May 20, 2025 • 53 mins
Pastor Rusty Nelson delivers a powerful message about understanding our spiritual position as believers seated with Christ in heavenly places, and how this perspective enables us to believe for the impossible. Where we sit determines what we see and ultimately who we become.
• Four seats that determine our spiritual perspective: the seat of the scornful, the seat of honor and influence, the seat of intimacy, and the seat of Christ
• The phrase "but God" marks God's divine interruption in our hopeless spiritual condition
• Being seated with Christ represents our union with Him, our authority and identity, and our rest and security
• Believing brings rest, not striving - we enter His rest when we truly believe
• From the seat of victory, we see problems differently - fear gets smaller and God's purpose becomes clearer
• Our authority over spiritual forces comes from our position in Christ, not our own strength
• The "already" nature of God - He has already blessed us with everything pertaining to life and godliness
• Changing your seat changes your sight - when seated with Christ, we respond from faith rather than react from fear
Come join us as we believe together for the impossible through the one who makes all things possible. Take your rightful place seated with Christ in heavenly places and see your circumstances from His perspective.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Rock Family Sermon of the Week.
For more information about ourchurch, please visit
therockfamilytv Now.
Join us for a message fromPastor Rusty Nelson.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
How many have your Bibles this morning?
Come on, take them, hold themup, turn them on.
Whatever you're reading fromtoday, this is just something
that has been in my spirit for27 years almost.
But can you say this with me?
I am what his word says I am.
I can do what his word says Ican do.
(00:41):
I can be what his word says Ican do.
I can be what his word says Ican be.
So right now, I'll hear hisword, I'll receive his word and
I will obey his word Because Ilove his word.
Lord, I thank you for your wordtoday and I ask you in these
(01:06):
next few moments, would you onceagain, would you allow my
tongue to be the pen of a writer, that somehow I could write
your heart to your amazingpeople that are here in this
room, those that are watchingonline our campuses today.
Father, thank you for yourfaithfulness, thank you that we
can believe for the impossible,but we have to see the God of
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the possible, the one who saysthrough you, all things are
possible.
In Christ Jesus, we stand andwe take a seat at the table of
the Lord of communion, ofremembrance of who you are and
(01:47):
what you have done, and we honoryou in this place and everybody
believes that says amen.
I want you to take your Bibles.
Turn with me to Ephesians,chapter two.
I want to kind of jump in onthis series today on belief for
the impossible, this seriestoday on Believe for the
(02:10):
Impossible.
I know, as Pastor Scott andBritt declared a vision back on
Vision Sunday last August, ofbuilding a school.
I knew, lisa and I, we weren'tcalled to start a school.
God called us to buy a school.
So we put some things.
Some people sow, so we put somethings.
Some people sow, others water.
But it's God who gives theincrease.
And how many realize in everyarea of our life, even when we
(02:32):
say Lord, I'm going to believeyou for above and beyond, to see
that launch.
And you are seeing it launchedinto reality.
I tell you, dr Rachel Ballardis one of the most brilliant
people I think I've ever sat ata table with and I'm so grateful
for not only the head of schoolbut all of the teachers now all
(02:54):
of the administration that'scoming together to launch this
in August and I'm very gratefulfor that.
But I want to read a passagebefore Ephesians 2.
Now I know I'm going to haveyou out of here by one o'clock
and I'm going to work reallyhard.
That was a joke, kind of Now Idon't have my glasses today.
(03:18):
For a year I had to.
Finally, after 27 years, I hadto get progressives.
So you like, you're you're.
Just look at your neighbor andsay you look blurry, you just
you're blurry.
Either that it's the Shekinahglory over you, I don't know,
but you're kind of blurry.
But in Romans 8, 28,.
(03:39):
Before I get to Ephesians, Iwant to give you one of my
favorite passages and it saysand we know now that's a strong
statement here's Paul declaringwe know we are so intimately
acquainted with what I'm aboutto say that it's not just a
concept, it's not just aflippant social media bullet
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point.
This is something we know.
What does he know that forthose who love God, all things
work together for good, forthose who are called according
to his purpose.
All things in the Greek meansall things, but it actually
(04:26):
includes good, bad, joyful,painful.
Nothing is wanted in wasted inGod's plan.
It says these all things thatGod doesn't waste anything work
together.
In the Greek it impliescooperation.
It is where we get our wordsynergy.
It's God weaves everything intoa greater purpose.
(04:50):
So, no matter where you are, nomatter what trial is at hand,
no matter what test you feellike you're in the middle of, no
matter what crisis is on thehorizon, of what you cannot stop
, and no matter what report youhave received, understand God is
weaving everything into agreater purpose For good, not
(05:16):
always immediate comfort.
It doesn't mean the ultimate,but it means ultimate good.
It is conforming us into Christ.
There is an image that is beingdeveloped in us.
We're image bearers.
This is bigger than the moment.
This is about a savior and itsays, for those who love God,
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the only reason I can love himis because he loved me.
So I'm only responding and I'mcalled according to his purpose.
And so this promise is specific.
It applies to believers.
Everyone say believer, believerswho are walking in relationship
with him.
And it's why, when Jesus saidto the man who brought his
(06:04):
demon-possessed son to hisdisciples and they couldn't cast
him out, and Jesus said if youcan believe, if you can, all
things are possible for the onewho believes.
Now go to the main passageEphesians, chapter 2.
I just want to kind of lay thisout, structure it, because my
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prayer is today you'll never bethe same, I pray you'll catch a
fresh glimpse of faith and whatit means to be a believer.
If we're going to believe forthe impossible, we need to know
the one, have a vision of theone who, through him, all things
are possible.
And it says in verse four ofchapter 2 of Ephesians but God
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being rich in mercy because ofhis great love with which he has
loved us even when we were deadin our trespasses, he made us
alive.
Together with Christ.
By grace, you have been savedand raised us up with him,
seated us.
Underscore that he has seatedus with him In heavenly places
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In Christ Jesus, so that in thecoming ages he might show you
the immeasurable riches Of hisgrace and kindness toward us.
In Christ Jesus, get thisphrase today To believe for the
impossible, we have to see theone for whom all things are
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possible.
Where you are seated willdetermine what you see.
Now, I know that sounds kind ofsimple, but where you are
seated you will in that place.
It will determine what you see.
And where you are seated willalso determine who you become,
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how you view things, yourperception of things.
There are actually four seats.
There are a few more of this inScripture things.
There are actually four seats.
There are a few more of this inScripture, but there are only
four seats I want to deal withfor the first portion of this
message today.
Four seats One is the seat ofthe scornful.
The other is the seat of honorand influence, the other is the
(08:21):
seat of intimacy and then theseat of Christ, the seat of
victory.
But the first one is the seedof the scornful I love.
In Psalm 1, it said blessed isthe man who does not walk in the
counsel of the ungodly.
You know the thing about whenyou walked in here today.
I'm not saying you're ungodly,I don't know you Now, some of
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you I do, and there is the jurystill out on some of that.
But you know when you walk wewalked in as a group today.
Your view is that way andsometimes you can get.
You can get lost in a crowd andjust think you're a part of a
number or something, and you canget in here and hide in a crowd
.
Can you hold that?
That's your.
Were you texting while I waspreaching?
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No, anyway, I'm just joking, Iwas kidding complaining.
How many understand?
All I can see is the back oftheir heads.
I can get lost in a number andrealize that if I'm not careful
I can get mob mentality in acrowd perspective.
But it says in Psalm 1, blessedis the man who walks, not in
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the council.
What you listen to, who youlisten to, really matters,
because what we listen to iswhat we give our attention to.
There's a progression happeningin Psalm 1.
It says blessed is the man whodoes not walk in the council of
the ungodly.
He's not listening to thecouncil of the ungodly, the
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counsel of the ungodly.
He's not listening to thecounsel of the ungodly.
Because before you walk, aftera while, you find a seat there.
Can I borrow this?
Can I borrow your phone?
Oh, I'm sorry.
See, the problem is this seat.
I just threw my wedding band,Thank you.
(10:12):
Thank you so much.
It says I am my beloved's andhe is mine.
Thank you, beloved.
I appreciate it.
Here's the problem with thisseat, because after you walk,
there's a progression.
Blessed are they who does notwalk in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stand in the seatof the scoffers, nor sit or
(10:41):
stand in the seat of the wickedor sit in the seat of the
scoffers.
Here's the thing about the seatit's limited.
I'm always limited to who's infront of me and who I'm
listening to.
And he's saying blessed is theman, happy is the man who
doesn't live his life.
This is not the seat I definefor you.
This is what social media willproduce in you.
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If all you listen to are thenaysayers, the mob, the crowd,
if all you're listening to isthe confusion and chaos that
comes out of a wicked thoughtplan that has nothing to do with
the image and the character andnature of God.
They're only viewing it andjudging one another by
themselves.
And it's all human, just humannature.
(11:24):
We don't see what God sees.
We're limited in what we'redoing.
But he said to those disciplescome and follow me.
I want to change your listeningability.
I want you to come and followme because those that delight in
the law of the Lord delight inthe word.
It says.
They're like a tree planted bythe rivers.
(11:45):
There's a difference.
There's something that startshappening when you get out of
the seat of being scornful andmockery and cynical, and the
very thing that creates acynicism.
You cannot receive a miracle ifyou're cynical toward a miracle
and you cannot receive amiracle.
If you're cynical toward amiracle, if you're trying to
(12:08):
judge everything by your ownperspective and your own insight
and your own ability to see,you can't see past the one who
is in front of you.
Because there is one who isgreater, one who has said I am
one who all things are possible.
If you can't look past yourbrother and look to a throne,
you will never know what amiracle is like.
(12:30):
So he calls them out and theycome and follow him.
Then you get.
They became disciples.
There's another seat I want totalk about.
It's the seat of honor andinfluence.
Disciples there's another seatI want to talk about.
It's the seat of honor andinfluence.
And you couldn't follow Jesusin those days without all of a
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sudden man.
You realized you walk into atown, you are honored because
you're with him.
There's influence, what you saymatters.
There's weightiness on yourwords.
It was so strong that James andJohn, the two brothers, they
went and apparently had ameeting with their mama and said
(13:12):
Mama, we feel like we feel led,that we're supposed to sit on
the left and the right of Jesus.
We feel like we were made forthis moment.
So mama comes in Matthew 20,but in only Mark 10, only
mentions in James and John, butit says that they came with
their mother and they askedJesus.
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She said, lord, would you Ithink it would be good, but
wouldn't you, would you allowJames and John to sit on your
left and your right when youcome into your kingdom?
He didn't even talk to her, hejust talked to them and he said
are you able, are you able todrink from the cup I'm about to
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drink from, of suffering andpain?
You know what they said we are,and he said you are and you
will, but to sit on my left andmy right.
You have lost the perspective.
You think this is aboutinfluencing others.
See, if we're not careful, wewill get caught up in the idol
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of leadership, where we havecreated a leadership culture
that is domineering.
It is toxic at times.
It only.
What can I get out of this formyself?
It has nothing to do withtaking a towel and a water basin
and washing the feet of peopleand knowing what it is to serve
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rather than to be served.
We will be a people ofpreferential seating, where we
will give highlights for thewealthy and those that have
great influence and because theyhave a social status.
We'll want to be near them, butwe'll keep at bay the ones that
are hurting and are broken.
And even James says that's asin.
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Be careful how you honorpreferential seating in your own
life.
This is bigger than your honorand the influence that you will
have in the kingdom.
But we think it's all aboutthat.
But there's another seat, and itwas found when Mary, the sister
of Lazarus Jesus, had raisedhim from the dead.
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She comes into the room.
She wasn't facing the people.
She turned and faced him.
It was called the seat ofintimacy.
It was the place that Marthawas serving.
There was nothing wrong withher serving, but she was so
caught up in trying to serveothers she didn't know that
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there was a priority.
There was something that wouldchange the way you think, the
way you look at others, the wayyou serve others.
And Mary was sitting at thefeet of Jesus.
She put her back to the crowdbecause it was no longer about
the crowd.
All it was for was him.
And Jesus said what she hasdone, this will not be taken
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from her.
This is the priority of life.
If you want to know me.
If you want to be intimatelyacquainted, you have to let the
crowd be in the peripheral andyou have to let my face be your
focus.
You have to be willing tohumble yourself at my feet.
You have to be willing tounderstand.
(16:30):
It's not about your devotionaltime.
It's not about just fulfillinganother time, claude.
No, it is about come away withme, come to me.
All you that labor and heavyladen, I'll give you rest.
There is a transaction that ishappening in the moment of this
relationship.
There is something she isfinding out about him and
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something she realized he knowsabout her.
She is being loved by him andnow all All she can do is
respond I love you because youfirst loved me.
It's called the seat ofintimacy, but that's not where I
want to stay today.
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I want to talk to you about theseat of Christ.
I want to talk to you about aseat that I just read to you in
Ephesians 4, where it says thathe has raised us up with him and
seated us with him in heavenlyplaces.
In Christ Jesus, he has seatedus.
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He called us out of the crowd.
Come and follow me.
Let me show you a newperspective.
Let me give you a new insight.
Let me change the way you think.
Let me give you a new insight.
Let me change the way you think.
Let me change your mind,because if you let me change
your thinking, you will allow meto change your way of living.
Just watch this.
It's the chair of the overcomer, it is the seat of victory, and
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where we sit determines who webecome.
It says in Colossians 3, if youthen being raised with Christ,
if you've been raised withChrist, then seek those things
that are above, where Christ isSeated at the right hand of God,
and so set your mind on thesethings that are above and not on
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things of the earth.
For you have died and your lifeis hidden with Christ in God,
and when Christ, who is yourlife, appears, then you also
will appear with him in glory.
You were seated with him inheavenly places.
How did I get here?
I can't earn, perform enough.
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What could I ever do to try toearn his grace?
Grace means unmerited favor.
Grace is also an empowerment tobe who I could never become
within myself.
It is also an empowerment to dothe things I could not do
within myself.
This grace what is the turningpoint?
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Not do within myself this grace.
What is the turning point?
Here's the phrase but God.
You were this, but God, youwere dying in your trespasses
and your sin.
But God, you were a wicked manor woman doing your own thing,
running your own life.
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But God, you were involved inevery work of the flesh.
Your mind was messed up, youwere perverted in your actions,
but God.
God intervenes not because of us, but because of who he is.
It is his divine interruptionin our hopeless condition.
But God, but God, what?
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Being rich, in mercy Rich,implies abundance.
God doesn't have just a littlemercy, he is overflowing with
mercy.
Mercy is God withholdingjudgment that we're rightly, we
deserved.
Grace is giving us something wedidn't deserve.
Mercy is not giving us what wedeserve.
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Are you guys hearing me?
Don't go away.
Look at your neighbor and sayyou still look blurry.
Even though we were children ofwrath, god did not treat us
according to our sin.
It's a fulfillment of Psalm 103.
Here's what it says.
He does not deal with usaccording to our sin.
It's a fulfillment of Psalm 103.
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Here's what it says.
He does not deal with usaccording to our sins, nor repay
us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens areabove the earth, so great is the
steadfast love God has towardus who fear him.
As far as the east is from thewest, so far does he remove our
transgressions from us.
He didn't say from the north tothe south, because as far as
you go north, before long you'regoing to turn and go south.
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But you throw it to the eastand you will never go west.
You throw it to the west, youwill never go east.
And as far as the east is fromthe west, he has removed our
transgressions.
And the phrase reflects God'scharacter he is inclined to show
us compassion even though we'reundeserving.
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Why Watch?
Because of the great love.
Why did God extend his mercy?
Not reluctantly, but it wasbecause of his great love.
It's the Greek agape, it meanssacrificial, it is a covenant
love.
It's the love that's not basedon our worthiness, but it's on
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God's own nature.
It's this great love, watch,which he loved us.
It's not theoretical, it'sexpressed in action.
He loved us.
It's not theoretical, it'sexpressed in action.
He loved us Even when we werespiritually dead.
We were rebellious, undeservingfor God, so loved the world
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that he gave his only begottenson that whoever would believe
in him would not perish but haveeverlasting life.
How did we get the namebeliever?
We got the name believerbecause we believe.
Romans 5, 8,.
God demonstrates his lovetoward us in that, while we were
sinners, he died for us,despite our hopeless condition.
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God, rich in mercy, overflowingin love, he chose to love us.
He chased us down.
It was an act on our behalf andhe rescued us from spiritual
death.
That waits on anyone Sitting inthe crowd, thinking you're just
a number, a part of a multitude,and he says no, I called you by
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name and I came and got yourseat and I brought it next to
mine.
Listen to this.
What does it mean?
Seated together with Christ?
It's a spiritual position.
It's not a physical location.
Though we live here on theearth physically, spiritually,
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we are united with Christ in hisresurrected and exalted
position.
The moment we confess our sin,the moment we repent and turn
from our wicked ways, the momentwe turn to him, repentance is
turning from our ways andturning to his.
It is getting our back to thecrowd, it is turning our back to
our former way of living and itis focused centrically on Jesus
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.
He is the author, he is thefinisher of my faith.
At that moment, when I receivehim as my Lord, my savior, my
soon coming king, I am placed ina spiritual position, exalted
to a place that is not just forthe future, it's present reality
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For believers.
You got to hear me today, please.
It represents our union withChrist.
The phrases you'll find in theepistles, specifically in
Ephesians, colossians, you willfind with him or in him.
It's a central, focal theme andall of this being made alive,
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raised up, seated, it's possiblebecause of our union with Jesus
.
Through faith, his victorybecomes ours.
He is the God of the possible.
It represents our authority andidentity.
Come on, I'm working hard toget finished.
If you'll amen me, amen me,amen me.
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It's my first time to say amen.
That was very strange.
I felt like that was a foggymoment right now.
Authority and identity.
Christ is seated at the righthand of the Father.
It is the position of authority.
Being seated with him suggeststhat believers share in his
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authority.
Watch this over spiritualpowers by being united with him,
by being invited to sit on thisseat of victory that he has
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already accomplished.
I had nothing to do with it.
It was not my warring in thespirit that brought me here.
It was his complete tetelestaiit is finished, it is
accomplished, it is done.
And he sat down at the righthand of the Father in complete
fulfillment.
He dotted the I, he crossed theT, he fulfilled every law.
(25:42):
He became the lamb slain beforethe foundation of the world.
But he's not coming back as alamb, he's coming back as a king
of kings, a Lord of lords whorules and reigns.
And he says a Lord of Lords whorules and reigns.
And he says you are invited inunion.
That being seated with himsuggests that believers share in
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his authority over spiritualpowers.
It reflects a new identity, anew authority.
It's the spiritual realm.
So, in other words, you canbelieve for the impossible.
In Luke, chapter 10, it saysbehold, I've given you authority
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to tread on serpents andscorpions and over all the power
of the enemy, and nothing shallby any means hurt you.
Power and authority.
It is exousia and what it'smeaning.
It is delegated authority.
He said I have been given allauthority.
I turn around.
I give you all power and allauthority.
It means serpents, scorpions ordemonic forces are dangers.
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I've given you all power overall the power of the enemy.
A reminder the enemy is real.
I don't go around looking for adevil in everything.
Typically you don't have to golook for a devil.
A devil has already found youand what you do with that devil
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will determine the authority youplace over that devil, what you
allow the authority you placeover that devil, what you allow
the voices you listen to, thethings you allow to entertain
and come into your living room.
My friend, be careful what youentertain.
Not only have peopleentertained angels unaware, they
have also entertained demonsunaware.
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And this is not the day to playwith some or pet some demon in
a generation that needs to be anovercomer and believe for the
impossible.
Are you hearing me?
When you understand you've beenseated with Christ, then
nothing shall by any means hurtyou, nothing, no way, never
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shall it ever, ever, ever, never, shall it ever ever hurt me?
Didn't say it wouldn't impactme, didn't say I wouldn't feel
pain, but it cannot stop myeternal being, it cannot stop my
spirit, it cannot stop myeternity.
You cannot silence the voice ofthe Lord that speaks clearly in
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moments of darkness.
But what the enemy is trying todo is to get you to sit down
and shut up and not say a thing.
And we're watching too manyvoices being silenced because of
sin that was never takendominion over.
Because he also said sin shallnot have dominion over you.
The only power sin has is whatwe yield and give up, you say
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you mean you're not tempted.
I'm tempted every, probablyevery day of my life.
But I have learned one thingthat in every temptation he has
made a way of escape.
And if and whatever I get myeyes on is what I'm going to
yield to Whoever I'm listeningto is who I'm going to follow.
So I had I have to take personalresponsibility.
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I can't blame it.
I'm tired.
I'm tired.
I can't blame it that I've hadeverything hit me at once.
Do you not know what it's like,man?
Like Murphy's Law, what can gowrong does go wrong.
It's like I was talking to aprecious couple.
We did a wedding yesterday, didanother wedding yesterday.
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You say are you Catholic now?
No, I just thought that was aquick way.
We can't get tongues out.
I can just do that one reallyquick.
Father, son, holy Name, arey'all awake here?
I got to hurry and the guy whowas preaching the ceremony.
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He came, he looked like he washe'd been whipped up on.
He walked in he said I'm sorry,I'm late.
He said my pipe bursted and mywhole basement flooded and I've
been cleaning up water and I'mlate here getting to the wedding
.
I said I get it, I get it.
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It's like when one hit comes,it's like another hit's waiting.
It's like when one hit comes,it's like another hits waiting.
It's like one thing afteranother, because the enemy comes
in like a flood.
No pun intended, he got theflood, I guess.
But we like to think theenemy's coming in like a flood.
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But do you know there are sometranslations that in that Isaiah
moment it doesn't say when theenemy comes in like a flood.
But do you know there are sometranslations that in that Isaiah
moment it doesn't say when theenemy comes in like a flood, it
says when the enemy comes incomma like a flood, the Spirit
of the Lord will raise up astandard against him.
This seat has to do withidentity and authority.
It also has to do with rest andsecurity.
(30:53):
To be seated implies rest fromworks to try to earn salvation
or even earn provision.
Jesus said look at the sparrows.
They don't have a house, butGod provides for them.
(31:15):
Consider the lilies theyneither toil nor they spin.
But God did not array all ofSolomon and more of beauty.
And if God has cared for thesparrows and if he's taking care
(31:35):
to make the lilies beautiful,do you not know he's going to
take care of you?
Paul would say I know something, I am so intimately acquainted
with something because I havelearned about someone.
(32:00):
It's a place of rest, security.
See, believing brings rest, notstriving to earn it, says in
Hebrews 4, 3, for we who havebelieved do enter into rest.
Can I say that again, we whohave believed.
That's why we're believers, notskeptics.
(32:24):
You remember it wasn't when theman brought the demoniac son to
Jesus.
After he came off this encounterand the disciples were like.
They saw Moses and Elijahtalking to Jesus about his
crucifixion, his death andeverything.
They're overwhelmed.
Peter speaks up and says hey,let's just make three
(32:46):
tabernacles, let's just hanghere, let's stay here.
I don't want to go down themountain because she'll be
coming down around the mountainwhen she comes, and I don't want
to.
I don't know if he had a badexperience with his
mother-in-law.
He had.
Jesus raised her up out of asick bed later, you know, before
that, and I don't know if Petewas happy or I don't know.
(33:07):
But he said let's just hanghere.
But he said let's just hanghere.
And through doing that, jesus,a cloud came, a voice spoke this
is my son, hear him, don't getdistracted with everybody else,
just hear him.
A cloud filled.
(33:28):
When it lifted they only sawJesus and Jesus said come on,
boys, we're going down themountain.
They get back to that pointthat father runs up.
And he said all your otherdisciples?
I asked them if they coulddeliver my son.
No one could help.
Can you please deliver my son?
He said oh, you have littlefaith.
And he looked at the man andsaid if you can believe, all
(33:51):
things are possible.
He said Lord, I believe, Ibelieve you can do it.
I believe I believe you can doit.
They may have missed it, but Ibelieve you can do it.
When Jesus delivered the boy,the disciples came to him after
it was over and said whycouldn't we do it?
He said because this kind doesnot come out, but by prayer and
fasting.
It wasn't a demon that neededto come out, it was the doubt
(34:12):
that had to be cast out.
He had already to come out.
It was the doubt that had to becast out.
He had already sent them out.
He sent out the seven.
He said, lord, in your name,demons flee.
He said yeah, and I saw Satancast out of heaven.
I saw him fall like lightning.
Don't be concerned that thedemons are subject to you, but
(34:40):
rejoice that your names arewritten down in heaven and they
would learn later.
And I have seated you togetherwith me in heavenly places.
Rest, rusty, see, belief andrest are equal.
You can't believe and step intorest, but when you believe,
(35:10):
when you know, because you know,because you know, because you
know, because you know, becauseyou know, because you know,
because you know, because youknow, and you know what has come
around in your life.
You know what the report was,you're like, you know what.
I just know him and he ain'tnever done me nothing but good.
(35:33):
If he never blessed me again,he has blessed me a lifetime.
He's been good to me, he'sloved me.
I'm almost finished If the guyswould come.
It helps preachers finish,either that or it stirs them up
(35:55):
again, one or the other.
It says of Jesus that when hehad finished, he offered one
sacrifice for the sins foreverand he sat down at the right
hand of God, the Father.
He sat down because his workwas finished.
And when we believe, we enterinto that rest, we're not
(36:20):
working for it, we're resting init.
We're seated with Christresting in his finished work.
It's now.
He's my identity, he is theauthority I belong to him.
It's a place of security andnot striving.
(36:42):
The Lord is saying today youcan't enter my rest until you
sit with me and believe.
You'll settle for less andnever rest until you believe.
Without faith it's impossibleto please him.
(37:08):
But everyone who comes to himmust believe that he is.
He is what he's, everything hesays he is.
He's Jehovah Nissi, my bannerof victory.
He is Jehovah Sidkenu, myrighteousness.
He is Jehovah Shammah, the Godwho is there.
(37:31):
He is the God, jehovah Rapha,the one who heals me.
The one.
He was wounded for mytransgressions.
He was bruised for myiniquities.
Beating for my peace was on himby his stripes.
(37:55):
I'm healed.
He's the already God.
There's no word that saysJehovah already.
I don't think I'll get introuble to say you are Jehovah
already, because Paul would sayhe's already blessed me with
(38:16):
every spiritual blessing inChrist Jesus.
I just read to you in Ephesians, where he's already loved us
Already.
He's already providedeverything I need that pertains
to life and godliness.
He's already.
What's he ready for?
(38:38):
He's already for any attack,any lie, any moment of crisis.
He's already.
He's already to provide.
He's all ready.
He's all ready to provide.
He's all ready to show up.
He says, as a matter of fact,I'll never leave you, nor
forsake you.
Come here, rusty.
I've seated you together withme in heavenly places.
(39:07):
I've spent a lot of time onairplanes this last year and
four months.
You know there's something Lisaand I used to talk about this
when we were the lead pastorshere.
There were times I would feelwhen I flew out of Huntsville I
(39:30):
would feel a heaviness and aweight come off of me, had no
idea what I lived in, becauseyour assignment brings a lot of
weight of attack andresponsibility that, without
grace, you have no idea how tohandle it.
It's more, it's bigger thanyour education, isn't that?
(39:56):
God takes foolish things andfreaks out engineers.
That's been one of my phrases.
God took a foolish thing fromDouble Springs, alabama not even
two springs there.
That'll give you a complex.
Growing up as a kid, I'm not anengineer, nor the son of one.
I tried to add and multiply onetime years ago and it became.
(40:18):
It was a joke.
I'm just an old country boy andhe said you know, son, you'll
never touch the intellect of thecity.
When I fly, when I go around, Isay I'm from Huntsville, they
go oh wow, that's a smart place.
(40:41):
I said, yeah, it is, it's realsmart, real smart, and God sits
in the heavens and he laughs.
(41:07):
He said you know you'll nevertouch the intellect, but if you
ask me, I'll give you the heart.
Our former mayor, mayor LorettaSpencer.
Years ago we were dedicatingthe building on 2300 for all of
you new people, we were 15 years.
Two miles down the way beforethat we were in an old bar.
(41:31):
We all bellied up for threeyears in an old bar and she came
for our dedication to thatbuilding, that building.
(41:57):
She said, you know, sheactually, the presence of God
was so strong that Sundaymorning Lisa was on one side of
this precious woman who I've hada dear friendship with all
these years, and I was on theother side of her and she said
don't let go of my hand, I don'twant to fall.
I don't know if she meant bythat completely, but I do know
the presence of God was sostrong that day and she wept and
(42:24):
she made this statement.
She said you know, some peoplefeel like the heart of
Huntsville is downtown.
Never forget this, she said,but it's moved through the
growth of those years.
And she looked at us and saidyou are the heart of Huntsville.
And God took me back to thatlittle phrase and he said I told
(42:48):
you, son, ask me and I'll giveyou the heart.
You see, in this place, thisseat of victory, it's not mine,
(43:08):
it's his.
This is his victory.
We're more than conquerors,because he conquered, he's the
conqueror.
If my eyes are on my abilitiesor on my gifts or talents, it
will only go so far.
It's so human influenced.
But if he's the source, if he'sthe strength, if he's my
(43:30):
salvation, if he is my joy inthe morning, if he is my peace
at night, if he is the shalomshalom, he is the prince of
peace, he is the mighty God, heis the everlasting father, he is
the one this is all about.
Then, when I'm facing difficultmoments, I'm sitting in the seat
because he let me sit next tohim and he said I'll never leave
(43:54):
you, I'll never forsake you.
And I may not know what to doand I can look and say what do
you want me to do?
What do you desire?
Because I can't see past mewhen you go on a 35,000 foot
(44:15):
view and you're looking down inan airplane and I have flown out
of here so many times throughthe years and I have felt a
weight just lift off and I getup there and I look down and
people just look like ants.
Can't even see people, thingsare just.
It's quiet.
Speaker 1 (44:41):
It's peaceful why?
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Because a 35,000 foot view is a lot different than
being in Times Square andhearing all the noise and all
the clatter and the chatter.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
Where does it start?
Speaker 2 (45:15):
He never said how we were faced in the seat.
Thank you, my dad, thank you.
We are seated together inheavenly places, way above
principalities and powers.
I know all things work togetherfor the good because I'm called
(45:55):
by you.
You called me out of the crowd,out of numbers, out of chatter.
You said follow me.
I got distracted with the crowd.
Many times I had my chairfacing wrong, but you've made me
(46:20):
to sit together with you, thankyou.
You've already blessed me, so Ipraise you as though it's
already done.
Would you close your eyes justfor a moment, lift your hands?
Speaker 1 (46:39):
Thank you, Jesus fear gets smaller.
Speaker 2 (47:00):
Come up higher.
Offense loses its power.
Come up higher.
God's purpose becomes so muchclearer.
Come up higher.
If you change your seat, you'llchange your sight, and from his
(47:26):
seat you won't react from fear,you'll just respond from faith.
You'll no longer chase identity, you'll live from it.
(47:47):
You'll live from it Becausebeing in the right seat changes
our complete perspective.
Right seat changes our completeperspective.
It's how we see things to themoment that the one in that seat
of victory, of authority, theone who has already done it, who
has already loved us, who hasalready blessed us, he looks at
(48:11):
us now and he says now see whatI see, son, feel what I feel.
And I've given my spirit to youto have the authority to do
something about what you seethrough my eyes and what you
feel from my heart.
(48:32):
I ask you today, in this close,who's influencing your walk?
Who are you listening to?
Where are you standing?
What company are you keeping?
Are you standing on truth or isit compromised?
(48:53):
What seed have you claimed, myfriend?
He invites us to sit with himin heavenly places.
Where you sit today determineswho you become tomorrow, and if
we're going to believe for theimpossible, we must know the God
(49:15):
that all things are possible tothem who believe Jesus Jesus.
Jesus, no one.
Please walk in out of theauditorium if you can please,
(49:37):
unless it's an emergency, wouldyou very respectfully and
reverently stand with me?
I'd like for our prayer teamsto come.
Here's what I want to ask.
God took my seat out of a crowdjust like you.
(50:05):
He doesn't redeem somebody's.
He redeems nobody's and makesthem somebody.
And who are we?
I'm a child of the king.
I am my beloved's and he ismine.
(50:30):
There is no weapon formedagainst me that will.
I am my beloved's and he ismine.
There is no weapon formedagainst me that will prosper.
Every tongue that rises againstI condemn, because it's a part
of my inheritance, Jesus Jesus.
(50:55):
Father, I thank you for yourword today.
If you're here, you'd say youknow what I'm tired of getting.
I got to get out of the seat ofcompromise, out of the seat of
mockery and arrogance and theseat of cynicism.
Hell, I've seen, is what otherpeople have said about him.
But who do men say that I am?
(51:15):
He asked his disciples.
Well, some say you're John theBaptist, you're Moses, you're
Elijah.
But he said but who am I to you?
You are the Christ, theanointed one in his anointing,
the son of the living God.
If that's your cry today and yousay I'm changing seats, I want
(51:39):
you to get up from where yourseat is.
You don't have to bring a seat.
Just come out of your seat andcome, make an altar and say I'm
coming to Jesus, believe for theimpossible.
The next time Murphy's lawcomes and tries to read it to
(52:04):
you, you just say but he's theGod of the already and he's
already met all my needsaccording to his riches and
glory in Christ Jesus.
So I think I'll praise him asthough it's already done.
Amen.
Can you give the Lord praisetoday?
(52:25):
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May the Lord make his face toshine on you, be gracious to you
.
May the Lord lift up hiscountenance on you, give you
(52:48):
peace, write his name on you andsay you belong to me.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
I pray you have a Jesus-filled week.
We hope and pray.
This message was encouragingand impactful.
Join us live on our website orFacebook.
On Sundays at 9 and 11 am.
You can stay connected with uson Facebook and Instagram at the
Rock Family.
Have a Jesus-filled week.
Welcome to the Rock Family Sermon of the Week.
For more information about ourchurch, please visit
therockfamilytv Now.
Join us for a message fromPastor Rusty Nelson.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
How many have your Bibles this morning?
Come on, take them, hold themup, turn them on.
Whatever you're reading fromtoday, this is just something
that has been in my spirit for27 years almost.
But can you say this with me?
I am what his word says I am.
I can do what his word says Ican do.
(00:41):
I can be what his word says Ican do.
I can be what his word says Ican be.
So right now, I'll hear hisword, I'll receive his word and
I will obey his word Because Ilove his word.
Lord, I thank you for your wordtoday and I ask you in these
(01:06):
next few moments, would you onceagain, would you allow my
tongue to be the pen of a writer, that somehow I could write
your heart to your amazingpeople that are here in this
room, those that are watchingonline our campuses today.
Father, thank you for yourfaithfulness, thank you that we
can believe for the impossible,but we have to see the God of
(01:26):
the possible, the one who saysthrough you, all things are
possible.
In Christ Jesus, we stand andwe take a seat at the table of
the Lord of communion, ofremembrance of who you are and
(01:47):
what you have done, and we honoryou in this place and everybody
believes that says amen.
I want you to take your Bibles.
Turn with me to Ephesians,chapter two.
I want to kind of jump in onthis series today on belief for
the impossible, this seriestoday on Believe for the
(02:10):
Impossible.
I know, as Pastor Scott andBritt declared a vision back on
Vision Sunday last August, ofbuilding a school.
I knew, lisa and I, we weren'tcalled to start a school.
God called us to buy a school.
So we put some things.
Some people sow, so we put somethings.
Some people sow, others water.
But it's God who gives theincrease.
And how many realize in everyarea of our life, even when we
(02:32):
say Lord, I'm going to believeyou for above and beyond, to see
that launch.
And you are seeing it launchedinto reality.
I tell you, dr Rachel Ballardis one of the most brilliant
people I think I've ever sat ata table with and I'm so grateful
for not only the head of schoolbut all of the teachers now all
(02:54):
of the administration that'scoming together to launch this
in August and I'm very gratefulfor that.
But I want to read a passagebefore Ephesians 2.
Now I know I'm going to haveyou out of here by one o'clock
and I'm going to work reallyhard.
That was a joke, kind of Now Idon't have my glasses today.
(03:18):
For a year I had to.
Finally, after 27 years, I hadto get progressives.
So you like, you're you're.
Just look at your neighbor andsay you look blurry, you just
you're blurry.
Either that it's the Shekinahglory over you, I don't know,
but you're kind of blurry.
But in Romans 8, 28,.
(03:39):
Before I get to Ephesians, Iwant to give you one of my
favorite passages and it saysand we know now that's a strong
statement here's Paul declaringwe know we are so intimately
acquainted with what I'm aboutto say that it's not just a
concept, it's not just aflippant social media bullet
(04:04):
point.
This is something we know.
What does he know that forthose who love God, all things
work together for good, forthose who are called according
to his purpose.
All things in the Greek meansall things, but it actually
(04:26):
includes good, bad, joyful,painful.
Nothing is wanted in wasted inGod's plan.
It says these all things thatGod doesn't waste anything work
together.
In the Greek it impliescooperation.
It is where we get our wordsynergy.
It's God weaves everything intoa greater purpose.
(04:50):
So, no matter where you are, nomatter what trial is at hand,
no matter what test you feellike you're in the middle of, no
matter what crisis is on thehorizon, of what you cannot stop
, and no matter what report youhave received, understand God is
weaving everything into agreater purpose For good, not
(05:16):
always immediate comfort.
It doesn't mean the ultimate,but it means ultimate good.
It is conforming us into Christ.
There is an image that is beingdeveloped in us.
We're image bearers.
This is bigger than the moment.
This is about a savior and itsays, for those who love God,
(05:41):
the only reason I can love himis because he loved me.
So I'm only responding and I'mcalled according to his purpose.
And so this promise is specific.
It applies to believers.
Everyone say believer, believerswho are walking in relationship
with him.
And it's why, when Jesus saidto the man who brought his
(06:04):
demon-possessed son to hisdisciples and they couldn't cast
him out, and Jesus said if youcan believe, if you can, all
things are possible for the onewho believes.
Now go to the main passageEphesians, chapter 2.
I just want to kind of lay thisout, structure it, because my
(06:26):
prayer is today you'll never bethe same, I pray you'll catch a
fresh glimpse of faith and whatit means to be a believer.
If we're going to believe forthe impossible, we need to know
the one, have a vision of theone who, through him, all things
are possible.
And it says in verse four ofchapter 2 of Ephesians but God
(06:50):
being rich in mercy because ofhis great love with which he has
loved us even when we were deadin our trespasses, he made us
alive.
Together with Christ.
By grace, you have been savedand raised us up with him,
seated us.
Underscore that he has seatedus with him In heavenly places
(07:12):
In Christ Jesus, so that in thecoming ages he might show you
the immeasurable riches Of hisgrace and kindness toward us.
In Christ Jesus, get thisphrase today To believe for the
impossible, we have to see theone for whom all things are
(07:39):
possible.
Where you are seated willdetermine what you see.
Now, I know that sounds kind ofsimple, but where you are
seated you will in that place.
It will determine what you see.
And where you are seated willalso determine who you become,
(08:00):
how you view things, yourperception of things.
There are actually four seats.
There are a few more of this inScripture things.
There are actually four seats.
There are a few more of this inScripture, but there are only
four seats I want to deal withfor the first portion of this
message today.
Four seats One is the seat ofthe scornful.
The other is the seat of honorand influence, the other is the
(08:21):
seat of intimacy and then theseat of Christ, the seat of
victory.
But the first one is the seedof the scornful I love.
In Psalm 1, it said blessed isthe man who does not walk in the
counsel of the ungodly.
You know the thing about whenyou walked in here today.
I'm not saying you're ungodly,I don't know you Now, some of
(08:44):
you I do, and there is the jurystill out on some of that.
But you know when you walk wewalked in as a group today.
Your view is that way andsometimes you can get.
You can get lost in a crowd andjust think you're a part of a
number or something, and you canget in here and hide in a crowd
.
Can you hold that?
That's your.
Were you texting while I waspreaching?
(09:06):
No, anyway, I'm just joking, Iwas kidding complaining.
How many understand?
All I can see is the back oftheir heads.
I can get lost in a number andrealize that if I'm not careful
I can get mob mentality in acrowd perspective.
But it says in Psalm 1, blessedis the man who walks, not in
(09:27):
the council.
What you listen to, who youlisten to, really matters,
because what we listen to iswhat we give our attention to.
There's a progression happeningin Psalm 1.
It says blessed is the man whodoes not walk in the council of
the ungodly.
He's not listening to thecouncil of the ungodly, the
(09:50):
counsel of the ungodly.
He's not listening to thecounsel of the ungodly.
Because before you walk, aftera while, you find a seat there.
Can I borrow this?
Can I borrow your phone?
Oh, I'm sorry.
See, the problem is this seat.
I just threw my wedding band,Thank you.
(10:12):
Thank you so much.
It says I am my beloved's andhe is mine.
Thank you, beloved.
I appreciate it.
Here's the problem with thisseat, because after you walk,
there's a progression.
Blessed are they who does notwalk in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stand in the seatof the scoffers, nor sit or
(10:41):
stand in the seat of the wickedor sit in the seat of the
scoffers.
Here's the thing about the seatit's limited.
I'm always limited to who's infront of me and who I'm
listening to.
And he's saying blessed is theman, happy is the man who
doesn't live his life.
This is not the seat I definefor you.
This is what social media willproduce in you.
(11:03):
If all you listen to are thenaysayers, the mob, the crowd,
if all you're listening to isthe confusion and chaos that
comes out of a wicked thoughtplan that has nothing to do with
the image and the character andnature of God.
They're only viewing it andjudging one another by
themselves.
And it's all human, just humannature.
(11:24):
We don't see what God sees.
We're limited in what we'redoing.
But he said to those disciplescome and follow me.
I want to change your listeningability.
I want you to come and followme because those that delight in
the law of the Lord delight inthe word.
It says.
They're like a tree planted bythe rivers.
(11:45):
There's a difference.
There's something that startshappening when you get out of
the seat of being scornful andmockery and cynical, and the
very thing that creates acynicism.
You cannot receive a miracle ifyou're cynical toward a miracle
and you cannot receive amiracle.
If you're cynical toward amiracle, if you're trying to
(12:08):
judge everything by your ownperspective and your own insight
and your own ability to see,you can't see past the one who
is in front of you.
Because there is one who isgreater, one who has said I am
one who all things are possible.
If you can't look past yourbrother and look to a throne,
you will never know what amiracle is like.
(12:30):
So he calls them out and theycome and follow him.
Then you get.
They became disciples.
There's another seat I want totalk about.
It's the seat of honor andinfluence.
Disciples there's another seatI want to talk about.
It's the seat of honor andinfluence.
And you couldn't follow Jesusin those days without all of a
(12:51):
sudden man.
You realized you walk into atown, you are honored because
you're with him.
There's influence, what you saymatters.
There's weightiness on yourwords.
It was so strong that James andJohn, the two brothers, they
went and apparently had ameeting with their mama and said
(13:12):
Mama, we feel like we feel led,that we're supposed to sit on
the left and the right of Jesus.
We feel like we were made forthis moment.
So mama comes in Matthew 20,but in only Mark 10, only
mentions in James and John, butit says that they came with
their mother and they askedJesus.
(13:33):
She said, lord, would you Ithink it would be good, but
wouldn't you, would you allowJames and John to sit on your
left and your right when youcome into your kingdom?
He didn't even talk to her, hejust talked to them and he said
are you able, are you able todrink from the cup I'm about to
(13:55):
drink from, of suffering andpain?
You know what they said we are,and he said you are and you
will, but to sit on my left andmy right.
You have lost the perspective.
You think this is aboutinfluencing others.
See, if we're not careful, wewill get caught up in the idol
(14:17):
of leadership, where we havecreated a leadership culture
that is domineering.
It is toxic at times.
It only.
What can I get out of this formyself?
It has nothing to do withtaking a towel and a water basin
and washing the feet of peopleand knowing what it is to serve
(14:40):
rather than to be served.
We will be a people ofpreferential seating, where we
will give highlights for thewealthy and those that have
great influence and because theyhave a social status.
We'll want to be near them, butwe'll keep at bay the ones that
are hurting and are broken.
And even James says that's asin.
(15:00):
Be careful how you honorpreferential seating in your own
life.
This is bigger than your honorand the influence that you will
have in the kingdom.
But we think it's all aboutthat.
But there's another seat, and itwas found when Mary, the sister
of Lazarus Jesus, had raisedhim from the dead.
(15:21):
She comes into the room.
She wasn't facing the people.
She turned and faced him.
It was called the seat ofintimacy.
It was the place that Marthawas serving.
There was nothing wrong withher serving, but she was so
caught up in trying to serveothers she didn't know that
(15:43):
there was a priority.
There was something that wouldchange the way you think, the
way you look at others, the wayyou serve others.
And Mary was sitting at thefeet of Jesus.
She put her back to the crowdbecause it was no longer about
the crowd.
All it was for was him.
And Jesus said what she hasdone, this will not be taken
(16:08):
from her.
This is the priority of life.
If you want to know me.
If you want to be intimatelyacquainted, you have to let the
crowd be in the peripheral andyou have to let my face be your
focus.
You have to be willing tohumble yourself at my feet.
You have to be willing tounderstand.
(16:30):
It's not about your devotionaltime.
It's not about just fulfillinganother time, claude.
No, it is about come away withme, come to me.
All you that labor and heavyladen, I'll give you rest.
There is a transaction that ishappening in the moment of this
relationship.
There is something she isfinding out about him and
(16:53):
something she realized he knowsabout her.
She is being loved by him andnow all All she can do is
respond I love you because youfirst loved me.
It's called the seat ofintimacy, but that's not where I
want to stay today.
(17:13):
I want to talk to you about theseat of Christ.
I want to talk to you about aseat that I just read to you in
Ephesians 4, where it says thathe has raised us up with him and
seated us with him in heavenlyplaces.
In Christ Jesus, he has seatedus.
(17:37):
He called us out of the crowd.
Come and follow me.
Let me show you a newperspective.
Let me give you a new insight.
Let me change the way you think.
Let me give you a new insight.
Let me change the way you think.
Let me change your mind,because if you let me change
your thinking, you will allow meto change your way of living.
Just watch this.
It's the chair of the overcomer, it is the seat of victory, and
(18:01):
where we sit determines who webecome.
It says in Colossians 3, if youthen being raised with Christ,
if you've been raised withChrist, then seek those things
that are above, where Christ isSeated at the right hand of God,
and so set your mind on thesethings that are above and not on
(18:23):
things of the earth.
For you have died and your lifeis hidden with Christ in God,
and when Christ, who is yourlife, appears, then you also
will appear with him in glory.
You were seated with him inheavenly places.
How did I get here?
I can't earn, perform enough.
(18:46):
What could I ever do to try toearn his grace?
Grace means unmerited favor.
Grace is also an empowerment tobe who I could never become
within myself.
It is also an empowerment to dothe things I could not do
within myself.
This grace what is the turningpoint?
(19:06):
Not do within myself this grace.
What is the turning point?
Here's the phrase but God.
You were this, but God, youwere dying in your trespasses
and your sin.
But God, you were a wicked manor woman doing your own thing,
running your own life.
(19:26):
But God, you were involved inevery work of the flesh.
Your mind was messed up, youwere perverted in your actions,
but God.
God intervenes not because of us, but because of who he is.
It is his divine interruptionin our hopeless condition.
But God, but God, what?
(19:48):
Being rich, in mercy Rich,implies abundance.
God doesn't have just a littlemercy, he is overflowing with
mercy.
Mercy is God withholdingjudgment that we're rightly, we
deserved.
Grace is giving us something wedidn't deserve.
Mercy is not giving us what wedeserve.
(20:08):
Are you guys hearing me?
Don't go away.
Look at your neighbor and sayyou still look blurry.
Even though we were children ofwrath, god did not treat us
according to our sin.
It's a fulfillment of Psalm 103.
Here's what it says.
He does not deal with usaccording to our sin.
It's a fulfillment of Psalm 103.
(20:28):
Here's what it says.
He does not deal with usaccording to our sins, nor repay
us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens areabove the earth, so great is the
steadfast love God has towardus who fear him.
As far as the east is from thewest, so far does he remove our
transgressions from us.
He didn't say from the north tothe south, because as far as
you go north, before long you'regoing to turn and go south.
(20:51):
But you throw it to the eastand you will never go west.
You throw it to the west, youwill never go east.
And as far as the east is fromthe west, he has removed our
transgressions.
And the phrase reflects God'scharacter he is inclined to show
us compassion even though we'reundeserving.
(21:13):
Why Watch?
Because of the great love.
Why did God extend his mercy?
Not reluctantly, but it wasbecause of his great love.
It's the Greek agape, it meanssacrificial, it is a covenant
love.
It's the love that's not basedon our worthiness, but it's on
(21:35):
God's own nature.
It's this great love, watch,which he loved us.
It's not theoretical, it'sexpressed in action.
He loved us.
It's not theoretical, it'sexpressed in action.
He loved us Even when we werespiritually dead.
We were rebellious, undeservingfor God, so loved the world
(21:56):
that he gave his only begottenson that whoever would believe
in him would not perish but haveeverlasting life.
How did we get the namebeliever?
We got the name believerbecause we believe.
Romans 5, 8,.
God demonstrates his lovetoward us in that, while we were
sinners, he died for us,despite our hopeless condition.
(22:17):
God, rich in mercy, overflowingin love, he chose to love us.
He chased us down.
It was an act on our behalf andhe rescued us from spiritual
death.
That waits on anyone Sitting inthe crowd, thinking you're just
a number, a part of a multitude,and he says no, I called you by
(22:43):
name and I came and got yourseat and I brought it next to
mine.
Listen to this.
What does it mean?
Seated together with Christ?
It's a spiritual position.
It's not a physical location.
Though we live here on theearth physically, spiritually,
(23:05):
we are united with Christ in hisresurrected and exalted
position.
The moment we confess our sin,the moment we repent and turn
from our wicked ways, the momentwe turn to him, repentance is
turning from our ways andturning to his.
It is getting our back to thecrowd, it is turning our back to
our former way of living and itis focused centrically on Jesus
(23:30):
.
He is the author, he is thefinisher of my faith.
At that moment, when I receivehim as my Lord, my savior, my
soon coming king, I am placed ina spiritual position, exalted
to a place that is not just forthe future, it's present reality
(23:52):
For believers.
You got to hear me today, please.
It represents our union withChrist.
The phrases you'll find in theepistles, specifically in
Ephesians, colossians, you willfind with him or in him.
It's a central, focal theme andall of this being made alive,
(24:14):
raised up, seated, it's possiblebecause of our union with Jesus
.
Through faith, his victorybecomes ours.
He is the God of the possible.
It represents our authority andidentity.
Come on, I'm working hard toget finished.
If you'll amen me, amen me,amen me.
(24:36):
It's my first time to say amen.
That was very strange.
I felt like that was a foggymoment right now.
Authority and identity.
Christ is seated at the righthand of the Father.
It is the position of authority.
Being seated with him suggeststhat believers share in his
(24:59):
authority.
Watch this over spiritualpowers by being united with him,
by being invited to sit on thisseat of victory that he has
(25:19):
already accomplished.
I had nothing to do with it.
It was not my warring in thespirit that brought me here.
It was his complete tetelestaiit is finished, it is
accomplished, it is done.
And he sat down at the righthand of the Father in complete
fulfillment.
He dotted the I, he crossed theT, he fulfilled every law.
(25:42):
He became the lamb slain beforethe foundation of the world.
But he's not coming back as alamb, he's coming back as a king
of kings, a Lord of lords whorules and reigns.
And he says a Lord of Lords whorules and reigns.
And he says you are invited inunion.
That being seated with himsuggests that believers share in
(26:03):
his authority over spiritualpowers.
It reflects a new identity, anew authority.
It's the spiritual realm.
So, in other words, you canbelieve for the impossible.
In Luke, chapter 10, it saysbehold, I've given you authority
(26:24):
to tread on serpents andscorpions and over all the power
of the enemy, and nothing shallby any means hurt you.
Power and authority.
It is exousia and what it'smeaning.
It is delegated authority.
He said I have been given allauthority.
I turn around.
I give you all power and allauthority.
It means serpents, scorpions ordemonic forces are dangers.
(26:49):
I've given you all power overall the power of the enemy.
A reminder the enemy is real.
I don't go around looking for adevil in everything.
Typically you don't have to golook for a devil.
A devil has already found youand what you do with that devil
(27:10):
will determine the authority youplace over that devil, what you
allow the authority you placeover that devil, what you allow
the voices you listen to, thethings you allow to entertain
and come into your living room.
My friend, be careful what youentertain.
Not only have peopleentertained angels unaware, they
have also entertained demonsunaware.
(27:31):
And this is not the day to playwith some or pet some demon in
a generation that needs to be anovercomer and believe for the
impossible.
Are you hearing me?
When you understand you've beenseated with Christ, then
nothing shall by any means hurtyou, nothing, no way, never
(27:53):
shall it ever, ever, ever, never, shall it ever ever hurt me?
Didn't say it wouldn't impactme, didn't say I wouldn't feel
pain, but it cannot stop myeternal being, it cannot stop my
spirit, it cannot stop myeternity.
You cannot silence the voice ofthe Lord that speaks clearly in
(28:15):
moments of darkness.
But what the enemy is trying todo is to get you to sit down
and shut up and not say a thing.
And we're watching too manyvoices being silenced because of
sin that was never takendominion over.
Because he also said sin shallnot have dominion over you.
The only power sin has is whatwe yield and give up, you say
(28:40):
you mean you're not tempted.
I'm tempted every, probablyevery day of my life.
But I have learned one thingthat in every temptation he has
made a way of escape.
And if and whatever I get myeyes on is what I'm going to
yield to Whoever I'm listeningto is who I'm going to follow.
So I had I have to take personalresponsibility.
(29:00):
I can't blame it.
I'm tired.
I'm tired.
I can't blame it that I've hadeverything hit me at once.
Do you not know what it's like,man?
Like Murphy's Law, what can gowrong does go wrong.
It's like I was talking to aprecious couple.
We did a wedding yesterday, didanother wedding yesterday.
(29:24):
You say are you Catholic now?
No, I just thought that was aquick way.
We can't get tongues out.
I can just do that one reallyquick.
Father, son, holy Name, arey'all awake here?
I got to hurry and the guy whowas preaching the ceremony.
(29:45):
He came, he looked like he washe'd been whipped up on.
He walked in he said I'm sorry,I'm late.
He said my pipe bursted and mywhole basement flooded and I've
been cleaning up water and I'mlate here getting to the wedding
.
I said I get it, I get it.
(30:09):
It's like when one hit comes,it's like another hit's waiting.
It's like when one hit comes,it's like another hits waiting.
It's like one thing afteranother, because the enemy comes
in like a flood.
No pun intended, he got theflood, I guess.
But we like to think theenemy's coming in like a flood.
(30:33):
But do you know there are sometranslations that in that Isaiah
moment it doesn't say when theenemy comes in like a flood.
But do you know there are sometranslations that in that Isaiah
moment it doesn't say when theenemy comes in like a flood, it
says when the enemy comes incomma like a flood, the Spirit
of the Lord will raise up astandard against him.
This seat has to do withidentity and authority.
It also has to do with rest andsecurity.
(30:53):
To be seated implies rest fromworks to try to earn salvation
or even earn provision.
Jesus said look at the sparrows.
They don't have a house, butGod provides for them.
(31:15):
Consider the lilies theyneither toil nor they spin.
But God did not array all ofSolomon and more of beauty.
And if God has cared for thesparrows and if he's taking care
(31:35):
to make the lilies beautiful,do you not know he's going to
take care of you?
Paul would say I know something, I am so intimately acquainted
with something because I havelearned about someone.
(32:00):
It's a place of rest, security.
See, believing brings rest, notstriving to earn it, says in
Hebrews 4, 3, for we who havebelieved do enter into rest.
Can I say that again, we whohave believed.
That's why we're believers, notskeptics.
(32:24):
You remember it wasn't when theman brought the demoniac son to
Jesus.
After he came off this encounterand the disciples were like.
They saw Moses and Elijahtalking to Jesus about his
crucifixion, his death andeverything.
They're overwhelmed.
Peter speaks up and says hey,let's just make three
(32:46):
tabernacles, let's just hanghere, let's stay here.
I don't want to go down themountain because she'll be
coming down around the mountainwhen she comes, and I don't want
to.
I don't know if he had a badexperience with his
mother-in-law.
He had.
Jesus raised her up out of asick bed later, you know, before
that, and I don't know if Petewas happy or I don't know.
(33:07):
But he said let's just hanghere.
But he said let's just hanghere.
And through doing that, jesus,a cloud came, a voice spoke this
is my son, hear him, don't getdistracted with everybody else,
just hear him.
A cloud filled.
(33:28):
When it lifted they only sawJesus and Jesus said come on,
boys, we're going down themountain.
They get back to that pointthat father runs up.
And he said all your otherdisciples?
I asked them if they coulddeliver my son.
No one could help.
Can you please deliver my son?
He said oh, you have littlefaith.
And he looked at the man andsaid if you can believe, all
(33:51):
things are possible.
He said Lord, I believe, Ibelieve you can do it.
I believe I believe you can doit.
They may have missed it, but Ibelieve you can do it.
When Jesus delivered the boy,the disciples came to him after
it was over and said whycouldn't we do it?
He said because this kind doesnot come out, but by prayer and
fasting.
It wasn't a demon that neededto come out, it was the doubt
(34:12):
that had to be cast out.
He had already to come out.
It was the doubt that had to becast out.
He had already sent them out.
He sent out the seven.
He said, lord, in your name,demons flee.
He said yeah, and I saw Satancast out of heaven.
I saw him fall like lightning.
Don't be concerned that thedemons are subject to you, but
(34:40):
rejoice that your names arewritten down in heaven and they
would learn later.
And I have seated you togetherwith me in heavenly places.
Rest, rusty, see, belief andrest are equal.
You can't believe and step intorest, but when you believe,
(35:10):
when you know, because you know,because you know, because you
know, because you know, becauseyou know, because you know,
because you know, because youknow, and you know what has come
around in your life.
You know what the report was,you're like, you know what.
I just know him and he ain'tnever done me nothing but good.
(35:33):
If he never blessed me again,he has blessed me a lifetime.
He's been good to me, he'sloved me.
I'm almost finished If the guyswould come.
It helps preachers finish,either that or it stirs them up
(35:55):
again, one or the other.
It says of Jesus that when hehad finished, he offered one
sacrifice for the sins foreverand he sat down at the right
hand of God, the Father.
He sat down because his workwas finished.
And when we believe, we enterinto that rest, we're not
(36:20):
working for it, we're resting init.
We're seated with Christresting in his finished work.
It's now.
He's my identity, he is theauthority I belong to him.
It's a place of security andnot striving.
(36:42):
The Lord is saying today youcan't enter my rest until you
sit with me and believe.
You'll settle for less andnever rest until you believe.
Without faith it's impossibleto please him.
(37:08):
But everyone who comes to himmust believe that he is.
He is what he's, everything hesays he is.
He's Jehovah Nissi, my bannerof victory.
He is Jehovah Sidkenu, myrighteousness.
He is Jehovah Shammah, the Godwho is there.
(37:31):
He is the God, jehovah Rapha,the one who heals me.
The one.
He was wounded for mytransgressions.
He was bruised for myiniquities.
Beating for my peace was on himby his stripes.
(37:55):
I'm healed.
He's the already God.
There's no word that saysJehovah already.
I don't think I'll get introuble to say you are Jehovah
already, because Paul would sayhe's already blessed me with
(38:16):
every spiritual blessing inChrist Jesus.
I just read to you in Ephesians, where he's already loved us
Already.
He's already providedeverything I need that pertains
to life and godliness.
He's already.
What's he ready for?
(38:38):
He's already for any attack,any lie, any moment of crisis.
He's already.
He's already to provide.
He's all ready.
He's all ready to provide.
He's all ready to show up.
He says, as a matter of fact,I'll never leave you, nor
forsake you.
Come here, rusty.
I've seated you together withme in heavenly places.
(39:07):
I've spent a lot of time onairplanes this last year and
four months.
You know there's something Lisaand I used to talk about this
when we were the lead pastorshere.
There were times I would feelwhen I flew out of Huntsville I
(39:30):
would feel a heaviness and aweight come off of me, had no
idea what I lived in, becauseyour assignment brings a lot of
weight of attack andresponsibility that, without
grace, you have no idea how tohandle it.
It's more, it's bigger thanyour education, isn't that?
(39:56):
God takes foolish things andfreaks out engineers.
That's been one of my phrases.
God took a foolish thing fromDouble Springs, alabama not even
two springs there.
That'll give you a complex.
Growing up as a kid, I'm not anengineer, nor the son of one.
I tried to add and multiply onetime years ago and it became.
(40:18):
It was a joke.
I'm just an old country boy andhe said you know, son, you'll
never touch the intellect of thecity.
When I fly, when I go around, Isay I'm from Huntsville, they
go oh wow, that's a smart place.
(40:41):
I said, yeah, it is, it's realsmart, real smart, and God sits
in the heavens and he laughs.
(41:07):
He said you know you'll nevertouch the intellect, but if you
ask me, I'll give you the heart.
Our former mayor, mayor LorettaSpencer.
Years ago we were dedicatingthe building on 2300 for all of
you new people, we were 15 years.
Two miles down the way beforethat we were in an old bar.
(41:31):
We all bellied up for threeyears in an old bar and she came
for our dedication to thatbuilding, that building.
(41:57):
She said, you know, sheactually, the presence of God
was so strong that Sundaymorning Lisa was on one side of
this precious woman who I've hada dear friendship with all
these years, and I was on theother side of her and she said
don't let go of my hand, I don'twant to fall.
I don't know if she meant bythat completely, but I do know
the presence of God was sostrong that day and she wept and
(42:24):
she made this statement.
She said you know, some peoplefeel like the heart of
Huntsville is downtown.
Never forget this, she said,but it's moved through the
growth of those years.
And she looked at us and saidyou are the heart of Huntsville.
And God took me back to thatlittle phrase and he said I told
(42:48):
you, son, ask me and I'll giveyou the heart.
You see, in this place, thisseat of victory, it's not mine,
(43:08):
it's his.
This is his victory.
We're more than conquerors,because he conquered, he's the
conqueror.
If my eyes are on my abilitiesor on my gifts or talents, it
will only go so far.
It's so human influenced.
But if he's the source, if he'sthe strength, if he's my
(43:30):
salvation, if he is my joy inthe morning, if he is my peace
at night, if he is the shalomshalom, he is the prince of
peace, he is the mighty God, heis the everlasting father, he is
the one this is all about.
Then, when I'm facing difficultmoments, I'm sitting in the seat
because he let me sit next tohim and he said I'll never leave
(43:54):
you, I'll never forsake you.
And I may not know what to doand I can look and say what do
you want me to do?
What do you desire?
Because I can't see past mewhen you go on a 35,000 foot
(44:15):
view and you're looking down inan airplane and I have flown out
of here so many times throughthe years and I have felt a
weight just lift off and I getup there and I look down and
people just look like ants.
Can't even see people, thingsare just.
It's quiet.
Speaker 1 (44:41):
It's peaceful why?
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Because a 35,000 foot view is a lot different than
being in Times Square andhearing all the noise and all
the clatter and the chatter.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
Where does it start?
Speaker 2 (45:15):
He never said how we were faced in the seat.
Thank you, my dad, thank you.
We are seated together inheavenly places, way above
principalities and powers.
I know all things work togetherfor the good because I'm called
(45:55):
by you.
You called me out of the crowd,out of numbers, out of chatter.
You said follow me.
I got distracted with the crowd.
Many times I had my chairfacing wrong, but you've made me
(46:20):
to sit together with you, thankyou.
You've already blessed me, so Ipraise you as though it's
already done.
Would you close your eyes justfor a moment, lift your hands?
Speaker 1 (46:39):
Thank you, Jesus fear gets smaller.
Speaker 2 (47:00):
Come up higher.
Offense loses its power.
Come up higher.
God's purpose becomes so muchclearer.
Come up higher.
If you change your seat, you'llchange your sight, and from his
(47:26):
seat you won't react from fear,you'll just respond from faith.
You'll no longer chase identity, you'll live from it.
(47:47):
You'll live from it Becausebeing in the right seat changes
our complete perspective.
Right seat changes our completeperspective.
It's how we see things to themoment that the one in that seat
of victory, of authority, theone who has already done it, who
has already loved us, who hasalready blessed us, he looks at
(48:11):
us now and he says now see whatI see, son, feel what I feel.
And I've given my spirit to youto have the authority to do
something about what you seethrough my eyes and what you
feel from my heart.
(48:32):
I ask you today, in this close,who's influencing your walk?
Who are you listening to?
Where are you standing?
What company are you keeping?
Are you standing on truth or isit compromised?
(48:53):
What seed have you claimed, myfriend?
He invites us to sit with himin heavenly places.
Where you sit today determineswho you become tomorrow, and if
we're going to believe for theimpossible, we must know the God
(49:15):
that all things are possible tothem who believe Jesus Jesus.
Jesus, no one.
Please walk in out of theauditorium if you can please,
(49:37):
unless it's an emergency, wouldyou very respectfully and
reverently stand with me?
I'd like for our prayer teamsto come.
Here's what I want to ask.
God took my seat out of a crowdjust like you.
(50:05):
He doesn't redeem somebody's.
He redeems nobody's and makesthem somebody.
And who are we?
I'm a child of the king.
I am my beloved's and he ismine.
(50:30):
There is no weapon formedagainst me that will.
I am my beloved's and he ismine.
There is no weapon formedagainst me that will prosper.
Every tongue that rises againstI condemn, because it's a part
of my inheritance, Jesus Jesus.
(50:55):
Father, I thank you for yourword today.
If you're here, you'd say youknow what I'm tired of getting.
I got to get out of the seat ofcompromise, out of the seat of
mockery and arrogance and theseat of cynicism.
Hell, I've seen, is what otherpeople have said about him.
But who do men say that I am?
(51:15):
He asked his disciples.
Well, some say you're John theBaptist, you're Moses, you're
Elijah.
But he said but who am I to you?
You are the Christ, theanointed one in his anointing,
the son of the living God.
If that's your cry today and yousay I'm changing seats, I want
(51:39):
you to get up from where yourseat is.
You don't have to bring a seat.
Just come out of your seat andcome, make an altar and say I'm
coming to Jesus, believe for theimpossible.
The next time Murphy's lawcomes and tries to read it to
(52:04):
you, you just say but he's theGod of the already and he's
already met all my needsaccording to his riches and
glory in Christ Jesus.
So I think I'll praise him asthough it's already done.
Amen.
Can you give the Lord praisetoday?
(52:25):
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May the Lord make his face toshine on you, be gracious to you
.
May the Lord lift up hiscountenance on you, give you
(52:48):
peace, write his name on you andsay you belong to me.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
I pray you have a Jesus-filled week.
We hope and pray.
This message was encouragingand impactful.
Join us live on our website orFacebook.
On Sundays at 9 and 11 am.
You can stay connected with uson Facebook and Instagram at the
Rock Family.
Have a Jesus-filled week.
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