The Door: Part One

[0:00] And since then, I think it's been, what, going on nine months? I can't even count the months anymore. October the 11th is when it was, eight or nine months. What? Eight months, okay.

[0:12] But I thank God, you know, when you look back over things, you can see where God has brought you from and what He's done. And, well, I thank God for every minute, for every second, for all that He's done because I know that surely He is the rock.

[0:30] And that rock don't never fail as long as we get on it and stay on it. We might fail and we might fall down skin on our knees, but if we do, then He's there for us to climb back up on the rock and stand on the rock.

[0:43] But the key is, I used to have, when I was trying to be a musician one time, had a piano and I beat my head off trying to learn to play this piano. All the runs. And it was pathetic in my house because that's all you heard from daylight to dark.

[1:00] Well, I wanted the Lord. The Lord let me play the piano, you know, just call Him, Lord, please. But that wasn't His will, evidently, because I know all kinds of things about music. Well, not a lot, but to me it's a lot.

[1:11] But anyway, I thought about how good the Lord is and how He arranges our life. And if we don't give in to Him and fall down, then it'll fall on us.

[1:23] And that's what the difference is. And I thank God because I've had a few times when I didn't fall down for Him and it fell on me. But I thank Him because I can look back and say, Trieva, without a doubt, God has been good to me and my family.

[1:39] And He knows the best. And you know, it takes us a long time, or it does me, to realize He knows best. He knows exactly what's best. I prayed a prayer six years ago and I asked God, I said, Don't let my family be lost, whatever it takes, save their soul.

[1:56] Well, you better make sure you know what you're praying when you pray it. Because sometimes our family is going to have to go through a lot, ain't they? And here I go talking again. But anyway, I love God and He's been good to me.

[2:10] And if Brian goes away for 30 years, God has still been good to me. I made up my mind, Trieva. You know, you say faith. Yeah, I got faith. I got faith that God's ahead of it all.

[2:22] I got faith that God's going to deliver Brian. I don't know when or where or how. But I got faith in God and He's my only source. Where are we going to run to? And so if we don't run to Him, we're going to run the wrong direction.

[2:34] And I thank Him because of a desire. You know, that's something. If you've got a desire to serve the Lord, if you've got a desire to make heaven your home, that's good, ain't it? God gave it to you.

[2:45] And I appreciate Him. I had a song I thought about singing, but I ain't practiced it. And it's what went into my heart lately. I don't know where I can do it or not.

[2:56] I haven't practiced it. I stuck it in here with water stains all over it. Y'all probably know it. If y'all know it, it's an old one. And you want to come help me? I don't even know what key. See, I ain't practiced it.

[3:06] But this is what the Lord had gave to me. Somebody dropped water. It's God on the Mountain. It's an old song. Old song. Everybody knows that. But anyway, when I heard it. Let me find it.

[3:19] Life is easy when you're up on the mountain. And you've got peace of mind like you've never known.

[3:39] But when things change and you're down in the valley.

[3:51] Don't hold faith. Don't hold faith. For you're never alone.

[4:03] And the God of the mountain is still God in the valley.

[4:16] God of the mountain is still God in the valley.

[4:46] God of the mountain is still God in the valley. This is my favorite. You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain.

[5:06] Oh, come so we sing With life that it's slim But it's down in the valley of thralls and temptation That's when faith is really put to the tent For the God of the mountain is still God in the valley When things go wrong, He'll make them right

[6:10] For the God of the good times is still God in the bad times The God of the day is still God in the night Amen. Can somebody shout amen?

[6:51] Thank you, Jesus. I'm glad I'm in church tonight. I'd rather be in church tonight than in the best hospital in Louisville, Kentucky Or the best jailhouse in Jefferson County. Amen. Hallelujah.

[7:09] Now, where's Bebe? Huh? Huh? How many of those Bebe been in the hospital this week?

[7:21] How many people called her? How many people went to visit? How many people? All right. Praise God. I appreciate that. Something in that book inside my toe.

[7:37] Oh! Oh! Now, folks, if you've been missing church on Sunday morning, Then you're not going to have any idea what I'm talking about Because I'm going to try to take off Right out here in the middle of what I've been preaching on And show you a few different things That God has shown me. Amen.

[8:06] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. How many knows what, you know, most folks never get the revelation Of what church is all about. We think it's to come to church And just to get us a little feel-good feeling And to go on home and wait till next time to come back to church.

[8:22] But, honey, that's not what it's all about at all. Amen. Hallelujah. When we were lost in sin, Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit down to us And drew us to a house of God, A house of praise and worship. Amen.

[8:35] When we got there, amen, The Holy Spirit gave us an invitation to come And meet the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Can somebody shout amen? Everybody going to get a drink of water? Go.

[8:46] Everybody going to talk? Then walk outside and talk. Because I'm ready to preach. And I'm not an evangelist, So I don't preach to a traveling congregation. Amen. And if what you've got to say is more important than what I've got to say, Then jump up here and preach for a little while.

[9:02] Somebody shout amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Now where was I at? I was trying to get a say. Why do we come to church? To find Jesus.

[9:16] To get to know Him. As our friend. As our Savior. As our Lord. As our King. As our Redeemer. As our life.

[9:27] Our strength. Amen. Just like a dope head gets hooked on dope. And an alcoholic gets hooked on alcohol. Amen. We need to get hooked on Jesus. And we can't get back to church the next service.

[9:37] So we can get a fresh fix. Can somebody say amen? Amen. How many of you members have told you here that Sunday morning. How we become thieves and robbers? How do we become thieves and robbers?

[9:48] Somebody that was here tell me real quick. Huh? Amen. Amen. Amen. When you don't get here in time to pray.

[10:01] And to enter into that realm of praise and worship with Jesus Christ. And enter into that intercessory prayer. But then you come in after everything's going. And then we want to get up there and hoopty hoopty hoopty.

[10:12] And get that feel good feeling. Because somebody else prayed. Somebody else fasted. Somebody else sought the Lord. Amen. The Bible says and teaches that we become thieves and robbers.

[10:22] Because we're trying to enter in some other way. Amen. What is church all about? To get to know the Lord. Amen. That's why Paul said study to show yourself approved unto God. A workman that needeth not to be ashamed.

[10:35] Rightly dividing the word of truth. In John 10 he said my sheep. You're not listening to me. My sheep know my voice. You want to know what that really means?

[10:48] My sheep know my word. If we don't know his word. We don't know his voice. And then we'll believe anything. The Bible says that men will believe a lie and be damned.

[11:02] Amen. You know why? Because they don't know the voice of the Lord. They don't know the word of God. They don't have a revelation. Of what God is trying to say. So why do we come to church?

[11:12] To know the Lord. To find out that there is a growing up. Into the fullness of the measure of the stature of Jesus Christ. There is a growing up into Jesus Christ.

[11:25] The Bible said be no more children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Amen. Somebody come along and preach this. All right. I believe that. Somebody come along and preach this. All right. I'm going to believe that. Somebody come along.

[11:35] Hey. Hey. Get steadfast and established in God's word. Can somebody shout amen? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Now once again.

[11:57] Why do we come to church? To get closer to God? Really becoming a church to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

[12:23] To grow up in Him. If I... You wouldn't think that I've been preaching this for 17 years. That the soul went forth to sow the seed.

[12:37] And some seed fell in good ground and they left before its service got started. Some seed fell among the thorns and thistles and they couldn't take the pressure and the pain and everything. So they quit. But thank God.

[12:48] Some seed fell on good ground. And brought forth. Some brought forth 30 fold. And if you want to be a 30 fold Christian that's what you can be and just...

[13:00] Just make it in. Some brought forth 60 fold. Where's the 30 fold at? 30 fold's in the foot rim.

[13:10] Amen. All we know is a little dance and a little shake and a quake. And we go outside and if they got the right music on the radio we can get out there and dance and shake and quake there. You ain't nothing but a hound dog. Just a walk at all time.

[13:24] Because the anointing is on music. Amen. I don't want to be 30 fold. About 35 years ago I heard about there was a...

[13:37] There was a mark of the prize of the high calling that was in Jesus Christ. And that was to be in the bride. Amen. And Jesus is not coming to marry a church that's in bed with the world.

[13:50] He's not coming to marry a baby bride. But he's coming to marry a full grown woman. Can somebody shout amen. That's why Revelation 19, 7 and 8 says let us be glad and rejoice for the marriage of the Lamb has come.

[14:03] And to her it was granted that she should be raided in fine linen. Clean and white for fine linen is the righteousness of saints. You come to church to find out about the white robe saints in Revelation.

[14:16] 7. White raiment saints in Revelation 5. And the white linen saints in Revelation 19. You come to church to find that there's a way and there's a truth and there's a life. Some of you look at me, what in the world are you talking about?

[14:31] Same thing I've been preaching on the last 17 years. But we stand there spiritually with our ears stopped up. Because we don't want to grow.

[14:42] You know why? The Bible said to whom much is given, much is required. So the more that you know, the more that you're going to have given an account for. I've had people say, tell me.

[14:53] Wait a minute. Don't tell me no more because I don't want to have to give an account for that. Don't know. I don't want to hear no more. Amen. You're the one that's backing up. I don't want to be the one that's backing up.

[15:04] But I want to be the one that's marking up. Amen. If there's going to be a bride and the Bible said that I can be in it and you can be in it. Then I'm going to do everything I can to press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God.

[15:15] Which is in Jesus Christ. Amen. And anything less than that. You need to get you a new preacher. Amen. Hallelujah. If you want to hear some foot-rimmed preaching, get you a foot-rimmed preacher.

[15:28] But God called me to go up into the headroom to be the bride of Christ. And I've discovered some amazing things here. Turn me to the book of, well, turn me to the book of John, the 10th chapter.

[15:42] And let's read 1 through 11 real swiftly. Somebody say amen. How many's got John? If you've got a date Bible, it's on page 106.

[15:54] I checked into those date Bibles that I told you about. That was the 29.95. It is a smaller one than this. I have it in the back so that you can see it. Because I didn't order it.

[16:04] Because since it was smaller, I want to see if you want it before I order it. Where's it there? Let's go back and get them. They're in a box. In a chair. There's a hard bag.

[16:18] Amen. This is what he says. John 10 and 1 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same as a thief and a robber.

[16:33] Now, he didn't say there wasn't any other way. But he said, I am the way. I am the door to the sheepfold. Amen. He said, to him, but he that entereth by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

[16:45] And to him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth them his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth them forth, his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

[16:58] And the stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them, but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

[17:12] Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

[17:24] I am the door. By me, if any man entereth in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to kill, to steal, and to destroy.

[17:35] But I am come that you might have life, and have that more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Amen. Let's bow our head and go to the Lord in prayer. Lord Jesus, we thank you, Lord God, for your precious word tonight.

[17:47] Lord, I pray that you would, Lord, break up the fallow grounds of our hearts. And Lord, we're in this holiday time season. Lord, summer's here, and it's almost the 4th of July. Lord, our spirits are outside the building or somewhere besides in here.

[17:59] But Lord God, there's always been a, Lord, a remnant. Lord God, that wants to get a hold of your word. Shalom, of course, shalom ahia. Lord God, that they might be able to grow up, Lord, to the fullness of the measure, the stature of Jesus Christ.

[18:10] Help us tonight, Lord God, to preach your word, to say what you'd say, what you'd have us to say, Lord. In Jesus' precious name. And everybody said amen. Did you get those books? They come in a hardback this size.

[18:36] It comes in a softback this size, which is about an inch and a half smaller than mine, almost as wide. All the same information, everything.

[18:50] Pass this around by there. Don't be talking. Look at it. And if you want it all right, and if you don't want it, that's all right too. The hardbacks, pass this down this side. They're only $19.95, I think it was.

[19:01] So, anyway. Somebody shout amen. Now, what am I preaching on? Can anybody tell me? Huh? Huh? These and robbers, the good shepherd and the door.

[19:16] Amen? I want to talk about the door tonight. Amen. I want to talk about the bride of Jesus Christ. Can somebody shout amen? Amen. If I was to ask someone to quote me Revelation 21 and the first verse, could anybody stand up and quote that to me tonight?

[19:37] Revelation 21 and 1. John said, and I saw a new heaven. Somebody say new heaven.

[19:48] I wonder what happened to the old heaven. He said, and I saw a new earth. Then he tells you, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the new city.

[20:01] Somebody say new city. New Jerusalem. Coming down from God. Out of heaven. Prepared as a bride for a husband.

[20:14] Now, honey, let me tell you what. This is a great mystery. And you may never be able to fully comprehend what we just said. He said, John said, and I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

[20:25] For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And there was no more sea. And I saw a new city. What did he see? A new city.

[20:37] Descending from God out of heaven. Prepared as a. A new city prepared like a bride. Can you explain that to me? Somebody jump up real spiritual and explain to me how a new city can be compared like a bride.

[20:50] How can a new city? Well, how is this city going to be a bride? How are we going to be a bride if the city is going to be a bride? But you know what Jesus said in Matthew?

[21:02] He said, you are the light of the world. You are a city that is set on a hill. Can somebody say amen? Hallelujah. How in the world can a city?

[21:13] And when we read it here a little bit, it talks about it being 1,500 miles square. Talks about it having a street of gold and a river of life and the tree of life is all in this city.

[21:24] And then he said, this city is the bride. Can you explain it to me? Well, I thought I knew all about that stuff.

[21:35] That's the problem. We think we know all about it. We don't know all about it. So let's read down through here a little bit further. And he says. Verse 3.

[21:46] And I heard a voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. Now, in the Old Testament, the Old Testament had a tabernacle.

[21:58] Amen? But we don't know whatever happened to that tabernacle. But now, in the new city, in Revelation, the 21st chapter is only 22 chapters.

[22:10] He said, and I saw the tabernacle of God. And it is with men. And God will dwell with them.

[22:20] And they shall be called His people. And God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes. And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying.

[22:31] Neither shall there be any more pain. For the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, behold, I make all things new.

[22:42] And He said unto me, write. For these things, these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, I am. It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

[22:55] I will give to him that is a thirst, a fountain of water freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things. They may know what God owns. He don't own a thousand cattle on a hill.

[23:07] He owns all the hills and all the cattle. Well, Psalm 24 said, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. And they that dwell therein. Amen. That means all the gold, all the silver, all the oil in the Middle East.

[23:19] All belongs to God. Can you say amen? Listen. Verse 6. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give it to him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

[23:31] He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But the fearful. Now see if you fall in these categories. But the fearful and the unbelieving and the abominable and the murderers and the whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death.

[23:56] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last place. And he talked with me saying, come hither and I will show thee the bride, the lamb's wife. How many wants to see the bride?

[24:09] How many wants to see the bride? How many wants to see the bride? How many wants to see the bride? If somebody could describe the bride of Christ to you, would you like to see what she's going to look like?

[24:22] Honey, let me tell you what. Listen to what he says here. I'm going to show you the bride, the lamb's wife. Listen to what he said. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain. And he showed me that great city. Wait a minute, I thought he was going to show me the bride.

[24:33] That's what I said. And he showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God. I'm going to show you the bride. And the bride is a holy city. Brother Van, you said I could be in the bride.

[24:45] I could be the bride of Christ. Then we got to become a holy city. A holy city. A new Jerusalem.

[24:57] Amen. Listen to what it says here. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain. And he showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

[25:08] Having the glory of God. And what's that next word? Her light was likened to a stone most precious. Even like a jasper stone. Clear as crystal.

[25:20] Amen. How many knows that the light of the city is going to be clear as crystal? It's going to be white light. Bright white light. Can somebody say amen? And the city.

[25:32] That her, that woman, that she had a wall. Great and high. And had twelve gates. And at the gates were twelve angels. And names written up there upon. Which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

[25:45] On the east three gates. On the west, on the north three gates. On the south three gates. And on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations. And in them the names of the twelve apostles of the land. He said, now measure the city.

[25:59] And the gate. And the wall. And the city lie four square. Now what is the city? The city is the bride. And the bride is four square.

[26:12] The book of Isaiah tells us to look into the rock. From which you were hewn. Do you know what the word hewn means? It means squared out. Squared out.

[26:23] We come into this world. We're all round. We come into this world rolling. Just we roll here and we roll there. We're just trying to find a place. Trying to find a nook. Trying to find our place that we fit in.

[26:33] Amen. But if we really came out of the lawns of God. How did it? We're not going to be satisfied. Until we get back into that rock. That we were hewn out of. And to get back into that rock.

[26:43] Then there's a lot of sin. How did it? That's going to have to get away from us. There's a lot of the old man. The old flesh. That's going to die. And be left behind. Amen. If we're ever going to fit back in. That just as I am.

[26:55] I come to thee. It's a beautiful song. But if you stand just like you came. Something is wrong with you. There's got to be a growing up. There's got to be a dying out to the world. The flesh and the devil. There's got to be a putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.

[27:07] And putting on more of holiness. Can somebody shout amen. We don't hear much holiness preached anymore. But Paul said in Hebrews. And holiness without which no man shall see God.

[27:21] Woo. Somebody shout woo. Think about it. This city's got 12 gates. You know I've been reading and studying the word of God.

[27:31] And I found out that there are 12 gates to my heart. My heart. Has 12 gates. Just like there's 12 gates to the new city.

[27:45] Believe it or not. There's 12 gates to the old city that you read about. In Nehemiah. And we go in and out. Of these gates. How do we go in these gates?

[27:55] Some of us have never been inside the gate. Oh how happy I will be. When my journey here is run. And I look upon his face. And I hear him say well done. You have fought a faithful fight.

[28:07] My child you've kept the faith. Then and now my joys are yours. So just step inside the gate. You know what. How long have I been preaching on intercessory prayer. That there's four classes of prayer.

[28:18] There's asking prayer. And there's intercessory prayer. And there's prevailing prayer. And there's commanding prayer. Have y'all just not heard that? Just about 17 years. And yet.

[28:30] But the only way that we can go in and out the doors. He said. And you shall go in and out and find pasture. Is when we get into intercessory prayer. But brother Van. I don't have intercessory prayer.

[28:40] Why don't you? I've been preaching on it for 17 years. I've been telling you that you got to have it. I've been telling you that you won't get anything from God. Except you receive it by faith.

[28:51] I'm telling you that it's there and it's yours. And if you want it you got to get it. Some people get it by gift. 17 years ago when I first came up here. Sister Anna had intercessory prayer by gift.

[29:05] Can somebody say amen? Some of us get it by stature. That means that we just keep on praying and praying and praying until we enter into it. Some people just throw up their hand and start all at one time.

[29:18] Just interceding. To get in and out of the gates. What opens the gate is intercessory prayer. The Bible says the sheep hear my voice. And to him the porter openeth.

[29:29] Who is the porter? He's the Holy Ghost. Amen. When the Holy Ghost hears you interceding. Interceding. Yes Romans 8 26 says for you don't know how to pray.

[29:40] Or we don't know how to pray as we ought to pray. But the spirit maketh groanings for us which cannot be uttered. For he that searcheth the heart knows the mind of the spirit. And he makes intercession according to the will of God.

[29:51] And then Romans 8 34 says. And Jesus Christ is sitting on the right end of God. Making intercession for us when we make intercession to him. You see I was raised up in a church.

[30:09] That way if you got out of the car late coming into church. When you opened the door you thought you was in a beehive. Because there were so many people in there. And they were all in intercessory prayer. And when my sister gets in intercessory prayer.

[30:20] You think you're in a haunted house. Because she gets a wee. I mean just scared you to death. You didn't know any better. Most people not that extreme with it. But there's no.

[30:32] There is no excuse. That after we've known the truth. And we don't have it. You know why we don't have it? We don't want it. We won't seek for it. We don't have a spiritual ear to hear.

[30:43] What the spirit is saying. And listen. We say we want to be in the bride. Honey you're not going to get in the bride. Unless you can get some spiritual growth. And spiritual growth comes through praying.

[30:53] And reading the word of God. And getting a spiritual ear to hear. What the word of God is speaking to me. This ain't just words written 2,000 years ago. 4,000 years ago. By some old dead people done gone on.

[31:05] Honey this word is more up to date. Than tomorrow's newspaper. I can tell you what's going to happen in the future. I don't need to go out here to some. What do you call them?

[31:17] Psychic. Yeah. There was another word I was looking for. Yeah there's another word though. Got an ist on the end of it. I want them people that work for the devil.

[31:37] Amen. If I want to know what's going to happen tomorrow. I read the Bible today. And he tells me. Amen. That everything that's. That the Bible. That I forget how many predictions about Jesus Christ.

[31:49] That the Bible prophesied. And they've already come to pass. And now there's nothing else left to be fulfilled. And he can step out. And at any time. The trumpet can sound. And we'll be gone.

[32:00] Or we'll be left. And everybody likes to sing a little song. When we all get to heaven. Honey we all ain't going to get to heaven. The Bible said. If the righteous scarcely enter in.

[32:12] Then where shall the sinner and the ungodly appear. At the righteous scarcely enter in. Where shall the sinner and the ungodly appear. And the answer is. They're going to appear in hell.

[32:22] They're going to be down there with a rich man. And they're going to look up and see us glorified. And fill in the power of God in heaven. And they're going to say. Oh. Oh. Oh. Jesus. Send brother Van down. Or send sister Flo down.

[32:32] Send somebody down. That they can put their finger in water. And put it in my tongue. Because I'm tormented in this flame. What did the rich man cry? He's cried father Abraham. You know why?

[32:43] Because he had been called to be in a bride. You know how I know that? Because the Bible said there was a certain rich man. Who was clothed in purple and fine linen. Honey. Where do you find purple and fine linen? That's what the bride's going to wear.

[32:54] Amen. Somebody backslid on God. Hallelujah. How many of us have backslid on God? Oh. One time we got a desire to study the word of God. To go on for God. You know the mountain was too high.

[33:06] The Bible. You know the word is too deep. And we just can't get there. That's a bunch of hogwash. If God can make somebody ignorant as I was. To learn the word of God. Then he can do something for you too.

[33:18] Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Let me tell you a little bit more about this. Verse 21. Going on down to verse 21 here. Oh I can't do that.

[33:29] I've got to read starting 16 again. And the city lies four square. And the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city and the reed. Which was 12,000 furlongs. Which is 1,500 miles.

[33:43] Can you even imagine a city that big? And it's square. It's cubed. The length is as great as the height. He said the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

[33:56] And he measured the wall thereof in 144 cubits. The wall. 144 cubits. That's 300 feet. According to the measure of a man.

[34:09] That is of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was jasper. And the city was pure gold. Likened to clear glass. And the foundation of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.

[34:19] The first foundation was jasper. The second, sapphire. The third, chasidine. The fourth, the emerald. The fifth, the sardonyx. The sixth, the sardis. The seventh, the chrysolite. The eighth, the burl.

[34:30] The ninth, the topaz. The tenth, the chrysophorus. And the eleventh, the jacinth. And the twelfth, the amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls.

[34:42] Every several gates was of one pearl. And the stritty and the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass. Now, who's going to dwell in the city?

[35:00] Because read verse 22. Because this is where I'm going to. And I saw no temple in the city.

[35:11] I saw no temple therein. You mean there's going to be a new city? And it's not going to have a temple in it? Well, that's what it says here. For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple thereof.

[35:29] I saw the city. And I saw no temple therein. For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. If you would turn to 1 Corinthians 3.16, you would see that it says, What?

[35:43] Know you're not that your body, that you are the temple of the living God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Can somebody say amen? 1 Corinthians 6.19 says, What?

[35:55] Know you're not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? Remember a song we used to sing? No, you're not. No, you're not. You are the temple. 2 Corinthians 6.16 says, For ye are the temple of the living God.

[36:10] As God has said, I will dwell in them. I'll walk in them. I'll talk in them. I'll be their God. They'll be my people. The city has no need of a temple.

[36:24] For God and the Lamb are the city or the temple thereof. God and the Lamb. God and the Lamb are the temple. If God and the Lamb is the temple, and if we're the temple, somewhere there's a joining.

[36:42] Ephesians 5.25-27 says, Husbands, love your wives. As Christ loved the church, and He gave Himself for the church, that these twain might be one.

[37:02] Huh? Huh? Is anybody getting it? Anybody getting it? I saw no temple therein.

[37:14] For God and the Lamb are the temple. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? What you have of God? You're not your own. You're above the price. Where does that leave us?

[37:26] For the same thing I've been preaching for 17 years. If my people, which are called by my name, don't miss Sunday school tomorrow morning, because God gave me some revelations, and I just blow my mind. If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, in terms of their wicked ways, my people are called by my name.

[37:43] My people, Paul said I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, not I. Yet Christ lived within me. In the life that I and I live in the flesh, I live by the grace of Him who loved me and gave Himself for me.

[37:54] Amen? In other words, it's no longer I. Somewhere, somewhere along the way, there's going to be a marriage going to take place. Can anybody tell me when the marriage of the Lamb is going to take place?

[38:07] Immediately after the rapture. Amen? When the overcomers, who are going to be in the bride, and going to be in the wedding party, going to be the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, when they're in heaven, there's going to be a wedding supper.

[38:22] Amen? And it's going to be about a three and a half year tribulation period on earth, but a three and a half year honeymoon into heaven. Can somebody say amen? Amen. Amen. And what happens when the people of God get married to God and they lose their identity?

[38:42] Then when He says God and the Lamb, who's He talking about then? Who's He talking about? Who's the bride?

[38:54] Who's going to be in the bride? That's exactly right. When He talks about God and the Lamb are the light thereof. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. One place, He said, now, and then He turns right around.

[39:07] Another place, He says, now you're the light of the world. Amen? Amen. He said, we're the temple. Then they turn around and He said, God and the Lamb's the temple.

[39:21] What does all that mean, Brother Van? That means that Jesus prayed in John 17, Father, I would that they were one. Even as you and I are one, how that you and me and I and them that we all may be one.

[39:38] Now, how can you divide one? How can two walk together except they agree? When you agree, you're no longer two anymore, you're one.

[39:49] Can you say amen? Y'all tired? I got about 14 more pages here to preach to you tonight on this because I ain't even finished up my last week's Sunday school lesson. But I know I done blowed your mind out.

[40:05] What did He say again? Can anybody tell me what Revelation 21 and 1 says? Without looking at it, what did He say? And I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth coming down from God out of heaven and there was no more sea.

[40:22] And I saw the new city, new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The new city prepared as a bride.

[40:35] God is designed to make us a place of habitation. Amen? I have not understood the 1,500 square miles and the 300 foot walls.

[40:46] I don't understand all that because it's just beyond my comprehension. But honey, if God and the Lamb are the light thereof, there we are. Huh?

[40:59] It could blow your mind if I would read you the scripture. You know, everybody tells you now, now, you're not supposed to judge them. Every hypocrite knows that scripture. You're not supposed to judge them because the Bible says judge not lest you be judged with the same judgment that you judge with.

[41:16] They don't know any other scriptures. I was down at the restaurant one day and the guy said, Brother Van, you're judging them and I, I didn't say a thing. I just came and I got all them scriptures together and I took them back and I handled that guy.

[41:30] And the last scripture says, what? But the righteous, they that are righteous judge everything. What? Know you not that the saints shall judge the earth? What?

[41:41] You know what, you know what the Bible calls the saints of God? Calls them sons of God? And if God is, if God is God and you're God's son, you know what that makes you? And the Bible even calls them, he said, you're gods.

[41:55] Now, I don't mean we're gods yet. We gotta die out to our flesh, to our will, to our carnal mind and let Christ take over inside of us. And when he rules, you know, we talk about, we like to have that anointing like Peter had, like Paul had.

[42:09] We want to stop the hearse and say, you know, Kim, get up out of that coffin. Emma, get up out of that coffin. Come out of that grave. Lazarus, come forth. Come forth. We want that.

[42:25] We desire that. But we can't get there, can we? Hallelujah. Now, why do we come to church? To grow up, to learn to grow up, to learn to grow up as newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.

[42:45] Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And what are we trying to grow up into? Into Jesus Christ. Amen. Why do we want to grow up into Jesus Christ?

[42:56] So we can be in the bride. So we can be married to him. So that, so that there won't be, so there won't be two, me and God.

[43:09] That's why Paul said, the life that I now live in the flesh, it is no longer I that live it, but Christ is living in me. Amen. Amen. What's our whole intent of our life?

[43:20] To be made one. To be made one. And the way that you made one is at the marriage altar. When we get married to Jesus Christ, we'll be made one with him.

[43:32] Amen. Hallelujah. Could I have those Bibles back? Who got those? Who wound up with them? Who didn't get to see it?

[43:48] Who didn't get to see it? Huh? Huh? If you want one, we need your name again.

[44:14] And what color? Somebody said, well this Bible that you carry by the van is too big. But this is just the middle size. But it's not as big as this one.

[44:27] But it ain't as big as, who's got the big one? It's not as big as this one. All had the same thing in them.

[44:47] All had the same thing in them. So you may not want them at all now because that is small, friend.

[45:04] But it is a smaller Bible. But it has everything in it that's a bigger Bible. So, uh, those are the ones that's on sale.

[45:22] Those are the ones that's, that's so cheap. So, uh, got anything you'd like to add to that? Yes, ma'am. But what it, what happened, I didn't ask for the gift of intercessory prayer, but I did ask God to give me a burden for lost souls.

[45:51] That was my very first prayer because when I got saved the first time, nobody, none of my friends or nothing, you know, were saved and that's what I asked him for was a burden that was so deep that I could just pray.

[46:06] So if you just, if there's something that you really want and you just ask God to give you such a burden for it, you'll feel it down in here. Really down in here and you'll get it.

[46:18] Praise God. You know, when I'm preaching, some people sit there like this.

[46:30] Some people sit there like this. Some people sit there like this. But some people sit there like this.

[46:48] Now, which one do you think makes me the most excited? The one that's sitting there saying, I got it.

[47:00] Yeah. I got Ali Maize in. Do we have any announcements to make?

[47:14] No announcements? How did the car wash go? Praise the Lord.

[47:28] Amen. What went? Huh? All of us kids want to thank Kim, Anna, and Teresa for helping out today because they helped out a lot today.

[47:47] Oh, and Eric. He made the hot dogs. He was the only man there.

[48:01] Did y'all wash my car? $500. Listen, listen, listen.

[48:14] We had one guy come up to us and say, wait, wait a minute. What's up with this? We got all these Riverside women. Where are the men? We want to see men out here working. We said y'all were out golfing.

[48:27] I thought I was going to do it anyway. We gave him $20. And he needed a car walk. Yeah. Thank you ladies.

[48:42] The young people really appreciate this very much. Hold on just a second. We also want to thank Cora and David because they also helped.

[48:56] Oh, David was there also? There was another man there. All right. These two men represented us. If I planned a fishing trip, I done talked to a guy at a lake, said he'd give us a price.

[49:15] He needs to know how many people would actually be there or close. So how many people here think they would go to a fishing trip? It'll be probably on a Saturday morning.

[49:30] You know, we'll cook and grill out and eat and then come back. How many have we got?

[49:42] Fifteen? I don't know about a fishing trip, but I'm all for eating fish. Where's Sister Connie?

[49:56] We lost her. We lost Sister Connie. We lost Donnie and Letty. We lost Brenda and Lyle. They ain't been here though.

[50:11] All right. All minds clear. Let's stand up and let Brother Darrell dismiss us in a word of prayer.

[50:27] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Let's all pray. Precious Heavenly Father. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for this privilege you've given us to come into your house, Lord. Mighty God, for your presence that's came by here, Lord, for your precious word, Lord.

[50:39] We thank you for it, Lord. We give you glory and honor, Jesus. We ask you, Father, that you let us take it, Lord. Hide it in our hearts, Lord God. Lord God, that it might take root downward and bring forth fruit upward, Lord. We thank you, Jesus, for your love, for your mercy, Lord.

[50:51] I ask you, Father, that you go with us as we leave this place, Lord God. Bring us back in the morning, Lord, ready to receive, Lord, of your word, Lord, and ready to give you praise and honor and glory. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.

[51:02] Shake hands with somebody. Tell them you love them. Invite them to come back. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.