A Government That Will Never End

Welcome to Tribe’s podcast. Hey. We just wanna say thank you for making this message a part of your week. Our prayer is that these messages will inspire you to make the name of Jesus famous in your life and to the uttermost bounds of the earth. If you’re ever in Jackson Hole, we’d love for you to visit our Tribe fam in person.

To learn more about us, you can find us online or at Facebook by searching tribejh.com. Good morning. Good morning. This is, this is what happens when your pastor’s left alone to play with AI? I need a, I need a graphic that is, an apocalyptic return of Jesus Christmas card.

And Chad g b t was like, say no more. I got you, fam. So here it is. Also, this is not Andy’s fault in any way whatsoever, but we we might have to have a little bit of conversation, like, real time about where we’re going with the slides because the computer is acting up. But I’m so glad that all of you are here.

It’s so awesome to be able to see, like, faces that are home for Christmas break. Christian is home from school. Seyla’s home from school. Colson is home from school. Kai is oh, there he is.

I didn’t see him. He’s behind Colson. Alright. Gretchen is home from school. I alright.

Alright. Enough. On your seat, there is a connect card. If you’re new or visiting or would like to stay connected with us through the tribe text blast, you can fill that out. If there’s a prayer request that you have, we take those very seriously.

We pray over those on Monday at staff meeting, and so you can fill that out. And then also in your seat, you will see a little Christmas invite. Tuesday is Christmas Eve, and we’ll be having Christmas Eve service on the Town Square at 6PM. Dress warm. Bring a chair.

This is how many years have we done Christmas Eve service on Town Square? Four? Yeah. Four four years. So, it is it’s a great it really looks like a Hallmark Christmas movie, like the lights and the snow and everything.

And so we’ll tell you a little bit more information about that how we’re going to worship the Lord this morning. But I just wanted to draw your attention to those two things. The next thing I would like to say is, if you have your bible with you this morning, would you turn to the book of Isaiah? Isaiah chapter nine. We’re gonna read from Isaiah chapter nine.

First couple of verses will be very familiar to you. You read these at Christmas all the time, but we’re going to examine them from several different perspective and points of view to help stretch our wine skin, if you will, of understanding the prophetic significance of what Isaiah is talking about. So Isaiah chapter nine is where we’re gonna start our conversation. And we have a mic in the room. Lanisha has it right there.

And we’re gonna start we’re gonna read verses one through nine. So if you go to the next slide, I think it should have there we go. The title of this morning’s conversation and what we’re reading. So would somebody please read verses one through seven for us? Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever.

The land of Zebulun and Naphtali. Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice.

They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest. And like warriors divided the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the the oppressor’s rod just as you did when you destroyed the army of Madigan. There you go.

The boots of the warrior and the uniform the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. His government and its peace will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the lord of of heaven’s armies will make this happen. Well done. Verse six. Look at verse six.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. Man, an incredible and inspiring heartwarming verse. Verse six, put it on a Christmas card, put it on, like, a Christmas ornament. Nobody seems to put verse five to really, like, ring in the holiday season and arouse that Christmas cheer.

The boots of the warrior and the uniforms blood stained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. What? There we go. So, if we could get that pressed real quick.

Okay. Good. Thank you very much. They’ll be available in the back next week, right next to the love thy gaper hoodies. Here’s what we’re gonna do today.

For our conversation and I really do want this to be a conversation. Instead of just me talking at you, I want us to talk together. I’d like you to engage with the text, whether it’s on your phone or your paper, bible. Look at things, consider, and then let you and I have a conversation together about these things. And what I would like to do is for us to talk about not just the classic Christmas understanding and interpretation and and the picture that we get in our minds.

I probably not too unsimilar to this graphic that you all think of. But I want us to expand, stretch our wineskins, if you will, about what is Isaiah saying. What is Isaiah trying to get at as he shares this picture that he’s seeing in his mind’s eye? So let’s do this. We’re going to go we’re just gonna take seven verses.

We’re gonna go verse by verse. We’ll spend a few more moments on some verses than others. But I would like you to look at each one of these verses and consider, since this is the prophet Isaiah speaking, is he speaking for us today? Are these verses, have they unfolded in the past for us? Are they unfolding right now for us?

Or have we yet to see them unfold in the future for us. We’re not looking from Isaiah’s perspective. From Isaiah’s perspective, all of this was in the future. But we’re going to examine these seven verses and consider where do we fit in Isaiah’s words. And here’s why we’re doing that.

We’re doing that because the rut that we all fall in is just like, nevertheless, the time of darkness. So see a great light for those who live in land of deep darkness. The light will shine. Ping and there it goes on the Christmas card. We tend to only think in terms of a Christmas card.

But I want to to disrupt that rut that we fall in. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to see these passages with fresh eyes that the Holy Spirit can speak to you in a new and wonderful and powerful way. With that in mind, if you’re ready, say I’m ready. I’m ready. Verse one.

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulon and Naphtali will be humbled. So Zebulon and Naphtali, those are two of the 12 children born born to a guy named Jacob who became Israel, who then were the father of the tribes, the 12 tribes of Israel. So he’s speaking to family clan names. They will be humble.

But there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. Now let’s consider, for us today, has that passage been fulfilled? Is being fulfilled or is gonna be fulfilled. And instead of just a, like, a one word answer, I’d love to hear some of your thoughts on why you pick one of those three. And we have the mic in the room.

And the mic in the room is for all of our families that are traveling over Christmas break. They they tune in and watch the livestream. So if you just put your hand up, Lanisha will get you the mic. What do you think as you read verse one? What do you got?

Oh, sorry. Verse I’m in I’m in, yeah. I’m in verse one. Yeah. Verse one.

Chapter nine verse one. Sorry. I almost confused myself. Yeah. Yeah.

Mike, over here. I say being fulfilled. Okay. Because that’s us. It’s us right here right now.

Oh, that’s great. And and those of us that are Gentiles that have not come to his glory yet. So being and will be. Okay. So as we read verse one, that could apply to us today that we will see a great light and be what does it say here?

They will be filled with glory. For anybody that has encountered the person, not just felt bored Jesus, not just what your parents taught you, not just what you heard from the stage, but actually physically encounter on your own somehow some way, Jesus, your life gets confronted with glory. We can also safely say that verse one has already been fulfilled. We can safely say that. Right?

And how do we know that verse one has been fulfilled? Because Jesus has already come once and he came from the region. He was born in Bethlehem, but he came from the region of Galilee. And if you’ve watching if you’ve watching, mhmm, if you’ve watched The Chosen, there’s this running derogatory joke about Galilee. Can anything good come from Galilee?

Like, Jesus like, he’s a great teacher. He’s a miracle worker. But Galilee? I mean, like, this guy is awesome, but, like, he but it says he come from Rock Springs. Like, oh my gosh.

See? Now you get it. Poor Rock Springs. Just be better. John chapter seven.

I don’t know if I, would you see if I I might have this verse, John chapter just go alright. There’s verse one. Alright. There we go. Alright.

Mhmm. Go back to the previous one. Alright. Leave that there. So this is not on the screen, but in your notes, you can write down John chapter seven verse 52.

So the Pharisees are confronting Jesus, and they’re trying to ascertain his identity. And one of the clues that they’re looking for is his place of origin. And they say in John chapter seven verse 52, they replied, aren’t you from Galilee too? Search the scriptures and see for yourself. No prophet ever comes from Galilee.

How did they miss? Isaiah chapter nine verse one. Okay. Go now, Andy. You can go to the next slide.

Let’s look at verse two. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Is that in the past, in the present, or in the future? Okay.

Go ahead and give me the the easy out low hanging fruit answer. Gretchen, thank you so much for volunteering to illuminate us. But but go ahead. Like like, tell us a little bit more. I will I would love to hear your thoughts that that has been fulfilled, is being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled.

Well, I mean, it definitely was fulfilled. I feel so loud. Okay. If there only were a sound guy nearby. I know.

I was I mean, it did happen with Jesus is coming. There you go. And I’m thinking specifically of Paul too who saw a great light and was blinded That’s a great connection. He saw Jesus. And I think that that happens now every time someone gets saved.

Yeah. And I think that that will happen in the future when Jesus comes back. Right now, please. Yes. Please.

Please. Oh, I long oh, I long for you. The people who walk in darkness. If you look at the history of let’s confine it to Western civilization, Greek civilization. Before the age, what we studied in school as the enlightenment, the enlightenment period, we were tribalistic, we were very religious, we were superstitious people.

We didn’t understand things like like, Newton Newtonian mathematics. We understood things like like geometry, but there were so many scientific things that that were just mystical to us. Like, the hydrologic cycle. Like, we were like, I don’t we we better pray or the rains might not come this year. We better like, I’ve been cold long enough.

We better pray so that, like, summer comes again. During the age of enlightenment, we developed things like the scientific method where we could develop a hypothesis and test it and experiment and have controls and we used reason, we developed logic. And as those things emerged on the collective human consciousness, we then thought that we could answer long held religious traditions by scientific reasons and answers. Oh, we don’t need God anymore. In fact, decades ago, there was, an article or the the cover of Time magazine just said, God is dead.

We don’t need God anymore because God explained things. God took care of us. God, we we prayed to God, so that that a newly married couple could get pregnant and have a we just didn’t understand science the way that we do now. Education, the light of their intellect, the light of their own resources, the light of their intellect, the light of their own resources and reasoning. But it’s a lot like Neo in the matrix.

Right? It’s until you take the red pill and you’re unplugged from the world system and you wake up to the reality of who Jesus is, the reality of how you’ve messed up, fallen short, broken God’s standard. Cry out to him and when you get saved, you’re like, oh, now I get it. I’ve lived my life. What does it say here?

Walking in darkness. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Like Paul, with the example that Gretchen just gave. The smartest man in the entire era of that day. Like, if you follow like like like a think of like a religious Richard Dawkins.

And then on the road to Emmaus, he’s blinded by a great light and God says, let me show you how truly enlightened you are. And he showed Paul his true condition because what happened to Paul after he encountered on the Jesus on the road? He was blinded. Paul, this is your true condition. You’re blind.

And for anyone here in this in the sound of my voice that has not surrendered their life to Jesus. The very the most compassionate thing that I can tell you is that you are blind and you don’t even know it. But here’s the wonderful thing about Jesus, is religion would tell you you’re blind, you’re awful, you’re terrible. Can I have that, Mike? Religion would tell you that you’re blind.

You’re terrible. You’ve messed up. You’ve blown it. You’re not a good person. But here’s one of the wonderful things about Jesus is that he tells you that so that he can offer to you a remedy for what ails you.

He says, by ointment for your eyes. This is in the Bible. By ointment for your eyes. He is the only one in the entire universe that can cure your spiritual blindness so that you can see accurately the cost of of your sin, how you’ve messed up, and how you’ve blown it. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. But then beyond that, the beauty of the gift of forgiveness that he offers you. I once was lost, but now I’m found. I was blind, but now what?

But now I see. Wait. That’s a hymn. Right? Amazing grace.

Yeah. Yeah. There we go. Amazing grace. I knew it was in there somewhere.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The most the most popular. And so in verse two, when it says, the people who walk in darkness will see a great light for those who live in a land of deep darkness.

That’s a great Hebrew word study that you can do on your own. You can you can dig way into that. It says for those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine not just not just absence of Jesus. But if you study the history of that land and of that region, you will see that the land, the promised land, was inhabited by a group of people who lived in very gross, territorially spiritual darkness, a land of pollution, a land that was defiled and under a curse. And isn’t that one of the other amazing things about Jesus?

Right in the the epicenter of darkness and despair and depravity, God’s like, oh, I’m gonna do something amazing. If you ever beat yourself up, I’ve messed up. I’ve blown it. I’m no good. Whatever narrative negative narrative would try to run through your head.

Please listen to the Holy Spirit with this verse because it is right in the midst of your greatest, deepest darkness That God, the father, out of his great love, says that is right where I want to put my light. Expose the evil deeds of darkness so that healing and light and life can come. Yeah, that’s so good. Okay. Verse thank you.

Verse three. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. I think I might have verse three up there, Andy. There it is.

You will enlarge the nation of Israel and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. Now question, is that? This is a little bit trickier, first two were easy. It was like a warm up.

Now look at that verse, consider it. And would you say that that verse has been fulfilled, is being fulfilled, or is primarily for a future fulfillment. What do you see? You raise your hand and I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you see?

I just love how you’re looking at the screen and or your paper bible. I I I just love that you’re engaging with the text. You get a gold star. I believe that we can see that that was, but we are seeing that that is again because believers have risen as they have it in so many years, and they ward and they prayed and they rejoiced for change in our nation. And there’s greater outpourings taking place in the nation now than what there has been maybe even since Azusa Street.

Oh, okay. Great. So when you read verse three, you see that through the lens of Christians. You will enlarge the nation of Israel. As in Christians, the the the word of God is advancing and that there is, at this time, a harvest of people coming to the Lord.

Okay. Oh, alright. Alright. I see that. How about, additional thoughts?

I read it as Israel was gonna get scattered, and then they, as in other people, were gonna rejoice looking at them like soldiers before the harvest getting ready to come against them. Woah. Wait. Now that may be accurate. It may not be.

You will enlarge the nation of Israel and its people will rejoice. And then they will rejoice before you. Okay. So the they is Israel. If we just look at the grammar, joy don’t furrow your brow like that.

I just I’m looking to you English major. The they is in reference to Israel. So the whole thing is about Israel. Correct? You’re my you’re my real time chat GPT.

Is that what you’re saying, Lanisha? Or did I Yes. Mishear you? Okay. Alright.

Who’s the u? Oh, u will enlarge. Who is the u? Yeah. Who’s the you?

See, this is what I enjoy about the conversational format that we have is I welcome and I don’t know if this floats everybody’s boat, and it’s okay if it doesn’t. But I enjoy the conversational format that we have so that comments and connections and also questions can be posed. You will enlarge it. Who is the you? Who is speaking?

Agreed. You will enlarge the nation of Israel and its people will rejoice. I could say that, in agreement with you that we are seeing a fulfillment of this passage. Since the establishment of the nation of Israel in 1947 or is it ’48? ’48.

Thank you. I caught myself. That Jews from around the world have been migrating back to their historic rightful homeland, and the nation of Israel is increasing and expanding. Yeah. I was that’s what I was gonna say is that in 1948, they had much like, how do you say this grammatically, Joy?

They had a lot less land there. Okay. I figured it out. A lot less land than they have now. And, unfortunately, through wars and some other things, they’ve gained more, all because people attacked them, by the way, not the other way around.

Just a side note. And but that land has actually enlarged. The land of the nation of Israel has enlarged since 1948, and I think that it will continue to. At least I pray it will. That’s good.

So if we just focus on its people will rejoice, then I would say yet to be fulfilled because they do not acknowledge, Jesus and as the saviors that’s already come and died for them and then is coming back. I like your addition to the conversation because, yes, we can read it as Christians. The it needs to be held intention with the other side that this is about Israel. Never ever ever ever are we to replace us exclusively at the expense of Israel. Yes.

And both being held intention. And when you consider and we’ll get more into this as we get a few more verses down down the road, that there is a future fulfillment aspect that they rejoice not in the expansion of their land and territory and their economic prosperity and wealth, but they’ll rejoice in the one who helped them. Their Messiah. Their Messiah. The picture that I get in my mind’s eye when I read verse three is how many of you remember the movie Goonies?

Okay. So that few of you. I know I literally know that more of you have seen the movie Goonies than raise your hand. This is a participatory group event. Church, this is not just me talking to you.

So, how many of you have seen the movie Goonies? Okay. Okay. Okay. Right.

Okay. Remember, after they’ve gone through all the the tunnels and the booty traps and all the things that have happened, and then they go down the water slide and they splash into that huge cavern. And there it is, one eyed Willie’s pirate ship with the legendary famed treasure. They make it up onto the ship, and it’s dusty and it’s old and there are scary skeletons there. But then they get down into the galley where there is a table heaped with treasure.

You remember that moment? Do you remember that moment as a kid from the eighties seeing that and thinking, oh my gosh, I wish that were me. They will rejoice before you, their messiah, as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. So you can underline that passage, put an arrow out in the margin of your bible and write goonies. Because that’s what I’ve done in mine.

Tribe does not officially endorse Goony. There are actually a pencil. Cover it with a sticky note. Jeez. But remember we watched Biggie Bugs last time.

We’re like Goonies, it’s awesome. And then we On a youth trip? Hi. I don’t remember that part. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Don’t watch don’t show if you’re a youth pastor, don’t show Goonies as a youth movie. Verse four and we’ll combine verse four and five, and I think it’s on the screen. Verse four and five.

There we go. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressors rod just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of their warriors and their uniforms, blood stained by war will be burned and they will be fuel for the fire. So same question.

I would like to hear your thoughts. And here’s what whoever’s gonna raise their hand is gonna say. Well, I feel like that was passed when Jesus came and, like, future. So if you give more than one answer, here’s what you need to know. That is kind of the nature of prophetic writing.

And you would do best you would read prophetic writing, prophetic genres of writing. You would do best to hold multiple fulfillment intention with one another. That’s the best way to get the most out of prophetic writing. Re and and here’s what I do. I read through with my this has been fulfilled lenses on.

And I’m like, oh, wow. And the Lord feeds me and, oh, that’s so good. Wow. Thank you for what you’ve done. Thank you for what you’ve done.

Then I take those glasses off and I put my current unfolding for us glasses on, and then I read it again. And here’s what most many people are afraid of doing. The yet to be unfold. They will quickly jump to their symbolism glasses. Well, it’s symbolic writing.

But what about a future someday literal fulfillment? Don’t neglect that pair of glasses when reading prophecy. So here’s the question. As you read this, would you consider these two verses to be fulfilled in the past, unfolding and being fulfilled, or future fulfillment? What do you think?

Mike? Mike is carrying all of y’all right now on his shoulder. Oh, and yeah. Alright. Then we’ll come to Janet.

I’ve gotta say all three on this. I’ve got to and, like, oh, the screen went away. It’ll come up. The heavy burden, from their shoulders. Like, I see that as, like, trying to fulfill the law without the holy spirit.

You know? I see this as, like, referring to salvation. You know? Wow. Yeah.

That’s a that’s a nice Do you know that sin, when you break God’s law, you’re submitting to that, and anything you submit yourself to is your master. I I’m in agreement with Mike. I think it’s it’s all too, but the, the thing that comes to my mind, and maybe it’s the word yoke, but Jesus fulfilled that when he said all all you who are weary and heavy laden and burdened come to me. Oh. And my yoke is light, and it’s a picture of Jesus lifting the burden from our shoulders and carrying it.

Yes. I love that. What a great hyperlink. I it it’s right there in the text, and I didn’t make that connection. Yeah.

Literally, the word yoke is used, and I you should, like, make that connection. There’s also a future fulfillment that that is yet to be unfolded that we will see in the days ahead, and we’ll have a little more color to that as we continue reading. Let’s get into, verse where are we? Six. Thank you.

Verse six. Does it feel good knowing that we’re only going seven verses? We’re gonna break each of these verses down and we’re already in verse six, guys? Be of good cheer. Verse six.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. Past, present, or future. Past. The government will rest on his shoulders. Past, present, or future.

If we had to pick, I’m forcing you to pick one of the three. Future. Past, present, or future. Future. Although somebody make a case for past.

Alright. So, there is government involved in war, so that’s where you’re going with that. But somebody tell me, if you can’t, this is just totally open ended. I’m not fishing for an answer. We’re just having some fun conversation.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. When Isaiah wrote it, he was looking forward. We look at that as backwards. When we see that Jesus was born in his lifetime over a period of thirty three years, how did the government rest on his shoulders?

Somebody, like, take a crack at answering that. Well, we look at that and we see the word government and we think about government like we know government now. But that word actually means rule and dominion. Rule and dominion. And that’s talking about the kingdom of God.

It’s talking about Christ is born to us. He’s the son given to us. He will have rule and dominion that rest on his shoulders. And when did that happen? The moment he was born.

Yes. Lord, at thy birth. Alright. Now so so many of us read that in only spiritual terms, that he has dominion over principalities. Because unlike Old Testament prophets and miracle workers, Jesus did many of the same miracles that we see in the Old Testament, but he’s like, I’m gonna see Old Testament miracles, and I’m gonna raise you.

And what did he do that no Old Testament prophet or miracle worker did? The dead was raised in the Old Testament. What did he do? It has it has to do with dominion and authority. The veil was torn not by Jesus’s hands alone.

Mike is, like, really he’s really trying to help us out here. He took the case of death, hell, and the grave. He did that he did that, at his crucifixion. But during his three years of earthly ministry, there was one type of miracle that he performed to establish cement his governmental authority. And what did you say?

You used the word dominion. He forgave sins. Amen. You guy I love that we’re all in this together. And you yes.

I love it. I love it that you’re, like, trying to you’re trying to get there. He cast out demons. There you go. He cast out demons.

There’s no exact did you know that? And you’re waiting for everybody else to say it. Uh-huh. Okay. I thought you leaned over and were like, I was so quick.

I was so ready to, like, praise you and give you credit. No testament, prophet, healer, king, priest, cast out a demon. They you literally just said it. They talked about it. They Jesus says in a future tense, many will come to me on that day.

Mhmm. So so so we let let’s give some partial credit here that there was there was maybe talk of it, but Jesus was like, bam. Demons out. Demons out. Demons out.

Left and right. Cast out a legion of demons. Like like the new sheriff in town with the big white cowboy hat and the six guns a blazing. Have you come to torment us before the appointed time? And he’s like, shut up and get out.

Yeah. The government so so let let we’re so close to to, getting back to the trailhead. So you talked about dominion and authority. And did we ever see Jesus hold a political office? No.

Did we see him ever have a job in the local Jewish government? No. Did we see him have a position in the occupying Roman government? No. So his dominion and authority is what?

Spiritual. Now here’s the wineskins. We all if you’ve walked with the Lord for any amount of time or if you’ve experienced deliverance or being set free, you’re like, yep. The government, principalities, authorities. But this is the wineskin stretching part.

There is a future coming fulfillment where there will be a literal government, a natural government system of rules and laws and enforcement and territory coming to planet Earth that Jesus will preside over. What is the name of that government? Do you do you have come on. Okay. Okay.

His government will take place in the millennium. The millennium is not just a name of a ship that made the Kessel Run-in under 14 parsecs. 12. 12. This is what happens when you open yourself up to conversation.

You get fact checked real time. The millennial reign refers to a time period of a thousand years when Jesus comes back. He will ransom captive Israel at that time, the nation of Israel. He will establish his kingdom authority on earth in a governmental fashion. Imagine having a kingdom of Jesus passport.

We’re using our imagination. And what are some of the attributes of his soon coming establishment of his governmental leadership on planet Earth? What are some attributes? I don’t know. Maybe just look around the room at a clue.

What are some attributes of this coming government? Wonderful. He will be an incredible, wonderful administrator, an arbitrator, counselor, like like the nations are coming to him. Here’s what here’s what you should do. Oh my gosh.

That advice is how can I describe it? That advice is wonderful. What’s another attribute of this coming kingdom to be established? Mighty. America, especially right after World War two, had the most powerful and mighty army hands down by far in the world.

In fact, after World War two, we had the largest navy of any other nation combined. Babe, would it be possible to turn that heat down just a few degrees? I want you to have your coat on. Warm heart, cold hands. Thank you.

Our navy was so large after World War two that The United States, one country single handedly said, we will take responsibility of patrolling the world’s oceans so that free international trade and commerce can be opened up around the world. The British Navy, they had a good run at it for a while, but it was the United States Navy that after World War two said, we will we will take it upon ourselves to ensure commerce and trade around the world through the world shipping lanes out in the open seas. A mighty army and a mighty navy. What will be an attribute of Jesus’ coming millennial kingdom and reign? Mighty.

He will be everlasting. And can you imagine thinking of a political leader? A political leader with our our context of American politics. Can you imagine thinking of a president as a father? No.

And he will be the prince of peace. So this is to stretch our wineskin, to think of a coming Jesus with these attributes. It should challenge you. It should warm your heart. And really what it does when this takes root in your heart, it the the the maranatha cry, which is an Aramaic phrase, which means the Lord has come and is coming again to well up in your heart.

Let’s look at the last verse. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. Now here is the classic charismatic Pentecostal understanding. He will rule from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

The classic charismatic Pentecostal interpretation of that verse is with the same authority and in the same manner and with the same apostolic blessing as David had of influence in yep. Right. That’s true. Yep. Good.

Awesome. Great. But have you ever thought that Jesus, when he returns to planet Earth, will actually conduct business from a physical geographical location, it says it right here. There is a future unfolding of all of the nations of the world recognizing Jesus as a leader among other nations. When Jesus returns, the other nations don’t just melt away.

Other nations will maintain their sovereignty. In some nations, as you continue to read in prophetic texts like Ezekiel or in the book of Revelation, that not all of them will be friendly towards the governmental reign of Jesus when he returns. But there will be consequences. Tariffs, if you will. His government and its peace will never end.

Imagine living under a system of government, not a not a democracy, not a constitutional monarchy, not a constitutional republic, which is our system of government, but a kingdom that has a king, which would be a monarchy, but a monarchy whose hallmarks are fairness and justice and peace. The passionate commitment of the Lord of heaven’s armies will make this happen. On Tuesday, we celebrate the tradition of the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, which is in all likelihood not historically accurate at all. But when we gather on the town Square on Tuesday at six at 6PM all bundled up, This is what we are keeping in mind. You can go to the tribe logo because that’s just too ridiculous.

You should’ve seen the ones he didn’t go to. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the lord of heaven’s armies will make this happen. When we gather on the town square on Tuesday, all bundled up, This is what we are commemorating and what we are celebrating is acknowledging that Jesus came to earth.

Love you, Kai. See you tonight. That Jesus came to earth, that he was given authority and dominion at his birth, grabbed a hold of that authority and dominion in a spiritual sense to set captives free, ascended into heaven, and will come again someday soon to finish and to consummate the establishment of his government. Greta, what is your last name? Wyndorf?

Wind. Windorf. Windorf. When did you become a Windorf? How old were you at your birth?

Jesus was Lord at his birth. He still is lord for anyone that would bend the knee of their heart be conquered by his supreme intelligence, authority, omniscience, love, grace, kindness, and compassion, come under and become a subject of his kingdom, and eagerly anticipate and look forward to that day when there will be a physical establishment on planet Earth from the city of Jerusalem of his earthly dominion, authority, and rule, and reign. The invitation is get your passport now. Get your pass get your passport now, spiritually speaking. Let’s take just a moment and invite the Holy Spirit to just speak to us about throughout how much territory of your heart have you allowed Jesus to to rule and to reign?

Is there unsurrendered territory of your heart? Wherefore now, his gentlemanly restraint has not invaded your territory because you are a sovereign being able to exercise your free will. Jesus, I allow you here, but not here. Would you wave the white flag and say, Jesus, you have permission to invade and pervade over every square inch of the territory of my heart. Those places that are broken, damaged, places that I’m fearful.

Places that I thought were off the books, off the map, black sites that I’m running operations out of as if it’s really hidden to him. Surrender. Jesus, will you just conquer my soul? You talk to It is so antithetical to the ways in the systems of governments of the world and the individual autonomy that the human soul exerts. But the the dropping of your boundaries, the surrender of your individuality to the governing leadership of Jesus is the most incredible thing any human can ever do.

When we gather on the town square on Tuesday, it’s an opportunity for us to collectively and corporately celebrate the arrival on planet Earth of the greatest military governmental figure in the history of the world. Let’s do let’s do this really quick. We’ll shift gears to worship the Lord in one other way with our tithe offerings. And then we’ll have a few instructions for you about Christmas Eve and then we’ll get out of here. So every subject of the kingdom, part of that is is paying tribute, like physically, in a way, taxes, if you will, to the sovereign who takes care of you.

We’re just kinda using governmental language today. Switch it up, help you to think differently. So in a similar way, not out of compulsion or obligation, but out of free will surrender. We commit a portion of our finances that we call a tithe to the local church, and it’s an expression of saying, I love you. Thank you for allowing me to be in your kingdom, and I trust you.

Because the sovereign is supposed to take care of all every aspect of anyone that’s under and in that kingdom. And the Bible says that that Jesus will supply all of our needs according to his riches and glory, which are in Christ Jesus. He’s got you. So I know that at Christmas time, you’re like budget is tight, I gotta travel, or I gotta bring kids home from school, or I buy gotta buy Christmas presents, or it’s just tight all around, you know. But when we take a portion of our finances and we surrender them, it’s an expression of telling him that we love him and that we trust him.

So let me pray over the offering, and then I’ll share with you several ways to give. Okay? So, Lord Jesus, Lord, King, Sovereign, Boss of my life, we come to you today and I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future. I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future. I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future.

I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future. I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future. I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future. I’m going to ask you to take a look at the future. I’m going to ask you to at Tribe in Jackson Hole, the surrounding region, and to the uttermost bounds of the earth.

We pray this in Jesus’ name, and everybody said so if you’re giving cash or check or you’re dropping Bitcoins off, they can go in a little black box behind Oliver that’s waving right there. It’s wooden. It’s a little wooden box. You can also give through the website, tribejh.com. Most people are generous with their tithes and offerings through the text to give, and that’s a great way to give.

So the Lord bless your tithes and offerings during this Christmas season. The main announcement that we have for you today is obviously that handout that’s right on your seat. It gives you all the details, all the information, attractively arranged to answer any question that you might have. When is Christmas Eve? What’s the date?

Twenty fourth. December 24. At what time? 6PM. Where is it?

Down the square. And if you need a map, it’s right there on the back. Listen, would you share with us just a few details, about Christmas Eve service, and then I’ll pray for us and we’re we’re out of here. You hit it all. Just come early and get hot chocolate.

There’ll be homemade Christmas cookies. It we keep it short because it’s cold, so six to 06:30. What are you saying? I’m saying I’m keeping keeping it short. Right, baby?

Because Lysik’s hands get really cold. When you come on the to the Town Square on the twenty fourth, here’s what here’s what I’m asking you. This is what dad is asking of you. Pretend that the Town Square is your living room, and you are having friends over to your house. So here’s that means a couple of things.

When you’re inviting friends over, hey, come over for dinner at six. At your house, do you show up at your house at 06:15? That’d be weird and really make your guests feel awkward because they’re gonna get there at like 05:55. Right? Because they’re nice guests.

So number one, parking will be who knows how parking would be? So just plan for parking. Come. Number two, imagine you’ve invited somebody over to your house for dinner and they come through the front door of your house, but you’re busy talking to other members of your family. That’s being a bad host.

Okay? So keep your head up and look for other people. And if you’re like, well, I don’t know who is part of our tribe fam and who’s wandering off the street, or who saw the banner or the flyer and is just coming to Christmas. What’s the best thing to do? Pretend like everybody is coming over to your house for dinner.

And I would say half of the people at our Christmas Eve service saw us setting up and were shopping and then came and joined us. Yeah. So just pretend like our body in that triangle of the the quadrant of the town square is there for Christmas Eve and they’re coming to your house for dinner. You reach out to them and say, I don’t wait on staff. And here’s the last thing that I will say.

Imagine inviting people over to your house for dinner. Don’t show up late. Don’t not greet them. But then they’re sitting down for the meal, and then you just sit down at the table too and be like, wonder who’s gonna serve up that food. That would be weird.

As the host, you always serve your guest meal, even if it’s buffet style. So how do you serve people good food? By singing loud for all to hear. Please don’t come to Christmas Eve service and leave your voice in the car at home. Like, sing loud these carols to help create an atmosphere that your guests feel comfortable and help can enter into the spirit of the birth of Jesus.

Does that make sense? Now, I love you. Stand up. Let me pray for you. Be a good host on Tuesday.

Lord Jesus, we pray in advance for Christmas Eve service that there would be people that hear the gospel and for the very first time surrender their own sovereignty and come under the kingdom of God whose ruler and reign is administered by Jesus the Christ, the anointed one. Father, we pray for Christmas Eve service, and you take just a moment and that coworker or that person whose locker is right next to you, that person that you see in the lift line or you drop packages off every week, or that family whose little kid comes to your school that you’re going to invite them. Take just a moment and you just call them out by name, just in the stillness of your heart, who you would pray for to invite. Lord, I pray for my neighbors, Lee and Sammy, and I pray for our neighbors down at the bottom of the hill. Lord, come on.

Bring them to Christmas Eve service. Lord, I command a blessing over each and every person gathered here at this service. Help us to remember your goodness and your sovereignty over the kingdom of our hearts. Give us a great week. We pray these things in Jesus’ name, the strong son of God.

And everybody said, amen. I love you so very much. I want you to have a great week. Have a great Christmas break. And remember, Merry Christmas.