1 00:00:01,310 --> 00:00:03,730 Welcome to From the Pulpit and Classic Sermons. 2 00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:05,910 Each week we bring you a different message 3 00:00:05,910 --> 00:00:07,710 from some of history's greatest speakers in the 4 00:00:07,710 --> 00:00:10,470 Christian faith and powerful sermons for modern preachers, 5 00:00:10,670 --> 00:00:10,770 too. 6 00:00:11,210 --> 00:00:13,370 This week we have Art Katz with his 7 00:00:13,370 --> 00:00:14,970 message, Man's Petty Kingdom. 8 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:20,240 Well, I want to take you this morning 9 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:20,780 to a river. 10 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,260 I took you the other day to a 11 00:00:23,260 --> 00:00:23,540 mountain. 12 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,940 It's that famous Jordan, which is ever and 13 00:00:27,940 --> 00:00:31,820 always the profound place of choice and of 14 00:00:31,820 --> 00:00:32,220 crossing. 15 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,060 And before I read from it, I just 16 00:00:37,060 --> 00:00:39,480 want to read that paean of praise to 17 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:41,020 the church that is given us in the 18 00:00:41,020 --> 00:00:41,560 book of Hebrews. 19 00:00:43,460 --> 00:00:46,000 Don't turn, just listen to the amplified rendering. 20 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,180 But rather, it begins. 21 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,100 You've not been called to the old time 22 00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:56,080 religion and to the revival of the things 23 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,800 that titillate your soul because they're couched in 24 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,580 the things that are familiar and the sentiment 25 00:01:01,580 --> 00:01:02,060 of old. 26 00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:05,860 And you're not called to the worldly wisdom 27 00:01:05,860 --> 00:01:13,300 of men and their diagnostic helps for your 28 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:13,960 church growth. 29 00:01:14,420 --> 00:01:18,080 But rather, you have approached unto Mount Zion, 30 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:20,640 even to the city of the living God, 31 00:01:21,260 --> 00:01:24,580 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of 32 00:01:24,580 --> 00:01:26,100 angels in festal gathering. 33 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:32,830 And to the church, the assembly of the 34 00:01:32,830 --> 00:01:37,230 firstborn who are registered as citizens in heaven. 35 00:01:38,570 --> 00:01:40,970 That's far more than Christian respectability. 36 00:01:42,130 --> 00:01:43,890 And to the judge who is God of 37 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:45,330 all and to the spirits of the righteous 38 00:01:45,330 --> 00:01:49,010 who have been made perfect. 39 00:01:50,450 --> 00:01:52,930 This is evidently then something more than Sunday 40 00:01:52,930 --> 00:01:53,370 church. 41 00:01:54,490 --> 00:01:56,870 It's evidently a suggestion of a far more 42 00:01:56,870 --> 00:02:00,510 intensive quality of relationship where the spirits of 43 00:02:00,510 --> 00:02:03,430 just men can be made perfect that they 44 00:02:03,430 --> 00:02:05,390 might be citizens in heaven. 45 00:02:06,870 --> 00:02:09,949 And to Jesus, the mediator of a new 46 00:02:09,949 --> 00:02:10,390 covenant. 47 00:02:11,410 --> 00:02:14,170 So see to it that you do not 48 00:02:14,170 --> 00:02:16,550 reject him or refuse to listen and to 49 00:02:16,550 --> 00:02:19,090 heed him who is speaking to you now. 50 00:02:21,420 --> 00:02:24,280 My prayer this morning, especially, and in these 51 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:25,720 days in general, has been this. 52 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:28,540 That I might be to him as a 53 00:02:28,540 --> 00:02:29,940 mouth for you. 54 00:02:34,580 --> 00:02:36,440 For if they, the Israelites, did not escape 55 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,160 when they refused to listen and heed him 56 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,240 who warned and divinely instructed them here on 57 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,980 earth, revealing with heavenly warnings his will, how 58 00:02:43,980 --> 00:02:46,280 much less shall we escape if we reject 59 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,720 and turn our backs on him who cautions 60 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,240 and admonishes us from heaven. 61 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,960 Then as Sinai has worshipped the earth, but 62 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,720 now he has given a promise yet once 63 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,800 more, will I shake and make tremble not 64 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,440 only the earth but also the heavens. 65 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,120 Now this expression yet once more indicates the 66 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,840 final removal and transformation of all that can 67 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:08,380 be shaken. 68 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:10,860 That is of that which has been created 69 00:03:10,860 --> 00:03:13,220 in order that that which cannot be shaken 70 00:03:13,220 --> 00:03:15,360 may remain and continue. 71 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:20,340 May I prophesy that if you have not 72 00:03:20,340 --> 00:03:23,160 experienced yet a shaking individually and in your 73 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,780 churches and throughout your movement, that you shall. 74 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,260 And that these speakings have been the beginning 75 00:03:30,260 --> 00:03:31,240 of shakings. 76 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,760 For God will not allow to remain that 77 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:35,780 which cannot remain. 78 00:03:36,660 --> 00:03:40,340 All that is earthly, all that has its 79 00:03:40,340 --> 00:03:45,260 origin in human initiative and in sentiment and 80 00:03:45,260 --> 00:03:48,800 in tradition, however hallowed and however dear, is 81 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,920 going to be crumbled and brought into the 82 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:51,200 dust. 83 00:03:53,620 --> 00:03:54,560 Mark those words. 84 00:03:55,380 --> 00:03:58,880 We're going to see movements collapse, stagger, sway 85 00:03:58,880 --> 00:03:59,620 and fall. 86 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,700 We're going to see the most lustrous charismatic 87 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:06,960 churches and great multi-million dollar plants be 88 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:08,540 terrible stigmas. 89 00:04:10,180 --> 00:04:14,160 Empty houses, unable to pay their mortgages and 90 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,500 to save themselves from their financial indebtedness who 91 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:19,240 are carried off by the fever of the 92 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,520 hour in great building promotions. 93 00:04:22,940 --> 00:04:25,000 We're going to see some of the glossiest 94 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,960 and snazziest of present day ministries turn to 95 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:29,280 dust. 96 00:04:31,260 --> 00:04:33,560 There's only one thing that will survive the 97 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:33,940 shaking. 98 00:04:34,740 --> 00:04:37,140 It's a kingdom that is firm and stable 99 00:04:37,140 --> 00:04:38,860 that cannot be shaken. 100 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,160 So offer to God pleasing service and acceptable 101 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,900 worship with modesty and pious care and godly 102 00:04:46,900 --> 00:04:49,600 fear and awe for our God is indeed 103 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,180 a consuming fire. 104 00:04:53,870 --> 00:04:55,670 With that admonition will you turn with me 105 00:04:55,670 --> 00:04:57,290 to the first chapter of the Gospel of 106 00:04:57,290 --> 00:04:57,550 John? 107 00:05:06,150 --> 00:05:09,070 I can't think of a heavier imperative for 108 00:05:09,070 --> 00:05:10,810 the church of Jesus Christ and the earth 109 00:05:10,810 --> 00:05:15,930 today than the incarnation of God in them. 110 00:05:16,570 --> 00:05:21,450 The mystery of God which is His deity, 111 00:05:22,050 --> 00:05:25,750 His heavenly glory revealed through flesh. 112 00:05:29,460 --> 00:05:33,200 That's much more than being correct, scripturally sound 113 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:36,900 and respectable. 114 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:39,280 It's a glory. 115 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:40,820 The phenomenon is a glory. 116 00:05:42,380 --> 00:05:44,400 And no man has seen God at any 117 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:44,740 time. 118 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,100 But the only unique begotten Son which is 119 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:51,540 in the bosom of the Father, He has 120 00:05:51,540 --> 00:05:52,240 revealed Him. 121 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,540 God will not do anything outside His Son. 122 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:56,400 I want to tell you that. 123 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,320 If your movement is not in His Son 124 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,740 and His Son is not in your movement, 125 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,700 you shall be outside the holy end time 126 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:07,780 purposes of God. 127 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,880 You may make a sound, you may have 128 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,240 your activity and your programs, but it counts 129 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,220 for nothing that is eternal. 130 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,420 Only the Son which is in the bosom 131 00:06:20,420 --> 00:06:23,540 of the Father, not in tradition, not in 132 00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:26,660 respectability, not in human wisdom and devices and 133 00:06:26,660 --> 00:06:28,860 programs and methodologies, but in the bosom of 134 00:06:28,860 --> 00:06:31,520 the Father, in the heavenly place, He shall 135 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:32,080 reveal Him. 136 00:06:32,820 --> 00:06:37,800 My Jewish life was confronted and stopped short 137 00:06:38,570 --> 00:06:41,120 when I beheld in a simple Gentile girl 138 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,540 whom I should have disdained and utterly cast 139 00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:48,920 aside as not worthy of my attention the 140 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,980 light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory 141 00:06:50,980 --> 00:06:52,080 of the people of Israel. 142 00:06:53,060 --> 00:06:57,260 In her simplicity and in her transparency, God 143 00:06:57,260 --> 00:06:58,180 was in her face. 144 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:03,080 And the word, it says in the 14th 145 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:04,400 verse, became flesh. 146 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,120 Human and incarnate and tabernacled fixed His tent 147 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,700 and lived a while among us and we 148 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:14,940 actually saw His glory, His honor, His majesty, 149 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:17,260 such glory as an only begotten Son receives 150 00:07:17,260 --> 00:07:21,040 from His Father, full of grace and truth. 151 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,880 My only regret is I've not been able 152 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,560 to speak to you on truth. 153 00:07:31,700 --> 00:07:35,120 It's full or it's not the Son. 154 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,920 It's full of truth and grace or it's 155 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,080 not the Son who is in the bosom 156 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:39,520 of the Father. 157 00:07:40,380 --> 00:07:44,640 If you're making polite references, that soothes and 158 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,180 smooths the situation over, but it's not true. 159 00:07:48,380 --> 00:07:50,780 It's no longer full of grace and truth. 160 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:53,140 It's no longer the Son in the bosom 161 00:07:53,140 --> 00:07:55,200 of the Father and there's no longer the 162 00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:01,380 revelation of the Word made flesh which alone 163 00:08:01,380 --> 00:08:02,900 can save men out of death. 164 00:08:03,780 --> 00:08:08,570 You can have all your evangelistic programs, but 165 00:08:08,570 --> 00:08:10,570 you need to be full of grace and 166 00:08:10,570 --> 00:08:10,930 truth. 167 00:08:13,330 --> 00:08:15,050 John testified about Him and cried out, This 168 00:08:15,050 --> 00:08:17,390 is He of whom I said, He that 169 00:08:17,390 --> 00:08:20,610 comes after me has priority over me, for 170 00:08:20,610 --> 00:08:22,410 He was before me and He takes rank 171 00:08:22,410 --> 00:08:24,910 above me and He existed before I did. 172 00:08:25,810 --> 00:08:29,030 How we need to parrot that cry. 173 00:08:29,650 --> 00:08:31,650 Do you realize that there's one who has 174 00:08:31,650 --> 00:08:32,809 priority over you? 175 00:08:33,530 --> 00:08:35,530 And who takes rank over you? 176 00:08:37,150 --> 00:08:38,669 I'll tell you that if I would just 177 00:08:38,669 --> 00:08:40,750 summarize the whole issue at the end of 178 00:08:40,750 --> 00:08:41,669 the age, it's this. 179 00:08:43,010 --> 00:08:46,750 It's the petty kingdoms of men versus the 180 00:08:46,750 --> 00:08:48,450 kingdom of God. 181 00:08:49,510 --> 00:08:51,490 It is the kingdom of heaven. 182 00:08:52,750 --> 00:08:55,310 It has priority over you and it takes 183 00:08:55,310 --> 00:08:56,410 rank over you. 184 00:08:57,130 --> 00:08:58,730 Have you seen that and have you acknowledged 185 00:08:58,730 --> 00:08:59,070 that? 186 00:09:03,460 --> 00:09:05,900 Out of His fullness we all received and 187 00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:07,800 had a share and were all supplied with 188 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,640 one grace after another and spiritual blessing, gift 189 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:12,320 upon gift. 190 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,920 For the law was given through Moses, but 191 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,100 grace, favor and spiritual blessing and truth came 192 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:19,060 through Jesus Christ. 193 00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:21,180 No man has seen God at any time. 194 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,660 The only unique Son, the only begotten Son 195 00:09:23,660 --> 00:09:25,240 who is in the bosom, that is in 196 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,560 the intimate presence of the Father, He has 197 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:29,980 declared Him, He has revealed Him, brought Him 198 00:09:29,980 --> 00:09:31,220 out where He can be seen. 199 00:09:31,220 --> 00:09:34,140 He has interpreted Him, He has made Him 200 00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:34,480 known. 201 00:09:35,420 --> 00:09:37,500 God will not do anything outside of the 202 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:38,740 Son that reveals the Father. 203 00:09:39,860 --> 00:09:41,320 And the question is this. 204 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:43,440 Are you in the Son? 205 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:46,420 Are you in the glory of what God 206 00:09:46,420 --> 00:09:49,060 is establishing now in these end times in 207 00:09:49,060 --> 00:09:49,460 the earth? 208 00:09:50,180 --> 00:09:51,440 The body of Christ. 209 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:54,220 I'm not impressed that you can use the 210 00:09:54,220 --> 00:09:54,900 phrase glibly. 211 00:09:55,940 --> 00:09:58,200 I'm only impressed with the actuality. 212 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:00,540 But I'll tell you, to be in this 213 00:10:00,540 --> 00:10:02,980 requires a coming out of something else. 214 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,640 You cannot come into this Son with all 215 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,040 of your trappings and all of your own 216 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:10,080 vested interests. 217 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,140 There's no place for that in the bosom 218 00:10:13,140 --> 00:10:13,740 of the Father. 219 00:10:17,490 --> 00:10:19,250 And this is the testimony of John when 220 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:20,970 the Jews sent priests and Levites to him 221 00:10:20,970 --> 00:10:22,570 from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? 222 00:10:23,230 --> 00:10:27,230 He was this ungainly character, sounding off in 223 00:10:27,230 --> 00:10:31,810 his shrill way, in that muddy place in 224 00:10:31,810 --> 00:10:32,930 the Jordan, in the wilderness. 225 00:10:34,670 --> 00:10:35,310 An offense. 226 00:10:36,210 --> 00:10:37,890 He confessed and admitted the truth and did 227 00:10:37,890 --> 00:10:39,490 not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I'm 228 00:10:39,490 --> 00:10:40,090 not the Christ. 229 00:10:40,870 --> 00:10:41,850 And they asked him, What then? 230 00:10:41,870 --> 00:10:42,410 Are you alive? 231 00:10:42,490 --> 00:10:43,130 He said, I'm not. 232 00:10:43,210 --> 00:10:43,810 Are you the prophet? 233 00:10:43,910 --> 00:10:44,450 He answered, No. 234 00:10:45,070 --> 00:10:46,390 Then they said to him, Well, who are 235 00:10:46,390 --> 00:10:46,510 you? 236 00:10:46,570 --> 00:10:47,590 Tell us so that we may give an 237 00:10:47,590 --> 00:10:48,870 answer to them that sent us. 238 00:10:49,090 --> 00:10:50,270 What do you say about yourself? 239 00:10:51,630 --> 00:10:53,130 He said, I'm the voice of one crying 240 00:10:53,130 --> 00:10:54,690 aloud in the wilderness, the voice of one 241 00:10:54,690 --> 00:10:55,470 shouting in the desert. 242 00:10:55,650 --> 00:10:56,890 Prepare the way of the Lord. 243 00:10:57,530 --> 00:10:58,950 Straighten out the path of the Lord, as 244 00:10:58,950 --> 00:11:00,810 the prophet Isaiah said. 245 00:11:01,390 --> 00:11:04,350 The messengers, it says in the 24th verse, 246 00:11:04,790 --> 00:11:06,510 had been sent from the Pharisees. 247 00:11:07,370 --> 00:11:08,570 And they asked him, Why then are you 248 00:11:08,570 --> 00:11:10,530 baptizing, if you're not Christ, nor Elijah, nor 249 00:11:10,530 --> 00:11:10,890 the prophet? 250 00:11:11,510 --> 00:11:15,370 John answered them, I only baptize in water, 251 00:11:15,890 --> 00:11:18,110 but among you there stands one whom you 252 00:11:18,110 --> 00:11:20,790 do not recognize, and with whom you are 253 00:11:20,790 --> 00:11:23,870 not acquainted, and of whom you know nothing. 254 00:11:26,630 --> 00:11:29,090 These things occurred in Bethany, across the Jordan, 255 00:11:29,530 --> 00:11:31,050 where John was then baptizing. 256 00:11:31,930 --> 00:11:33,250 Can you picture the scene, folks? 257 00:11:34,950 --> 00:11:43,570 Pathetic prophet, ungainly, and unattractive, creating some kind 258 00:11:43,570 --> 00:11:47,310 of ruckus in that distant wilderness place outside 259 00:11:47,310 --> 00:11:47,870 of Jerusalem. 260 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,580 It's a Jerusalem which has been abandoned of 261 00:11:52,580 --> 00:11:52,940 God. 262 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,260 It is no longer the holy city. 263 00:11:57,150 --> 00:11:59,870 It's a city whose wine has turned to 264 00:11:59,870 --> 00:12:01,470 water, and it's silver to dross. 265 00:12:02,530 --> 00:12:05,310 The city of righteousness has become the city 266 00:12:05,310 --> 00:12:05,950 of harlots. 267 00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:09,470 And such a phenomenon does not take place 268 00:12:09,470 --> 00:12:10,030 in a day. 269 00:12:10,770 --> 00:12:12,550 It's a gradual erosion. 270 00:12:14,410 --> 00:12:17,590 And usually, those who are there are unwary 271 00:12:18,010 --> 00:12:18,910 and unseeing. 272 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:23,610 The temple still stands, but the Shekinah glory 273 00:12:23,610 --> 00:12:25,610 of God has long since departed. 274 00:12:26,530 --> 00:12:30,570 There are still priests, but they're flunkies and 275 00:12:30,570 --> 00:12:35,210 functionaries sent by the Pharisees to inquire of 276 00:12:35,210 --> 00:12:37,750 what is that ungainly thing taking place in 277 00:12:37,750 --> 00:12:40,790 the muddy Jordan, at a spot just before 278 00:12:40,790 --> 00:12:42,550 it empties out into the Dead Sea. 279 00:12:43,990 --> 00:12:46,450 I had that kind of strange sense this 280 00:12:46,450 --> 00:12:50,030 morning that this is where we stand now, 281 00:12:50,190 --> 00:12:52,290 spiritually speaking, at this point of time. 282 00:12:53,730 --> 00:12:56,470 There's something that is happening outside your Jerusalem, 283 00:12:57,370 --> 00:12:59,290 outside your religious establishment. 284 00:13:00,910 --> 00:13:01,710 Have you seen it? 285 00:13:02,750 --> 00:13:04,830 There are only two classes of people that 286 00:13:04,830 --> 00:13:07,250 were there at that point in time then, 287 00:13:07,630 --> 00:13:09,430 and there are only two classes of people 288 00:13:09,430 --> 00:13:09,890 now. 289 00:13:13,210 --> 00:13:17,150 The first is indignant, suspicious, and somewhat hostile, 290 00:13:17,390 --> 00:13:20,190 or at best, curious, mildly, to see what's 291 00:13:20,190 --> 00:13:20,870 going on. 292 00:13:21,390 --> 00:13:23,570 Men who have been sent by the Pharisees, 293 00:13:23,950 --> 00:13:27,450 not by God, to inquire what's going on 294 00:13:27,450 --> 00:13:27,710 here. 295 00:13:27,870 --> 00:13:30,070 How dare anything go on outside our Jerusalem? 296 00:13:37,030 --> 00:13:39,450 Of these, John the Baptist said to them, 297 00:13:40,370 --> 00:13:42,790 there's one here whom you do not recognize 298 00:13:42,790 --> 00:13:45,010 and with whom you're not acquainted and of 299 00:13:45,010 --> 00:13:45,930 whom you know nothing. 300 00:13:47,590 --> 00:13:50,850 John himself was not able to discern and 301 00:13:50,850 --> 00:13:52,550 to see him and to realize who this 302 00:13:52,550 --> 00:13:55,510 son was, except that he would glimpse him 303 00:13:55,510 --> 00:13:58,190 in the waters of repentance and separation. 304 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:03,040 I'm not impressed with the glib and cheap 305 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,340 and easy unctuous mouthings of the phrase, Body 306 00:14:06,340 --> 00:14:11,980 of Christ, which is the corporate, many-membered 307 00:14:11,980 --> 00:14:15,980 Son that shall reveal the Father, which is 308 00:14:15,980 --> 00:14:19,920 the Church of the Firstborn, the Zion of 309 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,660 God, the New Jerusalem, the Heavenly City. 310 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:25,900 Have you really seen it by revelation? 311 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,760 In the scene that changes everything, there's only 312 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,360 one place that you can discern it. 313 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:34,680 It's in the waters of separation. 314 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,820 The radical descent into death, which the Jordan 315 00:14:39,820 --> 00:14:40,260 is. 316 00:14:41,780 --> 00:14:43,340 And I'll tell you that by the eye 317 00:14:43,340 --> 00:14:46,040 of God, there are only two classes of 318 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:46,300 men. 319 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,460 Those who sense their woeful and terrible inadequacy. 320 00:14:51,540 --> 00:14:55,980 Those whose hearts are burning because they're discontent 321 00:14:55,980 --> 00:14:56,800 with mere religion. 322 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,420 In whose heart there's a cry for the 323 00:15:00,420 --> 00:15:02,900 coming of the Lord in fullness and in 324 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:03,220 glory. 325 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:05,940 And we stand again historically at such a 326 00:15:05,940 --> 00:15:06,200 time. 327 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:08,900 The soon coming of the Lord. 328 00:15:10,180 --> 00:15:12,020 And there's again a place where God is 329 00:15:12,020 --> 00:15:16,000 bidding men to repent of their vested self 330 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:21,280 -interest, of their fierce and intense personal ambitions, 331 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:26,200 of their own desires for the future, of 332 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,220 all of the welter of things that pertain 333 00:15:28,220 --> 00:15:31,360 to their religion and to their Jerusalem. 334 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,680 And to come out of that and to 335 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,000 come and to humble themselves in that muddy 336 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,400 place and enter the waters of radical separation 337 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:45,180 from selfishness, from ambition, from power, from the 338 00:15:45,180 --> 00:15:47,460 love of prestige and the esteem of men, 339 00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:50,980 that they might glimpse a son who is 340 00:15:50,980 --> 00:15:52,600 being brought forth and to whom they can 341 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,600 be joined in those self-same waters. 342 00:15:57,960 --> 00:15:59,480 One whom you've not recognized. 343 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,900 One with whom you're not acquainted and one 344 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:04,720 of whom you know nothing. 345 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:10,320 I'll tell you if you'll not enter the 346 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,500 waters at this time, for there's certainly a 347 00:16:12,500 --> 00:16:13,340 timing of God. 348 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,320 Had they known the time of their visitation, 349 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,500 Jesus wept as he looked upon Jerusalem on 350 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:20,320 his way to the cross. 351 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,380 I believe that these days have been a 352 00:16:24,380 --> 00:16:26,560 time of visitation for your denomination. 353 00:16:28,100 --> 00:16:29,960 That if you'll not enter the waters of 354 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,580 separation, think of what it will cost you 355 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,140 who love the fraternity of like-minded men, 356 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,040 who are presidents of institutions and heads of 357 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:42,800 denominations. 358 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,860 How scintillating and intoxicating and heady it all 359 00:16:46,860 --> 00:16:47,260 is. 360 00:16:50,380 --> 00:16:52,400 How full of things that are pompous and 361 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,700 earthly, worldly. 362 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,640 That which is esteemed of men is abomination 363 00:16:58,640 --> 00:16:59,720 in the sight of God. 364 00:17:03,380 --> 00:17:04,700 I'll tell you if you might enter these 365 00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:08,240 waters here now, they'll flow into the Dead 366 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,599 Sea and your denomination with them. 367 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,380 You're at a fierce and severe radical moment 368 00:17:15,380 --> 00:17:21,190 of choice and it behooves you to see 369 00:17:21,190 --> 00:17:23,390 who is being brought out of these waters. 370 00:17:23,829 --> 00:17:27,450 That is God's end time instrument for the 371 00:17:27,450 --> 00:17:30,410 revealing of himself to men before the day 372 00:17:30,410 --> 00:17:32,050 of his judgment shall come. 373 00:17:33,010 --> 00:17:34,690 The son who is in the idealism of 374 00:17:34,690 --> 00:17:37,170 the father, he'll not do anything outside that 375 00:17:37,170 --> 00:17:37,410 son. 376 00:17:38,790 --> 00:17:41,270 He has priority over us and rank over 377 00:17:41,270 --> 00:17:41,630 us. 378 00:17:42,530 --> 00:17:45,870 Over our denominations, over our interests, over our 379 00:17:45,870 --> 00:17:47,350 individual churches and careers. 380 00:17:48,850 --> 00:17:51,790 Only in him shall the glory of God 381 00:17:51,790 --> 00:17:52,490 be revealed. 382 00:17:53,750 --> 00:17:56,210 A son that shall receive the spirit of 383 00:17:56,210 --> 00:17:59,930 God without measure and enter the familiar synagogues 384 00:17:59,930 --> 00:18:02,430 that have long ignored him and look up 385 00:18:02,430 --> 00:18:04,590 in stark amazement at the power and the 386 00:18:04,590 --> 00:18:06,670 authority at which he shall speak under that 387 00:18:06,670 --> 00:18:07,030 spirit. 388 00:18:07,690 --> 00:18:09,290 For the spirit of God shall be upon 389 00:18:09,290 --> 00:18:12,870 him for he hath anointed him to open 390 00:18:12,870 --> 00:18:15,690 the eyes of the blind, to set the 391 00:18:15,690 --> 00:18:18,790 captives free, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim 392 00:18:18,790 --> 00:18:21,210 the acceptable year of the Lord and the 393 00:18:21,210 --> 00:18:23,150 day of his soon coming wrath. 394 00:18:24,350 --> 00:18:28,010 How dare we think to conclude the messianic 395 00:18:28,010 --> 00:18:30,730 task except by the spirit of God without 396 00:18:30,730 --> 00:18:33,210 measure which is given only to a son. 397 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,380 This is he of whom I said, after 398 00:18:39,380 --> 00:18:41,500 me comes a man who has priority over 399 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:43,940 me, who takes rank above me because he 400 00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:46,100 was before me and existed before I did, 401 00:18:46,180 --> 00:18:48,520 before old time religion he was. 402 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:50,500 And at the end of the age he 403 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:50,980 shall be. 404 00:18:51,740 --> 00:18:53,020 And I did not know him and did 405 00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:54,240 not recognize him myself. 406 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:56,520 It wasn't because I was a long time 407 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,760 Pentecostal or I was even related to him 408 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,240 that I was able to recognize him. 409 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,140 But in order that he should be made 410 00:19:03,140 --> 00:19:08,120 manifest and be revealed to Israel, be brought 411 00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:09,840 out where we can see him that I 412 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,700 came baptizing in water. 413 00:19:13,020 --> 00:19:15,640 It's only the place of repentance that reveals 414 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:16,080 the son. 415 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:22,540 For as many who will not be content 416 00:19:22,540 --> 00:19:25,980 to stand on the bank as the curious 417 00:19:25,980 --> 00:19:28,900 or the indignant but will come as the 418 00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:31,400 broken and the contrite to enter the waters 419 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:32,680 of radical separation. 420 00:19:36,310 --> 00:19:38,570 John gave further evidence saying, I've seen the 421 00:19:38,570 --> 00:19:40,510 spirit descending as a dove out of heaven 422 00:19:40,510 --> 00:19:42,470 and it dwelt on him not to depart. 423 00:19:43,950 --> 00:19:45,610 And I did not know him nor recognize 424 00:19:45,610 --> 00:19:47,330 him but he who sent me to baptize 425 00:19:47,330 --> 00:19:48,730 in water said to me, upon whom you 426 00:19:48,730 --> 00:19:51,370 shall see the spirit descend and remain, that 427 00:19:51,370 --> 00:19:52,090 one is he. 428 00:19:53,270 --> 00:19:54,990 And I've seen that happen, I actually did 429 00:19:54,990 --> 00:19:57,850 see it and my testimony is that this 430 00:19:58,550 --> 00:20:00,450 is the son of God. 431 00:20:02,630 --> 00:20:03,970 You should be patient with me this morning, 432 00:20:04,070 --> 00:20:07,050 I just want to make one reference to 433 00:20:07,050 --> 00:20:11,550 another critical time at the Jordan when God 434 00:20:11,550 --> 00:20:13,270 again called the people to choice. 435 00:20:13,770 --> 00:20:16,770 It's in Joshua the third chapter, when a 436 00:20:16,770 --> 00:20:19,210 people had been stumbling about, if you will, 437 00:20:19,310 --> 00:20:22,950 in a religious wilderness forty years, a time 438 00:20:22,950 --> 00:20:23,490 of judgment. 439 00:20:24,930 --> 00:20:30,440 And the hour had come to cross and 440 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,740 God said and commanded the people saying when 441 00:20:33,740 --> 00:20:35,280 you see the ark of the covenant of 442 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:36,740 the Lord your God and the priest of 443 00:20:36,740 --> 00:20:39,360 Levites bearing it, you shall remove from your 444 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:40,680 place and go after it. 445 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:43,360 Come not near unto it that you may 446 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:44,780 know the way by which you must go 447 00:20:44,780 --> 00:20:47,380 for you have not passed this way heretofore. 448 00:20:50,380 --> 00:20:52,680 God intimated some things to you that pertain 449 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,300 to the kingdom and of course within the 450 00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:58,680 purview of a morning speaking time he could 451 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,560 not disclose details. 452 00:21:01,540 --> 00:21:03,880 But how few of you were interested sufficiently 453 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,040 to pursue me and to inquire. 454 00:21:08,130 --> 00:21:11,030 You have not been this way heretofore and 455 00:21:11,030 --> 00:21:13,390 you shall have no knowledge of what remains 456 00:21:13,390 --> 00:21:16,670 on the other side except that you can 457 00:21:16,670 --> 00:21:18,970 enjoy the apprehension and the fear and the 458 00:21:18,970 --> 00:21:21,950 tremblings which are right because on the other 459 00:21:21,950 --> 00:21:25,270 side is that final showdown with the powers 460 00:21:25,270 --> 00:21:29,940 and the principalities of the Gilgashites and the 461 00:21:29,940 --> 00:21:34,140 Amorites and the Hivites the Canaanites cities which 462 00:21:34,140 --> 00:21:36,180 have ever and always been opposed to the 463 00:21:36,180 --> 00:21:37,500 spirit of God and to his people. 464 00:21:38,580 --> 00:21:40,580 That final battle in the taking of the 465 00:21:40,580 --> 00:21:43,180 land that on his holy hill his temple 466 00:21:43,700 --> 00:21:45,940 may be established and the glory of that 467 00:21:45,940 --> 00:21:47,940 house shall be greater than the former. 468 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:51,620 There's a land to be possessed folks for 469 00:21:51,620 --> 00:21:54,060 those who enter the Jordan and cross over. 470 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,660 It's a time for radical commitment and you 471 00:21:58,660 --> 00:22:02,140 cannot bring the things that you've enjoyed in 472 00:22:02,140 --> 00:22:03,720 the wilderness into the new land. 473 00:22:04,500 --> 00:22:08,220 God who is gracious and has honored our 474 00:22:08,220 --> 00:22:11,780 immaturity with daily manner now shall require us 475 00:22:11,780 --> 00:22:13,600 to live from the land and enter in 476 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,580 to apostolic vigor and to reality. 477 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:19,060 When you shall see the ark of the 478 00:22:19,060 --> 00:22:22,060 Lord being lifted by the priests and the 479 00:22:22,060 --> 00:22:25,140 Levites you shall remove from your place and 480 00:22:25,140 --> 00:22:26,120 go after it. 481 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,560 Though you have not been this way heretofore 482 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,520 when the priest who bear the covenant of 483 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:41,050 the Lord shall put their feet in the 484 00:22:41,050 --> 00:22:44,970 Jordan it shall part and the people shall 485 00:22:44,970 --> 00:22:47,310 go over as on dry land. 486 00:22:47,970 --> 00:22:49,630 As the priest that bore the ark of 487 00:22:49,630 --> 00:22:51,530 the covenant of the Lord stood firm on 488 00:22:51,530 --> 00:22:54,610 dry ground in the midst of Jordan all 489 00:22:54,610 --> 00:22:56,770 the Israelites passed over until all the people 490 00:22:56,770 --> 00:22:58,310 were passed clean over Jordan. 491 00:23:00,460 --> 00:23:02,280 Unlike any of the previous messages in these 492 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:07,160 days which you have called lectures I'm going 493 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,920 to give an invitation at this conclusion to 494 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,740 the priests and to the Levites who are 495 00:23:13,740 --> 00:23:16,000 the bearers of the ark for the hour 496 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,700 has come when the ark of God is 497 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:21,300 being lifted and he's bidding his people pass 498 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:21,620 over. 499 00:23:23,180 --> 00:23:25,520 There's a class of men unlike those that 500 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,960 were sent by the Pharisees who were religious 501 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,400 flunkies to do the bidding of those who 502 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,440 are concerned with their establishment in Jerusalem. 503 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:37,480 A mere shadow, a disfigurement, a grotesque caricature 504 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,780 of the true priests whose service is to 505 00:23:41,780 --> 00:23:44,220 God only who is the first one in 506 00:23:44,220 --> 00:23:47,640 and the last one out who has got 507 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:49,820 to stand in the midst of swirling waters 508 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:54,300 as if on dry ground in the faith 509 00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:56,800 and the commitment and the courage that will 510 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,260 part the waters and enable a people to 511 00:23:59,260 --> 00:24:00,020 follow after. 512 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,440 Jerusalem was no longer a holy city. 513 00:24:05,580 --> 00:24:07,280 The whole land lay under Roman bondage. 514 00:24:07,420 --> 00:24:10,180 The Greek Hellenistic spirit seduced and prevailed over 515 00:24:10,180 --> 00:24:10,800 all the people. 516 00:24:11,380 --> 00:24:12,740 How much like this present hour. 517 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:15,620 The glory of God had departed the temple 518 00:24:15,620 --> 00:24:18,540 and the priesthood was corrupted concerned only with 519 00:24:18,540 --> 00:24:21,020 their prestige, their position and their advantage. 520 00:24:22,340 --> 00:24:24,200 But outside isn't that always the way? 521 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:24,880 Outside. 522 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,560 Outside religious Jerusalem at the faithful place of 523 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,620 crossing at the muddy wilderness spot the ark 524 00:24:31,620 --> 00:24:33,280 of God was again being lifted. 525 00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:36,740 It was at a final place of opportunity 526 00:24:36,740 --> 00:24:40,060 for radical separation in the waters of repentance 527 00:24:41,500 --> 00:24:44,020 before the Jordan ended its journey into the 528 00:24:44,020 --> 00:24:44,420 Dead Sea. 529 00:24:46,730 --> 00:24:48,710 Today there is a sun coming forth out 530 00:24:48,710 --> 00:24:51,830 of those waters upon whom the Holy Spirit 531 00:24:51,830 --> 00:24:55,350 will descend and remain without measure, greater than 532 00:24:55,350 --> 00:24:58,310 any denomination and all of them together. 533 00:24:59,410 --> 00:25:01,930 The curious and the indignant cannot know or 534 00:25:01,930 --> 00:25:02,890 recognize him. 535 00:25:03,390 --> 00:25:05,570 Only those who enter the waters of death 536 00:25:05,570 --> 00:25:09,070 to pride, to recognition of men, to religious 537 00:25:09,070 --> 00:25:12,270 ambition, to power, to prestige. 538 00:25:15,090 --> 00:25:16,790 Because you have obeyed my voice God said 539 00:25:16,790 --> 00:25:19,030 to Abraham in multiplying I will multiply you. 540 00:25:19,330 --> 00:25:20,870 You don't need charts and graphs. 541 00:25:23,130 --> 00:25:25,910 If you've been unwilling to go up will 542 00:25:25,910 --> 00:25:26,630 you pass through? 543 00:25:27,450 --> 00:25:29,310 If you've not heard the voice of God 544 00:25:29,610 --> 00:25:31,350 will you this morning see the ark of 545 00:25:31,350 --> 00:25:34,370 God being lifted by the priest and the 546 00:25:34,370 --> 00:25:34,730 Levite? 547 00:25:35,890 --> 00:25:37,590 When you see the ark of the covenant 548 00:25:37,590 --> 00:25:39,730 of the Lord your God and the priest 549 00:25:39,730 --> 00:25:41,790 the Levite bearing it then you shall remove 550 00:25:41,790 --> 00:25:44,010 from your place and go after it though 551 00:25:44,010 --> 00:25:45,890 you have not been this way heretofore. 552 00:25:47,150 --> 00:25:49,130 God has not invited you to move to 553 00:25:49,130 --> 00:25:51,750 a hundred and sixty acre farm as he 554 00:25:51,750 --> 00:25:52,510 has us. 555 00:25:53,570 --> 00:25:56,090 We're only one model and form and variant 556 00:25:56,090 --> 00:25:57,630 of Christian community. 557 00:25:59,410 --> 00:26:03,090 We've not set before you some narrow kind 558 00:26:03,090 --> 00:26:05,350 of self interest asking you to emulate us 559 00:26:05,350 --> 00:26:07,610 but we have proclaimed a kingdom. 560 00:26:08,850 --> 00:26:11,230 The same kingdom that John the Baptist came 561 00:26:11,230 --> 00:26:14,350 proclaiming the same kingdom of heaven that Jesus 562 00:26:14,350 --> 00:26:17,430 both began to teach and to preach and 563 00:26:17,430 --> 00:26:19,830 the same kingdom that was in the heart 564 00:26:19,830 --> 00:26:22,290 and the mouth of Paul to his final 565 00:26:22,290 --> 00:26:23,270 and to his dying day. 566 00:26:23,970 --> 00:26:25,270 It is still in the heart of God. 567 00:26:25,270 --> 00:26:27,810 It's a kingdom that eclipses all. 568 00:26:28,570 --> 00:26:30,970 It takes priority and rank over all. 569 00:26:32,190 --> 00:26:34,010 If you'll follow the ark of God which 570 00:26:34,010 --> 00:26:35,630 is being lifted though you've not been this 571 00:26:35,630 --> 00:26:36,290 way heretofore. 572 00:26:37,950 --> 00:26:40,330 I have such a sense of sadness to 573 00:26:40,330 --> 00:26:44,750 see this fantastic facility, this school, these buildings, 574 00:26:45,410 --> 00:26:47,450 the men and families that live all about 575 00:26:47,450 --> 00:26:49,790 it as a cluster and to see and 576 00:26:49,790 --> 00:26:53,010 to recognize that it is an institution and 577 00:26:53,010 --> 00:26:53,910 not an organism. 578 00:26:55,470 --> 00:26:58,050 It has all of the precious potential for 579 00:26:58,050 --> 00:27:00,430 the expression of the kingdom if you would 580 00:27:00,430 --> 00:27:05,450 but make but one radical apostolic shift from 581 00:27:05,450 --> 00:27:09,290 things institutional in the systems of men to 582 00:27:09,290 --> 00:27:11,650 the things that are apostolic and that are 583 00:27:11,650 --> 00:27:14,570 the expression of his life in the community 584 00:27:14,570 --> 00:27:17,390 of God which is his kingdom, the Zion 585 00:27:17,390 --> 00:27:20,050 of God, the heavenly city, the new Jerusalem 586 00:27:20,050 --> 00:27:26,130 which cometh down from above where the spirits 587 00:27:26,130 --> 00:27:27,990 of just men are made perfect. 588 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:32,840 Behold the ark of the covenant of the 589 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,180 Lord of all the earth passeth over before 590 00:27:35,180 --> 00:27:36,160 you into Jordan. 591 00:27:39,860 --> 00:27:41,340 Where are the priests of the Lord who 592 00:27:41,340 --> 00:27:43,100 are the first ones in and the last 593 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:43,700 ones out? 594 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:46,480 One of your dear ministers said to me 595 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,140 privately the other day, when you began speaking 596 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:52,800 God, I was ready to shout Amen but 597 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,940 one of the leaders of our movement cautioned 598 00:27:55,940 --> 00:27:57,800 me with his finger to keep quiet. 599 00:28:01,460 --> 00:28:03,580 How many of you can say with Elijah, 600 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,700 as the Lord my God liveth before whom 601 00:28:05,700 --> 00:28:06,380 I stand? 602 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:10,580 And how many of you are conscious that 603 00:28:10,580 --> 00:28:15,850 you're observed and seen by the men of 604 00:28:15,850 --> 00:28:17,590 your movement who can see to your promotion 605 00:28:17,590 --> 00:28:18,330 and advancement? 606 00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:22,660 I'll tell you if you'll continue that way 607 00:28:22,660 --> 00:28:24,960 you'll be the priests that were sent by 608 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:29,440 the Pharisees rather than the priests who can 609 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:31,060 bear the ark of the covenant of the 610 00:28:31,060 --> 00:28:31,280 Lord. 611 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:34,400 Where are those who will be the first 612 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,380 ones in and the last ones out? 613 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,140 God does not give you or explain to 614 00:28:40,140 --> 00:28:42,260 you what the crossing is going to mean 615 00:28:43,220 --> 00:28:46,440 what lies on the other side, what kinds 616 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,600 of struggles and battles are before you what 617 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,240 it will mean to possess the land and 618 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:53,280 to live from the land what it will 619 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,140 mean to leave behind the institutional securities and 620 00:28:57,140 --> 00:28:58,900 the comforts and the things that are familiar 621 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:02,240 and proven and tested to explore and to 622 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,220 find your way into that new relationship with 623 00:29:04,220 --> 00:29:06,960 God's people by which they can by one 624 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,740 shout break down the walls of those who 625 00:29:09,740 --> 00:29:10,340 oppose them. 626 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,380 I'll tell you that's more than Pentecostal bellowing. 627 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:16,900 It's the one voice of those who have 628 00:29:16,900 --> 00:29:19,880 been called into an army and who have 629 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,420 exposed their flesh to the cutting of the 630 00:29:22,420 --> 00:29:25,160 sharp knife of the Lord till they be 631 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:27,320 healed and each man find his place in 632 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:27,800 the camp. 633 00:29:28,660 --> 00:29:30,200 All of that awaits you on the other 634 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,380 side for those who will cross over but 635 00:29:33,380 --> 00:29:35,740 there'll be no crossing for the people until 636 00:29:35,740 --> 00:29:37,680 the priests will be the first ones in 637 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,720 and the last ones out. 638 00:29:40,940 --> 00:29:43,520 Priests who can stand firm on dry ground 639 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:44,800 and I'll tell you it'll get dry. 640 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:47,560 In the midst of the flood that the 641 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:49,420 people might pass over into the land of 642 00:29:49,420 --> 00:29:51,720 promise kingdom living. 643 00:29:53,580 --> 00:29:56,300 Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at 644 00:29:56,300 --> 00:29:56,740 hand. 645 00:29:57,620 --> 00:29:59,240 That kingdom is only to be found and 646 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:00,960 to be established on the other side. 647 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:03,160 And I want to tell you as a 648 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,900 Jew that there are two and a half 649 00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:07,500 tribes that never passed over. 650 00:30:08,220 --> 00:30:11,220 Dad, Manasseh and Reuben never ever made it. 651 00:30:11,860 --> 00:30:15,080 Lost forever to the purposes of God and 652 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:17,640 to the people of Israel because they could 653 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,180 not bring themselves to pass over. 654 00:30:19,820 --> 00:30:22,580 The grass was just too lush on the 655 00:30:22,580 --> 00:30:25,500 side which was already familiar to them and 656 00:30:25,500 --> 00:30:28,680 their distinctive was that they were razors of 657 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:29,240 flesh. 658 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:32,880 What a melancholy picture we have in the 659 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,500 New Testament when Jesus himself encounters one of 660 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:38,380 the descendants of that people now ridden with 661 00:30:38,380 --> 00:30:40,560 demons to Gad Arene. 662 00:30:41,740 --> 00:30:44,640 Living in the cemetery with dead man's bones 663 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:45,980 naked and in chains. 664 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,320 What a last and melancholy statement of a 665 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:52,740 people who would not cross over. 666 00:30:53,980 --> 00:30:58,520 And nothing had changed because when he casts 667 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,140 the demons out of this victim they drove 668 00:31:02,140 --> 00:31:04,680 him from their coasts more concerned for the 669 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,180 loss of their swine than for the recovery 670 00:31:08,180 --> 00:31:09,480 of a man made sane. 671 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:11,760 I'll tell you dear children if you have 672 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:15,460 ears to hear it's a fateful thing not 673 00:31:15,460 --> 00:31:17,420 to cross when God gives you a cross. 674 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,080 For you've not passed this way heretofore. 675 00:31:24,940 --> 00:31:26,820 We have been too long in the religious 676 00:31:26,820 --> 00:31:29,700 wilderness more concerned for the raising of flesh 677 00:31:29,700 --> 00:31:30,900 than the building of his kingdom. 678 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:34,100 We are not told what awaits us on 679 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:35,640 the other side but the end we know. 680 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:39,720 The Shekinah glory of God and the temple 681 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:43,140 that shall be established on his holy hill. 682 00:31:46,810 --> 00:31:49,130 Where are the priests of God who will 683 00:31:49,130 --> 00:31:52,230 bear it and where are those who seeing 684 00:31:52,230 --> 00:31:54,930 it will remove and go after though they've 685 00:31:54,930 --> 00:31:56,170 not been this way heretofore. 686 00:31:58,970 --> 00:32:01,310 Believe in the Lord thy God so shall 687 00:32:01,310 --> 00:32:02,130 you prosper. 688 00:32:02,950 --> 00:32:07,090 Believe in his prophets so shall you be 689 00:32:07,970 --> 00:32:08,650 established. 690 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,700 I have been faithful to speak the words 691 00:32:13,700 --> 00:32:17,500 that God has put in my mouth and 692 00:32:17,500 --> 00:32:21,060 now you are called not merely to compliment 693 00:32:21,060 --> 00:32:24,180 me because I've challenged your thinking and it 694 00:32:24,180 --> 00:32:28,430 was an interesting lecture but if this is 695 00:32:28,430 --> 00:32:32,810 not very God calling an entire people to 696 00:32:32,810 --> 00:32:37,690 a new place in apostolic reality in the 697 00:32:37,690 --> 00:32:40,750 establishing of a kingdom a new quality of 698 00:32:40,750 --> 00:32:43,810 life and relationship that will require the radical 699 00:32:43,810 --> 00:32:46,890 alteration of much and at the beginning of 700 00:32:46,890 --> 00:32:48,970 which is to be found in the waters 701 00:32:48,970 --> 00:32:53,070 of repentance and separation for our ambition for 702 00:32:53,070 --> 00:32:55,150 our self interest for our vanity for our 703 00:32:55,150 --> 00:32:58,430 pride for our self seeking for loving the 704 00:32:58,430 --> 00:33:00,390 esteem of men more than the approval of 705 00:33:00,390 --> 00:33:00,650 God. 706 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:04,260 So I'm going to ask you to bow 707 00:33:04,260 --> 00:33:17,070 your heads with me precious 708 00:33:17,070 --> 00:33:29,320 holy God it's 709 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:32,340 with trembling that I have to announce to 710 00:33:32,340 --> 00:33:36,580 this people what is my function in your 711 00:33:36,580 --> 00:33:40,180 body lest they think that they were hearing 712 00:33:40,180 --> 00:33:44,760 only a speaker lest they think that this 713 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,020 was an interesting series of days with different 714 00:33:48,020 --> 00:33:51,020 aspects of the truth that somehow all fit 715 00:33:51,020 --> 00:33:54,360 together when you have in your providence set 716 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:59,780 before them alternatives that require radical choosing indeed 717 00:33:59,780 --> 00:34:03,240 now as then there are only two categories 718 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,389 of men at the Jordan those who are 719 00:34:07,389 --> 00:34:10,810 merely curious or indignant that anything can take 720 00:34:10,810 --> 00:34:14,469 place outside their Jerusalem and those that are 721 00:34:14,469 --> 00:34:18,409 broken and contrite who want to see and 722 00:34:18,409 --> 00:34:20,650 glimpse the sun which is being brought forth 723 00:34:20,650 --> 00:34:23,130 out of these waters and be joined with 724 00:34:23,130 --> 00:34:30,000 him precious God may these words be as 725 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,199 the lifting of the ark before this people 726 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:35,460 that as many who have eyes to see 727 00:34:35,460 --> 00:34:38,120 and ears to hear will be willing to 728 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,060 remove from their place though they have not 729 00:34:41,060 --> 00:34:45,570 been this way heretofore and my final word 730 00:34:45,570 --> 00:34:50,070 precious God in prayer among these dear precious 731 00:34:50,070 --> 00:34:53,230 people whom we love with your love is 732 00:34:53,230 --> 00:34:55,870 for those whom you've called to be the 733 00:34:55,870 --> 00:34:59,470 priests of God to go before and to 734 00:34:59,470 --> 00:35:02,830 bear the ark to put their feet in 735 00:35:02,830 --> 00:35:06,050 the waters of the flood though it's threatened 736 00:35:06,050 --> 00:35:08,910 to engulf them to hear the roaring of 737 00:35:08,910 --> 00:35:12,710 the lions that are displaced in their lairs 738 00:35:12,710 --> 00:35:15,390 by the riverside at the flood stage the 739 00:35:15,390 --> 00:35:19,910 shrieks and the cries of fanatic and worse 740 00:35:19,910 --> 00:35:22,650 that they shall hear but the water shall 741 00:35:22,650 --> 00:35:24,950 not part except there be a class of 742 00:35:24,950 --> 00:35:28,730 men whose first loyalty is to God before 743 00:35:28,730 --> 00:35:32,810 anything else who will be ever and always 744 00:35:32,810 --> 00:35:36,590 willing to be the first ones in and 745 00:35:36,590 --> 00:35:39,690 the last ones out in the name of 746 00:35:39,690 --> 00:35:43,590 Jesus and as a minister of this everlasting 747 00:35:43,590 --> 00:35:51,340 gospel I want to ask those men whose 748 00:35:51,340 --> 00:35:55,760 hearts are set for God who will be 749 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:59,120 his priests to get out of their seat 750 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,500 and to come and to kneel by the 751 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:04,060 front of this platform to be the first 752 00:36:04,060 --> 00:36:11,020 ones in and the last ones out you 753 00:36:11,020 --> 00:36:12,420 have no idea what this is going to 754 00:36:12,420 --> 00:36:17,640 cost you you'll suffer the misunderstanding of men 755 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:36,710 you'll offend many you'll 756 00:36:36,710 --> 00:36:42,960 have no distinctiveness in yourself you'll be a 757 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:46,640 priest swathed in the blood of sacrifice from 758 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:50,080 your fingernails to your elbows dripping with the 759 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:56,010 gore of sacrifice there's nothing attractive about the 760 00:36:56,010 --> 00:37:02,550 calling full of tremblings wholly separated unto God 761 00:37:02,550 --> 00:37:09,430 bearers of the ark precious God in Jesus 762 00:37:09,430 --> 00:37:13,410 name if this is not some kind of 763 00:37:13,410 --> 00:37:19,470 mock and hokey religious service if this is 764 00:37:19,470 --> 00:37:22,690 something that was born in heaven and these 765 00:37:22,690 --> 00:37:24,330 were the words of your speaking and this 766 00:37:24,330 --> 00:37:27,330 is your invitation then I ask you now 767 00:37:27,330 --> 00:37:31,350 to seal in heaven by name every precious 768 00:37:31,350 --> 00:37:34,330 man of God who has come to bow 769 00:37:34,330 --> 00:37:38,310 before you and to acknowledge that you have 770 00:37:38,310 --> 00:37:43,450 priority over them and rank over them who 771 00:37:43,450 --> 00:37:45,250 are laying on the altar of God this 772 00:37:45,250 --> 00:37:50,070 morning sanctifying themselves every petty ambition and thought 773 00:37:50,070 --> 00:37:52,270 for the future of what they were going 774 00:37:52,270 --> 00:37:53,670 to be and what they were going to 775 00:37:53,670 --> 00:37:56,470 do and the audiences that they would impress 776 00:37:56,470 --> 00:37:59,430 and the elevated positions that they would attain 777 00:37:59,430 --> 00:38:03,630 in the movement willing that it should all 778 00:38:03,630 --> 00:38:06,770 perish that they might have but one distinction 779 00:38:06,770 --> 00:38:10,130 in God to be the bearers of the 780 00:38:10,130 --> 00:38:14,910 holy ark that there might be a city 781 00:38:14,910 --> 00:38:18,650 set on the hill out of which the 782 00:38:18,650 --> 00:38:23,370 Shekinah glory can again come to flood a 783 00:38:23,370 --> 00:38:26,810 dark earth with the knowledge of God unto 784 00:38:26,810 --> 00:38:29,930 the salvation of despairing millions everywhere. 785 00:38:35,820 --> 00:38:38,200 Thank you for these precious priests, Lord. 786 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:39,500 Seal them by name. 787 00:38:41,690 --> 00:38:44,010 Give them the preparation that goes far beyond 788 00:38:44,010 --> 00:38:49,280 schooling that men can provide shape their lives 789 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:52,660 in testing and in trials that they shall 790 00:38:52,660 --> 00:38:56,860 not balk at floods and swirling waters that 791 00:38:56,860 --> 00:39:00,420 they can stand still in the midst of 792 00:39:00,420 --> 00:39:04,420 a dry ground and not panic and not 793 00:39:04,420 --> 00:39:08,140 seek for devices and techniques and methodologies to 794 00:39:08,140 --> 00:39:11,860 save them from their predicament but trust the 795 00:39:11,860 --> 00:39:14,500 God whose ark they bear. 796 00:39:17,050 --> 00:39:19,090 And now a final word of invitation for 797 00:39:19,090 --> 00:39:21,110 the people who will follow after. 798 00:39:23,980 --> 00:39:25,840 Those of you who have seen the ark 799 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:28,540 of God being lifted this morning and are 800 00:39:28,540 --> 00:39:31,280 prepared to follow after these priests who bear 801 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:35,940 it into a land of promise, it'll blow 802 00:39:35,940 --> 00:39:36,880 your mind. 803 00:39:37,860 --> 00:39:41,100 It'll destroy every conventional religious category you have 804 00:39:41,100 --> 00:39:41,960 ever entertained. 805 00:39:42,980 --> 00:39:45,660 It'll bring you into a fierce new place 806 00:39:45,660 --> 00:39:49,500 where privacy as you've understood it, will be 807 00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:50,460 a thing of the past. 808 00:39:51,500 --> 00:39:53,680 It'll be a new honesty and quality of 809 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:54,600 truth in living. 810 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,000 Lives that are transparent and open to each 811 00:39:58,000 --> 00:39:58,300 other. 812 00:39:59,300 --> 00:40:01,040 It'll be a people who are together. 813 00:40:01,860 --> 00:40:03,860 It'll be Peter standing with the eleven. 814 00:40:04,500 --> 00:40:06,840 It'll be Peter and John going up together 815 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:07,720 into the gate beautiful. 816 00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:10,540 It'll be behold how good and pleasant it 817 00:40:10,540 --> 00:40:16,240 is for brethren to dwell together in unity. 818 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:19,300 It'll be the end of things feigned and 819 00:40:19,300 --> 00:40:19,780 postured. 820 00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:21,900 It'll be the end of religious faces. 821 00:40:25,100 --> 00:40:26,580 It'll be kingdom reality. 822 00:40:29,470 --> 00:40:31,070 I ask you to stand if you're prepared 823 00:40:31,070 --> 00:40:35,240 to follow after this morning, willing to cross, 824 00:40:38,250 --> 00:40:40,470 though you have not been this way heretofore. 825 00:40:44,610 --> 00:40:46,130 Art, can't you explain to us what it's 826 00:40:46,130 --> 00:40:46,570 going to mean? 827 00:40:47,090 --> 00:40:48,130 What are the particulars? 828 00:40:48,410 --> 00:40:48,610 No. 829 00:40:49,770 --> 00:40:51,630 It's just for those who love him enough 830 00:40:51,630 --> 00:40:53,370 to follow without knowing. 831 00:40:56,190 --> 00:41:00,210 I'll tell you this, I cannot believe that 832 00:41:00,210 --> 00:41:04,470 we can cross into this land and still 833 00:41:04,470 --> 00:41:05,610 continue as we were. 834 00:41:07,090 --> 00:41:12,260 There has got to be radical alteration unto 835 00:41:12,260 --> 00:41:12,700 glory. 836 00:41:13,460 --> 00:41:17,380 Precious God, seal this moment in heaven, Lord. 837 00:41:19,810 --> 00:41:22,010 Woe to those who have stood idly to 838 00:41:22,010 --> 00:41:25,250 this invitation because of the fear of man, 839 00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:31,740 but seal this scene in heaven, mighty God. 840 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:36,360 May it be a profound and historic moment 841 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:40,760 of crossing into a new land, precious God. 842 00:41:41,240 --> 00:41:46,680 A new reality, a new glory that shall 843 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:47,820 make you known. 844 00:41:49,260 --> 00:41:53,740 Precious God, save us from the image that 845 00:41:53,740 --> 00:41:55,620 we have adopted from the world about what 846 00:41:55,620 --> 00:41:58,400 church ought to be, what a minister ought 847 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:00,420 to be, what a denomination ought to be, 848 00:42:00,720 --> 00:42:03,100 and give us in a burning way by 849 00:42:03,100 --> 00:42:07,080 fire what that holy city is, that new 850 00:42:07,080 --> 00:42:10,480 Jerusalem that cometh down from above, that Zion 851 00:42:10,480 --> 00:42:13,720 of God, that church of the firstborn, the 852 00:42:13,720 --> 00:42:15,740 spirits of just men being made perfect. 853 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:21,020 Oh God, thy kingdom come, thy kingdom come, 854 00:42:21,580 --> 00:42:24,620 and not some patsy middle class religious alternative. 855 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:30,960 Thy kingdom come on earth as it is 856 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:31,320 in heaven. 857 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:37,420 Transform this school from an institution to an 858 00:42:37,420 --> 00:42:42,820 organic and pulsating expression of your life by 859 00:42:42,820 --> 00:42:46,440 a people lived by faith who flow together 860 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:48,200 by the spirit of life. 861 00:42:51,550 --> 00:42:55,250 A glory to God in the earth that 862 00:42:55,250 --> 00:42:59,990 shall produce priests of God and not functionaries 863 00:42:59,990 --> 00:43:03,370 and hucksters and thieves and promoters. 864 00:43:06,580 --> 00:43:11,820 Seal, precious God, this consecration this morning and 865 00:43:11,820 --> 00:43:13,840 work out the application of it in the 866 00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:18,340 minutest detail as we cross over with you 867 00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:20,560 to the other side. 868 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:21,200 Hallelujah. 869 00:43:22,380 --> 00:43:24,140 Thank you, precious God. 870 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:26,040 Thank you, precious God. 871 00:43:26,700 --> 00:43:30,440 Seal it in heaven, Lord, and bring it 872 00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:30,920 forth. 873 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:32,480 Thank you, Lord. 874 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:34,500 Thy kingdom come. 875 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:36,500 Thy kingdom come. 876 00:43:36,940 --> 00:43:39,620 Intoxicate us for the kingdom of God. 877 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:43,300 May we be drunk with the words the 878 00:43:43,300 --> 00:43:45,860 kingdom, the kingdom, the kingdom. 879 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:50,040 No longer the petty kingdoms of men, but 880 00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:53,300 the kingdom of thine own dear son into 881 00:43:53,300 --> 00:43:56,280 whom we have been translated at the place 882 00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:58,460 of crossing this day. 883 00:44:00,950 --> 00:44:02,450 In Jesus' name we pray. 884 00:44:05,770 --> 00:44:07,610 You've been listening to the From the Pulpit 885 00:44:07,610 --> 00:44:08,910 in Classic Sermons series. 886 00:44:09,450 --> 00:44:11,510 This week, you heard Art Katz with his 887 00:44:11,510 --> 00:44:12,910 message, Man's Petty Kingdom. 888 00:44:13,410 --> 00:44:14,910 Tune in next week to hear William Blackburn 889 00:44:14,910 --> 00:44:17,510 speak about the final judgment of God on 890 00:44:17,510 --> 00:44:19,350 From the Pulpit in Classic Sermons.