WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.080 We are kind of in a unique year this year, and what I mean by that is that 00:04.680 --> 00:08.440 Pastor Vern is in a series that is our identity in Christ, 00:08.740 --> 00:12.240 and I've been kind of walking through us of revival is. 00:12.780 --> 00:17.580 And I want to make a connection because I was talking to the Lord about it, and I'm like, 00:17.680 --> 00:25.300 Lord, show me how these two series are dovetailing one another. 00:25.400 --> 00:28.920 How are they connecting? And maybe some of you already had the connection 00:28.920 --> 00:31.400 of how these two series are connecting. And maybe some of you have not. 00:31.680 --> 00:35.960 But I was inquiring of the Lord because when I come up here, I want to preach and speak 00:35.960 --> 00:38.300 in a way that you guys are understanding and are following. 00:38.600 --> 00:43.300 And when you're done on a Sunday service, you have an opportunity to love Jesus more. 00:43.880 --> 00:47.920 That's kind of the standard that I, as a preacher, set myself to is 00:47.920 --> 00:52.200 when I'm done preaching, am I causing people to love Jesus more? 00:52.600 --> 00:55.760 That's just my personal, that's personally my standard. I've lived by that. 00:55.760 --> 01:01.080 If I'm not preaching, and that's not causing you to fall more in love with Jesus, 01:01.680 --> 01:04.260 then as a pastor, I think I'm doing something wrong. 01:05.380 --> 01:08.400 So with all that being said, I was talking to the Lord about it, and I said, 01:08.480 --> 01:13.400 Lord, I know this is you. I know that Pastor Vern is in a series, 01:13.580 --> 01:16.800 Identity in Christ. I know that I'm in a series of revivalism. 01:16.900 --> 01:17.920 I've been walking us through it. 01:18.480 --> 01:21.640 Pastor has been walking us through his series that the Lord has him in. 01:21.640 --> 01:26.060 But I'm like, how is there a connection between these two series? 01:26.940 --> 01:31.100 And the Lord just very simply spoke to me, and he said this. 01:31.220 --> 01:35.400 He said, son, because I've been really drilling, if you've been here the last few times, 01:35.760 --> 01:41.460 I've been really drilling us on Isaiah 66 and creating a dwelling place for God, 01:41.620 --> 01:43.920 creating a resting place for God. 01:44.080 --> 01:48.140 And I even said this statement in one of the parts of the series. 01:48.140 --> 01:54.220 I said that if we can create a dwelling place for God and a resting place for God in our church, 01:54.880 --> 01:57.000 revival is inevitable. It's going to happen. 01:57.200 --> 02:00.740 Because where God begins to dwell, things begin to happen. 02:01.980 --> 02:03.800 Things begin to actually come alive. 02:04.800 --> 02:07.540 Revival, and I'll get to this maybe towards the end. 02:07.600 --> 02:09.360 I think I know where the Lord wants me to park today. 02:10.220 --> 02:13.700 But revival in itself almost has layers in it. 02:14.580 --> 02:24.940 And if we can create a place for God to rest both in us as this temple, as individuals, 02:25.620 --> 02:30.980 and corporately as a house, things will begin to happen. 02:32.020 --> 02:36.200 Whether it's things in our life that are just personal to us, 02:36.520 --> 02:41.760 our everyday things that just occur and we're like, whoa, that was wild, Lord. 02:41.760 --> 02:49.560 I prayed for somebody and they got healed or I was woken up by a dream or whatever the case may be. 02:49.740 --> 02:55.600 When we create a dwelling place for God and a resting place for God within us, 02:56.000 --> 03:01.620 things will actually begin to happen in our lives that are like, whoa, that was supernatural. 03:02.500 --> 03:07.700 And in the same thing, if we can do that as a house, and when I say a house, it's a church, 03:08.200 --> 03:11.260 hopefully you're picking up on my language when I use that type of language, 03:11.720 --> 03:18.520 but a house as in a church, if we can do that corporately, if our hearts can be postured to, 03:19.300 --> 03:24.600 Lord, when we gather, we want to gather with our brothers and sisters 03:24.600 --> 03:32.960 and we want to make a greater space for you to come and rest that you would be pleased with what we're doing. 03:33.800 --> 03:37.560 So with all of that being said, when I was talking to the Lord about it, 03:37.600 --> 03:41.340 of how these two series, how they dovetail, how they compliment each other, 03:41.760 --> 03:45.400 the Lord very simply, he told me, he said, son, he said, 03:45.580 --> 03:50.180 for you to create a greater dwelling place for me, he said, 03:50.260 --> 03:53.360 you have to know who you are in me. And I was like, whoa. 03:55.000 --> 04:00.280 He said, you have to know who you are in me to then have the ability, 04:00.280 --> 04:05.960 to see the knowledge, the revelation to actually now create a greater space 04:05.960 --> 04:08.260 for me to come and rest and dwell in. 04:11.360 --> 04:18.080 And if we actually read first John, the author John, he writes and he says, 04:18.660 --> 04:23.480 now we are the children of God and we may not know fully who we are now, 04:23.560 --> 04:28.740 but he says we will be like him in regards to Jesus. 04:29.700 --> 04:33.580 He's saying we don't fully see who we are now, but when we see him, 04:33.920 --> 04:38.160 when Jesus actually returns and we'll see him in his fullness, 04:38.740 --> 04:44.400 the scriptures tell us that we will actually be like him, like Christ. 04:45.180 --> 04:49.040 And when we're talking about identity in Christ, 04:49.680 --> 04:55.340 when we're talking about revival and creating a dwelling place for God, 05:05.350 --> 05:10.450 when we're talking about our identity in Christ and creating a dwelling place for God, 05:12.370 --> 05:17.210 you cannot not, if that's even an English word, that's why I pause, 05:17.390 --> 05:18.570 because I'm like, how do I say this right? 05:19.970 --> 05:26.070 You cannot not look like Christ in regards to creating a space for Him. 05:26.090 --> 05:28.170 Does that make sense? I feel like I did one of these. 05:30.770 --> 05:34.530 Let me try that again, because it made sense in my head, 05:34.590 --> 05:36.130 but I'm like, I don't know if you guys got it. 05:38.950 --> 05:42.570 My identity in Christ, the more that I discover my... 05:42.570 --> 05:43.370 Let me put it this way. 05:43.870 --> 05:46.870 The more that I discover my identity in Christ, 05:48.250 --> 05:54.570 the more I will find that I'm actually being conformed into His image. 05:54.730 --> 05:55.770 Does that make sense now? 05:55.770 --> 05:56.150 Yes. 05:56.790 --> 06:02.390 And the more that I find myself being conformed into His image, 06:02.790 --> 06:08.730 the more I realize, wow, that's how I actually create a space 06:08.730 --> 06:13.350 for my Father and the Spirit of God to come and dwell and rest. 06:13.830 --> 06:14.790 You following me? 06:15.170 --> 06:15.290 Yes. 06:22.090 --> 06:26.770 For us to make a greater place for God to dwell in us 06:27.290 --> 06:29.970 and to rest in us, we have to know who we are in Him. 06:34.120 --> 06:40.840 We actually have to come and not just a mental ascent thinking 06:40.840 --> 06:44.700 or, yeah, yeah, yeah, but it has to hit us. 06:45.120 --> 06:46.800 Friends, it has to cut us deep. 06:47.360 --> 06:48.000 Listen. 06:50.660 --> 06:57.740 It has to cut us deep that we are actually co-heirs with Christ. 07:01.650 --> 07:05.110 It's not just, yeah, Pastor, I know that. 07:06.350 --> 07:13.030 It's not just, yeah, Pastor, I know that Jesus' blood has paid for me 07:13.030 --> 07:19.810 to now be a child, to now be a co-heir with Christ seated. 07:20.170 --> 07:22.930 It has to cut us deep. 07:25.950 --> 07:32.010 It has to cut us that Word of God has to cut us deep 07:32.010 --> 07:37.850 that we would then come to that revelation knowledge 07:38.690 --> 07:43.630 of, wow, that's actually my identity in Christ. 07:44.690 --> 07:49.470 I am actually a co-heir with the Son of God. 07:53.340 --> 07:58.840 I am just a little lower than Elohim, just a little lower than Him. 08:00.880 --> 08:04.760 And when we can walk around and not just walk around, 08:04.860 --> 08:08.980 when we can live a life that is rooted and we've been hit 08:08.980 --> 08:13.240 and cut deep with the Word of God to that measure, 08:14.500 --> 08:19.500 we then, listen to me, we then can actually create 08:19.500 --> 08:23.240 a place of where God dwells. 08:25.240 --> 08:31.320 It's only then that we can walk around with an attitude 08:31.320 --> 08:36.340 that is not arrogance and pride, but actually full humility. 08:38.000 --> 08:42.040 Because you can't have the identity of Christ 08:42.040 --> 08:44.180 and be prideful and arrogant. 08:44.180 --> 08:49.380 Actually vice versa, when you walk in the identity 08:49.380 --> 08:54.800 of God and of Christ, humility is literally the anchor. 08:56.580 --> 09:01.640 It is the pinnacle of who Jesus was. 09:06.320 --> 09:09.660 So the way that these two series are dovetailing 09:09.660 --> 09:14.080 and complimenting one another, it is, we have to know, 09:14.080 --> 09:18.340 friends this is not, well maybe, should I, do I really? 09:18.720 --> 09:21.240 We have to know who we are in Him. 09:23.620 --> 09:26.660 I have to know who I am in Him. 09:27.300 --> 09:31.540 If I actually want to create a greater place 09:31.540 --> 09:33.400 for Him to come and rest in me, 09:34.340 --> 09:37.340 and then to have Him come and rest corporately, 09:37.740 --> 09:38.860 we have to know. 09:39.900 --> 09:43.380 We actually don't have a choice if we want revival. 09:45.440 --> 09:47.060 There is no other way. 09:47.180 --> 09:49.180 There is not a plan B. 09:49.400 --> 09:55.300 Well maybe pastor, what if we this, there is no other choice. 09:55.460 --> 09:56.760 There is no other plan. 09:57.120 --> 09:58.980 We have to know who we are in Him. 10:05.510 --> 10:07.850 The Word of God has to cut us deep. 10:09.450 --> 10:12.370 I feel this is something that God wants to settle 10:12.370 --> 10:14.010 in some of us this morning. 10:14.010 --> 10:15.870 And that is the very Scriptures 10:17.210 --> 10:22.270 that we would come to a conclusion in ourselves 10:22.270 --> 10:25.250 when it comes to the Scriptures 10:25.250 --> 10:28.290 and the certain things that the Scriptures say. 10:34.700 --> 10:38.400 I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself here in the notes, 10:38.560 --> 10:43.060 but we have so often times, 10:46.480 --> 10:48.660 we have so often times 10:49.900 --> 10:53.940 began to water down the very Scriptures 10:53.940 --> 10:57.680 when we don't see the effect or the results of it. 10:59.240 --> 11:01.280 Can I tell you something this morning, 11:01.940 --> 11:04.160 and before you just agree with me and say, 11:04.240 --> 11:05.520 amen, I love that you do that. 11:06.100 --> 11:07.880 I do, I love that you do that, 11:07.900 --> 11:09.380 but before you do that, 11:09.980 --> 11:12.360 just think before you just agree with me. 11:17.110 --> 11:19.630 But we have watered down the Scriptures 11:19.630 --> 11:23.150 when we don't see the effect of it, 11:23.670 --> 11:26.410 but this morning I want to tell you something 11:26.410 --> 11:31.110 that the Scriptures are still effective 11:31.110 --> 11:33.370 and they still work. 11:42.380 --> 11:44.900 The very Scriptures that were written 11:47.580 --> 11:49.180 generations ago, 11:50.960 --> 11:53.120 by over 40 authors 11:53.120 --> 11:56.000 in completely different continents 11:56.000 --> 11:58.280 talking about the same thing, 11:59.200 --> 12:00.560 the very Scriptures 12:01.180 --> 12:04.040 that were effective in the early church 12:04.040 --> 12:06.400 are still effective today. 12:14.870 --> 12:17.190 But because we have seen 12:17.770 --> 12:19.690 the lack of 12:19.690 --> 12:22.230 effectiveness of it 12:22.230 --> 12:24.470 or the results of it, 12:24.470 --> 12:26.570 we begin to water them down 12:26.570 --> 12:27.470 and we begin to 12:28.610 --> 12:30.810 make the Scriptures say what the Scriptures 12:30.810 --> 12:32.390 actually are not even saying 12:33.390 --> 12:35.510 for the sake of our comfort 12:35.510 --> 12:36.890 and our justification. 12:38.670 --> 12:40.110 That's a true statement. 12:40.750 --> 12:42.310 And I am guilty of it 12:42.310 --> 12:44.270 just as much as you're guilty of it. 12:47.620 --> 12:49.480 But I'm telling you this morning 12:50.480 --> 12:52.340 that the very Word of God 12:52.340 --> 12:55.300 that proceeded from the mouth 12:55.300 --> 12:57.120 of the great I am, 12:58.780 --> 13:01.280 that every author that wrote the Scriptures 13:01.280 --> 13:03.200 as the Scriptures say 13:03.200 --> 13:06.720 they were inspired by the Holy Spirit 13:06.720 --> 13:09.020 they did not write the Scriptures on their own 13:09.020 --> 13:11.380 but they were inspired and led 13:11.380 --> 13:13.120 by the Holy Spirit 13:13.120 --> 13:14.820 as they wrote the Scriptures. 13:15.300 --> 13:19.100 Those very Scriptures are still effective today. 13:23.500 --> 13:25.880 This is not just an old 13:25.880 --> 13:27.960 historical book 13:27.960 --> 13:30.310 that scholars and scientists 13:30.660 --> 13:33.140 and others will look for research. 13:34.220 --> 13:36.360 This is a book 13:36.360 --> 13:38.120 that is living. 13:40.460 --> 13:42.100 And it is sharper 13:42.100 --> 13:44.360 and it judges, 13:44.820 --> 13:46.960 listen to me, it judges 13:46.960 --> 13:49.720 the attitudes of the hearts 13:49.720 --> 13:51.080 of men and women. 13:55.870 --> 13:57.930 If you have not let the Scriptures 13:57.930 --> 14:00.870 judge the posture of your heart lately 14:00.870 --> 14:04.050 I recommend you and I encourage you 14:04.050 --> 14:05.110 to do so. 14:10.320 --> 14:12.440 It is the very Scriptures 14:13.320 --> 14:15.280 that will judge our hearts 14:15.280 --> 14:17.380 and they will realign our hearts 14:17.380 --> 14:18.440 with truth 14:19.460 --> 14:20.900 and the things of God. 14:21.580 --> 14:24.320 It's not some great philosophical teaching 14:25.680 --> 14:28.260 it's not some theology or doctrine 14:28.260 --> 14:30.080 it is the very Scriptures 14:30.080 --> 14:31.380 of God 14:32.250 --> 14:33.820 that will judge our hearts. 14:35.000 --> 14:36.700 And I oftentimes think 14:36.700 --> 14:38.080 when we think of judgment 14:38.080 --> 14:41.220 right away we're thinking of condemnation. 14:41.900 --> 14:44.300 Friends, God is not condemning us. 14:44.960 --> 14:47.360 When can we mature past that? 14:51.780 --> 14:54.260 When can we as the people of God 14:54.260 --> 14:57.360 mature past the fact 14:57.360 --> 14:59.880 that God is not condemning us? 15:04.050 --> 15:06.060 But when he judges our hearts 15:06.060 --> 15:08.300 it's not a form of condemnation 15:08.300 --> 15:10.240 but he is realigning 15:10.240 --> 15:12.240 he is repositioning 15:12.240 --> 15:13.960 to have us see truth. 15:14.260 --> 15:15.920 That's the judgments of God 15:15.920 --> 15:17.640 when it refers to the Scriptures. 15:22.780 --> 15:25.620 The Scriptures are still 15:25.620 --> 15:26.880 effective 15:27.220 --> 15:29.960 and have results today. 15:36.170 --> 15:39.310 If he says that by his stripes 15:39.310 --> 15:40.830 we are healed 15:41.350 --> 15:44.390 then friends it is as he says 15:50.760 --> 15:52.520 if he says 15:52.520 --> 15:55.180 that he has given us authority 15:55.180 --> 15:57.440 to cast out devils 15:57.440 --> 15:59.040 to heal the sick 15:59.040 --> 16:00.660 to raise the dead 16:00.660 --> 16:03.300 is as he says it is. 16:07.260 --> 16:10.600 The problem is not that the Scriptures don't work 16:21.990 --> 16:24.650 the problem is that we have forgotten 16:24.650 --> 16:25.790 who we are in him 16:31.680 --> 16:34.040 the problem is that the church 16:34.040 --> 16:36.820 has lacked in creating a place 16:38.020 --> 16:40.720 of where the Almighty can come and rest 16:47.770 --> 16:50.490 the Scriptures are still effective today 16:52.590 --> 16:54.690 and they still bring results 16:57.390 --> 16:59.290 the dead are still raised 17:00.130 --> 17:02.410 you're saying well pastor I don't hear about it 17:02.410 --> 17:04.130 well maybe you should look what's happening 17:04.130 --> 17:06.530 in other countries and not just in our western world 17:09.290 --> 17:11.430 well I don't know if God still heals 17:15.110 --> 17:16.570 don't let your pain 17:17.410 --> 17:19.250 don't let your misunderstanding 17:19.250 --> 17:23.030 I'm not demanding overrule what the scriptures actually say. 17:23.930 --> 17:27.770 I'm not diminishing your pain or what you've experienced. 17:28.970 --> 17:34.870 I'm not, but what I'm telling you is that there is someone who is greater than your pain, 17:35.010 --> 17:36.670 and his name is Jesus. 17:44.440 --> 17:47.300 The scriptures are still effective today. 17:48.600 --> 17:52.740 And if we would know who we are in him, 17:52.740 --> 17:57.960 we would find ourselves looking like him. 17:58.420 --> 18:01.800 And when we find ourselves looking like him, 18:01.860 --> 18:08.300 we can actually create a place of where the Father by his spirit can rest. 18:08.940 --> 18:11.800 And things begin to happen. 18:13.460 --> 18:16.740 Things begin to happen in our personal lives. 18:17.120 --> 18:20.620 Things begin to happen when we gather corporately. 18:26.470 --> 18:31.770 Isaiah 66, I'm going to read this and I'm going to go where we left off last time. 18:31.970 --> 18:37.850 Isaiah 66, this is the foundational scripture to this series of revival is. 18:39.450 --> 18:42.490 He says, heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool. 18:43.490 --> 18:46.670 Where is the house that you will build me? 18:46.670 --> 18:52.630 And where is the place of my rest? 18:56.070 --> 18:57.810 You know, I've read this. 18:59.010 --> 19:01.810 I've read this so many times and as I'm reading it now, 19:02.390 --> 19:06.150 the Holy Spirit is downloading in me and I can't hold my tears back. 19:09.110 --> 19:12.050 And I'm seeing this in a new light. I've never seen this before. 19:13.910 --> 19:17.670 But it's like, he just showed me literally as I'm reading it to you. 19:17.670 --> 19:20.130 He just showed me, this is the heart cry of God. 19:24.540 --> 19:26.560 This is the heart cry of God. 19:36.920 --> 19:39.500 For all those things my hand has made. 19:40.760 --> 19:43.520 And all those things exist as the Lord. 19:45.080 --> 19:51.880 But he says on this one, I will look on him who is poor. 19:52.480 --> 19:54.160 And again, we've covered that last time. 19:54.260 --> 19:58.120 It's not poor financially, but this was being poor in spirit. 19:58.700 --> 20:03.360 And if I was to capsulate it or to share it with you in a nutshell 20:04.020 --> 20:08.440 of what it means to be poor, it is to be completely dependent on him. 20:12.800 --> 20:16.500 There's many more facets to it, but if I was to just... 20:16.500 --> 20:20.320 if somebody was to ask me, Igor, what does it mean to be poor? 20:20.680 --> 20:24.020 I tell you that's complete dependency on God. Complete dependency. 20:28.520 --> 20:32.020 In every aspect of your life, complete dependency. 20:32.920 --> 20:38.720 In your marriage, in the way you raise your kids, in the way you do your business, 20:39.000 --> 20:42.840 in the way you build relationships, you name it. 20:45.980 --> 20:49.280 He says on this one, I will look on him who is poor in spirit. 20:49.540 --> 20:51.600 In other words, who's depending on him. 20:51.600 --> 20:55.280 End of a contrite spirit. 20:56.980 --> 21:00.960 Again, we covered that some of last time, and I'm going to cover some more of it today. 21:04.780 --> 21:08.360 And then he says on him who trembles at my word. 21:11.020 --> 21:17.580 So God makes a distinct explanation on whom he will look. 21:24.140 --> 21:27.040 Some of you might be thinking this. I share this in one of the other parts, 21:27.040 --> 21:28.600 but for those that maybe didn't hear this. 21:30.500 --> 21:36.740 When we talk about God looking, specifically in this context, 21:38.200 --> 21:43.160 what the prophet Isaiah is writing as he's being led by the spirit of God 21:43.160 --> 21:45.020 to write the very words. 21:45.480 --> 21:47.960 When he's saying on this one, I will look. 21:48.920 --> 21:51.120 It's not that God doesn't see all things. 21:51.240 --> 21:54.400 God sees all things at all times. 21:54.400 --> 21:58.380 The scriptures tell us that everything lays bare. 21:58.600 --> 22:01.840 It lays naked before the eyes of the Almighty. 22:02.040 --> 22:03.260 That's what the scriptures tell us. 22:03.620 --> 22:09.920 But specifically in this context, when the prophet Isaiah is writing on this one, 22:10.380 --> 22:14.320 God will look on him who is poor, contrite, and trembles at my word. 22:14.600 --> 22:18.080 He is talking about that God is caught up. 22:18.720 --> 22:25.020 He is actually moved by the way an individual is living his life. 22:25.760 --> 22:31.140 There is, you could say, a greater attention and emphasis 22:31.140 --> 22:36.620 that God is giving to that individual or to those people groups. 22:37.180 --> 22:40.560 And you will say, well, that's not fair. Friend, God is not fair. 22:45.080 --> 22:49.340 If you can find in the scripture where it says that God is fair, 22:49.340 --> 22:50.600 bring it to me. 22:52.660 --> 22:55.060 Because I find that our God is just. 22:55.900 --> 22:58.140 And you're saying, well, that's such a wrathful God. 22:58.540 --> 22:59.360 A wrathful God? 22:59.960 --> 23:05.960 A God that willingly took upon flesh to die, to restore, to redeem, 23:06.340 --> 23:08.920 to pay a price, and you're telling me that's an angry God? 23:10.500 --> 23:13.060 You have a twisted perspective of our God. 23:16.440 --> 23:19.160 He is loving kindness. 23:20.120 --> 23:22.540 He is salvation. 23:23.240 --> 23:25.160 He is mercy. 23:25.540 --> 23:28.520 And you're telling me, oh, God's angry. No friend. 23:29.620 --> 23:32.240 God has been misrepresented to you. 23:37.420 --> 23:40.800 He's either been misrepresented to you by your pastor. 23:41.460 --> 23:45.100 He's either been misrepresented to you by your upbringing. 23:45.940 --> 23:48.940 He's either been misrepresented to you by the devil. 23:51.820 --> 23:54.120 But my God is a loving God. 23:54.780 --> 24:00.020 And just because he's a just God does not make him an angry and wrathful God. 24:01.140 --> 24:03.560 I am thankful that he's just. 24:06.100 --> 24:10.400 If he was one of these wishy-washy, loosey-goosey politicians, 24:11.060 --> 24:12.200 I would not want that. 24:17.830 --> 24:22.750 I'm thankful that my God can take a stand on things 24:22.750 --> 24:26.070 and not be wavered by the thought of man. 24:29.940 --> 24:34.240 And we think he's wrathful and angry because he's just. 24:34.940 --> 24:35.540 No, my friend. 24:37.200 --> 24:39.220 His justice is for your benefit. 24:40.980 --> 24:46.100 Did you know that his justice will actually be a vindication for you? 24:47.500 --> 24:48.960 You're saying, what do you mean? 24:50.200 --> 24:55.380 Do you remember when Stephen or Stefan, however you want to pronounce it, was being stoned? 24:56.600 --> 24:58.560 Do you remember that story in Acts? 25:00.020 --> 25:01.920 Here, Stefan is being stoned. 25:02.760 --> 25:07.000 And in the midst of this, Stefan looks up to heaven and he says, 25:07.080 --> 25:12.620 look, he says, I see the Son of God, the Son of Man standing. 25:12.620 --> 25:16.620 Do you know why Stephen saw him standing? 25:17.120 --> 25:23.920 Because the Lord stood up in his justification to vindicate his own Son. 25:24.240 --> 25:25.880 That's why Jesus was standing. 25:27.620 --> 25:30.640 I thank God for his justification. 25:31.440 --> 25:37.160 I thank God that he is just because he can vindicate me in a time of trouble. 25:37.700 --> 25:40.940 He can vindicate me in a time of terror. 25:40.940 --> 25:47.980 He will stand for me in his justification and vindicate me. 25:48.680 --> 25:51.340 So I thank him that he is just. 25:58.820 --> 26:02.820 God is not fair, but he is just in his ways. 26:05.220 --> 26:09.980 So on some, he will pay a greater attention to than others. 26:09.980 --> 26:16.420 Why? Because they are choosing to conform themselves into the image of his Son. 26:17.860 --> 26:21.180 Why was the Father so pleased with his Son? 26:21.420 --> 26:26.080 We find that in the scriptures, the three times that the heavens tear open 26:26.080 --> 26:29.380 and the Father spoke audibly about his Son. 26:29.920 --> 26:31.160 We find these words. 26:32.000 --> 26:36.200 This is my Son in whom I am well pleased. 26:36.540 --> 26:38.860 Why did the Father make that statement? 26:38.860 --> 26:42.060 It's because when Jesus made the statement, 26:42.460 --> 26:46.520 I do nothing than what I see the Father do. 26:46.880 --> 26:48.280 This wasn't just a statement. 26:48.600 --> 26:52.060 This was a life that Jesus lived. 26:54.860 --> 26:57.380 Friend, you can make statements all day long. 26:58.760 --> 27:01.500 You can make all the statements all day long, 27:01.520 --> 27:03.120 but you can't fool God with your statements. 27:04.360 --> 27:08.000 You can fool me, you can fool other people with your statements, 27:08.000 --> 27:10.080 but you can't fool God with your statements. 27:11.040 --> 27:13.900 And saying, I'm being conformed into the image of Christ. 27:14.280 --> 27:14.800 Really? 27:15.980 --> 27:19.800 Because if you are being conformed into the image of Christ, 27:20.220 --> 27:23.200 then that tells me that God is going to look at you. 27:24.660 --> 27:28.080 That means that you're going to catch the attention of God. 27:28.340 --> 27:32.260 You're telling me, you're telling me that you are living 27:32.260 --> 27:35.400 and growing in being poor in spirit, 27:35.400 --> 27:37.760 in being contrite in spirit, 27:38.020 --> 27:39.820 and trembling at the word of God. 27:40.180 --> 27:41.380 That's what you're telling me. 27:47.460 --> 27:51.580 He says, on this one I will look and God is desiring. 27:52.480 --> 27:54.760 I want you to hear the heart cry of God this morning. 27:55.100 --> 28:02.320 He is desiring to dwell in the fullness of who he is in people. 28:04.240 --> 28:06.960 I'm not telling you that God doesn't dwell in you. 28:07.120 --> 28:08.920 I'm not telling you this morning 28:08.920 --> 28:11.540 that you are not a temple of God because you're this. 28:11.660 --> 28:13.900 No, you are a temple of God. 28:14.340 --> 28:17.500 And I'm sure that the presence of God 28:17.500 --> 28:20.540 and the spirit of God resides in you. 28:20.780 --> 28:24.120 But what I'm actually telling you is I desire, 28:24.620 --> 28:26.200 just as I do for myself, 28:26.380 --> 28:27.840 I desire this for you, 28:28.040 --> 28:32.000 that the fullness of him would dwell in us. 28:32.760 --> 28:34.300 As it did in his son. 28:35.640 --> 28:36.340 And guess what? 28:37.140 --> 28:40.360 According to the scriptures, we have that ability. 28:45.260 --> 28:46.980 That's the identity series. 28:48.920 --> 28:54.200 We have that ability to have the fullness of God 28:54.200 --> 28:55.660 dwell in us. 29:03.760 --> 29:06.200 To be contrite, we left off on this last time. 29:06.820 --> 29:09.800 To be contrite, I read the parable in Luke 18, 29:10.560 --> 29:12.920 the parable of the tax collector in the Pharisee. 29:15.780 --> 29:19.060 To walk or to have a contrite spirit, 29:19.300 --> 29:22.480 we actually position ourselves to receive from God. 29:23.600 --> 29:25.740 Because specifically in that parable, 29:25.860 --> 29:29.160 we will find the way that the Lord started that parable. 29:29.500 --> 29:34.380 It says, and he spoke to some who trusted in themselves. 29:36.800 --> 29:39.720 So the reason why the Lord even gave that parable 29:39.720 --> 29:42.440 is because the crowd that was listening 29:42.440 --> 29:45.700 to him in that moment were a people 29:45.700 --> 29:49.820 that trusted in themselves and in their own righteousness 29:50.320 --> 29:52.060 than they did in the Lord. 29:53.360 --> 29:55.600 Because remember, a contrite spirit 29:55.600 --> 29:58.240 throws itself at the mercies of God. 30:01.180 --> 30:03.880 To have a contrite spirit is for me 30:03.880 --> 30:07.000 to never forget the mercies of God every morning. 30:07.780 --> 30:09.360 I wake up and I remember, Lord, 30:09.500 --> 30:10.860 your mercies are renewed this morning. 30:10.860 --> 30:13.700 And I'm throwing myself, 30:14.120 --> 30:16.500 I'm throwing myself at your mercy, 30:18.760 --> 30:20.600 thanking you for your mercy, 30:20.820 --> 30:23.680 that it covers me today as it did yesterday 30:23.680 --> 30:25.040 and the days before. 30:25.380 --> 30:26.700 I am throwing myself, 30:26.820 --> 30:28.560 that's exactly what we find in the parable 30:28.560 --> 30:30.640 of the tax collector and the Pharisee. 30:33.260 --> 30:36.120 Tax collector makes all these statements. 30:36.780 --> 30:38.600 I fast, I pray, I give, 30:38.600 --> 30:41.240 I'm not like this tax collector, da, da, da. 30:42.800 --> 30:45.620 And the tax collector, all he does is he beats his chest. 30:47.160 --> 30:48.560 And he says, Lord God. 30:50.580 --> 30:52.020 He says, Lord God. 30:54.640 --> 30:58.540 He's throwing himself at the mercies of God. 30:58.820 --> 31:00.080 I shared this last time. 31:00.140 --> 31:02.640 This was just my opinion when I look at the scriptures. 31:03.140 --> 31:06.780 To me, it's almost like the tax collector sinned 31:06.780 --> 31:08.020 before he went to the temple. 31:11.120 --> 31:14.640 But he didn't, he didn't put himself on probation 31:14.640 --> 31:16.880 like a lot of us Christians do. 31:18.240 --> 31:20.580 You ever notice that, that when we stumble 31:20.580 --> 31:25.060 and when we sin, we put ourselves on probation? 31:28.240 --> 31:30.360 Don't act like I'm the only one that's done it. 31:33.820 --> 31:36.100 We put ourselves on probation. 31:36.860 --> 31:38.240 I can't pray today. 31:38.860 --> 31:42.080 I cussed yesterday. I can't pray today. 31:44.240 --> 31:46.260 I gave into some lustful things. 31:47.740 --> 31:49.940 God's probably super angry with me right now. 31:53.940 --> 31:55.880 I did this or I did that. 31:56.360 --> 31:57.060 You fill in the blank. 31:57.180 --> 31:58.260 I'm not going to call your sins out. 31:58.580 --> 31:59.320 You fill in the blank. 32:01.840 --> 32:03.900 And then we put ourselves on probation. 32:05.500 --> 32:07.920 People don't show up to church for a few Sundays 32:07.920 --> 32:10.320 because they're afraid the pastor's going to have 32:10.320 --> 32:13.180 some prophetic word that's going to call out their sin 32:13.180 --> 32:14.620 and everybody's going to hear it 32:14.620 --> 32:16.840 and they're going to be ashamed and this, that and the other. 32:18.560 --> 32:20.640 God sure doesn't put us on probation. 32:22.020 --> 32:25.680 But on the opposite, God is saying run to me 32:25.680 --> 32:28.760 while you still have breath in your lungs 32:28.760 --> 32:32.760 to address the transgression and the sin 32:32.760 --> 32:34.240 that is in your life. 32:37.680 --> 32:41.440 Does not the scripture say that a righteous man, 32:41.600 --> 32:44.280 let me underline that, a righteous man, 32:44.820 --> 32:46.540 how do you identify a righteous man? 32:46.640 --> 32:47.680 I'll tell you here in a second. 32:48.300 --> 32:51.680 A righteous man, though he falls seven times, 32:52.380 --> 32:53.760 what does the scripture say? 32:54.300 --> 32:55.160 He gets back up. 32:55.640 --> 32:57.540 That right there is a righteous man. 32:57.640 --> 32:59.580 That is the definition of a righteous man. 33:02.040 --> 33:04.260 You're saying, well, how do I know that I'm righteous? 33:04.520 --> 33:05.800 That you keep getting back up 33:05.800 --> 33:08.580 and you throw yourself at the mercies of God. 33:13.820 --> 33:17.960 I'm righteous, not because I've done A, B, C, D, 33:18.380 --> 33:19.260 everything right. 33:19.960 --> 33:22.160 I'm righteous because he's righteous. 33:22.880 --> 33:25.710 I'm righteous because I have the ability today 33:26.340 --> 33:29.400 to throw myself at the mercies of God 33:29.400 --> 33:31.260 and thank him for his blood. 33:34.300 --> 33:37.120 And as Joseph received the cloak, 33:37.500 --> 33:41.200 so I can receive a cloak that is of many colors 33:41.200 --> 33:43.220 from my Father. 33:46.600 --> 33:48.380 Are you following me this morning? 33:51.400 --> 33:54.200 These are the kind of people that God looks at. 33:55.680 --> 33:58.320 And he is... I'll even make this statement. 33:58.320 --> 34:01.260 He is desperately seeking. 34:04.480 --> 34:06.720 I said this in the beginning of this series. 34:07.160 --> 34:09.780 I believe that the Holy Spirit 34:10.940 --> 34:13.720 is going to and fro on the earth. 34:14.660 --> 34:16.320 And he is seeking 34:17.620 --> 34:20.580 who will make a resting place, 34:21.500 --> 34:22.720 a dwelling place 34:23.520 --> 34:25.820 for the God Almighty to come and rest. 34:25.820 --> 34:27.660 And that is the Genesis 1 God. 34:28.060 --> 34:30.060 In other words, the triune God. 34:30.580 --> 34:32.400 The Father, the Son, and the Spirit 34:32.400 --> 34:35.620 where they can come and rest and find pleasure. 34:37.560 --> 34:41.080 I believe there is an emphasis on the local church 34:42.380 --> 34:44.000 in this day and age 34:44.960 --> 34:46.200 that never before. 34:47.580 --> 34:49.560 And I won't even be surprised 34:49.560 --> 34:51.680 that as we get into open heavens, 34:51.920 --> 34:54.600 we'll hear something that comes from our speakers 34:54.600 --> 34:56.040 that is in this vein. 34:56.560 --> 35:00.200 That God is making an emphasis on local churches 35:00.200 --> 35:01.780 like never before. 35:05.740 --> 35:06.820 Conferences are good. 35:07.740 --> 35:09.000 Bible schools are good. 35:09.120 --> 35:10.340 I have nothing against them. 35:10.860 --> 35:12.660 Bible studies, all this stuff is good. 35:12.860 --> 35:15.060 But there is something so beautiful 35:15.060 --> 35:16.980 that God has intended 35:16.980 --> 35:18.760 when he's created the church. 35:18.940 --> 35:20.360 Because do you know what he calls the church? 35:20.700 --> 35:22.100 He calls the church his bride. 35:22.100 --> 35:24.360 And I don't know about you men, 35:24.500 --> 35:25.720 but I love my wife. 35:26.040 --> 35:27.760 I adore my wife. 35:28.100 --> 35:30.240 I cherish my wife. 35:30.840 --> 35:33.100 There is something about my wife 35:33.100 --> 35:35.320 that surpasses any other woman 35:35.320 --> 35:36.200 that I may meet. 35:36.620 --> 35:38.820 There is something about my wife 35:38.820 --> 35:40.740 that surpasses my children. 35:41.020 --> 35:42.840 There is something about my wife 35:42.840 --> 35:44.840 that surpasses any activity 35:44.840 --> 35:45.720 that I may do. 35:47.240 --> 35:49.340 And I believe the Father 35:49.340 --> 35:50.900 and the Son and the Spirit 35:50.900 --> 35:51.940 have the same attitude 35:51.940 --> 35:54.020 when it comes to the church 35:54.020 --> 35:55.940 because he calls us his bride. 35:57.180 --> 35:59.280 And there is a certain attitude. 35:59.580 --> 36:01.060 There is a certain posture. 36:01.500 --> 36:03.120 There is something so unique 36:03.120 --> 36:04.400 and special 36:04.400 --> 36:06.580 that God has for the local body. 36:08.100 --> 36:10.420 And I believe he's making an emphasis 36:10.420 --> 36:12.500 today like never before. 36:13.040 --> 36:14.980 And I believe it's only going to increase 36:14.980 --> 36:17.160 as the days go ahead. 36:21.000 --> 36:22.660 That's why the author writes in Hebrews. 36:24.260 --> 36:25.060 Don't leave 36:25.060 --> 36:26.420 the assembling of what? 36:27.460 --> 36:28.060 The saints. 36:30.120 --> 36:31.300 This whole doctrine 36:31.300 --> 36:33.280 of this universal church 36:33.280 --> 36:35.180 I don't need to go to a local body. 36:35.420 --> 36:37.200 I can just watch it on TV at home. 36:37.540 --> 36:38.680 Friend, you and I both know 36:38.680 --> 36:39.660 you don't watch it at home. 36:42.620 --> 36:44.340 You and I both know you don't do it. 36:44.360 --> 36:46.700 So stop lying to yourself and stop lying to me. 36:50.760 --> 36:51.120 I 36:51.120 --> 36:52.240 tried watching it at 36:52.880 --> 36:53.600 man it's 36:56.400 --> 36:56.760 I 36:56.760 --> 36:58.720 don't know how they do it when the screen comes down. 36:58.840 --> 37:00.380 I'm not judging them. I'm just talking 37:00.380 --> 37:02.320 for my own. I've gone to churches 37:02.320 --> 37:03.480 where the screen comes down. 37:03.900 --> 37:05.480 And there's no pastor here. 37:06.420 --> 37:08.440 And everybody's, I'm not judging them 37:08.440 --> 37:09.900 but I'm just sharing with you 37:09.900 --> 37:11.460 my heart. I don't know how they do it. 37:12.620 --> 37:14.180 I don't know how to do it. I might as well 37:14.180 --> 37:15.260 stay home and do that. 37:15.260 --> 37:15.760 Yes. 37:20.550 --> 37:22.430 There is something about 37:22.430 --> 37:24.510 the assembling of the saints 37:24.510 --> 37:26.450 that is beautiful. So I want to 37:26.450 --> 37:27.430 encourage you. 37:28.030 --> 37:29.630 I want to encourage you 37:30.610 --> 37:32.470 not for my sake. Listen. 37:34.590 --> 37:36.410 If you don't show up on a Sunday 37:36.410 --> 37:38.530 will I miss you? I probably will 37:38.530 --> 37:40.510 because some of you I even text you 37:40.510 --> 37:42.550 when I don't see you after a few Sundays. 37:43.490 --> 37:44.490 I try to give you 37:44.490 --> 37:46.490 space. I text you every Sunday you're not here 37:46.490 --> 37:47.430 but I'm giving you space. 37:52.230 --> 37:54.490 But not coming here is not 37:54.490 --> 37:56.350 you're not hurting anybody 37:56.350 --> 37:57.530 just to let you know. 37:58.650 --> 38:00.290 If you're trying to make a statement 38:00.290 --> 38:02.030 you're not hurting anybody. 38:02.950 --> 38:04.350 But not coming 38:04.350 --> 38:06.350 with other brothers and sisters 38:06.350 --> 38:08.430 in Christ you're missing out 38:08.430 --> 38:10.390 and I love what Pastor Brad said 38:10.390 --> 38:12.290 I'm the corporate anointing. 38:15.550 --> 38:16.830 Because the Scripture says 38:16.830 --> 38:17.690 that when you gather 38:18.150 --> 38:19.590 see I'm going down these different 38:19.590 --> 38:21.150 rabbit holes I hope you're following me 38:21.650 --> 38:23.210 but it's good for me I don't know 38:23.210 --> 38:24.290 if it's good for you but I'm going to go 38:24.290 --> 38:25.010 down it anyways. 38:26.670 --> 38:27.910 The Scripture say 38:27.910 --> 38:30.090 that when you gather let each of you 38:30.090 --> 38:32.310 have. Have something 38:32.310 --> 38:32.970 to give. 38:34.830 --> 38:35.710 A Psalm 38:36.130 --> 38:38.330 a hymn, a spiritual song 38:40.190 --> 38:41.490 come with something. 38:41.790 --> 38:42.910 Who are we giving it to? 38:43.730 --> 38:44.890 Not just to each other 38:44.890 --> 38:45.730 but to the Lord. 38:47.190 --> 38:48.550 But to the Lord 38:48.550 --> 38:50.530 first and foremost to the Lord. 38:55.270 --> 38:57.270 So there is something about 38:57.270 --> 38:58.190 the local body 38:59.010 --> 39:00.510 that the Father 39:01.230 --> 39:01.610 finds 39:02.990 --> 39:04.050 very special. 39:04.570 --> 39:05.670 Don't forget that. 39:06.830 --> 39:09.250 A contrite spirit is one who throws himself 39:09.250 --> 39:11.950 at the mercies of God. A contrite spirit 39:11.950 --> 39:13.050 does not 39:13.050 --> 39:14.890 take the forgiveness 39:14.890 --> 39:16.710 of God for granted. 39:17.970 --> 39:19.310 Let me open up. I have to 39:19.310 --> 39:21.350 read Psalm 103 because it is beautiful. 39:21.570 --> 39:22.710 Let me read Psalm 103. 39:27.110 --> 39:27.930 Does anybody have 39:27.930 --> 39:29.310 their physical Bibles this morning? 39:31.590 --> 39:31.930 Can you 39:31.930 --> 39:33.550 I miss hearing the ruffle 39:33.550 --> 39:35.310 of pages. I do. I was just 39:35.310 --> 39:37.650 talking to somebody this week while I'm opening it up 39:37.650 --> 39:39.450 they're just following me here. I was talking 39:39.450 --> 39:41.290 to somebody this week and they were telling me 39:42.030 --> 39:43.070 there is this 39:43.070 --> 39:45.010 company, if I'm remembering correctly 39:45.010 --> 39:46.530 they are 39:47.210 --> 39:48.990 they are buying out all the 39:49.890 --> 39:50.990 physical copies 39:50.990 --> 39:53.490 of books, of history 39:53.490 --> 39:55.430 and different things. They're 39:55.430 --> 39:56.350 buying all of them. 39:56.750 --> 39:59.050 And they're destroying them 39:59.050 --> 40:01.410 and they are literally and they are 40:01.410 --> 40:02.170 rewriting. 40:02.710 --> 40:04.930 They are rewriting because everything is 40:04.930 --> 40:07.210 on such a fast track and on a fast 40:07.210 --> 40:09.350 pace into the digital world 40:09.930 --> 40:11.150 that if they can take 40:11.150 --> 40:13.270 certain books and they can dispose of them 40:13.270 --> 40:14.950 now we are teaching 40:14.950 --> 40:17.170 the new generation and we're rewriting 40:17.170 --> 40:18.930 history for the new generation. 40:21.010 --> 40:22.310 And some of you are like well 40:23.030 --> 40:25.190 I don't want to bring a physical copy. I'm not telling 40:25.190 --> 40:25.870 you you have to 40:27.010 --> 40:28.710 and I'm not trying to preach or 40:28.710 --> 40:30.770 there's just something about a physical 40:30.770 --> 40:32.650 book that I'm like 40:33.650 --> 40:35.390 I miss hearing the ruffling 40:35.390 --> 40:37.590 and I'm not judging anybody for not having it 40:37.590 --> 40:39.530 just share with you my heart 40:39.530 --> 40:41.390 that's all I'm doing. I'm an old 40:41.390 --> 40:43.150 school preacher. I am, I really am 40:43.150 --> 40:45.470 so call me old school. It's 40:45.470 --> 40:47.350 not religious. Trust me it's not 40:47.350 --> 40:49.270 religious. Alright, Psalm 40:49.270 --> 40:51.230 103. A contrite 40:51.230 --> 40:53.270 spirit does not 40:53.270 --> 40:55.130 take the forgiveness of God 40:55.130 --> 40:56.650 for granted. I already kind of 40:56.650 --> 40:59.570 wove into that a little bit where you throw yourself at the mercies of God 40:59.570 --> 41:01.250 but not taking 41:01.250 --> 41:02.850 the forgiveness of God 41:02.850 --> 41:04.850 for granted. Before I read 41:04.850 --> 41:06.290 Psalm 103, let me say this 41:06.850 --> 41:08.930 not taking the forgiveness of God 41:08.930 --> 41:10.670 for granted is 41:10.670 --> 41:12.830 is to stop, listen 41:12.830 --> 41:14.170 to me, is to stop 41:14.760 --> 41:16.270 putting yourself on probation 41:16.780 --> 41:18.190 and running to him. 41:19.830 --> 41:21.130 When you actually 41:21.130 --> 41:22.950 put yourself on probation 41:22.950 --> 41:24.930 when you've sinned or stumbled 41:24.930 --> 41:26.830 you are actually 41:26.830 --> 41:28.830 taking for granted what 41:28.830 --> 41:30.110 he's paid for you. 41:36.740 --> 41:38.120 When you've actually 41:38.880 --> 41:40.860 committed a sin 41:40.860 --> 41:43.160 or an iniquity or transgression 41:44.300 --> 41:46.660 and you're putting yourself on a time out 41:46.660 --> 41:48.880 or you get into this mindset 41:48.880 --> 41:50.520 of I'm unworthy 41:50.520 --> 41:52.480 yes, you are unworthy. We've already 41:52.480 --> 41:54.680 crossed that bridge. We already know that 41:54.680 --> 41:55.360 we're unworthy. 41:58.960 --> 42:00.320 But when I choose 42:00.320 --> 42:02.200 to put myself on a time out 42:02.200 --> 42:03.860 and on a probation period 42:03.860 --> 42:05.500 I am actually 42:05.500 --> 42:07.620 taking for granted 42:07.620 --> 42:09.780 what the blood of Christ 42:09.780 --> 42:10.580 paid for. 42:13.900 --> 42:15.380 When I am beating 42:15.380 --> 42:17.320 myself up for the mistake 42:17.320 --> 42:19.640 that I made and not running 42:19.640 --> 42:20.160 to him 42:21.300 --> 42:23.440 I am actually taking for granted 42:23.440 --> 42:25.380 the forgiveness that he offers me. 42:28.520 --> 42:30.380 Psalm 103 reads this 42:31.700 --> 42:32.780 David writes 42:32.780 --> 42:34.780 he says, bless the Lord 42:34.780 --> 42:35.980 oh my soul 42:35.980 --> 42:38.540 and all that is within me 42:40.080 --> 42:40.960 bless his holy 42:40.960 --> 42:42.580 every time I read this, by the way, Dean 42:42.580 --> 42:44.680 every time I read Psalm 103 42:44.680 --> 42:46.380 that first verse, I think of you brother 42:46.820 --> 42:48.180 I think of you, it's like 42:48.180 --> 42:49.120 this is like Dean 42:49.860 --> 42:51.920 when you graduate and go to be with the Lord 42:51.920 --> 42:54.220 can I read this at your funeral and say this spoke of Dean 42:55.420 --> 42:56.100 thank you 42:56.100 --> 42:58.080 and we're not telling you you have to die 42:58.080 --> 42:59.560 I'm just asking you here publicly 42:59.560 --> 43:02.360 that we still need you here man 43:02.800 --> 43:04.900 your work here is not done by the way 43:04.900 --> 43:06.940 trust me you got years ahead of you 43:06.940 --> 43:08.320 we'll talk about it later 43:08.320 --> 43:09.040 but 43:10.040 --> 43:12.640 every time I read Psalm 103 and I read this 43:12.640 --> 43:14.280 I just hear Dean up front 43:14.280 --> 43:16.300 oh bless the Lord oh my soul 43:16.300 --> 43:18.740 and all that I can't imitate you that well yet 43:18.740 --> 43:20.220 but I'll get there 43:20.220 --> 43:21.380 I'll get there 43:21.940 --> 43:23.680 bless the Lord oh my soul 43:23.680 --> 43:25.240 now all of you are going to, when you read that 43:25.240 --> 43:26.740 now all of you are going to think about that 43:26.740 --> 43:30.020 I got you all thinking of Dean now 43:30.020 --> 43:30.900 well when you read that 43:30.900 --> 43:32.460 remember and pray for him and Tracy 43:33.520 --> 43:35.280 bless the Lord oh my soul 43:35.280 --> 43:36.620 and all that is within me 43:36.620 --> 43:38.420 bless his holy name 43:39.340 --> 43:41.280 bless the Lord oh my soul 43:41.280 --> 43:43.620 and forget not all his 43:43.620 --> 43:44.120 benefits 43:45.540 --> 43:47.500 forget not all his benefits 43:48.020 --> 43:49.280 who forgives 43:50.020 --> 43:51.220 all your iniquities 43:51.220 --> 43:53.920 who heals all your diseases 43:53.920 --> 43:55.940 who redeems 43:55.940 --> 43:57.580 your life from 43:57.580 --> 44:07.460 It's the same destruction who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies 44:07.460 --> 44:14.660 your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. That's why you 44:14.660 --> 44:19.940 always say that, Dean. That's why. It's so that you're renewed. Your youth is renewed 44:19.940 --> 44:27.820 in you. Man, and I'm thinking, why you look 21 all over again? Wow! Revelation. Verse 6, 44:28.700 --> 44:35.260 the Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his 44:35.260 --> 44:42.640 ways to Moses, his action to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious. 44:42.640 --> 44:53.480 Let me read that again. You need to hear this. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to 44:53.480 --> 45:01.800 anger and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will he keep his 45:01.800 --> 45:12.540 anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according 45:12.540 --> 45:20.460 to our iniquities. Are you hearing this? Are you hearing what the psalmist is writing? 45:24.980 --> 45:35.140 For as the heavens are high above, and the earth so great, so great is his mercy towards those 45:35.140 --> 45:43.560 who fear him. By the way, that's underlined in my Bible. Let me read that again. For as the 45:43.560 --> 45:54.580 heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. So if 45:54.580 --> 46:03.000 we fear the Lord, his mercies are far greater than we can even imagine. And I'll end with 46:03.000 --> 46:12.780 verse 12. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions 46:12.780 --> 46:22.840 from us. I got to read verse 13. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who 46:22.840 --> 46:36.180 fear him. For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust. You know, I got to go 46:36.180 --> 46:43.820 somewhere here with it, because I'm speaking to some people. When we struggle with a certain 46:43.820 --> 46:48.860 sin or iniquity in our life, and it's been years that we've been struggling with it, 46:50.320 --> 46:55.700 we fall into a category that when I preach what I'm preaching right now, that you know, 46:55.740 --> 46:59.800 run to him, don't put yourself on probation. People oftentimes get the thought process, 46:59.800 --> 47:07.100 well, now I'm just using that as an excuse in my life. Because I've fought with this thing so 47:07.100 --> 47:11.980 long, and what you're telling me is you're just telling me that I'm just making a bunch of excuses 47:11.980 --> 47:16.240 for me to go sinning more and more. But that's not what I'm saying, and that's not what the 47:16.240 --> 47:24.280 scriptures are saying at all. But because we've been wrestling with something for such a long 47:24.280 --> 47:32.420 time, our mind goes there that this is an excuse. And I believe that is something that the devil 47:32.420 --> 47:41.920 comes and he sows in our mind and in our thought process. But truly, if we have a contrite 47:41.920 --> 47:48.980 spirit and we throw ourselves at the mercies of God here in my notes, it says that a contrite 47:48.980 --> 48:00.860 spirit doesn't want to sin again. The flesh wants to, but the contrite spirit doesn't want to. 48:02.100 --> 48:08.060 And it's not that you're making an excuse, it's the fact that, this is a fact and a truth statement, 48:08.380 --> 48:13.720 is that if you're battling with the same thing over and over, it's not that you're making 48:13.720 --> 48:18.380 an excuse, it's the fact that your flesh is still ruling and reigning that area. 48:21.440 --> 48:27.640 So what arises out of that is we need to address that thing. It's not, I'm making an excuse, 48:27.840 --> 48:34.140 pastor. It's, no, let's address it. What are you wrestling with? Let's address it. 48:34.800 --> 48:39.880 Because that tells me your flesh is ruling and reigning in that area. 48:41.560 --> 48:46.320 You're not making excuses for your spirit, you're simply wrestling in the flesh. Does 48:46.320 --> 48:55.100 that make sense? A contrite spirit doesn't take the forgiveness of God for granted. 48:55.860 --> 49:06.520 A contrite spirit does not intend of repeating a sin, but actually seeks the strength of God 49:06.520 --> 49:15.640 to overcome the sin and mature in a live and live a holy life. According to 1 Peter, where 49:15.640 --> 49:25.310 the Bible tells us, be holy for I am holy. How do you know that you have a contrite spirit? 49:28.010 --> 49:31.570 How do you know that you don't have a contrite spirit? You're not intending to sin again. 49:31.710 --> 49:38.150 You don't want to, you don't want to repeat the sin that so entices you. 49:41.030 --> 49:48.750 And I don't care, I don't care what sin it is. We, again, I'm going down a rabbit hole. 49:49.670 --> 49:57.310 We classify sin. We classify sin. Well, I'm not drinking, I'm not smoking, 49:57.710 --> 50:06.310 I'm not sleeping around, I'm not cussing, I'm not swearing. But what about that lie you said? 50:11.120 --> 50:17.020 What about stealing? You're saying, well, I don't steal. Really? 50:18.760 --> 50:22.980 Because I know a lot of people that fool the government in their taxes, 50:26.900 --> 50:30.500 and they'll circle one, but they won't circle the other. Oh, they'll never know. 50:31.340 --> 50:38.180 Yeah, but God will. No, what's funny is that the culture that I come from and 50:38.180 --> 50:44.380 some of the Slavic churches, there's a tax person, he's an accountant, and he's Jewish. 50:45.760 --> 50:51.460 And he does a lot of, he does a lot of Russian people's taxes. And he's Jewish, 50:51.600 --> 50:54.680 he's not a Christian, he's not a believer. And I heard this from a source. 50:55.580 --> 50:59.680 A lot of pastors and leaders of churches will go and they'll do their taxes there. 51:00.660 --> 51:04.840 And he laughs all the time. And he goes, you want me to serve your God? 51:05.560 --> 51:09.080 Where he goes, your pastors come and they lie on their taxes? 51:10.500 --> 51:13.060 And he says, you want me to go and serve your God? 51:16.890 --> 51:24.270 See, and we think that's minuscule. We've classified sin. We've classified it. 51:28.900 --> 51:34.780 A contrite spirit is a key factor to true repentance. 51:37.640 --> 51:45.600 To have a contrite spirit is literally a key factor to true repentance in the fact 51:45.600 --> 51:49.580 that when we have a contrite spirit, remember, we throw ourselves at the mercies of God, 51:49.880 --> 51:54.920 we don't take his forgiveness for granted. And in the process of doing all this, 51:55.240 --> 51:58.760 what we're actually doing is we're doing what the author in Hebrews writes. 51:59.120 --> 52:03.300 We look on to him and we seek our strength from him. 52:04.660 --> 52:12.940 The author in Hebrews writes, he says, we ought to look on to the Lord. 52:13.240 --> 52:18.820 We ought to, let's read it. I'm quoting here. Let's read it. Hebrews chapter 12. 52:20.620 --> 52:24.500 I feel like sometimes we try to quote it and the Lord's like, why don't you just read it? 52:24.600 --> 52:28.420 It's right there. Let them hear my word. Don't try to quote it. 52:33.150 --> 52:48.410 Hebrews chapter 12, verse one and two. Oh, no, sorry, it's not verse one and it's verse two 52:48.410 --> 52:54.690 and three, not one and two. I apologize. Verse two and three, it says, looking on to Jesus, 52:55.130 --> 53:01.410 let's start with verse one, actually. Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great 53:01.970 --> 53:07.350 a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin, 53:07.350 --> 53:17.370 which so easily, easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 53:17.650 --> 53:24.270 looking on to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. 53:26.530 --> 53:35.790 A contrite spirit is a key factor to produce true repentance in us. This is what I mean by 53:35.790 --> 53:44.750 that, is that true repentance is not just changing the way that I think, though that's part of it, 53:45.590 --> 53:52.570 but there's more than just the changing of my thought process. But according to the author in 53:52.570 --> 54:02.850 Hebrew, what they're writing here is they're saying, let us put off the iniquity in the sin 54:02.850 --> 54:12.530 that so easily entices us. In other words, let us stop looking at how much this sin has affected us 54:12.530 --> 54:20.290 and how much the sin has held us down, how weighty it is, how troublesome, and we stop giving so 54:20.290 --> 54:28.570 much attention to the sin. And now we turn and we look on to Jesus and what he's paid for us. 54:31.850 --> 54:39.650 So a contrite spirit is a key factor. If I can have a contrite spirit, God is now looking at me 54:39.650 --> 54:47.410 because true repentance is being produced in me. Because in the process of me throwing myself 54:47.410 --> 54:55.130 at the mercy seat of God, I do so by stop giving so much attention to my sin. 54:55.770 --> 55:02.770 And I'm giving more attention to the Lord because he is the author, he is the finisher of my faith. 55:06.520 --> 55:10.080 That, by the way, is what true repentance is, if you did not know. 55:13.840 --> 55:20.780 Why are people struggling with repentance is because they've stopped looking onto Jesus, 55:21.540 --> 55:26.920 literally, period. You don't have to add anymore. That's it. 55:28.780 --> 55:37.280 Why isn't true repentance produced in the church anymore? Because we have stopped looking onto Jesus. 55:39.460 --> 55:44.340 And we're looking for somebody to pray for us. We're looking for somebody to this, that, and 55:44.340 --> 55:49.420 look to him as the author writes. This is what I mean going back to how I started. 55:49.420 --> 55:55.860 The scriptures are still effective today, and they still bring results. 55:59.450 --> 56:06.600 If we would stop giving so much attention to the sin in our life, and we actually 56:06.600 --> 56:11.900 give more attention to the Lord, we even forget that that sin has enticed us. 56:17.060 --> 56:23.380 Trust me, the devil reminds you enough on a day in and day out basis of all the wrong 56:23.380 --> 56:31.460 doings you're doing. He is the accuser of the brethren. He will be there yip yappin, 56:32.480 --> 56:36.800 like your mother-in-law maybe. She'll be yip yappin all day long, and she's telling stories, 56:36.980 --> 56:41.200 this, that, and the other. I'm sorry it's all the mother-in-laws. We love you. We do love 56:41.200 --> 56:50.540 you, truly. We love you. But it's like a chatterbox. And he just goes on and on and on and on and on 56:50.540 --> 56:56.520 and on and on. And I love what pastor said. He said, why are you running from the devil? 56:57.180 --> 57:04.800 Stop. Turn and face him. And say, come here. Let me remind you of your future, devil. 57:07.520 --> 57:12.580 Let me remind you what the word of God says about you, devil. 57:16.570 --> 57:21.550 Still with me? I think I might be ending there. 57:23.470 --> 57:33.870 So a contrite spirit is a key factor. It's a key factor to producing a contrite spirit or 57:33.870 --> 57:40.630 or it's a key factor to true repentance within us. It's the turning away and the turning to. 57:41.350 --> 57:50.870 You won't have true repentance unless you turn to him. You won't. I promise you, you won't. 57:51.970 --> 57:57.530 You will be fighting the same thing. You will be enticed with the same thing, whether it's 57:57.530 --> 58:03.150 mental illness, whether it's lustful sin, whether it's a drinking problem, a smoking problem, 58:03.150 --> 58:13.530 whatever the case may be, until you turn to Jesus. And Jesus becomes more real to you 58:15.140 --> 58:24.070 than that sin. I want you to hear me. Jesus has to become more real to us 58:25.270 --> 58:34.270 than that thing that we are fighting with. Then, then, I said then, true repentance will settle in you. 58:38.880 --> 58:46.300 Only then will true repentance be produced in you when you actually give more attention 58:46.300 --> 59:00.040 to the Lord than you are to the sin in your life. I'm going to pray because we're 59:00.040 --> 59:03.960 going to leave it here for today because what I'm about to get into next is going to open up a whole 59:03.960 --> 59:13.480 another can of worms. So Father, we thank you. Can we just lift our hands to the Lord? Father, we thank you. 59:16.620 --> 59:27.400 Father, we thank you that you desire, you desire God to find a resting place in a people. 59:27.400 --> 59:40.000 You desire, my Lord, to be Lord and master in our life. It is a heart cry of heaven this morning, 59:41.080 --> 59:50.140 of you are seeking a resting place in a people, both as individuals and as a corporate setting. 59:53.800 --> 01:00:01.380 So Lord, we're asking you that you would do it in us. Father, I'm asking you that you would do it in me, 01:00:01.480 --> 01:00:11.420 that you would do it in this house, that we would be a people that would have you rest in your fullness, 01:00:12.340 --> 01:00:19.380 that everything that we do is pleasing onto you. Everything, I said, Father, that we do is pleasing 01:00:19.380 --> 01:00:31.340 onto you. Holy Spirit, counsel us, lead us, guide us in this. I thank you, Father, for every individual, 01:00:33.000 --> 01:00:35.440 those that are here, those that are online. 01:00:38.840 --> 01:00:44.020 We thank you, Holy Spirit, for the word that washes over us. And I thank you 01:00:44.020 --> 01:00:54.300 that even today, your word washed over us as we heard it. In Jesus, in Jesus, in Jesus mighty name.