Join me as we dive in to the book of Revelation, chapter 4.
All right, you guys.
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:Welcome back to another
episode of I Can't, He Can.
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:I'm Sarai, as you know, your
host, and we're going to continue
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:today in the Sound Mind series.
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:We're going to be doing the Book
of Revelation, chapter four.
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:And I know that last week we took a
little hiatus from Revelation since it
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:was the one-year, episode/anniversary
of the podcast, and I took some time
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:to just clip a few episodes together
and just kinda, reminisce a little
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:bit in the journey that it's been
actually sitting here and recording.
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:it has been very therapeutic
for me, honestly.
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:in a weird way, I feel like
this has helped me grow, so
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:much in my walk with Christ.
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:I'm just so grateful, that I have
been able, through the guidance and
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:strength, I guess is the word that I
can come up with right now because of
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:the strength that, God has given me, I
have been able to continue doing this.
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:And like I had mentioned last week, it has
made me a lot more disciplined, as far as,
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:my reading goes, because I wasn't really
much of a Bible reader, in, in, the first
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:year, I wanna say, maybe, of my walk.
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:but anyway, I am very grateful that that
has just been something that I've grown
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:to love, and I hope and pray that anyone
listening or watching, can eventually
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:find that, not just want and love for
reading the Word, but just, that hunger.
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:So yeah, I guess, the want, that
hunger that you need to just sit
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:and read something daily, for an
hour, hopefully an hour at least.
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:but just s- sitting and reading, because
there's nothing more that can bring
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:you closer to Christ than actually
reading through the Word and, having
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:that time and giving Him that time.
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:But anyway, as I always say,
I digress, and let's go ahead
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:and begin with our read.
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:Quick pause, as I always say, please
remember to have your actual Bible.
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:I have my notes that I w- jotted
down as I was reading because let
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:me tell you, Revelation is getting a
little more intricate, I wanna say.
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:there's a lot of things that I read in
this chapter where I was just kind of
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:Not scary, 'cause it didn't seem
scary to me, but I can see why some
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:people feel a bit, not overwhelmed.
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:That's not the word that I'm looking for.
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:I can't think of the word.
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:It'll come to me
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:let me skip right here to chapter four.
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:chapter four is not very long at all.
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:It's only 11 verses, but because there
are a lot of details in here, I just
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:want to take my time and go over that.
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:I did write a su- a brief summary
of this and go through a few of
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:the actual verses in chapter four.
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:So, my Bible again is the
New King James Version.
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:Always have your physical Bible.
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:If you have YouVersion, that's fine,
but as my pastor always says, please
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:have like an actual book itself.
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:Now, my Bible breaks every, I
guess every few paragraphs or even
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:every chapter by like a title.
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:and then this one is named
The Throne Room of Heaven.
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:So if you can imagine, we've already
gone through chapters one through three.
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:we're here.
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:John is explaining…
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:Sorry, I was reading through
all my tiny little notes.
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:John is explaining what vision Jesus
is giving him for the seven churches.
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:some of the messages for the seven
churches were ve- well, they were all
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:very much a warning, but they all had like
a, "You do this, but you also do this.
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:That's not good, so repent."
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:and also, just a quick take from the
first few chapters is that Jesus is
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:coming so fast, and we don't know
when that exactly is going to be.
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:And I know that everyone always says
"Oh yeah, we've been hearing that
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:for so long," but the times that we
are living in, like it has never been
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:more clear, in my opinion, that we are
living literally through like end times.
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:Again, in my opinion.
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:You guys can have your
own, but that's just me.
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:Anyway, moving on.
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:I'm going to begin with a
reading of chapter four.
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:I'm gonna read through, and then
we'll go back, and go through the
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:notes that I have for you guys.
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:So The Book of Revelation, chapter 4.
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:Verse one: After these things
I looked, and behold, a door
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:standing open in heaven.
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:And the first voice which I heard was
like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
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:"Come up here, and I will show you
things which must take place after this."
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:Immediately I was in the Spirit;
and behold, a throne set in
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:heaven, the One sat on the throne.
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:And He who sat there was like a jasper
and a sardius stone in appearance;
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:and there was a rainbow around the
throne, in appearance like an emerald.
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:Around the throne were twenty-four
thrones, and on the thrones I
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:saw twenty-four elders sitting,
clothed in white robes; and they
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:had crowns of gold on their heads.
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:And from the throne proceeded
lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
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:Seven lamps of fire were burning
before the throne, which are
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:the seven Spirits of God.
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:Before the throne there was
a sea of glass like crystal.
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:And in the midst of the throne, and around
the throne, were four living creatures
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:full of eyes in front and in back.
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:The first living creature was like a
lion, the second living creature like
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:a calf, the third living creature had a
face like a man, and the fourth living
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:creature was like a flying eagle.
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:The four living creatures,
each having six wings, were
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:full of eyes around and within.
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:And they do not rest day or night,
saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
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:Almighty, who was and is to come."
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:Whenever the living creatures give
glory and honor and thanks to him who
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:sits on the throne, who lives forever
and ever, the twenty-four elders fall
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:down before him who sits on the throne
and worships him who lives forever and
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:ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying, "You are worthy, O Lord,
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:to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by
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:your will they exist and were created."
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:That's it.
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:This was a very short chapter.
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:And again, this was titled
The Throne Room of Heaven.
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:So it's just an explanation of what we
can expect to see in God's throne room.
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:the part that kind of, intimidated
was the word that I was
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:looking for a few minutes ago.
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:but the word in- intimidated
came to mind when I read verse 7
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:that talks about the creatures.
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:"The first living creature was like a
lion, the second living creature like
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:a calf, the third living creature had a
face like a man, and the fourth living
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:creature was like a flying eagle."
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:and also the end of verse 6, which
says, "Were four living creatures,
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:full of eyes in front and in back."
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:So, that little portion, really
stuck out to me because if I were
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:to see anything like that here
on Earth, I would be freaked out.
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:honestly speaking I would
have no idea what to do.
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:would wanna probably just immediately run.
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:that's most likely, my first instinct.
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:So when I read that, I was kind of,
not confused, but it felt a little
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:intimidating because it's like here on
Earth I would not have that reaction.
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:However, if you contrast that with
how you would feel before God, in
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:heaven, I could only imagine that
there is no other sensation, no
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:other feeling other than peace.
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:So it's hard to imagine being in
front of creatures like that, that
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:verse six and seven are describing.
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:But you, it's just crazy.
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:can you really feel peace in
front of those kinds of creatures?
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:And when I really think about it,
it's like here on Earth, no but in
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:heaven they must be so majestic,
and everything must be just so
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:glorious, and all the words that I
can't even think about at the moment.
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:so I, I doubt that there would be
any nerves or, intimidation of any
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:sort because of those creatures.
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:But anyway, so that's one of
the things that, had stuck out
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:to me that I had in my notes.
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:yeah, so I just put here on the
little side note description.
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:let me see.
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:Let me, let me not skip too much
because I did jot it down here for
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:myself so that I wouldn't forget, and
then I put that these creatures are
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:surrounding, meaning like they're in
the midst of, of the throne itself, and
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:I put maybe a protection of some kind.
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:Of course, we're never gonna know
everything on this side of, eternity, so
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:maybe it's like some sort of protection.
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:But then even thinking about it now, it's
like, God does not need any protection.
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:He is the one, the, the be all.
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:Like who…
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:No one He doesn't need
protection from anything.
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:So that was like a little silly note,
but again, I was in that intimidation
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:mindset when I first read that.
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:anyway, so going back here, in verse one
it says, "After these things I looked, and
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:behold, a door standing open in heaven."
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:And I underlined standing
because I found it so particular.
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:If I'm envisioning something like that,
just an open canvas, for example, like
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:you have an open canvas, and you just
see a door and it's standing, you would
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:kind of imagine it maybe like in, shows,
how maybe cartoons, like when we saw when
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:we were little, that it was just like a
door by itself, and you open it, and then
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:you're like in another realm or something.
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:That's kind of the imagery that I
had in my head when I read that.
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:so when I saw that, I was like,
"There's a door in heaven," and it's
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:literally just standing with nothing…
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:I, I imagine it with nothing around it.
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:So my mind just started going all
over different places thinking
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:about something like that.
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:And I don't know if you guys would think
about things like that too much, but
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:when I'm reading the Book of Revelation,
maybe not the conspiracy theorist
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:side of me, but that side of me that,
nitpicks and looks for details and looks
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:for, intricacies really starts diving
in and it's … I'm, on high alert.
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:So that's why I have all these thoughts.
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:I had here continuing at the end of
verse one it says, "And the first
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:voice which I heard was like a trumpet
speaking with me saying, 'Come up
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:here and I will show you things.'"
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:And then I put, I circled, "Which
must take place after this."
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:that is confirmation that in this
moment when we get to heaven and we're
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:looking at heaven's door, John was
seeing things that were going to happen.
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:Someone was going to show him from this
moment on something that was going to
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:happen, which must take place after this.
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:So it's very specific.
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:I truly believe in my heart that
nothing in the Bible is on purpose.
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:Everything has meaning whether
we really understand it or not.
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:But to me, that was confirmation
that this is not just, like
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:a dream, it's a prophecy.
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:It's something that will happen,
and they were showing it to him.
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:So anyway, then I circled immediately on
verse two it starts, "Immediately I was in
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:the spirit and behold, the throne set…
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:a throne set in heaven, and the
One," capital O, "set on the throne."
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:So the One capital O is God.
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:And I circled immediately because after
John was told, "Come up here, I will
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:show you things which must take place
after this," it doesn't elaborate right
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:now as to who was telling him that.
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:but he notes here that
immediately he was in the spirit.
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:So it's kind of like his body
just shifted from, again, being in
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:an earthly state to being in the
spirit, having the Holy Spirit.
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:and just imagine, again, just imagine
having that shift, that peace, that
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:knowing that you're not on earth
anymore, but you're before God.
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:so what a beautiful thing.
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:moving on here I have…
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:I didn't really have too many
notes in this section here, so
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:we're skipping over to verse five.
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:I put, "And from," which I circled
from, "And from the throne proceeding
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:lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
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:Seven lamps on fire were burning
before the throne, which are
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:the seven spirits of God."
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:So, if you recall in the first
few chapters it talked about the
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:lampstands, the, the churches and
all, all those little details which
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:you guys can go back and watch.
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:but here it confirms that the seven
lamps of fire that are burning before
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:the throne are the seven spirits of God.
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:And And then I put, when, when I circled
from in the beginning of verse five, "And
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:from the throne proceeded lightnings,"
I put coming out of question mark.
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:So again, as I envisioned the
door that was standing in f- in
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:front of heaven, I imagined this.
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:So from the throne proceeding
came out lightning and thunder.
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:So if you imagine, like there's like a
throne, but then there's lightning and
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:thunder coming from it, like that's just
… I don't know, it just seems so incredible.
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:you think of the lightning from the sky
that comes down and we all get scared and
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:sometimes even, get startled and jump.
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:You have that coming
from the throne of God.
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:Anyhow, let me see.
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:So in this one, I found it very
interesting 'cause I thought of
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:a floor, and this is verse six.
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:It says, "Before the throne was
a sea of glass like crystal."
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:So to me, I was thinking, I was man,
this has to be the floor in heaven.
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:It's a glass…
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:excuse me, a sea of glass like crystal.
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:Then it continues to say part B
of verse six, "And in the midst of
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:the throne and around the throne
were four living creatures full
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:of eyes in front and in back."
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:So it's describing the throne to have
a sea of glass, kind of like crystal.
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:So m- m- perhaps like a diamond-like floor
per se, and then in the midst of that, of
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:the throne, are the four living creatures
that are full of eyes in front and back.
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:Maybe as like the protection.
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:Again, that's why I'm saying I
was so they're in front of the
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:throne, they're around it in the
midst of the throne, and they're
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:You can imagine maybe some
sort of scary looking creature.
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:I don't know.
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:So that's what's being described there.
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:And then it moves on to verse
seven, which is the one that
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:says what each creature was like.
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:The first one is like a lion, the second
is like a calf, the third, has the
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:face like a man, and the fourth has a
face, excuse me, like a flying eagle.
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:Now, verse eight says, "The four living
creatures, each having six wings,
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:were full of eyes around and within."
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:That's why I was also a little that's
a little crazy because not only do
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:they have eyes in the front and the
back, they also have eyes within.
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:What exactly does that mean?
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:I don't know.
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:I don't know.
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:but if I'm taking it literal, I
could imagine inside of them they
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:have eyes, and that's … It's just
so detailed and so crazy to me.
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:But I leave that there
for you guys to chew on.
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:going over to my last few notes on here.
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:Again, this is a very short chapter.
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:Verse nine says, "Whenever the living
creatures give glory and honor and thanks
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:to Him," Him meaning God, "who sits on
the throne, who lives forever and ever,"
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:verse 10, "The 24 elders fall down before
Him who sits on the throne and worship
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:Him who lives forever and ever and cast
their crowns before the throne, saying
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:And then verse 11 says,
what the 24 el- elders say.
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:However, I wanted to go back, and in
verse nine, I specifically circled,
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:"Whenever," and, "Give glory."
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:So whenever the living creatures give
glory and honor and thanks to God who
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:sits on the throne, the 24 elders fall
down before Him, and they also start
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:giving, praise and giving glory to God.
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:But if you recall, the very, very
first time that John had anything,
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:had anyone, come to him … I
th- I'm gonna go back here.
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:but he specifically said that he also
fell because he was in the presence
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:of Jesus, and he couldn't believe it.
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:So I hope I don't take too long to find
it, but I know that it was in here.
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:Jesus says to John … I'm sure I can
find it really fast for you guys so
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:I'm not going back and forth looking.
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:Uh-huh, testimony
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:Busy who reads?
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:Da, da, da, da, da
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:Well, I can't find it now
exactly, but I know it's here.
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:I know it's here because I remember that
he said that the first thing that happened
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:to him when he was in the spirit was fall
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:I think it's this one here, but
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:anyway, I digress.
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:You guys can find it.
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:This is Patience, Jesus Christ
who was on the island of Patmos
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:of the sword and testimony.
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:Jesus…
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:This is Revelation chapter one,
and I'm reading verse nine and ten.
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:I was in the Spirit on the Lord's
day, and I heard, and I heard
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:behind me a loud voice as a trumpet.
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:I am the Alpha.
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:Okay, that wasn't talking.
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:Moving over to 12,
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:13.
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:It's not that one
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:Ah, I finally found it, you guys.
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:Verse 17, I knew it.
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:Verse 17 says, "And when I saw
him, I fell at his feet as dead."
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:My goodness, I know I'm not going crazy.
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:anyway, so just like the 24 elders,
when the four creatures start giving
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:praise and glory to God, before his
throne, the same reaction is something
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:that John had when he first saw Jesus.
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:So if you could only imagine what that
day would be like when we're before God,
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:like our knees are gonna be so weak.
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:I'm sure we're just gonna be
overwhelmed with joy and with peace,
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:and we're just gonna give our life
literally again to God and to Jesus.
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:and in a way I think that's
probably why they say that every
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:knee shall, will bow or shall bow.
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:because whether a person likes it
or not, God's glory and his being is
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:just … I can imagine it's just so
amazing and so glorious that we're
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:not gonna be able to control it.
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:We're just gonna have no choice but to bow
and, and be like, "Man, we're in front of
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:our God, our Father, our one true king,
and in front of our savior, Jesus Christ."
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:So anyway, this again was a short chapter,
but it was a lot of details to chew on.
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:it really does sound like a crazy dream,
but I don't believe it is a dream.
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:I believe that everything in heaven
is going to be as glorious as it's
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:described here, and even more,
more than we could ever imagine.
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:But I want to encourage you guys to
continue reading, to continue diving
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:into the word, because sometimes
the way that we feel when we go to
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:church on Sunday and we leave and we
feel refreshed, we feel lifted up,
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:It shouldn't just be a Sunday thing.
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:We, hopefully we go to church and we
have a great pastor, who can lift us
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:up and give us the right words from
the Bible, not just like a pep talk.
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:but hopefully they have the right words
and the right interpretation that we
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:need to fill our cups and to leave
renewed and to continue walking upright.
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:But if you don't have that, if you
don't have that, the reality is you
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:don't necessarily need a church.
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:You should go to a church for the
community, the fellowship, 'cause
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:obviously, being, King Solomon
even said, "More than one is…
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:Two is better than one."
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:but and I agree with that.
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:It's good to still be in the Word.
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:You have to still find
that time and be in prayer.
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:Pr- I, I know I mentioned it recently
that we just lack so much time and
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:prayer, and I am guilty of this.
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:I'm guilty of this because sometimes
I wanna pray, and sometimes I wanna
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:be on my knees before bed and pray.
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:But just because my flesh tells me,
"No, I want to lay down next to my
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:husband and just relax," I choose
relaxation and a silent prayer as
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:I'm falling asleep instead of that.
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:And I'm saying that honestly and openly
because there is no shame in, in, in that.
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:I, I know that that's something that
has to be improved, and that's an
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:area that I do wanna start working on.
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:So if the area that you guys should
be working on is your reading and your
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:studying, then just doing a little bit
more every day, a little bit better every
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:day towards that, and to have that time
with God and with Jesus and with the Holy
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:Spirit, it's definitely going to help
you build it little by little, to the
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:point where if you notice that you go
without reading, something is missing.
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:And I'm pretty sure that's where we
all wanna be for everything, where
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:if I go a day without talking to
God for an hour, just telling God
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:about my day and just giving it all
up to Him and letting Him know how
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:I am, even though He already knows.
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:but I wanna have that I wanna be
at that point where if I know I'm
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:not on my knees and I'm not talking
to Him, then something is missing.
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:But so I question, I question you guys,
and I, I dare you guys to question
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:yourselves and really analyze what
is missing in your walk that you can
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:practice and that you can improve.
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:and not just improve for a day,
but improve for the long haul
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:because being a Christian, it's,
it's a, a hashtag nowadays.
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:It's something, What is it?
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:an aesthetic, and it's not.
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:God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit is
not an ex- an, an aesthetic.
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:It's, it's our life.
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:It's our life.
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:You literally surrender your life to
Jesus Christ, and that's when He begins
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:to do a work in you, and He's not going
to do a work in you and transform you
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:from, from within if you are also not
allowing Him by giving all of yourself up.
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:So anyway, my friends, I thank you.
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:I love you.
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:I hope you guys are here again
next week for the continuation
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:of the Book of Revelation.
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:I hope that this has been a journey and
informational, for you guys as it's been
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:for me, and I can't wait to continue
diving in next week with you guys.
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:So God bless you.
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:Take care.
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:Until next time.