WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.660 Open up your Bibles to Isaiah 66. 00:05.780 --> 00:07.140 If you've been tracking 00:10.040 --> 00:11.860 this year, I've 00:14.740 --> 00:19.080 not been speaking as much, and that was set forth, but we have 00:20.460 --> 00:22.620 other wonderful pastors that 00:23.520 --> 00:27.040 I will say are far more advanced than the things of God 00:27.040 --> 00:31.140 than even I am. So trust me, you're not missing out 00:32.020 --> 00:35.280 when I'm not speaking, amen? Would you not say that 00:35.280 --> 00:39.060 our pastors are just amazing? I mean honestly, can we honor them 00:39.060 --> 00:41.980 even though they're not here this morning? Can we honor them? Can we do that? 00:47.700 --> 00:50.960 I love our pastors. I really do. And they are 00:50.960 --> 00:54.260 far advanced in things of God that 00:54.960 --> 00:58.680 I and Tanya even am. And I am honored 00:59.180 --> 01:03.160 to be able to come under somebody like 01:03.160 --> 01:07.240 Pastor Vern and Pastor Mary. I truly am. I truly am honored and privileged 01:07.240 --> 01:11.060 to sit under them, to be, to call them our spiritual 01:11.060 --> 01:15.140 parents. See, I'm not brown-nosing because they're not even here, guys. 01:15.700 --> 01:18.400 Usually people will talk about somebody good when they're not here. 01:19.220 --> 01:21.280 They're not even here and I can talk good about them. 01:23.140 --> 01:26.540 That's right. Isaiah 66. 01:27.180 --> 01:31.160 If you've been tracking this year, I've just been kind of parked on one series, and 01:31.160 --> 01:35.240 that is Revival Is. And I want to give a quick Sunday 01:35.240 --> 01:38.800 overview and with as much time as we have, that might be it. 01:39.380 --> 01:42.900 But that's alright because sometimes it's good to have a refreshment. 01:43.940 --> 01:46.380 But last time I spoke, which I think was like 01:47.140 --> 01:50.840 man, I think it was like early June. I think it was like June 7th. I think it was the last time I spoke. 01:51.720 --> 01:54.780 I talked about, I talked about 01:54.780 --> 01:59.020 Isaiah 66 is primarily the foundational scriptures to this 01:59.020 --> 02:02.820 series is that God says in Isaiah 02:02.820 --> 02:06.420 He says on this one, I shall look. 02:07.120 --> 02:10.760 In other words, this one has caught my attention. 02:12.080 --> 02:14.620 This one I am captivated with. 02:15.540 --> 02:18.240 Did you know that God can actually be captivated with us? 02:19.060 --> 02:22.600 He can be. If you don't believe me, just read the book Song of Solomon. 02:23.000 --> 02:27.260 Just read that book. Read the relationship between 02:27.260 --> 02:31.240 the bridegroom and the Shulamite woman as the bride 02:31.240 --> 02:34.520 in the book of Song of Solomon. It's talking about Christ. 02:34.840 --> 02:39.240 It's a foreshadowing of Christ as the bridegroom and the Shulamite 02:39.240 --> 02:42.480 woman as being the bride. They are captivated with one another. 02:43.720 --> 02:45.900 They're lovesick for one another. They are 02:45.900 --> 02:50.840 they are ravished. They are pursuing each other with all that they have. 02:52.000 --> 02:54.740 So we as the people are not only captivated 02:54.740 --> 02:58.620 by God and the beauty of who He is, He can 02:58.620 --> 03:02.660 actually look according to Isaiah 66. He looks on 03:02.660 --> 03:06.760 these. He can be moved and captivated with the people 03:06.760 --> 03:10.280 if they follow or I should say fall into a certain criteria. 03:11.620 --> 03:14.760 Now I do want to say this is that we all have that 03:14.760 --> 03:18.240 opportunity. We all have an opportunity. 03:18.720 --> 03:22.900 It's not like there's only a certain group of people that can only captivate God. 03:22.900 --> 03:26.000 Like it's not just the pastors or the leaders 03:26.000 --> 03:30.560 or the evangelists or the apostles or just the worshipers, literally 03:31.760 --> 03:34.080 everybody who is born of the Spirit 03:35.560 --> 03:36.940 who loves Jesus 03:38.640 --> 03:41.880 who acknowledges Him as their personal Savior 03:41.880 --> 03:47.000 has the ability to actually captivate God and to move God's heart. 03:52.570 --> 03:55.250 I often times say this but I just want to say it again 03:55.250 --> 03:59.330 we have the ability to move the heart 03:59.330 --> 04:02.350 of a Genesis one God. 04:04.710 --> 04:06.010 Somebody gets it. 04:07.710 --> 04:08.610 Somebody gets it. 04:11.590 --> 04:15.270 Just sit on that just for a little bit because I often times 04:15.270 --> 04:18.690 I meditate on that. It's like whoa 04:19.950 --> 04:22.690 I a puny little person 04:23.970 --> 04:26.050 just a small little speck 04:26.910 --> 04:28.250 I have the ability 04:30.410 --> 04:34.630 by the Holy Spirit. Not by my might, not by 04:34.630 --> 04:38.570 power but by your Spirit say it the Lord. By my Spirit 04:38.570 --> 04:39.290 say it the Lord. 04:41.830 --> 04:45.730 But I as a vessel filled with the Spirit of God 04:46.500 --> 04:48.190 actually have the ability 04:51.250 --> 04:52.610 to move His heart 04:57.340 --> 04:58.900 I have the ability 04:58.900 --> 05:02.700 to be somebody 05:02.700 --> 05:07.160 that God is caught up with and He's looking at me 05:07.160 --> 05:09.220 and He's just like wow 05:11.900 --> 05:12.380 wow 05:16.590 --> 05:20.950 You ever gone to the park with your kids? How many of you here have kids? A lot of you, right? 05:20.950 --> 05:24.350 Yes. Okay. How many of you still have small kids? 05:24.630 --> 05:28.630 I'm talking about like eight and under where they still like to go to the park and play. 05:28.870 --> 05:32.950 Yeah. You ever been that parent maybe it's just me where you're sitting 05:32.950 --> 05:36.850 and there's like 20, 30 kids but you're looking 05:36.850 --> 05:39.770 at your kid and you're like wow 05:42.290 --> 05:43.730 look what I made 05:51.060 --> 05:52.960 look at him going those monkey bars 05:54.040 --> 05:55.620 and he's growing up fast 05:57.420 --> 05:59.860 you see and I believe God does that with us 06:01.340 --> 06:04.220 and I believe that because the scripture teaches that He does 06:04.220 --> 06:06.480 He says on this one I will look 06:09.700 --> 06:14.360 we can live life in a way of where God is captivated with us 06:16.160 --> 06:17.060 we can 06:17.700 --> 06:21.080 we don't have to live in depression 06:21.080 --> 06:29.120 And oppression and condemnation and living in this cloud of darkness, but we can actually live a life 06:31.100 --> 06:37.640 That is full of joy and of the Holy Spirit and where God is pleased with us 06:39.920 --> 06:42.200 Friends we can live a life like that 06:45.320 --> 06:51.060 We don't have to be like the rest of the world and I'll even go further like the rest of 06:51.080 --> 06:51.780 the church 06:54.720 --> 06:56.340 We can be different 06:59.820 --> 07:01.580 We can be set apart 07:07.830 --> 07:10.170 Isaiah 66 reads this 07:11.170 --> 07:19.290 God is speaking through the prophet. This is verse one. He says heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool 07:19.950 --> 07:26.070 Where is the house that you will build me and where is the place of my rest? 07:27.150 --> 07:33.270 For all those things my hand has made and all those things exist says the Lord 07:34.670 --> 07:36.230 But on this one 07:37.070 --> 07:39.230 But on this one will I look 07:40.270 --> 07:46.830 So he is making a distinction. He is making a distinction and a separation. I 07:46.830 --> 07:49.830 See all things look. I've made the heavens 07:50.590 --> 07:51.970 I've made the earth 07:51.970 --> 08:00.950 The creepy crawly things the flying things the nasty things and when I say nasty things I'm talking about snakes 08:03.670 --> 08:05.250 Absolutely hate snakes 08:08.720 --> 08:16.580 He says I've made all these things look look the stars the moon the day the night the seas the 08:16.580 --> 08:21.540 Secret everything he says I've made and I see it all 08:23.060 --> 08:29.300 But then he makes the separation and he makes this distinct. It's like there's a difference. He says, 08:29.400 --> 08:36.920 but on this one, I will look. In other words, on this one, I will actually be captivated with. 08:40.760 --> 08:48.020 If you haven't been following Pastor Verne's series on identity, or if you have not heard 08:48.020 --> 08:55.040 the first message of identity in Christ, I highly encourage you to go there. And then listen to the 08:55.040 --> 09:00.440 second one and listen to the third one. But the first one specifically, I was telling Pastor, I said, 09:00.500 --> 09:05.940 Pastor, I said, when you were speaking and I was sitting there listening to you, for those of you 09:05.940 --> 09:09.480 that still remember dial-up internet, how many of you remember the dial-up internet, right? 09:10.260 --> 09:14.620 I was sitting there and I was listening and it's like a spirit of revelation just rested on me. 09:14.620 --> 09:17.840 And it's like my brain, inside my brain, it was doing that dial-up, like 09:19.300 --> 09:24.420 and I was like, it was just downloading, but it took forever and it still is. 09:27.180 --> 09:30.540 It's like dial-up internet when the spirit of revelation comes upon you. 09:32.400 --> 09:36.820 But here's something I want to point out. In all of God's creation, 09:39.500 --> 09:46.700 the Scripture tells us that we as His children, we as the ones that are made in the image of Christ, 09:47.160 --> 09:54.080 we are made just a little bit lower than Elohim. In other words, when God looks at everything 09:54.080 --> 09:59.680 He's created, everything, just think about it. Everything that God has created 10:01.460 --> 10:10.500 in heaven and on earth, not just earth, okay? In heaven and on earth, the angels, 10:12.060 --> 10:20.860 let me get more specific, the cherubim, the seraphim, the archangels, Michael, Gabriel, 10:21.100 --> 10:28.520 all these creations, all the other things that God has made. He looks at us and He says, 10:28.520 --> 10:38.780 right there. He says, right there. He says, on this one, He says, on this one, I will look. 10:43.700 --> 11:00.280 On this one, this one actually has my attention. I am captivated by this individual. Why? Because 11:01.040 --> 11:09.200 on this one, I will look. It says, on Him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at my word. 11:11.780 --> 11:18.320 I would probably even go to the measure to say that only we as humanity have the ability 11:18.900 --> 11:23.520 for all three of these things. That's why He says, on this one, I will look. 11:25.660 --> 11:32.700 In other words, if I can be poor, now in context to Isaiah 66, when the Scripture is talking about 11:32.700 --> 11:39.400 being poor, it's referring to being poor in spirit and being poor in heart. It's not a financial poverty 11:42.480 --> 11:47.640 because I feel like we get that mixed up sometimes. I heard one pastor say it this 11:47.640 --> 11:55.500 way and I laughed. He said, how poor do you gotta be financially or physically that God actually 11:55.500 --> 12:00.860 pays attention to you? I mean, that you're holy enough is what he said. He says, how rusty does 12:00.860 --> 12:09.840 my car have to be that then I'm holy enough? I gotta say something. This is gonna be good. 12:11.920 --> 12:15.600 I always laugh at this. Why do we always... 12:18.280 --> 12:24.260 Let me put it this way. If somebody in the congregation, I'm not speaking this to anybody, 12:24.440 --> 12:29.000 I'm just speaking this wide spectrum and I'll tell you why I'm sharing this because my brother said 12:29.000 --> 12:33.800 something to me years ago that I'm like, bro, huh? But let me just back up here real quick. I 12:33.800 --> 12:40.880 just gotta say this. I gotta. Why do we, when somebody from the congregation buys a brand new 12:40.880 --> 12:48.500 car, we congratulate him for it and we say, good job. But if we see a pastor come in a new vehicle, 12:49.060 --> 12:54.660 what do we do? We judge them. Oh, he's making too much money. 13:00.240 --> 13:03.380 And here's why I'm saying that. Okay, let me give you my reason why I'm saying that. 13:03.800 --> 13:08.880 When we came on staff, my wife and I, we owned a very nice vehicle and not that we 13:08.880 --> 13:12.920 don't own a nice vehicle now, but the vehicle we owned was a car that I've dreamt of for 13:12.920 --> 13:19.680 years. I worked hard for it and God supernaturally blessed me with it. And when we came on staff, 13:20.240 --> 13:23.960 my older brother told me, he goes, well, bro, looks like you gotta sell that car now. 13:24.740 --> 13:32.200 I said, why? He said, you're a pastor now. I was like, what? He goes, yeah, he goes, 13:32.300 --> 13:36.700 you're a pastor now. You can't own a vehicle like that anymore. I was like, where do you 13:36.700 --> 13:41.920 find that in the scriptures? Jesus wrote a brand new donkey. Why can't I write a brand new 13:41.920 --> 13:47.480 vehicle? Nobody wrote in the donkey that Jesus wrote on. Why do I gotta go get myself a rust bucket 13:47.480 --> 13:54.520 just because I'm a pastor now? Yeah. Listen, the donkey that the Lord wrote on was a young 13:54.520 --> 13:58.320 colt that nobody wrote on. In other words, okay, I'm not gonna go there because you're gonna 13:58.320 --> 14:02.460 judge me for it. I was gonna say it was a brand new Rolls Royce, but we're not gonna go that far. 14:04.860 --> 14:14.040 But the point being is that it's like we look at being poor as you gotta be a certain level. 14:14.260 --> 14:22.920 If you exceed this, oh man, we gotta have our minds renewed. We gotta have our minds renewed 14:23.960 --> 14:27.720 because when I read the scriptures and I see that the leader is blessed, 14:28.400 --> 14:34.520 the rest of the people are blessed. Look at Solomon. Just take Solomon for an example. 14:36.480 --> 14:43.860 When a businessman prospers, now let me add a little line in. When a righteous businessman 14:44.960 --> 14:57.200 prospers, so do his employees. Let me say that again. When a righteous businessman prospers, 14:58.700 --> 15:09.280 so do the employees. Following me? Okay. We still got a little bit of time. 15:10.520 --> 15:15.540 So he says, on this one I will look. He who is poor and of a contrite spirit, 15:15.920 --> 15:21.320 poor in spirit or poor in heart and then of a contrite spirit and who trembles at my word. 15:21.760 --> 15:26.180 On this one, God says, I will look. There's this distinction. There's this difference 15:26.180 --> 15:31.440 that God is saying. He says, look what I've made. Heaven is my throne. Earth is my footstool. 15:31.860 --> 15:39.900 But this one actually has my attention. If we can live a life, cultivate a life 15:39.900 --> 15:44.980 that has three of these components in it, which by the way, all three of these components 15:44.980 --> 15:51.320 are talking about first love. Because if you were tracking with this series revival is, 15:52.120 --> 15:58.480 I said this thing that majority of Christians, majority of churchgoing people, 15:58.540 --> 16:07.360 have a misunderstanding of what revival is. We do. We genuinely we do. And I can't say that I have 16:07.360 --> 16:12.020 it all figured out that I know the fullness of it. But what I know is I'm persuaded of it. 16:12.120 --> 16:18.060 Scripturally I read it. Revival and the purpose of it is for first love. 16:19.100 --> 16:25.280 Why does God revive us? Because he wants to revive that first love that we had on to him 16:25.280 --> 16:31.700 when we first met him. I'll even go to the extent and say that if we have lost our first love, 16:31.880 --> 16:39.340 we've lost everything. I will say that with boldness. I will say that with complete confidence. 16:40.260 --> 16:47.100 If we have lost our first love on to Jesus, we've lost everything, friend. 16:48.620 --> 16:54.400 I don't care that you prophesy. I don't care how big your ministry is. I don't care about this, 16:54.680 --> 17:00.060 that, and the other. If you have lost your first love on to the Lord, you've lost everything. 17:00.480 --> 17:08.100 You don't believe me? Read Revelation 2. Read Revelation 2. Read 1 Corinthians 13. Just read it. 17:12.370 --> 17:18.870 The purpose of revival or what revival even is, it is to have first love on to him. Then 17:18.870 --> 17:24.810 we are actually revived. Because out of first love comes everything else. 17:26.250 --> 17:31.950 Literally, out of first love comes everything else. Out of the first and greatest commandment. 17:32.450 --> 17:37.590 This is Matthew 22. When the Pharisees came to Jesus, they said, Lord, what is the first 17:37.590 --> 17:44.930 and greatest commandment? What did the Lord reply? He said, Love the Lord your God 17:44.930 --> 17:50.650 with all your heart, soul, and mind. All your strength. All of who you are. Love him. 17:51.590 --> 17:54.350 He says, and then the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. 17:55.910 --> 18:01.590 Everything comes out of loving God. I said this last time I spoke in June 7th. I think it was 18:01.590 --> 18:07.610 June 7th that I spoke. Is that it takes God to love God. Do you guys remember that? 18:07.610 --> 18:13.670 Yeah. It literally takes God to... We can't love God on our own. I've tried. 18:15.750 --> 18:23.350 Man, it is hard. It is hard. It is hard to love God on... It's exhausting. 18:25.850 --> 18:29.390 It's exhausting to try and love God on my own. 18:32.430 --> 18:36.610 That's why you hear me say it so often. How much we need the Holy Spirit? 18:39.310 --> 18:47.090 How much we need the Holy Spirit to love him? Because he is so great and mighty, 18:48.790 --> 18:56.130 full of majesty and glory. And here we think puny humans. I got this on my own. Think again, man. 18:57.490 --> 19:04.710 Repent. Lay down your pride and admit I need the Holy Spirit to love him. 19:06.450 --> 19:13.070 I need him to counsel me, to help me, to lead me, to convince me. 19:15.750 --> 19:20.870 We oftentimes, just a little side note here, we oftentimes try to convince people to believe in 19:20.870 --> 19:26.590 Jesus. Sometimes I'm just like, man, just let the Holy Spirit do it. 19:28.870 --> 19:32.170 The Scripture says, one sows in other waters, but God makes it grow. 19:34.050 --> 19:39.130 One sows in other waters, but God makes it grow. Maybe there's somebody in your life that you're just 19:39.130 --> 19:44.110 really trying to convince that Jesus is real. Do me a favor, just give it on to Jesus. Give it 19:44.110 --> 19:52.230 on to the Holy Spirit to be more specific. Give it on to the Holy Spirit. And say, Holy Spirit, 19:52.390 --> 19:58.590 I'm doing what the Scripture says. Paul writes that one sows. I've sowed God and I continue 19:58.590 --> 20:05.010 to sow. Would you send somebody to water that seed? And more than just water that seed, God, 20:05.350 --> 20:12.250 would you send your Holy Spirit like you did this morning and convince this individual? 20:16.520 --> 20:22.500 Still with me? Praise God. You're not bored yet? Praise God. You guys love me, don't you? 20:23.040 --> 20:32.300 Hallelujah. Thank you so much. Isaiah 66 has a, what I would say, a two-fold meaning to it. 20:32.440 --> 20:37.020 What I mean by that is that being that it's an Old Testament Scripture, 20:38.020 --> 20:44.220 it actually has a New Testament language in it. So in the Old Testament we find that 20:44.220 --> 20:49.240 when they would build a dwelling place for God or an altar for God, it was a place that 20:49.240 --> 20:56.880 was very geographical. It was like when Moses pitched a tent and he built a tabernacle, it's like 20:56.880 --> 21:05.120 God was only there. His manifest presence was only there. That's why I believe it's David. They would 21:05.120 --> 21:08.620 take the tent and they would move it and then they would replant it because it was like it was 21:08.620 --> 21:15.660 only a geographical location to where God could be. But it has, Isaiah 66 has a New Testament 21:15.660 --> 21:24.260 language to it because being now New Testament believers, we are actually a temple of the Holy Spirit. 21:26.890 --> 21:34.000 So there's a two-fold in Isaiah 66. There is, I still believe, I still believe 21:34.530 --> 21:43.060 that there is geographical locations that God will specifically rest. Jim, it's coming on you, 21:43.060 --> 21:58.730 isn't it? Hallelujah. I see it all over you, brother. I still believe that there is houses of 21:58.730 --> 22:10.150 worship. In other words, there is local churches that God will specifically come and rest. Why? 22:12.650 --> 22:17.450 Why? No, it's more than just the Holy Spirit, but yes, 22:19.970 --> 22:21.990 because they are poor in spirit, 22:23.870 --> 22:27.570 contrite in spirit, and they tremble at the Word of God. 22:30.730 --> 22:36.110 Yet at the same time, God can actually dwell in us as His temples. 22:39.330 --> 22:48.150 Are you ready to hear some revelation? You could be so filled with the Holy Spirit and His presence, 22:48.290 --> 22:52.990 because you are the temple that He's resting on, because you're poor, because you're contrite, 22:53.210 --> 22:58.210 and you tremble at His Word. You can come to a place that's dead, and like a good friend 22:58.210 --> 23:04.430 of mine says, it's a two-sweater church because it's so cold. But because you are so filled, 23:04.950 --> 23:10.030 you can actually ooze out of the presence of God, and you can affect a place. 23:11.730 --> 23:13.370 Ah, you guys didn't catch that. 23:16.350 --> 23:23.830 You could live a life as a temple of the Holy Spirit, as a temple of where God comes and rests, 23:24.630 --> 23:32.030 that you can enter a place where there's dry and dead bones, but because God rests on you, 23:32.030 --> 23:40.010 life begins to come. This can be in your home. This could be in your workplace. 23:41.070 --> 23:47.450 This could be in your school. This could be amongst your friends, amongst your relatives. 23:50.330 --> 23:56.850 See, this is something that's available to all of us. It is available to us. It is. 23:59.570 --> 24:02.950 And some of you are saying, well, why don't we see it because you don't want it enough. 24:07.160 --> 24:13.160 We don't want it enough because if we wanted it enough, we would constantly 24:13.160 --> 24:17.540 be cultivating a life that's poor, contrite, and trembling at His Word. 24:19.400 --> 24:27.440 You've heard me say it before. We're not desperate enough here in America. We're not 24:27.440 --> 24:33.640 desperate enough for the Lord yet. You're saying, what do you mean, pastor? That's exactly what I mean. 24:38.790 --> 24:45.670 I believe the shaking is coming for the sake of bringing us into an oil press. 24:46.790 --> 24:51.550 It's not to harm us. It's not to hurt us. It's bringing us into an oil press 24:51.550 --> 24:55.190 that it puts us in a position that it's crunch time. 24:58.150 --> 24:59.950 You have to make a decision. 25:02.950 --> 25:06.150 You're saying, well, God doesn't do that. He doesn't put us in a place that we're uncomfortable. 25:06.870 --> 25:08.850 What God are you talking about? 25:11.390 --> 25:13.110 What God are you talking about? 25:17.240 --> 25:20.560 That is the God that will put you in the most uncomfortable position. 25:21.240 --> 25:24.980 Why? Because when I'm uncomfortable, I lean on Him like never before. 25:28.580 --> 25:32.800 Jeremiah says, God, I'm youth. I'm young. I don't know how to speak. 25:34.380 --> 25:40.920 He says, yeah, but I'll put my words in your mouth and you will speak what I command you to speak. 25:41.780 --> 25:46.140 And don't be afraid of them. That's what He says. Why? Because I'm with you. 25:52.400 --> 25:55.580 To be uncomfortable is where God wants us to be. 25:56.780 --> 25:58.980 Yet at the same time, it's like, God, how do you do it? 25:58.980 --> 26:02.080 I'm uncomfortable. Yet all at the same time, I'm comfortable. 26:05.340 --> 26:09.940 It's like the flesh doesn't like it, but the spirit's like, oh, give me more. 26:16.220 --> 26:17.100 Still with me? 26:19.520 --> 26:25.500 So Isaiah 66 has two meanings, or it's a twofold. It has the New Testament language. 26:26.760 --> 26:29.040 Again, like I said, I still believe that God 26:30.440 --> 26:35.980 is resting. He finds houses of worship. In other words, he finds churches. 26:37.980 --> 26:47.160 And he will rest there because, because there's the people there that are found to be poor, 26:48.380 --> 26:52.140 contrite, and tremble at their word. And they've caught his attention. 26:54.240 --> 26:58.060 And do you know what's even more amazing? I've said this before. I long to see this day. 26:58.060 --> 27:03.960 I do long to see this day. And I believe my eyes, my physical eyes shall see it before I go to be with 27:03.960 --> 27:10.740 the Lord or even maybe before the Lord comes. I don't know. But my eyes long to see this day 27:12.980 --> 27:19.720 that every individual from a local body would seek the Lord. 27:21.240 --> 27:27.880 When I say seek Him, I'm talking about like you lost that mortgage payment that's due 27:27.880 --> 27:34.040 the first of the month, and you're seeking it. God, I know I put that check somewhere. Where is it? 27:35.540 --> 27:39.580 And you're flipping furniture, and you're going through your car, your husband's car, 27:39.900 --> 27:44.560 you're going through your kids' cars, you're going to your office, you're searching for it. 27:44.580 --> 27:48.860 That's what I'm talking about. If a people could search for God, like they lost something 27:48.860 --> 27:56.800 that's valuable. From Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday to Thursday to Friday to Saturday 27:56.800 --> 28:02.900 and then Sunday when we show up together and a corporate anointing would come 28:03.760 --> 28:08.780 because it's not just two or three that have caught His attention, but it's 250 28:09.220 --> 28:14.500 that have caught the attention of God and He would come and He would rest and He would 28:14.500 --> 28:26.100 dwell in such a way that we would be flat on our faces. You're saying, well pastor, 28:26.320 --> 28:30.060 I thought that the pastor's only supposed to do that, and I just come and receive. 28:31.300 --> 28:34.560 Interesting because when I read the scriptures, Paul writes, 28:34.860 --> 28:44.480 and when you gather, let each of you have something, a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song. 28:44.960 --> 28:49.140 He's not just talking about your money. Actually, it doesn't even say in those few verses. 28:49.800 --> 28:55.960 I think it's Ephesians 519 and Colossians 316 is when he says that. Ephesians 519 for sure. 28:56.860 --> 29:03.900 He says, when you gather, he says, let each of you not let the pastor or let the worship team 29:03.900 --> 29:11.320 or let so-and-so, he says, let each of you have something to bring. 29:17.370 --> 29:20.410 What did we bring for the Lord this morning? What did you bring for the Lord? 29:20.410 --> 29:23.570 Don't answer that, but I want to just ask you that question. 29:23.810 --> 29:29.170 What did you bring to the Lord this morning that was actually pleasing to him? 29:34.070 --> 29:38.590 How was your heart postured this morning when you were coming to church? 29:40.490 --> 29:45.990 To gather with your fellow brethren, brothers and sisters in Christ? 29:46.290 --> 29:49.250 What was in your heart, in the depths of your heart? What was there? 29:51.070 --> 29:55.670 To bring before the Lord, to lay at His feet? Was there grumbling? 29:58.310 --> 30:05.830 Was there conflict in your heart? Was there self-motivation? Was there self-found in there? 30:07.190 --> 30:10.690 It's good to come to church and know that you're going to receive something. 30:11.050 --> 30:18.670 That is good. And it is necessary that we come on a Sunday and we can expect to receive 30:18.670 --> 30:25.370 something from God. But here's where we've hit the ditch in that, in the church realm, 30:25.510 --> 30:31.830 or in the church world, is that we've hit the ditch with that, is that we've become so self. 30:33.170 --> 30:38.150 When I come to church, I'm not only expecting to receive something from Him, 30:38.350 --> 30:45.870 but I'm expecting an exchange. Here's what I have, God. It's not much. 30:48.210 --> 30:54.590 It's not much, God. But this is what I have. And this morning, I lay it before you. 30:56.630 --> 31:04.610 Here's my alabaster flask, God. I'm breaking it. I'm anointing your feet. I'm washing your feet. 31:05.030 --> 31:09.970 Here, God, it's not much. It's been a tough week, Lord. But here, here, would you, 31:09.970 --> 31:16.530 would you take this, at least? And would you in exchange touch me this morning? 31:18.910 --> 31:22.130 You say, no, pastor, you're preaching works. No, I'm not preaching works. 31:22.790 --> 31:27.490 I'm not preaching works. I'm not saying do something. I'm saying bring something. 31:36.010 --> 31:41.730 And we've hit a ditch where it's like I come to only receive. That's good. I'm glad 31:42.470 --> 31:47.890 that you come here and that you receive. It is necessary. I actually would be worried as 31:47.890 --> 31:51.810 your pastor if you weren't receiving something when you came on a Sunday. I would be worried. 31:52.650 --> 31:56.610 And do you know why I'd be worried? What am I doing wrong as a pastor that you're 31:56.610 --> 32:00.890 not receiving something? That's where I would start. That's where I would start. 32:01.790 --> 32:05.590 Not saying that's where I would finish, but that's where I would start. 32:06.790 --> 32:17.300 Because sometimes we don't receive. I'm not gonna go there. But I long to see that day 32:19.600 --> 32:26.200 that a congregation of 250, of 450, of 650, of 850, whatever, 32:28.000 --> 32:35.280 they've sought the Lord. They've genuinely sought the face of God. 32:39.250 --> 32:45.670 They've laid their lives down as a living sacrifice. And then they show up on a Sunday 32:45.670 --> 32:54.590 in a corporate anointing. And God comes and dwells and blows the roof off. 32:59.410 --> 33:04.890 See, we always talk about past revival, specifically the Azusa Street revival. 33:05.110 --> 33:08.430 I've heard so many people talk about it. They're like, man, it's so amazing. 33:08.430 --> 33:13.250 The fire department came out because they thought the roof was on fire, man. Whoa! 33:13.810 --> 33:17.590 Hey, that's cool. But did you know that that's available to us today? 33:23.500 --> 33:31.080 I find it interesting that we bask in other people's 33:32.520 --> 33:36.280 accomplishments and we bask in other people's experiences where God's like, 33:37.880 --> 33:45.740 but you can. You can have that. You can actually have that and more. 33:47.160 --> 33:49.200 You're saying, well, where are you pulling that from? Read your scriptures. 33:50.060 --> 33:56.440 It says, I give my spirit without measure. It's not like there's a faucet that God's like, 33:56.540 --> 34:00.340 ah, I'm all tapped out. Hey, holy spirit, we're all out, man, sorry. 34:02.740 --> 34:06.800 There's no limit to the holy spirit. The limit is you. 34:12.120 --> 34:18.400 Isaiah 66 is a place that I've told you before in the series is what I truly believe. I am 34:21.260 --> 34:24.560 convinced by the holy spirit, that's what he's doing in this hour, 34:25.740 --> 34:31.640 that he is going to and fro specifically, Isaiah 66. He's going to and fro 34:32.510 --> 34:41.900 and he is looking for a place that he can rest both individually yet at the same time 34:41.900 --> 34:49.480 corporately, geographically. I am convinced of it. 34:51.660 --> 34:59.620 I believe that there is an emphasis that God is putting on the local church in our day and age 34:59.620 --> 35:08.900 like never before. You're saying, why do I believe that? For many reasons. Let me simply tell you one 35:08.900 --> 35:20.020 reason, to prepare us for what's ahead. To house, to house, to harbor, to be able to, 35:20.920 --> 35:24.020 I don't want to use the word contain because you can't contain God, 35:24.880 --> 35:29.920 but for a lack of better words, I'll use the word to contain the things of God, 35:30.700 --> 35:39.500 to be able to carry them, to be able to have a place of where his glory can manifest and make a way 35:40.140 --> 35:44.360 for so much more greater things that Christ would be actually exalted. 35:46.760 --> 35:53.640 And I'm just, I'm convinced of it by the holy spirit. This is a message I believe he's going 35:53.640 --> 35:58.260 to open doors and have me speak at many other local bodies. I've already spoken it at a 35:58.260 --> 36:04.800 different local body, but being a pastor here, I have the privilege and the ability to expand on this. 36:05.460 --> 36:09.160 I get to go deep with you guys, where it's like when I go to these other local churches, 36:09.360 --> 36:12.980 it's like Pastor Mary says this machine gun, pa pa pa pa pa pa, see you later and I run. 36:14.340 --> 36:17.160 But here it's like, I can't run because you're going to see me next Sunday. 36:19.740 --> 36:24.360 And if I don't even run, you know where I live, so just don't show up there if I'm not 36:24.360 --> 36:34.460 there. Please don't. Okay? I appreciate that. But God is looking by the holy spirit. He's looking. 36:34.600 --> 36:40.640 He's going to and fro. He's searching. He's searching the land. Heaven is my throne. 36:41.340 --> 36:47.200 Earth is my footstool. What kind of house shall you build for me? A house for what? To dwell in. 36:48.200 --> 36:55.640 That I would come and rest. It is, it is inevitable. Listen to me. Just 36:57.660 --> 37:06.040 hear me here. Revival is inevitable, meaning, if I'm using this word correctly, because my 37:06.040 --> 37:13.040 English is not the greatest, okay? So let me use a different word. Revival is, there's no 37:13.040 --> 37:25.170 questions asked that it'll be where God dwells. Let me say that over here. There is no question 37:25.790 --> 37:31.630 that revival shall be. And what I mean by revival, first love. 37:34.090 --> 37:41.330 And I'll throw this in there. The signs, miracles, the wonders, the supernatural activity of the 37:41.330 --> 37:49.550 holy spirit. We don't even have to stress about those things if we can create a dwelling 37:49.550 --> 38:00.930 place for God. Because when God comes, things begin to happen. All of a sudden, there's a burning 38:00.930 --> 38:06.470 bush in front of you that isn't burning up. And you're scratching your head and saying, 38:06.650 --> 38:14.790 but science says otherwise. Doctors say otherwise. You shouldn't have been healed. Who cares? 38:14.790 --> 38:26.430 God came. But they had legions of demons. Who cares? God came. 38:30.620 --> 38:37.600 We stress about things. And I'm not saying it's bad to ask for that. It's not bad to ask for it, 38:37.820 --> 38:43.960 but I feel like sometimes it can almost derail you a little bit. And we're too concentrated on 38:43.960 --> 38:54.100 this if we can focus on creating a place here, here, as a dwelling place for God to come and rest. 38:58.240 --> 39:06.080 It's inevitable that the signs and the miracles and the wonders will happen. 39:07.280 --> 39:12.560 And I've said this before, and I'm going to say it again. They'll bring the cripple. They'll bring 39:12.560 --> 39:17.840 the lame. They'll bring the deaf. They'll bring the blind. They will bring the demon possessed. 39:18.280 --> 39:26.260 I believe that they will even bring the dead. And they will come to life. Why? Why? Because God 39:26.260 --> 39:37.700 dwells here. Pastor, why our church? Because God dwells here. And as long as I'm a pastor here 39:37.700 --> 39:43.000 that God allows me to be, my first motive will be that God dwells here. 39:50.730 --> 39:54.630 This place forever will be a dwelling place for the Almighty. 39:55.390 --> 40:01.010 And if that means it's going to cost me more than just moving up north, God help me. 40:06.700 --> 40:11.880 I love what Pastor Mary said last Sunday in prayer. She was talking to the older generation 40:11.880 --> 40:19.260 and she said, if we as the older generation, if we don't sacrifice what God is asking us, 40:21.080 --> 40:28.420 then the younger generation is in more trouble. Because sacrifice actually advances us in the 40:28.420 --> 40:39.280 kingdom. If you're asking me, pastor, how do I advance in the things of God? Lay your life down. 40:41.880 --> 40:52.460 Lay it down. Give yourself unto the altar if you actually want to advance in the things of God. 40:55.160 --> 40:59.180 To me it's interesting and it's almost like, come on, Christians, 41:00.360 --> 41:06.600 that the people on the other side, the demonic, they know that principle more than we know it. 41:08.800 --> 41:17.380 I heard a story of a witch back in Africa. She was advancing in things that were demonic in the 41:17.380 --> 41:26.660 witchcraft. Do you know what it cost her? It literally cost her her body. The story I heard 41:26.660 --> 41:33.460 is that she was so sick because she would give herself. She gave herself over and over to the 41:33.460 --> 41:40.160 demonic and the devil kept on advancing her. He would bring her into deeper things because he saw 41:40.160 --> 41:46.260 that she was actually laying herself down for the kingdom of darkness. And it brought her to 41:46.260 --> 41:53.220 a point. She couldn't walk. I think she couldn't speak. And all she heard about is that there 41:53.220 --> 41:58.920 is this evangelist that is speaking at a crusade and that this guy he's speaking about, his 41:58.920 --> 42:05.320 name is Jesus, and he has the ability to heal. She was so sick. I don't know how many miles I don't 42:05.320 --> 42:13.360 remember, but she crawled on her elbows because waist down she couldn't even move. And I don't 42:13.360 --> 42:20.380 know how many miles she crawled on her elbows to this crusade so that this man Jesus would 42:20.380 --> 42:30.020 touch her and heal her. The devil has taken what God has set as a principle, a spiritual law. 42:31.240 --> 42:36.760 He's taken it, he's corrupted it, and now we see people in the demonic realm advancing, 42:37.080 --> 42:41.060 yet we as Christians are still toddlers. I love how my wife says it. She goes, 42:41.060 --> 42:48.000 we're a bunch of toddlers. She goes, we walk around, we stumble, we get up. Okay, I can walk again. 42:55.120 --> 43:01.720 Can we get to a place where we're a little more mature and we understand that if we want to advance 43:01.720 --> 43:09.760 in the kingdom like things it's actually going to cost you something. There is actually a price 43:09.760 --> 43:18.600 that you pay. And thank God, thank God that when he created this principle he's not asking us to be 43:18.600 --> 43:25.700 sick. Actually, the scripture says he's defeated all sickness. So I'm not saying that you're going 43:25.700 --> 43:30.320 to be crippled on your elbows, but it's going to cost you something that you're going to end 43:30.320 --> 43:39.200 up doing not everything that pleases self. That's the cost I'm talking about. 43:41.600 --> 43:45.460 He might ask you to do something that's uncomfortable. Hallelujah! 43:48.880 --> 43:49.360 Hallelujah! 43:53.060 --> 43:57.180 If I get too comfortable with certain things of God, I begin to check my heart. 43:58.680 --> 44:06.350 Why am I too comfortable in this? Hmm. It brings us to complacency. 44:07.130 --> 44:13.910 It brings us to compromise. It brings us to a laodicean-like spirit. 44:15.690 --> 44:19.790 I got to say this because I'm just... I'm so just baffled in my mind about it. 44:20.050 --> 44:26.590 Did you know that they write books? There's churches and pastors that write books of how 44:26.590 --> 44:33.050 to properly... I'll use my language to work a room. And what I mean by that is in these 44:33.050 --> 44:38.910 books, they teach you how you have to seat or position your chairs so that the individuals 44:38.910 --> 44:45.630 in the chairs can last 30 minutes. And they even talk about what climate you have to hold 44:45.630 --> 44:58.110 in the room so that people are comfortable. Wow! And if you go past 12, pastor, 44:59.430 --> 45:05.390 that new person, they're not going to come back, then they don't want God. I'm sorry, 45:05.550 --> 45:12.610 I'm going to be blunt with you. Then they don't want God. You're saying, why are you pinning, 45:12.730 --> 45:17.190 wanting God to come into church? Do you remember what I said earlier? And when you gather, 45:17.390 --> 45:26.010 let each of you have something? Yes, I can go seek God by myself at home. And I do. 45:26.630 --> 45:33.630 I can go be with him alone, and I do. But there is something significant when we gather 45:33.630 --> 45:45.580 together and we wait upon the Lord together. That's why he writes in Hebrews, 45:46.580 --> 46:00.820 do not forsake the gathering of who? The saints. It's still with me. It's past 12 and you're 46:00.820 --> 46:14.260 with me. There's a pastor in New York, when I was doing a study on revivals and different 46:14.260 --> 46:17.760 things. There's a pastor on New York, I mentioned this last time. I'm still in the overview, by the 46:17.760 --> 46:28.380 way. There's a pastor in New York by the name of John Tyson, a student of revival. That tells 46:28.380 --> 46:35.120 me if he was a student of revival, he gave himself into studying what is a true biblical 46:35.120 --> 46:41.300 revival. Did you know that there is a biblical revival? And then there is a, I'll just call it as 46:41.300 --> 46:47.300 it is, a fleshly revival. And did you know that you can actually start with the biblical revival, 46:47.540 --> 46:52.660 yet get into the flesh quicker than you can say Mississippi? You're saying how is that so? 46:54.240 --> 46:59.640 When Christ stops being the center of it and we're more focused on the signs, 46:59.640 --> 47:05.780 miracles, and wonders, you've lost it. You're saying, but isn't he the one that's performing them? 47:06.320 --> 47:12.900 Yes. Yes, it's the Holy Spirit that can perform and does perform the signs, miracles, and wonders. 47:13.220 --> 47:19.840 But it's just like in the story of Peter. I've shared this before. When Peter walks on the water 47:20.520 --> 47:25.580 and the storms start to rage, the Lord told me this years ago. He said we oftentimes think 47:25.580 --> 47:30.920 that the storms that rage are the trials and tribulations and this and that. And God showed me 47:30.920 --> 47:37.380 that in a different perspective. He said, son, anything that takes you away from looking at me, 47:38.060 --> 47:46.540 he says you'll sink. Anything that takes you away. When our attention goes away from Christ 47:46.540 --> 47:51.700 and on the signs, and the miracles, and the wonders, and the operating of the gift, 47:51.700 --> 47:57.820 we're going to start sinking. Do you know why? It's because when all the dust settles, 47:58.060 --> 48:02.240 and the signs, and the miracles, and the wonders, and all that stuff stops, and we go home, 48:03.220 --> 48:07.500 if Christ was not the center of it, all you got was just an experience. 48:11.420 --> 48:18.380 But a true biblical revival never takes its eyes away from Christ. 48:20.700 --> 48:28.700 As soon as our love, our first love shifts to something that's of Him. Not Him, but of Him. 48:29.980 --> 48:37.220 It's like if you were to be my friend, and the only reason why you're friends with me 48:37.220 --> 48:43.940 is because I have a boat. You would go and you would tell people, yeah, I'm friends with Igor. 48:43.940 --> 48:48.980 But in my mind, what I'm saying is the only reason you're friends with me is because I call you to 48:48.980 --> 48:54.820 go on the lake tubing. But if I call you and say, hey, can you come help me with some yard work? 48:54.980 --> 49:01.660 Oh, I'm busy. Can you come help me build my house? Oh, I'm busy. 49:05.590 --> 49:13.250 As soon as our eyes go away from Christ as the center, and all we want is the things 49:13.250 --> 49:19.150 that are of Him, we're missing it. Because when the dust settles, when it settles, 49:22.130 --> 49:25.370 when it's done, you've walked away with an experience. That's it. 49:26.050 --> 49:29.970 Which in some measure, it's like, well, that's not bad. That's good to have those experiences. 49:30.270 --> 49:35.350 But I want to walk away with an experience and a revelation knowledge when I leave. 49:36.870 --> 49:44.850 I want to leave feeling so imprinted by God that whatever happened here, I want to see that happen 49:44.850 --> 49:52.230 at home. That's us always looking at Christ. Thank you. Thank you for the signs, miracles, 49:52.410 --> 49:57.010 and wonders, Lord. Thank you that you heal that woman. Thank you that you raise that man 49:57.010 --> 50:03.610 from the dead. Thank you for the activity of the Holy Spirit. But Jesus, it's you that we 50:03.610 --> 50:11.070 want. Nothing else. You, God. All these things are great, and it's awesome that they're happening. 50:11.470 --> 50:15.970 But if you are not the center of why we're doing all this, we don't want to do it. 50:16.770 --> 50:21.890 I'm going to be honest with you. I don't want to see things move if our eyes have left the 50:21.890 --> 50:31.750 gaze of Jesus. Because that turns fleshly so quick. That's why you see so much church hurt in 50:31.750 --> 50:41.570 the world. That's why you see so much mockery of the church in the world. That's why the Baptists, 50:41.710 --> 50:46.450 look at us, Pentecostals, and they're like, look at those tongue-speaking people. What are they doing? 50:50.770 --> 51:01.050 You still with me? Revival, a biblical revival, is when we are captivated with the Lord and 51:01.050 --> 51:06.710 we're looking at Him. We're walking in first love onto Him. The love that is in our hearts, 51:06.830 --> 51:13.570 that is in our spirits, is revived. It is awakened. It is stirred, and it is captivated with Him. 51:15.050 --> 51:28.050 And then He comes and He dwells. And it's inevitable. Hear me. It is inevitable for things to happen. 51:31.050 --> 51:37.930 If we as a church, I'm coming to an end here. If we as a church, Brian, can I get you on the keys? 51:39.810 --> 51:46.690 If we as a church can focus more on creating a dwelling place, and I'm talking about all of us. 51:47.550 --> 51:51.490 I'm not just talking about the pastors, the leaders, and just a few... All of us. 51:51.590 --> 51:58.050 Remember today earlier? We are the body. We need one another. Each of us have... 51:58.050 --> 52:02.250 You have something to bring, Sarah. Did you hear me? 52:07.120 --> 52:14.080 You have something to bring to have the Lord catch the attention of this house more. 52:22.080 --> 52:28.900 If we can focus on more as a church to create a dwelling and a resting place for God, 52:29.600 --> 52:34.840 I promise you. And do you know why I promise you? It's because the Scripture says on this 52:34.840 --> 52:44.140 one, I will look. And when he looks, he dwells, he rests, he comes upon, and he does a thing. 52:47.840 --> 52:54.020 So if we as the people of God could focus more on God, we want to create a place that you are 52:54.020 --> 53:00.640 pleased with. We individually, let me talk to you as an individual, me as an individual, 53:01.580 --> 53:06.020 that I would be a temple that God is pleased with. 53:08.200 --> 53:12.740 Not because I did everything right, not because I said everything right, 53:12.960 --> 53:18.660 not because I lived this perfect life, but because I am poor, because I am contrite, 53:18.980 --> 53:25.160 and because I tremble at his word, he will then come and he will dwell. And when you enter 53:25.160 --> 53:43.420 into a room, the atmosphere begins to change. The atmosphere begins to change. The climate of the 53:43.420 --> 53:49.300 room begins to shift. When there are the people that have caught the attention of God, 53:49.700 --> 53:56.300 I've been around men and women that have caught the attention of God. I've sat in rooms with 53:56.300 --> 54:05.560 these type of people and it's like, my God, what do you do that's different? Because whatever's 54:05.560 --> 54:16.640 oozing off of you, friend, you have that ability. You have that right 54:18.700 --> 54:27.660 to be a dwelling place onto God. And together, listen, and together we can create this house 54:27.660 --> 54:35.480 to be a house of where God dwells and rests when we gather. You hear me? 54:40.070 --> 54:48.530 Remind us. Remind us of our first love. Remind us of the time that we first met you. 54:49.910 --> 54:56.510 Remind us, Holy Spirit, of when we beheld the first time that we beheld the Lamb of God 54:56.510 --> 55:03.970 who takes away the sins of the world. Remind us. Bring us back. Bring us back that we would see. 55:05.870 --> 55:12.630 Bring us back to that place where you met with us and you forever changed. And you forever 55:12.630 --> 55:21.150 changed. And you forever changed our lives. That supernatural encounter that you touched us. 55:21.930 --> 55:25.730 You marked us that we would never be the same. 55:27.590 --> 55:32.450 That we would confess that day that we will follow you to the ends of the earth. 55:35.770 --> 55:42.950 Remind us of the day that you delivered us. Remind us of the day that you have set us free. 55:44.190 --> 55:49.470 Remind us of the day that you've baptized us in the Holy Spirit and fire. 55:55.680 --> 55:56.800 Bring us back. 55:59.660 --> 56:01.840 Bring us back that we would see. 56:08.930 --> 56:10.230 Holy Spirit. 56:29.510 --> 56:36.890 Show us the mile markers in our lives, Lord. Show us our Ebenezer stones where we have 56:36.890 --> 56:43.910 said before, thus far the Lord has brought me. Thus far my God, the Almighty has brought me.