Good evening.

You are all in for a special treat tonight.

First, I am wearing my church shirt. Katy got this special little number for me at a thrift store and it’s so

amazing. It’s the best shirt I own.

Second, you are in for a unique experience tonight. Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of

church ever. They have asked the sound guy to preach. It’s amazing! It would be like going to our

favorite sporting event, and your excited to see your team’s top player. We’ll he’s out with a broken toe.

Second top player? Nope, he’s out with the flu. Third? Nope. Fourth? – well then who’s playing tonight.

Oh, we have found the perfect replacement – you’re gonna love him! WHO – oh – he’s the night janitor.

Too late now!

Anyway –

As I was praying about what to speak on tonight, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to talk about the

atmosphere of the world. No – not the ozone layer, the spiritual climate of our area, state, country,

world – you name it there has been a shift in the spiritual climate that we are surrounded with, and I

would describe it as... weird.

One great thing about being behind the scenes a lot, is you have ample opportunity to listen, and very

little opportunity to speak. Listening can be a very powerful tool if you know how to wield it.

Anyway, over the past several months, I have heard more and more people talking about how weird

things are, how strange things feel. Nothing feels settled. Some people feel it’s a season of stagnation.

There have been stories of unexpected loss, and resistance where the enemy has been allowed to take

from us, or from those around us. And what I continue to hear is people saying this season is weird.

I believe that much of the spiritual atmosphere we feel today come out of a change the occurred

sometime around January of 2021. I of course mean the change in the president of the US, but I don’t

mean that having a new President is the very thing that is causing this weirdness. I believe it is the

spiritual battle that is being allowed to go on behind it.

Real quick, let me step back and explain. In 2019, there was this thing that happened, and suddenly the

world stopped. Everything shut down, and then – everyone started talking about it. And I remember as

people we’re dealing with the ramifications of all of the “swirl” as I liked to call it, praying to see what

was going on in the spiritual realm. During that time I had a vision where I was taken up so that I could

see the US from above, and I could see the darkness that had fallen over the US. In the darkness I saw

buildings and people that represented media institutions all around spreading mis-information all

around, but above those buildings I saw large demonic entities that had attached strings to the people

and the institutions, and the people inside of them, and they we’re controlling everything that

happened in those institutions like puppet masters. Scary dudes – glad I wasn’t in the news industry

then.

During that time, I also saw how this area was widely protected during the entire shutdown more so

than any other place – I believe in the world. There is a word over this area from a long time ago that

the Central Coast would be a refuge for believers and that people would come from all over the world to

find rest here. And I saw that happen all over. From stories of things like the DA who refused to take

part in the madness, to churches and people who refused to take part. For example – there was never a

time during the whole process where the Home Depot in Atascadero demanded adherence. Never. But

more importantly – there was a hopeful spiritual climate in the midst of that darkness. I specifically

remember driving around one say and thinking – anything can happen.

Then there was an election. And man – that was weird. All of a sudden there was a new president, and

almost immediately – I could sense the hope drain from the world.

Now- I am not the kind of person who shifts blame to others. If you ask me, I don’t care who is

president, or mayor, or who runs the sweeper truck on Saturday mornings in Downtown SLO. It is a

victim mindset that says, well since there is a new president these things can or can’t happen. BUT – I do

believe that there is a spiritual atmosphere that changes when different people come into different

places of power. It shouldn’t ever stop us. And sometimes the “rules” change, but it does affect us.

So that’s where we are at. Here we are, and where we are is weirdtown, USA – population us.

So – now finally have gotten to the message. What do we do about it?

There are two things we must do to combat this atmosphere that surrounds us. Only two – simple little

things.

The first, is to go back to the beginning. To the beginning of our faith and through our faith journey and

we have to remember who God is. Who God really is.

A.W. Tozer wrote about there being two types of faith. Nominal faith, a faith that accepts what it is told

and can quote text after text to prove it. And real faith. A faith that depends on the Character of God. A

faith that believes God is and He is who He says He is.

Romans 4:3 - For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as

righteousness.”

If you really look at the text there you will notice something very profound – it does NOT say “Abraham

believed the text” that would be foolishness. Abraham believed God, He believed HIM and HIS

character.

I believe, and I can see that when there is a shift in the spiritual climate, in the atmosphere that

surrounds us we need to stop and take a moment to remember who God truly is. And we might need to

do this every day.

I’m going to be a little honest here- I am really up here trying to tell my self these things. If any of you

need to here the same things – that’s a side benefit – I myself know that I need to remind myself who

God is all the time. It is truly a bummer that You must exercise faith in order to have faith other wise you

can’t call it faith.

So what are the things about God’s character that we need to remember. Every day.

God is Infinite.

Psalm 147:4-5 He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and

abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

In this context infinite literally means innumerable.

There is a great Tozer quote when he talks about God’s infinitude.

“If there we’re a point where God stopped, then God wouldn’t be perfect. For instance, if God knew

almost everything then God wouldn’t be perfect in knowledge. ... Let us take all that can be known –

past present and future, spiritual, psychic and physical-everywhere throughout the universe. And let

us say the God knows all except one percent. He knows 99% of all that can be known. Id’ be

embarrassed to go into heaven and look into the face of a God that didn’t know everything. He has

to know all of I can’t worship Him. I can’t worship that which is not perfect.”

Psalm 139:4 - Even before there is a word on my tongue - Behold, O Lord, You know it all.

There remains a great deal of mystery in how this works, and that is supposed to be the way it is. But

God knows all. There is nothing that surprises Him. Nothing that get’s by Him.

Isaiah 40 - Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth

their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the

[y]strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Here is another amazing thing. Not only did God create the stars, and scientists believe that there are

an infinite number of them – he named them all.

There is a star called Rho Cassiopeiae – which is 400 time the size of our own humble sun. I watched

a video that said that if the earth we’re the same distance from this star as our own sun, we would all

be inside of the star, and we would all be quite dead. It is also 3,400 light years away and that of

course means that light itself traveling it’s own average speed takes more than 3000 years to reach

us. But you know what. God is there. In fact – God doesn’t have to travel to get anywhere.

Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend

to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the

dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right

hand will lay hold of me.

Since God is an infinite being He is everywhere. I often times give myself a chuckle when we pray or

sing – Holy Spirit come, or Father come. I understand the concept that we are inviting God in a

revelatory manner, meaning we say come but we really mean open my eyes to your already existing

presence. But image hearing that as God. I imagine Him being like, “Duh guys- I am already HEERE!”

Anyway, God is infinite and he is everywhere, and he is all things. That is a starting point for the rest

of who God is.

He is Good.

Exodus 18:9-10 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering

them from the hand of the Egyptians. So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from

the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under

the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was

proven when they dealt proudly against the people.”

God is good. He is so Good. In fact – if you apply God’s infinitude to his Goodness, He can’t be any

more good. He can have no more goodness. Look at this verse. God is so Good – it is what leads

Jethro above to know that God is God. That is an amazing amount of goodness.

Even Jesus knew of His own Father’s Goodness. This is a trip – check it out.

Matthew 19:17 - And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One

who is good.

God by definition is Good. And you can’t get away from it. Since you can’t get away from God you

also can’t get away from His Goodness.

Psalm 33:5 - The earth is full of the lovingkindness (Goodness) of the Lord.

And there is a constant invitation to experience that Goodness.

Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

These verses, and the truths that are set forth in them are a description of who God truly is. And

while there are many more attributes, that describe God – these to me are the starting point.

Everything else we know about God, about who He is, and about who we are in Him start with these

facts.

1. God is infinite and everywhere. We can not get away from Him.

2. Everything the God is, he is that thing Perfectly.

3. God is perfectly Good.

These facts define the foundation of the reality that we live in. And it’s a reality that exists no matter

what circumstance we feel.

And now we come to point number 2.

Remember when I talked about how there was a palatable change in the atmosphere I have sensed

more recently. While I don’t like to give any one person sole power over such things, the atmosphere

is a direct result of agreements that have been made with dark forces. That is just a spiritual truth.

And those dark agreements can affect us through things like the media, or the political machine.

News outlets which refuse to speak truth, divisive political rhetoric, the war in the Ukraine, China,

inflation, the list goes on ... We are currently living in a time where there is a climate that can be felt

and there are results that can be seen and it’s disheartening.

So what do we do. We know God.

The most important thing that we could ever do – is to KNOW God. Remember back to the

introduction – when I said there are two types of Faith. The first point of my little sermon here is to

appeal to the first type of faith. To know of God and who He is. But I could read a thousand verses

from a thousand books and you could all nod your heads and say, ‘Yeah – that’s great’. But the most

important thing in our lives is to KNOW God. To trust that he is Here right now, and to trust His

character in the Flesh as they say.

Colossians 3:1-4 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the

things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ,

who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

In my preparations for this little talk I looked back at some notes I had had a few years ago about the

church and it’s sleepiness. I had felt as I still do that the Church largely need’s to wake up and start

living like they truly knew who God is. In that little notebook I wrote.

“Colossians is a fascinating book for our time and our generation. Paul had never been to Colosse

but had heard of the church struggling with Heresy and false teachings that we’re common in that

time. It is similar in this time to the overwhelming distractions, causes issues and schools of thought

that we all struggle with. His letter then corresponds to what we should all strive for daily – namely

Christ at the center of everything we do.”

It's a great book – you should all read it this week.

But here is the main point of the main point. “Keep seeking the things above”. If we have any hope of

combatting any atmosphere we come in contact with, we must come from God. Our lives are hidden

In Christ – In God.

Imagine that for a second. The same God who is infinite – everywhere – our lives are in Him. Not

anywhere else. He is the only One worthy to worship- He is the only one worthy to praise and in Him

are an infinite number of experiences and spiritual revelations that He has for us if we would only just

fill our sight with Him.

Colossians 1:8 - We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom,

so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

MSG - To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.

And that is it. The fullest expression of our lives as Christians – is Christ, No more, no less.

Ok – here we are at the end of this little talk – What are we even doing here.

I’m going to go out on a limb here, and say – the purpose I see for this church – Glory City (And I

have not truly conferred with Bob or anyone on this, so If I am tote’s wrong and your watching Bob –

text me) – But the purpose of what we do here at Glory City is to point to Jesus and provide space

where you can experience Him. Simple.

Again, from My wisdom a few years ago I wrote these amazing words:

“In much of A.W. Tozer’s writings – he describes how churches today have fallen short when it comes

to teaching on who God is and who we are. He describes many versions of a spiritually empty but

programmatic church where God has left the building (ie His presence) but no one is the wiser. So

the buildings are left with people who know of God and they are aware of the songs, the luncheons

and the Bible studies – but the Glory has moved on.

To be awake on the other hand is to have a full awareness and identity, and to experience all that the

kingdom has to offer.”

And that is what I am attempting to offer you today. To know the fullness of the King and the reality

of who He is.

If that describes anyone here today, come on forward, let’s pray and experience Him together.