Saturday, December 31, 2022

The Reset 2023 | Pastor Kyle | Watch Night 2023

 RESET


 Genesis 6:1-8

  1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were

born to them,

2  that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for

themselves of all whom they chose.

3  And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his

days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

4  There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in

to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of

old, men of renown.

5  Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of

the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

7  So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man

and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 6:13-15

13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with

violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14  Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside

with pitch.

15  And this is how you shall make it:



Genesis 7:7-12

7 So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of

the flood.

8  Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the

earth, 9  two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded

Noah. 10  And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.

11  In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the

month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of

heaven were opened.

12  And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Your Gift 12.25

YOUR GIFT


Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His

shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the

throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Unto Us:

Child Born: His Humanity

Heb 4:15

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was

in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin

Son of Man. Rev 1:13

The Man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 2:5-6

Man of Sorrows. Is 53:3

Seed of the Woman Gen 3:15

Seed of Abraham. Heb 2:16

The Last Adam. 1 Cor 15:49

Son Given: He’s Ours

John 3:16

Royal Lineage

Davidic Line

His Divinity

Government Upon Shoulders

Fulfilled ultimately by Him in future. Spiritually by us now

Wonderful – marvelous, extraordinary, miraculous, admirable, something unusual


Counsellor – to give counsel, advice, plan, decide


Mighty God – manly, vigorous, strong, warrior, mighty, hero, champion


Everlasting Father - Father that last forever

Psalm 68:5-6

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.

6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;

But the rebellious dwell in a dry land

Prince of Peace – Prince (ruler, commander) of Shalom – completeness, soundness, wholeness,

prosperity, health intact (nothing missing, nothing broken)


Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end.

Dan 2:44-45

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be

destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and

consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45  Inasmuch as you saw that the stone

was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the

clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to

pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

Sunday, December 18, 2022

The Greatest Gift Pt. 3| Pastor Chris Searcy |12.18.22

The Greatest Gift Part 3

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Bible is enough! The Bible is enough!

Venture with me into Gods word to discover our glorious future in him.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ:

This book is the most beautiful book ever written in history because it is the revealing of the

most desirable man in the history of heaven and earth.

The darling of Heaven, The Just One, the King of Kings and Lord Of all Lords is being revealed

to us in this book.

We are in the series the greatest gift and so far we have discussed the foundation of the

biblical story, and the worthiness of Jesus.

Today is the pinnacle of that good news. Because not only do see Jesus revealed in all his

glory but we also learn of our fate in him.

For those that belong to him it is a great prophecy, but for those who reject his mercy, and love it

is a terrible day.


THE DAY OF THE LORD


The Day of the Lord refers to the unique events (positive and negative) that will escalate in the

final 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns. This biblical theme is mentioned nearly 100 times.

Joel 2:11:

11 For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it?

Malachi. 4:5:

5 I will send you Elijah...before...the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

Broken into three time frames:

1. Beginning of birth pains (Mt. 24:4-8. —over a generation leading up to the final 7 years

2. Counterfeit world peace (increased labor pains)—the first 31⁄2 years of the final 7 years (1 Thes. 5:3)

3. The Great Tribulation (hard labor pains)—the last 31⁄2 years of the final 7 years (started by the

abomination of desolation.

Part 1:

It will be a great Day:

Great revival: The greatest revival and outpouring of the Spirit in history will occur in the end

times, resulting in a victorious Church filled with God’s glory (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:17; Eph.

5:26-27; Rev. 15:2; 19:7). It will include miracles such as were seen in the book of Acts and the

book of Exodus, combined and multiplied on a global scale


Return of Jesus: The second coming of Jesus will be seen by every person on earth (Rev. 1:7).

Jesus will make a “royal procession” that will be seen over every inhabited place on earth.

7Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.

And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. (Rev. 1:7)

Rapture: The rapture will occur as Jesus returns to “catches up” all believers in the air. It will

not be a secret event, but one witnessed by all (1 Thes. 4:13-5:11; Rev. 1:7).

Mathew 24:30

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of

the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power

and great glory.

Two witnesses: There will be two prophets who will preach with great power for 3(1] years

during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 11:3-6). They will do great miracles like Moses and Elijah did.

The 144,000: The Lord will anoint 144,000 Jewish believers (Rev. 7:4-8; 14:1-5) who will be

supernaturally sealed or protected by the power of God so that they cannot be harmed.

New Jerusalem: The Holy City will descend to the earth in two stages—at the beginning (Rev.

21:10) and at the end (Rev. 21:2) of the Millennium. The resurrected saints will live there.

2I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven... (Rev. 21:2)

Millennial Kingdom: Jesus will return to rule over all the earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4-6). This

is often referred to as the millennial kingdom.

46 And I saw thrones...and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years... they shall

be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4-6)

God’s kingdom will be openly manifested worldwide, affecting every sphere of life

(political, agricultural, economic, educational, social institutions, etc.). Jesus will restore the

agriculture and animal life to the conditions seen in Eden.


This will be the first time that all the kings of the earth will be born again and will base their

national government on God’s Word.

Having made known to us the mystery of His will... that He might gather together in one all

things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth... (Eph. 1:9-10)


The New Jerusalem will come down in close proximity to the earth in context to Jesus’

second coming (Rev. 3:12; 21:2, 10). The saints will live in the New Jerusalem and rule on the

earth.

12The New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. (Rev. 3:12)

As saints resurrected and living rule with him things will continually improve.

7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David

and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it...from that time forward, even forever. (Isa.

9:7)

The Salvation of Isreal: Israel will be the first nation in history in which every person will be

born again.

26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written... (Romans. 11:26)

Jesus prophesied that He would not come back to the earth to rule from Jerusalem until the


governmental leaders of Israel ask Him to reign over them as their Messianic King (Mt. 22:39).


37“O Jerusalem...how often I wanted to gather your children...but you were not willing!

38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you [Israel’s leaders] shall see Me

no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Mt. 23:37-39)

Armageddon Campaign:

Jesus will return in context to a military conflict around Jerusalem. He will fight and win the

Battle of Jerusalem which ends the Armageddon Campaign (which lasts for 3(1] years).

2For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem... Then the LORD will go forth

and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. (Zech. 14:2-3)

Part 2:

It will be a terrible Day:

It will be a terrible Day for those who persist in rebellion against God (Rev. 6-20).

Jesus’ end-time judgments will shake all that can be shaken on earth

The Great Tribulation: will be the most difficult and the most important 3(1] years in history.

Matthew 24:21-22

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this

time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the

elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

God’s judgments are sent to remove everything that hinders love—they never contradict love.

They also create an optimum environment for His people to walk in love and purity. God uses

the least severe means to bring the greatest number of people to the deepest level of love.

There will be two severe waves of death—the first will claim one-fourth of earth’s population

(Rev. 6:8), the second an additional one-third (Rev. 9:15)—totaling 50%

of the earth’s population.

Isaiah prophesied that “few” would be left on earth (Isa. 24:6).

8 Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with

death, and by the beasts of the earth. (Rev. 6:8)

15 The four angels...were released to kill one-third of mankind. (Rev. 9:15)

1 Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty... The curse has devoured the earth...

the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. (Isa. 24:1-6)

Pressure in the Great Tribulation will come from various sources: from the wrath of God poured

out in “full strength” on the Antichrist (Rev. 14:10), from the rage of Satan persecuting God’s

people through the Antichrist’s reign of terror (Rev. 12:12), and from the actions of evil people

whose sinful deeds will reach their “fullness” (Dan. 8:23).

10The wrath of God which is poured out full strength... (Rev. 14:10)

12Woe to the inhabitants of the earth...for the devil has come down to you, having great wrath,

because he knows that he has a short time. (Rev. 12: 12)


23In the latter time...when the transgressors have reached their fullness... (Dan. 8:23)

The Antichrist: (Revelations 13:1-10) will wage war against Jesus and His people. He will be the

most powerful evil leader in history. Due to his ten-nation confederation, he will have the largest

army in history. He will use demonic miracles to deceive, political processes to kill those who

resist him, and economic oppression to control nations (2 Thes. 2:9; Rev. 13:14-17).

The False Prophet: (Rev. 13:11-18) will be the leader of a worldwide religious network devoted

to causing all the people on the earth to worship Satan and the Antichrist (Rev. 13:4, 8). He will

give speeches and perform miracles (Rev. 13:12-14) and will implement an economic system

using the image of the Beast and the mark of the Beast (coming in later points).

The 10-nation confederation: will be a political, military, and economic alliance of ten nations

that provides the Antichrist with the greatest power base of any man in history (Rev. 17:12-17).

The healing of the Antichrist’s head wound: will be the great catalytic event that thrusts the

Antichrist into worldwide prominence (Rev. 13:3, 12, 14). He and one of his nations will

seemingly be killed, then healed before all, causing them to be overwhelmed with awe and to

worship him (Rev. 13:4).

3I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.

And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (Rev. 13:3)

The image of the Beast: will be a statue (idol) of the Antichrist that is demonically empowered

so that it will seem to think, talk, breathe, and make laws (Rev. 13:14-16). This image will be in

the Jerusalem temple. John emphasized it ten times (Rev. 13:14, 15 [3x]; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2;

19:20; 20:4).

The mark of the Beast: (the Antichrist) will be a mark on people’s right hand or forehead. It will

be used to identify those who worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-17) and will be required in

order to have access to the global economic system. Those who refuse this will not be able to

buy or sell. They will be viewed as criminals of the state who are guilty of the death penalty.

The abomination of desolation: occurs when the Antichrist declares himself to be God as he

sets his image in the temple (Dan. 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:12-18).

Falling away: The end-time falling away will be one of the most tragic and serious realities in

human history. Many will fall away from the faith.

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [Jesus’ second coming] will not come

unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin [Antichrist] is revealed. (2 Thes. 2:3)


Three series of numbered judgments:

These 3 series of judgments will destroy Harlot Babylon (an evil government, and religion) and

the Antichrist’s empire.

These judgments are literal (actual events), in the future (not already fulfilled in history),

progressive (increasing in severity), and numbered (released in a sequential order).


7 Seals: The shaking of everything:

1. White horse:

He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering

and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2)

2. Red horse:

takes peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to

him a great sword” (Revelation 6:3, 4).

3. Black horse:

he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand” (Revelation 6:5, 6).

4. Pale horse:

And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with

death, and by the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7, 8).

5. Souls crying out from under the altar:

The saints and martyrs crying to the Lord for vengeance.

6. Earthquake, sun & moon, stars fall:

sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of

heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was

moved out of its place.Cosmic changes cause the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich

men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in

the caves and in the rocks of the mountains” (Revelation 6:12-15).

7. Silence in heaven:

“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour”

(Revelation 8:1)

7 Trumpets: Judgments on the Antichrist’s empire

1. Hail and fire mixed with blood burn 1/3 of trees and grass. (Revelation 8:7)

2. Mountain of fire thrown into the sea 1/3 of sea creatures and ships destroyed. Revelation

8:8-9)

3. Star named wormwood falls on rivers and springs and turns 1/3 bitter. Many die from it.

(Revelation 8:10-11)

4. 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars do not shine. (Revelation 8:12)

5. Locusts torment those who are not sealed by the Lord for 5 months, while death flees.

(Revelation 9:1-12)

6. 4 angels bound at the great river Euphrates are released to kill 1/3 of mankind. 200 million

man army forms. (Revelations 9:13-21)

7. The Kingdom of God is declared. Jesus comes at the sound of the last trumpet, and the

saints are caught up with him. (Revelation 11:15)

7. Bowls: The wrath of God

1. Sores come upon those who took the mark of the beast. (Revelation 16:2)

2. The seas turn to blood and every living thing in them dies. (Revelation 16:3)

3. Rivers and springs turn to blood. (Revelation 16:4)

4. The sun scorches people, they curse God. (Revelation 16:8)

5. The antichrists throne is covered in darkness those in it are tormented, yet they curse God.

(Revelation 16:10)

6. The Euphrates river dries up to prepare the way for war. (Revelation 16:12)

7. A loud voice cries from the throne of God “It is done!” The seventh bowl signifies the end of

the judgments. The earth experiences a super earthquake. Jerusalem will split into three


parts and the international cities will collapse. Mountains will disappear, and huge,

hundred-pound hailstones will fall.


Judgment seat of Christ

Christ will evaluate each heart and works in accordance with the teaching of scripture.

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10For we

must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in

the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11Knowing, therefore, the terror

of the Lord, we persuade men…(2 Cor. 5:9-11)

New Heaven New Earth

Revelation 21:1-4

1. Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had

passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among

the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with

them and be their God. 4. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more

death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Hope in the Resurrection

2 Corinthians. 5:1

…we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in

this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.


Notes & Resources:

* The seven main symbols in the book of Revelation are in this parenthetical section:

A. The dragon: is always symbolic of Satan (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4; 16:13; 20:2)

B. The first Beast: is symbolic of the Antichrist (Rev. 13; 14:9-11; 17:3-17; 19:19-21; 20:4, 10)

C. Another Beast: is symbolic of the False Prophet who is only called, “another Beast” one

time. Every other time he is called the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11-17; 16:13; 19:20; 20:10).

D. The 7 heads: the seven empires that persecute Israel are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia,

Greece, Rome, and the revived Roman Empire (Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; Rev. 12:3; 13:1;

17:3-16).

E. The 10 horns: speaks of a future 10-nation confederation of ten kings who rule

simultaneously over their own nation while coming into enthusiastic agreement or

partnership together under the Antichrist’s authority (Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; 11:36-45;

Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12, 16)

F. The Harlot Babylon: includes the literal re-built city of Babylon on the Euphrates River in

Iraq (50 miles south of Baghdad) that will be restored and used as a headquarters for the

Antichrist. It will function as a center of worldwide demonic religious and economic

networks (Rev. 17-18; cf. Isa. 13-14; 21; Jer. 50-51), and will seduce many to sin while also

persecuting the saints.

G. The Woman with the Male-child (Jesus): The woman is the faithful remnant of Israel through

history (Rev. 12:1-5). Satan wars with her offspring who are Gentile believers (Rev. 12:17).

*John described seven scenes in Revelation 19:11-21:

Scene 1: Twelve aspects of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem are highlighted (19:11-16).

Scene 2: Jesus will defeat the Antichrist at the Battle of Jerusalem (19:17-21).

Scene 3: Satan will be cast into prison for 1,000 years (20:1-3).

Scene 4: Saints will be given the governmental leadership over the earth (20:4-6).

Scene 5: Satan is released after 1,000 years, giving all a choice to obey or not (20:7-10). Scene

6: God’s great white throne judgment of all His enemies (20:11-15).

Scene 7: The Father will establish His throne with His people on the new earth (21:1-8).

http://storage.sardius.media/-K6FGrVYzVr92SDZiDnc/archives/

6bc56977B32CDCB457D36E887428/static/10F216/267E190F1374.pdf

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https://backup.storage.sardius.media/file/akamaiBackup-ihopkc-103762/IHOP/

751/499/20160304_The_Big_Picture-Three_Time_Frames_in_the_End_Times.KBST07.pdf

https://mikebickle.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BOR-03-The-Theme-of-the-Book-of-

Revelation-without-blanks-MS-030114.pdf

https://backup.storage.sardius.media/file/akamaiBackup-ihopkc-103762/IHOP/

1015/107/20160205_An_overview_of_the_signs_of_the_times_KBST03.pdf

https://mikebickle.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BOR-09-2nd-Coming-Rapture-and-War- in-

the-Spirit-Rev.-11-14-041914.pdf

https://mikebickle.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Session-2-Notes.pdf


https://mikebickle.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/BOR-12-Victory-and-the-Restoration-of- All-

Things-Rev.-19-22050914.pdf

14“This gospel...will be preached...to all the nations [ethnos] and then the end will come.”

(Mt. 24:14)

Sunday, December 11, 2022

The Greatest Gift Pt. 2| Pastor Chris Searcy |12.11.22

THE WORTHINESS OF JESUS

The Bridegroom King

There is no aspect of God’s grace that more powerfully transforms our emotions or satisfies our heart than when the spirit reveals Jesus to us. 8 I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus… Philippians. 3:8

  • HE IS A LOVER

One of the most significant truths in the Scripture is that the Lord has deep desire for His people. This is truth is expressed poetically in the Song of Solomon as the King declared how “His Bride ravished His heart

9 “You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes.” 

Song of Solomon 4:9 ESV

10 “I am my Beloved’s, and His desire is toward me.” Song of Solomon 7:10

Ravished heart: Webster defines “ravished” as being filled with emotions of joy or delight because of one who is unusually attractive 

His desire is toward me: Our identity is in belonging to the King. We are the girl he gets in the end, and His desire is for us. Our actions do not “motivate” the Lord to desire us.

Gods love for us is unconditional. 

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 ESV

He loves us perfectly. 

9“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you.” John. 15:9

II. HE IS A FIERCE AND JUST KING.

Jesus will be openly seen as the most beautiful, fierce and just ruler that the heavens and earth has ever seen when He destroys the Antichrist’s armies in the Armageddon campaign.

Psalms 45:3-6 King James Version

3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Jesus’ second coming will be in context to a military conflict around Jerusalem. 

19The kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against Him [Jesus]… 20The Beast [Antichrist] was captured…21The rest were killed with the sword… (Rev. 19:19-21)

 

Because of truth, humility, and righteousness: When Jesus wages war against the Antichrist, His actions will be motivated by and will produce truth, meekness, and righteousness.

III. HE IS! 

Hebrews 1:1-3

1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus is heir of all 2Whom He has appointed heir of all things… (Heb. 1:2)

The Romans proclaimed Caesar as the heir, rightful owner, of the nations. The leaders of Israel saw themselves as the “heirs” over the land of Israel. Both groups persecuted Jewish believers. It was a radical idea that a Jewish man who died as a criminal was the true heir of the world! 

The Father decreed that Jesus be given all the nations as His inheritance. This includes their governments, property, money, resources, and possessions on earth. 

8I [the Father] will give You the nations for Your inheritance… (Ps. 2:8)

John had a vision of the Father giving the title deed of the earth to Jesus (Rev. 5:1-8). This will result in Jesus receiving total authority over all society in the Millennium. He will own all the cities, property, money, banks, natural resources, oil and water rights, intellectual property, etc. of the earth. All on the earth will joyfully agree with Jesus taking over the nations (Rev. 5:13).

Jesus is the creator of worlds

Jesus created all things under the Father’s authority. 

2Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom He made the worlds… (Heb. 1:2)

The common Greek word for “the physical world” is kosmos, but the word used here is ionus, which means “the ages.” Jesus created the physical and spiritual worlds and the time frames in which God’s storyline and eternal purposes unfold through the various ages. In other words, Jesus is the architect, with His Father, of the storyline that unfolds through the ages on earth.

Jesus created the visible, natural, material world and the invisible, supernatural, spiritual world. 

16By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. (Col. 1:16)

Jesus is the sustainer of the universe

Jesus sustains the worlds in the same way that He created them, by words that release His power (Gen. 1:3; Heb. 11:3). 

To uphold all things means to “sustain” or “support” them continuously.

3And upholding all things by the word of His power… (Heb. 1:3) 

Creation cannot sustain itself; it needs a continual impartation of power and energy to keep it in order. The universe operates according to laws of nature that are sustained by Jesus’ word. When scientists discover the laws of nature, they are knowingly or unknowingly studying the sustaining power of Jesus’ word.

Jesus is the redeemer of the universe

Jesus cleansed the created order from sin. He had to become human and then to offer Himself as the offering for sin.

3…He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty… (Heb. 1:3) 

Sin created a great crisis in creation by releasing death and demons that harm creation. The Father had to find a man untainted by sin to solve the crisis created by sin. 

Jesus, the innocent One, became guilty so that guilty ones could become innocent.

Jesus is the ruler of the universe

3When He…purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Heb. 1:3) 

13Behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days…14To Him was given dominion…that all peoples…should serve Him. (Dan. 7:13-14) 

He wants you with him. 24Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me… (Jn. 17:24) 

The Life That God Calls Great

John 13-17 is the teaching given by the Jesus during the Last Supper. Jesus spoke this to the leadership of His new Church to prepare them to walk in a way that God calls “great” and to thrive spiritually even in the face of intense pressures and temptations.

This is where I believe we find ourselves today.

7“ The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Rev. 19:7 

How do we live a life pleasing to God? How do we make sure we are ready?

Love the lord your God

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus defined loving God as the “first” and “great” commandment. 

Thus identifying it as the Spirit’s first priority in the kingdom, the “first” calling for our life,

CONTEXT:

In Deuteronomy Moses teaches the Israelites who have turned away from God to idols. This is to the generation of Israelites about to enter the Promised Land after 40 years

The narrative of Deuteronomy is set on the east side of the Jordan River, on the plains of Moab, within view of Canaan. This is where the Israelites camped after their 40 years of wilderness wanderings.

The commands are to turn away from Idols, to Obey, and Love will grow. 

Deuteronomy 30:2,6.

2 “and when you and your children return to the Lord your God,”

2 “and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,”

6 “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”

The lord your God will carve your heart over time so that your desires become his, so that your affections become his, he will teach you how to love him.

Marriage is a carnal parallel. When two people come together they must learn each other’s love language. We must be taught how to love. Luckily, the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and he is the best!

However, turning away from idols towards obedience is a non-negotiable. 

Jesus linked loving God with obeying God five times in John 14:

In John14:15, If you love Me, keep My commandments

In John14:21, He who…keeps them, it is he who loves… Me

In John14:23, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word

In John14:24, He who does not love Me does not keep My words

In John14:31, 31I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do

Jesus defined loving God as being deeply rooted in a spirit of obedience.

As you Turn to the Lord, for the first, time or again, and begin to obey his commands, he will circumcise your heart to love God.

THE PROMISE

Deuteronomy 30: 2-4

2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back.

It doesn’t matter how far you have gone, how dark you think the darkness is he will bring you back. 

The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors… Deut 30:9