 191 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:20.480 is Evangelical Christianity a defeated religious movement, marginalized ridiculed in America? 192 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:25.240 Here John is saying that everyone born of God, and 193 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:30.600 we don't understand what that means. We will look at it. 194 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:37.080 Has everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is 195 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:40.879 the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 196 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:48.320 So faith gives optimism, hope, and that's the one defining 197 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.440 feature of your church. You're a church that believes in reformation. 198 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:59.480 You believe in hope. Now verse nineteen of one John 199 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:07.039 five is a terrible worse one. John five nine h 200 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:13.440 John says, we know that we are children of God 201 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:18.599 and that the whole world is under the control of 202 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:25.359 the evil One. Come on, John, the whole world. 203 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:29.920 Is under the control of the evil One. 204 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:34.119 That would be ridiculous. There are so many good people 205 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:40.480 around Ah running these great technology companies out of Washington. 206 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.160 John has a problem. 207 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:51.519 He knows many wonderful people in Rome, in the capitol 208 00:17:52.799 --> 00:18:01.519 the swamp Ah. These are hardworking, honest people who are 209 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:07.119 making their money, feeding their families, paying their taxes, and 210 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:14.160 the emperor is arresting them, burning them as human tortures 211 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:19.400 for his evening party because poor fellow doesn't have electricity. 212 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:28.920 How can these innocent people be arrested and burned alive. See, 213 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:31.799 we haven't lived in that world. Therefore, we don't know 214 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.119 that the whole world is under the control of the 215 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:42.640 evil One. I see some beautiful young women here. You know, 216 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:46.400 if you were married to Abraham, Abraham will have a problem, 217 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:49.640 he said to his wife, because you're so beautiful, I 218 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:54.200 will be beheaded. They'll take you. So please don't say 219 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:57.119 that I'm your husband. Just say that you're my sister. 220 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:05.680 And then when Pharaoh hears, she stays indoors in the tent. 221 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:10.079 When Pharaoh hears, and then Abimelech hears that Abraham is 222 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:13.640 a beautiful woman living in his tent. Why is she 223 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:19.680 in your tent? Why not in my harem. That's how 224 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:26.880 most of the world actually lived until the Gospel began 225 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.920 to transform the world. 226 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:33.440 We underestimate the power of the Gospel. 227 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:41.000 So John is saying that we know that we are 228 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:45.680 children of God, and that the whole world is under 229 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:49.319 the control of the evil one. That's the conflict of 230 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:55.319 two kingdoms. Is God going to rule? Is God's kingdom 231 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:59.160 going to be here? Or is Satan going to rule? 232 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:06.680 It's you haven't experienced corruption in America, and which is wonderful. 233 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.880 You can send. 234 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:12.079 Your daughters to the school, you can send them to college, 235 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:16.079 send them to work. But in our villages where we were, 236 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:19.079 Ruth and I were working, a girl could go up 237 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:21.519 to the primary school. If the school is in her 238 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.680 own village, she can't go to the middle school in 239 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:31.920 the next village. She will be rapped. So I could 240 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.319 go and explain more how terrible the situation was. But 241 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:40.720 you can get the books and you can read some 242 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:46.839 of our battles. Of one fight that Ruth started about 243 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:50.400 with parents who are trying to kill their child, and 244 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:53.880 we struggled for months to try and save her. Ultimately 245 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:57.599 we lost. They did kill their daughter. So I won't 246 00:20:57.640 --> 00:21:04.480 repeat that story. But that's the background from what John 247 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:09.240 is describing where parents. 248 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.960 Killed their children. 249 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:22.039 Because some of the leaders champion massacreing millions of American babies. 250 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:30.079 How can they do that? John says that we're the 251 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:33.119 children of God and that the whole world is under 252 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:36.759 the control of the evil one. But you're strong and 253 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:41.200 you have overcome the evil one. That's hope, that's optimism. 254 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:42.720 Now. 255 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:47.160 I wanted to focus on this phrase, we're the children 256 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:51.839 of God because we have all heard the gospel that 257 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.640 if you repent of your sin, you believe in Jesus Christ, 258 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.160 you receive him, you're born again to as many as 259 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:02.079 received Him to them gave you the power to become 260 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:05.440 the children of God. We become the children of God. 261 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:08.680 What does that mean? Oh, it means that we will 262 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:13.079 now go to hell. We'll go to heaven. That's what 263 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:16.720 we think becoming the children of God means. 264 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:23.200 But in fact, if you look in the last of. 265 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:28.119 John's writings, which is the Book of Revelation, John has 266 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:32.200 a very different idea of what it means for us 267 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.680 to be children of God. 268 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:35.680 So let's turn to the Book of Revelation. 269 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:41.720 I don't intend to go into schatology because the Book 270 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.880 of Revelation, the central theme of the Book of Revelation 271 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:48.960 is kingship of all believers. 272 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:53.240 To be a son of God, to be a child 273 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.160 of God. 274 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:58.920 Means to be king. If you're a child of the 275 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.680 King of kings, if the King is. 276 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:07.359 Your father, then ah, you're a king. 277 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:12.559 That's the central theme of the Book of Revelation. Revelation, 278 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:19.519 Chapter one, verse five, he says that Jesus the last 279 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:22.519 part of verse in the middle of verse five, that 280 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:26.759 Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. 281 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:30.599 Later on that is defined as he is the King 282 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.759 of Kings, the Lord of lords, who is Jesus Christ, 283 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:40.400 the ruler of the kings of the earth to him 284 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:45.440 verse five, who loves us and has freed us from 285 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:49.480 our sins by his blood, and verse six, and has 286 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:54.720 made us to be kings and priests to serve his 287 00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:01.440 God and Father. Now, American translators will often not translate 288 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:08.920 that he has made us kings and priests, because in 289 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:14.880 American sociology, the separation of church and straight state, how 290 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:23.440 can you be priest and king? So American sociology dictates translation. 291 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:31.599 But it is actually pretty difficult. Because he has made 292 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:37.440 us kings and priests means. 293 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:39.839 That we shall rule on the earth. 294 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:46.200 The past Duran emphasize that you are exercising your sovereignty 295 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:53.279 when you're voting. In Chapter two of Revelation, John says 296 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:59.920 in verse twenty six, to the one who is victorious 297 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:04.160 and does my will to the end, I will give 298 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:10.079 authority over the nations, that one will rule them with 299 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:15.839 an ironcepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery, 300 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:21.319 just as I have received authority from my father. So 301 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:23.720 what does it mean to be a child of God? 302 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:33.200 It means to be a king. I am the Messiah. 303 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:35.880 I'm the son of God, which means that the Father 304 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:38.200 said to me in some to ask of me and 305 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:43.559 I will give nations as your inheritance. God didn't say, 306 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:46.079 ask of me, and I'll give you tons of souls. 307 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.440 He said, ask of me. 308 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:54.880 And I will give you nations as your inheritance. And 309 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:58.079 Jesus says, all authority in heaven and on earth has 310 00:25:58.119 --> 00:26:02.559 been given to me. In chapter five of Revelation, or 311 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:07.279 the title deed of the Earth is given to him 312 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:09.519 sealed with seven seals. 313 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.960 And Jesus is saying that. 314 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:18.480 I'm making you God's children, which means I'm going. 315 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:24.440 To give you authority over the nations. 316 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:28.359 That's what it means to be son of a king. 317 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:35.359 That he's the king of kings means you are kings. 318 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:40.680 He's giving you authority over the nations. Chapter three. All 319 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:45.559 of you have memorized Chapter three, verse twenty, but read 320 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:52.200 twenty and twenty one together without the paragraph division. When 321 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:55.599 will Jesus come again? What are the signs of his coming? 322 00:26:56.359 --> 00:27:00.599 Jesus says in chapter three, verse twenty, stand at the 323 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:05.559 door and knock. If you listen to my voice, open 324 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:09.400 the door, I will come in. Which coming is this 325 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:24.200 first to second? It's first, second, third. Well, well, the 326 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:27.799 American theology has a problem that we can only think 327 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:31.519 in terms of two comings, but then the book. In 328 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:35.599 the Gospels alone, Jesus comes at least seven times when 329 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:42.359 he's says in Matthew ten that you go and proclaim 330 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:48.279 the good news to all the villages and towns. Before 331 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:51.359 you've gone through all the towns and villages, you will 332 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:56.200 see the Kingdom of God come in his glory. When 333 00:27:56.240 --> 00:28:04.960 did he come on palms? All the gospel writers quote 334 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:11.160 Zechariah that your king is coming. He is humble, coming 335 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:18.640 on a donkey. In chapter sixteen of Matthew, when Peter 336 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:22.920 confesses you're Christ, the son of the Living God, Jesus says, 337 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:26.039 there are many standing here who will not taste death 338 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:30.319 until they have seen the Kingdom of God come in 339 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:38.319 his glory and splendor authority. In chapter twenty four, when 340 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:41.359 they ask when will these things be, and that he 341 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:44.039 has said that not one stone will be left upon 342 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:46.839 another in this temple, when. 343 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.359 Will this be? 344 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:53.400 Jesus says that this generation shall not pass away before 345 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:56.000 this has happened. So in the Gospels, Jesus comes at 346 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.880 least seven times. In the Book of Revelation, he comes 347 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:05.160 at least seven times. On my Facebook and other places 348 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:07.880 you can get all those references. But today I'm sticking 349 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:11.480 to one theme, which is a central message in the 350 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:16.079 Book of Revelation, that to be a child of God 351 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:20.880 means to be sovereign. To be the son of the 352 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:25.039 king means that this king, this world is under the 353 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:27.119 control of the evil one. 354 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:29.079 The kingdom has invaded. 355 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:34.920 You have become the children of God, and he is 356 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:42.359 giving you authority over the nations. So chapter three, verse 357 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:46.880 twenty You know, but twenty one. We don't ask our 358 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:50.799 Sunday school children to memorize. In verse twenty one, what 359 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:54.880 Jesus is saying is that, look, if you let me 360 00:29:55.200 --> 00:30:00.720 come into your heart and make your heart mind throne, 361 00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:03.880 so your heart becomes my throne. 362 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:06.920 So if you let me sit on the throne. 363 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:09.519 Of your heart, that your life is now running according 364 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:13.440 to me my word, I will let you sit on 365 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:18.079 my throne as I have sat down on my father's throne. 366 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:24.279 That's verse twenty one, that if your heart becomes my throne, 367 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:28.480 you become my child. You do my will, I will 368 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:32.400 let you sit on my father's on my throne as 369 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:35.480 I have sat down on my father's throne. Now Jesus 370 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:38.039 doesn't say that I'm sitting on the right hand of God. 371 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:42.039 Because God doesn't have two hands and God doesn't sit 372 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:45.759 on a physical throne. Sitting on the right hand of 373 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:49.880 God is an idiom, which means that all the authority 374 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:55.279 of the Father is being exercised by the Son. So 375 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:59.920 Jesus is saying, I will give you authority over the nations. 376 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:02.119 You will rule them with an inceptor. 377 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:09.359 If your heart becomes my throne, all authority in America 378 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:13.640 has been given to me, and I will rule from. 379 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.559 The throne of your heart. 380 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:25.640 You will rule that Chapter four. In Revelation chapter four, 381 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:34.200 John has a vision of the throne room. The Father 382 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:38.519 is seated, the Ancient of Days is seated on the throne. 383 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:43.839 Around the throne of God are twenty four other thrones 384 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:55.200 on which are seated elders. Elders manage God's kingdom. 385 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:59.400 That's going back to Moses. 386 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:03.279 Then, look, I'm not going to be a king like 387 00:32:03.880 --> 00:32:08.920 children are not going to be your kings. You choose wise, 388 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:15.680 just righteous, respectable elders for yourself. They will not be 389 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:18.400 able to govern in their own wisdom and strength, because 390 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:21.839 you guys are too stubborn, too wicked. So I will 391 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:26.599 lay hands on them. They will receive the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, 392 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:30.279 you must choose them, you must hold them accountable. That's 393 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:35.880 what you're doing in this election, choosing the elders who 394 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:45.880 will manage your city, state, your nation, because you are 395 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:53.279 sovereign as God's children. That's what it means to be 396 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:56.480 a child of God. It means to be a ruler. 397 00:32:56.920 --> 00:33:02.039 In Chapter five of Revelation, this is still John writing. 398 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:08.039 It's one of my favorite verses, Chapter five, verses nine 399 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:13.440 and ten. They're they're in the throne room of God, 400 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:18.079 and the lamp has come, and all of these. 401 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:20.799