Who Is the Root? By Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we are to look at and study the message given by Peter at the day of Pentecost. That whole message is in the book of Acts 2. We are first going to the last book of the bible, Revelation chapter 5. We will begin reading with verse 1.

        And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

        2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

        3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

        4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

        5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

        6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

        Let's focus on verse 5. If you go to the first chapter of Matthew, it details the genealogy of the tribe of Judah. The root is what stabilizes the tree, to anchor the tree. The root comes first. We are now going to chapter 22 of Revelation and read from verse 7 to 17.

        7 Behold, I come quickly; Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

        8 And I John saw these things and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

        9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

       10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

       11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

       12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every ma according as his work shall be,

       13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

       14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

       15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie,

       16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

       17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

        Now, if you read over in Exodus 34, you will read how Moses was allowed to see the hinder parts of God while on Mount Siani. In the book of Romans, it's discussed that Jesus is the end of the law. God Jehovah, the great I am is the root. Jesus is the offspring of Jehovah. 

        In all 4 gospels as well as 2 Peter 1:16-18 there is the account of the transfiguration of Jesus with Moses and Elijah. Both men knew the root. The root of the tree is deep in the ground. Jesus called God the father. 

        Let's read in a couple of places now. We will first look at Acts chapter 1 verses 4 and 5.

        4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

        5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

        Let's now turn to the book of Luke chapter 24. We will be reading verses 46 and 47.

        46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.

        47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

        God is outside what man defines as time and space. He does not nor ever operate by what man defines as a linear timeline.

        So, Jesus told the assembly to wait for the promise in Acts 1:4. Of course in verse 6, the assembly were asking if the kingdom to Israel would be restored. The people still desired worldly power, thinking with a carnal mindset.

        6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

        7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

        8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

        9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

      10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

      11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

      12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

      13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, which abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Phillip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

      14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

      15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

      16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

        Now, we are going to move ahead into chapter 2 of Acts. We will pick up at verse 1.

        And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

        2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

        3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

        4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

        5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

        6 Now when noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 

        Now let's go down to verse 14. Peter is speaking to assembly outside in Jerusalem.

        14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words.

        15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

        16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

        17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

        18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

        19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:

        20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

        21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

        22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

        23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain;

        24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

        25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

        26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope.

        27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

        28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

        29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.

        30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.

        31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

        32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

        God desires a broken and contrite spirit over any sacrifice. You and I should come before him in that state. The only thing you need to understand is whether the spirit of God is drawing you out or not. Let's go to verse 33.

        33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

        34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

        Verse 34 is a direct reference to Psalm 110:1. The root said to the offspring we will give them a season. Those dire times are present in this season. Let's look at verse 36.

        36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

        37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

        38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

        When you get that blood applied through water baptism in Jesus name, you need to pray for and seek a covering. A covering not only for you but for your family. The authority starts at your house and not in your church, You need to deal with your past. Harboring hidden rooms within, carrying things you don't want to reveal from your past. You don't store memories, you store trauma, hurts, slights, and pain from your past. You aren't designed to carry those things. You were designed to carry the Holy Spirit. The infirmities you have, you need to cut off and release. Forgive those in spite of yourself.

        The present is tough because the underlying fear of the future. God wants things in cycles it seems. Start filling your rooms up with good things from your life. How hard is it to see the man who died for you almost 2000 years ago?

        You can't deny God before men. Where the Lord is, there is liberty.