Who is God? God the Son, Saviour & King (Part 2)

Well, welcome. We're happy to have you here at Western Heights Baptist church this morning as we finish up our series called firm foundations. We started with the sermon on the Bible the focus of these sermon series is who is God God the Father God the spirit God the son but we started with a sermon on the Bible because we get all our understand who got it from the Bible and we use the little acronym scan for the Bible. The Bible is Cas can sufficient clear authoritative a necessary and then we turned our attention to God the father and we found that he is personal and then he is powerful and that he is passionate. And then we talked about God the Holy Spirit and learned that he baptizes us into Christ that he seals us in a permanent Covenant relationship and fills us for present service. Last week we looked at God the son our Saviour Jesus and we saw him as the coming King. Usually when we were talking about Jesus were talking with the baby in the manger or The God man who delivered The Sermon on the Mount we took a future of you. We saw Jesus last week as the coming king and the purpose the point of last week's sermon is that we don't have to live in despair that we can live in hope. Hope for the future there. Is this wonderful coming Kingdom and Jesus will be our physical political visible King. He will rule from Jerusalem. We will participate in that Kingdom we can live in Hope for the future. But this morning we're going to take another look at God the son our Saviour Jesus and say yes, we can live in Hope for the future. But what do we do in the present? Last week was about living in Hope for the future. This week is about living on point in the present. And I think it's fair to say particularly in light of last week's sermon. What is the point? What is the point? I mean if we see Jesus as the future coming we're looking forward to that. But what is the point of right now? Some who have heard last week's message. I don't mean that in our church. I just mean throat church history when they dwell on Jesus the coming King. They hear an implicit message that our life plan now is just waiting for the king. Just waiting. Jesus returns yet know is he ruling from Jerusalem yet? No mountain has he quashed unrighteousness and set up his own kingdom of righteousness. No not okay. Well we're waiting. Just waiting. I heard a very famous preacher one-time dwell on this message and he was talking about our responsibilities in the present. And this is what he said. He said you don't polish brass on a sinking ship on a sinking ship and our society. Is that sinking ship and we shouldn't be bothered with Paulson brass cuz it's all going down anywhere. Anyway, don't own property. Don't make a lot of attachments. Don't do a lot of stuff. You don't polish brass on a sinking ship will today we're going to see that that's wrong. That we do have responsibilities in today's world that yes. We are waiting for this future Kingdom, but there is a present Kingdom right now, but gives us work to do. Someone on said that sometimes Christians can be so Heavenly minded that they're no earthly. Good will today. We're just going to dismantle that we want to be Heavenly minded. We want to look forward to the future Kingdom that gives us hope for the future. But today we need to live on point.

And what is that point? Do we have a point? Yes, we do have a point. We are not only losing and hope for the future Kingdom. We are living life on point right now my working for the savior.

Our future hope is tied up in the kingdom of God and our present mission is tied up in the kingdom of God the kingdom of God right now. And you say what wait a minute last week you were saying that the kingdom of God is visible and Jesus will return to Earth and he will rule over World Government from Jerusalem. That's the kingdom of God. Yes. That's the visible future form of the kingdom of God and that's what gives us hope but there is a kingdom of God on Earth right now.

That gives us our meaning in life gives us our assignment gives us the point that we are on. By the way, this confusion between the future Kingdom and just waiting around for it and the present Kingdom and that giving us our life. We aren't the first ones to misunderstand that the disciples said that same thing. Jesus has come he has taught he has been crucified. He has been laid in the Tomb he has resurrected. He has appeared to the disciples and the disciples thought that the very next step is the future Kingdom in Acts 1:6. He said they said so when they had come together they asked him they is the disciples Kim is Jesus tell the disciples are asking the resurrected Christ Lord at will you at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel? Don't like you came you talk you. Die you Resurrected.

Notice Jesus doesn't say what a dumb question. He doesn't say. Why did you think the kingdom would be physical Jesus acknowledges that question but he answers it. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons that the father has fixed by his own authority. He doesn't say that this is a bad question. He just says it's not for you to know. This is all future tense.

And what you need to do is just wait around got over in the Kingdom. Just wait around know. He doesn't say that he says but you're going to receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you so that you can wait around so that you can be my Witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and all Samaria friends. The kingdom is coming and we will serve in that Kingdom will be visible in Jesus Christ will return physically he will rule the Earth from Jerusalem, but the kingdom is also here right now. Not in a visible form but in an invisible form and just as the future Kingdom gives R Us our hope the current present kingdom of God on Earth gives us our Point gives us our meaning.

Can you tell me a little bit about this Kingdom? I mean, I understand the kingdom you described last week Jesus coming and visible form. I get that that makes sense to me. I mean after all when the Jeep when Jesus resurrected in the the disciples were looking up in the air. The angel said why are you looking for him? He will return in the same way. You saw him leave. So I get the physical return of Christ and I get that he rules from Jerusalem. I get that whole Hebrews to thing that you walked us through. I can't wait. But now you're talkin about the kingdom of God in its current form in the present and tell me more about that. I'll be happy to so glad you asked. We're going to find that in Matthew 13 the key phrase of Matthew 13 is the kingdom is like and noticed the kingdom is like this is present tense. This is present tense. The disciples acts 1:6 future tense. Will you now restore like is that what you're about to do? Jesus answered future tense. It's not for you to know what the future holds and what the timing of the father is, but this is all present tense not the kingdom of God is coming, but the kingdom of God is like right now. Did you know that? The kingdom of God has a visible future form, but the kingdom of God also has an invisible present form the kingdom of God has come to Earth right now. Jesus said the the Pharisees were trying to explain how Jesus did all the things he did and they said you remember it is by the power of Beelzebub that he does these things. At least it's not about it's not by the power of Beelzebub is by the power of God. And if it's by the power of God, he says the kingdom of God is upon you not future tense is right here right now. What does that look like? I mean, it's obviously not like the future risible form. Jesus is not return physically. He does not rule the world Nations the world's Nations. He does not sit on a throne in Jerusalem. So this is a different form of the Kingdom. Can you describe this form for me while yes I can because the scriptures describe it in Matthew 13, the kingdom is like and then it gives a series of seven. Parables Dave read the last three the hidden treasure of the pearl of great value and the net and he also read the description Jesus interpretation that the the explanation of the mustard seed We're going to go through all seven quickly. And as we go through the 7 Parables, I think we will start to see what the shape and what the Contour of the kingdom of God is like on Earth right now and it's invisible mystery form and I think they will also see when we see what the Kingdom looks like. We will see how that not only gives us future for the hope for the future but it helps us to live on point today. So what is this? Kingdom of God like right now? I'm not talking about the return of Christ. He's not ruling the world's governments. He doesn't physically sit in Jerusalem. I asking what does the kingdom of God look like right now when Jesus said the kingdom has come upon you what do they mean? What kingdom He answers in Matthew 13. The kingdom of God is like a sore that went out to sow.

Any Souls 2 seed on different kinds of soil? There's the path and there's the rocky soil and there's the thorny soil in the good seed good soil winter stand that Jesus is the store and the seed is the gospel the central message and he says the kingdom is like so we're going up to so this is the description of the current form in the mystery key form of the Kingdom. What is this mystery form? What is the kingdom of God look like right now for the central point is is that is offered to all

The song we're just in discriminately proceed just throw seat. The kingdom dear one is offered to you right now. There's no gender test. There's no age test. There's no income test. There's no personality test. There's no Health test. There's no test. The kingdom of God is offered to all people right now. Gospel Central thing about this Parable that we're to learn about the current form of the of the Kingdom. By the way, that won't always be true. Phone always be true. When we get to the last Parable the parable of the Nets the Fisher sort it out summer putting the kingdom and summer not that's not open to all the decision has been made. The door is salvation is closed the that if you if you watched Sight & Sound Theater last week member we highlighted that they're playing Noah Sandy and I watch that and they made a really beautiful point that the ark is a symbol of Salvation and the door is open. You can come into the yard anytime but when the floods come the door closes and the opportunities Oliver Sejour does close but right now in this form in the kingdom of God, it's open to all A sower went to so just sowing seed notice also the different results. The sea did not bear did not create the same results and all the kinds of soil the path it reproduce no results the thorns and the stones that grew out quickly and then died and then the good soil 3060 a hundred fold. I wanted to point out just before we leave this Parable. I wanted to point out. dear ones that the difference in result Listen, this is important. The difference in results had nothing to do with the seed.

What was wrong with the seed that fell on the path?

Nothing. It was genuine seed and if it had been allowed to take Ruth, the outer house would have rotted away the DNA inside the seed would have been able to reproduce in a beautiful plant would have come out. There's nothing wrong with the seed. The problem was with the soil. What was wrong with the c that sell among the Thorns what was wrong with the seed that sell among the rocks nothing the speed of genuine.

The different results is not because of different seeds. It's because of different Paths of different soils.

How does this apply to us today? Knowing this about the kingdom that is offered to all you'll get different results, but the different results come from the different kinds of soil not from the different kinds of Seath. What does that mean today? What's the practical application?

The practical application is to be ready to present the gospel. In the physical absence of Jesus we are now the source. And I would just encourage it to your friends know how to present the gospel in our church will use a little methodology called the story. I'll be happy to send you one of these books or refer you to a website, but it's just a very helpful way to present the gospel winsomely graciously attractively but accurately I got a call from someone associated with our church about 2 months ago and they had a loved one. Who was Ill and going through a very difficult time in their life, and they said I've never presented the gospel to this person. How do I do that? So we just went through the story methodology and we worked out a little bit of a script. And we just had main bolts to memorize and he committed to me. He said I will pray for an opportunity. I trust that God will bring me an opportunity to present the gospel and when God presents that opportunity I will pass the seed and you know, what happened the very next month. Nelson there was no opportunity. And then the month after that nothing there was no opportunity, but the month after that. The month after that the person goes to visit the loved one in the loved one starts the conversation by saying did you hear someone so died? No, I didn't hear that seems like everybody's died. And I'm going to be the last one living and the person since this is the opportunity thinking about the end-of-life they're thinking about with the meaning of life is and this is what you're going to die to have you ever wondered what happens after that? Well, I kind of have wondered about that. But let me tell you let me tell you what the Bible says and then they just went through this gospel presentation. And when we were practicing the gospel together, I was the coaching to say always end with a question don't just present fact and with a question make them say yes or no to something. So at the end of The Gospel presentation this person says is that something that you'd be interested in? Would you like to pray to Jesus and receive him as your savior right now? And you know what the man said? No. He said I've never prayed in my whole life, and I'm not going to start now. Friends responsibility executed we don't decide what kind of soil you are. We just throw the seed. The kingdom of God exists on earth now in an invisible in a non-political we don't elect leaders. We don't have ambassadors. We don't have a capital city. We don't have a GDP but it exists and is invisible in invisible form right now. And one of the things we need to do is offer to all people. There's no test. There's no test offered to all people knowing that we are going to get different results, but the different results come from the different heart conditions, not the different seeds. And then there's the parable of the weeds. a good man transplanted a crop and while he was sleeping his enemy planted weeds and then the weeds in the good crop came up together and the angel say well, so we just pull out the weeds know that will destroy the good crop will leave it now, but at the end of the law all be sorted out What is this mean? What is this mean? Well Jesus is the good man and Adam and Eve in their original form as the good crop. The enemy is Satan and he starts to plant leaves and turn their hearts. And then Adam and Eve have Cain and Cain starts this whole society that raises its fist up with God and that results in Noah in the ark and then right after know when we go back to our Wicked Ways a neck results in the Tower of Babel and then God calls himself as Genesis 6 and then genesis10 now, I'm up to Genesis 12. He calls Abraham. It says you will be my people and that doesn't work. Israel is never faithful to God. Yes, an enemy has stolen weeds, but they're still good crop. What's the central message? The central message by the way, the central message last week is don't despair don't despair. All of these weedy kingdoms will be crushed. That's the purpose. That's the meaning of Daniel's Vision memory sees the statue and then Daniel interprets it. Oh, well the head is this Kingdom and then the chest is this Kingdom and then two legs or this could these are the kingdoms of the world? Yes. We remember the statue. Do you remember what happens to the statue? This statue representing all the weedy kingdoms of the world what happens next?

A rock uncut by human hands comes in the Kingdom. This is revelation 19 the return of Christ who ruins the Antichrist Kingdom then Revelation 20 where he sets up his own. Yes. That's the future Kingdom. That's our hope but what's our mission now, our mission now is to be comfortable with the weeds. This is normal. This is not happy. This is normal don't despair. Sometimes we despair because we see the kingdoms of the world. There are out of control. Have you been listening to the news lately? It's just is chipping rational men or women and women or men then spend as much as you like and we just kill babies because drinking doesn't make any sense at all. Don't despair don't despair. This is the way it is for now. Weeds and wheat will grow together it all gets sorted out but weeds and wheat will grow together. And knowing that knowing that just ease the frustration. He's the frustration. The weeds are here deal with it. And do with it this way. We don't have to bring the world to righteousness. That's God's job.

We don't have to crush the weedy kingdoms. That's God's job. All we have to do is be faithful. Be faithful.

Be gracious and be kind live as crops in direct contrast to the weeds. That looks different in every generation. May I tell you what? I think it looks like in our generation?

How we can contrast the weedy kingdoms, you know, how they do things in the weedy kingdoms. They cancel each other out. I don't like what you're saying. You're all I hear cancel culture. Just I don't want to argue with you because I already know. I'm right and that means you're wrong. Just stop talking. I'm going to take your job and take your platform and cancel you out friends. We can live a different way. We can contrast the weeds. By listening to Laura's prayer this morning and being a river of God's love would have to cancel anybody out. We don't have to shout. We don't have to be shrill. We can be kind and love and we can solve our differences without canceling each other out.

We can plot a path forward by loving one another through disagreements. We're not weeds where we eat. And we need to live like wheat Parable number to the weeds. It's mixed now, but it's all going to get sorted out. Horrible. Number three is the Mustard Seed. I don't know if you have your Bibles open, but if you do look at them right now find the end of a sentence the. At the end of a sentence is about the size of a mustard seed that's about how big it is, but when it grows a full-grown mustard plant is about 8 feet tall and sick is like a shrub. Is Big more like a tree than a plant. That's the way the kingdom of God is right now. We're in the Mustard Seed form.

But now it will be it will grow and it will displace the other kingdoms. What's the application Prince? I would just encourage you don't lose hope. Among Evangelical Christians among our camp right now. We're feeling a sense of loss.

We're losing. I don't know if you know this. We're losing on every social issue there is We are being steadily beat out of the Public Square. a significant a significant political leader in Canada became leader of a major political party. He's a devout Roman Catholic and the debate was put a person who's actually a Roman Catholic be a aren't those incompatible. This is what the Press thought. We are losing on all fronts. And sometimes when a group of people feel that they're losing they lash out and they become radical and they do all kinds of things and it's not it is just so does this sense of loss if we feel under attack and we need to attack back? No, we don't know we do. We're in the Mustard Seed phased this little Mustard. Seed will grow and displaced. Don't worry. Don't worry. Don't lose hope react out of genuine love not out of fear. Nothing of value is being lost. That won't be restored.

It would be a real mistake to look at the mustard seed and see how insignificant cuz that Mustard Seed has everything. It needs all the DNA all the programming. It has everything it needs to become a huge monster tree and it will

the mystery form of the kingdom of God is small but it grows. Then there's the parable of the yeast the yeast the leaven that you work right into the loaf before you bake it. The yeast has when you when you're making breads are some excellent bread makers in our church lives. I'm looking at you. There are some excellent bread makers in our church and they'll tell you yet to put the yeast in you have to work at right into the whole lump of dough it never outnumbers the do but man it changes it from the inside out.

And it's not come together for supper a little while ago. Sandy made us made me meatloaf, but it wasn't like a big meatloaf. It was kind of like in the muffin tin and she sees in the ground beef which I just love but in the middle of every little muffin tin, she put a clump of cheese and so you can't see it from the outside, but then you're just eating it and then there's this clump of cheese in the middle absolutely delicious, but that's not the way he's worse. You don't put yeast in a little Clump. It has to be worked through the entire loaf of the hobbits. Have its intended effect. What us the way we are. What are the end of visible Kingdom we don't live in a capital city where every where we need to work ourselves into the world and be salt. Christian let me just tell you little piece of yeast little piece of love and let me just tell you that you are always on duty.

You are always under the in this form of the kingdom when we're surrounded by weed. You are always on duty. You should always be rising and he sting and leavening the lump.

My son-in-law give me a t-shirt. I seen was his T-shirt. He was wearing and I really like that T-shirt and he took it off and gave it to me and I on the front and it says I am a Christ follower.

and to my shame I pay special attention to my behavior when I'm in public and wearing that shirt. Because I think oh my goodness. What if I were being grumpy or grouchy and someone read the shirt friends, it's not about the shirt. We're always on duty were always wearing the shirt. We're always used to wear always 11. We are in the mystery form of the kingdom of God and we permeate God is distributed of us all over the Earth and we are the permeated and grow it and feed it. and then there is the parable of the hidden treasure this one Dave red a man goes out. He finds a treasure. The message here is that this all-consuming? Look at the scriptures that says he sells everything that he has sells all that he has. To get this treasure that he's discovered. The kingdom of God is all consuming. It's not part of the pie chart of our life what we're concerned about our health and work out our finances relationships and we're concerned about the kingdom of God. No, no, no, no, we're concerned about the kingdom of God and that expresses itself as in the way were employed the way we supposed to are a true love the way that we are in our money the way that we spend are my everything is about the kingdom of God. It is the buried treasure and we sell everything we have

To get it. I remember I was in church many years ago. I was a teenager and a person to come to the Lord and he gave their she gave her testimony and in church and it was it was part of testimony. She was a long way off and God went and found her and brought her back. It was spellbinding the testimony and after church Someone said to her I'd like to have it. That's what I like that and she said that's exactly what it cost me.

This is the hidden treasure. What's the application the application of the Hidden Treasures beware of distractions?

Beware of distractions, it's all about the kingdom of God. It's all about the kingdom of God. That was the thorny ground. You remember grew up with the Thorns choked it out. Look at me says mr. Thorne number one or number two. I need your attention says their number three. The right answer is I don't pay any attention to all of you. I'm all about the kingdom in its current form on Earth.

And then there was the pearl of great price.

Again, all-consuming worth everything you may say these two are the same. They're not they're not these two or making two slightly different points the same main point. The the hidden treasure and the Pearl both make the point that the kingdom of God in his current mystery form is worth everything. It is all consuming. But there's a new Once In The Point read the scriptures carefully. The man finding the hidden treasure wasn't looking for it. It just came across it. Just came across it. I want to introduce you to David Hall David Hall works for the Professional Coin Grading service in 2014. He was called by a California couple this California couple lived in a rural area that you learned a fair amount. They owned a fair amount of property and they were just out on their property. Wait a minute just started clearing some brush doing a little bit of digging and they found

Inside was all the coins 150 years old that were in mint condition. They didn't know what they were worth that they called David they were worth a lot. One of the coins of the coin was worth in the millions of dollars. And here's a couple they're not looking for a buried treasure the husband didn't say to the wife and say hey, let's go bring your shovel. We may need it. They just came across it. That's the parable of the hidden treasure. Some people come to the kingdom this way things that the kingdom was looking for them. Then they were looking for the kingdom. I'm sinking of the disciples that the disciples weren't particularly looking. Matthew Matthew was at his tax desk collecting taxes from Jews on behalf of the Romans. Everyone thought he was a traitor. He was thinking about his his weekly fall. He was not thinking about the kingdom the kingdom found him. But when the Kingdom founded he realized its value and he sold everything. He had he gave his life. but the other kind of person is more like the movie of more like the plot line of National Treasure

The merchant in the pearl of great price is not like the person who found the hidden treasure. The scripture says quote a merchant in search of fine pearls. He was looking he knew what he was looking for. He knew what it would look like when it got there. He was actually looking for this Pearl like National Treasure in National Treasure. It's an older movie. Maybe you've never seen it. I'm not recommending it not recommending against it. I just saying the plot line makes the point Nicolas Cage the major character in it is convinced that there is a National Treasure. Penny thinks he has historical evidence. Nobody believes him. They think he's a kook but he knows it exists and he expends everything. He expends his reputation. He expends his physical safety. He is looking for this in spoiler alert at the end of the movie. He finds it. This isn't like the

evil people come to the kingdom this way. Some people just they're not really looking the kingdom finds them more than they find the kingdom and some people know there's something out there. They know there's a meaning to life and they're looking I'm thinking of the Rich Young Ruler. Goes and seeks out Jesus good teacher what must I do.

By the way, just a word of personal testimony. This is me, too. I've always been this way. I remember. I think I was 13 or 14 years old and it suddenly occurred to me. I remember where I was when this happened. I was in our living room at 95 block Acres Boulevard when we lived in London, I was in our living room. I was coming down the stairs walking into the living room and it suddenly hit me. I'm going to die. Because I was born there is already a day that I will die. And there's no way to avoid it because I was born and remember it like what is the point of life in it? Like I was searching searching cert. I knew there was an answer. I knew that was a purpose just didn't know what it was.

A work made of my older sister Evelyn gave her a Bible and she said my brother thinks about these sorts of things to can I get to Bibles so she got two Bibles and gave me one and I devoured it and I just couldn't stop reading it and when I read what I said God is this really you is this really the answer if it's real that you reach out. I need help the very next day the very next a better friend. In I think I was in grade 6 grade 7. Would that work out a camera? How old are you when you're in grade 6 or 7 comes from a strong Christian family presented the gospel to me. The family took me in and grew me introduce me to is CF inter-school Christian Fellowship when we got to high school a kind teacher sent me the Pioneer camp for two weeks of leadership training God revealed himself. I was looking for him. And God, let me find him. The pearl of great price and finally than that. And it's just like the buried treasure and the pearl of great price. You might think all these are just the same Parable. The net is the same as the wheat and the tears like the whole point is to get started with a very similar, they're very similar, but they have different points of emphasis. When you read the parable about the wheat and the tears, the emphasis is on the here and now the props are just growing up. You got some weed the emphasis is on the here. And now when you read the parable of the net that catches good fish and bad fish and then you sort out the bad V. The emphasis is not in how the fish got there this the emphasis is on the end in the Sorting process.

By the way, I forgot to make a point just on the pearl of great price. I was saying some people are looking for the kingdom. I gave the Rich Young Ruler as a example of that. The tragedy is the Rich Young Ruler. Never found Jesus.

And you know why?

His brown was the thorny ground. The cares of Life Chuck Jesus Jesus planted that seed and it was a good seed. But even when Jesus plan set if the Thorns are there, they'll kill it.

We don't own people's response to the gospel. We own the responsibility to give them the gospel. Okay. So back to the net the messages. Is that its own mix now. What is all going to be sorted out? What would be the application here? the application would be share the gospel while we can.

This is all going to end friends and is not going to end. Well for many. When the net is pulled up the Sorting will begin and it's too late.

When the door of the Ark is closed. It's too late.

The Harvest or white the crops are white for Harvest now. We need to present the gospel now.

In Revelation, I think it's a chapter. 6 maybe I think six. With the end of the seals and people are realizing that it's the end of the world and Jesus was been lured all this time and they beg the rocks to fall on them. to kill them because they know the doors closed the door is not closed now. We need to present the gospel. Friends just as I leave you this morning? Let me give you three overall applications for these images of the current form of the Kingdom one trust God. He's always on target always on time. We may think that the kingdom dream is slipping away. Did you see the new laws that congress passed? Did you hear what our political leaders were saying? Oh my goodness wickedness is all around us and they're not content to be Wicked there now outlawing righteousness All Is Lost friends all is not lost. All is not lost. The Rock will smash the Kingdom's and establish his own kingdom Revelation 19 and 20 Daniel 7. It's going to happen. But in the middle of it God does allow some surprising things. He allows wickedness to flourish. He allows evil men to rule. He allows bad things to happen. Don't be confused. There's nothing wrong with the kingdom program. We are on track on time. Even if it. Doesn't look like that in the moment that you happen to be occupying. to be faithful we don't have to bring the world to repentance. We don't have to bring the world to Justice. God will do all that. We have to be faithful faithful in the ministry that God has given us and finally don't give up on others. Don't give up on others. Soil that looks Rocky May one day be good.

Soil that looks hard May one day be plowed.

Soil that looks thorny may have the Thorns removed. Don't give up on others. Don't be angry with them. Don't hate them. Don't mock them. Love them.

friends

this image perfectly represents these two messages And how Jesus exemplifies them both Jesus is the coming King. He will rot wear a physical gold crown as he physically rules. But before here or the crown of gold, he wore the crown of thorns.

The Only Way Up Is Down Jesus accomplished his ministry of Glory through suffering. We think of Jesus Is God and he is God the son and he is divine and he is but uses is not only God he is man and the perfect man and he plots the course that we should follow. We also will rule with him and wear crowns of gold. But first, we must wear the crown of thorns just like the perfect man our ministry passes first through suffering and then through Glory May it be said of us? May it be said of us that we were faithful. in our time of suffering not only as a people, but as a church, it's time for the church to arise and put our armor on. It's time for our church to hear the call of Christ our captain. And our Battle Cry is love. Holy Spirit as a church, we invite you come put strength in every stride and give Grace for every hurdle.