2016 Vision Workshop Keynotes

1. 0:02I don't think I ever explained that Keith Lancaster had another event he had to go to with his home congregation. But we are so fortunate to have good song leaders here at Sunset inside our school. And Jeff Smith, who led yesterday, and then Matt Gloy, who's leading today, are extraordinarily capable, have great attitudes, and give a lot of thought to what they sing. I appreciate that. When we close,
2. 0:31after this assembly. If you have one of the hearing devices, please return it at the little table over where the registration booth was. We're asking people if they would be willing to return the lanyards and all that as well so we can recycle those. That's just a thought to you. And then our students, you need to remember that when the workshop is over,
3. 1:00Your work and your toil is just beginning because we have to put the church building back into shape. And Tim Brumfield will need help with the booths. Charles and Speedy will need help in the classrooms. And we appreciate so much your service. Last night at our banquet, I went down the long list of names of people who help in different ways with the workshop. I woke up early this morning and thought,
4. 1:29I just know there are people I forgot. Terror struck me and all that. That's the danger of listing a bunch of names. But I am so grateful for everyone who helped. And I hope if I did forget someone, I hope they'll forgive that and know that we are all very, very grateful for their service. Those that think a thing like this happens easy, they've never tried to work in such a thing.
5. 1:57But I appreciate all those who worked so hard. I do hope that you'll come back for our workshop next year as we've talked, and just so grateful for all of you. Doug Hamilton is a graduate of Sunset and of Southern Christian University. He's faithfully served as the pulpit minister of the Camp Hill Church of Christ in Pennsylvania since 2002. Doug has been active in many foreign missions in many parts of the world, including Romania,
6. 2:33Africa, Greece, and Canada. One way that Doug has blessed mission work is by encouraging and facilitating Wassam Alathawi from Iraq coming to Sunset. Wassam has been a great blessing to us, and that blessing was given to us not only by God, but through the hands of Doug Hamilton. Doug works with Sunset by coordinating efforts in the northeastern United States as the director of Focus Northeast, and that is no small job.
7. 3:04The needs are great in that area, and his work is a great one. He's doing all he can to serve the congregations in that area of our country and to help them to grow and to prosper there. One way that he serves congregations is by doing spiritual giftedness seminars across the country. Sunset Institute Press has published his book on spiritual giftedness, and it's been a blessing to so many. I certainly encourage you to get a copy for yourself.
8. 3:35Doug's happily married to his wife, Jana. They have four children and five grandchildren. I'm so excited to hear Doug speak this morning. He is literally incapable of delivering a lesson that is not evangelistic in nature. And I think at the close of the workshop, it's so important that we realize that we are not here just to listen and admire. We're here to learn things and go home and apply them and do them.
9. 4:04And Doug will challenge us practically, I'm sure, that way. Brother Doug will be speaking to us on the white stone of Pergamum from Revelation 2, verse 12 through verse 17. Brother, come and preach the word. Thanks, Chris. I really feel humbled to be able to be here. There are so many people that have been my mentors over the years, and some have gone on to the Lord.
10. 4:39And just to be able to be here and to have you here with me has been a real blessing. And I don't feel worthy to be up here, but I'm still going to do my best for you so that your trip back home is quick and a lot shorter. When Chris asked me if I'd like to be part of the program this summer,
11. 5:10And he told me what it was going to be about stones in the Bible. And I was like, I wonder what I'm going to have. And I was saying, come on, white stone, white stone, white stone. I really was. I love the white stone. And when I saw it and it was announced to me, I thought, this is going to be fun. I've been waiting for this moment. Revelation is an encouraging book. It's Philippians on steroids. I mean, it is massive.
12. 5:40writing that could take someone into a Colosseum and to look up to the heavens and say, it doesn't matter. That's what we need every day of the week in Revelation. In fact, one of the things I want to work on in the near future is a 30-day devo through the book of Revelation because oftentimes we're terrorized of the book of Revelation. Stay away from that. That's towards the back of the book for a reason, you know, and really.
13. 6:08I would suggest one time you start at the back of the book and read all the way to Genesis. Why not start out encouraging? Why not have dessert first? Is that okay, Chris? Okay, all right. Amen. That might be the only amen I get. I doubt it. But let's go ahead and get going on the lesson. Open your Bibles up to Revelation 2, verse 12. 2, verse 12.
14. 6:39And to the angel of the church in Pergamum, right, the one who has the sharp two-edged sword says this. Now, Pergamum, I was blessed enough to have been there this year. And Pergamum was the seat of power. It was the administrative seat, the city of Asia. And it was once the official location of the state religion before Smyrna won it over.
15. 7:06But it was the site of the original temple to Augustus. They were very patriotic. And this would have been dangerous for Christians. Because oftentimes, in fact, I would say every time, when the world exalts itself, it usually uses Christians as a stepstool to get up there. And look at 2 verse 13. I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.
16. 7:35And you hold fast my name and did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you where Satan dwells. Now, Satan's throne, that's an intriguing phrase. There's three good possibilities as to what that might be. There's an altar to Zeus.
17. 7:59that was there, the top picture you see, that's where it used to be. If you're standing atop overlooking Pergamon, all the good stuff is up on top archaeologically, and that top picture is where the altar of Zeus was. It was 800 feet above the city, smoke poured endlessly in sacrifice to this great, I say it in quotes, Greek god. They had a 10,000 seat
18. 8:26theater as well. It was well known throughout the world. And anybody who was somebody in Pergamum, you had better go and make a sacrifice to this altar. That would be a problem for Christians, because though there be Lord's many and God's many, but for us there is but one Lord and one God. And so they're not going to bow down, just like they're not going to bow down to Caesar.
19. 8:51And this giant altar was actually taken by German archaeologists in 1871, and Turkey's wanted it back ever since. They reconstructed it in Berlin. So all they have is a few steps left in Pergamum. But at that one point, that would have struck terror in the heart of every Christian, to see that. Now it could have been that, the throne of Satan. But then there was the temple of Asclepius.
20. 9:18And Asclepius was the god of healing. And people would come from all over the world. This was the Mayo Clinic. If you go down below the hill, all reserved for their Mayo Clinic of the day. There's a big auditorium where they would have their medical lectures. And people would come from all over the world to find out what was wrong with them. And it was a huge money-making scam. Because how they would do it, they had a saying back then, Asclepius is Lord. Well, it was represented by a snake.
21. 9:47And both of these concepts would have caused Christians a great amount of stress. Because once again, Asclepius, I know you're not Lord, but the world would have put pressure on them. And then there's a third option, which I believe is likely the best one. Remember, Pergamum was the seat of administrative power. And the governor had the right of the sword, sort of like a sword coming out of Jesus' mouth.
22. 10:17And he had the on-the-spot power to say, you live, you die. Many Christians would have died here. A simple wave of the sword would end a Christian's life. We meet freely here in this country. We proudly hang signs that say, Church of Christ meets here. But that's not reality for most places of the world, and certainly not at this time, and definitely not in this place.
23. 10:48And one of those examples of the martyr was Antipas. Years later, one of the apostolic writers mentioned that Antipas was slowly roasted in a bronze calf by the Romans. Why? Because he was a lover of Christ. He was faithful to Christ. He was killed for Christ in this administrative city. That's all we have to know about Antipas. I suggest we put those qualities in our lives.
24. 11:20And I like how Jesus has the sword, the two-edged sword coming out of his mouth. You think you have the right of the sword world? Jesus has the sword. He spoke the world into existence. He'll speak it out. I suggest we gather around him. And see, we must not confuse thrones in our DNA.
25. 11:50God built in us to go to thrones. We are a throne people. Matthew chapter 4, Satan said to Jesus, bow down to me and I'll give you all these kingdoms. He's trying to appeal to that. On the human side, we want to bow down to a throne. In Revelation, Satan has many thrones. Don't confuse the thrones. He has many, many thrones he wants us to bow down to, to be part of.
26. 12:21and a throne you sit on. In other words, if you're relaxed on a worldly throne, I'd get up very quickly. And Satan is putting all these thrones ahead of us. He knows what tempts us. And Revelation is a throne book. We overcome and sit with God on his throne, 321. We're taken to God's throne in chapter 4 and chapter 5.
27. 12:46All God's people stand before God's throne, chapter 7. Jesus was caught up to the throne of God, 12, verse 5. We sing a new song before God's throne, 14, 3. We will drink from the river of the water of life that flows from God's throne, 22, verse 1. Revelation is a throne book. We are a throne people, and we're seeking a throne, but be careful what throne you're hanging on to.
28. 13:15Satan has so many thrones. He had one last year, the throne of same-sex marriage. And he's going to try to persecute, make you feel bad. Make you feel bad because you understand biology and where puppies come from. Okay? And the world says, no, this throne, this is what Christianity means. That's what the secular world is teaching us. There's the throne of Islam that Psalm was talking about.
29. 13:45You can't say anything wrong about that. You can't even talk right about Christ because that might hurt somebody's feelings. Jesus never promised us a rose garden. Satan says, sit on this throne. Sit on this throne of secular humanism. Sit on this throne of evolution. Sit on this throne because I'm going to put pressure on you and inside our spiritual DNA.
30. 14:09We want to sit on a throne. We want to be a throne people. And Revelation is a throne book. We are a throne people, but we go to the throne of God. Don't confuse thrones. And it says in 2 verse 14, But I have a few things against you, because you have some there that hold to the teaching of Balaam.
31. 14:31who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So also you have some that hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Now there are those in the church there, because they were going after a different throne, and ended up placing stumbling blocks. Look at my throne, my throne's comfortable. Well, that brother's doing it.
32. 15:02Pull out the left right punch of Satan idolatry and immorality. And they were tripping people in to the kingdom of Satan. And make no mistake, Satan has a kingdom. It's a temporary one. I like how it turns out at the end. It becomes a barbecue grill. But we have to make sure that we do not have our mind conformed to this world. Romans chapter 12 verse 2. We have to make sure that we're not desensitized.
33. 15:38Because we're trying to get to the throne. I loved Brother Wharton's lesson last night. I loved it yesterday. Man, we're a kingdom. We're a kingdom of priests. We have royal blood flowing through our veins. And the throne is calling us. And you're going to see where the white stone comes in in a moment. This is all just setting it up for the white stone. So buckle your pew belts. We're going to go for a ride. Okay?
34. 16:07In 2 verse 16, he says, therefore repent or else I'm coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Now they repent or Jesus has something coming out of his mouth that's going to do some damage. And the sword is oftentimes compared to the word of God. And the armor of God, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. We have a sword. It's the only offensive weapon we have.
35. 16:39The rest are defensive. We're told in Hebrews 4.12, for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Divides the sun to the bone, the marrow, the soul, and the spirit. It is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. In fact, that Jesus is threatening war should strike terror in all Christians who are going after a different throne. He doesn't want us to serve with lip service. He wants us to serve with heart service.
36. 17:13Jesus knows who's been serving him and who is not. He knows what our church attendance is, but that's not what he cares about. He wants to know where our heart was checked in. That's what he wants. He wants us to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind. We give with a cheerful heart. We sing with our heart. We learn with our heart. He says, I want you to worship me in spirit and in truth. That's what we do, but we should be doing that every day.
37. 17:43He's truly the one who knows where we dwell. Revelation tells us that as well. 2 verse 17. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone and a new name written on the stone, which no one knows, but he who receives it. This is really where we're starting. There's hidden manna.
38. 18:15That first blessing, hidden manna. What's that symbolic of? Manna was bread from heaven. You remember back in Exodus chapter 16? They came out, saw cornflakes on the ground, gathered them up, and what'd they say? Manna. What is it? Manna. I don't know. Let's get Mikey to eat it. Mikey tried to gather a bunch up. Didn't work. It was for daily provision. Give us our daily bread. It was daily bread. God fed them.
39. 18:49for four decades in the wilderness. But why is it hidden? Because in Exodus 16.33, Hebrews 9.4, in the Ark of the Covenant, they were to put in there, along with Moses' staff and the Ten Commandments, or what do we see here? Hidden manna, to be a reminder that God provides.
40. 19:19As a constant reminder, where? At the throne seat of God. It's at the throne. Have I mentioned we're throne people? Okay, I just want to make sure. Now that I'm over 50, that entitles me to carry pocket change and repeat myself often. Okay? You're 50 now, aren't you? Yeah, I thought I recognized that pocket change. Anyway, but there's hidden manna.
41. 19:48And though the temple is long since destroyed at the writing of Revelation, faithful Christians still have access to the throne through Jesus. He'll take our hand during the resurrection and walk us into the presence of God's throne. We're the first fruit of all creation, of everything you see, of the incredible beings, the giraffes, the elephants.
42. 20:15Whatever you see on this earth, Jesus gathers his church into his first offering and brings it up to God and says, God, this is the best. And the world's saying, no, I'm the best. Look at that player on the NFL. Look at this car over here. Look at this suit. And Jesus said, no, it's what is in my basket is the best I have to offer.
43. 20:40Jude verse 24 and 25, now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, be glory and majesty, dominion and authority before all time and forever. Amen. You know, when you hear a doxology, we read them and we always say,
44. 21:10To the king, immortal, invisible. And we go, oh, man. That's not how Paul, that's not how these apostles wrote. Amen. For from him, to him, and through him are all things. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. You know, when you say something that revs your spirit up so high, God is so good, doxologia, that you have an outburst of glorious praise.
45. 21:39Many doxologies in the Bible. We become a living doxology in heaven. What's the job description? Glorifying God. So in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory forever and ever. Amen, Peter says. 1 Peter 4, verse 10 and 11. We're the amen people. Okay, that's three. I wasn't going to go on until I got three amens.
46. 22:09Okay, is there a defibrillator here? Sunset's a big church. Do they have that defibrillator church pack? Okay, okay. That's good. We don't even have one yet. We don't need one, brother. That's right. But what about this white stone with a new name? Brother came up to me today. You're speaking on that white stone. I don't know exactly what that is. Oh, I wanted to tell him right then. You know how you keep somebody in suspense?
47. 22:40I'll tell you after the sermon. But anyway, okay. The white stone with a new name. Everything set up to this point was just laying the foundation for the actual lesson. The white stone. Scholars are at odds as to what it refers to. There are many great interpretations of it. And all shed light about our identity in Christ. And here are some of the possible meanings. Here's your lesson.
48. 23:13The Olympic champion's perspective. The Olympic champion's perspective. You see, in these early days of the Olympic Games, there were unique prizes for the victors. The Olympic champions were typically given three things. Number one, tax-exempt status for life. Can you imagine that? You can't touch me, IRS. Your filing is, that's it.
49. 23:45Okay? And the second thing was a victor's crown. A victor's crown. Caesar himself would place an olive branch wreath over the head of the champion. And they actually believed the god Nikos, the goddess Nikos, where we have Nike, swoosh. Okay? That Nikos would have her hands on...
50. 24:15The crown as well. Therefore, having their God's ordination that Caesar and Nike is placing this on their head. What an honor. So much is said about the crown. A little bit of it. You know, back when he says, I run in such a way that I received the prize, chapter 9. He wasn't done talking about it. He chased a rabbit that needed to be chased.
51. 24:44And by the time he goes back to chapter 15, verse 55, Paul says, O death, where is your victory? Nikos, he uses that word. Victory. You're the victory. Brother McGuigan's lesson. That would have been the only other one I would have wanted to do more than this one. That stone that rolled away. But I knew he'd do okay. You did okay, brother. I don't know where you are. We're proud of you. Okay.
52. 25:19And we have that crown. The Bible talks about that crown. Blessed is the man who endureth temptation, for when he has tried, he shall receive the crown of life, James tells us. Paul, at the end of his life, says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord hath promised me, and not to me only, but to all those who love His appearing. But...
53. 25:50Here's the third thing. They were given a lifetime ticket to the front row seats of all future Olympics. That's pretty powerful. How did they gain this access? Did they go to Ticketmaster? No. Order it on Amazon? No. They were given a white stone, a tessera, which said this individual is a champion. This individual.
54. 26:28was king of the world. And all he'd have to do is walk up to any of the games. And they'd see that, and they'd say, you got front row seat, my friend. And if that is the meaning of what the white stone is, then we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. And I am persuaded neither death nor life nor principality.
55. 26:53nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor Democrat or Republican or Amway or Melaleuca or anything will separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Okay? We're champs. And that great cloud of witnesses that follows the hall of faith in chapter 11 of Hebrews, what does he say? That great cloud of witnesses, white stone holders, saying, you can do it. Run! Run, Doug! Run! You're a champion!
56. 27:24Jesus has a white stone for you. We're not back seat people. We're front seat people. Because that's where we're gathered around the throne. Notice there weren't people running from the throne in Revelation chapters 4 and 5. They were drawn to the throne. That means the best seat. What do we do? We sit in the back seat. We want to look at the back of people's heads and stuff. Best seat, go to India. They fight for that front seat. They sit in front of the people in the front seat on the floor.
57. 27:56But it's about the throne. And if that's what it says, if that's what it means, is that we're not trying to enter into the Colosseum and sit in the front row. We're entering God's Colosseum where we are all more than conquerors. Sounds like a winner. How do I know? Because it's written in stone. But then there's another one that it could be, a gladiator's perspective. In Rome,
58. 28:32according to Barclay a great gladiator was a hero to be admired by everyone however if you are a former gladiator one of two things has happened you are dead okay or you are undefeated and retired because there's only one way of getting out of that program alive that you're a champion and those who those who were very successful in that
59. 29:06they would receive a white stone tessera. If they retired the champion, they'd receive a white stone tessera, and the letters SP engraved on it. Spectactus in the Latin. And they could wear that anywhere, and it allowed them to go anywhere they wanted. It's like carrying a box of Wheaties with your picture on it, and you're not Bruce Jenner, okay? But y'all don't get TV in Lubbock, do you?
60. 29:39Okay. All right. But if this, that gladiator who is a champion, and like Brother Wharton said in Jude verse 3, earnestly contend. I have a better definition. Where is Brother Wharton? Right there. Okay. This is better, Brother Wharton. Contend is when you combine defand and offend. You like that, don't you? Okay.
61. 30:14I'm just checking. I know he's critiquing me. I know he is. The brother critiqued, he's a living critique. That's what he is. But if that's, that white stone test or the gladiator had, wherever he went, he wanted to go here, here, here to a feast, wherever, he'd hold that up and they'd say, hey, come on in, spectactus. You're a man whose valor has been proved without a doubt.
62. 30:45If that's the application, then it means Christians are truly gladiators in Christ. And even though it seems like we lose battles sometimes, we don't see the hidden warrior, Jesus, the one with the sword in his mouth, he makes us victorious. For I know who I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. We thought it was us.
63. 31:14We just have the gladiator outfit on. It was Jesus who fought the battle. And he says, you're a winner. And we can go anywhere. And that's what we do with the gospel, isn't it? Or we're supposed to? We're warriors for Christ with the armor of God, with the full intention of obtaining the champion's white stone of valor, proved without doubt because it's written in stone. But it could be more than that. Let's look at a former pagan's perspective.
64. 31:47One of the most common of all customs in the ancient world was to have a lucky charm, an amulet. A lot of times they'd just have a precious stone, and sometimes it'd just be a pebble, but on it they would write the name of their favorite god. And when they would have troubles that would arise in this life, they'd start rubbing that stone and calling out the name that's on that stone for their god.
65. 32:17And it was doubly valuable if it was a secret name and only they knew it. Because that meant their God wasn't listening to 30 different people at that time. That's the secret password. And so such an object was so valuable to the pagans in that day that sometimes they found it hard to put down after converting to Christianity. And in this case, the stone is white.
66. 32:49And white is the color of purity. It's not a pagan God we worship, but the God whose light and in him is no darkness at all, the God of purity. That's who we worship. It is a white stone. And if that's the application, then Jesus is saying, stay away from your pagan ways because you've been saved by faith through grace. It's not that of your own. It's through Jesus Christ.
67. 33:20You have a white stone and you can call on me anytime. You don't have to have AOL or you don't have to have AT&T. You have prayer. You can call on me anytime and I will hear you. I know what you have need of before you ask. If you ask me at 7 o'clock for a need I'm meeting at 8 o'clock, I knew at 6 o'clock. If that's what it means, that he will come quickly. 22 verse 7. That we have access to God all the time.
68. 33:58And I believe that could be one of the meanings. That that means we have the same thing. And it's written in stone. Some of you have long drives back. One brother's from Idaho. Some people are going to drive a long ways. You might have people cut you off in traffic. You might have your car break down. Before you call AAA, pull out your white stone and call on God. It's written in stone. Let's look at it from heaven's perspective. Heaven's perspective.
69. 34:35In Rome, the great houses of Rome, they had great feasts, food, everything. If you went to go stay at one of these homes, the patron would provide the food and money for the day. They were often given a tessera, a stone, and identified themselves as having the right to go to the buffet table. You couldn't have any provision if you didn't have that. You just can't go in the hotel I stayed at.
70. 35:06We go to breakfast. What do they do? You have to sign in. You have to prove that you're there. They give you a tessera. And it would coincide with the daily bread manna, if this is the meaning, that we heard about right before this. The fact that it's white indicates the provision is coming from God. And if this is the application of the white stone, it would mean that Christians have the right to all that God has to offer for us.
71. 35:38David said, I was young and now I'm old and I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread. God says, I will open up the doorway to heaven and pour out my blessings on you. That's the type of God we have. When we see the new Jerusalem coming out of heaven, that's the home we're in. We're not in an earthly home. We have earthly vessels, but the inner man has a greater destiny.
72. 36:07We have not a tesoro that provides earthly snacks, but a white stone that gives us access to the river of the water of life and the fruit of the tree of life. God will take care of us. We will be taken care of. It's written in stone. Let me give you one more. What time do I need to be done? I don't know. I'm the last one. That means I have the rest of the day. I'm not doing anything. Okay. All right. I'll go a little bit longer. Judge's perspective.
73. 36:45The word which Jesus used for stone is a unique word. It's a well-rounded stone, and the word only occurs one other time in the New Testament, Acts 26, verse 10. Paul was retelling of his persecution of the Christians prior to his conversion, and he said, having received authority from the chief priest, but also when they were being put to death, I cast my vote.
74. 37:16You see, one of the ancient customs of the day, and it was certainly true in the administrative city of Pergamon, where they decided these higher cases, each judge would have a white stone and a black stone. And they'd have a panel of judges, seven to nine. And as they heard the case, they had bags on each end of it. And if they thought you were innocent, they'd put in the white stone.
75. 37:45But if they thought you were guilty, they put in the black stone. And by the time they work there and they're calling these stones out, you better hope you have more white stones than you do black stones. Because you will die if you do not. And then there's more to that. Because before CNN and Fox News and...
76. 38:10emails and texting. If you were off in some remote village accused of a crime, hauled away and they said, take him away, take him away, and you go to Pergamum and you're tried and you're found innocent. Well, you come back to town. Oftentimes people would try to take vigilante justice on you. We think you escaped. Prove to me what happened there. I didn't read it in the paper. They get up in their grill trying to tell them that they're going to take things into their hands.
77. 38:41You know what they'd do? The judges would then take one of those white stones and write innocent on it of those charges. And they'd wear it around their neck or put it on their key chain or wherever they're going to put it. And when somebody come up to them and start accusing them and the riot's about to happen, they'd hold out that white stone and they'd say, acquitted. Look, I'm innocent. I'm innocent. If that's
78. 39:13The definition, and I like this interpretation most of all, the world is putting us on trial. The accuser of the brethren, Revelation chapter 12. Satan has his minions and they try to accuse us, say things that aren't true. Jesus said they'll do it to me, they'll do it to you. We're not followers of Christ if they're not blaming us for something. I remember there was somebody who had come to church, they visited our church.
79. 39:44And he didn't like it there because we talked too much about the Bible. He didn't receive the touchy fillies. And when I found that out, they said, I hope you're not offended. I said, I'm honored. I'm honored because we're a people of the book. And if the white stone is of a judge's interpretation.
80. 40:11That makes a lot of sense because the world accuses us. The devil is the accuser of the brethren. There's a court trial going on. We're the defendant. But we have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. He's our lawyer. He knows the judge. The trial's been fixed. And he approaches the best. He pleads guilty. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You're guilty. Well, gee, thanks a lot, Jesus. No, it's okay.
81. 40:42And he approaches the bench. And he takes the charge. And now we're forever indebted to him. That's what we have. There's now, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. He gives us a white stone of innocence. And when the world accuses us. And the people of the world accuse us. And the circumstances accuse us. And people think we're dumb. Hold up that white stone. I'm innocent.
82. 41:15The judge has ruled. It's written in stone. I want to close with this story. During the Civil War, there was a man who was tried for a crime that he did not commit. He was found guilty, and he was sentenced to death. And while he's awaiting that death charge and the consequences, his brother, who could prove that he wasn't even there, but he couldn't...
83. 41:52Get to the trial in time. The only way this man was going to get off was with a presidential pardon. And the brother tried to see the president. He kept trying to see him. And the guards kept telling him, no, you're not going to go see him. But I have to. My brother's going to die soon. He didn't do it. I have the proof. After a few weeks to no avail, he sat on a Washington Park bench.
84. 42:23crying his eyes out, couldn't spare his brother's life. A young boy came up to him, saw him crying, and he said, what's wrong, sir? He said, my brother's going to die. I cannot even see the president for a pardon. They won't even hear me. Young boy, comforting him, put out his hand. He said, walk with me. As they began to walk, the man didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable or anything, but...
85. 42:59He was talking with the boy and the boy was walking. The boy walks right towards the White House. And the guards who told him to not come back were standing there. And the man's heart begins to race. Because they told me I was going to be locked up if I don't stop bothering them. The boy walks right by the guards. They do not bat an eye. And then they go through the front door. And people everywhere, nobody ask a question.
86. 43:31And they walk to the end of the White House, open the door, and walk into the presence of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The man is dumbfounded. He tried all that he could to get to the seat of power, to no avail. Lincoln stood up, scratching his head, not really knowing fully what's going on. And he looks at the man, and he looks at this boy.
87. 44:03And he looks at the man, he looks back at the boy and he says, son, who'd you bring with you today? It was his son, Tad Lincoln, who took him by the hand. We're in the same position. We're trying to go to the throne, the throne of God. And we can't make it. The devil says you're not good enough. The world says we are losers. We have lack of confidence.
88. 44:36We're worried. Am I going to make it? I'm just not confident enough. And Jesus, at the point of baptism, gave us a white stone engraved innocent on us and provided it to us and took us by the hand, walked us by the principalities and the powers through all the things keeping us out of heaven into the presence of God's throne room. And that's what he does.
89. 45:03So why do we not know what the white stone is? We should never view a white stone the same again. Every time you see a white stone, remember this, that we are the stone.
90. 45:17White stone-carrying, crown-wearing, gladiating, God-calling, provision-receiving, adjusted, innocent children of God. And it's written in stone. No matter how you slice it, it turns out great for the Christians. And there'll be no longer any pain, sorrow and tears, and all things will be made new. And they'll have no need for the light of the lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God shall illumine them. And they will reign with Him. We have royal blood in our veins.
91. 45:47And we're trying to go to the throne room, and the white stone is there to remind us we've already won. Finish the race. And so that's why I was excited to talk about the white stone. I want to talk more about it, but as Forrest Gump says, that's all I got to say about that. Now go run the race. Run, church. Run. Thank you.

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