1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,750 2 00:00:00,833 --> 00:00:08,833 [music] 3 00:00:15,042 --> 00:00:18,250 How often do you pray? 4 00:00:18,333 --> 00:00:22,375 Second question, who do you pray for most of the time? 5 00:00:22,458 --> 00:00:23,792 And be honest. 6 00:00:23,833 --> 00:00:26,333 Is it usually yourself, your hurts, your wants, 7 00:00:26,417 --> 00:00:29,417 your longings, your needs? 8 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:32,708 How often do you pray for us, for your church, 9 00:00:32,792 --> 00:00:36,208 for all of God's people together that are on mission 10 00:00:36,292 --> 00:00:38,708 here at Mars Hill? 11 00:00:38,792 --> 00:00:40,417 One of the things that's interesting, 12 00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:44,208 as we get into "The Seven," is that the entire storyline 13 00:00:44,292 --> 00:00:47,208 of Revelation is about Jesus Christ. 14 00:00:47,292 --> 00:00:48,625 That's why it opens up, 15 00:00:48,667 --> 00:00:50,833 "The revelation of Jesus Christ." 16 00:00:50,875 --> 00:00:53,208 And as soon as we look to Jesus, 17 00:00:53,292 --> 00:01:00,167 he reorients our gaze back to his church. 18 00:01:00,250 --> 00:01:03,500 And so it's about loving Jesus and loving the church, 19 00:01:03,542 --> 00:01:05,667 and it's written by a man named John, 20 00:01:05,750 --> 00:01:10,167 who models for us simultaneous love for Jesus and the church. 21 00:01:10,250 --> 00:01:12,875 And John's life is one of the most amazing 22 00:01:12,958 --> 00:01:14,667 that's ever been lived. 23 00:01:14,708 --> 00:01:17,000 He met Jesus when he was a young man, 24 00:01:17,042 --> 00:01:18,375 perhaps in his 20s. 25 00:01:18,458 --> 00:01:21,000 He was with Jesus as one of the 12 disciples. 26 00:01:21,042 --> 00:01:23,667 He was there for all of the healings, and miracles, 27 00:01:23,708 --> 00:01:26,292 and casting out of demons, and walking on water. 28 00:01:26,333 --> 00:01:29,000 He was there for all of Jesus' life and ministry. 29 00:01:29,083 --> 00:01:30,917 He saw Jesus die on a cross. 30 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,000 He saw Jesus risen from death. 31 00:01:33,042 --> 00:01:35,000 He saw Jesus ascend back into heaven. 32 00:01:35,042 --> 00:01:38,000 He went on to write Revelation, 1, 2, and 3 John, 33 00:01:38,083 --> 00:01:39,917 the Gospel of John. 34 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,000 He saw all of the other disciples murdered, 35 00:01:43,042 --> 00:01:45,000 martyred, put to death. 36 00:01:45,083 --> 00:01:46,500 He outlived them all. 37 00:01:46,583 --> 00:01:48,500 He lived to be, according to church history, 38 00:01:48,583 --> 00:01:49,917 maybe 100 years of age, 39 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,792 when he's writing the book of Revelation. 40 00:01:52,833 --> 00:01:55,417 And you've got to see him as an old man, 41 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:57,000 who's been through a lot. 42 00:01:57,042 --> 00:01:59,333 They tried to kill him, but he didn't die. 43 00:01:59,375 --> 00:02:02,667 Church history tells us that they boiled him alive in oil, 44 00:02:02,750 --> 00:02:05,375 and that didn't take his life, so they exiled him to 45 00:02:05,458 --> 00:02:09,375 a little island called Patmos, off of modern-day Turkey. 46 00:02:09,458 --> 00:02:14,167 It's rugged hill country, rough, rocky, exposed terrain. 47 00:02:14,250 --> 00:02:18,333 It was the equivalent of Alcatraz in their day. 48 00:02:18,417 --> 00:02:22,958 And there John finds himself on a Sunday, the Lord's Day, 49 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,000 and he is praying for the church. 50 00:02:27,042 --> 00:02:29,417 His heart is for the church. 51 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:32,792 The church that he oversees, it's actually a multi-site 52 00:02:32,833 --> 00:02:36,167 church of seven churches, meeting in and around 53 00:02:36,250 --> 00:02:41,333 Ephesus, Turkey, spread 30-50 miles apart, 54 00:02:41,375 --> 00:02:44,208 one church that's meeting in multiple locations 55 00:02:44,292 --> 00:02:47,333 under the leadership of John, the senior leader. 56 00:02:47,375 --> 00:02:51,000 And he can't be with his people on Sunday, and he misses them. 57 00:02:51,083 --> 00:02:52,708 He loves them. 58 00:02:52,792 --> 00:02:55,083 He doesn't know if he'll ever see them again. 59 00:02:55,167 --> 00:02:57,708 And so he has church all by himself, 60 00:02:57,792 --> 00:03:00,792 and he spends time praying for the church. 61 00:03:00,833 --> 00:03:04,458 And none other than Jesus Christ shows up. 62 00:03:04,500 --> 00:03:05,833 I mean, what a day. 63 00:03:05,917 --> 00:03:07,250 Can you imagine that? 64 00:03:07,333 --> 00:03:09,167 You're having your devotionals. You close your eyes. 65 00:03:09,250 --> 00:03:11,833 "Lord Jesus--" And you hear, "What?" 66 00:03:11,917 --> 00:03:13,292 You open your eyes. 67 00:03:13,333 --> 00:03:14,833 There he is. Right? 68 00:03:14,917 --> 00:03:16,500 I've never had that experience. 69 00:03:16,542 --> 00:03:18,792 If you do, please call me immediately. 70 00:03:18,833 --> 00:03:21,792 Wherever you're at, I will come and join you. 71 00:03:21,833 --> 00:03:25,250 Amazing moment where Jesus came down from heaven 72 00:03:25,333 --> 00:03:28,125 to have a meeting with John to talk about 73 00:03:28,167 --> 00:03:31,292 the seven churches and to give an update 74 00:03:31,333 --> 00:03:35,375 as to how Jesus perceived that they were doing. 75 00:03:35,458 --> 00:03:38,875 And so if you'll turn with me in your Bibles or find with me 76 00:03:38,958 --> 00:03:43,917 on your app, Revelation 1:9-20, as we continue our series, 77 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,125 "The Seven," we'll look at a message to seven churches. 78 00:03:47,167 --> 00:03:50,917 We're going to read it all and then pull out a few big ideas. 79 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,667 "I, John," there's our author, "your brother and partner 80 00:03:53,750 --> 00:03:55,667 "in the tribulation and the kingdom 81 00:03:55,750 --> 00:03:58,917 "and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, 82 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,042 "was on the island called Patmos on account 83 00:04:02,125 --> 00:04:04,667 "of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 84 00:04:04,750 --> 00:04:07,042 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, 85 00:04:07,125 --> 00:04:10,500 "and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, 86 00:04:10,542 --> 00:04:12,458 "'Write what you see in a book 87 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:14,375 "'and send it to the seven churches, 88 00:04:14,458 --> 00:04:17,167 "'to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and Thyatira 89 00:04:17,208 --> 00:04:20,583 and Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea.'" 90 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:23,083 We're going to take you there in the ensuing weeks 91 00:04:23,167 --> 00:04:24,667 to see those places. 92 00:04:24,708 --> 00:04:26,375 I've been to Turkey three times 93 00:04:26,458 --> 00:04:28,125 in the last few years, 94 00:04:28,167 --> 00:04:30,000 visited these archaeological sites 95 00:04:30,042 --> 00:04:31,833 and brought the film crew with me. 96 00:04:31,875 --> 00:04:34,792 So, you're going to see it all, starting next week. 97 00:04:34,833 --> 00:04:37,917 "Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, 98 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,167 "and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 99 00:04:41,250 --> 00:04:43,167 "and in the midst of the lampstands 100 00:04:43,250 --> 00:04:46,833 one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe--" 101 00:04:46,875 --> 00:04:48,833 awesome Jedi-esque-- 102 00:04:48,875 --> 00:04:51,125 "and with a gold sash around his chest. 103 00:04:51,167 --> 00:04:53,917 "The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, 104 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:55,583 "like snow. 105 00:04:55,667 --> 00:04:57,708 "His eyes were like a flame of fire, 106 00:04:57,792 --> 00:05:00,500 "his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, 107 00:05:00,542 --> 00:05:04,167 and his voice was like the roar of many waters." 108 00:05:04,208 --> 00:05:05,833 This guy's in charge. 109 00:05:05,917 --> 00:05:08,667 "In his right hand he held seven stars, 110 00:05:08,750 --> 00:05:12,000 from his mouth came a sharp two-edged--" 111 00:05:12,042 --> 00:05:15,375 epic, fantastic, awesome-- 112 00:05:15,458 --> 00:05:17,167 "sword." 113 00:05:17,250 --> 00:05:19,167 Let your sons play with swords. 114 00:05:19,250 --> 00:05:21,750 It's biblical. They're like Jesus. 115 00:05:21,833 --> 00:05:25,875 "And his face was like the sun shining 116 00:05:25,958 --> 00:05:27,833 "in full strength. 117 00:05:27,875 --> 00:05:31,292 "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. 118 00:05:31,333 --> 00:05:33,500 "But he laid his right hand on me--" 119 00:05:33,583 --> 00:05:35,500 Can you see this? 120 00:05:35,583 --> 00:05:38,500 "Saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, 121 00:05:38,583 --> 00:05:40,417 "'and the living one. 122 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:42,583 "'I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, 123 00:05:42,667 --> 00:05:45,375 "'and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 124 00:05:45,458 --> 00:05:48,000 "'Write therefore the things that you have seen, 125 00:05:48,042 --> 00:05:51,125 those that are and those that are to take place after this.'" 126 00:05:51,167 --> 00:05:55,625 Revelation addresses immediate issues in the first century 127 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:58,208 and then leaps into the future 128 00:05:58,292 --> 00:06:00,667 around the second coming of Jesus. 129 00:06:00,750 --> 00:06:03,833 And so the first three chapters are about things that transpired 130 00:06:03,917 --> 00:06:08,583 in the first century, and then the rest is about the future. 131 00:06:08,667 --> 00:06:12,167 "As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw 132 00:06:12,208 --> 00:06:15,583 "in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, 133 00:06:15,667 --> 00:06:18,375 "the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, 134 00:06:18,458 --> 00:06:22,500 and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." 135 00:06:22,542 --> 00:06:27,917 Four big ideas we want to pull out of Revelation 1:9-20. 136 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,375 Number one, do persevere in Jesus. 137 00:06:32,458 --> 00:06:35,583 That's exactly what he says, that we will have, quote, 138 00:06:35,667 --> 00:06:38,833 "tribulation," and that we should persevere. 139 00:06:38,875 --> 00:06:43,333 And he uses that language very importantly: "in Jesus." 140 00:06:43,375 --> 00:06:45,458 For those who are in Jesus, 141 00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:48,917 the context of this life is tribulation. 142 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,542 It is opposition. 143 00:06:50,625 --> 00:06:53,292 It is suffering, because I don't know if you know this, 144 00:06:53,333 --> 00:06:55,875 we're not in the kingdom of God yet. 145 00:06:55,958 --> 00:06:58,750 Today, you're going to get in your car and leave here, 146 00:06:58,833 --> 00:07:00,833 and you're not driving to heaven. 147 00:07:00,875 --> 00:07:02,250 Right? 148 00:07:02,333 --> 00:07:04,167 We're not there yet. 149 00:07:04,208 --> 00:07:06,667 We're in the time between the times, 150 00:07:06,708 --> 00:07:09,833 where Jesus is victorious, but the new heaven, new earth, 151 00:07:09,875 --> 00:07:13,458 new Jerusalem have not yet been brought to bear. 152 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:15,333 Jesus has not yet returned. 153 00:07:15,375 --> 00:07:17,333 His throne is not yet on the earth. 154 00:07:17,375 --> 00:07:18,833 The dead have not been raised. 155 00:07:18,917 --> 00:07:20,958 Things are not yet done. 156 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,417 And this requires perseverance, something that very few of us 157 00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:28,833 know very little about, if anything at all. 158 00:07:28,917 --> 00:07:32,958 We are an absolutely self-absorbed, narcissistic, 159 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,458 consumer culture of immediate gratification, 160 00:07:36,500 --> 00:07:40,458 and it manifests itself in all kinds of addictions, 161 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:42,958 and compulsions, and debts. 162 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,625 And Christianity requires perseverance, 163 00:07:46,667 --> 00:07:50,333 but we persevere in Jesus, he says. 164 00:07:50,375 --> 00:07:55,042 Jesus persevered for us, through suffering, opposition, strife, 165 00:07:55,125 --> 00:07:58,458 death, and Jesus takes up residence in us through 166 00:07:58,500 --> 00:08:00,625 the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, 167 00:08:00,667 --> 00:08:03,917 and then the life of Jesus is made possible through 168 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,625 the Christian, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 169 00:08:06,667 --> 00:08:10,125 And when we persevere, we don't persevere for Jesus. 170 00:08:10,167 --> 00:08:12,500 We persevere like Jesus. 171 00:08:12,583 --> 00:08:14,583 We persevere with Jesus. 172 00:08:14,667 --> 00:08:16,375 We persevere in Jesus. 173 00:08:16,458 --> 00:08:18,917 We persevere by the power and the presence 174 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,917 of the person of Jesus. 175 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,917 And here's how John says it--and he's a guy who's been 176 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,500 persevering a long time, at this point in his life, 177 00:08:28,542 --> 00:08:33,583 maybe 70 or 80 years, as a Christian, hated. 178 00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:39,833 He is now exiled, sent away, and he continues to persevere. 179 00:08:39,875 --> 00:08:41,792 He doesn't doubt God. 180 00:08:41,833 --> 00:08:43,417 He doesn't disbelieve God. 181 00:08:43,500 --> 00:08:45,167 He does not disown God. 182 00:08:45,250 --> 00:08:47,000 He does not disregard God. 183 00:08:47,083 --> 00:08:50,208 Instead, here is what he says. 184 00:08:50,292 --> 00:08:53,833 Revelation 1:9, he says, "I, John, your brother." 185 00:08:53,917 --> 00:08:57,250 The first thing he tells us is that he is their brother. 186 00:08:57,333 --> 00:09:00,125 And this is amazing language, because two things are 187 00:09:00,167 --> 00:09:03,292 simultaneously and continuously true of Christian leaders. 188 00:09:03,333 --> 00:09:06,125 They are over the people as leaders, 189 00:09:06,167 --> 00:09:11,083 and they are alongside of the people as brothers or sisters. 190 00:09:11,167 --> 00:09:13,583 And when the Bible uses this language, 191 00:09:13,667 --> 00:09:16,125 it's showing that John--and John--you've gotta get this-- 192 00:09:16,167 --> 00:09:20,208 he is the most authoritative, spiritual human being 193 00:09:20,292 --> 00:09:22,167 on the earth. 194 00:09:22,250 --> 00:09:24,083 He's writing books of the Bible. 195 00:09:24,167 --> 00:09:26,917 He was friends with Jesus, eyewitness to the resurrection, 196 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,667 the one that Jesus loved, Jesus' best friend. 197 00:09:29,750 --> 00:09:35,333 He is Billy Graham, plus the pope, times a bajillion. 198 00:09:35,375 --> 00:09:37,625 That's his spiritual authority. 199 00:09:37,667 --> 00:09:42,375 There is nobody in the same category as John. 200 00:09:42,458 --> 00:09:45,333 And he looks at the church and the brand-new Christians, 201 00:09:45,375 --> 00:09:48,625 and he says he is our and their brother. 202 00:09:48,667 --> 00:09:51,000 And this is amazing language. 203 00:09:51,042 --> 00:09:55,417 Because, see, in Christianity, God is our Father, and that we, 204 00:09:55,500 --> 00:10:00,167 through sin, have made ourselves separated from and enemies of 205 00:10:00,208 --> 00:10:05,167 and orphans regarding God, and that Jesus Christ comes 206 00:10:05,208 --> 00:10:07,167 as our big brother. 207 00:10:07,208 --> 00:10:09,333 He lives the life we've not lived. 208 00:10:09,417 --> 00:10:10,750 He lives without sin. 209 00:10:10,833 --> 00:10:13,625 He dies the death we should die, the death for sin. 210 00:10:13,667 --> 00:10:16,625 He rises for the victory we've not earned to give the gift 211 00:10:16,667 --> 00:10:20,542 we cannot afford: forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. 212 00:10:20,625 --> 00:10:22,833 And that means, through our big brother, Jesus, 213 00:10:22,917 --> 00:10:25,667 we are adopted into the family of God. 214 00:10:25,708 --> 00:10:28,042 The Bible uses that nomenclature and language, 215 00:10:28,125 --> 00:10:30,042 talking about the household of God. 216 00:10:30,125 --> 00:10:33,208 And then God is our Father, and Jesus is our big brother, 217 00:10:33,292 --> 00:10:36,500 and that makes other Christians brothers and sisters. 218 00:10:36,583 --> 00:10:39,708 John says he's our brother. 219 00:10:39,792 --> 00:10:44,208 He says he's our "brother and partner in the tribulation." 220 00:10:44,292 --> 00:10:47,833 So, he suffers along with God's people. 221 00:10:47,875 --> 00:10:51,333 Tribulation here is about those hard, difficult, 222 00:10:51,375 --> 00:10:56,500 painful times in life, and John here is suffering physically. 223 00:10:56,583 --> 00:10:59,125 Church history tells us, as I've noted, 224 00:10:59,167 --> 00:11:04,083 that he was perhaps boiled alive in oil, though he did not die. 225 00:11:04,167 --> 00:11:05,750 He's suffering financially. 226 00:11:05,833 --> 00:11:08,375 He's been stripped from his home and all of his possessions, 227 00:11:08,458 --> 00:11:10,292 and he's in exile, according to tradition, 228 00:11:10,333 --> 00:11:12,875 in a rocky cave on a hill. 229 00:11:12,958 --> 00:11:14,958 He's suffering emotionally. 230 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,917 He can't be with the church and the people that he loves, 231 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,333 and he's worried about them. 232 00:11:19,375 --> 00:11:22,083 He's suffering, as well, spiritually, 233 00:11:22,167 --> 00:11:25,500 because he can't use the gifts that God has given him 234 00:11:25,542 --> 00:11:28,708 to love the people that God has entrusted to him. 235 00:11:28,792 --> 00:11:30,708 He's all by himself. 236 00:11:30,792 --> 00:11:34,417 This man is suffering in every conceivable, possible way. 237 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:37,417 He calls it tribulation. 238 00:11:37,500 --> 00:11:40,708 And, again, there has been a false gospel preached 239 00:11:40,792 --> 00:11:43,333 in American Christianity that if you come to Jesus, 240 00:11:43,375 --> 00:11:45,667 he'll take all your problems away, 241 00:11:45,750 --> 00:11:48,333 and he'll make your life heavenly while on earth. 242 00:11:48,375 --> 00:11:49,708 That's not true. 243 00:11:49,792 --> 00:11:51,875 In Jesus, to use John's language, 244 00:11:51,958 --> 00:11:54,667 our life is not tribulation-free, 245 00:11:54,750 --> 00:11:58,000 but it's tribulation-proof, and we can endure whatever 246 00:11:58,083 --> 00:12:01,792 tribulation, opposition, suffering, comes to us, 247 00:12:01,833 --> 00:12:06,375 through relationship with Jesus and his people in community 248 00:12:06,458 --> 00:12:10,167 together, together. 249 00:12:10,250 --> 00:12:12,500 And so he goes on to say, "I, John, 250 00:12:12,542 --> 00:12:15,500 "your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom 251 00:12:15,542 --> 00:12:18,208 and the patient endurance that are in Jesus." 252 00:12:18,292 --> 00:12:20,000 There's the key. 253 00:12:20,083 --> 00:12:21,833 Our endurance is in Jesus. 254 00:12:21,875 --> 00:12:23,917 Our patience is in Jesus. 255 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,292 Our new perspective is in Jesus. 256 00:12:26,333 --> 00:12:29,667 Our new power to endure the hard seasons of this life 257 00:12:29,750 --> 00:12:31,625 are in Jesus. 258 00:12:31,667 --> 00:12:38,083 Our identity is in Jesus and amongst God's people. 259 00:12:38,167 --> 00:12:41,000 So, perseverance is with Jesus and his people. 260 00:12:41,042 --> 00:12:44,875 That's why the whole structure of Revelation 1, 2, and 3 261 00:12:44,958 --> 00:12:47,417 is about Jesus and his people, 262 00:12:47,500 --> 00:12:50,417 that we are to persevere individually in Jesus 263 00:12:50,500 --> 00:12:55,208 and persevere collectively as Jesus' people. 264 00:12:55,292 --> 00:12:59,000 And he says that there will be tribulation until the kingdom. 265 00:12:59,083 --> 00:13:02,583 You and I need to know that it doesn't matter who we elect. 266 00:13:02,667 --> 00:13:04,875 It doesn't matter how many wars we fight, 267 00:13:04,958 --> 00:13:08,375 how many dollars we spend, how many initiatives we back. 268 00:13:08,458 --> 00:13:11,958 Until Jesus returns, and the dead are raised, 269 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,792 and those who have sinned are judged, 270 00:13:14,833 --> 00:13:18,917 and Satan and demons are bound, and hell is occupied, 271 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,292 and the new heavens, earth, and Jerusalem are glorified, 272 00:13:23,333 --> 00:13:27,000 until that day, there will be trouble. 273 00:13:27,083 --> 00:13:29,000 There will be trial. 274 00:13:29,083 --> 00:13:31,500 There will be tribulation. 275 00:13:31,542 --> 00:13:35,500 So, dear friend, don't let it shock you; but, instead, 276 00:13:35,583 --> 00:13:39,667 let it compel you to persevere, to hang in there. 277 00:13:39,750 --> 00:13:44,208 Who do you want to be in 50, 60, 70, 80 years? 278 00:13:44,292 --> 00:13:48,292 And John serves for us as an amazing example of one who 279 00:13:48,333 --> 00:13:54,333 persevered 60, 70, perhaps 80 years 280 00:13:54,375 --> 00:13:57,208 in Jesus, like Jesus, 281 00:13:57,292 --> 00:14:00,542 for Jesus, because of Jesus. 282 00:14:00,625 --> 00:14:02,792 And even though he had hard days, 283 00:14:02,833 --> 00:14:05,667 he was waiting for the one day when he would see Jesus 284 00:14:05,750 --> 00:14:07,792 face to face and hear, 285 00:14:07,833 --> 00:14:10,333 "Well done, good and faithful servant." 286 00:14:10,417 --> 00:14:14,292 And so, number one, do persevere in Jesus. 287 00:14:14,333 --> 00:14:17,292 Number two, do worship Jesus. 288 00:14:17,333 --> 00:14:19,833 John is worshiping Jesus. 289 00:14:19,875 --> 00:14:22,333 That's where we find him in Revelation 1. 290 00:14:22,375 --> 00:14:26,500 He says in verse 10, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." 291 00:14:26,542 --> 00:14:28,000 And so this is a Sunday. 292 00:14:28,083 --> 00:14:30,833 God's people had historically celebrated and observed 293 00:14:30,875 --> 00:14:32,708 the Sabbath on Saturday. 294 00:14:32,792 --> 00:14:35,833 That was the Jewish precedent and pattern from creation. 295 00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:38,125 And then following the resurrection of Jesus on 296 00:14:38,167 --> 00:14:41,625 a Sunday, Christians stopped worshiping on Saturday, 297 00:14:41,667 --> 00:14:43,500 started worshiping on Sunday. 298 00:14:43,583 --> 00:14:46,500 Because of the resurrection of Jesus, everything was new. 299 00:14:46,583 --> 00:14:48,417 Everything was new. 300 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:51,333 And we can worship any time, any place, any day. 301 00:14:51,375 --> 00:14:53,208 The Bible is clear on this. 302 00:14:53,292 --> 00:14:55,000 You could have church at 3:00 a.m. 303 00:14:55,042 --> 00:14:56,625 under a tree on a Tuesday. 304 00:14:56,667 --> 00:14:58,000 That's fine. 305 00:14:58,083 --> 00:14:59,667 It's weird, but fine. 306 00:14:59,750 --> 00:15:01,583 It's not a problem. 307 00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:05,250 But Christians tend to gather primarily on the Lord's day, 308 00:15:05,333 --> 00:15:09,542 Sunday, to remember the day of Jesus' resurrection. 309 00:15:09,625 --> 00:15:12,875 And it's an act of worship to literally just get out of bed 310 00:15:12,958 --> 00:15:15,375 and to go be with God's people, just as Jesus 311 00:15:15,458 --> 00:15:18,083 got out of his grave to go be with God's people. 312 00:15:18,167 --> 00:15:21,542 It's an act of resurrection testimony to get up, 313 00:15:21,625 --> 00:15:24,292 and to go forth, and to be with God's people. 314 00:15:24,333 --> 00:15:27,250 And so it's a Sunday and he can't be with the church. 315 00:15:27,333 --> 00:15:28,667 Let me say this. 316 00:15:28,708 --> 00:15:33,750 As a pastor, this is devastating to have a church or churches, 317 00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:36,958 in his case and ours, filled with people that you 318 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,875 really love, and you care for, and you're concerned about, 319 00:15:40,958 --> 00:15:44,000 and you don't know how they're doing, and you can't be there. 320 00:15:44,042 --> 00:15:46,750 For him, it was because he was in exile. 321 00:15:46,833 --> 00:15:49,167 He could've been there days, weeks, months, years. 322 00:15:49,250 --> 00:15:51,542 He didn't know how long he might be there. 323 00:15:51,625 --> 00:15:54,167 All he knew was he had people that he loved, 324 00:15:54,208 --> 00:15:56,292 and he couldn't teach the Bible to them. 325 00:15:56,333 --> 00:15:58,000 He couldn't preach Jesus to them. 326 00:15:58,042 --> 00:16:00,458 He couldn't minister to them and care for them. 327 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:03,042 And so what he does is he doesn't question God. 328 00:16:03,125 --> 00:16:05,333 He worships God. 329 00:16:05,375 --> 00:16:09,333 And he says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." 330 00:16:09,417 --> 00:16:13,667 Now, "in the Spirit" means he is filled with the Holy Spirit. 331 00:16:13,708 --> 00:16:15,500 We don't know exactly what he's doing. 332 00:16:15,542 --> 00:16:17,167 Maybe he's reading Scripture. 333 00:16:17,250 --> 00:16:18,583 Maybe he's praying. 334 00:16:18,667 --> 00:16:20,000 Maybe he's journaling. 335 00:16:20,042 --> 00:16:21,375 Maybe he's singing. 336 00:16:21,458 --> 00:16:23,083 Maybe he's praying in tongues. 337 00:16:23,167 --> 00:16:24,500 We don't know. 338 00:16:24,542 --> 00:16:27,000 We can infer or assume that perhaps he was doing 339 00:16:27,042 --> 00:16:28,542 all of those things. 340 00:16:28,625 --> 00:16:30,292 And this is private worship. 341 00:16:30,333 --> 00:16:33,875 We do have public worship, where we get together as God's people. 342 00:16:33,958 --> 00:16:36,875 And the Bible says in Hebrews not to forsake the gathering 343 00:16:36,958 --> 00:16:39,667 together, that we should worship Jesus collectively 344 00:16:39,750 --> 00:16:42,167 and spur one another on to faith, and good deeds, 345 00:16:42,250 --> 00:16:44,458 and hope, and courage. 346 00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:47,000 But also we need to have private worship. 347 00:16:47,042 --> 00:16:48,667 John has experienced both. 348 00:16:48,750 --> 00:16:51,667 Many, many days he has spent leading God's people 349 00:16:51,750 --> 00:16:54,083 in worship on Sundays. 350 00:16:54,167 --> 00:16:56,542 Yet, on this day, where he cannot be with them, 351 00:16:56,625 --> 00:17:00,167 he worships privately, and we should have both. 352 00:17:00,208 --> 00:17:02,917 Your life and mine, for those of us who are Christians, 353 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,333 should be two rhythms: public worship, private worship. 354 00:17:06,417 --> 00:17:09,833 We open the Bible on Sunday, but that should not be the only day 355 00:17:09,917 --> 00:17:12,333 of the week that you open the Word of God. 356 00:17:12,417 --> 00:17:15,583 We sing on Sunday, but that should not be the only day of 357 00:17:15,667 --> 00:17:17,292 the week that you sing to God. 358 00:17:17,333 --> 00:17:20,042 We pray together, but that should not be the only day 359 00:17:20,125 --> 00:17:22,250 of the week that you talk to the Lord. 360 00:17:22,333 --> 00:17:24,333 Private worship, being filled with the Holy Spirit, 361 00:17:24,417 --> 00:17:27,083 having those moments privately, personally, 362 00:17:27,167 --> 00:17:30,000 passionately with Jesus are very important. 363 00:17:30,042 --> 00:17:31,958 And let me say this. 364 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,250 The example of John is he started worshiping 365 00:17:35,333 --> 00:17:38,583 before Jesus showed up. 366 00:17:38,667 --> 00:17:40,375 And this is an important distinction, 367 00:17:40,458 --> 00:17:42,542 because for many of us, when we're suffering, 368 00:17:42,625 --> 00:17:44,875 we're in trial and tribulation, we think, 369 00:17:44,958 --> 00:17:46,542 "Why should I worship Jesus? 370 00:17:46,625 --> 00:17:48,958 "It doesn't seem like he's here. 371 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,667 "Why should I worship Jesus? 372 00:17:50,708 --> 00:17:52,292 "This is a very difficult day. 373 00:17:52,333 --> 00:17:55,583 "If I feel that he shows up, if the Holy Spirit feels 374 00:17:55,667 --> 00:17:59,292 near and dear to me, then I will worship him." 375 00:17:59,333 --> 00:18:02,167 John begins in faith. 376 00:18:02,208 --> 00:18:07,000 He begins by believing that Jesus knows what is happening, 377 00:18:07,083 --> 00:18:09,750 and Jesus cares about his suffering, 378 00:18:09,833 --> 00:18:12,042 and so he is filled with the Holy Spirit, 379 00:18:12,125 --> 00:18:14,750 and he worships Jesus, and he prays for the church. 380 00:18:14,833 --> 00:18:17,958 And then Jesus comes to him. 381 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,333 Let me submit this to you. 382 00:18:20,417 --> 00:18:24,458 If and when you are suffering, don't wait to feel like you're 383 00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:26,333 filled with the Holy Spirit. 384 00:18:26,417 --> 00:18:29,667 Don't wait to seem that Jesus has showed up 385 00:18:29,750 --> 00:18:31,500 for you to worship. 386 00:18:31,542 --> 00:18:35,000 Start worshiping in faith and see if the Holy Spirit doesn't 387 00:18:35,042 --> 00:18:39,000 show up and fill you, and Jesus is not in some regard 388 00:18:39,042 --> 00:18:40,792 revealed to you. 389 00:18:40,833 --> 00:18:44,292 It may not be a physical manifestation, as John had, 390 00:18:44,333 --> 00:18:49,000 but the presence, and the power, and the person of Jesus loves 391 00:18:49,042 --> 00:18:52,833 to meet with those who are hurting and suffering. 392 00:18:52,917 --> 00:18:57,167 And in the providence of God, I had this experience this week, 393 00:18:57,208 --> 00:19:01,042 and I was reading these things where it says, 394 00:19:01,125 --> 00:19:03,042 "I was filled with the Spirit." 395 00:19:03,125 --> 00:19:04,958 And then he says in verse 17, 396 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,750 "And I fell at his feet as though dead." 397 00:19:07,833 --> 00:19:09,833 I mean, you've got to see this. 398 00:19:09,917 --> 00:19:12,625 This is a man who's pushing 100 years of age, 399 00:19:12,667 --> 00:19:17,583 and he's down literally on his face before the Lord Jesus. 400 00:19:17,667 --> 00:19:19,542 This is an act of worship. 401 00:19:19,625 --> 00:19:21,292 This is an act of adoration. 402 00:19:21,333 --> 00:19:23,542 This is an act of surrender. 403 00:19:23,625 --> 00:19:26,458 This is what a servant does in the presence of a king. 404 00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:29,583 This is what a soldier does in the presence of 405 00:19:29,667 --> 00:19:32,292 a conquering commander. 406 00:19:32,333 --> 00:19:36,000 And John, this elderly man, who has suffered much and his body 407 00:19:36,042 --> 00:19:41,250 bears beating scars, and perhaps boiling wounds, 408 00:19:41,333 --> 00:19:43,292 he's on his face before Jesus. 409 00:19:43,333 --> 00:19:45,583 It's all an act of worship. 410 00:19:45,667 --> 00:19:48,458 And let me submit to you that sometimes your body 411 00:19:48,500 --> 00:19:52,292 demonstrates, it reveals your heart. 412 00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:55,083 It's not a sin to raise our voices. 413 00:19:55,167 --> 00:19:57,375 It's not a sin to raise our hands. 414 00:19:57,458 --> 00:19:59,542 It's not a sin to pray while standing. 415 00:19:59,625 --> 00:20:01,792 In fact, all of those things were the preponderance 416 00:20:01,833 --> 00:20:04,000 of the ways that the Hebrews worshiped God, 417 00:20:04,042 --> 00:20:06,792 but sometimes it's good to get down on our knees 418 00:20:06,833 --> 00:20:08,500 and down on our face, 419 00:20:08,542 --> 00:20:10,667 and to demonstrate physically what we believe 420 00:20:10,750 --> 00:20:13,792 theologically, and that is that Jesus rules over all, 421 00:20:13,833 --> 00:20:16,000 including me. 422 00:20:16,083 --> 00:20:17,708 And, friends, when you're hurting, 423 00:20:17,792 --> 00:20:22,625 and when you're struggling, and when you're dying, 424 00:20:22,667 --> 00:20:25,333 you have to worship it through. 425 00:20:25,375 --> 00:20:27,500 You have to worship it out. 426 00:20:27,542 --> 00:20:29,292 You have to invite the Holy Spirit 427 00:20:29,333 --> 00:20:31,083 to fill you so that, 428 00:20:31,167 --> 00:20:33,875 through the power of the Spirit, you can grieve, and mourn, 429 00:20:33,958 --> 00:20:39,083 and pray, and lament, and groan, and talk to God. 430 00:20:39,167 --> 00:20:42,208 It doesn't mean that all things will be okay, 431 00:20:42,292 --> 00:20:45,083 but it means that you will not be alone. 432 00:20:45,167 --> 00:20:47,708 That's the story of John. 433 00:20:47,792 --> 00:20:49,292 And let me say this. 434 00:20:49,333 --> 00:20:52,208 I don't think I've taught this well in my 15 years 435 00:20:52,292 --> 00:20:53,708 as your pastor. 436 00:20:53,792 --> 00:20:58,083 I think this has been a shortsightedness and a lack 437 00:20:58,167 --> 00:21:02,458 in my instruction, and I ask you forgiveness for that. 438 00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:04,667 I think, for me, I tend to be tough. 439 00:21:04,750 --> 00:21:11,167 I'm, you know, head down, chin up, hands up, feet forward. 440 00:21:11,208 --> 00:21:13,667 I'm built for war. 441 00:21:13,708 --> 00:21:15,708 I don't mind conflict. 442 00:21:15,792 --> 00:21:19,083 I don't enjoy it, but I can endure it. 443 00:21:19,167 --> 00:21:22,333 And I think, sometimes, I've given some of you the impression 444 00:21:22,375 --> 00:21:24,875 that, well, when times get tough, 445 00:21:24,958 --> 00:21:26,917 just be tough and march forward. 446 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,875 And sometimes that is, in fact, needed, 447 00:21:29,958 --> 00:21:31,667 but sometimes it's okay to lose it. 448 00:21:31,750 --> 00:21:33,333 Sometimes it's okay to grieve. 449 00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,833 Sometimes it's all right to mourn. 450 00:21:35,875 --> 00:21:40,333 Sometimes it's just fine to emotionally break. 451 00:21:40,375 --> 00:21:42,792 And I think that's the moment that John is having 452 00:21:42,833 --> 00:21:44,917 on the Lord's day. 453 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:47,000 He's worried about his churches. 454 00:21:47,042 --> 00:21:48,583 He's exiled. 455 00:21:48,667 --> 00:21:50,833 All the other disciples are dead. 456 00:21:50,875 --> 00:21:54,625 It's down to him, and he can't even get out of the cave 457 00:21:54,667 --> 00:21:57,500 to go be with God's people. 458 00:21:57,583 --> 00:22:01,292 And that's a hard, hard reality. 459 00:22:01,333 --> 00:22:05,583 And in the providence of God, as I was preparing this sermon, 460 00:22:05,667 --> 00:22:11,750 I had one of those moments where I got to use this Scripture 461 00:22:11,833 --> 00:22:14,292 and apply it to a particular situation. 462 00:22:14,333 --> 00:22:18,125 As I was studying and praying, I literally stopped. 463 00:22:18,167 --> 00:22:20,792 I was like, "Okay, Holy Spirit, please fill me. 464 00:22:20,833 --> 00:22:24,000 Please allow my studies to be an act of worship to you." 465 00:22:24,042 --> 00:22:27,000 So, I'm singing and I'm praying as I prepare my sermon, 466 00:22:27,083 --> 00:22:29,333 asking the Holy Spirit to fill me with love 467 00:22:29,375 --> 00:22:31,625 and joy and insight. 468 00:22:31,667 --> 00:22:35,625 And I got a text, as I was doing that, from a friend of mine. 469 00:22:35,667 --> 00:22:38,000 He's a pastor, somebody I've known for many years, 470 00:22:38,083 --> 00:22:41,500 love very dearly, and love his family. 471 00:22:41,583 --> 00:22:45,208 Now, I'm a daddy of a 14-year-old daughter. 472 00:22:45,292 --> 00:22:47,583 He texted me, and he said, 473 00:22:47,667 --> 00:22:49,833 "Please pray for me and pray for us. 474 00:22:49,875 --> 00:22:55,500 We just found out my teenage daughter was raped." 475 00:22:55,583 --> 00:23:00,958 And I read that, and I just broke. 476 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:06,167 I just stopped weep--I couldn't stop weeping. 477 00:23:06,250 --> 00:23:08,167 I was weeping uncontrollably. 478 00:23:08,208 --> 00:23:10,875 I just lost it. 479 00:23:10,958 --> 00:23:14,542 At that moment, as I was asking the Holy Spirit to fill me, 480 00:23:14,625 --> 00:23:18,000 and to let me worship Jesus, and to understand what it was like 481 00:23:18,083 --> 00:23:23,625 for John, I was devastated at that same moment. 482 00:23:23,667 --> 00:23:25,500 So, I texted my friend back. 483 00:23:25,542 --> 00:23:27,625 I said, "I can't stop crying. 484 00:23:27,667 --> 00:23:30,125 "I'm praying for you. I'm praying for your daughter. 485 00:23:30,167 --> 00:23:33,083 "We've got 'Rid of My Disgrace,' and Justin and Lindsey Holcomb, 486 00:23:33,167 --> 00:23:36,708 "and Redemption Groups, and we'll do anything to serve you. 487 00:23:36,792 --> 00:23:41,500 We love your family, but I just can't stop crying." 488 00:23:41,583 --> 00:23:45,292 And he texted me back, and he said, basically, 489 00:23:45,333 --> 00:23:47,375 "Oh, great, now I started crying. 490 00:23:47,458 --> 00:23:50,708 I've not cried in months, and now I'm crying." 491 00:23:50,792 --> 00:23:53,875 And I texted him back, because he was in a situation where 492 00:23:53,958 --> 00:23:55,875 he couldn't talk at the moment. 493 00:23:55,958 --> 00:23:58,292 I said, "Well, what's wrong with losing it?" 494 00:23:58,333 --> 00:24:02,667 He said, "Well, I need to be strong for my family." 495 00:24:02,750 --> 00:24:04,375 And I texted him back. 496 00:24:04,458 --> 00:24:08,333 I said, "Maybe not." 497 00:24:08,417 --> 00:24:13,000 I said, "It's okay to grieve. It's okay to weep. 498 00:24:13,042 --> 00:24:17,000 It's okay to wonder. It's okay to break." 499 00:24:17,083 --> 00:24:20,208 I said, "And I think you're trying to be strong to keep 500 00:24:20,292 --> 00:24:24,625 "yourself from going into an emotional place that Jesus 501 00:24:24,667 --> 00:24:28,333 is waiting to meet with you." 502 00:24:28,375 --> 00:24:33,667 So, as long as you try and be tough and persevere for Jesus, 503 00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:39,125 you can't let him be tough and persevere for you. 504 00:24:39,167 --> 00:24:44,500 So, I texted him back, "Lose it, grieve, mourn, break. 505 00:24:44,583 --> 00:24:47,000 "Invite your family to do the same. 506 00:24:47,083 --> 00:24:49,708 "And I believe Jesus is waiting to meet with you 507 00:24:49,792 --> 00:24:53,417 in the emotional place that you don't want to go." 508 00:24:53,500 --> 00:24:56,083 Jesus himself has been in that place in 509 00:24:56,167 --> 00:24:57,917 the Garden of Gethsemane. 510 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:04,500 He has been so anxiety-stricken that he shed blood in distress, 511 00:25:04,542 --> 00:25:08,167 that Jesus is a God who has endured tribulation. 512 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:10,083 He has suffered. 513 00:25:10,167 --> 00:25:14,667 He did face the worst, and he is glad to meet with us 514 00:25:14,750 --> 00:25:17,250 in those moments. 515 00:25:17,333 --> 00:25:20,375 And it doesn't mean that what has happened is his will, 516 00:25:20,458 --> 00:25:23,667 but that he can meet with you and use it for his glory 517 00:25:23,750 --> 00:25:26,500 and your good. 518 00:25:26,542 --> 00:25:29,000 And so in the power of the Holy Spirit, 519 00:25:29,042 --> 00:25:33,958 I would encourage some of you to not just tough it out. 520 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,583 And I believe that John's experience in that moment, 521 00:25:37,667 --> 00:25:43,167 being filled with the Spirit, was one of brokenness, humility, 522 00:25:43,208 --> 00:25:46,583 concern, and grief. 523 00:25:46,667 --> 00:25:48,500 And who shows up to meet with him? 524 00:25:48,542 --> 00:25:50,500 Jesus. 525 00:25:50,542 --> 00:25:54,333 When you find yourself in the midst of tribulation, 526 00:25:54,417 --> 00:25:59,750 ask the Holy Spirit to fill you, and start worshiping Jesus, 527 00:25:59,833 --> 00:26:02,458 persevering by the grace of God. 528 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,542 And here's what I'm telling you. 529 00:26:04,625 --> 00:26:07,750 The Holy Spirit will fill you, and one way or another Jesus 530 00:26:07,833 --> 00:26:10,833 will come and meet with you, and that's the good news 531 00:26:10,875 --> 00:26:12,625 of the story of John. 532 00:26:12,667 --> 00:26:14,542 Amen? 533 00:26:14,625 --> 00:26:16,292 Number one, do persevere in Jesus. 534 00:26:16,333 --> 00:26:18,167 Number two, do worship Jesus. 535 00:26:18,250 --> 00:26:20,583 Number three, do serve Jesus' church. 536 00:26:20,667 --> 00:26:25,167 Now, what's interesting, John is in a hard season of tribulation. 537 00:26:25,208 --> 00:26:29,292 Jesus shows up, and they don't talk about John. 538 00:26:29,333 --> 00:26:31,542 This is amazing. 539 00:26:31,625 --> 00:26:33,875 I would've thought Jesus would've showed up, 540 00:26:33,958 --> 00:26:35,500 "John, how's it going? 541 00:26:35,542 --> 00:26:37,083 "How are you feeling? 542 00:26:37,167 --> 00:26:39,167 "I know I left a long time ago. 543 00:26:39,250 --> 00:26:41,958 "You've sort of been on your own to some degree. 544 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,500 Here's some ointment for the boiling." 545 00:26:44,542 --> 00:26:48,000 Anything. 546 00:26:48,042 --> 00:26:50,667 And here's what happens. 547 00:26:50,750 --> 00:26:52,875 Jesus shows up in all of his glory. 548 00:26:52,958 --> 00:26:54,875 Do you know what we need sometimes 549 00:26:54,958 --> 00:26:56,667 in the midst of our suffering? 550 00:26:56,750 --> 00:27:00,167 We don't need Jesus to show up and make it all about us. 551 00:27:00,208 --> 00:27:04,958 We need Jesus to show up and reveal to us who he is. 552 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:09,250 "Oh, he's Lord, King, God, Savior, Christ. 553 00:27:09,333 --> 00:27:12,833 "This life is as close to hell as I'll ever be, 554 00:27:12,917 --> 00:27:14,667 "and heaven awaits me. 555 00:27:14,708 --> 00:27:17,167 "And this is not the kingdom of God, 556 00:27:17,208 --> 00:27:19,083 "and this is how they treated my King, 557 00:27:19,167 --> 00:27:21,875 "and one day I'm going to be done with this life, 558 00:27:21,958 --> 00:27:23,583 "and I'm going to be with him. 559 00:27:23,667 --> 00:27:25,667 "And if I get a revelation of him, 560 00:27:25,750 --> 00:27:29,500 that inspires me to persevere until I see him face to face." 561 00:27:29,542 --> 00:27:33,000 And Jesus shows up in all of his glory, not this humble, 562 00:27:33,042 --> 00:27:37,667 marginalized, Galilean peasant, but he is in glory, 563 00:27:37,750 --> 00:27:39,542 sovereign authority. 564 00:27:39,625 --> 00:27:43,458 That's how John sees his best friend, Jesus. 565 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:47,167 And you and I need to see Jesus as best friend alongside of us 566 00:27:47,250 --> 00:27:52,000 and conquering, ruling, reigning King over all of us. 567 00:27:52,042 --> 00:27:54,083 He gets a big picture of Jesus. 568 00:27:54,167 --> 00:27:57,292 For some of us, our picture of Jesus is far too small. 569 00:27:57,333 --> 00:28:00,833 We only see him during his incarnation, not his exaltation. 570 00:28:00,875 --> 00:28:03,000 We see him in Galilee, not in heaven. 571 00:28:03,083 --> 00:28:05,833 We see him in a manger, not on a throne. 572 00:28:05,917 --> 00:28:08,958 You need to see Jesus as he is right now. 573 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:14,750 And immediately then Jesus repositions John's concern 574 00:28:14,833 --> 00:28:18,500 toward the churches. 575 00:28:18,542 --> 00:28:21,875 This is amazing, because what we've done in particularly 576 00:28:21,958 --> 00:28:25,833 western Christianity, we've made it about me, not about us, 577 00:28:25,917 --> 00:28:30,542 and Jesus is turned into this divine therapist, 578 00:28:30,625 --> 00:28:33,167 to where whatever you're struggling with, or feeling, 579 00:28:33,208 --> 00:28:37,750 or hurting from, Jesus comes to sit down and to meet with you, 580 00:28:37,833 --> 00:28:41,042 and that Jesus wants you to be the center of your life, 581 00:28:41,125 --> 00:28:44,875 and he wants you to be all you can be, and do all you can do, 582 00:28:44,958 --> 00:28:47,583 and have all you can have, and that church exists 583 00:28:47,667 --> 00:28:49,792 to glorify you, and Jesus exists to glorify you, 584 00:28:49,833 --> 00:28:52,792 that you could shine forth in all the glory that is you! 585 00:28:52,833 --> 00:28:54,542 And it's all false gospel. 586 00:28:54,625 --> 00:28:57,167 The truth is it's about Jesus. 587 00:28:57,208 --> 00:28:59,500 It's all about Jesus. 588 00:28:59,542 --> 00:29:02,000 And as we get a right understanding of Jesus, 589 00:29:02,083 --> 00:29:04,958 it helps to reposition our affections and our focus 590 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:10,833 not just for ourselves but for others in the church. 591 00:29:10,875 --> 00:29:13,833 We realize other people are suffering, too. 592 00:29:13,917 --> 00:29:15,292 Other people are hurting. 593 00:29:15,333 --> 00:29:18,167 Other people are experiencing trial and tribulation. 594 00:29:18,208 --> 00:29:20,083 And though I am struggling and suffering, 595 00:29:20,167 --> 00:29:22,667 maybe in community with them, as brothers and sisters, 596 00:29:22,750 --> 00:29:24,375 we could mutually encourage one another, 597 00:29:24,458 --> 00:29:26,750 and pray for one another, and support one another, 598 00:29:26,833 --> 00:29:28,167 and help one another. 599 00:29:28,208 --> 00:29:29,875 And maybe it's not all about me. 600 00:29:29,958 --> 00:29:32,875 Maybe it's all about Jesus, and maybe what I'm going through is 601 00:29:32,958 --> 00:29:35,583 not so isolated that I have no need of the church, 602 00:29:35,667 --> 00:29:39,042 but I have every need for the church and the people of God. 603 00:29:39,125 --> 00:29:41,083 Here's how John says it. 604 00:29:41,167 --> 00:29:43,667 He says in 1:11, 605 00:29:43,750 --> 00:29:45,542 he speaks of the seven churches: 606 00:29:45,625 --> 00:29:47,667 Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, 607 00:29:47,750 --> 00:29:50,583 Philadelphia, Laodicea. 608 00:29:50,667 --> 00:29:53,792 These are churches along a postal route, 609 00:29:53,833 --> 00:29:58,542 beginning from Ephesus, which was a trade port city-- 610 00:29:58,625 --> 00:30:01,292 we'll show it to you in the coming months and weeks. 611 00:30:01,333 --> 00:30:03,500 We'll show you all of these places. 612 00:30:03,542 --> 00:30:06,292 But John has a lot that he's hurting from. 613 00:30:06,333 --> 00:30:09,000 Amen? 614 00:30:09,042 --> 00:30:12,083 Jesus says, "Do you know how the churches are doing?" 615 00:30:12,167 --> 00:30:13,792 Well, let me ask you. 616 00:30:13,833 --> 00:30:16,000 Do you know how our churches are doing? 617 00:30:16,083 --> 00:30:17,833 Do you know how Mars Hill Ballard, 618 00:30:17,875 --> 00:30:21,125 Bellevue, Orange County, U-District, Federal Way, 619 00:30:21,167 --> 00:30:24,083 Olympia--I don't even know where we're at-- 620 00:30:24,167 --> 00:30:26,292 a bunch of places, right? 621 00:30:26,333 --> 00:30:27,708 There's 14 of them. 622 00:30:27,792 --> 00:30:29,708 I actually do know them. 623 00:30:29,792 --> 00:30:31,833 But do you know how they're doing? 624 00:30:31,875 --> 00:30:33,833 Do you pay attention to them? 625 00:30:33,875 --> 00:30:35,500 Do you follow information for them? 626 00:30:35,583 --> 00:30:37,917 Do you pray for them? 627 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:41,583 Do you have concern and regard for them? 628 00:30:41,667 --> 00:30:46,500 And that's the model that Jesus gives John. 629 00:30:46,542 --> 00:30:48,708 It's one church, 7 locations, 630 00:30:48,792 --> 00:30:51,625 as we are one church, 14 locations. 631 00:30:51,667 --> 00:30:54,708 Jesus doesn't show up and make it all about John. 632 00:30:54,792 --> 00:30:57,625 Jesus shows up, reveals himself, says, 633 00:30:57,667 --> 00:30:59,833 "John, you think you're hurting? 634 00:30:59,875 --> 00:31:01,750 "Look at these seven churches. 635 00:31:01,833 --> 00:31:05,167 Let's not overlook all these other people that I love." 636 00:31:05,250 --> 00:31:08,500 And so the dual trajectory of Revelation is 637 00:31:08,542 --> 00:31:10,583 Jesus and the church, Jesus and the church, 638 00:31:10,667 --> 00:31:12,792 Jesus and the church. 639 00:31:12,833 --> 00:31:15,083 And those who only love and serve the church, 640 00:31:15,167 --> 00:31:16,917 they're prone toward liberalism: 641 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,625 "Let's just love people, and feed them, and care for them." 642 00:31:19,667 --> 00:31:21,333 What about King Jesus? 643 00:31:21,375 --> 00:31:23,125 Others that are all about King Jesus, 644 00:31:23,167 --> 00:31:25,083 it's all about worshiping, and suffering, 645 00:31:25,167 --> 00:31:27,000 and studying to the glory of God, 646 00:31:27,083 --> 00:31:29,500 but they're not really concerned about the church. 647 00:31:29,583 --> 00:31:31,417 How is the church doing? 648 00:31:31,500 --> 00:31:33,292 How are people in the church doing? 649 00:31:33,333 --> 00:31:34,667 Are people meeting Jesus? 650 00:31:34,750 --> 00:31:36,417 Are lives getting changed? 651 00:31:36,500 --> 00:31:38,208 Are we making budget? 652 00:31:38,292 --> 00:31:40,208 Are things okay or not? 653 00:31:40,292 --> 00:31:43,333 And it's about both loving Jesus and loving what Jesus loves, 654 00:31:43,375 --> 00:31:47,500 serving Jesus by serving where Jesus serves. 655 00:31:47,583 --> 00:31:50,333 So, do serve the church. 656 00:31:50,375 --> 00:31:53,500 And I love this analogy in 1:20. 657 00:31:53,583 --> 00:31:56,333 It talks about, quote, "The seven stars are the angels 658 00:31:56,375 --> 00:31:58,625 "of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands 659 00:31:58,667 --> 00:32:00,083 are the seven churches." 660 00:32:00,167 --> 00:32:01,583 Now, when you come to Revelation, 661 00:32:01,667 --> 00:32:03,958 you're going to get all of this profound imagery, 662 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,167 and sometimes people will speculate what it means. 663 00:32:06,250 --> 00:32:09,958 Here, God serves us very kindly by saying there's 664 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:12,000 seven lampstands. 665 00:32:12,042 --> 00:32:15,333 So, you think of like an ancient lampstand with candles on it 666 00:32:15,375 --> 00:32:18,625 that shines forth light, in the days before electricity. 667 00:32:18,667 --> 00:32:21,292 And he says, "Well, those are the seven churches," 668 00:32:21,333 --> 00:32:24,292 and this is what the church is to be like. 669 00:32:24,333 --> 00:32:26,167 Jesus is the what? 670 00:32:26,250 --> 00:32:28,208 He's the light of the world. 671 00:32:28,292 --> 00:32:30,917 And the metaphor is that the world is filled with darkness, 672 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:35,500 and sin, and evil, and death, and Jesus comes to bring truth, 673 00:32:35,583 --> 00:32:38,875 and love, and mercy, and healing, and life, 674 00:32:38,958 --> 00:32:41,125 and he is light. 675 00:32:41,167 --> 00:32:44,875 Jesus is light in the midst of darkness, 676 00:32:44,958 --> 00:32:47,917 and the church is supposed to be that place from which 677 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,917 the light of Jesus goes out. 678 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:55,583 So, we are to be like a lamp, Jesus says elsewhere. 679 00:32:55,667 --> 00:32:58,417 So, the most important thing at Mars Hill Church is not 680 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:00,792 Mars Hill Church. 681 00:33:00,833 --> 00:33:03,583 Our goal is not to do things, or say things, 682 00:33:03,667 --> 00:33:06,083 or serve in particular ways, that people would say, 683 00:33:06,167 --> 00:33:08,375 "That's an amazing church." 684 00:33:08,458 --> 00:33:11,875 But rather they would say, "He's an amazing God." 685 00:33:11,958 --> 00:33:14,292 Because it's all about Jesus. 686 00:33:14,333 --> 00:33:17,000 See, I love Mars Hill Church, 687 00:33:17,083 --> 00:33:19,292 but it's not the most important thing. 688 00:33:19,333 --> 00:33:21,875 Jesus is always the most important thing. 689 00:33:21,958 --> 00:33:25,500 So, even if we do good works, or we serve, or we love the city, 690 00:33:25,583 --> 00:33:27,875 or we care for the poor, or seek justice, 691 00:33:27,958 --> 00:33:30,708 or help the victims--praise God, we should do all of that. 692 00:33:30,792 --> 00:33:33,625 It should never be because I'm a good person or because 693 00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:36,125 we're a good people, but because he's a good God. 694 00:33:36,167 --> 00:33:37,500 Amen? 695 00:33:37,583 --> 00:33:39,833 It's always back to Jesus, always back to Jesus. 696 00:33:39,875 --> 00:33:43,208 And so in that way, the light that is supposed to come out of 697 00:33:43,292 --> 00:33:45,625 the church, the love, the grace, the mercy, the compassion, 698 00:33:45,667 --> 00:33:48,708 the justice, it is not originating from us. 699 00:33:48,792 --> 00:33:50,875 It is reflecting from us. 700 00:33:50,958 --> 00:33:53,917 That's what it means to be made in the image of God, 701 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,417 to be reflectors, mirrors. 702 00:33:56,500 --> 00:33:58,333 Jesus is love, so we love. 703 00:33:58,375 --> 00:34:00,333 Jesus is generous, so we're generous. 704 00:34:00,417 --> 00:34:02,667 Jesus is just, so we're just. 705 00:34:02,750 --> 00:34:05,083 Jesus is compassionate, so we're compassionate. 706 00:34:05,167 --> 00:34:08,083 But the light that reflects from us individually and collectively 707 00:34:08,167 --> 00:34:10,083 does not originate in us. 708 00:34:10,167 --> 00:34:13,375 It originates in Jesus, and it reflects through us. 709 00:34:13,458 --> 00:34:15,833 And if praise should come back, ultimately, 710 00:34:15,875 --> 00:34:20,292 it needs not reside with us, but it should extend to him. 711 00:34:20,333 --> 00:34:21,875 "Oh, you appreciate that? 712 00:34:21,958 --> 00:34:24,125 "Tell Jesus, 'Thank you,' because it's from him. 713 00:34:24,167 --> 00:34:26,125 "Whatever you've received good from us, 714 00:34:26,167 --> 00:34:30,125 individually or collectively, it's ultimately from him." 715 00:34:30,167 --> 00:34:33,292 And he says, as well, that not only are the churches like 716 00:34:33,333 --> 00:34:36,667 lampstands, but that each church has an angel or angels 717 00:34:36,750 --> 00:34:38,667 that are ministering to it. 718 00:34:38,750 --> 00:34:40,625 Angels are mentioned some 60 times 719 00:34:40,667 --> 00:34:42,500 in the book of Revelation. 720 00:34:42,542 --> 00:34:44,417 Angels are created beings. 721 00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:47,500 They're immaterial, non-physical spirit beings, 722 00:34:47,542 --> 00:34:50,833 and they're created as messengers and ministers. 723 00:34:50,875 --> 00:34:55,000 They're sent by Jesus to serve the church with their words 724 00:34:55,083 --> 00:34:57,083 and their works. 725 00:34:57,167 --> 00:34:58,667 And here's the truth. 726 00:34:58,750 --> 00:35:01,500 Mars Hill Church is protected by angels. 727 00:35:01,542 --> 00:35:02,958 We don't know their names. 728 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:04,333 We don't talk to them. 729 00:35:04,417 --> 00:35:05,792 We don't pray to them. 730 00:35:05,833 --> 00:35:07,500 We don't know who these angels are. 731 00:35:07,542 --> 00:35:09,042 It's just sort of a footnote. 732 00:35:09,125 --> 00:35:11,792 It's like you go to your kids' play at the school, 733 00:35:11,833 --> 00:35:13,292 and there's a lot going on, 734 00:35:13,333 --> 00:35:15,292 and there's the third tree to the left. 735 00:35:15,333 --> 00:35:17,792 It's there, but it's not the star of the show. 736 00:35:17,833 --> 00:35:20,000 Those are the angels. They're off to the side. 737 00:35:20,042 --> 00:35:23,083 They're all about worshiping and enjoying and obeying God, 738 00:35:23,167 --> 00:35:26,292 and it's all about God, not about the angels. 739 00:35:26,333 --> 00:35:28,500 So, we're not supposed to worship angels, 740 00:35:28,542 --> 00:35:30,250 or pursue angels, or talk to angels, 741 00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:33,375 or figure out our angels or where to forward the e-mail 742 00:35:33,458 --> 00:35:35,375 for all the angelic issues in the church. 743 00:35:35,458 --> 00:35:37,167 Instead, we just honor and love Jesus, 744 00:35:37,250 --> 00:35:39,750 but we acknowledge and accept the fact that there is 745 00:35:39,833 --> 00:35:43,167 a spiritual realm around the church. 746 00:35:43,208 --> 00:35:45,667 It's where Ephesians 6 says, "Our war is not against 747 00:35:45,708 --> 00:35:48,333 flesh and blood, but powers, principalities, and spirits." 748 00:35:48,417 --> 00:35:50,750 There really is a Satan. There really are demons. 749 00:35:50,833 --> 00:35:53,292 We really do believe this. They really do hate God. 750 00:35:53,333 --> 00:35:56,167 They really do hate us. They really do oppose God. 751 00:35:56,250 --> 00:35:58,458 They really do oppose us. 752 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:01,625 And there are angelic beings working against demonic forces 753 00:36:01,667 --> 00:36:04,958 to protect our church and every Christian church from heresy, 754 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:09,250 false teaching, unnecessary division, amoral, 755 00:36:09,333 --> 00:36:14,208 immoral conduct, those kinds of ways that Satan baits our hook, 756 00:36:14,292 --> 00:36:17,750 and wants us to bite and reel us in toward death. 757 00:36:17,833 --> 00:36:19,583 We believe this at Mars Hill. 758 00:36:19,667 --> 00:36:22,333 We believe in the supernatural. 759 00:36:22,417 --> 00:36:28,958 We don't fully understand it, but we fully embrace it. 760 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,375 And what's amazing is that the church is typified as 761 00:36:32,458 --> 00:36:37,583 seven golden lampstands, and Jesus is said to walk where? 762 00:36:37,667 --> 00:36:41,167 Among them. 763 00:36:41,208 --> 00:36:43,167 Do you know where Jesus is? 764 00:36:43,208 --> 00:36:45,375 The church. 765 00:36:45,458 --> 00:36:48,000 See, we're not pantheists or panentheists. 766 00:36:48,042 --> 00:36:50,500 We don't go out into the woods and say, 767 00:36:50,542 --> 00:36:52,333 "Well, I'm going to find the cosmic, 768 00:36:52,417 --> 00:36:54,792 "karmic energy in the river or the tree, 769 00:36:54,833 --> 00:36:56,500 "and I'm going to connect with it, 770 00:36:56,542 --> 00:36:58,375 so that I would know God." 771 00:36:58,458 --> 00:37:00,333 We believe that God made the world 772 00:37:00,417 --> 00:37:02,250 and that it reveals something of him. 773 00:37:02,333 --> 00:37:04,542 Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God." 774 00:37:04,625 --> 00:37:07,042 We see something about God in creation, 775 00:37:07,125 --> 00:37:13,000 but we don't primarily learn about Jesus from creation. 776 00:37:13,083 --> 00:37:16,667 We don't find him primarily all alone trying to connect to 777 00:37:16,750 --> 00:37:19,292 karmic energy and created things. 778 00:37:19,333 --> 00:37:22,333 We also don't believe like many eastern religions that there is 779 00:37:22,417 --> 00:37:25,167 a spark of God within us and that through such things 780 00:37:25,250 --> 00:37:28,167 as meditation or yoga, going into ourselves, 781 00:37:28,208 --> 00:37:31,750 there we will find God. 782 00:37:31,833 --> 00:37:34,542 That's why we don't believe in things like prayer labyrinths, 783 00:37:34,625 --> 00:37:37,792 where you start on the outside, and you walk into yourself, 784 00:37:37,833 --> 00:37:41,042 and the goal is to arrive as an individual person 785 00:37:41,125 --> 00:37:46,542 closing in on themselves to find God. 786 00:37:46,625 --> 00:37:49,167 No, if you want to learn more about Jesus, 787 00:37:49,208 --> 00:37:51,583 don't go out to creation or into yourself. 788 00:37:51,667 --> 00:37:56,000 Be with God's people, because Jesus is in the church. 789 00:37:56,042 --> 00:37:57,875 That's what it's saying. 790 00:37:57,958 --> 00:37:59,667 You want to learn more about Jesus? 791 00:37:59,750 --> 00:38:01,625 Get plugged into the church. 792 00:38:01,667 --> 00:38:04,542 And we live in this day where it's faddish and fashionable to 793 00:38:04,625 --> 00:38:08,333 criticize the church, to oppose the church, to leave the church, 794 00:38:08,417 --> 00:38:12,042 to use the church for whatever mission, or political cause, 795 00:38:12,125 --> 00:38:17,333 or social justice ministry, or secondary ministry opportunity. 796 00:38:17,417 --> 00:38:21,292 Such things may not be bad, but Christ loves the church. 797 00:38:21,333 --> 00:38:23,292 Christ died for the church. 798 00:38:23,333 --> 00:38:26,375 Christ's plan for the world is the church! 799 00:38:26,458 --> 00:38:28,167 It's the church! 800 00:38:28,250 --> 00:38:31,083 And when Jesus shows up, he's talking about the church! 801 00:38:31,167 --> 00:38:33,583 He's not talking about anything else, 802 00:38:33,667 --> 00:38:36,667 but everything focused on the health, well-being, 803 00:38:36,708 --> 00:38:40,292 multiplication, provision for the church. 804 00:38:40,333 --> 00:38:43,083 I need your heart opened up not just for our church, 805 00:38:43,167 --> 00:38:46,458 but for all churches that know, and love, and serve Jesus. 806 00:38:46,500 --> 00:38:49,958 And the difference between a critic and a servant is this: 807 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:53,583 they see the same problem, and they respond differently. 808 00:38:53,667 --> 00:38:56,750 You could show up in the church and say, "There's a problem." 809 00:38:56,833 --> 00:38:59,000 And a critic will say, "Therefore I'm going to 810 00:38:59,042 --> 00:39:02,458 criticize that, mock that, malign that, make fun of that." 811 00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:07,333 And a servant comes along and says, "I'm going to fix that." 812 00:39:07,417 --> 00:39:10,167 You're going to read with me in the ensuing weeks 813 00:39:10,208 --> 00:39:12,250 seven churches, some of which are awesome, 814 00:39:12,333 --> 00:39:14,708 some of which are awful. 815 00:39:14,792 --> 00:39:17,833 There are horrible churches in here, too. 816 00:39:17,917 --> 00:39:21,458 And what God is calling John to do is not to be a critic 817 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:25,542 of those churches, but to be a servant of those churches. 818 00:39:25,625 --> 00:39:27,167 Friends, I'll be honest with you. 819 00:39:27,250 --> 00:39:29,167 Mars Hill has problems, starting with me 820 00:39:29,250 --> 00:39:31,167 and proceeding from there. 821 00:39:31,250 --> 00:39:33,500 Okay? 822 00:39:33,542 --> 00:39:36,375 But, ultimately, if you have the heart of a critic, 823 00:39:36,458 --> 00:39:40,167 you will find some reason to oppose, or reject, 824 00:39:40,208 --> 00:39:42,167 or leave Mars Hill. 825 00:39:42,208 --> 00:39:44,542 If you come with the heart of a servant, 826 00:39:44,625 --> 00:39:49,000 you will see that same need as a calling from Jesus for you 827 00:39:49,042 --> 00:39:51,667 to get involved and make a difference. 828 00:39:51,750 --> 00:39:54,083 And that's what families do, right? 829 00:39:54,167 --> 00:39:55,583 That's what families do. 830 00:39:55,667 --> 00:39:57,792 You don't show up and yell at your mom 831 00:39:57,833 --> 00:39:59,167 and cuss out your brother. 832 00:39:59,250 --> 00:40:01,375 Maybe you do. You have a bad family. 833 00:40:01,458 --> 00:40:02,792 I'm just telling you. 834 00:40:02,833 --> 00:40:05,083 Instead, what you do is you say, "Okay, well, 835 00:40:05,167 --> 00:40:06,500 "the family's got problems. 836 00:40:06,542 --> 00:40:09,250 I need to serve to help this be a better family." 837 00:40:09,333 --> 00:40:11,250 So it is with the family of God. 838 00:40:11,333 --> 00:40:13,250 So it is with the family of God. 839 00:40:13,333 --> 00:40:16,708 So, here's what John does: receives from Jesus a report on 840 00:40:16,792 --> 00:40:20,000 the seven churches, and then that becomes articulated through 841 00:40:20,083 --> 00:40:22,667 these seven letters to those seven churches. 842 00:40:22,750 --> 00:40:25,833 So, what I'm going to start doing is once a month 843 00:40:25,875 --> 00:40:27,708 I'm going to give you an update. 844 00:40:27,792 --> 00:40:29,417 How's Mars Hill doing? 845 00:40:29,500 --> 00:40:31,292 That's exactly what's going on here. 846 00:40:31,333 --> 00:40:34,917 And then once a month, as well, the lead pastor at each of our 847 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,417 locations will get up and tell you how that particular 848 00:40:37,500 --> 00:40:38,833 local church doing. 849 00:40:38,875 --> 00:40:42,333 So, briefly, let me give you a bit of an update on how things 850 00:40:42,375 --> 00:40:43,708 are going at Mars Hill. 851 00:40:43,792 --> 00:40:46,708 We're going to learn how things are going at the seven churches 852 00:40:46,792 --> 00:40:48,125 of Revelation. 853 00:40:48,167 --> 00:40:50,417 Here's how things are going at Mars Hill Church. 854 00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:53,208 First of all, we have a lot to praise God for. 855 00:40:53,292 --> 00:40:55,500 If the guys would show me the next slide, 856 00:40:55,583 --> 00:40:57,000 I'll share it with you. 857 00:40:57,083 --> 00:40:59,000 Here are evidences of God's grace. 858 00:40:59,083 --> 00:41:01,500 Easter this year, we had 19,634 people, 859 00:41:01,542 --> 00:41:04,000 our highest attendance ever! 860 00:41:04,042 --> 00:41:05,583 Praise God, right? 861 00:41:05,667 --> 00:41:09,667 That's good news. 862 00:41:09,750 --> 00:41:12,542 Some of our locations were over capacity. 863 00:41:12,625 --> 00:41:14,875 The fire marshal said, "Nobody else can come in." 864 00:41:14,958 --> 00:41:17,500 There were certain places we couldn't actually allow everyone 865 00:41:17,583 --> 00:41:19,083 into the building. 866 00:41:19,167 --> 00:41:20,917 So, we may have had 20,000 people 867 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:23,917 if the fire marshal would've went out for a cup of coffee. 868 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:25,625 So, that's a good day for us. 869 00:41:25,667 --> 00:41:28,375 And some of you say, "Oh, it's all about the numbers." 870 00:41:28,458 --> 00:41:29,792 Yep! 871 00:41:29,833 --> 00:41:31,792 The number of people getting their sins forgiven, 872 00:41:31,833 --> 00:41:33,292 getting their lives changed by Jesus, 873 00:41:33,333 --> 00:41:34,792 going to heaven instead of hell, 874 00:41:34,833 --> 00:41:36,792 we would like that number to go up. 875 00:41:36,833 --> 00:41:38,500 We're all for that number going up, 876 00:41:38,583 --> 00:41:39,917 because it's not just numbers. 877 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:41,917 It's numbers of people who meet Jesus. 878 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,333 That we are excited about. 879 00:41:43,375 --> 00:41:46,167 424 baptisms. Many people met Jesus. 880 00:41:46,250 --> 00:41:48,625 That's awesome. We praise God for that. 881 00:41:48,667 --> 00:41:52,500 41 services at 14 locations across 4 states, 882 00:41:52,583 --> 00:41:54,333 all because Jesus is alive. 883 00:41:54,375 --> 00:41:56,000 Jesus forgives sin. 884 00:41:56,083 --> 00:41:59,833 Jesus is God, ruling, reigning, living, just like John saw him. 885 00:41:59,875 --> 00:42:01,500 That's how we see him. 886 00:42:01,542 --> 00:42:02,958 That's why we have hope. 887 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:05,792 That's why we believe there's a great future for us, 888 00:42:05,833 --> 00:42:08,083 not because we're wonderful, but because he's alive, 889 00:42:08,167 --> 00:42:10,875 and he loves the church, and Jesus promised, 890 00:42:10,958 --> 00:42:14,875 "I will build the church," and we believe what Jesus says. 891 00:42:14,958 --> 00:42:18,083 Next one, as well, some things to be in prayer for. 892 00:42:18,167 --> 00:42:20,917 In this report that John delivers from Jesus 893 00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:22,708 to the seven churches, 894 00:42:22,792 --> 00:42:25,500 there are things they need to work on and pray for, 895 00:42:25,542 --> 00:42:27,375 and he actually gives them prayer requests 896 00:42:27,458 --> 00:42:29,000 to each of the churches. 897 00:42:29,083 --> 00:42:30,792 Let me give you some for us. 898 00:42:30,833 --> 00:42:32,292 Right now Mars Hill Orange County, 899 00:42:32,333 --> 00:42:34,500 Everett, Federal Way, Downtown Seattle, and Olympia 900 00:42:34,583 --> 00:42:36,500 all need new buildings. 901 00:42:36,542 --> 00:42:39,083 Mars Hill Orange County is meeting in a club. 902 00:42:39,167 --> 00:42:41,708 Their children's ministry is like in another zip code, 903 00:42:41,792 --> 00:42:44,500 and we just are losing our lease, 904 00:42:44,583 --> 00:42:47,625 and we're going to be kicked out, and we've got a problem. 905 00:42:47,667 --> 00:42:50,292 And so we're going to be homeless like Jesus here 906 00:42:50,333 --> 00:42:52,333 very shortly at Mars Hill Orange County. 907 00:42:52,375 --> 00:42:54,208 They started on January 15th. 908 00:42:54,292 --> 00:42:56,167 They started with 800 people. 909 00:42:56,250 --> 00:42:58,625 Only 2% of churches in America are 800, 910 00:42:58,667 --> 00:43:02,083 so we rejoice in all that God is doing, but they need a home. 911 00:43:02,167 --> 00:43:04,958 Mars Hill Everett, outgrown its kids' space, needs a new place. 912 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,292 Mars Hill Federal Way, people sitting on the floor, 913 00:43:07,333 --> 00:43:09,792 can't even get in the building, need more seats. 914 00:43:09,833 --> 00:43:12,167 Mars Hill Downtown has five services. 915 00:43:12,208 --> 00:43:13,750 Everybody is packed in. 916 00:43:13,833 --> 00:43:17,000 We can't get any more people in there, so they need more seats. 917 00:43:17,083 --> 00:43:19,292 And Mars Hill Olympia needs a new location, 918 00:43:19,333 --> 00:43:21,000 particularly for families, as well. 919 00:43:21,083 --> 00:43:23,417 So, here's what I'm asking. Pray. 920 00:43:23,500 --> 00:43:26,083 Pray individually. Pray with your family. 921 00:43:26,167 --> 00:43:27,708 Pray with your Community Group. 922 00:43:27,792 --> 00:43:29,792 Just be praying for the church. 923 00:43:29,833 --> 00:43:31,833 Pay attention to the website. 924 00:43:31,875 --> 00:43:34,667 Pay attention to what's going on and be looking for things 925 00:43:34,750 --> 00:43:37,625 to make note of that you can be in prayer for. 926 00:43:37,667 --> 00:43:40,625 We'd really appreciate that, and it will open your heart 927 00:43:40,667 --> 00:43:44,000 toward what God is doing at all of our churches. 928 00:43:44,083 --> 00:43:47,500 Lastly, I'll give you a financial update, 929 00:43:47,542 --> 00:43:50,625 because where your treasure is, that's where your heart is. 930 00:43:50,667 --> 00:43:53,667 If you take all the adults that attend Mars Hill Church 931 00:43:53,750 --> 00:43:56,625 and give, any amount, like a buck or more, 932 00:43:56,667 --> 00:43:59,000 it's only about 41%. 933 00:43:59,083 --> 00:44:01,542 And so if I was going to say anything, 934 00:44:01,625 --> 00:44:03,500 that number needs to increase. 935 00:44:03,542 --> 00:44:07,375 The average weekly giving per adult is just under $33. 936 00:44:07,458 --> 00:44:09,250 The number of giving households, 937 00:44:09,333 --> 00:44:11,458 because there are a lot of husbands and wives, 938 00:44:11,500 --> 00:44:13,167 not just singles, is just under 5,000, 939 00:44:13,250 --> 00:44:15,667 and our average weekly attendance has been as low as 940 00:44:15,750 --> 00:44:17,667 12-something thousand on a holiday, as many as 941 00:44:17,750 --> 00:44:20,500 15,000 on a non-Easter Sunday, 942 00:44:20,542 --> 00:44:23,000 an average of more than 13,000. 943 00:44:23,083 --> 00:44:25,333 Let me say that's a massive increase. 944 00:44:25,375 --> 00:44:27,083 In the recent few months, 945 00:44:27,167 --> 00:44:29,167 Mars Hill has been up anywhere from 946 00:44:29,250 --> 00:44:33,167 3,000 to 5,000 people over the same Sunday last year. 947 00:44:33,250 --> 00:44:36,583 So, if you think about it, this is like a woman with two kids 948 00:44:36,667 --> 00:44:38,333 getting pregnant with five more. 949 00:44:38,375 --> 00:44:39,833 Right? 950 00:44:39,875 --> 00:44:42,833 As soon as those kids are born, everything is going to change. 951 00:44:42,875 --> 00:44:45,333 The car is too small. The fridge isn't big enough. 952 00:44:45,375 --> 00:44:46,833 They're going to need more playpens. 953 00:44:46,875 --> 00:44:48,208 The diapers are not sufficient. 954 00:44:48,292 --> 00:44:51,125 That's where we're at, at Mars Hill Church. 955 00:44:51,167 --> 00:44:54,333 We had this great series of new births, people meeting Jesus, 956 00:44:54,375 --> 00:44:56,500 lots of new Christians, lots of new people. 957 00:44:56,583 --> 00:44:58,125 Praise God. 958 00:44:58,167 --> 00:44:59,917 But they're not all yet mature. 959 00:45:00,042 --> 00:45:01,667 They're not all yet giving. 960 00:45:01,750 --> 00:45:03,375 They're not all yet plugged into community. 961 00:45:03,458 --> 00:45:04,958 So, here's what we need. 962 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,458 We need those of you who are Christians, and mature, 963 00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:10,167 and have been with us for a while to be faithful, 964 00:45:10,250 --> 00:45:13,167 generous givers, to help the ministry of Jesus go forward. 965 00:45:13,250 --> 00:45:15,292 And here's how you can do that practically. 966 00:45:15,333 --> 00:45:18,875 You can give during the service, like my son Gideon does. 967 00:45:18,958 --> 00:45:21,083 He is a very faithful, generous giver. 968 00:45:21,167 --> 00:45:22,750 He's in kindergarten. 969 00:45:22,833 --> 00:45:25,167 He recently gave $14.64. 970 00:45:25,250 --> 00:45:27,167 He dropped it all in the offering basket, 971 00:45:27,250 --> 00:45:30,583 and it sounded like he won a slot machine. 972 00:45:30,667 --> 00:45:32,083 So, you can do that. 973 00:45:32,167 --> 00:45:34,375 You can give in cash, check, credit. 974 00:45:34,458 --> 00:45:37,667 You can sign up for recurring automated withdrawals, 975 00:45:37,750 --> 00:45:39,875 like you would for other expenses. 976 00:45:39,958 --> 00:45:41,667 You can give by mail. 977 00:45:41,750 --> 00:45:43,375 There's an envelope in your seat. 978 00:45:43,458 --> 00:45:45,667 You can send that in with a check. 979 00:45:45,708 --> 00:45:48,667 You also can go on to MarsHill.com/Give and give via 980 00:45:48,750 --> 00:45:50,375 credit card or debit card. 981 00:45:50,458 --> 00:45:52,583 That's how I tend to give for our family. 982 00:45:52,667 --> 00:45:55,750 If you have questions about how to give stock and other items, 983 00:45:55,833 --> 00:45:57,167 Giving@MarsHill.com. 984 00:45:57,208 --> 00:45:58,875 And immediately some of you will say, 985 00:45:58,958 --> 00:46:00,458 "Oh, it's all about the money." 986 00:46:00,500 --> 00:46:02,458 No, but it is all about the giving. 987 00:46:02,500 --> 00:46:05,167 Christianity is about giving. 988 00:46:05,208 --> 00:46:07,167 And I don't just want your money, 989 00:46:07,208 --> 00:46:08,958 and Jesus doesn't just want your money, 990 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:11,667 but Jesus does want you to learn to be a giver, 991 00:46:11,708 --> 00:46:13,542 because he loves you. 992 00:46:13,625 --> 00:46:16,333 See, the story of Christianity is that God so loved us, 993 00:46:16,417 --> 00:46:20,333 he gave his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. 994 00:46:20,417 --> 00:46:22,667 Jesus gave us his life, his death, his burial, 995 00:46:22,750 --> 00:46:24,083 his resurrection. 996 00:46:24,167 --> 00:46:25,792 Jesus gives us his righteousness. 997 00:46:25,833 --> 00:46:27,458 Jesus gives us salvation. 998 00:46:27,500 --> 00:46:28,958 Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit. 999 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:30,833 Jesus gives us spiritual gifts. 1000 00:46:30,917 --> 00:46:32,750 Jesus gives us the Word of God. 1001 00:46:32,833 --> 00:46:35,167 Jesus gives us one another, the church. 1002 00:46:35,250 --> 00:46:37,542 And if you want to be a good spouse, 1003 00:46:37,625 --> 00:46:40,042 you've got to give yourself to your husband or wife. 1004 00:46:40,125 --> 00:46:41,792 You want to be a good parent? 1005 00:46:41,833 --> 00:46:43,792 You've got to give yourself to your children. 1006 00:46:43,833 --> 00:46:45,500 You want to be a good neighbor? 1007 00:46:45,542 --> 00:46:47,500 You need to give yourself to your neighbors. 1008 00:46:47,542 --> 00:46:49,250 You want to be a good missionary? 1009 00:46:49,333 --> 00:46:51,250 You've got to give yourself to your city. 1010 00:46:51,333 --> 00:46:53,250 You want to be a good church member? 1011 00:46:53,333 --> 00:46:55,250 You've got to give yourself to your church. 1012 00:46:55,333 --> 00:46:57,000 In a day of selfishness and consumption, 1013 00:46:57,042 --> 00:46:58,750 we want to be givers, not takers, 1014 00:46:58,833 --> 00:47:00,833 because Christianity is about giving. 1015 00:47:00,917 --> 00:47:03,708 And it's not just about getting money out of your account. 1016 00:47:03,792 --> 00:47:07,708 It's about you learning to give yourself to Jesus and the people 1017 00:47:07,792 --> 00:47:10,250 that he's calling you to give yourself to. 1018 00:47:10,333 --> 00:47:12,458 And as you do, you'll be a better Christian, 1019 00:47:12,500 --> 00:47:14,667 a better spouse, a better friend, a better neighbor, 1020 00:47:14,708 --> 00:47:16,875 a better parent, a better missionary for the glory 1021 00:47:16,958 --> 00:47:20,333 of Jesus, the good of others, and your own joy. 1022 00:47:20,417 --> 00:47:22,792 Yeah, it is about being a giver. 1023 00:47:22,833 --> 00:47:25,958 It is about being a giver, and the world's filled with givers 1024 00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:29,292 and takers, and those who belong to Jesus have been given much, 1025 00:47:29,333 --> 00:47:33,792 so that they can give much, and that's exactly where Jesus 1026 00:47:33,833 --> 00:47:36,792 is taking John and the seven churches, saying, 1027 00:47:36,833 --> 00:47:38,292 "John, I know you're struggling. 1028 00:47:38,333 --> 00:47:39,667 "I know you're hurting. 1029 00:47:39,750 --> 00:47:42,667 "I know it's a tough season, but pay attention to the churches 1030 00:47:42,750 --> 00:47:44,083 and give yourself to them." 1031 00:47:44,167 --> 00:47:46,583 And then the letters go out to the seven churches, 1032 00:47:46,667 --> 00:47:48,333 and Jesus says, "Here's where you're at, 1033 00:47:48,417 --> 00:47:49,750 "and here's what you're needing. 1034 00:47:49,833 --> 00:47:52,292 "Pray for this, give for that, serve in this way, 1035 00:47:52,333 --> 00:47:55,667 mature in these areas," because Jesus does love, 1036 00:47:55,750 --> 00:47:59,167 not just us individually, but he loves us, 1037 00:47:59,250 --> 00:48:01,958 the church, collectively. 1038 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:05,833 Now, some of you aren't going to do this. 1039 00:48:05,917 --> 00:48:08,458 You're going to say, "I'm not serving, I'm not worshiping, 1040 00:48:08,500 --> 00:48:12,042 I'm not persevering, I'm not giving," 1041 00:48:12,125 --> 00:48:15,667 because you're afraid, 1042 00:48:15,750 --> 00:48:21,375 because you're afraid, because you have fears. 1043 00:48:21,458 --> 00:48:25,875 Let me ask you some questions, because the last point is, 1044 00:48:25,958 --> 00:48:30,875 "Fear not, for Jesus is with you, and he's with us." 1045 00:48:30,958 --> 00:48:32,333 Let me ask you this question. 1046 00:48:32,417 --> 00:48:34,500 Who are you afraid of? 1047 00:48:34,542 --> 00:48:38,958 See, Jesus compels us toward this amazing vision for life 1048 00:48:39,000 --> 00:48:41,667 individually and collectively, and then some of us would resist 1049 00:48:41,750 --> 00:48:45,292 that or go halfheartedly toward it, because we're afraid, 1050 00:48:45,333 --> 00:48:47,500 quite frankly. 1051 00:48:47,542 --> 00:48:50,792 Who are you afraid of? 1052 00:48:50,833 --> 00:48:53,583 Who are you afraid of? 1053 00:48:53,667 --> 00:48:55,333 "I don't want to upset them. 1054 00:48:55,417 --> 00:48:57,333 "I don't want to have conflict with them. 1055 00:48:57,417 --> 00:49:01,208 I don't want to disappoint them." 1056 00:49:01,292 --> 00:49:06,833 If you fear them, you can't simultaneously fear Jesus, 1057 00:49:06,875 --> 00:49:09,333 respect, and honor, and obey. 1058 00:49:09,375 --> 00:49:10,958 What do you fear? 1059 00:49:11,000 --> 00:49:12,333 What are you afraid of? 1060 00:49:12,417 --> 00:49:13,750 Are you afraid of conflict? 1061 00:49:13,833 --> 00:49:16,292 Are you afraid of what you perceive to be failure? 1062 00:49:16,333 --> 00:49:19,167 Are you afraid of poverty or suffering? 1063 00:49:19,250 --> 00:49:21,667 Are you afraid of criticism or opposition? 1064 00:49:21,750 --> 00:49:26,583 Are you afraid of death? 1065 00:49:26,667 --> 00:49:29,292 How do you respond to fear? 1066 00:49:29,333 --> 00:49:32,958 The doctors tell us, usually, it's fight, flight, or fright. 1067 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:34,958 Some of you are like, "Yeah, I'm afraid, 1068 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:37,083 so I'm going to fight and win!" 1069 00:49:37,167 --> 00:49:39,583 Others of you, "I'm scared, and gonna run, 1070 00:49:39,667 --> 00:49:42,750 avoid all potential conflict or failure." 1071 00:49:42,833 --> 00:49:45,000 Others of you, it's fright. You're just panicked. 1072 00:49:45,042 --> 00:49:48,583 You don't know what to do. You're just stuck. 1073 00:49:48,667 --> 00:49:51,500 And fear in the mind leads to stress in the body. 1074 00:49:51,542 --> 00:49:54,000 It's why the number one category of prescription medication 1075 00:49:54,042 --> 00:49:56,792 in the US is antidepressants. 1076 00:49:56,833 --> 00:49:58,667 People are anxious. They're stressed out. 1077 00:49:58,708 --> 00:50:01,167 This is where you start getting the nervous eye twitch, 1078 00:50:01,208 --> 00:50:02,542 the canker sore. 1079 00:50:02,625 --> 00:50:04,083 This is where you can't sleep. 1080 00:50:04,167 --> 00:50:06,250 This is where you start having heart problems 1081 00:50:06,333 --> 00:50:07,792 or stomach problems. 1082 00:50:07,833 --> 00:50:10,542 This is where you start self-medicating with caffeine, 1083 00:50:10,625 --> 00:50:17,500 junk food, energy drinks, gambling, sex, alcohol, 1084 00:50:17,583 --> 00:50:22,917 whatever it might be. 1085 00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:25,208 How's it going? 1086 00:50:25,292 --> 00:50:26,708 Who are you afraid of? 1087 00:50:26,792 --> 00:50:28,208 What are you afraid of? 1088 00:50:28,292 --> 00:50:29,667 How are you responding? 1089 00:50:29,750 --> 00:50:31,833 What are you doing? 1090 00:50:31,875 --> 00:50:35,875 What happens inevitably is that men manifest this 1091 00:50:35,958 --> 00:50:38,208 externally with anger. 1092 00:50:38,292 --> 00:50:42,583 Women manifest it internally with depression. 1093 00:50:42,667 --> 00:50:48,292 If you have fear, it leads to depression. 1094 00:50:48,333 --> 00:50:51,500 If you're afraid of anyone or anything other than Jesus, 1095 00:50:51,542 --> 00:50:55,833 you're going to be depressed. 1096 00:50:55,875 --> 00:51:02,083 For men, we get angry; for women, they get sad. 1097 00:51:02,167 --> 00:51:05,583 I need you to know that fear is not something to be embraced. 1098 00:51:05,667 --> 00:51:08,083 It's not something to be-- "Well, of course, I'm afraid. 1099 00:51:08,167 --> 00:51:09,583 "This could happen, this could happen. 1100 00:51:09,667 --> 00:51:11,083 "They could react in this way. 1101 00:51:11,167 --> 00:51:12,583 "I could suffer these losses. 1102 00:51:12,667 --> 00:51:15,000 It would all be very difficult." 1103 00:51:15,042 --> 00:51:16,833 Fear is not to be accepted. 1104 00:51:16,875 --> 00:51:18,500 Fear is not to be accommodated. 1105 00:51:18,542 --> 00:51:20,167 Fear is not to be explained. 1106 00:51:20,250 --> 00:51:22,500 Fear is a sin to be repented of. 1107 00:51:22,583 --> 00:51:25,333 Fear of anything or anyone, other than God, 1108 00:51:25,375 --> 00:51:29,000 is a sin to be repented of, because the fear of the Lord is 1109 00:51:29,083 --> 00:51:31,083 the beginning of wisdom. 1110 00:51:31,167 --> 00:51:33,333 Number one: Fear is an attempt at sovereignty. 1111 00:51:33,375 --> 00:51:38,083 "I see and know all, and I'm freaked out." 1112 00:51:38,167 --> 00:51:40,667 You don't see and know all. 1113 00:51:40,750 --> 00:51:43,500 Number two: Fear is vision without God. 1114 00:51:43,583 --> 00:51:45,625 "I see the future. God's not in it. 1115 00:51:45,667 --> 00:51:49,708 God's not for me. God's not going to help me." 1116 00:51:49,792 --> 00:51:53,417 Number three: Fear turns us into false prophets. 1117 00:51:53,500 --> 00:51:58,167 "Oh, I've seen the future, and it's horrendous." 1118 00:51:58,250 --> 00:52:00,833 And number four: Fear preaches a false gospel. 1119 00:52:00,917 --> 00:52:03,958 "Oh, there's a hell out there, I'll be single, I'll be broke, 1120 00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:06,833 "I'll be sick, I'll be suffering, I'll be struggling, 1121 00:52:06,917 --> 00:52:11,000 "all the things that John is enduring. 1122 00:52:11,042 --> 00:52:15,417 "So, there's that hell, that functional, false, fearful hell, 1123 00:52:15,500 --> 00:52:19,417 "and then to get out of it, I need a false, functional savior. 1124 00:52:19,500 --> 00:52:21,417 "So, I need to hold onto my money. 1125 00:52:21,500 --> 00:52:22,917 "I need to control my life. 1126 00:52:23,000 --> 00:52:24,708 "I need to remove myself from community. 1127 00:52:24,792 --> 00:52:26,417 "I need to rebel against authority. 1128 00:52:26,500 --> 00:52:28,708 "I need to sin. I need to self-medicate. 1129 00:52:28,792 --> 00:52:30,625 "I need to self-justify. 1130 00:52:30,667 --> 00:52:32,625 "I need to turn Jesus into a therapist, 1131 00:52:32,667 --> 00:52:35,417 "so I can be glorified. 1132 00:52:35,500 --> 00:52:38,208 "And then I can live in this view of heaven before 1133 00:52:38,292 --> 00:52:41,792 the resurrection, that I have in my imagination." 1134 00:52:41,833 --> 00:52:43,625 And it's all a false gospel. 1135 00:52:43,667 --> 00:52:45,292 Heaven is out there. 1136 00:52:45,333 --> 00:52:46,667 It's the kingdom of God. 1137 00:52:46,750 --> 00:52:48,333 It's the resurrection of the dead. 1138 00:52:48,375 --> 00:52:51,708 Between here and then is tribulation. 1139 00:52:51,792 --> 00:52:55,417 And if you have a false view of hell and a false savior, 1140 00:52:55,500 --> 00:52:59,125 you'll end up saying and doing things whereby you're worshiping 1141 00:52:59,167 --> 00:53:02,833 someone or something to be your functional, false savior, 1142 00:53:02,917 --> 00:53:05,167 deliverer, to make your future better, 1143 00:53:05,208 --> 00:53:08,292 which just means you're trying to be God! 1144 00:53:08,333 --> 00:53:11,000 You're trying to control the future, bless yourself, 1145 00:53:11,042 --> 00:53:14,083 and create a heaven of comfort, convenience, 1146 00:53:14,167 --> 00:53:19,500 that has no place for Christ, and it's fear. 1147 00:53:19,542 --> 00:53:22,292 So, what do you think the number one command is 1148 00:53:22,333 --> 00:53:24,000 in the whole Bible? 1149 00:53:24,083 --> 00:53:26,333 "Fear not!" 1150 00:53:26,375 --> 00:53:30,000 Roughly 150 times, it says, "Fear not." 1151 00:53:30,083 --> 00:53:31,708 And Jesus shows up to John. 1152 00:53:31,792 --> 00:53:33,875 What do you think Jesus tells John? 1153 00:53:33,958 --> 00:53:36,000 I'll read it to you in this book. 1154 00:53:36,083 --> 00:53:41,125 Chapter 1, verse 17, Jesus says to John, 1155 00:53:41,167 --> 00:53:44,125 "Fear not." 1156 00:53:44,167 --> 00:53:46,333 You can hear that in one of two ways. 1157 00:53:46,375 --> 00:53:48,333 You can hear that as an angry command. 1158 00:53:48,375 --> 00:53:51,000 So, God's like furrowed brow, pointy finger. 1159 00:53:51,042 --> 00:53:52,833 "Fear not!" 1160 00:53:52,875 --> 00:53:54,500 That doesn't really help, right? 1161 00:53:54,583 --> 00:53:57,000 "Like, I was scared, and now you're mad at me. 1162 00:53:57,083 --> 00:53:59,208 Now I'm more scared. That did not help." 1163 00:53:59,292 --> 00:54:01,542 It's like your kid gets up at night. 1164 00:54:01,625 --> 00:54:03,292 They had a bad dream. "What happened?" 1165 00:54:03,333 --> 00:54:04,667 "I had a nightmare." 1166 00:54:04,750 --> 00:54:06,083 "Fear not!" 1167 00:54:06,167 --> 00:54:08,083 "Oh, now I've gotta go get new underwear. 1168 00:54:08,167 --> 00:54:09,500 That didn't help anything!" Okay? 1169 00:54:09,542 --> 00:54:11,500 You can hear it as an angry command, 1170 00:54:11,542 --> 00:54:13,792 or you can hear it as a loving invitation, 1171 00:54:13,833 --> 00:54:15,375 because here's what Jesus does. 1172 00:54:15,458 --> 00:54:19,208 He shows up, he puts a hand on John's shoulder, and he says, 1173 00:54:19,292 --> 00:54:21,208 "Fear not." 1174 00:54:21,292 --> 00:54:22,792 And now I've looked at it. 1175 00:54:22,833 --> 00:54:24,583 I've gone from Genesis to Revelation. 1176 00:54:24,667 --> 00:54:27,083 I've gone through every occasion I can find, 1177 00:54:27,167 --> 00:54:29,333 the roughly 150 times in the Bible 1178 00:54:29,375 --> 00:54:31,083 that God says, "Fear not," 1179 00:54:31,167 --> 00:54:33,875 and almost invariably, every single time that God says, 1180 00:54:33,958 --> 00:54:36,333 "Fear not," he says something else that's really important, 1181 00:54:36,375 --> 00:54:39,500 and it changes it from an angry command to a loving invitation. 1182 00:54:39,542 --> 00:54:43,708 He says, "Fear not, for I am with you. 1183 00:54:43,792 --> 00:54:48,208 I'm with you." 1184 00:54:48,292 --> 00:54:50,917 It's like a friend coming along and saying, "Don't be scared. 1185 00:54:51,000 --> 00:54:52,917 "I'm going to go through this with you. 1186 00:54:53,000 --> 00:54:54,667 I'm right here." 1187 00:54:54,750 --> 00:54:56,667 That's what he does with John. 1188 00:54:56,750 --> 00:54:59,333 He shows up, puts a hand on him. 1189 00:54:59,375 --> 00:55:02,667 Let me share with you some of these occasions in Scripture. 1190 00:55:02,750 --> 00:55:05,583 I'll give you a baker's dozen. 1191 00:55:05,667 --> 00:55:08,667 Adam in Genesis 3 says, "I was afraid." 1192 00:55:08,708 --> 00:55:10,167 And then what? 1193 00:55:10,250 --> 00:55:12,167 God comes near. 1194 00:55:12,208 --> 00:55:16,167 God comes to be with him in his fear. 1195 00:55:16,208 --> 00:55:18,375 Abraham in Genesis 15:1, God says, 1196 00:55:18,458 --> 00:55:22,500 "Do not be afraid Abraham-- or Abram--I am your shield." 1197 00:55:22,542 --> 00:55:25,083 "I'm here to protect you." 1198 00:55:25,167 --> 00:55:29,083 We read of Isaac in Genesis 26:24. 1199 00:55:29,167 --> 00:55:31,750 God says, "I am the God of your father Abraham. 1200 00:55:31,833 --> 00:55:37,875 Do not be afraid, for I am with you." 1201 00:55:37,958 --> 00:55:41,292 God says to Jacob in Genesis 28:15, 1202 00:55:41,333 --> 00:55:44,958 "I am with you." 1203 00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:47,792 Moses was afraid in Exodus 33:14, 1204 00:55:47,833 --> 00:55:52,167 and God says, quote, "My presence will go with you." 1205 00:55:52,208 --> 00:55:56,292 Elijah is on a battlefield, a time to fear. 1206 00:55:56,333 --> 00:55:58,792 God says to him in 2 Kings 1:15, 1207 00:55:58,833 --> 00:56:02,917 "Do not be afraid." 1208 00:56:03,000 --> 00:56:08,333 David says it well and legendary, Psalm 23:4, 1209 00:56:08,417 --> 00:56:11,667 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 1210 00:56:11,708 --> 00:56:17,958 I will fear not, for thou art with me." 1211 00:56:19,667 --> 00:56:24,292 King Jehoshaphat on the eve of war in 2 Chronicles 20:17, 1212 00:56:24,333 --> 00:56:26,167 we read, "Do not be afraid. 1213 00:56:26,250 --> 00:56:28,167 "Do not be discouraged. 1214 00:56:28,208 --> 00:56:33,583 Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you." 1215 00:56:33,667 --> 00:56:36,667 Isaiah 41:14, "Do not be afraid," God says, 1216 00:56:36,750 --> 00:56:39,667 "you worm Jacob." 1217 00:56:39,750 --> 00:56:44,083 Any of you realize that a worm is not really 1218 00:56:44,167 --> 00:56:47,667 a warrior kind of created thing? 1219 00:56:47,750 --> 00:56:50,958 A worm doesn't defend itself. 1220 00:56:51,000 --> 00:56:53,375 "Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel. 1221 00:56:53,458 --> 00:56:58,792 Do not fear, for I myself will help you." 1222 00:56:58,833 --> 00:57:02,417 Jeremiah 1:8, Jeremiah has got a hard life as a prophet. 1223 00:57:02,500 --> 00:57:06,542 God says, "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you." 1224 00:57:06,625 --> 00:57:09,667 Daniel 10:12, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. 1225 00:57:09,708 --> 00:57:12,042 I have come." 1226 00:57:12,125 --> 00:57:14,667 Haggai 2:4-5, God says it three times. 1227 00:57:14,708 --> 00:57:16,292 "Be strong! Be strong! 1228 00:57:16,333 --> 00:57:23,083 Be strong, for I am with you, declares the Lord Almighty." 1229 00:57:23,167 --> 00:57:25,500 Do not fear. 1230 00:57:25,542 --> 00:57:27,875 What's holding you back from obeying Jesus? 1231 00:57:27,958 --> 00:57:31,333 All of these things--persevering in Jesus, worshiping Jesus, 1232 00:57:31,417 --> 00:57:35,875 serving Jesus' church--under whatever is holding you back, 1233 00:57:35,958 --> 00:57:39,583 it is fear, and God comes to you and says, "Do not fear. 1234 00:57:39,667 --> 00:57:41,750 I'm with you." 1235 00:57:41,833 --> 00:57:45,375 And he models that, coming to put a hand on his friend, John. 1236 00:57:45,458 --> 00:57:48,167 And Jesus' final words in Matthew 28:20, he says, 1237 00:57:48,250 --> 00:57:53,000 "I am with you always to the very end of the age." 1238 00:57:53,042 --> 00:57:55,542 Don't be afraid. 1239 00:57:55,625 --> 00:57:58,083 Persevere in Jesus. 1240 00:57:58,167 --> 00:57:59,958 Worship Jesus. 1241 00:58:00,083 --> 00:58:01,625 Serve Jesus' church. 1242 00:58:01,667 --> 00:58:03,833 Give to Jesus' church. 1243 00:58:03,875 --> 00:58:05,833 Do not be afraid. 1244 00:58:05,875 --> 00:58:07,208 You say, "Why? 1245 00:58:07,292 --> 00:58:08,958 Because it's all going to be fine?" 1246 00:58:09,000 --> 00:58:10,333 I didn't say that. 1247 00:58:10,417 --> 00:58:11,750 "Because it'll all get better?" 1248 00:58:11,833 --> 00:58:13,167 I'm not promising that. 1249 00:58:13,208 --> 00:58:15,833 Because Jesus is with you. 1250 00:58:15,917 --> 00:58:18,833 And in that way, our life is not tribulation-free, 1251 00:58:18,917 --> 00:58:21,792 but it is tribulation-proof. 1252 00:58:21,833 --> 00:58:24,000 I'll close with an illustration. 1253 00:58:24,042 --> 00:58:26,667 I grew up in South Seattle, next to the airport. 1254 00:58:26,708 --> 00:58:28,042 Our family was poor. 1255 00:58:28,125 --> 00:58:29,458 My dad worked hard. 1256 00:58:29,500 --> 00:58:31,875 And every day, the planes would fly over our house 1257 00:58:31,958 --> 00:58:33,875 and rattle all the windows on our house. 1258 00:58:33,958 --> 00:58:36,667 And I remember, as a little boy, just sitting there, thinking, 1259 00:58:36,708 --> 00:58:38,167 "Wow, I wonder where they're going." 1260 00:58:38,208 --> 00:58:40,167 One time, too, I took our pitching machine, 1261 00:58:40,208 --> 00:58:42,333 and I tried to shoot them down, 1262 00:58:42,417 --> 00:58:44,000 but that's a whole different story. 1263 00:58:44,042 --> 00:58:45,375 I totally did. 1264 00:58:45,458 --> 00:58:47,750 I was like, "I'm going to get an airplane." 1265 00:58:47,833 --> 00:58:50,083 I don't know what I would've done with it, 1266 00:58:50,167 --> 00:58:53,083 but I remember as a little boy watching all the planes fly. 1267 00:58:53,167 --> 00:58:55,583 And I was wondering, "Man, I wonder where they're going. 1268 00:58:55,667 --> 00:58:57,792 "I bet you there's a huge world out there, 1269 00:58:57,833 --> 00:59:00,042 and there's a lot of things to go see." 1270 00:59:00,125 --> 00:59:03,250 So, I would get on my bike, and I would ride miles to 1271 00:59:03,333 --> 00:59:05,750 the library, and I would check out magazines and books, 1272 00:59:05,833 --> 00:59:08,458 as a little boy, and I'm trying to see the world. 1273 00:59:08,500 --> 00:59:10,458 "What's out there? What are the people like? 1274 00:59:10,500 --> 00:59:11,833 What are they doing?" 1275 00:59:11,917 --> 00:59:13,833 I was just so curious about the world. 1276 00:59:13,917 --> 00:59:16,083 The first time I remember getting on an airplane, 1277 00:59:16,167 --> 00:59:17,583 I think I was a teenager. 1278 00:59:17,667 --> 00:59:20,792 I didn't travel much in my whole life until I got into ministry 1279 00:59:20,833 --> 00:59:22,292 and then started getting some invitations. 1280 00:59:22,333 --> 00:59:24,500 And then I started getting invitations to go international 1281 00:59:24,542 --> 00:59:26,000 and to preach, which was amazing. 1282 00:59:26,042 --> 00:59:29,167 And so I got to bring my family on various occasions with me, 1283 00:59:29,250 --> 00:59:33,042 which is a great joy to me, to take my kids to go see the world 1284 00:59:33,125 --> 00:59:34,458 that I've never seen. 1285 00:59:34,500 --> 00:59:37,458 And one of our first trips as a family was to Scotland, 1286 00:59:37,500 --> 00:59:38,833 Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland. 1287 00:59:38,917 --> 00:59:40,250 We were the O'Driscolls. 1288 00:59:40,333 --> 00:59:42,917 We were Irish and some Scottish in us, and I thought, 1289 00:59:43,000 --> 00:59:44,375 "This is going to be amazing!" 1290 00:59:44,458 --> 00:59:45,833 I'm going to go preach, 1291 00:59:45,917 --> 00:59:48,042 and we were invited by a really wonderful pastor 1292 00:59:48,125 --> 00:59:50,250 to have dinner with his family at the old 1293 00:59:50,333 --> 00:59:52,250 William Wallace estate with their home built around 1294 00:59:52,333 --> 00:59:53,750 the old William Wallace fireplace. 1295 00:59:53,833 --> 00:59:55,167 Awesome. 1296 00:59:55,208 --> 00:59:58,167 And I was going to get to go to Saint Giles' Church, 1297 00:59:58,208 --> 01:00:00,667 where John Knox preached, and I was going to learn 1298 01:00:00,708 --> 01:00:02,042 about John Knox. 1299 01:00:02,125 --> 01:00:03,458 He was such a man. 1300 01:00:03,500 --> 01:00:05,167 He was opposed and hated so much, 1301 01:00:05,250 --> 01:00:07,167 he had so much to be afraid of. 1302 01:00:07,250 --> 01:00:09,167 The story is that there was one-handed swords 1303 01:00:09,250 --> 01:00:11,667 and two-handed swords, and he was such a burly dude, 1304 01:00:11,750 --> 01:00:14,167 he could fight with a two-handed sword with one hand. 1305 01:00:14,250 --> 01:00:15,667 That's a pastor. 1306 01:00:15,750 --> 01:00:19,333 So, he would carry a Bible in one hand and a two-handed sword 1307 01:00:19,375 --> 01:00:21,625 in the other on his way to church. 1308 01:00:21,667 --> 01:00:23,625 I mean, there was war around his church. 1309 01:00:23,667 --> 01:00:26,333 We were going to go visit there and where the Scots Confession 1310 01:00:26,375 --> 01:00:28,833 was written by the covenanters and go to the palace. 1311 01:00:28,875 --> 01:00:31,833 And I'm so excited. And I'm selling it to my kids. 1312 01:00:31,875 --> 01:00:34,333 "We're gonna see castles, and history, 1313 01:00:34,375 --> 01:00:36,125 and you're going to learn about sword-fighting." 1314 01:00:36,167 --> 01:00:39,125 And the one kid I thought would be most fired up was 1315 01:00:39,167 --> 01:00:40,500 my youngest son, Gideon. 1316 01:00:40,583 --> 01:00:42,875 He was maybe 2 years old at the time. 1317 01:00:42,958 --> 01:00:45,375 And every time I'd talk about it, he'd be like, 1318 01:00:45,458 --> 01:00:46,875 "I don't want to go." "What?" 1319 01:00:46,958 --> 01:00:48,875 "You're going to meet--you're going to learn about 1320 01:00:48,958 --> 01:00:50,292 "pastors with weapons! 1321 01:00:50,333 --> 01:00:52,500 Like, your whole world is going to come together." 1322 01:00:52,542 --> 01:00:55,625 I mean, this is the kid who walks around just covered 1323 01:00:55,667 --> 01:00:57,625 in swords. 1324 01:00:57,667 --> 01:00:59,083 I thought this would be amazing. 1325 01:00:59,167 --> 01:01:00,583 "No, I don't want to go." 1326 01:01:00,667 --> 01:01:02,083 And so I'd sell it more. 1327 01:01:02,167 --> 01:01:04,292 "No, you don't understand. We're going to see this. 1328 01:01:04,333 --> 01:01:05,667 It's going to be amazing." 1329 01:01:05,750 --> 01:01:08,333 "No, I don't want to go. I don't want to go." 1330 01:01:08,417 --> 01:01:09,875 He'd get really stern about it. 1331 01:01:09,958 --> 01:01:11,292 "No, I said no!" 1332 01:01:11,333 --> 01:01:13,750 "What the--you're two." 1333 01:01:13,833 --> 01:01:16,500 And I couldn't figure out why Gideon didn't want to go 1334 01:01:16,583 --> 01:01:19,125 on this amazing, but difficult 1335 01:01:19,167 --> 01:01:21,667 and a little bit dangerous journey. 1336 01:01:21,750 --> 01:01:23,917 And then I just couldn't figure it out. 1337 01:01:24,000 --> 01:01:26,917 So, one day, we were having this conversation, and I got down, 1338 01:01:27,000 --> 01:01:28,917 and I looked him right in the eye. 1339 01:01:29,000 --> 01:01:31,833 I was like, "Okay, Giddy, we're going to Scotland." 1340 01:01:31,875 --> 01:01:33,500 He's like, "I don't want to go!" 1341 01:01:33,583 --> 01:01:35,208 He started getting really emotional. 1342 01:01:35,292 --> 01:01:37,208 He was afraid. 1343 01:01:37,292 --> 01:01:40,208 I said, "Giddy, Daddy is so excited to take you 1344 01:01:40,292 --> 01:01:41,708 to Scotland." 1345 01:01:41,792 --> 01:01:45,167 He goes, "You're going?" 1346 01:01:48,500 --> 01:01:51,208 I said, "Yeah, I'm going." 1347 01:01:51,292 --> 01:01:53,708 He's like, "Will you be there the whole time?" 1348 01:01:53,792 --> 01:01:56,917 I was like, "Yeah, I'll be there the whole time." 1349 01:01:57,000 --> 01:01:59,125 "So, you've got it all figured out?" 1350 01:01:59,167 --> 01:02:01,958 I was like, "Yeah, I've got it all figured out." 1351 01:02:02,000 --> 01:02:06,792 He was like, "Well, then I want to go to Scotland." 1352 01:02:06,833 --> 01:02:08,833 Yeah. 1353 01:02:08,917 --> 01:02:14,500 And, friends, that's your life. 1354 01:02:14,542 --> 01:02:17,500 Do not be afraid. 1355 01:02:17,542 --> 01:02:20,500 Jesus is with you. 1356 01:02:20,542 --> 01:02:23,417 Jesus is with us. 1357 01:02:23,500 --> 01:02:25,583 He knows what's going to happen. 1358 01:02:25,667 --> 01:02:27,667 He knows where he's taking you. 1359 01:02:27,750 --> 01:02:29,708 He's got it all under control. 1360 01:02:29,792 --> 01:02:31,708 He'll never leave you nor forsake you. 1361 01:02:31,792 --> 01:02:33,917 Amen? 1362 01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:36,417 At this point, we're going to give you an opportunity 1363 01:02:36,500 --> 01:02:37,833 to respond. 1364 01:02:37,875 --> 01:02:40,833 If you're not a Christian, this is where you give your sin 1365 01:02:40,875 --> 01:02:42,208 and your life to Jesus. 1366 01:02:42,292 --> 01:02:43,625 It is about giving. 1367 01:02:43,667 --> 01:02:45,625 Christianity starts with giving your life to Jesus. 1368 01:02:45,667 --> 01:02:48,625 We're going to ask the financial stewards to come forward at this 1369 01:02:48,667 --> 01:02:51,125 point, and we're going to give our tithes and offerings, 1370 01:02:51,167 --> 01:02:54,333 so that Mars Hill will be a great lampstand from which a lot 1371 01:02:54,375 --> 01:02:57,333 of light for Jesus goes forth, a lot of light of Jesus 1372 01:02:57,375 --> 01:02:58,708 goes forth. 1373 01:02:58,792 --> 01:03:00,167 We're going to take Communion. 1374 01:03:00,250 --> 01:03:02,667 As we take Communion, remember the broken body, symbolized in 1375 01:03:02,750 --> 01:03:05,667 the bread, and the shed blood of Jesus, symbolized in the wine. 1376 01:03:05,750 --> 01:03:07,500 And as we partake, we're reminding ourselves 1377 01:03:07,542 --> 01:03:09,083 Jesus is with me. 1378 01:03:09,167 --> 01:03:10,583 Jesus is with us. 1379 01:03:10,667 --> 01:03:13,083 And here's one of the reasons I'm always so excited 1380 01:03:13,167 --> 01:03:14,500 about Mars Hill. 1381 01:03:14,542 --> 01:03:16,500 I get to see what God is doing. 1382 01:03:16,583 --> 01:03:18,708 That's why Jesus shows up, shows John what's happening 1383 01:03:18,792 --> 01:03:20,917 in the churches, so John will be really excited. 1384 01:03:21,000 --> 01:03:23,625 I now have the great honor, as we collect our offering, 1385 01:03:23,667 --> 01:03:26,125 to show you some things that have been going on 1386 01:03:26,167 --> 01:03:27,500 at Mars Hill lately. 1387 01:03:27,583 --> 01:03:29,583 So, here's what Jesus has been doing. 1388 01:03:30,000 --> 01:03:39,000 [music] 1389 01:03:41,750 --> 01:03:45,458 ♪ Oh, great is our God ♪ 1390 01:03:45,500 --> 01:03:52,000 ♪ So we should worship greatly ♪ 1391 01:03:53,333 --> 01:03:57,375 ♪ No song is too loud ♪ 1392 01:03:57,458 --> 01:04:03,000 ♪ No orchestra too stately ♪ 1393 01:04:04,333 --> 01:04:09,542 ♪ To hail the majesty of our King ♪ 1394 01:04:09,625 --> 01:04:16,333 ♪ So lift your voices loud as we sing ♪ 1395 01:04:16,417 --> 01:04:20,583 ♪ Oh, great is our God ♪ 1396 01:04:20,667 --> 01:04:26,167 ♪ So let our songs be endless ♪ 1397 01:04:28,333 --> 01:04:32,375 ♪ So awesome his ways ♪ 1398 01:04:32,458 --> 01:04:38,875 ♪ How could we comprehend them ♪ 1399 01:04:38,958 --> 01:04:44,667 ♪ So we will make it known to our kids ♪ 1400 01:04:44,750 --> 01:04:48,375 ♪ And we will sing about ♪ 1401 01:04:48,458 --> 01:04:53,042 ♪ The gracious gifts you give ♪ 1402 01:04:53,125 --> 01:04:58,875 ♪ We will sing your praise ♪ 1403 01:04:58,958 --> 01:05:04,667 ♪ And pour forth your fame ♪ 1404 01:05:04,708 --> 01:05:10,333 ♪ We will bless your name ♪ 1405 01:05:10,417 --> 01:05:13,542 ♪ Let everyone give thanks ♪ 1406 01:05:13,625 --> 01:05:16,750 ♪ Because our God is great ♪ 1407 01:05:16,833 --> 01:05:20,708 ♪ Oh, great is our God ♪ 1408 01:05:20,792 --> 01:05:25,292 ♪ And we cannot contain it ♪ 1409 01:05:28,125 --> 01:05:32,333 ♪ We sing from our souls ♪ 1410 01:05:32,417 --> 01:05:39,042 ♪ Affected by his greatness ♪ 1411 01:05:39,125 --> 01:05:44,667 ♪ His mercy covers all that he's made ♪ 1412 01:05:44,708 --> 01:05:50,167 ♪ Showing his glory and his grace ♪ 1413 01:05:50,208 --> 01:05:55,917 ♪ We will sing your praise ♪ 1414 01:05:56,000 --> 01:06:01,583 ♪ And pour forth your fame ♪ 1415 01:06:01,667 --> 01:06:07,208 ♪ We will bless your name ♪ 1416 01:06:07,292 --> 01:06:10,625 ♪ Let everyone give thanks ♪ 1417 01:06:10,667 --> 01:06:13,250 ♪ Because our God is great ♪ 1418 01:06:13,333 --> 01:06:19,458 ♪ We will sing your praise ♪ 1419 01:06:19,500 --> 01:06:25,333 ♪ And pour forth your fame ♪ 1420 01:06:25,375 --> 01:06:30,625 ♪ We will bless your name ♪ 1421 01:06:30,667 --> 01:06:33,667 ♪ Let everyone give thanks ♪ 1422 01:06:33,708 --> 01:06:37,042 ♪ Because our God is great ♪ 1423 01:06:37,125 --> 01:06:42,708 ♪ We will sing your praise ♪ 1424 01:06:42,792 --> 01:06:48,542 ♪ And pour forth your fame ♪ 1425 01:06:48,625 --> 01:06:54,250 ♪ We will bless your name ♪ 1426 01:06:54,333 --> 01:06:57,333 ♪ Let everyone give thanks ♪ 1427 01:06:57,417 --> 01:07:01,083 ♪ Because our God is great ♪♪