CROSS TO COMMISSION | The Court of the Wicked | Matthew 26:57-68 | Arik Hayes

Summary

Podcast Summary: 2819 Church | CROSS TO COMMISSION: The Court of the Wicked (Matthew 26:57-68) | Arik Hayes (12/08/25)

---

Episode Overview

This episode features a passionate and reflective sermon by Arik Hayes at 2819 Church, focusing on Matthew 26:57-68, the ordeal of Jesus before the Sanhedrin—“The Court of the Wicked.” The sermon is part of the church’s long-running series, Cross to Commission. Hayes explores the reality of evil, the profound injustice Jesus faced at the hands of religious authorities, and the deep significance of Christ choosing to endure humiliation, abuse, and abandonment for the sake of redemption. The message is both a challenge and an invitation for believers to honor Jesus’ sacrifice by embracing faith, resilience, and a personal relationship with God, whose “name is Power.” The episode concludes with a celebratory report from Pastor Philip Mitchell on the church's outreach and generosity.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: The Heart of the Church (00:13–06:10)

• Honoring People, Including Unbelievers: Arik opens by welcoming everyone—especially behind-the-scenes workers, digital participants, and even unbelievers, emphasizing, “You just don’t want to use people. You want to honor people. You want them to feel loved.” (00:31)
• Essence of 2819 Church: "We are a church that is a house of prayer, presence, and proclamation, all three. That's the heart of the DNA of this church." (00:35)
• Emphasis on Exclusivity of Jesus: Arik underscores the Christian conviction that salvation is found only through Jesus, contrasting this with other popular spiritual alternatives.
  • “The scripture says, anybody else that tries to get to God any other way … the Scriptures call them a thief and a robber.” (02:59)

2. On Evil, Betrayal, and Broken Trust (07:13–10:48)

• Existence of Evil: The message quickly shifts to the reality of evil in the world and how it is devastating when perpetrated by those we trust—parents, teachers, police, pastors.
  • “There is evil in the world … There is holiness, and there is evil. And we've all encountered it.” (07:20)
• Abuse of Trust:
  • “Dealing with evil is one thing, but dealing with evil at the hands of people that are supposed to protect you … it cuts differently.” (09:01)
• Context for Christ’s Ordeal: Sets up Jesus’ experience before the religious authorities as the ultimate case of betrayal by those entrusted with spiritual leadership.

3. The Trial of Jesus: Exposing Corrupt Religion (11:02–18:38)

• Abandonment by Disciples:

  • “All of the disciples deserted him … So as we jump into verse 57 … He was alone.” (11:42)

• Religious Corruption: The high priest Caiaphas, appointed by an occupying government, epitomizes religious compromise. The trial is a sham—held illegally at night, seeking “false testimony.”

  • “How are you a whole high priest with a whole Sanhedrin council … actively trying to find a false witness?” (14:38)
  • “It’s a wicked court.” (15:38)

• Perfection of Christ: Jesus’ innocence is highlighted by the authorities’ inability to find legitimate charges. Even their false accusations only distort his metaphoric prophecy about the temple.

  • “If Christ broke one law, he is then disqualified from dying on the cross and being our Savior.” (17:59)
  • Insight: Christ’s flawless obedience qualified him as a substitute for human sin.

4. Jesus’ Dignity and Revelation of Power (19:02–24:50)

• Christ’s Silence: Jesus remains unshaken in the face of false charges.

  • “But Jesus remained silent. … It’s like you just weren't gonna rattle him.” (19:02–19:10)

• Caiaphas’ Demand and Jesus’ Declaration:

  • “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God.” (20:40 – Caiaphas)
  • Jesus’ answer: “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (22:21–22:29)
  • Notable Insight: “That P [in ‘Power’] is capitalized. … Your daddy’s name is Power. And guess who told you it was true? Jesus Christ himself.” (24:05–24:32)

• Revelation vs. Information: Hayes urges listeners not just to seek knowledge about God, but a Spirit-given revelation of His character—especially His power.

5. Spiritual Application & Encouragement (24:57–33:19)

• Personal Testimony: Praying to Power:

  • Shares a personal story about praying for a smoother return from a family trip—God “took off 40–42 minutes from the delay.” (27:54)
  • “I prayed to Power and something happened.” (28:23)

• Challenge to Pray Boldly: “Pray to your Father, whose name is Power, and expect something to happen.” (28:35)

• God Can Change Us and Our Circumstances: “He can change you and the situation at the same time. Don’t you limit him or put him in a box.” (28:50)

6. Christ, the True High Priest: Divine Irony (29:40–33:19)

• The high priest is unwittingly helping to facilitate Christ’s sacrificial death—the very act that will make Jesus the eternal High Priest.
  • “This is the high priest … talking to the one who will become the high priest. … He doesn’t even know he’s being used by God.” (29:49–30:20)
  • “What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around.” (31:01–31:23)
• Call for Christlike Character:
  • “He is solid character. Even unto death, he did not fold. Help us have that character, oh God.” (33:06)
  • Exemplifies with the faithfulness of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

7. Walking in Confidence and Knowing God (33:19–38:15)

• How to Develop Spiritual Strength:
  • “Do you want to know how to get that confidence? … Just read your Bible … He is the sauce. The living one.” (35:21–35:32)
  • Calls listeners to deepen their relationship with God through scripture, prayer, and solitude: “Turn down your plate. Turn down your screen. Seclude yourself, steal away and get to know Him.” (37:14–37:26)
• Support for Believers Who Feel Alone: Explains that solitude with God is often a path to spiritual maturity and resilience.
  • “This is how you can walk alone.” (37:51)

8. The Abuse and Mockery Christ Endured (38:15–46:21)

• The Brutality of Jesus’ Treatment: Arik reads Matthew 26:67-68—spitting, striking, slapping, and mocking.
  • “This thing brought me to tears earlier this week. Real talk… Christ wasn’t defenseless. He rendered himself defenseless. He chose to take his power and put it down.” (44:30–44:58)
• Jesus Endured Willingly: Emphasizes that Jesus underwent every aspect of suffering deliberately, for humanity's sake.
  • “He stayed in the pocket of persecution for you … At any given time, he could have made quick work of all this.” (46:48–47:03)
• Reflection for Listeners: Challenges the congregation to honor Jesus with their own sacrifices and obedience.
  • “Look at what he did before he even got to the cross. Beloved, we gotta honor that.” (49:26–49:34)

9. Closing Prayer & Benediction (49:40–50:45)

• Hayes prays for revelation, transformation, and gratitude for Christ’s role as “the most high priest” and “Father ... whose name is Power.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On betrayal and evil from trusted hands:
  “Dealing with evil is one thing, but dealing with evil at the hands of people that are supposed to protect you … it cuts differently.” (09:01)
• On Jesus’ dignity under pressure:
  “But Jesus remained silent … Christ always came off cool. … You just weren’t gonna rattle him.” (19:02–19:22)
• On Jesus’ revelation of God’s identity:
  “Your daddy’s name is Power. And guess who told you it was true? Jesus Christ himself.” (24:05–24:32)
• On the logic of Christ’s suffering:
  “Christ wasn’t defenseless. He rendered himself defenseless. He chose to take his power and put it down. And choose not to use [it].” (44:58)
• On facing life with faith:
  “He is the One that sustains. In your weakest hour, you call on him. … Even if he does not deliver me, he is still able.” (33:46–34:46)
• On practical faith:
  “You can seek his face and his hand. They’re connected at his heart. And it’s for you in Christ Jesus.” (29:07–29:21)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:13 – 06:10: Opening remarks, church vision, honoring people and emphasizing salvation through Jesus.
• 07:13 – 10:48: Personal and societal experiences of evil, particularly betrayal by trusted figures.
• 11:02 – 18:38: The trial of Jesus before Caiaphas, exposing religious corruption and Christ’s unblemished character.
• 19:02 – 24:50: Jesus’ composure, Caiaphas’ challenge, and the revelation of God as “Power.”
• 24:57 – 29:40: Personal testimony about praying in faith, the practical outworking of knowing God's power.
• 29:40 – 33:19: Jesus as the true High Priest; God’s sovereignty over evil intentions.
• 33:19 – 38:15: Directions for deepening trust and spiritual confidence; personal transformation through scripture and solitude.
• 38:15 – 46:21: The suffering and humiliation Jesus endured; why he endured it for us.
• 49:40 – 50:45: Closing prayer, gratitude, and call to deeper commitment.

---

Special Message from Pastor Philip Mitchell (51:41–60:59)

• Church’s Generosity in Action: Pastor Mitchell joyfully shares how the young church has, for the first time, been able to give over $1 million to support churches, missions, Christian businesses, and ministries worldwide—including persecuted believers, missionary families, and a gospel outreach podcast.
  • “In this calendar year, 2025, we have supported 10 churches … two missionary families on two different continents … a Christian ship … outreach organizations in Africa and the Caribbean.” (55:45–56:34)
  • “Over $1 million given away. And we can celebrate that as a church.” (58:28)
• Thanks for Faithful Giving: A joyful, humble encouragement to keep partnering in global ministry.
  • “Because of you, thousands of lives are being impacted … Our reward is above us. Our reward is in heaven.” (59:42–60:59)

---

Summary Takeaways

• Jesus’ journey to the cross included not just physical suffering, but deep injustice and humiliation, endured for the sake of redemption.
• Christians are challenged to honor his sacrifice with bold faith, commitment to truth, and personal pursuit of God—not just knowledge, but revelation and relationship.
• The “court of the wicked” cannot thwart God’s plan; what is meant for evil, God turns for good.
• Confidence in hardship springs from knowing and praying to a God whose very “name is Power.”
• Faith in action includes radical generosity, as celebrated by the church’s million-dollar investment in global outreach and ministry.

---

For Further Reflection

• Are you seeking information about God, or revelation from Him?
• How can you respond to Jesus’ example of dignity, restraint, and sacrifice for others—especially in times of injustice or suffering?
• What might it look like in your life to pray and act in expectation of God’s power?

Transcript

[A]

God bless you.

[B]

You may be seated.

Hey, Danny B. How you doing, family?

[A]

Good to see you. Good to see you.

If you don't know Danny B, she's one of the people behind the scenes that makes this thing work.

And we real big here. Not on just.

You doing your role, but we care about your soul.

That's my sister. We've gotten to know each other since I've been on staff and just want to honor people. Amen. You just don't want to use people. You want to honor people. You want them to feel loved. For that is the will of Christ in the body. Amen. Amen. All right, Beloved, welcome to 2019 Church. We are a church that is a house of prayer, presence, and proclamation, all three. That's the heart of the DNA of this church. And we'll continue to be like that until Christ comes back himself. I want to welcome our online community, digital disciples, those that are joining us across the camera, those that actually may have come and to visit maybe in this experience. We want to welcome you. Shout out to the overflow.

And shouted, y' all out in a minute. We love you. We appreciate you. And I want to welcome the unbeliever. Amen.

[C]

There it is.

[D]

There it is.

[B]

We want that deep in our culture.

[A]

Why? Why, why? We were all once unbelievers.

You don't get to be just me. Naturally born into this thing.

Right? You must be born again.

And you must come in at the door.

You sound like an old deacon. Well, I'm turning into one. Right? But again, they used to say it, and I didn't really have a reference for it.

[D]

Right.

[A]

But the scripture said you must come in at the door. The door is Jesus.

God, the true and living God Almighty God has offered a way for us to get to know him, have access to him, have a relationship with him, be saved, be delivered, be restored, be redeemed. It has been offered. Okay. It's only been offered one way, though, and that's through Jesus Christ.

Why do I keep saying that? Because you are. You are.

[B]

You. You are bombarded with so many other.

[A]

Ways for spiritual enlightenment.

So many ways.

[B]

Horoscopes, gems, so many other religions.

[A]

And the scripture says, anybody else that tries to get to God any other way, the scriptures say this. I didn't make this up. Right. The scriptures call them a thief and a robber. If you try to get to God any other way except the door, AKA Jesus, that's been freely provided.

And it's our hope, beloved, if you.

[B]

If you're here and you belong before you believe or if you you checking.

[A]

Us out through the screen. It's our hopes that sometimes we hope sooner than later. But sometime the Holy Spirit will prick your heart like he pricked ours. That you would join us aboard the Ark of Safety, as our pastor says often.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That you would join the kingdom of God. That you would walk with him on this earth.

And we would enjoy eternal life here and in heaven, which is to know the true living God. That is our plan, that is our hope, that is our desire, that is our prayer.

And I just want to take out time which we, we customarily do to honor the pastor of this eclacy of this house, Philip Anthony Mitchell.

Amen. Again. I want to give you space to honor. We're not trying to force you to do it right. But why? Why do you do that every time you preach? Well, I'm going to tell you why.

But sometimes it's just hard to even. Even run your own life.

[B]

Can we just talk like we family? It's the one o' clock experience. Can we just talk like we family today? Sometimes it's hard to get out of bed and run your own life.

[A]

Be responsible for yourself before marriage or children. No.

[B]

No other connections.

[E]

Just you.

[B]

Just you. Nobody else. Just you. I don't feel like doing it today. Nobody depending on you at all. Just you.

[A]

I don't feel like doing it today. Imagine having a wife and four children.

And a church. I think on average we're looking between 6,000 and 6,500. Amen. Praise God.

Locally, imagine a digital disciple. I don't know how we even calculate how big our digital disciple community is.

And to do that with consistency and grace and tenacity, I think that that deserves honor. So that's why.

All right, beloved.

[B]

And as a church, we're continuing to.

[A]

Walk through the book of Matthew. It's almost three years in in a.

[B]

Series we've titled Cross to Commission. And I have the honor and privilege.

[A]

Of preaching this sermon to you that I've titled the Court of the Wicked.

The Court of the Wicked. Let me pray again for us. Holy Father, I just thank you for your scriptures, your truth, the bride of Christ and the precious Holy Spirit.

I seek to decrease that you increase in me in this hour.

That your will for this assignment would come to pass.

Thank you for the internal nudging of the Holy Spirit and the work of the Spirit amongst the bride and even for the unbelievers that are here and those that will, will watch.

I pray you encounter them, that they will have A saving faith in the Lord Jesus to come aboard the Ark of Safety and walk in truth.

The body of Christ. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Frank, you mind hanging out with me, family? I appreciate you.

[B]

Well, family.

[A]

This is no news flash, but it's something I want to talk about today.

There's evil in the world.

[B]

There's just unadulterated evil.

People that seek to hurt people and damage them and harm them.

[A]

And subjugate them.

[B]

And deceive them and poison them. There is evil in the world.

Support of theological truth. There is holiness, and there is evil.

[A]

And we've all encountered it in some way, shape or form.

Some of us in this room have actually committed evil against other people.

Some of us have had evil committed to us at the hands of other people.

Some people, either here or across this camera, may still be dealing with it. I pray that God deliver you from it.

But with that evil man, there's a.

[B]

There's a certain feeling of disappointment and dismay and discouragement when evil is committed at hands. At the hands of people that are supposed to protect you.

Like dealing with evil is one thing.

[A]

Hey, Alma.

[B]

Dealing with evil is one thing, but dealing with evil coming from your parent is different.

Dealing with abuse is one thing, but at the hands of your mother or father, that's different.

Dealing with violence is one thing, but dealing with violence at the hands of a crooked cop is different.

[A]

Having your child be bullied or having your child be harmed is one thing. But when you pack them up, give them some lunch money or give them their lunch, and you send them on the way, and they sit in the classroom of a teacher.

That harms them or abuses them, that's different.

Why?

[B]

Because these people.

You give a level of trust.

Nobody's sending their children off to actually be abused.

Nobody's going into the medical system to sit in front of a doctor that has announced, expecting to be.

[E]

To be. To be mishandled.

[A]

Nobody's coming to church to be lied to from a pastor.

Or suffer spiritual abuse. It's a thing.

[B]

Because the people that should be pushing righteousness, holiness, goodness, health, you put trust in them. When you suffer at the hands of them, it cuts differently.

[A]

So our Lord and Savior finds himself in a similar situation here. As we go through the scriptures, we'll be going through Matthew 26, chapter.

57 through 68.

I'll jump into 57.

And before I do that, I'll just piggyback on what Lionel was preaching last week. And if you heard it, he was preaching.

[B]

He was preaching and he was.

[A]

Talking about Christ, saying that he had access.

[B]

Couldn't he appeal to the Father.

And have legions of angels come and make quick work of this whole thing? But he chose not to.

And you saw at the end of.

[A]

That passage, all of the disciples deserted him.

All of them fled.

[B]

So as we jump into verse 57, I need to set this up. He was alone.

And I just want to drop this off. Maybe you can handle it. Hopefully you'll be able to get something from it.

[E]

Yes, we push community.

[B]

We push brothers and sisters. We push the one another's. But sometimes in this walk, you may find yourself alone.

[A]

You may not have planned it, you may have.

[B]

You may have depended on somebody. Small group. You sent the textile. Need a little help. Nobody show up.

Do we plan for that? No. But I need to let you know that if no one shows up, we still need to stand solid in Christ.

I know this is tough, man. I want to handle this firmly, but gently at the same time. Listen, man, isn't this the prime time for Christ to get church hurt and stop being a savior for five years and not go to the cross?

Isn't that a prime example of church hurt? The people he poured into, did miracles with, went up, fed, ate, went in houses and everything.

[E]

They saw who he was.

[B]

He revealed where the church was. This, my crew gone.

And now he's alone.

[A]

That's why he's our idol, man. You know what he did?

He stood solid on who he is. All right. Verse 57.

[B]

Then those who had seized Jesus led.

[A]

Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

Caiaphas.

[B]

And I gotta be honest, some of.

[A]

This I never even saw until I started studying this. Caiaphas was the high priest.

[B]

A lot of times we're looking at, you know, we read the high priestess in the Old Testament, right? Descendants from Aaron. Actually, God appointed that, right? Right. But this guy Caiaphas, he came and he was a high priest at the.

[A]

Time where actually the Roman government would appoint them.

[B]

That sound crazy. That's like the governor of Georgia coming, appointing the next pastor of this church.

Now that sound crooked to me already.

And the first time we heard of.

[A]

Him is when he actually planned and had a plot to kill Jesus. Now we're dropping in for his time to execute that plan.

[B]

Verse 58. And Peter was following him at a.

[A]

Distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest.

And going inside. He sat with the guards.

To see the end. Verse 59, it said.

[B]

Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death. Let's stop.

If you've been around church anytime and you heard the Ten Commandments once or twice, that may jump out at you. It said they were seeking false testimony. How about the Ten Commandments? It said in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, it's the next to the last commandment. It says, neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor. Stop. How are you a whole high priest with a whole Sanhedrin council looking and.

[E]

Actively trying to do a high.

[B]

Just, Just trying to find a false witness.

What are we doing? It's one thing to fall into sin, fam. It's another thing as a high priest to be like, hey, come be a false witness. Come break one of the Ten Commandments. Come on, matter of fact, you know who's going to be the victim of your crime?

[A]

It's a wicked court.

Do verse 60 and 61 together.

Verse 60 said, after all, they're trying to get a false witness. They found none. Though many false witnesses came forward. It says, at last two came forward.

[B]

And let me stop there, right?

[A]

So I'm give you a little background as I did research, right?

[B]

So it's weird because they said they found none and then they found two.

[A]

So let me clear up any type of confusion, right?

[B]

It's weird because they're blatantly trying to do evil, but they're still trying to do it with righteous demands. Does that make sense? So they're looking for people that are actually going to lie, but they're still trying to make the lies line up in the dead of night. By the way, it was actually illegal for them to meet at that time. So they're in the dead of night trying to get people to come and lie and have the lies match up.

[A]

And then 61 after the two came forward and they said, because they were still looking for two witnesses that agreed, they said, together, this man said, speaking of Christ, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days. Okay, two things, right? That's a huge deal. Back in that time, the temple was like the home of God. We were just talking about that.

[B]

So to say that you're actually going to destroy the temple or was a big deal.

[A]

Now this is the thing.

[B]

Christ didn't say that. What he actually said is in John 2:19. I'm just going to say it. It's not going to come up on the screen. What Christ actually said was, destroy this temple. And in Three days, I will raise it up. He was actually talking about his own body.

So here, the son of the living God, that's like, oh, we got you. They have nothing because they're twisted around his words.

They trying to find the needle in.

[E]

The haystack, something that they could have.

[B]

An offense and that should be able to put them to death. Now, this is what's important to us. They want to get them on one.

[A]

Thing because they want to actually put them to death. It's important that if Christ broke one law, he is then disqualified from dying on the cross and being our Savior.

So we play around with the word perfection here. Nobody's close to perfect, right? Christ actually had to walk a Perfect line for 33 years. And they tried to get him, and they still failed. Here.

Give me verse 62.

So he heard the lie from the two people.

[B]

And then the high priest said, he.

[A]

Stood up, which tells me he was sitting down.

[B]

He stood up and said, caiaphas, he said, have you no answer to make?

[A]

He's talking to Christ.

[B]

What is it that these men testify against you?

[A]

First word of verse 63, it said. But Jesus remained silent.

As I read the Scriptures, and Christ is supposed to be our true idol of our heart. One of the things I love about him, and there are many, is that Christ always came off cool.

It's like, you just weren't gonna rattle him. You just weren't gonna say anything.

[B]

Like you never saw him flustered and trying to get somewhere. The man died. It was like, yo, you'd have came here. You know, we. You could have saved Lazarus.

[A]

He got to him on his own time.

God is never in a rush.

Right?

[B]

And how can we take that? Extrapolate the point.

[A]

Many of us deal with anxiety at a level that we should not.

I deal with anxiety.

[B]

I'm trying to see around corners. That's how I got that revelation. I need to trust the one who can.

Yes. Nothing wrong with planning, but planning to the point I got to know everything. You never will. How much research do you have to do to know everything?

If that's your goal, aren't you about to be stressed out?

[A]

He was quiet.

And in the second verse or second part of 63, the High Priest takes it to another level.

[B]

It says, and the high priest said.

[A]

To him, in verse 63, I adjure.

[B]

You by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God.

I just want to give you a quick translation. He's basically saying, swear to God and tell us whether you're the Christ.

Does that sound like something a high priest should be saying to the living Son of God?

Second of all, watch your mouth.

You ain't got to be deeply religious or saved to be like swear to God. Like some of us got smacked in the face for much less. Swear to God. You better clean that up.

[E]

Here he is, a whole high priest.

[A]

Talking to the Son of the living God, adjuring him, ordering him.

To tell.

[B]

Me whether you're the Son of God.

[A]

And swear to God by it.

Can I just point out again the restraint of Christ.

Boy, I was there when you were made.

Who are you talking to? Imagine my 2 year old son rolling up on me talking like that.

[B]

He two and a half. He can barely talk, just gibbering.

[E]

Boy.

[B]

Are you crazy? Who are you talking? And I say that to him too. We two and a half. Don't judge me. Who you talking to? Hey.

[A]

Look at Christ's response here.

And I love it.

64. Jesus said to him, let's walk through it slowly.

You have said so.

But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Now beloved, if you wouldn't mind, give me a little time to unpack this. It's a couple things. I want to come out of this verse because it's pregnant with a couple of things.

[B]

One, why you over here pressing me? You have already said I'm the son.

[A]

Of the living God.

[B]

That's what Christ said. You have said, so why are you pressing me?

Put on your sham trial in front of people. You already believe it. Amen.

[A]

Second point.

I'll read it again.

[B]

But I tell you, from now on.

[A]

You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. You've heard me say from this stage, right? That's why you need to be able to grow that primarily Christ came to bring us a new name for God, for us to be able to call him Father.

[B]

Okay, Jehovah, Nissi, Jehovah, Sidkenu, Jehovah, Rapha, the names of God in the Old Testament. He's still that. But I'm saying primarily he gave us the name Father. Like now, through the blood of Christ, we're able to be adopted, right? Adopted by the spirit of adoption. Now we can call the almighty God by the gospel and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, be able to call him Father Abba. Daddy, it's actually a better translation there.

[A]

You've heard me say that I never Saw this. We have another name to call him.

It said, the Right hand of Power. Now look at that. In your Bible, that P is capitalized.

[B]

So now we're not talking about power as a thing, we're talking about power as a person.

No, let me stay there. Your daddy's name is power.

And guess who told you it was true? Jesus Christ himself.

I'm gonna tell you something, beloved. That changed when I got that.

[A]

That changed the way I prayed.

[B]

Because you pray different when you know.

[A]

You'Re praying to power.

Ask anything in my name.

[B]

Believe you will receive it. Why? Why? Why? Because my father's name is power.

I haven't shared this before, but I want to tell you. I was actually coming back from Ohio.

[A]

My parents, the parentals, my in laws, they live in Ohio.

[B]

We were coming back, right? And I was doing sermon prep. While I was gone. I came back and I was like it.

[E]

Really?

[B]

Because revelation will change you.

Not just information about God. I read the Bible from front to back. Cool.

[E]

Do you have a revelation of who he is given by the spirit of God? That's the question.

[B]

There are scholars that read the Bible all the time. No, but do you have a revelation.

[E]

Of who he is?

[A]

Have you had an encounter who he is through the scriptures? Right.

[B]

So it's Saturday after Thanksgiving now, Sunday after Thanksgiving, I want to say it's.

[A]

Actually the worst day to travel. Okay?

[B]

So we think we gonna get on Saturday.

[A]

Everything gonna be okay. Well, it wasn't.

I was driving and we were coming from Ohio, coming back to southern Atlanta, and all of a sudden the Google.

[B]

Maps, the estimated time of arrival, it'll change from green. And you in Atlanta, you know that this is often. It'll change to orange and then it'll change to red on you.

Now check me out, fam. It's already a solid nine hours with no stops.

And we got four children in here.

Now. They ain't the worst, but I'm actually not bad. What I'm saying, it's six people in this car. I'm ready to get home.

[A]

And it started climbing. It was climbing and it was climbing till it got like an hour more.

Than originally stated.

And if I'm not mistaken, I think it was my youngest baby, she said, can you pray?

[B]

Shout out to formations, by the way.

Cause I pray, but they be coming out. Daddy, can you pray? She reminds me to pray sometimes.

She's like, daddy, can you pray?

[E]

I was like, I can.

[B]

I'm over here stressed out. And I just got the revelation that my father's name is power.

So when you got revelation, it changes how you move.

[A]

And I'm like, I think I said something before. Then I said something along the lines of and God. I'm believing that you would take this additional time and get rid of most of it.

Now this is next to the worst day to travel.

I just kept moving.

And family. I kept driving.

And it led us off. And do you know that of the hour that was added, approximately like 40 to 42 minutes came off.

[B]

Now some of you gonna hear that, well, you don't know. You know there's always gonna be a reason. You can explain the way God's grace.

Gotta move the devil on yourself. Well, it could have been something else. Maybe.

You can try explaining away all of God's blessings.

[E]

What I do know is that I prayed to power and something happened.

That's what I do know.

[B]

That's a small example, man.

[A]

I'm going to encourage you as homework. Forget. Speak truth to power. Pray to your father, whose name is Power, and expect something to happen.

[B]

And I'm going to throw something else out there for you. He can change you and the situation at the same time. Don't you limit him or put him in a box.

Yeah, well, I need to mature. He'll change me. Cool. He can do both.

[A]

You can seek his face and his hand. They're connected at his heart. And it's for you. That's good. I'm going to say it again. I'm going say it again.

[B]

You can seek his face and his hand.

[A]

They're connected at its heart.

At his heart. And it's for you in Christ Jesus.

And this is the last thing here.

This is the high priest talking.

[B]

To.

[A]

The one who will become the high priest.

I almost named this. Meet your replacement.

This is what's diabolical.

[B]

They scheming, they meeting in the dead of night. They having multiple, you know, things in the night. They hide. They looking for false witnesses.

[A]

He doesn't even know he's being used by God.

To help do one of his last sacrifices.

[B]

Because before Christ was a high priest, he was the Lamb of God. So he's actually taking his time and his, his, his, his deceit and his evil. He's helping to usher the Lamb of God, which was actually one of his responsibilities. Because on the day of atonement, the most high priest goes into the holy of holies and he presents the Lamb on behalf of the people and himself.

It's a good time to insert what.

[E]

The devil meant for evil.

[B]

God turned it around.

He turned it around.

In the middle.

[E]

Of their plan, he turned it around.

[B]

He tried to trap him.

[E]

He just made a way for all he turned. Turned it around.

[A]

He's helping to sacrifice the Lamb of.

[E]

God.

[A]

So that then he will become our High Priest.

I got a little time. I'll give it to you one more.

[E]

Right?

[A]

He, as a high priest, would be aware of prophecy, right?

[B]

So Revelations 1:7, it says, behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and even those who pierced him. And all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so.

[A]

Amen.

Christ already told him. You already said it.

You already said, I'm the Son. And now I'm going to give you a prophecy as the High priest. I know you recognize.

[B]

You just couldn't press Christ into a corner and have him fold.

[A]

I love that about him.

[B]

I idolize that about him.

He is solid character. Even unto death, he did not fold. Help us have that character. Oh, God.

[A]

As a disciple, man, we.

[B]

Can walk in that, too. How many of y' all remember Stephen getting stoned in the New Testament?

Did he run?

[A]

And it says they stoned him.

That Jesus in heaven stood up to receive him.

[B]

Disciple.

[E]

Don't fold.

Don't fold.

[B]

Disciple.

[E]

You have the Great Sustainer at your back. You are seated in Christ. God, even death cannot steal anything from you. Nothing can be taken away from you that cannot be restored. He is the One. He is the One that sustains.

In your weakest hour, you call on him. Your weakest hour. Don't you fall. You put still in your back. So even if he does not deliver me, he is still able.

[B]

He's still able.

Whether he shows up in this circumstance or not. To be absent from the body is to be present from the Lord. We can walk in a confidence that.

[E]

The world can't shake, they can't imitate.

[B]

I am his and he is mine.

[A]

Come on.

[B]

Come on.

And you know how you get that confidence? Hold on.

[A]

Sit down. Sit down.

[B]

Now, you get that confidence.

I'm going to give it to you. Do you want to know how to get that confidence? You do something real diabolical and wild.

[A]

And just read your Bible.

[E]

You was waiting. I tricked you, didn't you?

[B]

Oh, no.

[E]

He better give me the sauce. He is the sauce. The living one. Yeah, yeah, the living one.

You can meet him right here. Right here. Read the Psalms.

The Lord is my shepherd.

[B]

I'm gonna take some time.

[E]

I shall not want. He making me lie down in green pastures. He lead me beside still waters. He restores My soul. He restores my soul. He restores my soul. He restores my soul. I admit the restorer.

[B]

I just met him.

You act like if he.

[E]

If you don't show up in a.

[B]

Ball of light, he didn't come. No, no, no, no.

Get to know him.

[A]

Right here. My pastor, right here.

Get to know him. Carve away time. I know you busy.

[B]

You ain't that busy to not meet with the living God. Neither am I. Get to know him. Turn down your plate.

Turn down your screen.

[E]

Seclude yourself, steal away and get to know Him.

[B]

That's how you get it.

Anybody that's really gotten to know him.

[A]

Did it that way.

[B]

You have the scriptures and the Spirit.

With nobody else around. This is how you can walk alone.

[A]

So after the Lord Jesus gave him all of that.

Here he go with his give me 65.

Then the high priest tore his robes, Caiaphas, and said, he has uttered blasphemy.

[B]

What further witnesses do we need?

[A]

You have now heard his blasphemy verse 66.

In the Sanhedrin council Elders, chief priests, they answered, he deserves death.

They tried to jam him up.

They couldn't do it.

They had to misrepresent his words to even get two witnesses, to even somewhat agree.

He is the one that knows thoughts and said, you already said that. I'm the son of the living God.

You don't think Christ could have gotten out of that?

You don't think he could have argued his way out of that?

But he didn't.

I'll tell you a quick story. I'm from Jacksonville, North Carolina, and I lived with my grandmother TILL I was 13 years old.

And unfortunately, my grandmother, she was actually a housekeeper. I think she was getting dropped off. It was a day that actually, I wasn't even at school. And.

It'S been a while, so the details are a little fuzzy, but I think she tried to step on the curb and she, like, missed it. And she fell real hard. She actually broke her hip. And the older people, you know, brittle bones and stuff like that, it worked.

And Grandma was feisty right.

To the point where when the physical therapist came and they say, all right, well, let's do your physical therapy, she ain't trying to work with them.

Even more than that. She's actually insulting them. So much so that my mother, her daughter, would be, like, embarrassed, like, mama, you can't say that to the people. They're here to help you. She didn't care.

That was my grandma. And it got to the point where she actually went to A nursing home. And.

I was probably 17, 19 years old, something like that. And I remember going to seeing a nursing home, and it was this girl named Natasha. I went to school with her, went to high school with her, Jacksonville High. And I don't know really. Well, I do know what possessed me to say it, but it wasn't like I was a big towering figure. Like I was probably half my weight. Never been a tough guy, but I meant what I was about to say. And it's probably been over about 25 years, so give me some grace. I'm trying to remember, but I said something along the lines of, if anything happened to her, I'm gonna turn this place upside down.

I'm not advising you to say that, but I'm telling you the story.

Okay? Because she didn't play about me, and I don't play about her. Because I knew if I turned the.

[B]

Corner and I saw something wild going on in that room and she was in there.

[A]

I can't speak for nobody else, Grandma, but I knew it was about to be bad in this place because I was about to be temporarily insane.

Again, I'm not a tough guy. I'm just telling you where I was.

[B]

Because there's something in me.

[A]

And another part of the story, she actually started to develop dementia and Alzheimer's. So she's out of it. She's defenseless.

[B]

And even to this day, man, it's hard for me to.

Even watch the news.

[A]

I hardly ever watch it.

[B]

They have the great ability to put some of the most tragic stories, some of the most defensive defenseless communities in front of you. Children, elderly people. They just put it in front of me, and I can't deal with it.

I understand that there's sex trafficking in America. It's actually a global thing. But I can't stare at it long. I have to divert my attention. Don't judge me. It's just hard for me to deal with evil.

Especially amongst people that are defenseless. It's just hard for me to stomach it.

[A]

That being said, I'm closing. Frank, give me verse 67.

After they said he deserves death. This is what our Savior went through. And I'm going to say this. Beloved, and hear my heart. We recognize and we honor what he did on the cross. But a lot of us skip this.

Right? We in the last couple chapters here.

[B]

We'Re not going to run through these scriptures.

[A]

We gonna walk slowly. We gonna talk about this.

Lord, help me.

[B]

Jesus.

67 said. Then they spit in his face.

[A]

And struck him.

And some slapped him.

Give me 68.

And they said, saying prophesy to us, you, Christ.

Who is it that struck you?

I ain't gonna hold you, fam.

This thing brought me to tears earlier this week.

Real talk. It brought me to tears because this is the tough thing. I was talking about the defenseless communities.

Christ wasn't defenseless. He rendered himself defenseless.

He chose to take his power.

And put it down.

And choose not to use.

Now, why would he do something like that?

[B]

If you were in there, wouldn't you be like me?

[E]

Somebody do something.

[A]

Do something, man.

[B]

Peter, bust in there, do something.

[E]

Don't let him do it like that.

[A]

Don't let him do them like that. Famous.

Don't let them do them like that. They can't treat our Savior like that.

[B]

We can't let that go down like that.

[A]

Until somehow you. We wrap our minds around the fact that he did it on purpose.

Christ skipped no steps along the crucifixion process.

He didn't mail it in. He was fully God and fully man. And let me talk to the men and some women who are.

[B]

Who are either sensitive to, hypersensitive to.

[A]

Disrespect, like I battle with.

[B]

You probably heard me say, man cussing at me is just a little bit lower.

[A]

I say a little bit lower than spitting on me.

Either.

[B]

One of things happens.

[A]

Somebody needs to help me. Arrest my flesh.

[B]

Go call Elder Milton.

[A]

He did it for you.

[B]

He stayed in the pocket of persecution for you at any given time.

[A]

He could have made quick work of all this.

[B]

He could have appealed to his Father, whose name is power, to dispatch some angels. This thing, legions. Really? One angel could do quick work on this whole situation. Just one. He had legions available.

[A]

I don't have no quick points here, fam.

But we're going to honor this, too.

[B]

You know when you get angry and you want to sin and get into your flesh?

[A]

He understands that anger. That's why in the Scriptures you can say, be angry, but do not sin.

Like he did it. Imagine being there when men was actually made.

Says in the Scriptures, all things were made through Christ.

[B]

And then that creation or creations spitting on you.

Punching you and slapping you, all the while mocking you.

[A]

Prophesy to us, now, who was it?

It's because. Because of you.

So we could call God Almighty Father, if he gets out of this trial or he wins the trial and he doesn't go to the next step.

There'S no salvation on the cross.

[B]

I guess I'm at one point, beloved, do we live? Do we live? Honor in that.

Or do we say.

[A]

Nah, God, that's too much.

I don't want to get off social media for six months.

I don't feel like reading today.

I don't feel like forgiving my spouse. I don't feel like forgiving my child. I don't feel like forgiving my parent. Nah, I'm cool on that. I'll catch you on another day.

Look at what he did before he even got to the cross. Beloved.

We gotta honor that.

By your head, let me pray for us.

Holy Father, I thank you for giving us the scriptures. Thank you for giving us each other the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.

God, we thank you for the one that will come back on the clouds.

The most high priest in Christ Jesus.

Thank you for being our father and one who is named power.

Help us not just come in and out of experiences like this and getting head knowledge. God, help us lean into revelation, revelation of who you really are.

So that it would change how we walk in the earth.

We love you.

Help us even love you back the way you deserve. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. God bless you guys.

[C]

Love your love, your love all the marvelous love Let the redeemed sing a song the praises belong to the sun.

The blood, the blood, the blood all the wonderful blood.

The blood, the blood, the blood blood all the wonderful blood.

You love, you love you love all the marvelous love Let the redeem sing the song praises belong to the sun.

[A]

The blood, the blood the blood of the wonderful blessing.

All right, family, we have a special message from our pastor, Pastor Phillip. Please direct your attention to the screen.

[D]

What's up 2819? Family, I trust that you all are doing well. I know it is the end of the gathering and that you are ready to get to your cars and get to your homes. But before you leave today, I just want to share something with you that is very important to my heart. I just want to ask that you will listen carefully because it involves you. And I remember the very first message I ever preached as a senior pastor. It was 12 years ago.

Under an old ministry named Victory 20 Church. And I remember the very first Sunday preaching. And I think it to myself, I have no money in my personal account. We have no money in the church account. And my wife and I and a group of believers just launched that ministry by faith. And we had nothing and just preaching and being faithful to God. And that week a man who would become a mentor to me, a bishop, he called me, he saw the ministry on Facebook, asked me to Come do dinner with him. And I went and we had dinner, and he poured into me. He was an older man of God. When that dinner was over, he slid an envelope across the table, and that envelope was a check for $45,000. And if it was not for that gift, our ministry would not have survived. If it was not for that gift, my wife and I would not have been able to buy food or groceries or take care of our family. If it was not for that gift, I would not be here today. And I remember the significance of that gift when our ministry was small, when it was young, and the impact of that man's generosity he had on my life, that changed my life, that marked my life. And ever since then, I've always had this dream personally as a lead pastor, to be in a position where we could do the same for other people. And throughout the years, we have been generous here, there, but never really had the resources to impact lives on the level. I've always dreamed to be able to do that.

Until now.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Until now.

[D]

And I want to share with you something that has happened this year that is very special to me personally, and especially to me personally, because there is an area of my life that I have a struggle. We all have struggles. I have struggles, plural. One of the areas I struggle in. In life is I'm. I struggle to receive.

[B]

Right.

[D]

It's very difficult for me to receive. So, you know, like birthday parties and honors and these things are. They're difficult for me. I find great joy and generosity.

[A]

Right.

[D]

And. And anybody who knows me personally, my wife.

My staff, my children, I love to give things away to other people. I love to bless other people. And I find great joy in easing the sufferings of other people. Something about that brings me great joy. And 2819, as a ministry is going to be three years old on December 31st. This ministry that we shared together called 2019, is only three years old. It is still a baby. And just a year ago, and just last year, we did not have the resources to really be a blessing to other people on any kind of level. This year, God has done something very special in our ministry, and you have been a part of this. And I just want to share with you what God has done. And I wrote these down so I will have some accuracy. And for lack of.

Not sharing too much information or for the sake of anonymity, I won't mention the names of these organizations. But I just want you to hear what I'm about to say.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

In this calendar year, 2025, we have supported 10 churches, nine of them inside the United States of America.

One church in India where Christians are being persecuted and put to death, we have supported 10 churches, have helped them get off the ground. We are helping them right now with monthly gifts. We are keeping 10 churches afloat, gospel churches that God has planted. Right now, as I'm talking to you, we are supporting two missionary families on two different continents. Right now, as I'm talking to you, we have supported a Christian ship, a cruise ship that's out there right now in the ocean that is doing gospel ministry in the middle of the ocean. We have made that possible for ministry. Right now, as I'm talking to you, we have supported 4, 5 families this year and have elevated them from suffering to help put food on their table. And we have gone above and beyond for those families. Right now, as I'm talking to you, there's a powerful podcast in London. We have paid for the whole season of that podcast, that they are spreading the gospel in a place that is spiritually dark. In fact, in a place we're going to do Our very first 2819 crusade at the end of January, that first weekend in February. Right now, as I'm talking to you, we have supported two Christian companies that are doing big work for the gospel inside the United States of America. And right now, as I'm talking to you, we have provided for an outreach and missions organization on the continent of Africa and another one in the Caribbean. We have supported all of these ministries this year's. And because of your faithfulness in giving, because of your faithfulness and generosity, I just want to report you what you have done, what we have done together. Now, for some of you, this number may seem small. I get it. It's a lot of ballers in the church and a lot of ballers in Atlanta. This is important to me and I pray we'll be able to increase this. But I just want you to hear, I don't to want to thank you that this year as a Christian family, we've been able to give away over $1 million of outreach support to all of these organizations. And we can celebrate that as a church, right? We're giving away over $1 million.

[A]

To.

[D]

Support all of these outreach ministries, churches, Christian businesses, podcasts and organizations. Over $1 million given away. And we can celebrate that as a church.

And so I want to take this opportunity personally to extend to you my most heartfelt gratitude for partnering with us in the spread of the gospel. It's the single mom who sows $20 from every check is the businessman who sold just a little bit more. It's all of us working together. The little amounts that we are doing God has put in our hearts. You know, I never beat you up about money. Money barely take up offerings on Sunday. And I just want to take this opportunity.

I just want to take this opportunity to personally thank you for believing in the Ministry of 2019.

Supporting the Ministry of 2019, being faithful in your giving, for being generous and for helping me to accomplish accomplish a vision that's been on my heart 12 years to be able to give help the body of Christ at that level. And with God's grace, we'll be able to increase that in the year to come and the years to come. So thank you 2019. Thank you to the brothers and sisters. Thank you to all of our digital disciples, everybody who's faithful and given in Atlanta, across the country and around the world. Thank you so much for caring for supporting the spread of the gospel. Because of you, all these ministries have been impacted. And because of you, thousands of lives are being impacted through these ministries. Our reward is above us. Our reward is in heaven. We are adding souls to the kingdom. We are storing up treasures for ourselves in heaven. Jesus is glorified. The bride is strengthened. And this is only beginning. Thank you so much. Continue to be faithful and give. Continue to be generous. Let's make an even greater difference next year. I love you all and I bless you all.

Go in peace.