02/04/26 "The 7 Blessings in the Book of Revelation" Part 1 Pastor Doug Daniels

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GOOD EVENING, LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH. ARE YOU READY TO LIFT UP

A PRAISE TO THE KING OF KINGS? COME ON, Y'ALL, WE'RE COMING IN

TONIGHT TO MAKE HIM FAMOUS AND HIS NAME GLORIOUS TO ALL, FOR HE

IS HOLY, HE IS MIGHTY, HE IS THE LORD OF THE

BREAKTHROUGH. LET'S RAISE IT UP TONIGHT, COME ON.

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LET'S CELEBRATE, 'CAUSE WE'RE IN

A PLACE OF VICTORY TONIGHT, AMEN?

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

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COME ON, JUST THE KICK AND THE DRUMS.

COME ON, CHURCH. CAST YOUR CARES UPON THE LORD OF LORDS. HE'S

ALREADY GOT WHAT YOU NEED. YOU JUST HAVE TO

GET OUT OF THE WAY. REPEAT THAT, COME ON.

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WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. OH, THERE'S NO ONE LIKE

THE LORD. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE THE LORD. HE’S UNSHAKABLE. HE'S

IMMOVABLE. HE'S UNDISPUTABLE. KING OF KINGS SEATED ON HIGH.

HE'S SEATED ON HIGH. HE'S SEATED ON HIGH. OH, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE.

WE GIVE OUR HEARTS TO YOU. WE GIVE OUR HEARTS. EVERY PART OF

OUR HEART TO YOU. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR

WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY.

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WE SERVE ALMIGHTY GOD. I WAS TELLING ANTHONY TODAY THAT,

PASTOR ANTHONY, I WAS IN THE HOUSE AND I WAS READING OVER I

BELIEVE IT WAS 1 CHRONICLES AROUND THE 22ND VERSE, I BELIEVE

IT IS. THAT MIGHT BE... BUT DAVID WAS GIVING SOLOMON HIS

LAST INSTRUCTIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE TOLD SOLOMON WAS MAKE

GOD, NOW THIS IS IN THE AMPLIFIED, HE SAID MAKE GOD YOUR

VITAL NECESSITY. SEE I DON'T WANT TO BE, I DON'T WANT NO AIR

BETWEEN US. WE JUST HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HIM. EVERYTHING THAT

WE DO IS BECAUSE OF HIM. EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE, WE

STAND, WE TALK, WE SING, WE PRAISE, WE WALK, WE RUN, WE

SING, ALL THE THINGS, IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF HIM. AND WITHOUT HIM,

WE ARE NOTHING. AND SO I HEARD THAT AND I KEPT HEARING,

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

OH, HALLELUJAH, WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE, FATHER. WE WANNA

BE WRAPPED UP IN YOU. AND WE GIVE YOU THE GLORY TONIGHT. WE

GIVE YOU THE GLORY AND THE HONOR. YOU PROVIDED EVERYTHING

WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS. YOU GIVE US BREATH. YOU GIVE US

THE ABILITY TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. YOU GIVE US

MOVEMENT. YOU GIVE US STRENGTH. YOU EVEN GIVE US HONOR IN THIS

WORLD. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. THANK YOU, LORD. YOU GIVE

US PROTECTION. YOU GIVE US FAVOR. YOU CLOTHE US IN YOUR

RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE. YOU TAKE AWAY

SIN FROM OUR LIFE. YOU GIVE US POWER OVER THE ENEMY.

HALLELUJAH. YOU GIVE US VICTORY. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY TO

VICTORY WE GO BECAUSE WE'RE OVERCOMERS IN YOU AND WE WORSHIP

YOU TONIGHT FOR THAT. YOU GIVE US THE ANGELS TO WATCH OVER US

AND PROTECT US. YOU GIVE US SUPERNATURAL CONNECTIONS, DIVINE

CONNECTIONS. YOU GIVE US RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN BE

ENCOURAGED. YOU GIVE US RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN

ENCOURAGE OTHERS. OH, HALLELUJAH, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY

WE HAVE TO BE WORKERS TOGETHER WITH YOU ON THIS EARTH. AND WE

JUST WORSHIP YOU TONIGHT. WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND WE GIVE YOU

HONOR. WE EXPRESS OUR THANKFULNESS TO YOU. WE'RE SO

THANKFUL. WE'RE SO THANKFUL TONIGHT, LORD. IT'S ONLY YOU.

OH, IT'S ONLY YOU. JESUS, JESUS, JESUS. REMARKABLE JESUS.

HALLELUJAH. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL TONIGHT? HALLELUJAH.

GIVE HIM A SHOUT OF PRAISE. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS.

THANK YOU, JESUS. THERE'S A HEALING ANOINTING IN THE HOUSE

TONIGHT. IF YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME KIND OF SICKNESS, I'M

JUST GONNA HAVE YOU RUN UP HERE REALLY QUICK. WE'RE GONNA PRAY

FOR YOU TONIGHT. BELIEVE THAT GOD TOUCHES YOUR BODY. HE'S THE

HEALER OF ALL OUR DISEASES. HALLELUJAH. PASTOR KEITH, WOULD

YOU COME UP HERE QUICKLY? I'M GONNA HAVE YOU PRAY FOR THE

ONLINE AUDIENCE. ONLINE AUDIENCE, IF YOU'RE WATCHING

TONIGHT, YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING, JUST LIFT YOUR HANDS

AND RECEIVE THE HEALING TOUCH OF GOD FROM THROUGH THE AIRWAVES AS

PASTOR KEITH PRAYS AN ANOINTED PRAYER TONIGHT. AND I'M GOING TO

HAVE HIM PRAY, AND I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND MINISTER TO THESE

THAT ARE IN FRONT. FATHER, AS THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING AND

THOSE ARE WATCHING, AS THEY EXTEND THEIR FAITH RIGHT NOW, I

DECLARE THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS MEETS YOU THERE.

AND IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, I DECLARE THE WHOLENESS

OF GOD RESTORES YOUR BODY, THAT THE SPIRIT OF LIFE WITHIN YOU IS

QUICKENED AND BRINGS WHOLENESS, HEALING, DELIVERANCE,

RESTORATION, AND LIFE. THE VERY ESSENCE OF GOD ENTERS INTO THE

ROOM WHERE YOU ARE AND INTO YOUR BODY, AND I DECLARE THAT

WHOLENESS RESTORES, THAT WHOLENESS BRINGS THE KNOWLEDGE

OF THE LOVE OF GOD TO BRING LIFE TO ALL YOUR FLESH, AMEN. AMEN

AND AMEN, THANK YOU JESUS. WHILE I WAS SITTING UP HERE TONIGHT,

THE LORD JUST REMINDED ME OF A VERSE AND I USUALLY CAN TELL

WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT HE WANTS ME TO BRING FORTH. IT

COMES OUT OF, I THINK, THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 24, AND

Deuteronomy 24 · chapter mention

IT SAYS, "DON'T MUZZLE THE OX." I MAY NOT BE GETTING THIS RIGHT,

BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE, "DO NOT MUZZLE THE OX THAT TREADETH THE

GRAIN." AND IT GOES BACK TO THE IDEA THAT SOME OF THE

TASKMASTERS THAT HAD THE OXEN WORKING FOR THEM WOULD MUZZLE

THESE OXEN SO THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO EAT, BUT HE'D WANT THEM

TO CONTINUE TO WORK. AND THE IDEA IS THE SERVANT OR THE

LABORER IS WORTHY OF THEIR PAY. IN THE OXEN'S CASE, IT WAS

WORTHY OF HIM BEING ABLE TO EAT. THAT WAS HIS PAY. AND I JUST

FEEL LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE WATCHING ONLINE OR SOMEONE HERE

TONIGHT, AND YOU SAY, PASTOR DOUG, THAT'S ME. I FEEL LIKE

I'VE BEEN MUZZLED IN SOME WAY IN MY LIFE. IN OTHER WORDS, MAYBE

IT'S THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYMENT. YOU'RE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE NOT

BEING TREATED FAIRLY. OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE IN YOUR LIFE

THAT THERE'S BEEN A MUZZLING EFFECT. AND WE'RE GOING TO JUST

DEMAND THAT SATAN TAKES HIS HANDS OFF OF YOU TONIGHT AND

RELEASES YOU TO RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DUE AND THAT THERE'S

SUPERNATURAL INCREASE. SO IF THAT'S YOU, IS THERE ANYONE

HERE? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S SOMEONE HERE. COME ON UP

HERE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? IF A COUPLE OF YOU COME ON UP, AND IF

YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU

AND BELIEVE THAT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE FREED

FROM ANYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD TRY AND MUZZLE YOU FROM

RECEIVING WHAT IS DUE YOU IN JESUS NAME. FATHER FOR EACH ONE

OF THESE THAT ARE UP HERE TONIGHT AND FOR ANYONE ELSE

THAT'S WATCHING ONLINE I COMMAND DEVIL TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THEM

IN JESUS NAME YOU WILL NO LONGER MUZZLE THEM OR KEEP THEM FROM

THE DIVINE SUPERNATURAL FAVOR THAT JESUS HAS FOR THEM. TONIGHT

WE JUST RECEIVE IT NOW AND WE SAY ANY INFLUENCE OR POWER OF

SATAN OR SOMEONE WORKING ON BEHALF OF SATAN WILL BE BROKEN

IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AND THESE THAT ARE HERE AND THOSE THAT ARE

WATCHING ONLINE, THEY WILL RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE

DUE AND I SAY BECAUSE THEY ARE SOWERS AND GIVERS, THEY HAVE THE

ABILITY TO RECEIVE. WE REBUKE THE DEVOURER FROM THEIR BEHALF

IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AND WE CLAIM THAT PROMISE. THEY

RECEIVE TONIGHT AND IT WILL START RIGHT AWAY, BUT YOU'RE

GONNA SEE THE INCREASE THROUGH 2026, I BELIEVE. AND YOU'RE

GONNA LOOK BACK AT DECEMBER OF 2026, AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY, LOOK

WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE. AMEN, IN JESUS NAME. AND IF YOU'RE

WATCHING ONLINE, LET US KNOW, YOU CAN CALL THE TOLL FREE

NUMBER, OR YOU CAN EMAIL US, CONTACT US, AND WE WANNA HEAR

WHAT GOD'S DOING IN YOUR LIFE AND HEAR THE BLESSING THAT GOD

HAS FOR YOU. AND JUST THE TESTIMONY OF IT, AMEN? SAME

THING FOR YOU HERE, LET US KNOW WHAT GOD'S DONE, BECAUSE IT'S

GONNA CHANGE, IN JESUS' NAME. AND EVERYONE THAT AGREES SAID,

AMEN. AMEN, PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU, JESUS. WELL, HALLELUJAH,

WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS? WHY DON'T YOU TURN AROUND AND SHAKE HANDS

WITH A FEW PEOPLE? FIND SOMEONE YOU DON'T

KNOW TONIGHT AND GREET THEM IN JESUS' NAME.

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WELL AMEN AND AMEN. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. IT'S GOOD TO BE

IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, ISN'T IT? I COULD JUST FEEL THE

TANGIBLE ANOINTING IN HERE. IT'S JUST, BREAKTHROUGH IS HERE,

FOLKS. BREAKTHROUGH IS HERE. WELL, IT'S OFFERING TIME RIGHT

NOW. THERE'S A FEW OF YOU. IT'S OKAY, BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE,

YOU ALL ARE GONNA BE JUMPING FOR JOY. THE TITLE OF THIS OFFERING

MESSAGE IS HEART CHECK. SO WE'RE GONNA READ FROM LUKE 12:29. IT

Luke 12:29

SAYS, "I REPEAT, DON'T LET WORRY ENTER YOUR LIFE." SO THAT MEANS

JESUS SAID IT PRIOR TO THIS, SO HE'S REPEATING IT FOR EMPHASIS.

UNDERLINE IT, REHEARSE IT, SAVE IT, JESUS SAVES. DON'T LET WORRY

ENTER YOUR LIFE. LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL

NEEDS. DID YOU HEAR THAT? LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT

YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. VERSE 30, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SEEM TO WORRY

ABOUT MAKING A LIVING, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS YOUR, HOW

MANY NEEDS, JUST ONE, JUST TWO, A FEW, EVERY NEED AND WILL, HE

WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. EACH AND EVERY DAY, HE WILL SUPPLY YOUR

NEEDS AS YOU SEEK HIS KINGDOM PASSIONATELY ABOVE ALL ELSE.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES THAT I'M

STANDING ON FOR THIS YEAR. BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE

SCRIPTURES THAT CUTS AND DIVIDES BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT. HERE'S

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL IN YOUR

GIVING AND IT CLEARLY SHOWS. I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT YOUR

OBEDIENCE HAS DONE. SO THAT'S NOT WHAT'S THE QUESTION TONIGHT.

THE QUESTION IN THE HEART CHECK PART IS, DO YOU TRUST HIM? YOU

CAN OBEY, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE TRUST PART OF IT. AND I'M SAYING

THAT BECAUSE, HOW MANY KNOW THAT DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER

OF THE TONGUE? BUT DEATH AND LIFE ARE CONCEIVED IN THE HEART.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR EXTERNAL CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE

CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ARE HAVING WITHIN YOURSELF. SO AFTER

YOU GIVE YOUR OFFERING, AFTER YOU HIT THAT SUBMIT BUTTON ON

YOUR PHONE, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING HOME, WHAT ARE THOSE

CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITHIN YOUR HEART? BE HONEST

WITH YOURSELF. LORD, I'VE BEEN GIVEN FOR 20 YEARS AND NOTHING'S

HAPPENED. THAT IS WHAT WE CALL CONFIRMATION BIAS. YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE IN YOUR HEART, YOU CAME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE LAW OF

SIN AND DEATH. HEART CHECK. TOLD YOU Y'ALL WEREN'T READY FOR

THIS. CAN WE GO BACK TO VERSE 29? DON'T LET WORRY ENTER YOUR

LIFE. IN THE PREVIOUS, THERE'S A PREVIOUS VERSE IN LUKE 12, AND

JESUS LITERALLY SAYS THAT WORRYING SUBTRACTS FROM YOUR

LIFE. SO EVERY TIME, THERE IT IS, SO IF WORRYING ADDS NOTHING,

BUT ACTUALLY SUBTRACTS FROM YOUR LIFE, WHY WOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT

GOD'S CARE OF YOU? DO YOU TRUST IN WHAT GOD SAYS? BECAUSE IF YOU

DON'T, THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. YOU RENDER YOUR GIVING AND YOUR TIES

OBSOLETE BY NOT TRUSTING IN HIM. SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE

BELIEVING AND STANDING, FIGHTING TO GET OUT OF CYCLES, IT'S

SIMPLE, STOP WORRYING. LIVE CAREFREE IN THE CARE OF GOD AS

YOU LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. "BUT

PASTOR ANTHONY, THAT SOUNDS SO HARD. "HOW DO YOU DO THAT?" IT'S

SIMPLE. JUST SPEND MORE TIME PURSUING GOD. THINK LESS ABOUT

THE NEGATIVE THINGS AND THINK MORE ABOUT ON GOD. IS IT REALLY

THAT SIMPLE? YES, IT IS. SO MY CHALLENGE TO YOU TONIGHT AS YOU

GIVE IN OBEDIENCE IS NOW IT'S TIME TO ENTER INTO TRUSTING. AND

JUST ASK YOURSELF THIS AS YOU'RE GIVING. JUST SAY, "SELF, WHAT IS

IT THAT'S KEEPING ME "FROM ALLOWING GOD TO CAPTURE MY

HEART?" YOU'LL BE SURPRISED BY WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS

BACK TO YOU. GUYS, IT'S TIME TO STOP GETTING IN THE WAY OF

OURSELVES. SURRENDER TO GOD SO THAT YOU CAN BEGIN TO LIVE ABOVE

THE ANXIOUS CARES OF YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. CAN WE GO BACK

TO VERSE 32 REALLY QUICK? SO DON'T EVER BE AFRAID DEAREST

FRIENDS YOUR LOVING FATHER JOYOUSLY GIVES YOU HIS KINGDOM

REALM WITH HOW MANY PROMISES? ALL LIVE CAREFREE IN THE CARE OF

GOD. AMEN GO AHEAD AND PUT UP THE GIVING INFORMATION ON THE

SCREEN. YOU CAN GIVE VIA SNAIL MAIL. BY THE WAY, DID THE U.S.

POST OFFICE FIX THEMSELVES YET? PROBABLY NOT, THEY HAD A PARTIAL

SHUTDOWN, SO OKAY, YEAH, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S WHY

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET AN AGREEMENT IN THEIR HEARTS WITH

GOD. YOU CAN JUST BUY THE POST OFFICE AND YOU CAN BE THE MAIL

CARRIER. WEBSITE, MOBILE APP, TEXT TO GIVE, ALL THE FUN

THINGS. AGAIN, WE LOVE AND ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU,

ALL OF OUR ONLINE E-CHURCH. WE LOVE YOU. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR

YOUR GIVING AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN THAT. NOW IT'S

TIME FOR THE BLESSINGS AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD TO BE

RECIPROCATED IN YOUR LIFE. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STOP WORRYING.

STOP WORRYING AND TRUST AS YOU PURSUE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AMEN.

LET'S STAND UP REALLY QUICK. I JUST WANNA PRAY A QUICK BLESSING

OVER YOU GUYS IF THE GUYS ARE DONE SERVING THE PEOPLE. PASTOR

DOUG HAS A GREAT MESSAGE TONIGHT. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE

GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE AND GLORY FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND FOR THE

THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE. FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU

WOULD RELEASE A FRESH IMPARTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

TO SEARCH THE HEARTS OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON, GOD. CAUSE THEM

TO POSITION THEMSELVES, TO ALLOW YOU TO CAPTURE THEIR HEARTS, TO

SURRENDER ALL SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF ALL

OF YOUR HEAVENLY BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND I

THANK YOU, GOD, THAT THEY PROSPER AND THEY WALK IN

INCREASE AS THEY LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT THEIR

PERSONAL NEEDS AND LIVE CAREFREE IN YOU, IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. ALL

RIGHT, PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME AS PASTOR DOUG

COMES TO THE STAGE. THANK YOU, PASTOR ANTHONY.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

HALLELUJAH, YOU CAN BE SEATED. PRAISE GOD. JUST KIND OF BASKING

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD TONIGHT 'CAUSE IT'S SO GOOD.

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD. WELL, I'M GONNA GET RIGHT INTO THIS

TONIGHT BECAUSE JANET TELLS ME SHE STILL WANTS ICE CREAM EVEN

THOUGH IT'S COLD OUT AND THE ICE CREAM SHOP

CLOSES EARLY SO WE GOTTA GET HER OUT OF HERE.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

BUT TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE TAKING NOTES, FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DO

THAT YET, MY MESSAGE IS ENTITLED THE SEVEN BLESSINGS FROM

REVELATION, PART ONE. IT'S PART ONE BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I'M

GONNA GET THROUGH SEVEN TONIGHT, SO SOMETIME WE'LL GET BACK TO

THIS. BUT BEFORE WE SPECIFICALLY DIG INTO THE SEVEN BLESSINGS, I

NEED TO LAY A LITTLE FOUNDATION ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

IT'S A BOOK OF THE FUTURE PROPHECY, BUT IT'S REALLY MUCH

MORE THAN THAT. THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE

IT UNVEILS TO US THE EXALTED CHRIST. IT OPENS A CURTAIN TO

GIVE US A PEEK OR A VIEW OR A PICTURE OF JESUS IN HIS

GLORIFIED STATE RATHER THAN WHAT WE SEE IN THE OTHER 65 BOOKS OF

THE BIBLE WHERE WE SEE PICTURES OF JESUS AND HIS EARTHLY

MINISTRY BASICALLY. THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REVELATION. WE

COULD HAVE AN ENTIRE MESSAGE REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT

OVERALL THE BOOK OF REVELATION, NOT GETTING INTO DETAIL AND JUST

TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S SUCH A KEY BOOK. BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY, WHY

DO YOU WANNA STUDY REVELATION? IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO

UNDERSTAND, OR IT REALLY DOESN'T AFFECT ME IN MY LIFE TODAY. SO

LET ME JUST QUICKLY, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL MESSAGE,

JUST THROW OUT THREE REASONS WHY THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT TO

COMPREHEND AND STUDY. NUMBER ONE, IT REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE

OF CHRIST. IT SHOWCASES JESUS AS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE

BEGINNING AND THE END, THE LIVING ONE WHO HOLDS THE KEYS OF

DEATH AND HELL. IT GIVES US A FULLER, MORE AUTHORITATIVE

PICTURE OF HIM IN HIS GLORY. NUMBER TWO, IT EMPOWERS US AS

BELIEVERS TO BE OVERCOMERS. THE BOOK CALLS US AS CHRISTIANS TO

BE OVERCOMERS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIFE, AND IT URGES US TO

HAVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS OBEDIENCE AND VICTORY OVER

EVERYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD THROW AT US. AND THEN NUMBER

THREE, IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN FOR THE AGES. YOU

KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I LIKE KNOWING WHAT THE PLAN

IS. EVEN IF I'M GOING TO TAKE A TRIP, I WANT TO HAVE IT PLANNED

OUT. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, WHERE I'M GOING TO BE AND

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I MEAN, NOT THAT YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING

SPONTANEOUS, BUT IT'S AND I THINK YOU GUYS THAT ARE HERE IN

A PROPHETIC CHURCH PROBABLY WOULD MOSTLY FIT INTO THAT GROUP

TOO, AND THAT YOU LIKE TO KNOW THE PLAN BECAUSE YOU WANT TO

HEAR ABOUT THE FUTURE. YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT GOD SAYS IS

GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN SEE IT COME TO PASS. WELL, THAT'S WHAT

REVELATION REALLY IS. IT'S GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN IN THE FUTURE. AND

THE BOOK SERVES AS A ROADMAP TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S ULTIMATE

PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR MANKIND AND THE EARTH. AND IT GIVES US

INSIGHTS TO THE GLORIOUS FUTURE THAT'S AHEAD FOR US. AND THAT'S

GOOD TO KNOW WHAT THAT FUTURE IS. AND WE'LL SEE IT ISN'T JUST

ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO

OUR LIVES TODAY THAT ARE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. SOME OF YOU

MIGHT KNOW THIS, BUT REVELATION IS THE ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE

THAT MOTIVATES ITS READERS BY PROMISING A BLESSING TO THOSE

THAT READ, HEAR, AND OBEY IT. AND ALSO, IT'S THE ONLY BOOK

THAT HAS A CURSE ATTACHED TO IT FOR THOSE THAT TAMPER WITH IT.

THE BLESSINGS FOUND IN REVELATION 1:3, AND WE'RE GOING

Revelation 1:3

TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON REVELATION 1:3 TONIGHT IN A

Revelation 1:3

MOMENT, BUT LET ME JUST TO START OUT, WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT VERSE

HERE. IT SAYS, "BLESSED IS HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE

WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN

IN IT, FOR THE TIME IS NEAR." AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE CURSE,

EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T LIKE READING IT. WE'LL READ THE CURSE

TONIGHT. REVELATION 22:18-19 SAYS, "FOR I TESTIFY TO EVERYONE

Revelation 22:18–19

WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. IF ANYONE

ADDS TO THESE THINGS, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE

WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. AND IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS

OF THIS BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART

FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE, FROM THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS

WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK." THAT'S A SOBERING THOUGHT. AND

NATURALLY, WE LIKE ALL THE POSITIVE MOTIVATION

MUCH BETTER. AND REVELATION HAS SOME POSITIVES,

AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE TONIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA

LOOK AT AT LEAST THREE OF THE SEVEN BLESSINGS. HOW MANY OF YOU

ACTUALLY KNEW THERE WERE SEVEN BLESSINGS LISTED IN THE BOOK OF

REVELATION FOR BELIEVERS? ANYONE AWARE OF THAT FACT? MANY OF YOU

WERE, OKAY. WELL, WE'RE GONNA START ON AN ADVENTURE TONIGHT

AND BEGIN LOOKING AT THESE. I'M GONNA ATTEMPT, LIKE I SAID, TO

LOOK AT THE FIRST THREE. AS WE INVESTIGATE THESE PROMISES

TONIGHT, MY PRAYER IS THAT WE WILL DRAW SOME UNDERSTANDING,

SOME KNOWLEDGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BLESSINGS. NOW, WE'RE

ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS FROM THE SERMON ON THE

MOUNT, MATTHEW CHAPTER FIVE. THE BEATITUDES ARE THE DECLARATIONS

OF BLESSEDNESS THAT WERE SPOKEN BY JESUS. AND EACH ONE OF THE

BEATITUDES BEGAN WITH "BLESSED ARE." AN EXAMPLE, MATTHEW 5:8 IS

Matthew 5:8

AN EXAMPLE, SAYS, "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY

SHALL SEE GOD." AND EVERY ONE OF THEM STARTED, "BLESSED ARE." SO

IT'S A BLESSING, THE BEATITUDES. THE SEVEN BLESSINGS OR

BEATITUDES GIVEN BY JESUS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN AND WRITTEN DOWN IN

THE BOOK OF REVELATION, WE CAN CALL THEM THE SEVEN BLESSINGS,

OR YOU COULD CALL THEM THE SEVEN BEATITUDES IN REVELATION. SEVEN

WONDERFUL BLESSINGS STRAIGHT FROM GOD. THIS GREEK WORD THAT

IS USED AND TRANSLATED BLESSED IS THE SAME GREEK WORD THAT'S

USED BY JESUS IN THE BEATITUDES, MATTHEW 5. IT'S THE SAME GREEK

WORD THAT WE FIND EVERY TIME IN THE BLESSINGS IN REVELATION. AND

THAT WORD MEANS HAPPY, IT MEANS BLISSFUL, OR LITERALLY TO BE

ENLARGED. THE WORD BLESSED IS MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL HAPPINESS.

BEING BLESSED IS MORE THAN JUST HAVING NICE THINGS, HAVING SOME

MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, SAYING I'M ABLE TO DRIVE A NICE

CAR, OR I HAVE A GREAT FAMILY. IT'S MORE THAN THAT. BLESSED

REFERS TO A STATE OF SPIRITUAL WELLBEING AND SPIRITUAL

PROSPERITY. THE WORD BLESSED THAT WE LOOK AT TONIGHT ACTUALLY

MEANS SUPREMELY BLESSED OR VERY HAPPILY BLESSED. SO WE'LL

REMEMBER THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TONIGHT. THE BOOK OF

REVELATION WAS RECORDED BY THE APOSTLE JOHN, AND AT THE TIME

THAT JOHN PENNED THE BOOK OF REVELATION, HE WAS THE LAST

LIVING APOSTLE THAT WAS APPOINTED BY JESUS THAT REMAINED

ON EARTH. THE OTHERS WERE MARTYRED OR GONE BY THAT TIME.

AND DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS A VERY WICKED AND EVIL ROMAN

EMPEROR. HIS NAME WAS EMPEROR DOMITIAN, AND HE WAS ON A

RAMPAGE TO PERSECUTE AND KILL CHRISTIANS. AND HE ATTEMPTED TO

POISON THE APOSTLE JOHN IN EPHESUS, BUT JOHN DIDN'T EVEN

GET ILL FROM IT. AND EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

INDICATE THAT THEY ALSO PUT JOHN IN A POT OF BOILING OIL, TRIED

TO BOIL HIM TO DEATH IN THE TOWN SQUARE AS A WARNING TO THE OTHER

CHRISTIANS. YOU KNOW WHAT? THE OIL, THE BOILING OIL, JUST THINK

OF THAT, DIDN'T EVEN HARM JOHN AT ALL. JOHN EVEN PREACHED FROM

THIS POT OF OIL AND PEOPLE GOT SAVED WHILE HE WAS PREACHING.

I'D SAY THE HAND OF GOD WAS ON APOSTLE JOHN. SO WE SHOULDN'T

DOUBT WHAT HE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, RIGHT? I JUST

THOUGHT OF THAT. GOD KEPT HIM ALIVE AND PRESERVED HIM FOR

THAT. BECAUSE AFTER THEY TOOK HIM OUT OF THAT POT OF OIL, THEY

SAID, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS GUY." THEY THREW HIM

ON A BOAT AND SHIPPED HIM OVER TO AN ISLAND CALLED PATMOS,

WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM THE COAST OF MODERN DAY TURKEY. AND

SO HE'S PUT ON THIS DESERTED ISLAND. JESUS COMES TO HIM THERE

AND REVEALS HIMSELF TO JOHN. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THE EXPERIENCE

WAS SO OVERWHELMING TO JOHN THE APOSTLE THAT HE FELL AT JESUS'

FEET AS IF HE WERE DEAD. AND THEN JOHN STARTS TO PEN THE BOOK

OF REVELATION. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS WRITING THE SEVEN

LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA. PASTOR BRENDA TAUGHT, I

THINK, A COUPLE OF MESSAGES LAST NOVEMBER ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES.

AND IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING. SHE EXPLAINED HOW THOSE SEVEN

CHURCHES RELATE TO CHURCHES THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE TODAY IN 2026

AND HOW WE COULD SEE SIMILARITIES AND THE WARNINGS

THAT WERE IN THE WORD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT SOME OF THESE SEVEN

CHURCHES WERE DOING THAT WERE OFF. BASICALLY, I'LL SAY THAT.

BUT WE HAVE SEVEN SUPREMELY BLESSED OR HAPPY STATEMENTS

SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND WE'RE GOING TO

SEE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE SOME APPLICATION TO US IN 2026. WE'LL

PUT UP THE SEVEN HERE QUICKLY. I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S TOO SMALL FOR

YOU TO EVEN READ, BUT LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THE FIRST THREE

THAT WE'RE GOING OVER TONIGHT AND THEN WE'LL DO SOMETHING

BETTER NEXT TIME. NUMBER ONE, IT COMES OUT OF REVELATION 1:3. WE

Revelation 1:3

READ THAT VERSE. IT TALKS ABOUT READING IT, HEARING IT, AND

TAKING IT TO HEART, OR KEEPING IT. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, THERE'S

A SPECIAL BLESSING FOR THOSE THAT DIE IN THE LORD THAT COMES

FROM REVELATION 14:13. AND NUMBER THREE, THE REVELATION

Revelation 14:13 Revelation 16:15

16:15 EXPLAINS THAT WE NEED TO STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED.

IT TALKS ABOUT DON'T BE NAKED. WELL, THERE'S SOME MEANING TO

THAT. NOT JUST TAKING OFF YOUR CLOTHES, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THAT. SO JUST STAY CLOTHED, FOLKS,

WHILE YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY, SO.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

OKAY. SO THE FIRST THREE BLESSINGS. NUMBER ONE, THOSE WHO

READ THE WORD, HEAR THE WORD, AND KEEP THE WORD. NUMBER TWO,

THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD. AND NUMBER THREE, THOSE WHO STAY

AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. THOSE ARE WHAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT

TONIGHT. SO BLESSING NUMBER ONE. WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THIS

SCRIPTURE A LITTLE CLOSER BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MEANING

IN THIS. REVELATION 1:3, LET'S LOOK AT THAT AGAIN. BLESSED IS

Revelation 1:3

HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND

KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN IT FOR THE TIME IS

NEAR. SO THERE'S A BLESSING, A TRIFLE BLESSING, JUST RIGHT IN

THIS SCRIPTURE FOR READING, HEARING, AND KEEPING THE WORDS

OF THE PROPHECY. LET'S SEE HOW THAT APPLIES TO US TODAY. THE

BLESSING OF READING. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS THE WORD OF

THIS PROPHECY. NOW REMEMBER, IN THE EARLY CHURCH, IT WAS A

LITTLE DIFFERENT. LITERACY WAS NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS IT IS

TODAY. THE COPIES OF THE SCRIPTURES WERE NOT WIDELY

AVAILABLE. EVERYONE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO SCRIPTURES. WE'RE A

BLESSED PEOPLE TODAY IN THAT WE COULD HAVE A BIBLE IN EVERY ROOM

OF OUR HOUSE IF WE WANTED TO, OR MAYBE EVEN TWO. WE CAN HAVE IT

IN OUR DEVICES. WE CAN TURN ON OUR COMPUTERS OR TELEVISIONS AND

FIND THE GOSPEL 24 HOURS A DAY. WE ARE REALLY BLESSED. WE REALLY

DON'T HAVE A REASON TO BE IGNORANT, DO WE? AND WHEN YOU

THINK BACK AT THESE PEOPLE, THEIR WAY TO GET IT SOMETIMES,

THE ONLY WAY WAS JUST TO GO OUT AND HEAR THE PREACHED WORD IF

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COPY OF THE SCRIPTURES. THE PUBLIC READING

OF SCRIPTURE WAS A VITAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. READING ALOUD

WAS A SACRED ACT THAT INVOLVED PROCLAIMING GOD'S TRUTH. THE

MOST EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM IN HISTORY ALL REVOLVED AROUND THE

PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD. PRAISE GOD. AND SOMETIMES WE

TAKE IT TOO LIGHTLY. WE HEAR PASTOR HANK READ A VERSE TO US,

AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DISTRACTED. WE DON'T HONOR IT

THE WAY WE SHOULD, I THINK. WE NEED TO HONOR THE READING OF THE

WORD. IN FACT, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT DURING THE TRIBULATION

PERIOD, GOD EVEN SENDS AN ANGEL TO LOUDLY PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO

THE WORLD SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT ALIVE DURING THAT

TIME OF TRIBULATION ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. AMAZING. WE'LL TALK MORE

ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE TRIBULATION.

IT'S AMAZING. BUT PAUL INSTRUCTED TIMOTHY IN 1 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy 4:13

4:13. PAUL WAS A MENTOR TO TIMOTHY, A YOUNG PASTOR. HE'S

GIVING HIM INSTRUCTION, AND HE SAID IN 1 TIMOTHY 4:13, I WANT

1 Timothy 4:13

TO READ IT OUT OF THE AMPLIFIED, IT SAYS, "UNTIL I COME, DEVOTE

YOURSELF TO PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE, TO PREACHING AND

TEACHING THE SOUND DOCTRINE OF GOD'S WORD." THAT WAS PAUL'S

INSTRUCTION TO TIMOTHY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE READ. AND THEN

THE BLESSING OF HEARING IS IN THIS VERSE. "BLESSED ARE THOSE

WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY." HEARING, IN A

BIBLICAL SENSE, GOES BEYOND MERELY PERCEIVING SOUND. IT

IMPLIES LISTENING WITH ATTENTION AND INTENTION, ALLOWING THE

WORDS TO PENETRATE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS. HEARING IS A

FIRST STEP TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING AND THEN ULTIMATELY OBEDIENCE.

HAVE ANY OF YOU HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE EVER BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT

HEARING WHAT A PERSON SAYS TO YOU? MOST OF THE HUSBANDS CAN

SAY, "YES, I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF THAT." SOMETIMES WE AREN'T GOOD,

THE BEST LISTENERS. BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN TRYING TO

LISTEN PARTIALLY, OR PARTIALLY LISTENING WHEN SOMEONE'S

SPEAKING TO YOU. SOMETIMES DISTRACTIONS ARE AROUND YOU AND

IT'S HARD TO ALWAYS COMPLETELY FOCUS AND LISTEN. SOMETIMES YOU

ATTEMPT TO FOCUS ON THE CONVERSATION BUT YOUR MIND IS

ELSEWHERE AS THE PERSON'S TALKING TO YOU. OR MAYBE YOU'RE

ALREADY FORMULATING A RESPONSE TO THAT PERSON WHILE THEY ARE

EXPLAINING WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU. HAS THAT EVER

HAPPENED TO ANYONE HERE? I'M SURE IT HAS. WE THINK WE KNOW

WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, SO WE'RE ALREADY TRYING TO COME UP

WITH OUR RESPONSE. WELL, MAYBE IF WE'D LISTEN BETTER, WE FIND

OUT THAT IT ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO

TELL US. WE OFTEN LISTEN, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HEAR. AND SOMETIMES

THAT'S AN ISSUE EVEN IN THE CHURCH. THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM

WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT HEAR INSTRUCTION FROM THE WORD OF GOD

OR THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN FACT, THERE'S AN OLD TESTAMENT

PROPHECY ABOUT A COMING FAMINE OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE

LORD. IT'S FOUND IN AMOS. LET'S READ THAT. IT SAYS, AMOS 8:11

Amos 8:11

SAYS, "THE TIME IS SURELY COMING, SAYS THE SOVEREIGN LORD,

"WHEN I WILL SEND A FAMINE ON THE LAND." IT'S NOT A FAMINE OF

BREAD OR WATER, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD. ISN'T

THAT INTERESTING? I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THAT SCRIPTURE

UNTIL I STARTED STUDYING THIS. I THOUGHT, MAN, THAT'S

INTERESTING. IT'S NOT A FAMINE THAT WE'D LIKE FOOD, BUT IT'S

JUST A FAMINE OF THE WORD OF THE LORD. PEOPLE WILL STAGGER FROM

SEA TO SEA AND WANDER FROM BORDER TO BORDER, SEARCHING FOR

THE WORD OF THE LORD, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND IT. HUMANITY HAS

PLUGGED ITS SPIRITUAL EARS TO THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND TO

THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN LARGE PART. MAN IS ATTEMPTING TO

FILL THE SPIRITUAL VOID WITH FLESHLY FOOD. AND I COMPARE THIS

TO THE SITUATION OF HAVING A GROUP OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

WITH A TABLE IN FRONT OF THEM. AND ON ONE SIDE OF THE TABLE IS

GREAT-LOOKING HAMBURGERS AND FRENCH FRIES AND DONUTS AND

PASTRIES AND SODA POP, WHAT WE COULD CALL COMFORT FOOD. AND THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE IS THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, HEALTHY

GRAINS, THE FOOD THAT'S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR US. WHICH SIDE OF THE

TABLE ARE 99 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN GOING TO RUN TO?

PROBABLY THE HAMBURGERS AND THE FRIES AND THE POP. BUT WHAT WILL

THAT DO FOR THEM LONG TERM? A CONTINUAL DIET OF THIS WILL MAKE

THEM UNHEALTHY. IN THE SAME WAY, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT, FIRST

OF ALL, WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS. CONTINUALLY FEEDING OUR SPIRITS

THROUGH HEARING GOD'S WORD WILL HELP US BUILD A STRONG SPIRIT

AND BUILD A STRONG MAN. IF WE ONLY FEED THE FLESH, THEN WE CAN

BECOME SPIRITUALLY ANOREXIC. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS THAT NEED

SPIRITUAL FOOD. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT. AND AS WE STAY

CONNECTED TO GOD THROUGH HIS WORD AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT, WE WILL GROW STRONG. SO REVELATION 1:3

Revelation 1:3

PROMISES A BLESSING FOR READING, A BLESSING FOR HEARING, AND

FINALLY, IT PROMISES A BLESSING FOR KEEPING THE WORD OF GOD. THE

BLESSING OF KEEPING, IT SAYS, TO KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE

WRITTEN IN THE BOOK. TO KEEP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY MEANS TO

OBEY THEM AND TO GUARD THEM. OBEYING AND GUARDING THE WORD OF

GOD IN OUR LIVES IS THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE CAN BE

THINKING ABOUT AND REALLY APPLYING TO EVERYTHING IN THE

BIBLE AS A WHOLE. WHY DO WE GUARD SOMETHING? BECAUSE IT'S

VALUABLE. WHY DID PASTOR HANK DECIDE TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS

IN THIS BUILDING WHEN YOU WERE PRESENT? BECAUSE YOU'RE

VALUABLE. PASTORS TAKE CARE OF THEIR SHEEP. WE'RE NOT GOING TO

TAKE ANY RISK THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU. SO WE DO

EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT. AND THAT'S

BECAUSE YOU'RE VALUABLE. WHY DOES JESUS WARN US TO KEEP OR

GUARD THE INFLUENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR LIVES? HMM, DO YOU

SUPPOSE THAT'S VALUABLE? BECAUSE KEEPING OUR SPIRITUAL GUARD UP

IS SO IMPORTANT. WHEN THE DEVIL ATTACKS OR THE THIEF STEALS FROM

US, IT'S NORMALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE BECOME CARELESS AND LET

OUR GUARD DOWN. WE'VE ALLOWED THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE TO

CREEP IN AND WE GET OFF TRACK. AND WE PULL AWAY FROM GOD'S

PROMISES. WE PULL AWAY FROM STANDING IN FAITH. AND THAT'S

DECEPTION THAT THE DEVIL TRIES TO BRING INTO OUR LIFE AND

GRADUALLY CAUSES US TO BECOME MORE CARELESS IN OUR WALK WITH

GOD. AFTER A VIOLENT STORM ONE NIGHT, A STATELY LARGE TREE WAS

FOUND LYING ACROSS A PATHWAY IN A PARK, AND NOTHING BUT A

SPLINTERED STUMP WAS LEFT OF THIS TREE. AND WHEN A CLOSER

EXAM WAS DONE OF THIS TREE, THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS ROTTEN AT THE

CORE BECAUSE THOUSANDS OF TINY INSECTS HAD EATEN AWAY AT ITS

HEART. THE WEAKNESS OF THE TREE WAS NOT BROUGHT ON BY THE SUDDEN

STORM. IT BEGAN THE VERY FIRST MOMENT THAT THE FIRST INSECT

NESTLED WITHIN THE BARK OF THE TREE. HMM. THAT'S A LESSON FOR

US. WE CAN'T LET THOSE INSECTS HAVE ANY INFLUENCE IN OUR LIFE.

NOTHING CAN COME IN AND BREAK THE ARMOR. WHY DON'T YOU STAND

WITH ME FOR A MINUTE? WE'RE GOING TO JUST REPEAT THIS PRAYER

TONIGHT. I WANT YOU TO REPEAT AFTER ME. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF

JESUS, WE COME AGAINST ANY OPENING OR ANY CRACK IN OUR

ARMOR. WE SAY WE WILL NOT ALLOW SATAN ANY ENTRANCE INTO OUR

LIVES. FATHER, WE ASK YOU HELP US TO STAY WATCHFUL, ALERT, AND

ON GUARD. DEVIL, WE SPEAK TO YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY

ENTRANCE OR ANY OPENING TO DEVISE OR OPERATE YOUR SCHEMES

OR YOUR PLANS OF DESTRUCTION IN MY LIFE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN,

AMEN. YOU CAN BE SEATED. I THOUGHT YOU NEEDED A STRETCH

BREAK. I DON'T WANT YOU TO FALL ASLEEP TONIGHT. BUT WE'RE

GUARDING AND PROTECTING THE TREASURE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN

OUR LIFE. THE MOST IMPORTANT TREASURE WE'LL EVER HAVE. IT'S

THE WAY OF SALVATION FOR EVERYONE ON EARTH. NO WONDER THE

DEVIL TRIES TO DECEIVE US. IT'S THE ANSWER FOR EVERYONE. IT'S

THE CURE FOR SPIRITUAL CANCER. SO IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE

REMAINING ON THE EARTH, JESUS TOLD US TO OCCUPY TILL HE COMES.

REMEMBER THAT SCRIPTURE OUT OF LUKE 19:13? ONE OF THE WAYS WE

Luke 19:13

START THAT PROCESS OCCUPYING IS BY READING, HEARING, AND KEEPING

GOD'S WORD. AND SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE, THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER THEIR

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TAUGHT THEM THAT THE WORD BIBLE IS AN

ACRONYM MEANING BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING

EARTH. I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT. BASIC INSTRUCTIONS

BEFORE LEAVING EARTH. YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF

TIME ON THIS EARTH, BUT WE HAVE AN ANSWER IN THE BIBLE. THAT'S

OUR INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'RE HERE

SO THAT WE CAN SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM AND DO IT ABUNDANTLY

WHILE WE'RE HERE, BUT THEN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL, BLESSED ETERNITY

WITH REWARDS, BECAUSE WE'RE PROMISED REWARDS IN ETERNITY IF

WE'RE FAITHFUL WITH WHAT HE'S GIVEN US TO DO DOWN HERE. WE

DON'T DO WORKS TO GET SAVED, BUT WE CAN DO WORKS TO RECEIVE

REWARDS IN HEAVEN. PEOPLE GET THAT MIXED UP SOMETIMES. THE

AVERAGE MAN IS THINKING THEY HAVE TO DO WORKS TO GET TO

HEAVEN. IT'S NOT THE WAY THAT IT WORKS. THAT'S RELIGION. WELL,

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. I GOT OFF TRACK. HALLELUJAH. WELL,

REVELATION 1:3, "BLESSED IS HE THAT READS AND HEARS AND KEEPS

Revelation 1:3

THE WORD." BLESSING NUMBER TWO IS FOR THOSE THAT DIE IN THE

LORD. REVELATION 14:13. LET'S READ THAT TONIGHT. IT SAYS,

Revelation 14:13

"THEN I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING TO ME, 'WRITE,

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON. YES, SAYS

THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND THEIR

WORKS FOLLOW THEM. THE WHOLE NATURE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

IS FORWARD LOOKING. AND THIS VERSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE

FUTURE. JOHN IS DESCRIBING THE MIDPOINT OF THE TRIBULATION AT

THE TIME WHEN THE EARTH IS GETTING READY TO ENTER INTO THE

GREAT TRIBULATION, WHICH IS THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEAR

PERIOD OF THE TOTAL SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION. THE SEALS AND

TRUMPETS JUDGMENTS ARE OVER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE

ANTICHRIST HAS BEEN REVEALED TO THE EARTH AND HIS RULING.

SCRIPTURE INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIBULATION

SAINTS ON EARTH AT THIS TIME WILL GO TO HEAVEN THROUGH

MARTYRDOM BECAUSE THEY REFUSE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. NOW,

REMEMBER THIS VERSE, REVELATION 14:13. "THEN I HEARD A VOICE

Revelation 14:13

FROM HEAVEN SAYING, 'BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD

FROM NOW ON.'" SO HE'S SPEAKING RIGHT THERE TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT

WILL DIE ON EARTH BECAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION THAT'S TAKING PLACE.

AND THEN THEY'LL BE WELCOMED INTO HEAVEN BY JESUS. AND THE

APOSTLE JOHN IS ENCOURAGING THESE SAINTS, TO STAY FAITHFUL,

THAT GOD'S MERCY IS STILL AVAILABLE TO THEM. EVEN DURING

THAT TERRIBLE TRIBULATION TIME, GOD CONTINUES TO HAVE A PLAN OF

MERCY AND REDEMPTION FOR THOSE WILLING TO SERVE HIM AND REFUSE

WHAT THE DEVIL'S TRYING TO DO. JUST THINK OF THAT, THAT'S HOW

AMAZING GOD IS. THINK OF THOSE ALIVE DURING THAT TRIBULATION

PERIOD. IT COULD BE THAT THEY'RE EVEN ALIVE TODAY. SOME OF THEM

CURSING GOD. SOME OF THEM SHAKING THEIR FISTS AT GOD. OR

JUST ATHEISTS, NONBELIEVERS, DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING. IT'S

AMAZING THAT GOD STILL HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION, A PATH

FORWARD TO THEM. HE EVEN SENDS THAT ANGEL THAT PROCLAIMS THE

GOOD NEWS TO THEM WHILE THEY'RE THERE. SO THEY HAVE A CHANCE.

GOD GIVES THEM A, YOU KNOW, PASTOR HANK SAYS THAT A LOT. GOD

HAS A REDEMPTIVE PLAN OF MERCY THE MINUTE THE EVIL HAPPENS.

WELL, ALL THAT EVIL'S GOING ON, AND THE ANTICHRIST IS DOING HIS

THING, GOD HAS ANOTHER PLAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE. IF THEY'LL JUST

MAKE THE DECISION AT THAT POINT EVEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'LL

WAKE UP AT THAT POINT. WE HOPE THEY WAKE UP BEFORE THEY GET TO

THAT POINT, BUT IF THEY DON'T, THEY HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. AND WE

CAN PRAISE GOD FOR THAT. HE'S SO MERCIFUL, HE'S SO GOOD. HE COULD

HAVE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I GAVE THEM THEIR CHANCE. THEY'RE

GOING TO HELL NOW. BUT HE HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION, EVEN DURING

THE TRIBULATION. WELL, HOW DOES THIS A VERSE REALLY APPLY TO US

TODAY? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE I HAVE AN ANSWER

FOR YOU. TO DIE IN THE LORD MEANS TO DIE IN A STATE OF FAITH

AND OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE TRULY

HAVE FAITH, WE'LL ALWAYS STRIVE TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S

WORD AND THE DIRECTION OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. NOW, THE SECOND

PART OF REVELATION 14:13 BRINGS A PROMISE OF REST. IT SAYS,

Revelation 14:13

"YES, SAYS THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND

THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM." REST FROM LABOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT

THAT FOR A SECOND. LIFE ON EARTH CAN BE MARKED WITH HARD WORK,

SOMETIMES STRUGGLE, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARDSHIP. THE

TERM LABOR HERE REFERS TO BOTH, THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO

SURVIVE AND LIVE, AND IT ALSO APPLIES TO THE CHALLENGES THAT

WE FACE JUST BECAUSE WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN A FALLEN WORLD. YOU

KNOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT ADAM AND EVE DID, WE HAVE TO WORK. SIN

BROUGHT US TO A PLACE WHERE GOD SAYS, "OKAY, YOU WILL TOIL.

YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK FOR WHAT YOU RECEIVE." JUST LIKE THE OX HAS

TO WORK TO TREAD OUT THE GRAIN, BOB, SOME OF US HAVE TO WORK.

NOW, BOB'S IN A POSITION HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK IF HE

DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALL LIKE BOB. SOME OF

US HAVE TO WORK, DON'T WE, PASTOR KEITH? I JUST WANTED TO

MAKE SURE PASTOR KEITH IS STILL AWAKE. HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS A

LITTLE SLEEPY THERE. BUT THIS IS A PROMISE OF REST THAT ASSURES

US THAT EVERYTHING WILL RETURN TO THE WAY THAT IT ORIGINALLY

WAS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF REST.

YOU SEE, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SIN NATURE COMING IN, IT WOULD

HAVE BEEN THAT WAY IN THE WORLD FOR ADAM AND EVE AND THE

FOLLOWERS WITHOUT SIN. THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS REST THAT WE WILL

ENTER INTO AT THAT POINT IS NOT JUST A TEMPORARY VACATION. WE

ALL LIKE VACATIONS WHERE WE CAN GET OUT OF TOWN OR GO DO

SOMETHING FOR A WEEK, BUT THEN IT'S OVER AND WE'RE BACK TO OUR

WORK. BUT THIS REST IS FOREVER. WE HAVE ETERNAL REST FROM THE

FIGHT WITH EVIL, SIN AND WICKEDNESS. WE'LL HAVE THINGS TO

DO. THE BIBLE ASSURES US THAT WE'LL HAVE ASSIGNMENTS IN

HEAVEN. BUT IT'S GONNA BE FUN. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY

SATANIC PRESSURE ANYMORE. WE'RE JUST DOING GOD'S WORK. THAT'S

REST. IT'S CHARACTERIZED BY PEACE, CONTENTMENT, AND THE

ABSENCE OF PAIN AND SORROW. HALLELUJAH. IT'S A REST THAT CAN

ONLY BE FOUND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS

PICTURE, A MARATHON RUNNER WHO FINALLY CROSSES THE FINISH LINE,

ALL OF THAT TRAINING AND THE HOURS OF RUNNING AND THE HEAT

AND THE COLD AND THE WIND AND THE RAIN ARE OVER. THE RUNNER

EXPERIENCES A PROFOUND SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, THE RELIEF FROM

PHYSICAL STRAIN, AND THE JOY THEY EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY'VE

ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE RACE. THE REST IS EVEN GREATER FOR US AS

BELIEVERS WHO RUN THIS RACE AND CROSS THE FINISH LINE AND THEN

ENTER INTO ETERNAL REST AFTER A LIFE OF FAITHFUL ENDURANCE.

LET'S READ 2 TIMOTHY 4, VERSES 7 AND 8, WHERE IT TELLS US, "I

2 Timothy 4:7

FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, "I FINISHED THE RACE, AND I'VE KEPT

THE FAITH. "FINALLY, THERE'S LAID UP FOR ME THE CROWN OF

RIGHTEOUSNESS, "WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, "WILL GIVE

ME ON THAT DAY, AND NOT TO ME ONLY, "BUT TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE

LOVED HIS APPEARING." HALLELUJAH, THAT'S A SPECIAL

BLESSING THAT BELIEVERS IN THIS LIFE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO BECAUSE

WE LOVE HIS APPEARING. WE DON'T FORGET THAT HE'S COMING AGAIN.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A CESSATION FROM WORKING. THE FINAL PART OF

REVELATION 14, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. IT SAYS, "AND THEIR

WORKS FOLLOW THEM." THAT'S AN AMAZING PROMISE. WHEN WE DIE IN

THE LORD AND WE REST FROM OUR LABOR, OUR WORKS FOLLOW US. THIS

IS ANOTHER ASSURANCE. THERE'S MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE THAT

TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WE WILL BE GREATLY REWARDED FOR OUR ACTIONS

AND FAITHFULNESS WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH. IT CONFIRMS THAT OUR

LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN. WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR GOD

RIGHT NOW WILL FOLLOW YOU. ONCE YOU ARE GONE INTO ETERNITY,

YOU'RE LAID TO REST, WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOUR WORKS THAT YOU HAD

DONE WHILE YOU WERE HERE ON EARTH WILL FOLLOW YOU. YOUR

WORKS CONTINUE TO DO GOOD IN THE SAME TRAJECTORY AS WHEN YOU WERE

ON THE EARTH. THAT'S AMAZING. AS YOU WALK OUT GOD'S PLAN ON

EARTH, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOU'RE PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE

FUTURE. AMEN. AND THAT'S NOT JUST YOUR WORKS. THAT INCLUDES

YOUR GIVING. YOU'RE LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU'RE

GIVING. THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR WORK AND THEN

YOU PUT IT INTO GOD'S WORK BECAUSE YOU PUT MAMMON OR OUR

MONEY SYSTEM INTO WORK FOR GOD'S PLAN SO THAT WE CAN SPREAD THE

GOSPEL AND PEOPLE CAN GET SAVED, HEALED, DELIVERED, ENCOURAGED BY

THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT BUILDS UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN FOR

YOU. WHAT A PROMISE. REPEAT THIS AFTER ME. WHEN I LEAVE THIS

EARTH, MY WORKS WILL FOLLOW ME. I WILL BE REWARDED IN ETERNITY.

WHAT I DO HERE ON EARTH FOR CHRIST PLANTS A SEED FOR MY

FUTURE. BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON.

YES, SAYS THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND

THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM. AMEN. YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS VERSE IS

TRUE FOR THOSE BELIEVERS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND ARE NOW

WITH GOD. SOME OF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, HUSBANDS, WIVES,

WHATEVER THAT ALREADY HAVE GONE HOME. THEIR WORKS HAVE FOLLOWED

THEM. THEIR GOOD WORKS AS BELIEVERS FOLLOW THEM. THEY'RE

GETTING REWARD. THE VERSE IS TRUE FOR EVERY BELIEVER THAT'S

ALIVE TODAY. WHETHER YOU'RE HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE WITH US,

SOMEDAY WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD, YOUR WORKS WILL FOLLOW

YOU. AND IT'S A GREAT PROMISE TO THE TRIBULATION SAINTS IN THE

FUTURE. ISAIAH 26:19 SAYS THIS, "BUT THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD

Isaiah 26:19

WILL LIVE. "THEIR BODIES WILL RISE AGAIN. "THOSE WHO SLEEP IN

THE EARTH WILL RISE UP AND SING FOR JOY, FOR YOUR LIFE-GIVING

LIGHT WILL FALL LIKE DEW ON YOUR PEOPLE IN THE PLACE OF THE

DEAD." HALLELUJAH. SO NUMBER THREE BLESSING IS FOR THOSE WHO

WATCH AND KEEP THEIR GARMENTS ON. OTHER TRANSLATIONS SAY THOSE

THAT STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. REVELATION 16:15, I

Revelation 16:15

WANT TO READ OUT OF THE NEW KING JAMES. IT SAYS, "BEHOLD, I AM

COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES AND KEEPS HIS

GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS SHAME." NOW, OUR

TIMELINE IN REVELATION, WE'RE NOW IN THE FINAL PART OF THE

LAST 3 AND 1/2 YEARS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION. AND MOST THAT

ARE LEFT ALIVE ON EARTH ARE EXPERIENCING THE BOLD JUDGMENTS

AT THIS TIME THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN REVELATION. THE ANTICHRIST,

THE MAN THAT'S POSSESSED BY SATAN, IS ACTIVELY SEARCHING OUT

ANYONE THAT WOULD FAIL TO WORSHIP HIM. YET IN THE MIDST OF

THIS HELL ON EARTH, JESUS HAS A BLESSING FOR THOSE THAT ARE

STILL ALIVE AND FOLLOWING HIM. THIS BLESSING IS NOT JUST FOR

THESE PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS A DIRECT APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES

TODAY IN THE TIME WE LIVE. I WANT TO READ THIS VERSE FROM THE

NIV. I DON'T NORMALLY USE THE NIV, BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A

REALLY GOOD TRANSLATION THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU

TONIGHT. REVELATION 16:15 SAYS, "LOOK, I COME LIKE A THIEF.

Revelation 16:15

BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO STAYS AWAKE AND REMAINS CLOTHED SO AS

NOT TO GO NAKED AND BE SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED." JESUS

REMINDS US THAT HE'S COMING LIKE A THIEF, AND THEN HE GOES ON TO

SAY, "BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO WATCHES OR STAYS AWAKE." NOW,

THE IDEA OF STAYING AWAKE OR BEING WATCHFUL ISN'T JUST LIKE

BEING SUPER AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE AROUND

YOU. IT INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN

AND THE TACTICS THAT THE ENEMY WOULD ATTEMPT TO USE AGAINST US.

THE DEVIL'S PLAN IS TO DECEIVE US SO THAT WE WILL BE KILLED OR

THAT HE WOULD AT LEAST DESTROY THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS FOR OUR

LIVES. THAT'S HIS GOAL. NOW, DURING THE TIMES OF KING DAVID,

WHEN HE WAS BEING HUNTED DOWN BY SAUL, THERE WAS A KIND OF A

CIVIL WAR GOING ON IN ISRAEL, REALLY. AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

CAME TO DAVID'S SIDE IN THE FIGHT. IN 1 CHRONICLES 12,

THERE'S A LIST OF THOSE THAT JOINED DAVID'S SIDE. AND ONE

PARTICULAR GROUP YOU'VE HEARD OF, IT WAS CALLED THE TRIBE OF

ISSACHAR. AND THEY WERE KNOWN SUPREMELY FOR THEIR WISDOM. BUT

THIS IS WHAT INTRIGUES ME. IT WAS THE NATURE OF THEIR WISDOM.

IN THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES, WE READ THIS, 1ST BOOK OF

CHRONICLES, "FROM THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR, THERE WERE 200

LEADERS. ALL OF THESE MEN UNDERSTOOD THE SIGNS OF THE

TIMES, AND THEY KNEW THE BEST COURSE FOR ISRAEL TO TAKE." THEY

KNEW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND HOW TO BEST LIVE IN LIGHT OF THE

PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. SO FIRST, WE DO NEED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF

THE TIMES. WE NEED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MORE THAN

JUST A HEADLINE OR A TWEET OR SOMETHING WE SEE ON MEDIA. IT'S

REALLY KNOWING WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THE HAPPENINGS OF

OUR WORLD AND UNDERSTANDING GOD'S HEART AND HIS PLAN FOR

MANKIND AND THE EARTH. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE

PART OF A PROPHETIC HOUSE? WE HAVE PASTORS THAT HEAR GOD'S

HEART AND THEY GIVE US DIRECTION ON HOW TO LIVE. SOMETIMES I

THINK HOW COULD PEOPLE BE MISSING OUT ON GETTING WORDS

FROM GOD THAT AFFECT THE NATION IN THE WAY THAT WE RECEIVE IT.

SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, FOLKS. NOT EVERY CHURCH

HAS THAT. WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN ONE OF THE MOST

IMPORTANT TIMES OF HISTORY. SO IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHAT

GOD'S HEART IS. WE'RE LIVING AT A TIME WHEN THE GREATEST REVIVAL

IN HUMAN HISTORY IS HAPPENING BEFORE THE END OF THE CHURCH

AGE. GOD WILL CONCLUDE THE CHURCH AGE WITH A MIGHTY REVIVAL

OF SOULS. I BELIEVE A BILLION SOUL HARVEST IS COMING. AND IT'S

OUR JOB TO OCCUPY UNTIL HE COMES. REMAIN ALERT, EDUCATED,

AND AWARE, AND ALSO INVOLVED. THIS MADE ME THINK OF THE SEVEN

MOUNTAINS OF INFLUENCE THAT LANCE WALLNAU SO ELOQUENTLY

TEACHES, TALKING ABOUT RECLAIMING THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS,

THE MOUNTAINS OF IMPACT IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE, WHETHER

IT'S BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS, FAMILY,

THE CHURCH, MEDIA, EDUCATION, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE

AMERICAN CHURCH HAS ALLOWED SATAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF A LARGE

SEGMENT OF MOST ALL OF THESE AREAS. AND IF EVERY

BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN WOULD MAKE THEIR LIFE'S FOCUS, AS GOD

DIRECTS YOU, TO JUST GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY IN ONE OF

THOSE AREAS, AMERICA WOULD SEE A DRAMATIC CHANGE. IT'S TIME TO

TAKE IT BACK. HALLELUJAH. AND IT STARTS WITH US EDUCATING

OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE WE POSSESS A TRUE CHRISTIAN

WORLDVIEW. YOU KNOW, STATISTICS TELL US THAT ONLY 6% OF AMERICAN

CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY POSSESS A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. MANY ARE ALL

THE WAY OVER INTO THE SOCIALIST AREA, BUT THEY CALL THEMSELVES

CHRISTIANS. BACK TO OUR VERSES WE CONCLUDE TONIGHT. EDDIE, YOU

CAN COME ANYTIME. REVELATION 16:15 AGAIN, NEW KING JAMES

Revelation 16:15

VERSION. BEHOLD, I'M COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES

AND KEEPS HIS GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS

SHAME. THE LAST PART OF VERSE 15 IS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT

BEING STRONG IN CHARACTER. IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T BE NAKED OR

SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S A BLESSING IN

STORE FOR THOSE THAT MAINTAIN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND

THEY'RE NOT EXPOSED AS BEING SHAMEFUL. THE REFERENCE TO

KEEPING ONE'S GARMENT ON SO THAT HE DOESN'T GO ABOUT NAKED AND

EXPOSED COMES FROM THE CUSTOM OF THE DAY WHEN MEN WERE WEARING

LOOSE-FITTING ROBES. WHEN A MAN WALKED QUICKLY OR RAN OR CLIMBED

THE STEPS, THE ROBE COULD BECOME UNTIED AND FALL OPEN. MEN

WEARING ROBES NEEDED TO BE ALERT AND CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR

SO THEIR ROBES DIDN'T SLIP OPEN. STAYING CLOTHED IN A SPIRITUAL

SENSE MEANS BELIEVERS NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE

ARE CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST AND WE ABIDE IN

CHRIST AND WE STAY IN THE POSITION OF READINESS AND

RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID IN ISAIAH 61 VERSE

Isaiah 61:10

10, "I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE JOY IN THE LORD MY GOD, FOR HE

HAS DRESSED ME WITH THE CLOTHING OF SALVATION AND DRAPED ME IN A

ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. I AM LIKE A BRIDEGROOM DRESSED FOR HIS

WEDDING, OR A BRIDE WITH HER JEWELS. YOU KNOW, MAN'S WAY IS

TO ATTEMPT TO DO AS ADAM AND EVE DID, TRY AND COVER THEIR GUILT,

THE GUILT OF THEIR SINS, WITH THEIR OWN WORKS. THAT'S MAN'S

WAY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF RELIGION. MAN

TRYING TO MAKE HIS OWN WAY TO HEAVEN. ONLY OUR DECISION TO

ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION THAT JESUS PROVIDED WILL SAVE US

FROM ETERNITY IN HELL. HALLELUJAH. CHARLES SPURGEON,

THE FAMOUS BAPTIST PREACHER OF THE LATE 1800S, SAID THIS, "OUR

ROBES WILL BE WHITE BECAUSE HIS ROBES WERE RED." HALLELUJAH.

THANK YOU, JESUS. WHY DON'T YOU STAND WITH ME TONIGHT? SO

BLESSING NUMBER ONE IS FOR THOSE THAT READ THE WORD, HEAR THE

WORD, AND KEEP THE WORD. BLESSING NUMBER TWO IS FOR THOSE

THAT DIE IN THE LORD, THAT THEY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND

REMEMBER THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM. YOUR WORKS FOLLOW YOU. AND

BLESSING NUMBER THREE IS FOR THOSE THAT WATCH AND KEEP THEIR

GARMENTS. THEY STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. WE UNDERSTAND

THE TIMES. WE REMAIN STRONG IN CHARACTER AND STAY CLOSE TO GOD.

AMEN. HALLELUJAH. FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY

TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE YOUR WORD. I ASK, LORD, THAT WE ALL

RECOMMIT TO BE PURPOSELY DRIVEN BY ETERNITY, TO DO WHAT WE CAN

WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH. LORD, I HOPE YOU'VE OPENED OUR EYES AT

THIS POINT IN TIME TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE IS IN SOME WAYS FOR

THE PEOPLE OF THIS EARTH. BUT YOU GIVE US A JOB TO DO TO

OCCUPY UNTIL YOU COME. SO LORD, WE RECOMMIT TONIGHT TO DO THAT,

TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION TO

THOSE AROUND US, TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS WORLD. AND WE

THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU DON'T JUST TELL US TO DO SOMETHING OR

COMMAND US TO DO SOMETHING, BUT YOU EMPOWER US BY THE POWER OF

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE ABILITY THAT YOU GIVE US WITH THE GIFTS

AND TALENTS AND ANOINTINGS THAT YOU PROVIDE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR

IT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU

TONIGHT. DON'T MISS OUT. NEXT SUNDAY, BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE

LORD. I KNOW PASTOR HANK'S GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL MESSAGE IN

JESUS' NAME. GO AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND JANET, GET YOUR ICE CREAM, JANET.