Churches in South Barrington

“That's not the picture out of the first verse of the book of Revelation. It literally just means to unveil, to reveal, to pull the curtain back so you can see. It's almost as though what what the writer is helping us do is recognize behind everything that you see, there are some spiritual realities that are no less real. You just can't see them. It reminds us of the the words that came off the the pen of the Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians chapter six that says, your battle is not against flesh and blood, it's against the principalities of this world, the spiritual forces in this world. It's just a reminder that your enemy is not your ex. Your enemy is not your boss. Your enemy is not your political adversary.”

“They need a big picture that realizes that Rome feels so dominant. But Jesus will ultimately be victorious. My friends, you and I need the same image in our lives and our own hearts because you and I face all kinds of crazy things in this world. We have brokenness in our own lives. We have struggles that we face. We live in a political climate that sometimes feels a little bit crazy. And you and I need to be reminded that whatever happens in this world, it does not win, it is not supreme. Victory belongs to Jesus and Jesus alone.”

“And the message, if I could give kind of my thesis statement for this entire series, I would wrap it up with this statement. I would say this. I would say when the world feels out of control, revelation reminds us that Jesus is still in control. That was a message that would have been critical for the first century church to really understand. And I would argue that's also critical for the twenty first century church to understand. That sometimes our world, sometimes life in general, it feels out of control. Revelation is designed to anchor us and to remind us there's a tremendous amount of hope because Jesus is in control.”

“Sometimes the greatest fear that we have is that which we cannot overcome, which is death. And sometimes we fear that which is like described as Hades or brokenness or the difficult things in this world. Understand who holds the keys. In other words, you and I can't conquer death and Hades on our own. But when we anchor our life to the person of Jesus, He's the one that unlocks things in a way that we would never be able to unlock.”

“Whose effort are they putting their trust in in order to enter? Their own. Did we not look at them. They're bringing their ministry resume. Didn't we? Didn't we? As if what we do is what grants us access. And then listen to Jesus' responses. I get goosebumps. Don't know why I feel I need to prove you. Goosebumps on this one. He says, he does not say, you didn't know me. What does he actually say? Look at the scriptures. I never knew you. What? I would have thought at first glance, he would say, the reason you can't get in is because you didn't know me. Because I did I I thought you note take and you get to know who he is. And then you then you read, like, the demons know who he is? Crap. Away from me, I never knew you. He wants to know you.”

“Have you ever felt totally exposed, like, caught? Have you? Like, we can laugh, but they're have you actually felt that? Have you have you ever sent the text message to the wrong person to the person you're talking about? Have you done it? Sinners. So me too. I am so caught. And, you know, I wasn't as surprised about the fact that I I I did that. I sinned. Like, I'm very heightened aware of my sin nature. I was actually surprised by what I did when I realized it. I ran and I hid like Adam and Eve, which I teach you about all the time. I literally did that.”