Regaining Lost Ground

Pastor Shane Idleman: Oh, can you imagine a parent there's there's nothing worth than losing your child but second to losing your child is losing your child to the grip of the enemy, to the grip of darkness. Oh, would you release my child from that demonic bondage? Lord, they're on a highway to hell. I need to fall at your feet and pray down heaven. Some of you parents need to get on your face before God and start contending for your families. Stop clapping about it and do it. Find yourself here Sunday mornings, find yourself here on Wednesdays and do business with God.

Business as usual is not going to cut it anymore.

Guest (Male): Thank you for joining us here at West Side Christian Fellowship, located in Leona Valley, California, 1 hour north of Los Angeles. Today on Regaining Lost Ground, we hear the third and final part of a profound message from Pastor Shane titled, I fell at his feet as dead. A. W. Tozer once said, if the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. Get ready for this soul shaking, chain breaking message as Pastor Shane projects the truth of God's living word and clearly spells out what the church must do from keeping lukewarm and instead be filled mightily with the Holy Spirit today.

You can hear the whole message at Pastor Shane's YouTube and Rumble channels. Make sure to subscribe today. For more information, visit us online at westsidechristianfellowship.org. We also encourage you to hear more truth from Pastor Shane with the Idle Man Unplugged weekly podcast. And now from West Side Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, here's Pastor Shane Idle Man.

Pastor Shane Idleman: But we know that activity isn't necessarily of God unless the activity is inspired by God because you can be very active and still sinning. And you can also be dead as a cemetery and missing the heart of God. And so I also seen that God gives people different preference like they're they're just made differently. Like I'm just not easily excitable. I I try where others are like, would you calm down? Man. And so we got allows us that freedom in expression in worship. And I I kind of like that because that's the way it should be.

We shouldn't be all like this singing the hymns. I mean, I I remember I went to a large church down south from here like probably a couple thousand people and they all look the same. All like I was like, whoa. And if you dare do this, you'd have an usher come We don't do that here, sweetie. So for me, I couldn't go to church like that. Other people say I can't go to church like you're Shane. Well, that's okay. That's why God gave us different I've got some thoughts by behind that, but that's okay. I'm not going to pop off today.

But see, experience has taught a lot of us a lot of things. And so we have seen dangers with when you write off anything about the when you do you do anything in the name of Holy Spirit. I mean, I've had people come up and say God told me to tell you this. I'm like, well, he didn't tell me. So I don't know what to tell you. I don't want to burst your bubble and I've heard people's feelings. Because if something doesn't register with me, then who's the gauge? Oh, God told you. Now I have to listen to you.

And you could be wrong if God's not also leading me and in in in also inspiring me in the same way. However, God does prompt people to tell people things. I just need to think we need to be careful in how we word it. Unless you trust yourself more than I trust myself cuz I know I I throw in a little, you know, hamburger helper in there sometimes. Right? Like God will tell you to maybe tell somebody something and then you add but maybe it has to do with this and maybe and like, oh, no, no, no, no, don't go don't add help hamburger helper.

That's where you get off track. You got you you have to stay on track. And so I want to encourage people if God is putting something on your heart to tell somebody. Absolutely. I think it's I think it's it's it's a gift. It's a word of wisdom. It's a word of knowledge. We have tons of biblical support for that. We have tons of history of church history support for that. You just have to be careful when you say thus saith the Lord, are you sure? That's why I've never said it to my knowledge. There come hey God I've I've said hey I I feel strongly about this.

I feel God might have put this on my heart for a reason. You need to sift it through and and see if he's speaking to you on this as well. And that's why this topic of I was in the spirit on the Lord's day cuz obviously John is talking about something that's beyond normal. He wouldn't say that if it was something normal that happens on in everyday. So in the spirit walk in the spirit we see in the Bible, worship in the spirit. Did you know the Bible says worship God in spirit and in truth, walk in the spirit, worship in the spirit.

Oh, and test the spirits, see if they are God or not. Do not quench or grieve the spirit. And so you see there's a lot of ways and things we can do to foster the Holy Spirit in our life. And that why Christians, theologians and we've always thought as of the Holy Spirit as a person of the Godhead. It is it it it's it's it's not a a force like Star Wars. We see that that that that it it it is a person of the Godhead that can be quenched and can be grieved. So during deep times of seeking God, praying, fasting, worshiping, surrendering and obeying God, we can more clearly hear the voice of the spirit.

And that what as John was submitted to the to the will of God, he was in the spirit on that day and some of you can maybe relate. I I know there's times where atmosphere matters where you know that the spirit of God is just speaking through you and and God is encouraging you and and and and John through the Spirit said I'm going to write down these things. Here's the letter to these churches. And then verse 12, then I turned to see the voice that spoke to me and having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.

Well, thank God verse 20 explains this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this. The seven stars are the seven angels that were can be messengers of the seven churches and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. So he's showing him the this vision. He's saying, hey, by the way, this is seven churches and this is the seven messengers, maybe pastors to the church. That this is why you're seeing these things. And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one like the Son of Man clothed with a garment down to his feet, girded about his chest with a golden band.

So now Jesus John sees this glimpse of Jesus. And it's the same language that the book of Daniel used when the three Hebrew boys saw someone. There's a fourth in there. There's another in the fire. Have you guys heard that song? There's another in the fire. Always remember sometimes God doesn't pull you out of the fire. Sometimes he walks through it with you. There's another in the fire there and that other in the fire is what got them through. And he said the same thing the Son of Man. It looks like the Son of Man.

It was it was a term that they used in the Old Testament to identify the Son of God. And there he was in the midst. His garment and his head and his hair were like were like white. They were wool like snow. His eyes like a flame of fire and his feet were like fine brass. You can see that John sees this image of Jesus and even later on we'll get to in Revelation. That's when he says he sees this again where Jesus coming from heaven and the armies of of heaven are following him and he's got eyes like flames of fire and on his head are many crowns.

No one knows his name except himself and his name is written right here on his right thigh representing power and strength and authority, King of Kings and Lord of Lord and he treads the wine press and the fierceness and the wrath of Almighty God. How do you how do you explain Jesus? He just seek us. His eyes are like flames of fire. I bet they are. They will pierce your soul. His mouth when he speaks is like a sword that devours. He's clothed in fine garment. He's as white as snow. What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus and the holiness and the purity and his feet resemble the finest brass which was strength and dominion and control to put his enemies under his feet. I'm so glad he didn't say his hair was like green grass or his eyes were like a gentle dove flying away. His feet were like Crocs with no socks on. No, he used a strong image, strong image. It's okay. I have Crocs, very very comfortable. My wife says just don't wear them in public. I do sometimes cuz they're comfortable. It's funny I'll think I'll go out to try to get something real quick.

I'm like I hope I don't run into anybody from church and guess what? Yep. I like I got shorts on Crocs and like oh got to avoid that person. But anyway, Jesus you could not think of stronger terms. And then his right hand the seven stars control dominion over the churches. He is the head of the church. Did you know the church sits below Jesus Christ? I am not the elders are not the shepherd of this church. Who is the shepherd of this church? The the great shepherd. We are under shepherds of Jesus Christ. What is Jesus want to do in the church?

How long does Jesus want the services? What type of services? It's not man controlling of movement. It's Jesus Christ moving through men and saving people and setting them free. His mouth was a sharp two edged sword. Isn't that interesting? When Jesus speaks now he speaks, don't get me wrong, he speaks love and grace and mercy. But the Bible often describes again later in Revelation a sharp two edged sword. What does the sword do? The word of God is living and powerful like a two edged sword cutting bone and marrow, discerning the thoughts and the intents of the heart, the sword of the spirit.

We've got to get back to letting the word of God cuts before it comforts. D. Martin Lloyd Jones was famous for saying the gospel condemns me before it releases me. And with our culture, the church can be that loving voice but it has to also be the voice of truth that cuts and says I love you enough to tell you there are only two genders. You cannot become a man if you're a woman. You cannot become a woman if you are a man. Men should not be allowed to compete in women's. Do I even am I do I even have to say this?

Do I even have to say this? Guys, what is going on? And you have a political party that is completely woke and they're promoting all this garbage. We have to go shoot like a double edged sword, pierce, cut, cut, cut. Because when you speak the truth and love, that's where it cuts. If you speak the truth without love, you're just a man. You're just a mean person. And if all you do is just love, that can become very cowardly. Can it not? Hey, I'm preaching myself. How many times have I aired on the site? I'm just going to love them.

I don't want to I 'm just going to love them. I'm not going to talk to their issues in the church right now that I should deal with that I don't want to. I just want to love them. I don't want to say anything. I don't want to be that guy. But that guy doesn't help people. They might leave the church. Oh, they're going to get upset. But that what the truth does. It pierces. It pierces and divides. Man, his hair was like white wool, as white as snow. Can I give you make a confession here?

I wouldn't say jealous because that's not word the right word. But I long I wish I could see what some of these prophets saw. Could you imagine going into deep season of of prayer and fasting and seeing Christ before your bed. Shane, you're getting a little out well, it's in the Bible. It's in the Bible. I think we're so afraid of the supernatural that we put God in a box. I would love to see Jesus show up like that even if it's for a few brief seconds. Just to say, son, you are mine. You will get through these times and let the risen Savior and all his glory stand before you.

You would fall at his feet as dead. Folks, that's why we preach so much on revival and repentance. That's what the majority of American Christians need to truly encounter God. Do you know many people come to church, they're not encountering God? How dare you say that? They're going through the motions. Hello. Hello. We got our services down to an hour now. We've got we've got to do this. We we don't want to really get too serious. We don't want to get we don't want to get serious with God and we just we like the emotion.

I mean, we like going through the motions. Don't stir us out, pastor. Don't don't get don't get don't get out there and and trying to get too filled with the Holy Spirit. I'm comfortable. Cuz I will tell you this, the fuller you are with the Holy Spirit, the less comfortable you will become. Cuz he calls you to go out and do something. Hey, go pray with that woman in lines line of bonds. Oh gosh, Holy Spirit. I was so comfortable. Hey, turn that TV off at night and go read read the word, read a good book.

Oh, but this is so comfortable. So comfortable. His voice oh, if you could hear the voice. Many waters, it's like where rivers you can picture. Sometimes if I go up in the high Sierras, you can hear a a river coming down and the waterfall over here or something and then it's just the the sound of many waters. The power of water, the power of water coming down cascading his right hand of of of of authority and the sharp two edged sword and he was he was like the sun shining in its strength. I don't know about you, but I already can't look at it.

And he's the sun it's not the the the the sun barely coming up or you can see it the sun in its full strength. That's the image of Jesus Christ. And so he didn't clap and stand up and give him a high five. He said and then I saw him. I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he put his hand on me. Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. I live. I was dead, but behold, I am alive forevermore. I have rose from the dead basically and I have the keys of Hades end of death.

Basically, he's saying the power to release you from death. Jesus Christ has the power to release you from death. Thank God for the resurrection. Thank God for that empty tomb cuz Jesus said I conquered. I conquered. That why we say that sometimes. The Bible says he conquered hell, death, sin and the grave. It's all a combination and that the writer in the New Testament says, oh death, where is your sting? Oh death, where is your sting? It doesn't have a sting like a scorpion anymore. Oh, we don't really look forward to it. Little worried how I'm going to go, right?

I don't want to hit by a train or cancer for a year. I mean, you know, you we're kind of like I don't know. I don't want I I don't know how. I'm little worried. That's part of our human fallen nature, but there's an excitement to see God. There's no the sting of death is gone. What what afraid of what? The pain. Usually the pain, but afraid of what? Now I'll be with my Savior. Write these things down what you have seen and things which are in the things which will take place after and that what we're going to get into in the weeks to come.

But I want to leave you with this. I talked about last week, what does all this mean? Okay, what does all this mean? Matthew 18, Jesus said where two or three are gathered together, I am there in the midst of them. I am there in the midst of them. The power and presence of Christ is available to churches who stand on truth. They love others. There's humble brokenness, holiness and repentance. And like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, there should there there's a yearning for Christ. And I know there's a lot in this audience.

I'm praying for you and I'm preaching my heart out because of you. There's not a yearning for Christ. There you you you have to say, Lord, I want that. I don't have it. I need that. Give me that desire. Give me that passion because remember the healer is in the room. Atmosphere matters. Atmosphere matters. He fell at his feet. Jerius, when he lost his daughter, he fell at the feet of Jesus and Jesus rose that girl out of out of death basically. I think it was Talitha kumi. Come out, get up, little girls. I say come up and rise, get up because the father fell at the feet of Jesus.

The Syrophoenician woman who is a Gentile said, my daughter is severely vexed. The demon has Oh, can you imagine a parent there's there's nothing worth than losing your child but second to losing your child is losing your child to the grip of the enemy, to the grip of darkness. Oh, would you release my child from that demonic bondage? Lord, they're on a highway to hell. I need to fall at your feet and pray down heaven. Some of you parents need to get on your face before God and start contending for your families. Stop clapping about it and do it.

Find yourself here Sunday mornings. Find yourself here on Wednesdays and do business with God. Business as usual is not going to cut it anymore. That is that not just the truth? Is that not the gospel truth? We are lazy when it comes to being prayer warriors and we wonder why our families are falling apart. The demoniac even filled with the legion of demons fell at his feet and worship. God, set me free. God, set me free. I don't want to leave here without dealing with this. And like John, I I too think we need to say when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

Guys, name another king like this. Name another king like this. Oh, if we had time to go through all the names of Jesus, the healer, the redeemer, your Sabbath rest, your high tower, your the sword of the spirit and the the armor of God and and being under the covering of God. But I do want to leave some of you with this thought. He has the keys of Hades and of death. Have you allowed him yet to release you from that judgment? Think about that. Without Jesus Christ, I'm going to get very controversial. I'm going to offend people.

Every time I talk about this, I lose like 300 people on Facebook. But it's okay. Without Jesus unlocking the door, you have a death sentence on your life. I can't be seeker sensitive. If that is not true, I'm available afterwards, but bring a Bible verse. Because there's a lot of verses that say just the other way the other way. I am the only way, the only truth, the only life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me. No no backup plan, no no plan B. That why Jesus in the garden said, Father, if there is any other way, please take this cup from me.

The cup represented the indignation and wrath of God was going to be poured out on the cross. All of our sins past, present, future. All of the the the Can you imagine the the the stench of that cup poured out? There's no other way, son. There's no other way. And he absorbed the wrath of God. And that why I believe there's a separation there for a second. He said, Father, why have you forsaken me? Why have you forsaken me? And at that moment on the cross, he absorbed it. And so he can say, I have the keys to release.

But this lock this lock is not opened by Jesus choosing. That might upset my Calvinist friends, but this lock is released by you choosing, you accepting, you believing. So if you want Jesus to unlock you from judgment, it basically is a death sentence. We see people on death row. If that person on death row is a Christian, he's in a better spot than you are. The judgment of God, Jesus said, I I can unlock that. Just repent and believe and experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to Regaining Lost Ground with Pastor Shane Idle Man. You can find more information at westsidechristianfellowship.org. That's westsidechristianfellowship.org. And for all the latest on what God is doing with his ministry here, please be sure to follow us on most social media platforms. West Side Christian Fellowship is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles in Leona Valley, California. Thank you again for listening to today's message of Regaining Lost Ground where we are reminded daily times change, truth does not.