The Culture of the Kingdom

A.B.S. Media Demo. I've been about myself before I begin because I think probably most of you don't know me. Actually, I am the pastor of three congregations, Little Rock, Arkansas, Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee. A.B.S. Media Demo. I've been here for years that my wife and I have been at a United States feast site. That is because we both speak Spanish. Buenas tías a todos ustedes cabo en español. We speak Spanish. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. We're the Feast of Tabernacles. We've been in various sites in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico. There's probably something else I'm forgetting. A.B.S. Media Demo. This year we're here in the United States. A.B.S. Media Demo. I met my wife, Lydia, Mr. Petty. He opened the door yesterday talking about his wife. So I'll go ahead and continue on and tell you a little bit about my wife because she's my wife. A.B.S. Media Demo. But I first met her. A.B.S. Media Demo. I went to Plata, Argentina in 1990, made several trips back to Argentina, the long-distance dating routine. And we got married. A.B.S. Media Demo. And Baya Blanca, Argentina in 1990. A.B.S. Media Demo. I brought her and her two boys back to the United States with me. Their names are Gustavo and Jorge Corsi, and they live in the Nashville, Tennessee area. A.B.S. Media Demo. And I brought them to Lansing, Michigan, a couple of years ago. Now, my wife, Lydia, she likes to talk. She loves to talk, in fact. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. I had to do all the translating to introduce people and to talk about what they were doing. A.B.S. Media Demo. I translate the best that I could. And she was so frustrated. For about two years, she was frustrated because... A.B.S. Media Demo. And we drive home from services, and she'd say, I'm so frustrated! I'll never learn! A.B.S. Media Demo. But now you can go up and talk to her. She has learned English. She does very well, and she would love to talk. A.B.S. Media Demo. But we are very glad to be here and to share the Feast of Tabernacles with you. A.B.S. Media Demo.

When I was a little boy, probably about 12 years old, A.B.S. Media Demo. I was driving out in the countryside in Michigan, out in the middle of the cornfields where there was nobody else around. And suddenly my father got there. And in the car was my mother and my brother who was a young guy. A.B.S. Media Demo. My father looked in the backseat and he said, Which one of you boys wants to drive?

And of course we were both excited to hear that. And we both put up our hands, Yes, Yes. A.B.S. Media Demo. So he gave us the opportunity. A.B.S. Media Demo. Now there was a little problem in that we were both so short, we could barely see over the steering wheel. But we both took turns and my father taught us. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo.

So over the next few years, we'd be out in the middle of the country and he'd stop and give us the opportunity to drive. And then, as I fast forward to the fifteenth year of my life, A.B.S.

Media Demo. Driver's Education. A.B.S. Media Demo. Written exam, passed that. The eye examination and also the driving part of the course and it passed with flying colors. Then came the sixteenth year of my life, my birth, A.B.S. Media Demo. Something that I had anticipated for several years was to get my driver's license. Now my mother, she took us to the county courthouse in a little town called Charlotte, Michigan, which is 15 miles from my life. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. And actually, back in those days, it was the county sheriff and the deputy sheriff who administered the driver's license.

So we went to the county courthouse and the first step was to take the written examination. A.B.S. Media Demo. And I passed 100% on the written examination. Then the county sheriff, he looked at me and he said, suddenly he said, I don't know whether we need to do this before the road test, but we'll go ahead and do the A.B.S. Media Demo. So he said, take a look, please put your head forward into the machine and tell me what is written on the top line.

So I leaned forward, put my head into the machine, and I said, what line? A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. And I said, no, sir, I cannot. He said, well, take a look at this next line. It's a little bit larger and tell me if you can read that. I looked at it, tried the best I could, squinted, and did everything I could, but I could not read that line.

A.B.S. Media Demo. I said, son. A.B.S. Media Demo. But you're not going to be able to take the driving test today. You're going to have to get glasses before you can get your driver's license. Now, I felt like a bomb had been dropped on me. A.B.S. Media Demo. So badly to get my driver's license. A.B.S. Media Demo. I was going to have to get glasses before I could take the driving test and get my driver's license. Then I remembered A.B.S. Media Demo. I had just had A.B.S. Media Demo. and I passed, but it went downhill in a hurry. It had deteriorated to the point that something that I wanted so badly was put on me.

A.B.S. Media Demo. I had to get glasses to get my license. And what a disappointment to a young lad. A.B.S. Media Demo. Physical vision is so important for us as human beings. A.B.S. Media Demo. Some of us have to get glasses just to read or to see normally.

A.B.S. Media Demo. And we lose our vision completely. But there's another dimension beyond the physical. A.B.S. Media Demo. The spiritual. We do not want it to deteriorate. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A Feast of Tabernacles. Help us keep that spiritual vision strong. And keep us focused on what God has stored. A.B.S. Media Demo. All of us, but for all of mankind. Turn with me please. A.B.S. Media Demo. Psalm 119. Psalm 119. And we will read verse 18. A.B.S. Media Demo. Psalm 119 and verse 18.

This particular section of Scripture. A.B.S. Media Demo. The appreciation of God's Word. The appreciation of God's Word. Psalm 119 and verse number 18. We read. A.B.S. Media Demo. Open my eyes that I may see. A.B.S. Media Demo. One of the first things from your law.

Notice the phrase, open my eyes. That's talking spiritually speaking to open our eyes. A.B.S. Media Demo. Today's English version translates this verse. A.B.S. Media Demo. Wonderful truths of your law. God's Word. The psalmist here is asking for God to open his eyes. He was asking for God's help.

A.B.S. Media Demo. Wonderful truths from God's Word. A.B.S. Media Demo. Brethren, our spiritual vision is so important. And we must seek God's help to keep it intact. The title of today's sermon is. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. Don't lose your spiritual vision. Today, let's learn the importance of maintaining our spiritual vision. It is something that we can have at a time. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. Lose it if we don't take steps to maintain it. It takes work. It takes dedication. And it is dependent upon our relationship with our great God. A.B.S. Media Demo. Spiritual vision is given to us by God.

And when we boil it down, when we boil it down, we're talking about hope. Hope for the future and the holy days, and especially the Feast of Tabernacle. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. Hope of knowing God's plan of salvation for mankind. Let's go back to verse number 18, and notice the beginning word in verse number 18. Open. A.B.S. Media Demo. Literally asking God to lift the veil from one's eyes.

And we do have a veil upon our eyes, spiritually speaking, until God lifts that veil from our eyes and begins to draw light. A.B.S. Media Demo. So the psalmist is asking to have the veil lifted from his eyes so he can see clearly the wonderful truth from God's Word. A.B.S. Media Demo. We understand that God's holy days... A.B.S. Media Demo. Each one of the holy days, picture and show God's plan of salvation for mankind, and the Feast of Tabernacles that we are celebrating now...

A.B.S. Media Demo. After the return of Jesus Christ, when for the planning of one thousand years, we'll have peace, abundance and prosperity. And to have that vision, the vision of that special time... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...is the wonderful truth. Spiritual vision... A.B.S. Media Demo. We want to see that God has something special planned for all.

Abraham, the Patriarch Abraham... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...that God had given him. Let's notice in Hebrews chapter 11... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...in Hebrews chapter 11, and we will be reading verses 8 through 10. Hebrews chapter 8... A.B.S. Media Demo. I'm going to open my bottle of water here. I love drinking water. A.B.S. Media Demo. Hebrews chapter 8... And let's begin reading in verse 8. A.B.S. Media Demo. Excuse me, Hebrews chapter 11, I'm sorry. Hebrews chapter 11 beginning in verse number 8.

A.B.S. Media Demo. Maybe verse 8. By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called out to go... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. A.B.S. Media Demo. A thousand mile journey that Abraham would make. A.B.S. Media Demo. Now, if you would, please put a marker here in Hebrews chapter 11, if you have a marker or a finger or whatever you would like to hold your place with.

A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. Genesis chapter 12, where the beginning of the story of Abraham is. Genesis chapter 12. And let's begin reading... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...a story very familiar to all. A.B.S. Media Demo. Hebrews chapter 12, verse number 1. Another Lord had sent to Abram, Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house to a land...

A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...for Abraham to do. Family back in those ancient times was very close-knit. They depended upon each other, and it was not an easy thing to leave your family. Nor was it an easy thing to leave your family. From what we understand, he lived in a place called Ur of the Chaldees. It was a very affluent place, and he was 75 years of age. It was not an easy thing for him... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...and did.

He actually went north to a place called Haran, and eventually would go west towards the land of Canaan and enter from the north. So let's drop down to verse number 5.

A.B.S. Media Demo. His wife and Lot, his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran. And they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land... A.B.S. Media Demo. There's a lot of details that are left out. We're just getting the summary here. Verse number 6. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem... A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...and the Canaanites were in the land. Another brief summary in verse number 6. Because Abram had actually traveled from the northern part of Canaan and was making his way forward... A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...and along the way to travel up through Canaan, he saw the abundance of the land.

So much abundance that he's going to erect an altar and worship God and praise him for what he had seen. A.B.S. Media Demo. Then the Lord appeared to Abram... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...to your descendants, I will give this land. And there he built an altar to him. So Abram had obeyed God... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...and then God tells Abram, I'm going to give this land to your descendants. And you know, he would not fully occupy the land, but his descendants would.

A.B.S. Media Demo. Number 8. And he moved from there to the mountain... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...with Bethel on the west and Aion on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. A.B.S. Media Demo. Verse number 9. So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...and made his way through the land of Canaan and came to the very southern border of the land of Canaan. If you've got a marginal reference... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...the word south is translated Negev, or Neg-eb, which is a semi-arid... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...the mountains of Judah and is used in reference to the southern side of the land of Canaan. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...the boundary or a southern gate. And in fact, all three of the patriarchs lived on the very... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...the promised land, not fully going into it. And Abram lived as a resident... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...to the southern part of the land of Canaan in areas known as Beersheba and Girar. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...the only piece of ground that Abram actually owned in the promise... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...was a place to bury his wife, Sarah, and eventually many of the family. Now let's go back to Hebrews. A.B.S. Media Demo. I hope you held your place there. Hebrews Chapter 11. A.B.S. Media Demo. And let's continue reading here in verse number 9. By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign country... A.B.S. Media Demo. ...with Isaac and Jacob. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...promise. Notice the phrase, Land of Promise. This is the only place where this phrase is found in the Bible. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. God gave him a vision of something special, even greater than that physical land. And we read that in verse number 10. For he waited for the city... A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...God. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. ...the tabernacles that you and I are celebrating this week gives us a snapshot of what Abraham had. That vision that he had of a city with permanent foundations. A.B.S. Media Demo. While we are at the feast, we have the opportunity to reflect upon, to meditate upon, and internalize what a glorious future awaits. Not only us, but all of mankind. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. A vision alive and growing. The world, people in general, are living in spiritual darkness. Not even knowing that God has a plan of salvation. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. There are a few that God has given special understanding, who have genuine spiritual vision. Let's talk about those, and let's go to Matthew 13. A.B.S. Media Demo. 13. A.B.S. Media Demo. He referred to this yesterday, but let's take a look at it a little closer. Matthew 13. And we'll begin reading in verse number 4. A.B.S. Media Demo. This, of course, is a section of Scripture. A.B.S. Media Demo. A.B.S. Media Demo. And the seed, and talking about the effects that the gospel messenger would have on certain peoples. And let's pick it up here in verse number 10. Matthew chapter 13. And the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? Now this puzzled the disciples because Christ had actually changed his method of reading. Previously, if you look at sections of Scripture like we did yesterday in Luke chapter 4.

Because he was a teacher, known as a teacher. He was presented the book of the law. And he read from a section of the book of the law.

And the disciples had seen him and heard him during that style of teaching.

There's all these multitudes gathered, and he begins to speak in parables. Parables about the kingdom.

Why do you speak to the multitudes in parables? Verse number 11. Here's his answer to them.

Because it has been given to you, you disciples. And that includes us as disciples.

It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But to them, the multitudes, they have been given.

And that's so true in our day and time as well.

They fully understand God's Word. They've had the blinders lifted, the unveiling of the eyes to understand God's plan.

We're a group here. I heard that we're something like 360 people.

Yesterday, there was something like that in Alaska that was announced earlier.

There's probably something like 1200 in Panama City Beach, maybe 100 in Cartagena, Colombia. AVS Media demo. All of us up together. We're only maybe 12,000... AVS Media demo. Tabernacles. Just a very small group of people compared to the billions on this planet. AVS Media demo. The disciples to understand these... AVS Media demo.

Let's go down to verse number 16. He says this, after he had quoted a section of Scripture from Isaiah, he says, Blessed are your eyes... AVS Media demo.

AVS Media demo. ...for they hear. How many of us realize and understand how blessed we are to understand these great truths about the Kingdom of God and the future that He has? AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. What a blessing it is! And we need to keep that vision alive and growing.

The Feast of Tabernacles, a time of rejoicing, helps us keep that vision alive. AVS Media demo. Christ had told the disciples the multitudes could not understand, including the vast majority of mankind that's living today. And that's because blinders, spiritually speaking, have been put on their eyes. AVS Media demo. ...in Chapter 4.

Second Corinthians, Chapter 4.

I read this section of Scripture on the Day of Atonement. Second Corinthians, Chapter 4. And let's read verses 3 and 4. AVS Media demo. There's a reason why there's blinders on most of mankind, and that's because the God of this world has blinded them from spiritual truth. Second Corinthians.

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And let's read verses 3 and 4.

But even if our Gospel is veiled, and as the Apostle Paul was preaching the Gospel message, AVS Media demo. There was a... AVS Media demo. ...progress, and the Gospel message was being suppressed and veiled. But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. Verse 4. AVS Media demo. Blinded! AVS Media demo. Lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

On the Day of Atonement, which was last Wednesday... AVS Media demo. Well, I had been busy previously, a lot of things going on... AVS Media demo. ...preparing for the Feast of Tabernacles, and just all the things that a pastor has to do. And my wife and I, we were preparing to drive north... AVS Media demo. We live about a half-hour north of Little Rock.

AVS Media demo. ...into the country. So, I got on the freeway, heading north, and normally when I had to go... AVS Media demo. ...on a Saturday, there's no traffic at all. Peaceful, calm. AVS Media demo. All of a sudden I realized, where did all this traffic come from? Especially going south towards Little Rock. And I realized... AVS Media demo. ...I gave you my thoughts, oh, this is a Wednesday! This is not a normal Sabbath day. And all these people... AVS Media demo. ...going to various places, doing their normal things, their activities, their jobs... AVS Media demo. ...of what that day of atonement meant, and what it meant for them as well.

Because they've been blinded. AVS Media demo. ...on them by the God of this world. And although the majority of mankind are... AVS Media demo. God will eventually give every person who has ever lived, or will live, the opportunity to fully know Him. AVS Media demo. It's written in 1 Timothy 2, verse number 4. AVS Media demo. ...who desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

And it's according to God's timeframe for them. AVS Media demo. ...to telling a few to understand His... AVS Media demo. ...who respond through repentance and obedience to build a special relationship with God in Christ. What we call... AVS Media demo. ...a version. And God has blessed us... AVS Media demo. ...that wonderful truth. But we, as disciples, must take steps to maintain our spiritual vision.

It is... AVS Media demo. We don't want to lose... AVS Media demo. ...a spiritual vision. Let's go to Matthew, chapter 22. Matthew, chapter 22. And we're going to read verses 1 through 14. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. And it's a story of a lack of response. A story of a lack of response. Matthew, chapter 22. Beginning in verse number 1. AVS Media demo. ...2, verse number 1. And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said... verse 2. The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son.

AVS Media demo. ...the feast portrays the kingdom. So that's what is being portrayed in this particular parable. Verse number 3. And sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding... AVS Media demo. ...to come. Verse number 4. Again he sent out other servants saying, Tell those who are invited, see I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fatted cattle are killed. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. And what was the response in verse number 5?

To the invitation that had been brought out? But they made light of it and went their ways. One to his own farm and another... AVS Media demo. They made light of it. AVS Media demo. In verse number 5. They did not care. They had no spiritual vision to be preparing for the wedding feast. They were too interested in today's world. AVS Media demo. Continuing on to verse number 6. AVS Media demo. And the rest seized his servants. It gets worse. Seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

But when the king heard about it, he was furious. AVS Media demo. And burned up their city. Big price to pay for... AVS Media demo. Verse number 8. Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready. But those who were invited were not... AVS Media demo. Not worthy. No spiritual vision to be preparing. AVS Media demo. No spiritual growth.

Verse number 9. Therefore go into the highways. And as many as you find... AVS Media demo. So those servants went out into the highways, gathered together all whom they found. AVS Media demo. The wedding hall was filled with guests. Verse 11. But when the king came in to see the guests... AVS Media demo. ...he was there who did not have on a wedding garment. This particular individual... AVS Media demo.

But he had not prepared properly for it. Verse 12. AVS Media demo. How did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. He had not been diligent. He had not been doing this... AVS Media demo. ...very speaking, doing the things he knew he needed to be doing. Verse 13. Then the king said... AVS Media demo. Hand and foot. Take him away. Cast him into outer darkness. And there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And finally, verse 14... AVS Media demo. ...and then the king said... But few are chosen.

And it's a lesson for each and every one of us... AVS Media demo. ...we need to be preparing ourselves, spiritually speaking, because we've been called. We've received that invitation. And it's a very serious matter. AVS Media demo. Let's go to 1 Peter. AVS Media demo. That calling is very precious. It is something that we do need to take seriously. 1 Peter 2.

AVS Media demo. And let's read verse number 9. AVS Media demo. 1 Peter 2. And verse number 9. And this is something, a very important verse for each and every one of us to reflect upon. 1 Peter 2 and verse number 9. AVS Media demo. Talking to disciples. AVS Media demo. You are a chosen generation. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. And you know, God called Israel. He brought them out of Egypt, out of the slavery of Egypt, to be...

AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. ...an example to all the nations around the world. But they failed. They failed miserably. But we have been given a special opportunity to be those kings and those priests. AVS Media demo. In the kingdom. A chosen generation. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. His own special people. And what should we be doing? That you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness. AVS Media demo. And as we heard in the sermon yesterday, it is a marvelous thing to be called into God's light. To be called out of darkness.

And to walk as children of light. But even though we have been called... AVS Media demo. ...out of spiritual darkness, we do not have still complete spiritual vision. But we can build spiritual vision with God's help. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. ...maintaining our spiritual vision. And how God can help us to maintain that spiritual vision.

Let's go to 2 Timothy chapter 2. AVS Media demo. Excuse me, 2 Timothy... AVS Media demo. I don't have chapter 1 written in my notes there, but I know that's what it is. Second Timothy... AVS Media demo. And let's read verses 6 and 7. AVS Media demo. Young Timothy was receiving admonition, encouragement from the Apostle Paul. Because Timothy was going to be going up and preaching the Gospel message. He would encounter his own...

AVS Media demo. ...going through. And Paul was encouraging him to look at... AVS Media demo. Second Timothy chapter 1 and verse number 6. He says this to young Timothy.

And to us as disciples as well. Therefore I remind you... AVS Media demo. ...the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. AVS Media demo. All of us that were moved to repentance, that had been baptized, brought up out of that water, our sins forgiven, the hands laid upon us. AVS Media demo. God's Holy Spirit to enter into us, to begin to work with us.

AVS Media demo. Stir up that spirit. Fan the flame of the spirit. And what an opportunity that each and every one of us... AVS Media demo. ...to ask God, please help me, as I'm worshiping you here during this feast of tabernacles. AVS Media demo. Stir it up through your Holy Spirit to keep it alive and growing in my life. God would love to hear that. AVS Media demo.

...and every one of us. Not asking for wealth or not asking for physical things. But help me through your Holy Spirit to have... AVS Media demo. ...future. Verse number 7. For God has not given us a spirit of peace... AVS Media demo. ...and of love and a sound mind. But we must continually be growing spiritually... AVS Media demo. ...to stir up the spirit within me. AVS Media demo. ...in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

1 Corinthians chapter 15, which is the resurrection chapter. AVS Media demo. And this is special for us. AVS Media demo. God opens our minds to understand the resurrection. That there is a resurrection. That when Jesus Christ returns to this earth, when the trumpet last sounds... AVS Media demo. ...the first fruits will rise to meet Him... AVS Media demo. ...to be with Him always. And also that God has a plan for the rest of mankind, which we'll talk about that more on the last great day, to give them their opportunity... AVS Media demo. ...spiritually... AVS Media demo. ...this precious truth of the resurrection that Paul is describing in chapter 15.

But I want to actually pick it up in the last part of chapter 15 in verse number 58 because... AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. He gives admonition to disciples, to each and every one of us, to stir up that vision and to maintain that vision of the future. He says in verse 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren... AVS Media demo. ...be steadfast.

Immovable! Always abounding in the work of the Lord. Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Now I tell you, you can read over that... AVS Media demo. ...very quickly and not really get the significance of what the Apostle Paul was saying. But let's look a little bit closer, because it has meaning for each and every one of us, especially when we talk about spiritual vision.

Notice that he says... AVS Media demo. ... ... steadfast. That means to stand your ground. Not to be shaken by the cares of this life, nor being conformed to the world. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. But we cannot be shaken by the cares of this life or the world. Be steadfast. Stand your ground. He also says to be immovable, which means to be firm in our faith. AVS Media demo. We must have the vision of remaining...

AVS Media demo. ...waffling back and forth. Not lukewarm, being hot for a while and then cold, but remaining firm in our belief. That's part of... AVS Media demo. Also, he says, abounding in the work of the world. AVS Media demo. This phrase means not only working, but engaged in the work diligently. And excelling in it. A challenge for each and every one of us. AVS Media demo.

And one says in this phrase, Your labor will not be... AVS Media demo. Our labor, our spiritual labor, will not be in vain. Whatever we put into it, our prayers, our Bible study, our example...

AVS Media demo. Our exhortation, it will be rewarded. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. Our spiritual vision is strong. So these are some ways that we can maintain our spiritual vision. Ask God to stir up the spirit. AVS Media demo. Fast and movable. Abounding in the work of the Lord.

But there's another way that we can... AVS Media demo. And that's to focus on some of the specific prophecies in the Bible that give us that spiritual vision. AVS Media demo. Two of my favorites right now. I have your own favorites. Regarding AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. We were there yesterday in the message. I want to examine a little bit closer here today.

AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. When we pick it up in verse number six it talks about His second coming. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. This is one of my favorites. It might be yours Politico as well.

AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. AVS Media demo. For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. AVS Media demo. And the government will be upon His shoulder. The government will be on His shoulder. When Christ came here to the earth the first time, He did not come to establish the Kingdom at that time. He came to pray for all of our sins. He will be coming as a ruler. And as it says here, the government will be upon His shoulder. And the sense here is that the government will be vested in Him. Now you may have noticed that the phrase, before, upon His shoulder.

And you might have wondered, well now, what does that mean? That the government will be upon His shoulder. Well, the phrase, upon His shoulder, comes from a Hebrew phrase that means between... Now any of you out there that have ever had to carry something heavy, for instance, like a bag of concrete, you might have taken... you might have a project in your backyard and you picked up a bag of concrete... AVS Media Demo. You need to get it in your backyard.

Well, an easy way for carrying it, especially when you're young and strong, is to put it on your shoulders and carry it. And you can do it that way. Any of you that have ever done roughing before... AVS Media Demo. ...my lifetime. Back in... if you didn't have a machine to put it on the roof, you know what you had to do?

You had to put the bundle of shingles on your shoulder, go up the ladder and put it down on the roof. AVS Media Demo. Media Demo. Now... but that's a way of carrying a heavy load is between your shoulders. So the... the image that we get here, the government... AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. ...of the world tremendous. That whole... all of the world is going to see it. And it's going to be an example. Everyone will see that Christ is going to rule. And you know what?

His government is going to work. AVS Media Demo. The opposite of mankind's... AVS Media Demo. ...our history, 6,000 years of mankind's misrule on this planet. Jesus Christ's government is going to work. And everybody on this planet is going to see that. AVS Media Demo. Amazing thing. What a vision that... AVS Media Demo. Matthew Henry's commentary adds this. Isaiah mentions shoulders because great burdens are commonly laid on... AVS Media Demo.

...and as all government, if it's rightly managed... AVS Media Demo. ...especially a heavy burden, requiring extraordinary care and diligence. And all the world is going to see that... AVS Media Demo. ...the president begins to expand out from Jerusalem. And others begin to serve... AVS Media Demo. ...and were Christ's great Christ's great qualified. Verse number 7, continuing on. Here's a great verse for spiritual vision. Of the... AVS Media Demo. ...of his government and peace, there will be no end. AVS Media Demo. ...of his government.

Because man's government finally will have come to an end.

All the human... AVS Media Demo. ...agreed. We will be a thing of the past. You know, as I mentioned, my wife and I... AVS Media Demo. ...ex extensively through Latin America.

And we have witnessed the corruption... AVS Media Demo. ...around the world. Where my wife, Lydia, is from Argentina. Argentina is a very rich, rich country. AVS Media Demo. ...through it. Many portions of it is like Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa.

AVS Media Demo. ...out in the fields. Corn and wheat. They're rich in natural resources. And yet, many of them... AVS Media Demo.

There's poverty. Lydia's cousin, who is a member of the church... AVS Media Demo. ...mid to late 70s.

He writes her an email message practically every week. And there's... excuse me... AVS Media Demo. When the wicked rule, people groan. And virtually... AVS Media Demo. ...he's groaning about the government and how bad things are. Inflation is going out of the roof. People can barely afford to buy basic necessities. And that's in a rich country. AVS Media Demo. ...in other countries like Venezuela, which... AVS Media Demo. ...how bad things are there.

But that's going to be a thing of the past. Because the increase of Christ's government will be throughout the world. It will start in Jerusalem and expand out like... AVS Media Demo. ...and those... AVS Media Demo. ...the priests who qualify will be helping in that expanding government.

No end to Christ's government. What a wonderful promise that is. It will go on for... AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. But also we see there'll be no end to peace. The increase of government and peace, there will be no end.

What a spiritual vision that is! We'll finally have peace. AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. You know, as I'm speaking right now, somewhere around the world, there's war going on. There's killing and fighting, people dying. But again, that will be a thing of the past.

And we'll have peace that will go on. AVS Media Demo. Because Christ is ruling on the throne from Jerusalem upon the throne of David and over his kingdom. Notice. To order it and establish it with judgment and justice. AVS Media Demo. ...and here's the kicker, the last part of verse number seven.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Take it to the bank. It will be done. God's going to see that it's done. AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. ...the government on this planet.

This, I'd like to read from Byron's notes, a section that's added to this section of Scripture.

AVS Media Demo. The word zeal is to denote the intense desire in accomplishing an object.

And means that the establishment of the kingdom was an object of intense and ardent desire. AVS Media Demo. And then, Byron's notes go on. AVS Media Demo. If the eternal feels so intense desire for this, then Christians should be encouraged in their efforts to spread the gospel, to excite them. AVS Media Demo. In this great and glorious work. AVS Media Demo. ...to have that kind of zeal to see God's government established upon this earth. Another one of my favorite sections of Scripture, a prophecy. AVS Media Demo.

Psalm chapter 22. AVS Media Demo. Spiritual vision of the future to help keep our spiritual vision alive.

Psalm chapter 22. AVS Media Demo. And we will read verses 27 through 29. AVS Media Demo. In comparison to the billions keeping the feast of tabernacles. But that's going to change in the future. AVS Media Demo. Psalm chapter 22. Verse number 27. Notice this. Psalm 22. AVS Media Demo. All ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord.

AVS Media Demo. On the planet. All ends of the world. Notice shall, future tense, shall remember and turn to the Lord. When we talk about remembering the Lord, we're talking about worshiping the Lord. And that's going to take place. AVS Media Demo. Notice the phrase, turn to the Lord. When we talk about turning to the Lord, we're talking about in repentance. AVS Media Demo. To want to worship God. AVS Media Demo. And all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Verse 28 gives us the time frame of when this is going to take place. AVS Media Demo. The kingdom is the Lord's. And He rules. AVS Media Demo. Finally, after Satan has been put away and Jesus Christ establishes thrown into Jerusalem, all ends of the earth are going to begin to... AVS Media Demo. The great God.

AVS Media Demo. And all the prosperous of the earth. In other words, all classes of people.

And notice this. Shall eat and worship. AVS Media Demo. In other words, in one great... AVS Media Demo. Like we are doing during this Feast of Tabernacles. Eating and rejoicing before God.

And this is another sermon. I won't get into it, but eating before God is a form of... AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. God tells us to go to the feast and worship. There's a significance there of restored relationship between God and mankind. Remember that as you are eating during this feast, as you have your lunch... AVS Media Demo. And you're eating something special.

That you're picturing that time when all the world will be eating and worshiping before God.

And are in a restored relationship between themselves and God. AVS Media Demo. Beautiful vision. A couple more scriptures as we begin to wind down now. Psalm chapter 27. Just a few pages forward. Psalm chapter 27. And notice verse number one. AVS Media Demo. I'm going to put this sermon a little bit here in this particular verse. Psalm chapter 27 in verse number one. The Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. Be afraid. One of the great functions of light is to show the way. To show the right path to go down. The path of conversion.

Light shows the way physically. AVS Media Demo. But more importantly... AVS Media Demo.

Light indicates deliverance from darkness. To see God's marvelous light. Notice the two words connected together. Light and salvation. AVS Media Demo. Together they mean saving light. AVS Media Demo. Saving light. And shows us the way. The road to salvation. Finally let's turn for the last scripture. AVS Media Demo. What these days mean that we are celebrating right now. AVS Media Demo. That is awaiting so many people in this world. Let's go to Isaiah chapter 29.

Isaiah chapter 29. A scripture that sums up... AVS Media Demo. ...the future to come after Christ returns and sets up His kingdom on this earth. AVS Media Demo.

For the final scripture. Isaiah 29. And let's read verse number 18. AVS Media Demo.

Isaiah 29 verse number 18. Another spiritual vision scripture. AVS Media Demo. In that day.

And that's a special phrase that tells us that it lays out yet into the future.

AVS Media Demo. The words of the book. No longer will their ears be stopped up to where they can. AVS Media Demo. But their ears will be opened up. They'll be unplugged to the meaning of God's precious truth. AVS Media Demo. The words of the book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. AVS Media Demo. No, there's going to be tremendous miracles. Physical healing that will take place. AVS Media Demo. More importantly, spiritually speaking, spiritual healing that will take place. The spiritual darkness. AVS Media Demo. The veil of deception will be lifted and the eyes of the spiritually blind. AVS Media Demo. And see God's words of truth. Wonderful truth! So brethren, let each and every one of us. AVS Media Demo. We have now begun this Feast of Tabernacles. Let's go forward for it. AVS Media Demo. Asking for and using God's Spirit to stir up His Spirit and go forward steadfast, immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord. Going forward is spiritual hope. AVS Media Demo. With the zeal. AVS Media Demo. Our spiritual vision.

As Abraham, looking to the city with permanent and eternal foundations, the New Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God. AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo.

AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. Thank you, Mr. Nance.

I would like to thank our pianists, Ms. Janie Childers, and the choir that backed me up this morning. AVS Media Demo. AVS Media Demo. As children of God, we're chosen to be here to keep the feast days of God. So let's stand.