WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:04.740 One translation says, from the dark power of 00:00:04.740 --> 00:00:10.199 Satan, from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:15.199 because of the blood that Jesus shed. Wow, what 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:21.000 a God, what a God. His cross, his kingdom has 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.820 transferred us from darkness, from Satan, ho 00:00:25.820 --> 00:00:29.760 ho, to the glorious kingdom of God. Would you 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.259 close your eyes and raise your hands and thank 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:35.359 the Lord? Go ahead and use your outside voice 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:39.600 as if you are shouting unto God a praise and 00:00:39.600 --> 00:01:24.000 Thanksgiving for the cross today. In Jesus' name, 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.340 you may be seated as you have already heard two 00:01:27.340 --> 00:01:30.319 weeks from today as we celebrate Easter Sunday. 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:34.180 We will be celebrating that we are grateful for 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:37.680 the cross of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:41.109 the death. the burial and the resurrection of 00:01:41.109 --> 00:01:44.829 Jesus Christ. We emphasize the cross in terms 00:01:44.829 --> 00:01:48.129 of gratitude because we are living in a world 00:01:48.129 --> 00:01:52.030 where the cross has just become another picture, 00:01:52.049 --> 00:01:55.409 if you will, or a symbol of another holiday. 00:01:55.549 --> 00:01:59.650 It's not as emphasized and even among Christians 00:01:59.650 --> 00:02:03.969 at times, we lose the reality that the cross 00:02:03.969 --> 00:02:08.379 has transferred us. from one kingdom to another 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:11.939 kingdom. In fact, if we would be honest, Christianity 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:16.280 seems to be more popular in some cases where 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:21.300 it does less to infringe upon our own life goals. 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.000 In other words, give me a little bit of Jesus 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.939 on Sunday, but let me live life my own way. And 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:31.479 so we clearly are a different kind of church 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:35.360 than that. And we promote a Jesus that is very 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:38.039 - very different than that. In fact, I rebuke 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:40.699 the spirit of this world that would try to come 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:44.680 into any church and convince us it doesn't take 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.819 all that. I think when you look to the cross, 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:51.500 you have to make a decision. Why in the world 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:56.000 would Jesus choose that particular pathway to 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:00.099 bring salvation to humanity? It must be that 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:03.719 there really are satanic forces in the earth. 00:03:04.330 --> 00:03:08.110 must be dangers that come from the works of the 00:03:08.110 --> 00:03:12.189 flesh. There must be a kingdom of darkness and 00:03:12.189 --> 00:03:15.969 simultaneously there must be a kingdom of God 00:03:15.969 --> 00:03:20.270 that is all about righteousness and peace and 00:03:20.270 --> 00:03:24.810 joy in the Holy Ghost. There is a kingdom where 00:03:24.810 --> 00:03:29.469 Jesus reigns and there's no sickness, no sadness, 00:03:29.930 --> 00:03:34.569 and no sin. And so Jesus makes the journey to 00:03:34.569 --> 00:03:39.650 the cross to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness, 00:03:39.990 --> 00:03:44.030 from the kingdom of death, from the kingdom of 00:03:44.030 --> 00:03:48.069 the devil into the kingdom where the servants 00:03:48.069 --> 00:03:52.270 of the king joyfully worship him. And sometimes 00:03:52.270 --> 00:03:54.849 people think they get a little bit out of control, 00:03:54.849 --> 00:04:00.129 but they just know the cross, the savior, salvation 00:04:00.129 --> 00:04:06.240 and the kingdom of God. It's why, it's why we 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:10.419 are who we are. Hebrews chapter nine says how 00:04:10.419 --> 00:04:15.060 much more shall the blood of Christ who through 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:19.040 the eternal spirit offered himself without spot 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.180 to God cleanse your conscience from dead works 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:29.540 to serve the living God. When we celebrate that 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:33.459 the cross has given us access to the kingdom 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:38.100 of. We celebrate the privilege of serving a living 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:41.199 God. We celebrate the privilege of being a part 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:44.680 of his church that he purchased with his own 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.860 blood. Let me tell you something today. Jesus 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:53.939 wants us to be in his kingdom. Jesus wants to 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:59.500 reign as our king. But this permission or opportunity 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:02.779 that we have to be a part of the kingdom of God. 00:05:02.730 --> 00:05:07.810 is by our true allegiance that we worship him 00:05:07.810 --> 00:05:12.589 as Lord of everything. We used to say in the 00:05:12.589 --> 00:05:15.269 good old days, we're not allowed to talk like 00:05:15.269 --> 00:05:18.189 this anymore. If you're not Lord of everything, 00:05:18.629 --> 00:05:21.949 you're not Lord at all. If you're not Lord of 00:05:21.949 --> 00:05:24.930 every part of my life, then really you're not 00:05:24.930 --> 00:05:28.829 the Lord of my life. Can I tell you church family 00:05:28.829 --> 00:05:34.110 today, I stand thankful for the - as a representation 00:05:34.110 --> 00:05:38.889 that Jesus gave his all so that you and I could 00:05:38.889 --> 00:05:42.089 enter into the kingdom of God. And today I'm 00:05:42.089 --> 00:05:45.589 reaching for another soul and I'm inviting you 00:05:45.589 --> 00:05:48.930 to turn your back on the kingdom of darkness 00:05:48.930 --> 00:05:53.569 and embrace the kingdom of Jesus Christ and say 00:05:53.569 --> 00:05:58.449 with gratitude, thank you Jesus for giving me 00:05:58.449 --> 00:06:05.339 access. To your kingdom. Amen as we enjoy the 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:09.519 kingdom of God, we must acknowledge it is just 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:14.620 a taste of the kingdom that is to come. We see 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:17.620 a little glimpse of the goodness of God in our 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:20.980 lives and oh, he keeps on blessing us, doesn't 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:24.379 he? But even with all of his blessings, there 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:28.220 are challenges, there are circumstances that 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:31.060 we kinda scratch our head and say, oh my goodness, 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:33.689 if I'm in the kingdom of God, I thought it'd 00:06:33.689 --> 00:06:37.230 be a little bit easier than this, but the reality 00:06:37.230 --> 00:06:42.089 is this, the kingdom of God is approaching. We 00:06:42.089 --> 00:06:45.410 are going to see it in all of its fullness, but 00:06:45.410 --> 00:06:49.730 in the meantime, we walk by faith and not by 00:06:49.730 --> 00:06:53.509 sight, and all the while, we are looking around 00:06:53.509 --> 00:06:57.269 at the kingdoms of the world, and they seem so 00:06:57.269 --> 00:07:00.370 appealing. There's aspects of the kingdom of 00:07:00.370 --> 00:07:04.389 this world that seems to draw at us, oh my goodness, 00:07:04.610 --> 00:07:07.829 it seems like in the world there's this and that 00:07:07.829 --> 00:07:10.810 and the other. But my brothers and sisters, this 00:07:10.810 --> 00:07:13.730 is gonna sound like I'm a crazy old preacher, 00:07:13.970 --> 00:07:17.310 but I confess to you, I believe the kingdoms 00:07:17.310 --> 00:07:21.670 of this world are fake and phony and they will 00:07:21.670 --> 00:07:25.250 crumble to the ground. And when this life is 00:07:25.250 --> 00:07:29.610 over, the kingdom of God is still going to stand. 00:07:29.910 --> 00:07:34.079 The kingdom of our Lord. and Savior Jesus Christ 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:39.139 in all of its fullness and all of its glory. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:44.560 Praise God. Some of you have been bombarded by 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:47.459 the deception and the delusion that it doesn't 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:50.279 take all this, that we get a little bit fanatical 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:53.079 about some of this, but my brothers and sisters, 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:58.300 one step into glory, just one look upon his face 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:01.839 and everything is going to be processed quite 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:05.060 differently at that moment. I wish there was 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:07.839 someone that could agree with me that the word 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.899 of God stands forever true. Eye has not seen 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:15.899 nor ear heard nor has it entered into the heart 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:20.839 of man those things which God has prepared for 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:25.019 those who love him I know there's a tension in 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:29.199 our lives because the kingdom of God is now and 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:33.399 not yet and I want to experience that season 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:37.139 of life where the kingdom of God is in all of 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:40.779 its fullness, but until I I get there, I will 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:44.480 trust in his word. I will lean into his presence 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:50.879 and I will serve him as my king. Praise the name 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:56.419 of the Lord. I believe that Jesus is eager to 00:08:56.419 --> 00:09:01.440 show us his kingdom in all of its fullness. I 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:05.840 believe that Jesus is eager to welcome us home 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.559 into his kingdom. And how many of you know sin 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:14.600 can never enter there? And so Jesus paid the 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:18.100 ultimate price. One writer said, you're not redeemed 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:22.039 with corruptible things like silver or gold, 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:27.700 but with the precious blood of Jesus, a lamb 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:32.080 without blemish and without spot. One writer 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:37.000 said this, before we can begin to see the cross. 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:42.899 as something done for us. We must see it as something 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:47.919 done. by us, yet it is precisely through that 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:53.620 cross that we are brought into God's reign. Why 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:57.299 did Jesus go to the cross? He went because of 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:01.039 my sins. He went because of my flesh. He went 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:05.700 because of my humanity and everything about me 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:09.720 that would keep me into walking into the glorious 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:13.379 kingdom of God. The cross was because because 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:18.480 of me, my sins, my weaknesses, my failures, but 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:23.480 oh, because of his love, he paid the price. And 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:27.159 so even though the cross was hideous, the cross 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:31.480 is simultaneously glorious because now you and 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:35.700 I can enter into the kingdom of God and enjoy 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:41.659 the fullness of his promises for us. Praise the 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:48.029 name of the Lord. His cross was so ugly because 00:10:48.029 --> 00:10:55.370 his kingdom is so beautiful. His cross was so 00:10:55.370 --> 00:11:02.750 painful because his kingdom is so joyful. His 00:11:02.750 --> 00:11:09.830 cross was so deadly because his kingdom is so 00:11:09.830 --> 00:11:15.129 life eternal. And so a sacrifice had to be made 00:11:15.129 --> 00:11:20.049 and a price had to be paid. And the cross is 00:11:20.049 --> 00:11:25.090 so horrible because his kingdom is so glorious. 00:11:25.610 --> 00:11:29.230 As you and I sit here today, is it possible for 00:11:29.230 --> 00:11:33.080 us to even imagine? that we were destined for 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:36.240 the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of the devil, 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:39.779 the kingdom of death. And then can we pause and 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:44.279 can we say, oh, I'm so grateful. I know where 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:48.200 I was headed without Jesus, but now I know where 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:51.179 I'm headed because of him. I don't wanna look 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:54.899 at the cross and almost turn my face like some 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:57.519 people do when they read the Old Testament, all 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.279 the blood and all the sacrifice, they're almost 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:03.399 witch. that wasn't in the Bible. The reason why 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:06.720 that's in the Bible is because only the blood 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.379 of a spotless lamb can give us entrance into 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:13.679 the kingdom of God. I know we religious ourselves 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:17.179 enough so we get away from the darkness of our 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:20.500 own sin. But today I want to embrace the fact 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:24.580 that the cross was so ugly because my sin was 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:28.200 so real and leading me away from the kingdom 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:32.460 of life and peace. and joy in Jesus. And so why 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:35.200 don't you just throw up your hands for just a 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:39.279 moment and say thank you Jesus for the cross. 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:44.919 Thank you Jesus for the blood. Thank you Jesus 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:50.440 for the kingdom of God. Praise the name of the 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:56.799 Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Praise God. 00:12:57.309 --> 00:13:01.269 One writer said, Jesus's death is not merely 00:13:01.269 --> 00:13:05.710 an example of love. It is the decisive act that 00:13:05.710 --> 00:13:09.389 makes participation in God's kingdom possible. 00:13:10.169 --> 00:13:12.509 The kingdom is entered, another writer said, 00:13:12.990 --> 00:13:17.850 only because the king has born the judgment of 00:13:17.850 --> 00:13:20.809 his people. One writer, and we see this in the 00:13:20.809 --> 00:13:24.309 New Testament, he said, God commends his love 00:13:24.309 --> 00:13:28.029 toward us. In that while we were still sinners, 00:13:28.450 --> 00:13:32.450 Christ died for us. Much more than having now 00:13:32.450 --> 00:13:36.789 been justified by his blood, we shall be saved 00:13:36.789 --> 00:13:40.409 from wrath through him. There are aspects of 00:13:40.409 --> 00:13:43.629 being a part of the kingdom of God in this season 00:13:43.629 --> 00:13:46.929 of our lives, where we are fighting the spiritual 00:13:46.929 --> 00:13:50.210 forces of darkness. that wanna destroy every 00:13:50.210 --> 00:13:53.529 single human being, that at times when we put 00:13:53.529 --> 00:13:56.950 our shoulder to the wheel, when we get yoked 00:13:56.950 --> 00:14:00.090 up with Jesus and we serve him with all of our 00:14:00.090 --> 00:14:03.009 hearts, there are challenges, there are struggles. 00:14:03.289 --> 00:14:06.250 But oh, my brothers and sisters, could you look 00:14:06.250 --> 00:14:09.690 to the cross one more time and whatever you're 00:14:09.690 --> 00:14:13.570 doing to walk with the Lord, see the cross. Whatever 00:14:13.570 --> 00:14:17.389 you're doing to obey his word, see the cross. 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:20.500 whatever you're doing to separate yourself from 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:24.600 a world of sin and all of the casual Christianity, 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:28.039 could you just thank the Lord for the cross and 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:31.019 say, you know what, it's not an easy road, but 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:34.399 it's a road that leads to the kingdom of God. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:38.139 And if he was willing to take up a cross so that 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:41.100 I could make it all the way to glory, I'm gonna 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:45.179 serve him with gratitude. Oh, as you clap your 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:49.659 hands, could you lift your. Oh, go ahead and 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:52.720 think about it for just a moment. He shed his 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:59.059 blood. He shed his blood. Praise the name of 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:06.940 the Lord. In a very real sense, we were the enemies 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:12.159 of the kingdom of God. Every single one of us, 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:15.809 we were the enemies of the kingdom of God. But 00:15:15.809 --> 00:15:21.490 now because of Calvary, we are the heirs of the 00:15:21.490 --> 00:15:25.570 kingdom of God. I mean, that's pretty awesome 00:15:25.570 --> 00:15:29.149 that we went from being the enemies of Christ, 00:15:30.149 --> 00:15:32.549 now we're heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. 00:15:33.090 --> 00:15:36.490 Because of his sacrifice, because of his work 00:15:36.490 --> 00:15:40.190 on Calvary, we are no longer the enemies of God. 00:15:40.250 --> 00:15:43.980 We have access to the kingdom of God. And now, 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:46.840 right now, even though we do not live in the 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.519 fullness of the kingdom of God, because of gratitude, 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.000 we are his witnesses. Because of hearts that 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.940 are filled with thanksgiving, we are his representatives, 00:15:57.940 --> 00:16:00.820 if you will. In fact, the scripture uses this 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:06.840 word, we are his ambassadors. We serve with gratitude. 00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:10.500 We represent with gratitude. We are here today, 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:13.730 witnesses with gratitude. to Corinthians five, 00:16:13.909 --> 00:16:18.029 for the love of Christ compels us because we 00:16:18.029 --> 00:16:22.490 judge thus that if one died for all, then all 00:16:22.490 --> 00:16:27.269 died. And he died for all that those who live 00:16:27.269 --> 00:16:32.070 should live no longer for themselves, but for 00:16:32.070 --> 00:16:39.330 him who died for them and rose again. That's 00:16:39.330 --> 00:16:43.399 our response to the cross. I get to be in the 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:47.600 kingdom of God because he died for me. And so 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.840 out of gratitude, I will not live for myself. 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:54.879 I will live for him. I will not just pursue Christianity 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:57.919 on my own terms. I will get in the word of God 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:01.000 and I will say, Jesus, I wanna be a witness. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:04.539 I wanna be a representative. I wanna be an ambassador 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:08.690 of the kingdom of God. Recently, I heard a testimony, 00:17:09.049 --> 00:17:11.049 and I'll probably make it available to the church, 00:17:11.089 --> 00:17:14.210 a young man by the name of Braden. He talks about 00:17:14.210 --> 00:17:17.269 reaching a point in his life where he realized 00:17:17.269 --> 00:17:20.250 there was a hole in his heart that only God could 00:17:20.250 --> 00:17:24.009 fill. His family was very affluent in the community 00:17:24.009 --> 00:17:26.250 where they lived. They didn't have much time 00:17:26.250 --> 00:17:29.089 for church, so he didn't know much about God, 00:17:29.269 --> 00:17:31.730 and he had enjoyed all the toys that come with 00:17:31.730 --> 00:17:34.289 being a teenager from a wealthy home, a wealthy 00:17:34.289 --> 00:17:37.240 family. But still as he was reaching the end 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:40.339 of his high school years, he realized he was 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:43.779 empty and desperate for God. He went to a school 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:47.599 and he decided in his classroom it was some sort 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:50.039 of inter -denominational school where people 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:52.880 came from various different backgrounds and faiths. 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:55.839 So as a young person he decided to go to every 00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.039 church or every religious institution of every 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.880 single one of his schoolmates until he found 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.940 something that would fill the hole in his heart. 00:18:05.529 --> 00:18:08.109 He said he did that he started going week after 00:18:08.109 --> 00:18:10.950 week after week to all of the different places 00:18:10.950 --> 00:18:13.970 Where they were going to find God thinking maybe 00:18:13.970 --> 00:18:17.230 I will find God He said he got to every single 00:18:17.230 --> 00:18:20.150 one of them He said sometimes he felt a little 00:18:20.150 --> 00:18:22.369 something, but it didn't take care of the hole 00:18:22.369 --> 00:18:25.650 in his heart He said in fact I wouldn't just 00:18:25.650 --> 00:18:27.730 go and sit in the back row and then slip out 00:18:27.730 --> 00:18:29.509 He said I'd go to the front row whatever they 00:18:29.509 --> 00:18:32.250 were doing. I'd do it with all my heart And he 00:18:32.250 --> 00:18:35.000 said I still didn't find what was missing He 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.700 said, there was one more student left, and he 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:39.640 said, I had saved her for last because I could 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:42.140 tell whatever Christianity she had tapped into, 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:46.339 they were fanatical. They were giving it 100%. 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:48.000 And she said, I was thinking if there was an 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.859 easier way to get God, I didn't want to go all 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:54.579 that way. But he couldn't find it in all those 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:58.799 casual Christian experiences. And so he asked 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.720 her, could I go to church with you? And you guessed 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.299 it, it was an apostolic church where they run 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:05.549 the aisles. where when they pray, they pray with 00:19:05.549 --> 00:19:07.849 passion. When they worship, they worship with 00:19:07.849 --> 00:19:10.869 all their hearts. And sure enough, he said in 00:19:10.869 --> 00:19:13.569 that first service, he found what was missing 00:19:13.569 --> 00:19:17.390 the whole time. He found what was missing the 00:19:17.390 --> 00:19:23.920 whole time. He gave his entire heart to the Lord 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:27.339 He began to serve the Lord as fanatical as any 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:30.519 of them In fact his parents started to get nervous 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:32.720 because he was going to church every time the 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.079 doors were open He was going to prayer night. 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:37.619 He was going to midweek Bible study. He was getting 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:39.640 involved with the youth He was going to Sunday 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:43.480 and Sunday night. I mean it was just crazy Or 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:47.140 it was just what we all do Or at least what we 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:51.529 used to do and so sure enough His parents that 00:19:51.529 --> 00:19:54.269 were very wealthy came to him and gave him an 00:19:54.269 --> 00:19:58.269 ultimatum. They said, listen, we understand something's 00:19:58.269 --> 00:20:01.529 changed in your life. And we are okay with that. 00:20:01.910 --> 00:20:05.970 But you cannot be this committed to Jesus. We 00:20:05.970 --> 00:20:07.970 know there's a destiny on your life. You have 00:20:07.970 --> 00:20:11.789 potential to be very successful. And we're invested 00:20:11.789 --> 00:20:14.349 in that. And we're not gonna just see you throw 00:20:14.349 --> 00:20:16.509 your life away to something that could be a cult 00:20:16.509 --> 00:20:18.930 or just some crazy fanatical group of people. 00:20:19.410 --> 00:20:22.430 And they said, in fact, here's what we're gonna 00:20:22.430 --> 00:20:26.809 do. If you'll just go to church on Sunday, we're 00:20:26.809 --> 00:20:30.130 okay with that. But if you're gonna keep going 00:20:30.130 --> 00:20:32.849 with that much intensity, you're no longer a 00:20:32.849 --> 00:20:35.049 part of our house. You're no longer welcomed 00:20:35.049 --> 00:20:39.369 in our family. And he said, you know, it was 00:20:39.369 --> 00:20:44.069 quite a moment of decision there because a lot 00:20:44.069 --> 00:20:46.890 of people going to church on Sunday is plenty. 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:51.259 But he said I had already seen Jesus and I couldn't 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:54.240 reject what I had seen My life had already been 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.980 changed by Jesus and I couldn't turn my back. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:59.680 He said I told my parents I'm sorry, but I've 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.400 got to keep going to church. I've got to keep 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:03.160 going to prayer I've got to be there when the 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:05.640 doors are open I've got to be faithful to something 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.680 that's gotten a hold of my life and changed me 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.200 forever They gave him fifteen hundred dollars 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:13.019 and they kicked him out of the house and he lived 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:16.359 at the church Eventually, he overcame some of 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:19.069 those setbacks He went to medical school. He 00:21:19.069 --> 00:21:22.230 ended up having his own practice, several practices 00:21:22.230 --> 00:21:25.450 as far as well as being influential in the city 00:21:25.450 --> 00:21:28.670 where he was a medical professional. And then 00:21:28.670 --> 00:21:31.829 God started dealing with him again because he 00:21:31.829 --> 00:21:35.309 realized there's still so many people out there 00:21:35.309 --> 00:21:38.940 that have a hole in their heart. He walked away 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:41.779 not just from his family, but he walked away 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:45.000 from his medical career and now he preaches the 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.049 gospel every single Sunday somewhere. I'm not 00:21:49.049 --> 00:21:51.869 saying God's calling all of us to do that, but 00:21:51.869 --> 00:21:54.829 I am saying we need a fresh look at the cross 00:21:54.829 --> 00:21:58.230 because we have made so many excuses for why 00:21:58.230 --> 00:22:00.829 Christianity doesn't take all that. But what 00:22:00.829 --> 00:22:03.650 I think the problem is, is that there is a spirit 00:22:03.650 --> 00:22:06.589 in this world that's trying to keep people away 00:22:06.589 --> 00:22:09.470 from the kingdom of God. And I'm begging you, 00:22:09.470 --> 00:22:11.730 you're not gonna make it into the kingdom of 00:22:11.730 --> 00:22:15.190 God unless you take up your cross and follow 00:22:15.190 --> 00:22:17.829 Jesus. And so you've gotta look to the cross. 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:20.299 And you've got to say you know what though none 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:24.460 go with me still I will follow I see what Jesus 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:28.539 did for me He died for me. I'm gonna live for 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:31.759 him I'm gonna get myself yoked in to the will 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:35.140 of God and the work of God and the plan of God 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:38.440 and I'll tell you just one step into the kingdom 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:42.180 of God and you will not regret one prayer meeting 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:45.759 one church service one act of commitment and 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:49.299 loyalty to the word of My brothers and sisters, 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:53.599 it's his cross and it's his kingdom and it's 00:22:53.599 --> 00:23:00.440 worth it. It's worth it. You say in Jesus' name. 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:10.559 Invite the musicians to come. Jesus is talking 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:14.140 about his own death and resurrection. Luke 9 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:18.569 and he says, I'm gonna suffer many things and 00:23:18.569 --> 00:23:20.990 be rejected by the elders and chief priests and 00:23:20.990 --> 00:23:22.910 scribes and be killed and be raised the third 00:23:22.910 --> 00:23:28.529 day. And then he says, if anyone desires to come 00:23:28.529 --> 00:23:34.509 after me, let him deny himself and take up his 00:23:34.509 --> 00:23:39.730 cross daily and follow me. For whoever desires 00:23:39.730 --> 00:23:43.210 to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses 00:23:43.210 --> 00:23:46.819 his life for my sake will save it. For what is 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:51.039 it to a man if he gains the whole world and is 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:54.859 himself destroyed or lost? Just because you sit 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:59.480 across the table from somebody That can say sweetly 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:02.839 it don't take all that doesn't mean they're right 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:07.220 and There is a spirit in this world that's reaching 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:10.880 for the next generation of missionaries and pastors 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:15.220 and preachers and deceiving them into thinking 00:24:15.529 --> 00:24:18.690 You don't have to take up a cross. You can still 00:24:18.690 --> 00:24:21.250 have a ministry. You can still be in the kingdom 00:24:21.250 --> 00:24:26.269 of God. It is a lie from the pit of hell. And 00:24:26.269 --> 00:24:29.589 you're being sucked into that deception. And 00:24:29.589 --> 00:24:33.750 I'm begging you, it's his cross. It's his kingdom. 00:24:34.809 --> 00:24:38.750 And this is a wonderful season to say, Jesus, 00:24:39.450 --> 00:24:44.049 if you died for me, I'm gonna live for you. and 00:24:44.049 --> 00:24:47.150 not on my terms. No way, not according to what 00:24:47.150 --> 00:24:51.589 I want or what feels good to me. God forbid that 00:24:51.589 --> 00:24:54.890 that's what he died for. I don't think that's 00:24:54.890 --> 00:24:59.230 what he died for. I think he died for a few people. 00:24:59.630 --> 00:25:02.269 Many are called, but few are chosen. That would 00:25:02.269 --> 00:25:05.769 say, I'm gonna take up my cross and I'm gonna 00:25:05.769 --> 00:25:12.089 follow him because his kingdom is worth every. 00:25:12.930 --> 00:25:17.710 sacrifice. Can you say in Jesus' name? In Acts 00:25:17.710 --> 00:25:23.329 chapter 14, and I close, the Apostle Paul and 00:25:23.329 --> 00:25:27.890 Barnabas, they're preaching the gospel and the 00:25:27.890 --> 00:25:31.809 Bible says in verse 22, this is Acts 14 and 22, 00:25:33.390 --> 00:25:36.470 they're strengthening the souls of the disciples, 00:25:37.589 --> 00:25:40.829 exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying, 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:48.539 We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:57.299 of God. How does that sound in 2026? We must 00:25:57.299 --> 00:26:02.819 through many tribulations enter into the kingdom. 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:05.819 Hey, whoa, whoa, time out. Jesus paid it all. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:11.799 I'm good to go. We must through many tribulations. 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:18.720 enter into the kingdom of God. Well, what's your 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.700 tribulation, Brother Mark? What's your tribulation, 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:26.200 Brother Will? What's your tribulation, Brother 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:31.900 Javin? I don't know. I don't know the cross he's 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:34.720 gonna ask you to bear. I don't know the cross 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:37.720 he's gonna ask me to bear. All I've gotta do 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:41.259 is make a decision. If he carried a cross, I'll 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:45.619 carry a cross. But we have watered down Christianity 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:49.140 so much that if we let you know that it's gonna 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:51.039 take a little bit of serving and a little bit 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.400 of work, you're like, oh, no, no, no. There's 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:56.039 gotta be an easier option. That's a little bit 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:58.940 too intense, a little bit too heavy -handed. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:05.019 It don't take all that. It took a crown of thorns 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:08.859 upon his head, and it took a spear in his side, 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:12.259 and it took nails in his hands and his feet. 00:27:13.040 --> 00:27:17.380 Because he knew when my people go through their 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:20.680 own tribulations, they're gonna have to know 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:23.140 that I was tempted in all points like as them 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:26.079 but without sin. They're gonna have to know that 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:28.859 just because they suffered, I suffered. Just 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:31.619 because they go through weariness and all of 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:34.599 the efforts of serving me and it's not always 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:38.940 easy. But my goodness, the cross wasn't easy 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:42.680 either. I looked in Acts chapter 14 to try to 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:45.940 figure out what kind of tribulation, what kind 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:49.299 of sacrifice, what kind of cross was Paul talking 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:54.019 about? And so if you look at Acts 14 again, it 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:56.839 says that there were Jews from Antioch, Iconium, 00:27:57.299 --> 00:28:01.880 they came to Lystra, and they persuaded the multitudes, 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:05.960 they stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:11.140 supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:13.059 gathered around him, sounds like they had a prayer 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:17.799 meeting, he rose up and went into the city, and 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:22.099 the next day, he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:25.220 That's where we were reading just before verse 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:29.420 21. And when they had preached the gospel to 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:34.359 that city and made many disciples, they returned 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:37.490 to Lystra, that's where they stoned him. and 00:28:37.490 --> 00:28:39.849 Iconium and Antioch, that's where the people 00:28:39.849 --> 00:28:43.309 came to stone them. And they just strengthened 00:28:43.309 --> 00:28:45.269 the souls of the disciples and they said, you 00:28:45.269 --> 00:28:49.829 know, you gotta continue in the faith because 00:28:49.829 --> 00:28:54.289 we must through many tribulations enter into 00:28:54.289 --> 00:28:59.130 the kingdom of God. So we got these people from 00:28:59.130 --> 00:29:03.589 Iconium, Antioch, they head over to Lystra, they 00:29:03.589 --> 00:29:06.470 get the crowd and are uproar. And they stoned 00:29:06.470 --> 00:29:12.349 Paul, leave him for dead. And so he gets prayed 00:29:12.349 --> 00:29:15.230 for. He gets up, he goes on to the next city. 00:29:15.349 --> 00:29:16.670 So that's what we need to do. We need to go back 00:29:16.670 --> 00:29:20.069 to those three cities. Because obviously we stirred 00:29:20.069 --> 00:29:22.990 something up. And we need to let them know, hey, 00:29:22.990 --> 00:29:24.910 there may be tribulation, but this is about the 00:29:24.910 --> 00:29:28.029 kingdom of God. There may be persecution, but 00:29:28.029 --> 00:29:31.549 this is about the kingdom of God. Oh, there's 00:29:31.549 --> 00:29:33.750 somebody in this sanctuary. You want to live 00:29:33.750 --> 00:29:36.549 for God that way. I know it's not everybody, 00:29:36.670 --> 00:29:38.789 but there's somebody in this sanctuary. You want 00:29:38.789 --> 00:29:41.210 to live for God that way, not because of Pastor 00:29:41.210 --> 00:29:44.250 Harold Linder, but because you see a savior that 00:29:44.250 --> 00:29:47.569 went to a cross and he shed his blood and something 00:29:47.569 --> 00:29:50.089 in your soul says, my goodness, I'm supposed 00:29:50.089 --> 00:29:53.130 to be an ambassador. Even if it kills me, I want 00:29:53.130 --> 00:29:55.630 to reach out for the loss. I'm going to pray 00:29:55.630 --> 00:29:57.930 for those that need to be saved. I'm going to 00:29:57.930 --> 00:30:00.269 do something to build up the church. I'm going 00:30:00.269 --> 00:30:04.140 to advance the kingdom of God. There may be tribulation, 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:10.819 but there's a Savior, and He has a kingdom. Would 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:14.440 you stand with me today? Praise the name of the 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:20.859 Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Praise the 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:24.640 name of the Lord. Two weeks from now when I preach 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:28.039 about gratitude for the cross, you won't hear 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:31.369 much of this. Because a lot of people that come 00:30:31.369 --> 00:30:35.089 on that Sunday, they only come twice a year, 00:30:35.410 --> 00:30:38.849 Easter and Christmas. They're not ready for the 00:30:38.849 --> 00:30:43.589 rest of the story. And some of you are probably 00:30:43.589 --> 00:30:45.410 not ready for the rest of the story either, and 00:30:45.410 --> 00:30:49.789 I apologize for kind of opening up the kingdom 00:30:49.789 --> 00:30:53.190 of God in all of its fullness. But I am telling 00:30:53.190 --> 00:30:55.430 you, there are some in this sanctuary, you're 00:30:55.430 --> 00:30:58.509 ready for it. There's something beating in your 00:30:58.509 --> 00:31:01.380 heart. that says there's a reason why he died 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:04.599 for me. There's a reason why he shed his blood 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:07.240 for me. And sweetheart, it's not so you can go 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:09.299 back to being worldly and dressing like the world 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:11.279 and looking like the world, painting your face 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:15.180 like the world. It's not for that reason. Are 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:17.000 you hearing what I'm saying? It's not so that 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:19.720 we can just become casual about our commitments 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:22.259 to the Lord, because my goodness, it feels so 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:24.420 good on Sunday. I want that, but I don't want 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:28.180 the rest of that mess. No, this is not that kind 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:31.829 of church. This is a kind of church where the 00:31:31.829 --> 00:31:34.970 door is open wide for someone that will say I 00:31:34.970 --> 00:31:39.269 know he died for me And I want to live for him 00:31:39.269 --> 00:31:44.009 and I want to be an ambassador of a kingdom That 00:31:44.009 --> 00:31:47.890 is so much better than anything in this world 00:31:47.890 --> 00:31:53.769 And if I got to turn my back on some things It's 00:31:53.769 --> 00:31:56.930 okay Because I'm not living for the kingdoms 00:31:56.930 --> 00:32:01.900 of this world I'm living for his kingdom. Praise 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:03.579 the name of the Lord right where you're standing. 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:06.259 Would you take a moment and in your own way of 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:08.619 praying, would you surrender to the presence 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:12.220 of the Lord? If something in this message has 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:14.900 somehow connected with your spirit, then respond 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:18.470 right where you're standing. If nothing in this 00:32:18.470 --> 00:32:21.269 message has really resonated with your spirit, 00:32:21.349 --> 00:32:24.329 but you know that you have a passion for the 00:32:24.329 --> 00:32:26.690 cross, right where you're standing, would you 00:32:26.690 --> 00:32:29.589 just thank the Lord for Calvary? Would you just 00:32:29.589 --> 00:32:33.710 thank the Lord for blood that was shed? For a 00:32:33.710 --> 00:32:35.130 kingdom that is calling.