Skip to content The City Session Two Jan 8 · 48 min ...more
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Since 2000 Every Man Ministries has been activating men worldwide to live out their truest identity in Christ through its discipleship resources, live events, and steaming platform.
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God's Vision for Cities and the Spiritual Battle 0:01 Hey, guys. Welcome to the men's global live stream. If you have a Bible, I want you to hold 2 spots. 1 in Acts chapter 1 and 1 in Acts chapter 2. Okay? We are in part 20:13 of a new series called the city. And the reason we're doing this is that every man watching this either lives in the city, is driving0:25 into the city for different things. Maybe he lives in a concentric circle away from the city, or you live in a city's regional footprint. You know, people ask me, Kenny, where do you live? And I say,0:37 I live an hour south of LA. Now cities are not man's idea, they're God's idea. We learned that in part 1. Cities are hubs for regions, for logistics,0:48 economic services. They're dense. They're culturally diverse. They're centers of art, power, science, architecture. Right? Cities are a refuge for many that are too weak1:01 to live maybe in other places. They also are a magnet for power. Alright? Cities put people together that are not like each other, which is challenging, right,1:12 in every way. Right? Racially, right, philosophically, right, you have all this diversity in cities. Cities are restless,1:24 which makes them spiritual hotbeds and keys for evangelism for the whole region. Alright? Now, why is this important1:36 to you and to me? Whether you live in the city, you drive into the city, or you're in the footprint regionally of a city. Well, the Bible says that while1:48 man started in a garden, we're gonna end up actually in a city. You know, we read about that in Hebrews 11 where we read about Abraham in the Old Testament. He he's2:00 seeking a city whose builder and maker is God. We read in Revelation about the heavenly city. Right? And so whatever your attachment, you might be on this side of the spectrum. It's like, I2:12 love the city. So awesome. Or you're just like, I can't I can't stand going into the city. Right? Whatever side of the spectrum you're on, guess what? The city is2:24 the fulfillment of God's purposes, and it's God's future redeemed structure. Okay? That's number 1. All of our futures will2:36 end up in a city, but let's let's talk about more practically. Alright? A city is in our future, but in the present, the Bible declares that our place in our2:47 city could be your place in your town. Okay? Big or small. Alright? But your place matters. We learned that in part 1. Your time on Earth, the specific time that you were born2:59 and you were placed, alright, matters. Whether that was where you're born or whether you were born in the suburbs, and then you now live in the city, or you lived in the city, and now you're living in the suburb. Doesn't3:10 matter. The place where you live matters. The time that you're alive matters in your city and your town matters. The people that you encounter in your city or town matter.3:22 K? All of that matters to God. That's why we're doing this series. Now here is also why this is important. It's in our future. Your time, place, and city matter to God. But3:34 wherever you live right now, wherever you're listening to this global livestream from, right now, there is an epic spiritual battle for control3:46 of your city, community, or town. Your block. You can even dial it in even even closer. And that battle involves 2 kingdoms. 1 is the kingdom of this3:58 world and the other is the kingdom of God. The first kingdom's ruler is Satan himself. The other ruler of the kingdom of God is Jesus. And those kingdoms are4:10 clashing in the place, time, and city that you're in right this second. They're vying for control of people's souls, people's identities,4:22 people's energies, and people's expression. In fact, turn on the news, and you'll see the battle in living color. Right? Here's the reality. You and I are in the middle of that battle.4:34 And in part 2, we begin to enter into the battle for our cities. What's our what's our role? What are the specific ways spirit empowered men are4:46 called in scripture to come together and impact their city, community, town, black. Right? And to get you thinking in the right direction for part 2,4:58 I want you to think, alright, think of a time or season in your life, listen, where you felt, I don't know,5:10 controlled by something, some person, or some situation that made you feel5:22 trapped and powerless. You ever had that? I had a season of the of of that time in my life. I remember when I felt trapped by alcohol.5:34 And I was only 17. Right? I don't know what your season of life is. Maybe maybe you felt trapped in in a in an abusive family, or maybe you felt trapped by a circumstance, maybe you5:45 felt trapped by by the family business, maybe you felt trapped. I don't know what could cause you to make you feel trapped. We we've all been5:57 there in some way or another by something, some person, or some situation where we felt involuntarily controlled. Right? In a broken6:09 world, man, no 1 makes it through this life unscathed by losses and setbacks. You know what the Bible calls those times and seasons? Calls6:21 them Egypts. Alright? There's a literal place called Egypt, and then there's a symbolic place called Egypt. And if you remember, if you're a Bible reader at all or, you know,6:33 you've seen the 10 commandments, you know that that Egypt, for God's people, was a place of slavery. It was ruled by a pharaoh who oppressed God's people. And6:45 when when you're in a literal Egypt like God's people were or you're in a spiritual Egypt of living on a broken planet, right, they6:56 disable your spirit. They mess with your self perception. You know what the dominant feeling is? The dominant feeling is isolation. Now, just7:08 like God came into this situation we read in in Exodus. Right? He came in with his good intentions for his own7:20 people in the midst of their literal predicament. Do you know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever? And he intervenes now7:33 when people feel like they're in a a spiritual or psychological Egypt that's oppressing them, that's harassing them, that is controlling7:45 their thoughts and their energy and their expression. Right? What's his intention? Both literally in history, we see it lived out. And what's his intention for those spiritual Egypts that we7:57 find ourselves? Well, his intention is for us to experience freedom. Can I get an amen? For the 1 whom the sun sets free That's8:08 right. I know there's a chorus out there behind that camera. Is free indeed. Right? He wants people to experience authentic freedom. In the Old Testament, we see authentic freedom, God8:20 experienced through deliverance from a worldly pharaoh who was oppressing and enslaving God's people.8:32 Now there is another pharaoh who's alive and well and active and creating spiritual Egypts for people. And his name is the devil. And he8:43 enslaves people through the power of his lies. And when those lies are believed, it creates captivities. Right? Created by8:55 the liar, Jesus called him, his lies, and people believing them. Lies about the world, lies about themselves, lies about others, lies about9:08 other races, lies about rich and poor, lies about men and women, lies I mean, you name it. He's he's full of it. Full of9:19 lies. Okay? Now god simply says to men of God right now, just like he said to Moses, right, in that time of literal9:32 enslavement of God's people, there is a time right now and just turn on the news. I mean, shoot. You know, mass shootings and terrible things going on.9:44 But there are people enslaved by lies there, and they're living out those lies. Right? You know what God says to pharaoh in Exodus, and he says to the Pharaoh of this world,9:56 enough. Just like he said to Moses, hey. Go to Pharaoh and tell him that I am says, enough. Let him go or there will be consequences. You know what? God is10:08 speaking that right now in our world today. You turn on the news. In the midst of these these captivities, right, created by the pharaoh of this world, Satan himself,10:20 we see people being set free emotionally, physically, spiritually. It's just so awesome to see. There's a new spray spirit, the Holy Spirit breaking in10:33 to all of this oppression and harassment. See, you know, deliverance is only meaningful in the context, listen, of massive oppression. Right? That's the context for10:45 for deliverance. Oppression and enslavement. Alright? Then you get deliverance. Right? Now when I talk about this, I I realize that there are a lot of guys watching10:57 right now, and they're feeling oppressed and harassed and enslaved by something. K? Could be something that has control of you, could be a11:08 circumstance that that's kinda has control of you, could be and it messes with your head, doesn't it? Get you thinking not so great thoughts about yourself, about life, about11:20 other people, and god wants to set us free from the lies that we believe. And our model for this is Jesus. Alright? And the men that we see him train11:33 and he sends them into a city from a region outside the city. So interesting. Where you have guys who are not really from the city, going11:44 into the city, working with other men in that city to literally turn a city upside down. So it doesn't matter if you're in the regional11:56 footprint, you're in the burbs, or you're in the heart of a major city. Guess what God is doing again? God is doing that same thing again to12:08 set people free and to call down a witness of his power. God's spirit is moving in12:20 cities, men, and we're all connected to 1. So what we're gonna do is we're gonna take a look at Jesus doing this and how a movement of spirit empowered men turned a cityFrom Egypt's Captivity to Holy Spirit Empowerment 12:32 upside down. That's the model in scripture. And what Jesus and the disciples model for us listen. It's meant for us today. And at Everyman Ministries,12:44 we are committed to reaching cities and doing it the way that Jesus and his men did it in the Bible, reflecting what God did.12:55 So here's what we're gonna do. Let's look kind of at that time. Alright? Where Jesus and his guys, they're they're kinda talking, they're huddling. He's gotta go to the cross, and and and they're they're kinda13:07 quizzing him. He's trying to tell them what's going on. And imagine they're together for the last time before, man, it all comes down. Judas betrays13:19 him. The Roman soldiers come. He goes through the kangaroo court. Right? And he ends up being sentenced, tortured, and crucified. This is the last13:31 conversation before all that goes down. We we pick up the convo in Acts chapter 1. It says this, when they were together for the last time, they asked, master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is13:43 this the time? He told them, you don't get to know the time. Timing is the father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit and when the Holy13:54 Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem. Now I know Bible people, there's more of that14:06 verse. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost part. But for now, for this series, the city, I want us to focus on what happened right where they are14:18 in Jerusalem. Okay? Let's unpack 4 little observations. Okay? Alright. Number 1, the disciples expect Jesus to move14:30 disciple decisively. Right? Master. Okay. That's Jesus. Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel? No. It's interesting. They're like, okay. This is14:41 they they have expectations too, and they have expectations they're placing on Jesus. And they expect him to to to take over, like the Lion of Judah is gonna come and14:53 militarily kick out the occupiers of Jerusalem and Palestine, the Romans. Right? They think the Lion of Judah is coming now, but they don't15:05 realize that the lamb of God has to die for the sins of man first. So but here's what's going on. They expect Jesus to move to Ciphers' League. Jesus, write this down, on the other15:17 hand, expects the Holy Spirit to move in and through them decisively. It's so interesting how expectations,15:30 Jesus adjusts our expectations. Amen? So we think, oh my gosh. He's gonna do this. And then Jesus goes, no. I love the language. He says, what you'll get? So, hey, forget about that other15:42 stuff. That's the future. And that's God's timing, and it's none of your beeswax. But here's what you're gonna get right now. Okay. Goes right to the present. You're gonna get the Holy15:53 Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is gonna move in you and through you decisively. Okay? Now, that's the expectations. What's what's the focus of Jesus's16:05 guys? The disciples, write this down, are focused on their nation first. Right? Are you gonna restore Israel? Alright? The big macro picture.16:18 Right? But let's look at what Jesus focused on. Write this down. Jesus focused on their expression for him in the city first.16:30 Wow. K. So this is where they were. They were in a city. Some of them came from outside the city. Right? Well, all these guys came from outside the city. But they're in the city right now and what are they16:42 what's Jesus focusing them on? He's saying, guess what? This is what you're gonna get. Holy Spirit's gonna come on you and then you're gonna be my witnesses in this city.16:54 Okay? So it's an interesting assembly of people. It's an interesting a people coming into a city to impact the city. We're gonna see as as we roll on17:06 in this series how others will join them, that they're used as catalysts to spark revival in the city of Jerusalem. So Jesus prophesies17:19 in their last time together an outpouring of God's spirit. Guess what? What he says happens. The Holy Spirit comes on them. Right? And Western17:30 civilization is born, literally. Christianity hits the map on the planet, and it's17:42 catalyzed by a small group of guys. Let's let's watch that moment. Alright? In Acts chapter 2 verses 14 to 21, it's quite a spectacle. Then17:54 Peter stepped forward with the 11 other apostles and shouted to the crowd, listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem. Make18:06 no mistake about this. These people are not drunk as some of you are assuming. It's 9 o'clock in the morning. It's much too early for that. Know what you18:18 see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel. In the last days, god says, I will pour out my spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions and your old18:30 men will dream dreams. In those days, I will pour out my spirit even on my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy. I will cause wonders in the18:42 heavens above signs on the earth below. Blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great18:54 and glorious day of the Lord arrives, but everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Okay. Couple things going on here. Alright. There19:05 is a an explosion of revival that's happening in a small group of men. Okay? You've got Peter19:18 and 11 guys. And just they were the guys at the last meeting, and he said, this is what's gonna happen to you, you you 12 guys. The holy spirit's gonna come on you,19:30 and then you are gonna start testifying. Now this is the same guy and the same men who, you know, when Jesus was being crucified, just went right? They disappeared. Right?19:42 You can tell right there. When you're standing up in front of thousands of people, they're stepping forward. Boy, isn't that a good metaphor for what God is calling his men to do19:54 as a group, as a team, in every town, community, and block? Right? Then Peter stepped forward with the 11 other apostles. You know what that's called, fellas?20:06 That's a men's group right there. Right? And they've been with Jesus, a men's group that had been with Jesus. They stepped forward, and guess what? They raised their voices. They start20:18 to explain what god is doing in the midst of a city. And you know the images? The images of a volcanic eruption. Blood, smoke,20:30 fire, the sun becomes earth. You know what? That's what happens when there's a war a massive worldwide eruption. I mean, just Google Krakatoa 18 83. Right? A phreatomagmatic20:43 explosion of a volcano that the explosion could be heard 3000 miles away, sound waves going around the earth. Ash fills the20:55 air, changes the world's temperature for the next 5 years and lowers it. Right? Because there's so much ash. The sun can't get through. Right? But21:07 it's like an explosion. It's really cool how Jesus tells them this is what's gonna happen. Peter steps up. It happens with his men's21:18 group and changes Western civilization, where? In a city. Right? There's this explosion that then goes to the rest of the world. I21:30 want you to remember that because that is what God is up to right now. God is pouring out His spirit on individual men who then form their identity around21:42 Christ. That identity finds its way into a community of men who form their identity around Christ, and identity and community starts leading to bravery in cities.21:56 And you gotta remember that Peter and his buddies are in a city, but they're from outside the city. But they're igniting revival in the city, and guys in the city are combining with them. But someone's gotta step22:07 forward, and that is what God is calling his men to do right now all over the world. Fellas, there's 700000000 men roughly who claim the name of Jesus all22:19 over the world. Can you imagine if they step forward as individuals and in groups of 11, groups of 5, groups of 6, filled with the holy22:31 spirit to do what the original disciples. Now here's what I want you to write down. An entire city was asking this question. What has gotten into22:43 them? Peter has to explain. These guys aren't drunk. I know they're behaving so out of character. But what you're witnessing is an act of God.22:54 Right? The whole city is witnessing this. And he's got to explain. Hey, listen. This is this is god. Wow. And you know what? I just23:06 believe with all my soul that the way the church was birthed is the way the church is gonna culminate, and the return of the king is gonna happen with a massive23:19 movement of spirit empowered men doing this. Alright. So it happened. Jesus had the meeting. He said it was gonna happen, and then all of a sudden, this witnessShow more In this video 0:00 God's Vision for Cities and the Spiritual Battle12:30 From Egypt's Captivity to Holy Spirit Empowerment23:20 Pentecost Revival and Calling Men to Release Captives
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