September 23, 2024 • 48 mins
In this message we examine how Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God, the exact representation of His nature. We look at the Greek term "character," found in Hebrews 1:3, which emphasizes Jesus as the authentic and permanent imprint of God's essence, like a stamp engraved on a coin. Jesus consistently radiates God’s glory, comparable to the constant presence of stars, even when hidden by daylight. This metaphor teaches that despite our distractions, Jesus remains with us, ready to reveal God in our situations.
This message underscores the principle "whatever you look at, you empower," cautioning us against fixating on inferior distractions over Jesus, our true guiding light. Our focus determines whether we empower earthly issues or magnify God's presence in our lives. This is a call to enthrone Jesus by focusing on Him amidst adversities, thus dethroning problems and placing them under God’s dominion.
Peter’s encounter during the Transfiguration (Matthew 17) reveals the folly of equating Jesus with mere historical figures like Moses (the law) or Elijah (the prophets). When overshadowed by divine presence, Jesus stands out as the sole representation of God’s glory and essence.
In conclusion, focusing on Jesus rather than temporal or troubling circumstances empowers us to experience God’s glory and guidance. Jesus is the unwavering light in the midst of darkness.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So good.
Thank you, thank you both.
Amen, oh man, praise God.
Does anybody want to bebaptized?
I mean that We've got the tank,we've got water.
I'm going to ask that everytime we gather from now on.
(00:23):
Yeah, we got a tank right here.
We can fill it with water Ifanyone wants to be baptized.
What's that she said?
Do we have hot water?
Well, the baptism is kind ofcontingent on the temperature of
(00:45):
the water.
I have wetsuits that you canput on.
Seriously, I want us to be achurch culture that is ready at
all times for the waters ofbaptism.
(01:07):
Okay, there's one otherannouncement that we need to
make.
This one.
I'm actually kind of excitedabout this.
I know Lindsay is too.
The weather, obviously, isbeginning to change.
We're getting ready to comeinto daylight savings time in a
few weeks.
So we've been thinking like,okay, what do we do when that
(01:28):
happens?
And we've just asked a fewpeople if we move to service our
gathering time to the morning,would that affect folks?
It sounded like that wouldaffect quite a few people.
So we want to keep thegathering time like it is, at
four o'clock, but we're going totransition in two weeks into
this building right here, sowe're still going to be here.
(01:51):
We're just going to be insideof that beautiful glory chamber
right there, and wonderful folkshave been kind enough to lend a
tent for us to use for thewinter months.
So if we need extra space, andI imagine we will, we're going
(02:12):
to butt that up against thegarage door, open the garage
door.
That allows for more chairs.
We have heaters that will turnon in there.
If you haven't been in thebuilding, it is super cozy,
super awesome.
We've got a wood-burning fires,wood stove in there, some cozy
furniture.
I love it in there.
(02:32):
Probably too much, but it'sanother conversation.
So in two weeks we're going toshift there.
The thing is we're going to needto start at four o'clock.
So I'm going to start saying westart at three 59 so that you
guys think, okay, well, I needto get there by three 45 so that
(02:55):
I can hang out, I can bringwhatever talk to whoever gets
settled, but we're going to needto start right at four o'clock.
So just make preparation forthat.
If you're late, it's cool,there's grace, we understand.
Things happen, cars break down,there's traffic, kids, whatever
.
But if you could just as bestas you can, get here before 4
(03:17):
o'clock so that we can jump inand begin at 4 o'clock.
That's going to be helpful.
Second important thing we're notgoing to do a meal every Sunday
.
The kids are just heart,they're just destroyed right now
.
We're not going to do a mealevery Sunday during these winter
(03:39):
months.
Practically, logistically, itwould just be a challenge.
But what we are going to do isthe third Sunday of every month
we will have a meal, and so thattime is going to look a little
similar to a few weeks ago whenwe had, like the barbecue and
there were tables set up in hereand it was fellowship time.
So that third Sunday of themonth we will do a meal and
(04:03):
we'll remind you guys of thesethings as we go on.
I just want to let you knowahead of time.
So, two weeks get here beforefour o'clock.
If you want to get here andhang out, come at 3.30.
Like, help move chairs, hangout, we're here.
Get here by four o'clock and wewill not have a meal that first
(04:24):
Sunday.
Any questions?
Okay, let's pray and then we'lljump into the word.
Thank you, lord.
Lord, I ask that you give methe grace to communicate things
that are much too big for me.
Oh, give us all the grace tohear what the Spirit is saying
(04:46):
to the church.
Holy Spirit, exalt Jesus in ourmidst.
Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to usthrough this living word of
yours.
Thank you, god.
We love you.
We desire to love you so muchmore.
(05:06):
Give us that grace now as weopen your word In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Okay, open up to Hebrews,chapter 1.
Hebrews, chapter 1.
Hebrews, chapter 1, beginningin verse 1.
God, who at various times andin various ways spoke in the
(05:29):
past to the fathers by theprophets, has in these last days
spoken to us by his son, whomhe has appointed heir of all
things, through whom he alsomade the world.
Verse three and he, jesus, isthe radiance of God's glory and
(05:51):
the exact representation of hisnature.
He upholds all things by thepower of his word.
Jesus is the radiance of God'sglory and the exact expression,
the exact representation ofGod's nature.
Jesus is not a reflection ofthe father.
(06:16):
Jesus is the essence and thenature of God.
Jesus wasn't kidding aroundwhen he said if you've seen me,
you've seen the father.
Jesus is exactly what God wantsto say about himself.
As I heard someone put it soperfectly Jesus is exactly what
(06:40):
God wants to say about himself.
Now I want to point outsomething in verse three that is
pretty fascinating.
Verse three says he's theradiance of God's glory and the
exact representation of hisnature.
The Greek word for that phrasethat we translate exact
representation is charakter.
(07:01):
Say charakter, charakter.
Now this is the only time thatthis word charakter is used in
scripture.
This word charakter means to beembossed onto a coin, or
engraved or stamped onto a coin.
(07:23):
It's the writing style that isso unique to an individual.
Caractere is the bodily andpsychological structure that you
were born with.
That makes you completelyunique from anyone else on the
planet.
Caractere is the quality of asnowflake that makes it unlike
(07:46):
any other snowflake.
Caractere is something that isinnate.
It just is Like.
When you look at a coin, itjust has that engraving on it.
It just is.
When you look at a snowflake,it just has its own uniqueness
to it.
You have your own distinctionabout you.
(08:07):
That's charakter.
Charakter is something thatjust is.
It doesn't change, it doesn'tdevelop over time.
It is like the coin doesn'timprove itself with further
engraving.
It is, it has it.
So this is where we need tomake the distinction.
It's not character, although itsounds like it would be, because
(08:29):
our character matures anddevelops over time.
Character it just is.
Hebrews 1.3 is saying thatJesus reveals God in a unique
and a complete way that only Godhimself can reveal.
Jesus is the fullness of deityin bodily form, as Paul says in
(08:55):
Colossians 2.9, jesus is God andJesus perfectly reveals God.
Now, as cool as that all that is, that's not the main throcks of
my message today.
It's not where we're going tospend the majority of our time,
but I do want to flesh out thisword character a little more.
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Character is constant.
It's always present.
Again, the stamp on the coin isalways there.
Character is always present,even if it's not always seen.
Just because I have a coin inmy pocket doesn't mean that it's
(09:38):
no longer engraved with theimage.
Even if character is hiddenfrom sight, it's still there.
So, kids, let me ask you aquestion Are there stars in the
sky right now?
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I don't see any stars, yeah,right now.
Are there stars above us rightnow?
We got some yeses, we got someno's.
Why are you saying there's nostars in the sky right now?
Because you can't see them?
Yes, okay.
(10:19):
Why are you saying that thereare stars in the sky?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
because if you go up in space, you can see the stars.
You can't see stars becausethey're blue.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
The sky is hiding them.
Okay, so there are still starsthere, we just can't see them.
Okay, that's charakter.
Even though we can't see it,it's still there.
Even though we can't see thestars right now, joshua, there
are stars above us.
What do we do?
Even Even though we can't seethe stars right now, joshua,
there are stars above us.
Even though we can't see thestars, they're there.
(10:48):
They're just currentlyovershadowed by something else,
like a star that seems to behidden in the daytime.
It's still up there.
It's still radiating glory.
The star is still shining.
It's just overshadowed rightnow by something brighter the
sun.
In the same way, now we'regetting to the meat.
(11:09):
Jesus is always with us.
He's always radiating glory,he's always revealing God.
He's like the North Star in thesky.
He's constant, he's unchanging,it's always there.
It's always shining brightlyand pointing the way home.
Come on somebody.
(11:41):
But sometimes he's overshadowedby something inferior that we're
giving more attention to.
When Jesus is my obsession, heis the brightest star in my
solar system.
Can we say it that way, usingthe metaphor?
When he's everything to me, heis the brightest star in my
universe.
When I take my eyes off ofJesus and I give attention to
(12:06):
something that's happeningaround me.
He's still there and he stillwants to reveal God into my
situation, but he's overshadowedby something that I'm giving
higher priority to.
For example, the North Star isalways going to be the brightest
star in the sky.
What happens when I give myattention to an airplane that's
(12:30):
flying by?
I get distracted and I followthis airplane.
The lights on the wings of thatplane become the brightest
thing in my universe.
But what's brighter the NorthStar or the blinking light on a
plane?
The North Star or the blinkinglight on a plane?
The North Star.
But by giving attention tosomething inferior, I'm tricking
(12:50):
myself into thinking it's thebrightest thing in the solar
system.
Here comes a good line for you.
You ready?
Are you listening?
Get your pens ready.
I get to determine which starshines the brightest in my solar
system.
He's unchanging.
(13:12):
He's always radiating glory.
I'm the one who changes andgets distracted and become
fascinated with inferior things.
I get to determine which staris shining the brightest in my
solar system.
So let's apply this metaphor toour day-to-day lives.
(13:33):
I get to determine if myproblem is shining the brightest
or if Jesus is shining thebrightest.
I get to determine if myfeelings are shining the
brightest or if Jesus is.
I get to determine if myfeelings are shining the
brightest or if Jesus is.
I get to determine if my bankaccount is shining the brightest
or if Jesus is.
I get to determine if thediagnosis is shining the
(13:56):
brightest or if Jesus is.
I get to determine fill in theblank.
I get to determine fill in theblank or if Jesus is.
And here we arrive at the mainpoint that I want to make
Whatever you look at you,empower Whatever you look at.
(14:17):
You.
Give authority to Whatever youlook at you.
Empower we good.
So far, everybody tracking.
I've done good with myanalogies and my metaphors and
my illustrations.
So good.
She says it's my daughter,everyone.
I can't look at two things atthe same time.
(14:37):
Right, I can't look at Jesusand my situation.
I can't give a hundred percentto Jesus and a hundred percent
to my problem.
So when I look at my situation,I can't give a hundred percent
to Jesus and a hundred percentto my problem.
So when I look at my problem,or I look at my feelings or I
look at my fears and I give moreattention to those things than
I do to Jesus, I'm empowering mysituation.
(14:59):
I'm feeding that problem morethan I am empowering Jesus to
reveal God into my situation.
Whoever sows to the flesh willreap destruction from the flesh.
What am I doing?
I'm sowing, I'm empowering, I'mfueling things of the flesh.
(15:21):
And what's going to happen?
I'm going to reap destructionof the flesh.
Whoever sows to the spirit,whoever focuses on the spirit,
empowers the spirit, will reapeternal life from the spirit.
It's Galatians 6.8.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Now I'm going to use a storyfrom scripture to illustrate my
point.
So turn to 2 Chronicles Toillustrate my point.
(15:42):
So turn to 2 Chronicles,chapter 20.
Tommy's going to read a versefor us.
You ready, bud.
I'm excited about this.
While Tommy gets ready, 2Chronicles, chapter 20, I'm
going to summarize the backstory.
I know it's distracting becauseJack is cutting a field next
(16:03):
door, but try to stay locked in.
You're doing good, all right.
2 Chronicles, chapter 20.
This is a fantastic story.
I would encourage you to studyit, read through it, meditate on
it on your own time.
It is an awesome story.
The Reader's Digest version 2Chronicles, chapter 20, tells a
story of King Jehoshaphat SethOlivia, there's another name for
(16:26):
you for baby number twoJehoshaphat, maybe King.
The first name, jehoshaphat,the middle name King Jehoshaphat
Brigham, the first KingJehoshaphat.
He was king over God's peopleat a time when the Moabites and
the Ammonites and other nationsthat surrounded Israel, they all
(16:49):
came together and declared waron God's people.
King Jehoshaphat, he sees hisenemies advancing and
surrounding them.
So what does he do?
He determines to seek the Lord.
He proclaims a fast and hegathers all of God's people
together in Jerusalem so thatthey could seek the Lord
(17:12):
together.
And when the nation, when God'speople gathered together, the
king stands in the middle of theassembly and he says this in
verse 12.
Go ahead, tommy, let it rip.
Good job, buddy.
Thank you.
Good job, tommy.
Can I read it again?
In case somebody didn't hearthat, I'm going to read it again
(17:35):
.
Is that cool, okay?
Second Chronicles, 20, verse 12.
This is what Jehoshaphat theking proclaims in front of the
entire nation oh Lord, our God,will you not judge our enemies?
For we have no power againstthis great multitude that's
coming against us, nor do weknow what to do.
(17:58):
Can you imagine Trump or Bidenstanding up in front of the
nations that I have no idea whatto do?
In fact, I'm powerless.
That wasn't a politicalstatement.
That's why I said Trump orBiden.
Imagine any king standing up andsaying that oh Lord, our God.
(18:20):
We are completely powerless.
We have no idea what to do, butlisten to what he says next.
Our eyes are on you.
Our eyes are fixed on the onewho's unchanging and all
powerful.
Jehoshaphat's eyes were not onhis enemies assembling together
(18:48):
just outside of the border.
His eyes were not on hismilitary leaders getting counsel
from them.
His eyes were not on his allies.
His eyes were not on hisweapons, his strategies that may
have worked in the past.
His eyes were on Yahweh, acomplete posture of humility in
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front of the entire nation.
Now look at the result of whathappens next.
Verse 13.
Now, all of Judah with theirlittle ones, their wives, their
children.
I love that, thatmulti-generational picture.
We're all in this together, man.
Now, all of Judah with theirlittle ones, their wives, their
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children.
They stood before the Lord.
Do you remember that languagefrom a couple of weeks ago?
That's priestly languagestanding before the Lord,
ministering to him.
They stood before the Lord,ministering to him.
They stood before the Lord.
Then the Spirit of the Lord cameupon Jehaziel.
Who's Jehaziel?
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We don't know.
We don't know.
He's just some dude in thecrowd.
There's nothing special abouthim.
He's not a high, anointedprophet in the land that
everyone's looking to for theword of the Lord.
He's just some guy there in themidst of humble, broken,
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contrite Israel, with their eyesfixed on Jesus.
And the spirit of the Lord comeson this young man and he says
this listen, all of Judah andyou, inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and you, king Jehoshaphat.
He's talking to the king, king,listen to me, I got a word from
the Lord.
Thus says the Lord to you.
(20:40):
Oh boy, you better get this oneright.
Young man Thus says the LordDon't be afraid because of this
multitude, for the battle is notyours.
The battle belongs to the Lord.
Tomorrow, go down against themand they will surely come up by
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the ascent of Zs, verse 17,.
You won't need to fight in thisbattle.
Position yourselves, standstill and see the salvation of
the Lord.
Do not fear or be dismayed.
Tomorrow, go out against them,for the Lord is with you.
Their eyes were on the Lord,not their situation.
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And then God rewards them bysaying you're going to see my
salvation tomorrow.
The next day, they go out to thebattlefield worshiping.
We don't have time, but on yourown, look at that.
It's awesome, a beautifulpicture.
They go out in praise.
Praise becomes their weapon.
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They go out onto thebattlefield worshiping and their
enemies begin fighting oneanother.
The Lord brings confusion ontheir enemies and the Moabites
and the Ammonites.
They fight each other.
Israel wins.
As God's people lifted theireyes off of their enemies and
(22:11):
looked to the Lord, they saw hissalvation released over their
situation.
God was empowered in thatmoment to be God over Israel's
enemies.
The humility of his people maderoom for God to be God.
That's a good statement rightthere.
The humility of God's peoplemade space for God to be God.
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If you belong to the Lord, thebattle does not belong to you.
It belongs to the Lord.
See how that works.
If you belong to him, thebattle doesn't belong to you,
it's his.
If you belong to the Lord, yoursituation doesn't belong to you
.
It belongs to him.
If you belong to the Lord, yourdiagnosis doesn't belong to you
(23:03):
.
It's in his hands.
You belong to the Lord.
Your bank account doesn'tbelong to you.
It belongs to him.
Your lost family members, yourprodigal children, your past,
your present and what happens inthe future.
It doesn't belong to you.
It belongs to him If you belongto the Lord, then you've been
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crucified with Christ.
Your life is no longer your own.
You've been bought at a price.
The moment that you give moreattention to your situation than
you do to the God of yoursituation is the moment that you
take ownership of your problem.
I'm going to read that oneagain, because that's a doozy
(23:52):
the moment that you give moreattention to your situation than
you do to the God of yoursituation is the moment that you
take ownership of that problem.
If Jehoshaphat would have kepthis eyes on Moab and Amon, he
would have had to come up withthe solution.
That problem would havebelonged to him.
(24:15):
But that posture of fasting andhumility in front of the entire
nation, lord, I have no ideawhat to do, but my eyes are on
you.
God's like great.
I can be myself.
Now, now that you're out of theway, I can actually be God in
this situation.
When your eyes are on him, yourenemies become his enemies.
(24:38):
I like that one.
I don't want my enemies to bemy enemies.
I want god to deal with thewicked.
I want god to speak and defendme.
I want god to move on my behalf.
I can't do it the way that hedoes.
When my eyes are on him, myenemies become his enemies and
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he's undefeated.
He bats a thousand.
King Jehoshaphat understoodsomething that is very important
for us to understand the threatagainst God's people was a
threat against the testimony ofGod in the earth.
Moab wasn't coming againstJehoshaphat.
(25:21):
Moab was coming against God,the God of Abraham, isaac and
Jacob, the God of Israel, theGod of Jerusalem.
Moab was taking a stand againstYahweh.
If Jehoshaphat as a righteousking who genuinely sought the
(25:43):
Lord, if Jehoshaphat isdestroyed by the enemy armies,
what's this going to say aboutJehoshaphat's God?
What's the testimony of Godgoing to be in the earth in
Jehoshaphat's generation?
So, were the MoabitesJehoshaphat's problem or God's
problem?
It's a rhetorical question.
The Moabites were notJehoshaphat's problem.
(26:06):
They were God's problem, aslong as Jehoshaphat kept his
eyes on Yahweh.
Was Goliath David's problem orGod's problem?
Was Goliath David's problem orGod's problem?
Because the way I read thestory, goliath is running his
mouth not against Saul and hisarmy, but against the God of
(26:30):
Israel.
Goliath was God's problem.
Goliath didn't know it.
He had picked a fight withYahweh.
Was the lion Daniel's problemor God's problem?
Because Daniel had lived hisentire life worshiping and
declaring this God of Israel andhow great he is.
All right, let's throw thattroublemaker in with the lions
(26:52):
and see how great this God is.
The lion was God's problem.
Was Pharaoh Moses' problem orGod's problem?
Because Moses talked a big gameabout how awesome Yahweh was
and Pharaoh wasn't buying it.
Pharaoh was God's problem aslong as Moses' perspective was
(27:18):
right.
The enemy wants to use Goliathto disprove what God says about
himself.
I'm going to say that one againtoo.
The enemy wants to use Goliathto disprove what God has said
about himself.
The situation standing in frontof you is not a problem for you
(27:38):
to figure out.
It's actually an assaultagainst the testimony of God in
your life.
Man, if we can get a hold ofthis, it puts problems in a
really good place.
This situation standing infront of you is not a problem
for you to figure out.
(28:00):
It is actually an assaultagainst the testimony of God in
your life.
When I know that the diagnosisis an assault against who God
says he is, I don't focus on thediagnosis.
I come to him and I say Lord,did you hear what the doctors
(28:23):
were saying about your son?
When the prodigal child has notcome home, of course we pray
for them to come home.
Don't hear what I'm not saying.
Of course we go to doctors andwe trust in the wisdom that God
has given doctors to heal uswith on occasion.
But we go to God and we sayLord, it's not okay that one
(28:47):
part of my family is in thekingdom but the other part is
not.
That's an assault against yourtestimony.
Because you are amulti-generational God, you're
the God of Abraham, isaac andJacob.
Because you are amulti-generational God, you're
the God of Abraham, isaac andJacob.
Let me see if I can make thispoint In my head.
It's really good.
(29:07):
Okay, let's go back to the verybeginning Eve's mistake.
Where did Eve get it wrong?
She engaged with the serpentwho was taking aim?
Not Eve.
She didn't care about Eve.
The serpent's aim was on thetestimony of God in creation.
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That's where I'm going.
Did God really say he's tryingto snake his way in to get her
eyes off of God?
She got her eyes off of God andonto something forbidden and the
serpent says don't listen toGod.
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He knows.
If you eat of the fruit what'sgoing to happen.
Your eyes will be opened.
That's what Genesis 3 says.
Your eyes will be opened.
That's what Genesis 3 says youreyes will be opened and you'll
be just like him.
So she looked at the fruit andshe sees wow, it's actually
(30:09):
beautiful to the eyes, genesis 3, 6.
What's the strategy of theenemy?
Get your eyes off of theradiant one and onto something
inferior, no matter howbeautiful it may appear.
She got her eyes off of themost beautiful thing in the
(30:30):
solar system and becameinfatuated with something
inferior.
Remember that next time you'retempted to look at pornography,
she enthroned her temptation byfixing her eyes on it.
(30:51):
She empowered the temptation byfixing her eyes on it.
But when we fix our eyes onJesus, we're enthroning him,
empowering him to be God in oursituation and we're dethroning
our problem.
We're enthroning the king andwe're dethroning the temptation
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or the situation.
By fixing our eyes on Jesus,we're putting our situation into
its proper place.
We're putting our listen tothis.
By fixing our eyes on Jesus,we're putting our situation into
its proper place.
We're putting our problem whereall of God's enemies belong
underneath his feet.
(31:35):
That's where all of his enemiesend up underneath his feet.
That's where all of his enemiesend up, underneath his feet.
And by fixing our eyes on him,we're dethroning our problem.
Enthrone Jesus by fixing youreyes on him in the midst of your
enemies, which simultaneouslydethrones your problem.
And now that big, scary problemhas become part of the
(31:57):
footstool that lifts Jesushigher and higher.
Come on, man, this good stuff,this big scary problem, now gets
put in its proper place,underneath the feet of Jesus,
and what does that do?
It exalts him even higher.
That's him turning all thingstogether for good.
(32:21):
Whatever you look at, youenthrone.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards Any surfers in here.
We need Shane here.
He could, he could verify.
Okay, yeah, we'll get somesurfers over here.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards.
How about motorcycle riders?
Any motorcycle riders?
No, guys, come on, man.
(32:45):
We need to do this family thing.
We need to surf together.
We need to get on the road andride motorcycles together.
We'd be like the coolest churcharound.
Kayaking, yeah, kayaking,kayaking, kayaking, okay, I
think, kayaking, okay.
I think the principle wouldwork there.
The point that I was trying tomake in my silly way whatever
you look at, you move towards.
(33:05):
One of the principles ofsurfing is wherever you look,
that's where you're naturallygoing to go.
Same with a motorcycle whereveryou look, that's where the
motorcycle is going to end upgoing.
The same thing with a car.
Okay, maybe it works for a cartoo.
The motorcycle metaphor is justso much cooler.
All right, we're almost done.
(33:29):
Whatever you look at, youenthrone.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards.
I'm going to close with thisstory from Matthew 17.
You can turn there if you want,but I can summarize it.
It's the story of the Mount ofTransfiguration Peter James and
(33:50):
John.
They were taken up on thismountain.
Kids, listen to this.
This is going to be really good.
You're going to like thismountain.
Kids, listen to this.
This is going to be really good.
You're going to like this story.
Jesus takes Peter James and Johnthree of his disciples up onto
this mountain to pray with him,and they have one of the most
(34:15):
remarkable encounters any humanbeing has ever had.
They saw Moses and Elijahtalking with Jesus, like,
literally, moses and Elijah, thelaw and the prophets talking
with Jesus.
They saw Jesus begin to glowlike lightning.
That's cooler than any Marvelcharacter they've ever come up
(34:38):
with.
Jesus was glowing likelightning.
Peter's initial response is towhat?
Let me build.
Let me build something.
Peter's response is to build amonument to this incredible
encounter.
Three tabernacles, one forMoses, one for Elijah, one for
(35:01):
Jesus.
Good job, peter.
You just made Jesus equal withMoses and Elijah.
Peter is completely out of hismind.
He just made Jesus equal withthe law and the prophets.
That's another message foranother day.
But Jesus just completelyignores Peter.
He makes no acknowledgement ofhis foolishness.
(35:22):
Then they become overshadowedby this glory cloud.
They heard, from the midst ofthis cloud, the voice of the
heavenly father, like they heardthe voice of the father saying
this is my beloved son, peterJames and John.
(35:44):
They fall down on their facesin absolute terror.
They are beyond themselves,shocked, amazed and terrified.
Jesus comes over to comfortthem and reassure them.
It's going to be okay.
And then Matthew closes out thestory with this incredible line
Matthew 17, verse 8.
(36:06):
When they, peter James and John,lifted up their eyes, they saw
no one but Jesus only.
Was he still glowing?
It's a great question.
I don't know, but this is oneof the most helpful and
(36:29):
practical verses I think that wecan meditate on.
They saw no one but Jesus only.
Can you say that about yourself.
Can I say that about myself?
I'm going through my day andI'm just seeing nothing but
Jesus.
As amazing as the encounter wasfor Peter, james and John, the
(36:51):
point was not for them to builda monument on the mountain
commemorating the situation.
The point was to see Jesus asthe radiance of the father's
glory and the exact expressionof the father's nature.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against the law and
(37:15):
against the prophets.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against the glory cloud
.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against their own fear.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against their own fear
(37:41):
and to see him shine as thebrightest thing in the universe.
And then to come off thatmountaintop encounter, enter
back into real life with Jesusand find him in the day-to-day
rhythm of life.
They learned to see no one butJesus only.
(38:06):
There's a verse I believe it'sPsalm 16, 8.
I have placed the Lord alwaysbefore me Because he's at my
right hand.
I will not be shaken.
We don't go through life withour heads in the sand.
So I'm just looking at Jesus.
I'm not looking at the billthat just came in the mail.
I'm not looking at what thedoctors just showed me x-rays,
(38:27):
for we have to have wisdom, butwe see those things through the
cross.
We have to have wisdom, but wesee those things through the
cross.
We put it in the properperspective.
I'm looking at Jesus first andthen letting him tell me about
the situation, letting him dealwith the situation, letting him
(38:51):
be God in my situation.
Years later, peter recalled thismountaintop encounter and he
wrote these words in 2 Peter, 2Peter, I believe it's chapter 1.
I didn't make the note here.
I think it's 2 Peter 1, verse18 and 19.
He says, man, we heard theFather's voice.
(39:12):
He says, man, we heard thefather's voice.
We heard the voice which camefrom heaven when we were with
Jesus up on the mountain.
This is what he says.
We heard the voice that saidthis is my beloved son.
And so we have the propheticword confirmed.
Listen to this, which you dowell to pay attention to, to fix
(39:37):
your eyes on, to gaze, to lookat.
You do well to pay attention toas a light that shines in a
dark place.
Come on, man, he makes thedarkness tremble Until the day
dawns and the morning star risesin your hearts.
(39:57):
Jesus is the light shining indark places.
Jesus is the morning starrising in the dawn, he's the
radiance of the Father's gloryand the exact expression of his
nature, and when our eyes are on, him only and he shines his
(40:19):
glory into whatever situation heallows us to be in.
That's another message foranother day as well.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at youenthrone.
Whatever you look at youworship.
(40:40):
Whatever you look at, you movetoward Psalm 119, I'll close
with this.
Psalm 119, verse 37, turn awaymy eyes from looking at
worthless things and revive mein your ways.
And Psalm 123, verse one untoyou I lift up my eyes, oh you
(41:02):
who dwell in the heavens, amen,amen.
Any questions?
Comments?
How about Tommy?
Tommy did a great job.
Thank you, buddy, good job,thank you.
(41:23):
Any questions?
Comments?
Contributions?
Yes, sir, oh yeah, come on.
The light of the body is theeye.
Yeah, yeah, it's good.
(41:44):
Anyone else?
Speaker 3 (41:47):
I want to share the Russian translation, Hebrews 1-2
.
It says God now speaks to usopenly In the language of a son.
The Hashem translation, Hebrews1, 2,.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
It says God now speaks to us openly in the
language of a son.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
So good.
I like that.
That's God's language.
So good.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
And I appreciate that , because that's exactly what
the writer of Hebrews moves into, comparing Jesus to Moses.
Moses is a servant, jesus has ason, so good, can you say it
again, regina?
Yes, I'll read it to Moses.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Moses a servant, Jesus as a son.
So good.
Can you say it again, Regina?
Yes, I'll read it to you, butto us living in these last days,
God speaks to us openly in thelanguage of a son, the appointed
heir of everything.
But through him God created thepanorama of all things in all
time, and then it goes into sayhe's the exact expression.
So, God speaks to us in thelanguage of a sign man.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
So good, beautiful, yeah, good question.
So, basically, what are somepractical ways that we can stay
focused on Jesus in the midst ofa crisis?
For me personally, praying inthe spirit is a big one of a
crisis.
For me personally, praying inthe spirit is a big one.
If I'm in the midst ofsomething, I'm going to lock
away and I'm going to pray intongues a lot.
(43:01):
Fasting is another one.
We saw that in the story ofKing Jehoshaphat, so I'm going
to use that as an opportunity tofast.
So within that fast, I'm alsogoing to be seeking the Lord
through prayer and other ways.
I'm going to be findingscriptures that apply to the
situation and I'll be declaringthose of the situation.
Um, so, in in that way, what amI doing?
(43:23):
I'm taking that posture ofhumility.
I don't even know what to pray,lord, but your word says that
in in situations like this, theHoly Spirit prays with.
But your word says that insituations like this, the Holy
Spirit prays with groans toodeep for understanding.
So, rather than take this witha grain of salt, but rather than
pridefully speak in my ownlanguage, I'm going to, like a
child, babble in the tongues ofthe Spirit, trusting that you're
(43:49):
going to be God in thatsituation.
That's an act of humility.
I think praying in tongues is anincredible act of humility.
It's foolish.
That's even what Paul says in 1Corinthians 14.
It's foolish.
Anyway, that's another messagefor another day too.
Fasting is also another act ofhumility.
(44:12):
I am entering into this placeof weakness, humility,
brokenness.
Why?
Because I don't even believe Ihave the strength to approach
this problem, so I'm going topull myself out and let God be
God in this situation.
I believe that findingscriptures and declaring God's
(44:39):
word is also an act of humility,but it's an act of aggression
because you're declaringsomething.
You're using that sword of thespirit to declare over the
situation.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
And also asking for prayer from others to support to
focus on God.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Yeah, so if you feel it necessary to involve others
in as well, that's another goodthing.
No because you can.
You can end up.
It's kind of tricky because youdon't.
You don't want to be the personwho's calling 127 prayer
warriors.
Every time there's a situationlike, God wants to mature us and
(45:13):
grow us up into a place wherewe can be like David and be like
I'm I'm getting ready todestroy Goliath right now
because no one else is willingto do it, you know.
And then there's other timeswhere you need to be like
Jehoshaphat and look at everyonearound you and be like hey,
does anyone have a word?
I have no idea what to do, butthe point is that, like there's
(45:38):
not like black and white, oh,when I have a problem, I've got
my 12 people that I always call.
Like no Lord, grow me up intomaturity and make me a weapon,
make me an arrow in your quiver.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
I have one thing yes ma'am.
It did say he was a Levite, theman that spoke up.
So I've been reading Exodus andI believe the Levites were the
priests right, they were theones that were separated as
priests.
They were even like you weretalking last time.
They were adorned with thegarments and they were
(46:12):
consecrated.
So it doesn't surprise me thatit was a Levite that spoke out
in that moment which I think isgreat, but but the word meant to
point that out.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
It says that he was a son of is it Zachariah?
And then son of a son of a sonof a son, and then it said a
Levite.
One of them was.
One of them was there was a, sohe was also the son of Asaph
and that specific lineage wereworshipers.
(46:43):
So he was, he was Levitical,but he was, like, designated as
a worshiper and that in itself,I think, is beautiful too.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
Which, answering that question too, is praise and
worship.
It's awesome.
It's usually where I go, and Ieven choose specific songs
sometimes that are really goodat like getting my attention on
what God can do rather than whatI can do.
Speaker 1 (47:09):
Okay, so that's another practical thing that you
can do Worship, worship in themidst of your situation.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
One of my favorites is stomp, that really old one
Sometimes I will bring that oneout.
Or who's coming after me.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
It always gets me so fired up.
Yep, oh my.
Speaker 1 (47:30):
God, yeah, speaking of not separating the holy and
the mundane, the meal is stillsacred.
We're not leaving the sacredspace and going into the mundane
.
That table is still holy, amen,okay, thank you, jesus.
Lord, we exalt your name.
Holy Spirit, give us eyes tosee Jesus exalted, radiant,
(47:53):
glorious, holy.
Give us the grace, in the dailyrhythm of life, to keep our
eyes fixed on the King and Lord.
Let us be amazed as everythingaround us falls into place.
Thank you, lord.
We love you.
I pray that this word wouldsink down deep into the soil of
(48:14):
our hearts and we would not bethe same.
Thank you, lord.
In Jesus name, we pray, amen.
So good.
Thank you, thank you both.
Amen, oh man, praise God.
Does anybody want to bebaptized?
I mean that We've got the tank,we've got water.
I'm going to ask that everytime we gather from now on.
(00:23):
Yeah, we got a tank right here.
We can fill it with water Ifanyone wants to be baptized.
What's that she said?
Do we have hot water?
Well, the baptism is kind ofcontingent on the temperature of
(00:45):
the water.
I have wetsuits that you canput on.
Seriously, I want us to be achurch culture that is ready at
all times for the waters ofbaptism.
(01:07):
Okay, there's one otherannouncement that we need to
make.
This one.
I'm actually kind of excitedabout this.
I know Lindsay is too.
The weather, obviously, isbeginning to change.
We're getting ready to comeinto daylight savings time in a
few weeks.
So we've been thinking like,okay, what do we do when that
(01:28):
happens?
And we've just asked a fewpeople if we move to service our
gathering time to the morning,would that affect folks?
It sounded like that wouldaffect quite a few people.
So we want to keep thegathering time like it is, at
four o'clock, but we're going totransition in two weeks into
this building right here, sowe're still going to be here.
(01:51):
We're just going to be insideof that beautiful glory chamber
right there, and wonderful folkshave been kind enough to lend a
tent for us to use for thewinter months.
So if we need extra space, andI imagine we will, we're going
(02:12):
to butt that up against thegarage door, open the garage
door.
That allows for more chairs.
We have heaters that will turnon in there.
If you haven't been in thebuilding, it is super cozy,
super awesome.
We've got a wood-burning fires,wood stove in there, some cozy
furniture.
I love it in there.
(02:32):
Probably too much, but it'sanother conversation.
So in two weeks we're going toshift there.
The thing is we're going to needto start at four o'clock.
So I'm going to start saying westart at three 59 so that you
guys think, okay, well, I needto get there by three 45 so that
(02:55):
I can hang out, I can bringwhatever talk to whoever gets
settled, but we're going to needto start right at four o'clock.
So just make preparation forthat.
If you're late, it's cool,there's grace, we understand.
Things happen, cars break down,there's traffic, kids, whatever
.
But if you could just as bestas you can, get here before 4
(03:17):
o'clock so that we can jump inand begin at 4 o'clock.
That's going to be helpful.
Second important thing we're notgoing to do a meal every Sunday
.
The kids are just heart,they're just destroyed right now
.
We're not going to do a mealevery Sunday during these winter
(03:39):
months.
Practically, logistically, itwould just be a challenge.
But what we are going to do isthe third Sunday of every month
we will have a meal, and so thattime is going to look a little
similar to a few weeks ago whenwe had, like the barbecue and
there were tables set up in hereand it was fellowship time.
So that third Sunday of themonth we will do a meal and
(04:03):
we'll remind you guys of thesethings as we go on.
I just want to let you knowahead of time.
So, two weeks get here beforefour o'clock.
If you want to get here andhang out, come at 3.30.
Like, help move chairs, hangout, we're here.
Get here by four o'clock and wewill not have a meal that first
(04:24):
Sunday.
Any questions?
Okay, let's pray and then we'lljump into the word.
Thank you, lord.
Lord, I ask that you give methe grace to communicate things
that are much too big for me.
Oh, give us all the grace tohear what the Spirit is saying
(04:46):
to the church.
Holy Spirit, exalt Jesus in ourmidst.
Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to usthrough this living word of
yours.
Thank you, god.
We love you.
We desire to love you so muchmore.
(05:06):
Give us that grace now as weopen your word In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Okay, open up to Hebrews,chapter 1.
Hebrews, chapter 1.
Hebrews, chapter 1, beginningin verse 1.
God, who at various times andin various ways spoke in the
(05:29):
past to the fathers by theprophets, has in these last days
spoken to us by his son, whomhe has appointed heir of all
things, through whom he alsomade the world.
Verse three and he, jesus, isthe radiance of God's glory and
(05:51):
the exact representation of hisnature.
He upholds all things by thepower of his word.
Jesus is the radiance of God'sglory and the exact expression,
the exact representation ofGod's nature.
Jesus is not a reflection ofthe father.
(06:16):
Jesus is the essence and thenature of God.
Jesus wasn't kidding aroundwhen he said if you've seen me,
you've seen the father.
Jesus is exactly what God wantsto say about himself.
As I heard someone put it soperfectly Jesus is exactly what
(06:40):
God wants to say about himself.
Now I want to point outsomething in verse three that is
pretty fascinating.
Verse three says he's theradiance of God's glory and the
exact representation of hisnature.
The Greek word for that phrasethat we translate exact
representation is charakter.
(07:01):
Say charakter, charakter.
Now this is the only time thatthis word charakter is used in
scripture.
This word charakter means to beembossed onto a coin, or
engraved or stamped onto a coin.
(07:23):
It's the writing style that isso unique to an individual.
Caractere is the bodily andpsychological structure that you
were born with.
That makes you completelyunique from anyone else on the
planet.
Caractere is the quality of asnowflake that makes it unlike
(07:46):
any other snowflake.
Caractere is something that isinnate.
It just is Like.
When you look at a coin, itjust has that engraving on it.
It just is.
When you look at a snowflake,it just has its own uniqueness
to it.
You have your own distinctionabout you.
(08:07):
That's charakter.
Charakter is something thatjust is.
It doesn't change, it doesn'tdevelop over time.
It is like the coin doesn'timprove itself with further
engraving.
It is, it has it.
So this is where we need tomake the distinction.
It's not character, although itsounds like it would be, because
(08:29):
our character matures anddevelops over time.
Character it just is.
Hebrews 1.3 is saying thatJesus reveals God in a unique
and a complete way that only Godhimself can reveal.
Jesus is the fullness of deityin bodily form, as Paul says in
(08:55):
Colossians 2.9, jesus is God andJesus perfectly reveals God.
Now, as cool as that all that is, that's not the main throcks of
my message today.
It's not where we're going tospend the majority of our time,
but I do want to flesh out thisword character a little more.
(09:18):
Character is constant.
It's always present.
Again, the stamp on the coin isalways there.
Character is always present,even if it's not always seen.
Just because I have a coin inmy pocket doesn't mean that it's
(09:38):
no longer engraved with theimage.
Even if character is hiddenfrom sight, it's still there.
So, kids, let me ask you aquestion Are there stars in the
sky right now?
(09:58):
I don't see any stars, yeah,right now.
Are there stars above us rightnow?
We got some yeses, we got someno's.
Why are you saying there's nostars in the sky right now?
Because you can't see them?
Yes, okay.
(10:19):
Why are you saying that thereare stars in the sky?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
because if you go up in space, you can see the stars.
You can't see stars becausethey're blue.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
The sky is hiding them.
Okay, so there are still starsthere, we just can't see them.
Okay, that's charakter.
Even though we can't see it,it's still there.
Even though we can't see thestars right now, joshua, there
are stars above us.
What do we do?
Even Even though we can't seethe stars right now, joshua,
there are stars above us.
Even though we can't see thestars, they're there.
(10:48):
They're just currentlyovershadowed by something else,
like a star that seems to behidden in the daytime.
It's still up there.
It's still radiating glory.
The star is still shining.
It's just overshadowed rightnow by something brighter the
sun.
In the same way, now we'regetting to the meat.
(11:09):
Jesus is always with us.
He's always radiating glory,he's always revealing God.
He's like the North Star in thesky.
He's constant, he's unchanging,it's always there.
It's always shining brightlyand pointing the way home.
Come on somebody.
(11:41):
But sometimes he's overshadowedby something inferior that we're
giving more attention to.
When Jesus is my obsession, heis the brightest star in my
solar system.
Can we say it that way, usingthe metaphor?
When he's everything to me, heis the brightest star in my
universe.
When I take my eyes off ofJesus and I give attention to
(12:06):
something that's happeningaround me.
He's still there and he stillwants to reveal God into my
situation, but he's overshadowedby something that I'm giving
higher priority to.
For example, the North Star isalways going to be the brightest
star in the sky.
What happens when I give myattention to an airplane that's
(12:30):
flying by?
I get distracted and I followthis airplane.
The lights on the wings of thatplane become the brightest
thing in my universe.
But what's brighter the NorthStar or the blinking light on a
plane?
The North Star or the blinkinglight on a plane?
The North Star.
But by giving attention tosomething inferior, I'm tricking
(12:50):
myself into thinking it's thebrightest thing in the solar
system.
Here comes a good line for you.
You ready?
Are you listening?
Get your pens ready.
I get to determine which starshines the brightest in my solar
system.
He's unchanging.
(13:12):
He's always radiating glory.
I'm the one who changes andgets distracted and become
fascinated with inferior things.
I get to determine which staris shining the brightest in my
solar system.
So let's apply this metaphor toour day-to-day lives.
(13:33):
I get to determine if myproblem is shining the brightest
or if Jesus is shining thebrightest.
I get to determine if myfeelings are shining the
brightest or if Jesus is.
I get to determine if myfeelings are shining the
brightest or if Jesus is.
I get to determine if my bankaccount is shining the brightest
or if Jesus is.
I get to determine if thediagnosis is shining the
(13:56):
brightest or if Jesus is.
I get to determine fill in theblank.
I get to determine fill in theblank or if Jesus is.
And here we arrive at the mainpoint that I want to make
Whatever you look at you,empower Whatever you look at.
(14:17):
You.
Give authority to Whatever youlook at you.
Empower we good.
So far, everybody tracking.
I've done good with myanalogies and my metaphors and
my illustrations.
So good.
She says it's my daughter,everyone.
I can't look at two things atthe same time.
(14:37):
Right, I can't look at Jesusand my situation.
I can't give a hundred percentto Jesus and a hundred percent
to my problem.
So when I look at my situation,I can't give a hundred percent
to Jesus and a hundred percentto my problem.
So when I look at my problem,or I look at my feelings or I
look at my fears and I give moreattention to those things than
I do to Jesus, I'm empowering mysituation.
(14:59):
I'm feeding that problem morethan I am empowering Jesus to
reveal God into my situation.
Whoever sows to the flesh willreap destruction from the flesh.
What am I doing?
I'm sowing, I'm empowering, I'mfueling things of the flesh.
(15:21):
And what's going to happen?
I'm going to reap destructionof the flesh.
Whoever sows to the spirit,whoever focuses on the spirit,
empowers the spirit, will reapeternal life from the spirit.
It's Galatians 6.8.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Now I'm going to use a storyfrom scripture to illustrate my
point.
So turn to 2 Chronicles Toillustrate my point.
(15:42):
So turn to 2 Chronicles,chapter 20.
Tommy's going to read a versefor us.
You ready, bud.
I'm excited about this.
While Tommy gets ready, 2Chronicles, chapter 20, I'm
going to summarize the backstory.
I know it's distracting becauseJack is cutting a field next
(16:03):
door, but try to stay locked in.
You're doing good, all right.
2 Chronicles, chapter 20.
This is a fantastic story.
I would encourage you to studyit, read through it, meditate on
it on your own time.
It is an awesome story.
The Reader's Digest version 2Chronicles, chapter 20, tells a
story of King Jehoshaphat SethOlivia, there's another name for
(16:26):
you for baby number twoJehoshaphat, maybe King.
The first name, jehoshaphat,the middle name King Jehoshaphat
Brigham, the first KingJehoshaphat.
He was king over God's peopleat a time when the Moabites and
the Ammonites and other nationsthat surrounded Israel, they all
(16:49):
came together and declared waron God's people.
King Jehoshaphat, he sees hisenemies advancing and
surrounding them.
So what does he do?
He determines to seek the Lord.
He proclaims a fast and hegathers all of God's people
together in Jerusalem so thatthey could seek the Lord
(17:12):
together.
And when the nation, when God'speople gathered together, the
king stands in the middle of theassembly and he says this in
verse 12.
Go ahead, tommy, let it rip.
Good job, buddy.
Thank you.
Good job, tommy.
Can I read it again?
In case somebody didn't hearthat, I'm going to read it again
(17:35):
.
Is that cool, okay?
Second Chronicles, 20, verse 12.
This is what Jehoshaphat theking proclaims in front of the
entire nation oh Lord, our God,will you not judge our enemies?
For we have no power againstthis great multitude that's
coming against us, nor do weknow what to do.
(17:58):
Can you imagine Trump or Bidenstanding up in front of the
nations that I have no idea whatto do?
In fact, I'm powerless.
That wasn't a politicalstatement.
That's why I said Trump orBiden.
Imagine any king standing up andsaying that oh Lord, our God.
(18:20):
We are completely powerless.
We have no idea what to do, butlisten to what he says next.
Our eyes are on you.
Our eyes are fixed on the onewho's unchanging and all
powerful.
Jehoshaphat's eyes were not onhis enemies assembling together
(18:48):
just outside of the border.
His eyes were not on hismilitary leaders getting counsel
from them.
His eyes were not on his allies.
His eyes were not on hisweapons, his strategies that may
have worked in the past.
His eyes were on Yahweh, acomplete posture of humility in
(19:09):
front of the entire nation.
Now look at the result of whathappens next.
Verse 13.
Now, all of Judah with theirlittle ones, their wives, their
children.
I love that, thatmulti-generational picture.
We're all in this together, man.
Now, all of Judah with theirlittle ones, their wives, their
(19:34):
children.
They stood before the Lord.
Do you remember that languagefrom a couple of weeks ago?
That's priestly languagestanding before the Lord,
ministering to him.
They stood before the Lord,ministering to him.
They stood before the Lord.
Then the Spirit of the Lord cameupon Jehaziel.
Who's Jehaziel?
(19:54):
We don't know.
We don't know.
He's just some dude in thecrowd.
There's nothing special abouthim.
He's not a high, anointedprophet in the land that
everyone's looking to for theword of the Lord.
He's just some guy there in themidst of humble, broken,
(20:17):
contrite Israel, with their eyesfixed on Jesus.
And the spirit of the Lord comeson this young man and he says
this listen, all of Judah andyou, inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and you, king Jehoshaphat.
He's talking to the king, king,listen to me, I got a word from
the Lord.
Thus says the Lord to you.
(20:40):
Oh boy, you better get this oneright.
Young man Thus says the LordDon't be afraid because of this
multitude, for the battle is notyours.
The battle belongs to the Lord.
Tomorrow, go down against themand they will surely come up by
(21:01):
the ascent of Zs, verse 17,.
You won't need to fight in thisbattle.
Position yourselves, standstill and see the salvation of
the Lord.
Do not fear or be dismayed.
Tomorrow, go out against them,for the Lord is with you.
Their eyes were on the Lord,not their situation.
(21:25):
And then God rewards them bysaying you're going to see my
salvation tomorrow.
The next day, they go out to thebattlefield worshiping.
We don't have time, but on yourown, look at that.
It's awesome, a beautifulpicture.
They go out in praise.
Praise becomes their weapon.
(21:46):
They go out onto thebattlefield worshiping and their
enemies begin fighting oneanother.
The Lord brings confusion ontheir enemies and the Moabites
and the Ammonites.
They fight each other.
Israel wins.
As God's people lifted theireyes off of their enemies and
(22:11):
looked to the Lord, they saw hissalvation released over their
situation.
God was empowered in thatmoment to be God over Israel's
enemies.
The humility of his people maderoom for God to be God.
That's a good statement rightthere.
The humility of God's peoplemade space for God to be God.
(22:42):
If you belong to the Lord, thebattle does not belong to you.
It belongs to the Lord.
See how that works.
If you belong to him, thebattle doesn't belong to you,
it's his.
If you belong to the Lord, yoursituation doesn't belong to you
.
It belongs to him.
If you belong to the Lord, yourdiagnosis doesn't belong to you
(23:03):
.
It's in his hands.
You belong to the Lord.
Your bank account doesn'tbelong to you.
It belongs to him.
Your lost family members, yourprodigal children, your past,
your present and what happens inthe future.
It doesn't belong to you.
It belongs to him If you belongto the Lord, then you've been
(23:28):
crucified with Christ.
Your life is no longer your own.
You've been bought at a price.
The moment that you give moreattention to your situation than
you do to the God of yoursituation is the moment that you
take ownership of your problem.
I'm going to read that oneagain, because that's a doozy
(23:52):
the moment that you give moreattention to your situation than
you do to the God of yoursituation is the moment that you
take ownership of that problem.
If Jehoshaphat would have kepthis eyes on Moab and Amon, he
would have had to come up withthe solution.
That problem would havebelonged to him.
(24:15):
But that posture of fasting andhumility in front of the entire
nation, lord, I have no ideawhat to do, but my eyes are on
you.
God's like great.
I can be myself.
Now, now that you're out of theway, I can actually be God in
this situation.
When your eyes are on him, yourenemies become his enemies.
(24:38):
I like that one.
I don't want my enemies to bemy enemies.
I want god to deal with thewicked.
I want god to speak and defendme.
I want god to move on my behalf.
I can't do it the way that hedoes.
When my eyes are on him, myenemies become his enemies and
(25:01):
he's undefeated.
He bats a thousand.
King Jehoshaphat understoodsomething that is very important
for us to understand the threatagainst God's people was a
threat against the testimony ofGod in the earth.
Moab wasn't coming againstJehoshaphat.
(25:21):
Moab was coming against God,the God of Abraham, isaac and
Jacob, the God of Israel, theGod of Jerusalem.
Moab was taking a stand againstYahweh.
If Jehoshaphat as a righteousking who genuinely sought the
(25:43):
Lord, if Jehoshaphat isdestroyed by the enemy armies,
what's this going to say aboutJehoshaphat's God?
What's the testimony of Godgoing to be in the earth in
Jehoshaphat's generation?
So, were the MoabitesJehoshaphat's problem or God's
problem?
It's a rhetorical question.
The Moabites were notJehoshaphat's problem.
(26:06):
They were God's problem, aslong as Jehoshaphat kept his
eyes on Yahweh.
Was Goliath David's problem orGod's problem?
Was Goliath David's problem orGod's problem?
Because the way I read thestory, goliath is running his
mouth not against Saul and hisarmy, but against the God of
(26:30):
Israel.
Goliath was God's problem.
Goliath didn't know it.
He had picked a fight withYahweh.
Was the lion Daniel's problemor God's problem?
Because Daniel had lived hisentire life worshiping and
declaring this God of Israel andhow great he is.
All right, let's throw thattroublemaker in with the lions
(26:52):
and see how great this God is.
The lion was God's problem.
Was Pharaoh Moses' problem orGod's problem?
Because Moses talked a big gameabout how awesome Yahweh was
and Pharaoh wasn't buying it.
Pharaoh was God's problem aslong as Moses' perspective was
(27:18):
right.
The enemy wants to use Goliathto disprove what God says about
himself.
I'm going to say that one againtoo.
The enemy wants to use Goliathto disprove what God has said
about himself.
The situation standing in frontof you is not a problem for you
(27:38):
to figure out.
It's actually an assaultagainst the testimony of God in
your life.
Man, if we can get a hold ofthis, it puts problems in a
really good place.
This situation standing infront of you is not a problem
for you to figure out.
(28:00):
It is actually an assaultagainst the testimony of God in
your life.
When I know that the diagnosisis an assault against who God
says he is, I don't focus on thediagnosis.
I come to him and I say Lord,did you hear what the doctors
(28:23):
were saying about your son?
When the prodigal child has notcome home, of course we pray
for them to come home.
Don't hear what I'm not saying.
Of course we go to doctors andwe trust in the wisdom that God
has given doctors to heal uswith on occasion.
But we go to God and we sayLord, it's not okay that one
(28:47):
part of my family is in thekingdom but the other part is
not.
That's an assault against yourtestimony.
Because you are amulti-generational God, you're
the God of Abraham, isaac andJacob.
Because you are amulti-generational God, you're
the God of Abraham, isaac andJacob.
Let me see if I can make thispoint In my head.
It's really good.
(29:07):
Okay, let's go back to the verybeginning Eve's mistake.
Where did Eve get it wrong?
She engaged with the serpentwho was taking aim?
Not Eve.
She didn't care about Eve.
The serpent's aim was on thetestimony of God in creation.
(29:28):
That's where I'm going.
Did God really say he's tryingto snake his way in to get her
eyes off of God?
She got her eyes off of God andonto something forbidden and the
serpent says don't listen toGod.
(29:49):
He knows.
If you eat of the fruit what'sgoing to happen.
Your eyes will be opened.
That's what Genesis 3 says.
Your eyes will be opened.
That's what Genesis 3 says youreyes will be opened and you'll
be just like him.
So she looked at the fruit andshe sees wow, it's actually
(30:09):
beautiful to the eyes, genesis 3, 6.
What's the strategy of theenemy?
Get your eyes off of theradiant one and onto something
inferior, no matter howbeautiful it may appear.
She got her eyes off of themost beautiful thing in the
(30:30):
solar system and becameinfatuated with something
inferior.
Remember that next time you'retempted to look at pornography,
she enthroned her temptation byfixing her eyes on it.
(30:51):
She empowered the temptation byfixing her eyes on it.
But when we fix our eyes onJesus, we're enthroning him,
empowering him to be God in oursituation and we're dethroning
our problem.
We're enthroning the king andwe're dethroning the temptation
(31:15):
or the situation.
By fixing our eyes on Jesus,we're putting our situation into
its proper place.
We're putting our listen tothis.
By fixing our eyes on Jesus,we're putting our situation into
its proper place.
We're putting our problem whereall of God's enemies belong
underneath his feet.
(31:35):
That's where all of his enemiesend up underneath his feet.
That's where all of his enemiesend up, underneath his feet.
And by fixing our eyes on him,we're dethroning our problem.
Enthrone Jesus by fixing youreyes on him in the midst of your
enemies, which simultaneouslydethrones your problem.
And now that big, scary problemhas become part of the
(31:57):
footstool that lifts Jesushigher and higher.
Come on, man, this good stuff,this big scary problem, now gets
put in its proper place,underneath the feet of Jesus,
and what does that do?
It exalts him even higher.
That's him turning all thingstogether for good.
(32:21):
Whatever you look at, youenthrone.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards Any surfers in here.
We need Shane here.
He could, he could verify.
Okay, yeah, we'll get somesurfers over here.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards.
How about motorcycle riders?
Any motorcycle riders?
No, guys, come on, man.
(32:45):
We need to do this family thing.
We need to surf together.
We need to get on the road andride motorcycles together.
We'd be like the coolest churcharound.
Kayaking, yeah, kayaking,kayaking, kayaking, okay, I
think, kayaking, okay.
I think the principle wouldwork there.
The point that I was trying tomake in my silly way whatever
you look at, you move towards.
(33:05):
One of the principles ofsurfing is wherever you look,
that's where you're naturallygoing to go.
Same with a motorcycle whereveryou look, that's where the
motorcycle is going to end upgoing.
The same thing with a car.
Okay, maybe it works for a cartoo.
The motorcycle metaphor is justso much cooler.
All right, we're almost done.
(33:29):
Whatever you look at, youenthrone.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at, you movetowards.
I'm going to close with thisstory from Matthew 17.
You can turn there if you want,but I can summarize it.
It's the story of the Mount ofTransfiguration Peter James and
(33:50):
John.
They were taken up on thismountain.
Kids, listen to this.
This is going to be really good.
You're going to like thismountain.
Kids, listen to this.
This is going to be really good.
You're going to like this story.
Jesus takes Peter James and Johnthree of his disciples up onto
this mountain to pray with him,and they have one of the most
(34:15):
remarkable encounters any humanbeing has ever had.
They saw Moses and Elijahtalking with Jesus, like,
literally, moses and Elijah, thelaw and the prophets talking
with Jesus.
They saw Jesus begin to glowlike lightning.
That's cooler than any Marvelcharacter they've ever come up
(34:38):
with.
Jesus was glowing likelightning.
Peter's initial response is towhat?
Let me build.
Let me build something.
Peter's response is to build amonument to this incredible
encounter.
Three tabernacles, one forMoses, one for Elijah, one for
(35:01):
Jesus.
Good job, peter.
You just made Jesus equal withMoses and Elijah.
Peter is completely out of hismind.
He just made Jesus equal withthe law and the prophets.
That's another message foranother day.
But Jesus just completelyignores Peter.
He makes no acknowledgement ofhis foolishness.
(35:22):
Then they become overshadowedby this glory cloud.
They heard, from the midst ofthis cloud, the voice of the
heavenly father, like they heardthe voice of the father saying
this is my beloved son, peterJames and John.
(35:44):
They fall down on their facesin absolute terror.
They are beyond themselves,shocked, amazed and terrified.
Jesus comes over to comfortthem and reassure them.
It's going to be okay.
And then Matthew closes out thestory with this incredible line
Matthew 17, verse 8.
(36:06):
When they, peter James and John,lifted up their eyes, they saw
no one but Jesus only.
Was he still glowing?
It's a great question.
I don't know, but this is oneof the most helpful and
(36:29):
practical verses I think that wecan meditate on.
They saw no one but Jesus only.
Can you say that about yourself.
Can I say that about myself?
I'm going through my day andI'm just seeing nothing but
Jesus.
As amazing as the encounter wasfor Peter, james and John, the
(36:51):
point was not for them to builda monument on the mountain
commemorating the situation.
The point was to see Jesus asthe radiance of the father's
glory and the exact expressionof the father's nature.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against the law and
(37:15):
against the prophets.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against the glory cloud
.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against their own fear.
The point was to see Jesusmeasured against their own fear
(37:41):
and to see him shine as thebrightest thing in the universe.
And then to come off thatmountaintop encounter, enter
back into real life with Jesusand find him in the day-to-day
rhythm of life.
They learned to see no one butJesus only.
(38:06):
There's a verse I believe it'sPsalm 16, 8.
I have placed the Lord alwaysbefore me Because he's at my
right hand.
I will not be shaken.
We don't go through life withour heads in the sand.
So I'm just looking at Jesus.
I'm not looking at the billthat just came in the mail.
I'm not looking at what thedoctors just showed me x-rays,
(38:27):
for we have to have wisdom, butwe see those things through the
cross.
We have to have wisdom, but wesee those things through the
cross.
We put it in the properperspective.
I'm looking at Jesus first andthen letting him tell me about
the situation, letting him dealwith the situation, letting him
(38:51):
be God in my situation.
Years later, peter recalled thismountaintop encounter and he
wrote these words in 2 Peter, 2Peter, I believe it's chapter 1.
I didn't make the note here.
I think it's 2 Peter 1, verse18 and 19.
He says, man, we heard theFather's voice.
(39:12):
He says, man, we heard thefather's voice.
We heard the voice which camefrom heaven when we were with
Jesus up on the mountain.
This is what he says.
We heard the voice that saidthis is my beloved son.
And so we have the propheticword confirmed.
Listen to this, which you dowell to pay attention to, to fix
(39:37):
your eyes on, to gaze, to lookat.
You do well to pay attention toas a light that shines in a
dark place.
Come on, man, he makes thedarkness tremble Until the day
dawns and the morning star risesin your hearts.
(39:57):
Jesus is the light shining indark places.
Jesus is the morning starrising in the dawn, he's the
radiance of the Father's gloryand the exact expression of his
nature, and when our eyes are on, him only and he shines his
(40:19):
glory into whatever situation heallows us to be in.
That's another message foranother day as well.
Whatever you look at, youempower.
Whatever you look at youenthrone.
Whatever you look at youworship.
(40:40):
Whatever you look at, you movetoward Psalm 119, I'll close
with this.
Psalm 119, verse 37, turn awaymy eyes from looking at
worthless things and revive mein your ways.
And Psalm 123, verse one untoyou I lift up my eyes, oh you
(41:02):
who dwell in the heavens, amen,amen.
Any questions?
Comments?
How about Tommy?
Tommy did a great job.
Thank you, buddy, good job,thank you.
(41:23):
Any questions?
Comments?
Contributions?
Yes, sir, oh yeah, come on.
The light of the body is theeye.
Yeah, yeah, it's good.
(41:44):
Anyone else?
Speaker 3 (41:47):
I want to share the Russian translation, Hebrews 1-2
.
It says God now speaks to usopenly In the language of a son.
The Hashem translation, Hebrews1, 2,.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
It says God now speaks to us openly in the
language of a son.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
So good.
I like that.
That's God's language.
So good.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
And I appreciate that , because that's exactly what
the writer of Hebrews moves into, comparing Jesus to Moses.
Moses is a servant, jesus has ason, so good, can you say it
again, regina?
Yes, I'll read it to Moses.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Moses a servant, Jesus as a son.
So good.
Can you say it again, Regina?
Yes, I'll read it to you, butto us living in these last days,
God speaks to us openly in thelanguage of a son, the appointed
heir of everything.
But through him God created thepanorama of all things in all
time, and then it goes into sayhe's the exact expression.
So, God speaks to us in thelanguage of a sign man.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
So good, beautiful, yeah, good question.
So, basically, what are somepractical ways that we can stay
focused on Jesus in the midst ofa crisis?
For me personally, praying inthe spirit is a big one of a
crisis.
For me personally, praying inthe spirit is a big one.
If I'm in the midst ofsomething, I'm going to lock
away and I'm going to pray intongues a lot.
(43:01):
Fasting is another one.
We saw that in the story ofKing Jehoshaphat, so I'm going
to use that as an opportunity tofast.
So within that fast, I'm alsogoing to be seeking the Lord
through prayer and other ways.
I'm going to be findingscriptures that apply to the
situation and I'll be declaringthose of the situation.
Um, so, in in that way, what amI doing?
(43:23):
I'm taking that posture ofhumility.
I don't even know what to pray,lord, but your word says that
in in situations like this, theHoly Spirit prays with.
But your word says that insituations like this, the Holy
Spirit prays with groans toodeep for understanding.
So, rather than take this witha grain of salt, but rather than
pridefully speak in my ownlanguage, I'm going to, like a
child, babble in the tongues ofthe Spirit, trusting that you're
(43:49):
going to be God in thatsituation.
That's an act of humility.
I think praying in tongues is anincredible act of humility.
It's foolish.
That's even what Paul says in 1Corinthians 14.
It's foolish.
Anyway, that's another messagefor another day too.
Fasting is also another act ofhumility.
(44:12):
I am entering into this placeof weakness, humility,
brokenness.
Why?
Because I don't even believe Ihave the strength to approach
this problem, so I'm going topull myself out and let God be
God in this situation.
I believe that findingscriptures and declaring God's
(44:39):
word is also an act of humility,but it's an act of aggression
because you're declaringsomething.
You're using that sword of thespirit to declare over the
situation.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
And also asking for prayer from others to support to
focus on God.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Yeah, so if you feel it necessary to involve others
in as well, that's another goodthing.
No because you can.
You can end up.
It's kind of tricky because youdon't.
You don't want to be the personwho's calling 127 prayer
warriors.
Every time there's a situationlike, God wants to mature us and
(45:13):
grow us up into a place wherewe can be like David and be like
I'm I'm getting ready todestroy Goliath right now
because no one else is willingto do it, you know.
And then there's other timeswhere you need to be like
Jehoshaphat and look at everyonearound you and be like hey,
does anyone have a word?
I have no idea what to do, butthe point is that, like there's
(45:38):
not like black and white, oh,when I have a problem, I've got
my 12 people that I always call.
Like no Lord, grow me up intomaturity and make me a weapon,
make me an arrow in your quiver.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
I have one thing yes ma'am.
It did say he was a Levite, theman that spoke up.
So I've been reading Exodus andI believe the Levites were the
priests right, they were theones that were separated as
priests.
They were even like you weretalking last time.
They were adorned with thegarments and they were
(46:12):
consecrated.
So it doesn't surprise me thatit was a Levite that spoke out
in that moment which I think isgreat, but but the word meant to
point that out.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
It says that he was a son of is it Zachariah?
And then son of a son of a sonof a son, and then it said a
Levite.
One of them was.
One of them was there was a, sohe was also the son of Asaph
and that specific lineage wereworshipers.
(46:43):
So he was, he was Levitical,but he was, like, designated as
a worshiper and that in itself,I think, is beautiful too.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
Which, answering that question too, is praise and
worship.
It's awesome.
It's usually where I go, and Ieven choose specific songs
sometimes that are really goodat like getting my attention on
what God can do rather than whatI can do.
Speaker 1 (47:09):
Okay, so that's another practical thing that you
can do Worship, worship in themidst of your situation.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
One of my favorites is stomp, that really old one
Sometimes I will bring that oneout.
Or who's coming after me.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
It always gets me so fired up.
Yep, oh my.
Speaker 1 (47:30):
God, yeah, speaking of not separating the holy and
the mundane, the meal is stillsacred.
We're not leaving the sacredspace and going into the mundane
.
That table is still holy, amen,okay, thank you, jesus.
Lord, we exalt your name.
Holy Spirit, give us eyes tosee Jesus exalted, radiant,
(47:53):
glorious, holy.
Give us the grace, in the dailyrhythm of life, to keep our
eyes fixed on the King and Lord.
Let us be amazed as everythingaround us falls into place.
Thank you, lord.
We love you.
I pray that this word wouldsink down deep into the soil of
(48:14):
our hearts and we would not bethe same.
Thank you, lord.
In Jesus name, we pray, amen.
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