WEBVTT

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 Well, today's Bible reading is taken from the book of Revelation,

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 chapter 2, verse 18 to verse 29.

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 And to the angel of the church in Tyre Tyre write,

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 the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire,

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 and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

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 I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance,

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 and that your later works exceed the first.

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 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman, Jezebel,

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 who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants

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 to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

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 I give her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

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 Behold, I will throw her onto a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her,

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 I will throw into great jubilation unless they repent of her works.

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 And I will strike her children dead.

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 And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart,

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 and I will give to each of you a calling to your works.

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 But to rest of you in Tyre Tyre, who do not hold this teaching,

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 who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan,

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 to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.

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 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

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 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end,

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 to him I will give authority over the nations,

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 and he will rule them with a rod of iron,

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 as when earthen pots are broken in pieces,

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 even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

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 And I will give him the morning star.

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 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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 These are the words of the Lord.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 Welcome to the visitors with us this morning.

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 We're in a series on the seven letters to the seven churches,

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 and we're picking up the letter to Tyre Tyre this morning.

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 I have been saying over the last few weeks that the word revelation itself

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 means God revealing events of our world from his perspective.

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 And I said last week in the start of my sermon that what Jesus revealed

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 was a real eye-opener for John.

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 That is, Christ's passion for his church and his demand that we,

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 as his died-for resurrection community, would reflect that passion.

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 It's a real eye-opener of how serious church is for Jesus,

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 how central it is.

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 Well, this morning I start by saying that what Jesus reveals

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 is absolutely confronting.

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 We've got seven letters to seven churches,

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 and it's God's symbolism of completeness.

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 That's that letter, that word, the number seven is completeness.

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 And so what we have here in these seven letters is a diagnostic snapshot

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 of the health of his church in general in John's day,

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 right down through the generations to us here this morning.

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 A diagnostic snapshot of the health of the church.

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 Now, this is really important for how we think about and hear Jesus

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 through these letters.

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 We should not expect to find our church in any one of these letters

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 so that one is relevant to us and the others aren't.

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 Rather, the strengths and weaknesses of each of these churches

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 will be evident in our church at different times.

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 So we ought to be looking across all seven letters,

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 seeing strengths and seeing weaknesses.

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 It's a constant struggle to make sure that all the various activities

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 of our church family life are an overflow of our heart

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 for an allegiance to Jesus.

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 We've seen that in the letter to Ephesus.

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 It's a constant struggle not to grow weary,

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 reminding ourselves that Jesus is worth serving in every circumstance,

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 including persecution.

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 It's a constant struggle to avoid creeping compromise

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 by craving acceptance and approval by Jesus.

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 More than that, over family and friends and neighbours and workmates.

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 Friends, these words of Jesus are meant to be confronting.

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 They need to be confronting,

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 because we are such slow, reluctant learners.

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 And the big question this morning as we launch into yet another confronting letter is,

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 very simply, are you confronted?

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 Are you willing to think reflectively and deeply about the spiritual health of our church family unit,

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 and yourself as part of it?

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 Are you willing to repent?

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 This series is called a reset series.

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 Are you willing to repent and reset,

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 as we need to, as a church, as a unit,

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 as you need to, as an individual within our church unit?

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 Friends, Jesus speaks words of healing and encouragement right through these letters.

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 And as we'll hear today,

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 even his warnings are delivered with opportunity and time to repent.

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 So, let's use this time wisely,

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 this series wisely,

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 as we identify where we need to reset.

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 And let's do that as we jump into the next letter now

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 and hear Christ's words to his community of Christians in Thyatira,

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 and to us gathered in Zoom this morning.

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 The first thing I want to say is that

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 Jesus commends them for being faithful in this little church.

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 He commends them for being faithful,

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 not spectacularly successful.

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 Verses 18 and 19 are wonderful words of encouragement.

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 To the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

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 the words of the Son of God,

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 whose eyes are like a flame of fire,

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 and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

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 I know your works,

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 your love,

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 your faith,

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 and service,

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 and patient endurance,

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 and that your latter works exceed the first.

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 Now, these are wonderful words of encouragement.

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 And remember,

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 since they come from the Lord Jesus,

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 they pack real punch.

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 These aren't just cheap words of positivity.

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 They come from the Lord Jesus,

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 the Savior,

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 who gladly got his hands dirty

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 to save his people.

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 And he speaks in terms that these tradespeople

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 and industrial workers,

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 which marked Thyatira,

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 would have easily identified with.

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 The one feature dominating the skyline of Thyatira

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 was a huge temple to Apollo,

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 the Greek sun god.

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 And most likely,

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 that temple was dominated

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 by a large bronze statue of Apollo.

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 Now, the irony of all that is

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 that Apollo was god of the fine arts and medicine.

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 And the local tradespeople in Thyatira

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 would understand,

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 in spite of the huge temple,

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 Apollo would not actually be terribly interested in them.

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 And so playing on the words,

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 I believe,

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 Jesus introduces himself as the son of God,

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 the one who actually came into the world

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 as an ordinary person

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 to bring real and immediate help and salvation

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 to ordinary people,

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 like the Christians in Thyatira.

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 He was neither lifeless nor disinterested,

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 but got down and dirty for his people.

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 Something that would resonate

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 with these battlers in this industrial town.

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 They knew the value,

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 the beauty,

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 the purity,

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 and strength of burnished bronze.

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 Thyatira was famous

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 for its bronze casting works.

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 And Jesus,

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 verse 19,

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 speaks in that sort of language,

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 in all his awesomeness.

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 He's really saying to this church

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 at Thyatira,

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 I count you as really precious to myself.

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 I'm really quite delighted with you,

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 on the whole.

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 Now,

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 what are they commended for?

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 Well,

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 verse 19,

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 they're commended for the ordinariness,

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 as it were,

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 of getting on

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 with ordinary gospel living.

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 So,

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 they may not live

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 in an outstanding city,

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 like Pergamum or Ephesus.

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 There may not be anything

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 particularly exciting

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 in their little church,

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 but that does not mean

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 they're hidden from Jesus

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 or considered inferior by him.

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 And so,

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 we get the picture

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 of the intensity

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 of Jesus'

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 all-seeing eyes,

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 like a white-hot,

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 smelting furnace fire

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 that these locals

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 would have been familiar with.

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 His eyes illuminate

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 every thought,

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 every desire,

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 every action.

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 And when Jesus illuminated

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 the deep recesses

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 of their heart,

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 he liked what he saw,

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 commending them

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 for their passion

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 and getting on

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 with being the church.

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 That is a gospel-shaped

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 resurrection community

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 with actions shaped

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 and motivated

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 by their inner love

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 and trust in Jesus

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 and commitment

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 to live under his rule

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 in every circumstance of life.

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 And best of all,

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 end of verse 19,

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 they're growing

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 in spiritual maturity.

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 Becoming more gospel-shaped

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 as they go.

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 And so,

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 the tone of verse 19

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 commands

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 the ordinariness

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 of the church.

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 Steady,

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 focused Christian commitment.

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 I think it's just like

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 you would expect

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 in a small-town craftsperson.

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 Nothing showy,

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 just daily commitment

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 to producing

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 quality product.

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 And verse 25,

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 jump over there

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 for a minute.

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 Jesus is content

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 and delighted

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 in seeing

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 his own passion

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 for the church

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 reflected in this church family.

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 In a sense,

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 we'll come back

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 to the problem,

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 but in a sense,

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 Jesus is saying to them

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 as a whole group,

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 hey,

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 you're doing well.

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 Just stay focused.

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 Stay on track

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 and keep plodding along.

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 And he also commends them

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 as the real power brokers

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 and bright lights

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 in the world.

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 And we're going to be looking

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 at the promises

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 at the end,

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 and then we'll come back

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 to the difficult part

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 in the middle there.

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 So,

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 Thyatira was famous

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 for its bronze

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 workers' guild.

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 It was a bit like

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 a powerful trade union.

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 It had enormous influence

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 in the town

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 and surrounding district.

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 Effectively,

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 it was able to decide

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 who could work

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 and who would be excluded

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 socially

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 and in terms

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 of the industry.

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 And no doubt

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 this local guild

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 would have despised

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 the local Christians

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 for probably

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 their stupid beliefs,

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 beliefs which risked

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 offending

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 the local gods.

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 And therefore,

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 risk the well-being

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 of everyone.

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 But again,

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 on the contrary,

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 verses 26 and 27,

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 look at that.

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 Jesus encourages

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 his unassuming

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 faithful people

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 to see that

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 real power

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 is with them.

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 Look at verse 26 and 27.

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 The one who conquers

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 and who keeps

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 my works until the end,

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 to him I will give

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 authority over the nations.

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 And he will rule them

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 with a rod of iron,

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 even as when earth

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 and pots are broken

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 in pieces,

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 even as I myself

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 have received authority

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 from my father.

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 Real power

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 is with them.

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 Why?

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 Because

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 they are aligned

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 with him,

00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:29.639
 the king of the world.

00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:33.960
 the image you hear

00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:34.460
 is taken from

00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:35.059
 Psalm 2,

00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:36.960
 where the Son of God

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.799
 is given complete

00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:39.379
 authority over the nations

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.399
 to declare

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.480
 and implement

00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.799
 the rule of God.

00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.519
 And so it's a perfect fit

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.019
 for Thyatira,

00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.039
 where clay molds

00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.960
 in which bronze

00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.620
 was cast

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:51.139
 or imperfect pots

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.460
 are just smashed

00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:53.139
 and discarded.

00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:54.299
 They knew the picture

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.559
 that Jesus was giving them here.

00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:58.799
 complete power

00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.500
 over that

00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.519
 which has been created.

00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:03.000
 And the point,

00:13:03.119 --> 00:13:03.279
 I think,

00:13:03.359 --> 00:13:03.679
 is

00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:06.299
 that as faithful servants

00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:07.519
 and ambassadors

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.799
 of King Jesus,

00:13:09.619 --> 00:13:10.419
 remember the one

00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.539
 with the piercing eyes

00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:12.599
 and trampling feet,

00:13:13.339 --> 00:13:14.039
 as ambassadors

00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.039
 of this King Jesus

00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.059
 and armed

00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:17.699
 with his powerful word,

00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:21.299
 they are more powerful.

00:13:22.199 --> 00:13:23.119
 They are building

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.779
 something far more beautiful

00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.899
 than anything

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.720
 in this world.

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.240
 Now,

00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:30.700
 I take it

00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.159
 this would have

00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:31.919
 really surprised

00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:32.519
 the Christians

00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:33.539
 in the little-known

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.960
 church at Thyatira.

00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.080
 They certainly

00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.980
 didn't look

00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:39.519
 as though

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.200
 they were significant.

00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:42.860
 But the values

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.379
 of Jesus

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.659
 are not

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.399
 the values

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.139
 of this world.

00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:48.460
 You see,

00:13:48.560 --> 00:13:48.740
 again,

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.700
 it was their faithfulness

00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.399
 that caught

00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.279
 Jesus' attention.

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.879
 and defines

00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:54.960
 their usefulness

00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:56.259
 in Christ's kingdom.

00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.060
 Verse 28,

00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:01.460
 Jesus promises

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.159
 that they will shine

00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.179
 with the same

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:05.419
 brightness as Jesus.

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:06.600
 Why?

00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:08.240
 Because he gladly

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.460
 associates with them

00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.620
 and calls them brothers.

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:12.560
 And again,

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.340
 a reference

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.080
 to Apollo.

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:15.379
 It would not be

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:15.820
 Apollo,

00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.700
 the sun god,

00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:17.700
 who would offer

00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:18.639
 a bright future

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.180
 to the people

00:14:19.180 --> 00:14:19.820
 of Thyatira.

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.919
 But Jesus,

00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.360
 the morning star.

00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.039
 And remember,

00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.879
 the morning star

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.320
 marks the passing

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.080
 of the darkness

00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.200
 and terror of night.

00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.600
 It will not

00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:33.659
 be the size

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.700
 or apparent

00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:35.460
 success,

00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:36.120
 my friends,

00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.480
 of our church

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.720
 that will delight

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.180
 Jesus.

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.200
 What will delight

00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:41.600
 Jesus?

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:42.240
 Well,

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.080
 as in this church

00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:43.360
 here,

00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:44.700
 faithfulness

00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:45.300
 will delight

00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:45.680
 Jesus.

00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:49.000
 one of the

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.719
 greatest dangers

00:14:49.719 --> 00:14:50.839
 for any church

00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:52.019
 is longing

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.779
 to be

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.639
 trend-setting,

00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:55.279
 showy,

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.120
 spectacular.

00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.759
 Because we think

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.339
 that that is

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:01.059
 what will count

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.219
 most for Christ's

00:15:02.219 --> 00:15:02.459
 kingdom.

00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:03.259
 That is what

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.059
 will mark us out

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.759
 as a growing,

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.899
 go-ahead,

00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.159
 exciting church.

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.559
 And it may well do

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.539
 in terms of the

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.240
 world's criteria.

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:14.379
 But we'll have

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.320
 Christ's blessing

00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:16.899
 when we are

00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.820
 faithful in the

00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:18.360
 basics

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.360
 rather than

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:20.940
 when we chase

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:22.180
 the spectacular.

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.419
 Now,

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:24.940
 hear me carefully.

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.120
 This is not

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:26.700
 to say

00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:27.960
 that we shouldn't

00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:28.940
 challenge ourselves

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:30.220
 into new enterprises

00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:31.879
 and be creative.

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.779
 but we mustn't

00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.439
 do so

00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:36.159
 at the expense

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.159
 of faithfulness

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.080
 in the basics.

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:40.759
 Now,

00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:41.259
 it seems to me

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:41.779
 this is another

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:43.059
 huge potential

00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.980
 point of reset

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.600
 for us.

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.820
 And turn it

00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.320
 into a question

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:47.559
 then.

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.600
 What do you

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.419
 crave most

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.259
 for our church

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:51.620
 family?

00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:54.259
 Do you crave

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.220
 faithfulness

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.480
 more than

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.320
 anything else?

00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.679
 Is that what

00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.059
 you want

00:15:59.059 --> 00:15:59.679
 us to be

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.200
 as a unit

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:00.559
 together?

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.819
 Or do you

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.500
 crave some

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.139
 alternative

00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:06.199
 to faithfulness?

00:16:07.239 --> 00:16:07.799
 Perhaps you

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.239
 do crave

00:16:08.239 --> 00:16:08.899
 success.

00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:09.779
 Perhaps you

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.899
 crave reputation

00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.639
 with other

00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.459
 churches and

00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:13.139
 other Christians

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:13.879
 so they look

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.359
 at our church

00:16:14.359 --> 00:16:14.599
 and go,

00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:15.019
 wow,

00:16:15.459 --> 00:16:16.000
 that's a

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.519
 switched on

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:16.959
 church.

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.500
 I wish I

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:17.879
 was part

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.139
 of it.

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.399
 Do we

00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.099
 crave greater

00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:22.779
 numbers to

00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:23.199
 show that we

00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:23.619
 are growing?

00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:25.339
 Do we crave

00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:26.199
 better buildings,

00:16:26.359 --> 00:16:26.899
 more exciting

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.319
 programs,

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:27.699
 and so the

00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:28.000
 list could

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.439
 go on?

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.079
 None of

00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:31.479
 those things

00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.059
 of themselves

00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:33.259
 are bad

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.739
 to crave

00:16:33.739 --> 00:16:34.099
 for.

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.559
 But if

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:36.919
 they're a

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.979
 substitute for

00:16:37.979 --> 00:16:38.639
 faithfulness,

00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:38.919
 then they

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.619
 become bad.

00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:42.779
 Do you

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.019
 crave

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.959
 faithfulness

00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:44.839
 more than

00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:45.639
 anything else

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.159
 for us as

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.579
 a church

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.000
 and for

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.879
 yourself as

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.299
 a believer?

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:50.879
 Well,

00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.159
 the second

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:51.919
 point then I

00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.279
 want to just

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:52.799
 highlight this

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.659
 morning is

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.259
 avoid the

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.159
 temptation to

00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.579
 make the

00:16:55.579 --> 00:16:56.759
 gospel fit

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.299
 society.

00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:59.959
 Now,

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.559
 in spite of

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:00.959
 the church

00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:01.519
 as a whole

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.339
 being commended

00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:02.939
 by Jesus,

00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:04.399
 there is a

00:17:04.399 --> 00:17:05.279
 great danger

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.819
 within it.

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.359
 And the

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.019
 great danger

00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.779
 comes from a

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.099
 few influential

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.659
 individuals among

00:17:11.659 --> 00:17:11.919
 them.

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.619
 The problem I'm

00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:13.960
 calling this

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.460
 morning is the

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.359
 Jezebel factor

00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.839
 because it may

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.539
 well be a

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.240
 single person

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.960
 called Jezebel,

00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:20.139
 but most likely

00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:20.599
 given the

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.220
 picture language

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.639
 and everything

00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.440
 else in these

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.700
 letters,

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.379
 most likely

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.579
 this Jezebel

00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.119
 represents a

00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:26.979
 small but

00:17:26.979 --> 00:17:27.979
 growing group

00:17:27.979 --> 00:17:28.599
 of people

00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.819
 within the

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.199
 church,

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:31.979
 clustered

00:17:31.979 --> 00:17:32.399
 around a

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.019
 particular way

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.559
 of thinking

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:33.939
 and a

00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:34.579
 particular way

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.019
 of living

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.879
 under the

00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:36.359
 banner of

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.039
 being Christians

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.279
 and people

00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:38.539
 who have

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:38.959
 effectively

00:17:38.959 --> 00:17:39.879
 changed the

00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:40.759
 gospel message

00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:42.159
 by removing

00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:43.019
 certain behavior

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.559
 from it.

00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:45.419
 Now,

00:17:45.479 --> 00:17:46.039
 it appears,

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.059
 if you look

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.339
 at verses

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:47.959
 21,

00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.359
 22,

00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:48.859
 and 23

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.179
 there,

00:17:49.439 --> 00:17:49.959
 it appears

00:17:49.959 --> 00:17:50.239
 that they

00:17:50.239 --> 00:17:50.759
 were very

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.279
 convincing.

00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:53.059
 They spoke

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.099
 what everybody

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:54.959
 considered to be

00:17:54.959 --> 00:17:55.879
 deep things

00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:57.200
 things that

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:57.740
 thought,

00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.280
 wow,

00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:59.780
 that's really

00:17:59.780 --> 00:18:00.380
 enlightened.

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:01.300
 That sort of

00:18:01.300 --> 00:18:01.660
 stuff would

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:02.660
 really free

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.140
 me and

00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:03.700
 bring me

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.840
 to maturity

00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:05.260
 as a

00:18:05.260 --> 00:18:05.580
 Christian.

00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.240
 That's the

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.420
 sort of

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:06.740
 stuff that

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.400
 only mature

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:08.680
 free Christians

00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.440
 would understand.

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.280
 But Jesus

00:18:12.280 --> 00:18:13.020
 mocks their

00:18:13.020 --> 00:18:13.360
 views.

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.340
 They may

00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:15.780
 well be

00:18:15.780 --> 00:18:16.140
 deep,

00:18:16.520 --> 00:18:17.500
 according to

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.120
 their criteria,

00:18:18.780 --> 00:18:19.840
 but they

00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.380
 don't reflect

00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.000
 Jesus or

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.380
 God.

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:21.980
 He calls

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.240
 them the

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.760
 deep things

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.279
 of Satan.

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:24.660
 That's how

00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.879
 vile they

00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:27.079
 are to

00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.400
 the Lord

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:27.799
 Jesus,

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.339
 the Lord

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:28.579
 of his

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:28.960
 church.

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.099
 Most likely

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.079
 the scenario

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.660
 would be

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.119
 that they

00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:34.980
 argued that

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.619
 attending

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.940
 pagan feasts

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.359
 didn't mean

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.920
 you were part

00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:39.200
 of them,

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.200
 so there's

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.619
 no issue.

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.259
 It would

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.700
 go something

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.259
 like this,

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.460
 and we know

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:44.779
 that this

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.000
 sort of

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.420
 teaching was

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.879
 in the

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.359
 early church.

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:46.700
 We don't

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.500
 know exactly

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:47.839
 if this

00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.099
 was the

00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.519
 teaching at

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:48.900
 Thyatara,

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:49.220
 but it

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.500
 certainly

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.680
 fits what's

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.039
 been said

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.259
 here.

00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:51.839
 It would

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.159
 go something

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:52.599
 like this.

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.359
 The deep

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.839
 thing is that

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.460
 as long as

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:55.980
 a Christian

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.000
 keeps his

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.819
 mind or

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.440
 her mind

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:58.899
 pure,

00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.339
 believing the

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.000
 right things

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.279
 and fellowshipping

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:02.799
 with other

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.379
 Christians on

00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:03.720
 Sundays,

00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.920
 then what

00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.279
 they did

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.680
 during the

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.359
 week wasn't

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.019
 really a

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:07.680
 gospel issue.

00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.119
 It was just

00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.019
 to be thought

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.920
 of as part

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.839
 of living

00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.319
 life.

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:13.940
 You have to

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.619
 live life,

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.299
 that's what

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:15.639
 you have to

00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.339
 do, so

00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:16.980
 it's okay

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.420
 providing you

00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:18.879
 keep other

00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.519
 things right

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:19.899
 and pure.

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.819
 Now we

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.279
 can understand

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.799
 how appealing

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.359
 this theology

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:23.700
 would have

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.000
 been.

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:24.879
 For a

00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:25.200
 start, it

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.500
 would make

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.079
 life much

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.720
 easier in

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.299
 Thyatara,

00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:29.159
 because just

00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:29.879
 about all

00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.339
 of community

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:30.839
 life was

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.359
 built around

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:31.920
 worship of

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.279
 gods.

00:19:34.639 --> 00:19:35.039
 And then

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.339
 again it

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:35.599
 would have

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.319
 suggested that

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.940
 Christians were

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.240
 really community

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:40.119
 minded, and

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.539
 that would have

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.139
 made them more

00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:41.659
 acceptable.

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.940
 And perhaps

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.379
 even the

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:44.879
 argument would

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.480
 be that these

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:45.859
 things would

00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:46.420
 open up more

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.079
 evangelistic

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.680
 opportunities.

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:51.480
 But then it

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.039
 also gives

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.539
 the opportunity

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.880
 to dabble in

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.480
 some of the

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.019
 alluring aspects

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.240
 of what we

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.539
 would call

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.620
 today a sex

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.420
 saturated

00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.380
 society, a bit

00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:00.820
 like Iran

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.180
 I suppose,

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.580
 and lots of

00:20:01.580 --> 00:20:01.779
 ways.

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.660
 So the

00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.539
 thinking of

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.220
 this Jezebel

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.920
 factor gave

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.320
 people the

00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:07.060
 opportunity to

00:20:07.060 --> 00:20:07.660
 dabble in

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.120
 some of the

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.240
 alluring aspects

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.720
 of that, while

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.320
 convincing

00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.360
 yourself still

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:12.740
 that you were

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.820
 just showing

00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:14.560
 that Christians

00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:15.480
 have red

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.880
 blood in

00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:16.279
 their veins

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.579
 too.

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:18.440
 You want

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:18.799
 to show

00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.279
 people that

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.599
 Christianity

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.579
 doesn't have

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.360
 to seriously

00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.000
 curb your

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.099
 former lifestyle.

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.079
 We're just

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.819
 ordinary people

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.360
 like everybody

00:20:27.360 --> 00:20:27.720
 else.

00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.360
 You can see

00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:32.839
 why people

00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.440
 would like

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:35.360
 that teaching.

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.440
 Christ's

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.380
 judgment on

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:38.940
 such thinking,

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.819
 very, very

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:42.180
 clear, very,

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.339
 very threatening

00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:44.039
 words, very,

00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:44.740
 very absolute

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.200
 words.

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.500
 What's

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:48.099
 appealing may

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.920
 well be

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.480
 damning.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.880
 And again

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.200
 in verses

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.160
 21 to 23,

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.559
 the same

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.700
 piercing eyes,

00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.299
 the same

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.440
 powerful figure

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.460
 that gently

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:59.240
 commends

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.519
 faithfulness,

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.660
 now becomes

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.720
 terrifying as

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.720
 he describes

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.000
 how he will

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.740
 purify his

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.059
 church.

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.440
 There will

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.740
 be consequences,

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.900
 severe

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:14.559
 consequences.

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.559
 Jesus will

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.559
 not stand

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.659
 idly by

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:19.119
 and allow

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.960
 his church

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:21.359
 to be led

00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.099
 into destruction.

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:26.259
 Christ is

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.000
 calling here

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.799
 for his

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.859
 people to

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.679
 be expressing

00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:32.059
 deep purity

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.480
 in every

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:33.980
 area of

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.480
 life, and

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:35.839
 perhaps

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.759
 especially

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.219
 sexual

00:21:37.219 --> 00:21:37.879
 behavior in

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.779
 this context.

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.059
 Christ's eyes

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.980
 have quite

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.079
 hot intensity

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.000
 to find

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.799
 and burn

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.599
 out impurity.

00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.539
 again, it's

00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.219
 an industrial

00:21:49.219 --> 00:21:50.459
 picture of

00:21:50.459 --> 00:21:51.039
 the furnace.

00:21:52.219 --> 00:21:52.899
 White hot

00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:53.839
 intensity to

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.639
 find and

00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:55.139
 burn out

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.699
 impurity.

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.079
 Christ's feet

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.959
 are like fine

00:21:58.959 --> 00:21:59.519
 brass.

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.759
 They're free

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.500
 from impurity,

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.759
 and that's

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:02.940
 what he

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.259
 wants his

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.700
 people to

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.140
 be like.

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.640
 See, boil

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.000
 it all

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.299
 down, and

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.980
 we can talk

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.000
 a lot about

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.579
 the actual

00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.759
 specific details,

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.339
 but boil it

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.859
 all down as

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.119
 this.

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.380
 I think their

00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.339
 culture was

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.319
 shaping how

00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.920
 they lived

00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.500
 the gospel

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:20.200
 rather than

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.259
 the gospel

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.359
 shaping how

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.799
 they lived

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.359
 their culture.

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:28.299
 Christ wants

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.899
 us to be

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.639
 like him

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:31.839
 in a world

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.699
 that constantly

00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:33.539
 wants to

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:34.079
 make us

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.219
 impure and

00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:35.659
 corrupt.

00:22:37.719 --> 00:22:38.639
 And Christ

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.199
 will take

00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:40.419
 drastic measures

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.219
 to bring us

00:22:41.219 --> 00:22:41.740
 to repentance

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.119
 and new

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.519
 purity.

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.479
 Friends,

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:48.959
 this whole

00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:49.479
 Jezebel

00:22:49.479 --> 00:22:50.139
 factor, I

00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:50.599
 think we

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.459
 could say

00:22:51.459 --> 00:22:52.719
 that it

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.600
 appears to

00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.620
 be the

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.460
 mood of

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.539
 evangelicalism

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.000
 in our

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.519
 generation.

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.799
 We have

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.579
 so-called

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.319
 evangelical

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.960
 church

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.740
 leaders who

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.339
 remove issue

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.480
 after issue

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:09.160
 from the

00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.900
 script of

00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:10.360
 the church

00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:10.900
 saying that

00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.539
 these things

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.400
 aren't really

00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.299
 gospel issues.

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.779
 So as long

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:17.339
 as we keep

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:17.940
 focused on

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.420
 Jesus, we

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.079
 can do this

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.460
 and this

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:19.799
 and this

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.120
 and this

00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:20.519
 and this.

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.259
 And so

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.819
 we find

00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.420
 in our

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.259
 world today

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.960
 in

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.140
 evangelicalism

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.759
 we find

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.420
 adultery,

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.819
 homosexuality,

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.740
 divorce,

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.600
 just open

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.380
 slather and

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:35.640
 watching movies

00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.240
 with sex

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.539
 scenes,

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.120
 drugs and

00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:37.440
 so on.

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.559
 There no

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.200
 longer seem

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.039
 to be real

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.920
 gospel issues.

00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.559
 Young people

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.160
 sleeping together

00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.680
 before they get

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:43.900
 married.

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:44.980
 They're just

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.700
 not even

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.740
 reading now

00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.299
 on some

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.799
 radars.

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:50.700
 And it's

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.400
 no surprise

00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.220
 that people

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.960
 love this

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.200
 new easy

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.000
 Christianity.

00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.380
 Many

00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.220
 evangelicals,

00:23:59.259 --> 00:23:59.559
 you'll hear

00:23:59.559 --> 00:23:59.880
 them now

00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:00.519
 saying that

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:00.819
 when it

00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.160
 comes to

00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:01.880
 evangelism,

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.299
 well, if

00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.900
 we have to

00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.440
 join their

00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.200
 after work

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.900
 drinking

00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:07.200
 sex-saturated

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.839
 conversation

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.460
 sessions to

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.720
 get the

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.259
 gospel out,

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.559
 then that's

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.019
 what we

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.259
 ought to

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.500
 do.

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.140
 If we

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.400
 have to

00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:13.920
 get involved

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.400
 in sport

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:14.660
 at the

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.240
 same level

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.880
 as our

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.380
 non-Christian

00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:16.740
 friends,

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.339
 then that's

00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:17.579
 what we

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:17.839
 have to

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.019
 do.

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.180
 If we

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.640
 have to

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:19.819
 make

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.819
 cafe latte

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.480
 and hipster

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.880
 dress,

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.000
 the focus

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.579
 of church

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.240
 because that's

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:24.579
 what people

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.240
 expect these

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.559
 days,

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.900
 then that's

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.120
 what we

00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:27.380
 have to

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:27.620
 do.

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.579
 I don't

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:28.799
 know where

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.160
 that leaves

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.400
 me,

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.400
 but I've

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.799
 heard that

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.120
 said.

00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.240
 Friends,

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.480
 if we're

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.779
 to have

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.539
 Christ's

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:39.279
 approval as

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.819
 a church

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.279
 family,

00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.740
 we must

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.559
 be faithful.

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.319
 Having

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.180
 our lives

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.380
 shaped by

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:46.940
 the gospel

00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:48.580
 at every

00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:48.980
 point of

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.320
 our day.

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.320
 Look at

00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.259
 verse 28.

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.200
 Jesus

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.740
 promises,

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.220
 I will

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.700
 give him

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:54.860
 the

00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.120
 morning

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.519
 star.

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.799
 Are you

00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.940
 drawn to

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.779
 the darkness

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:02.500
 and alluring

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.779
 autonomy and

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.180
 immorality of

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.799
 this world?

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.840
 And believe

00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:09.519
 for me,

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.600
 it is very

00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:11.240
 dark and

00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.420
 very alluring.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:14.360
 and it's

00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:15.000
 constantly

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.700
 trying to

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.759
 blur the

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.880
 guidelines and

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.600
 the edges

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.560
 for us.

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.120
 Are you

00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:21.920
 drawn to the

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.720
 darkness and

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.000
 alluring autonomy

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.980
 and immorality of

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.460
 this world?

00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.960
 Or are you

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.180
 drawn to the

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.840
 bright morning

00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:31.480
 star who

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.080
 dispels

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:34.340
 darkness and

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.740
 gives you

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.740
 light and

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.100
 life?

00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:39.299
 question of

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.879
 faithfulness.

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.119
 Is this

00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:43.000
 another point

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.419
 for us as a

00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:44.859
 church to

00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:46.059
 consider whether

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.699
 we need to

00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:48.019
 reset significantly?

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.339
 Whether you

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.859
 individually need

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.699
 to repent and

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:53.219
 reset significantly?

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:57.440
 thank you very

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.839
 much for

00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.160
 listening.

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.180
 Let me pray.

00:25:59.500 --> 00:25:59.759
 Lord,

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:02.240
 open our

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:03.200
 minds to

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.779
 your confronting

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.299
 word.

00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.620
 Open our

00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.039
 hearts,

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.360
 Lord,

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:09.039
 to feel that

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.799
 word impact

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.180
 on us.

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.519
 And lead us,

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:12.779
 Lord,

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.860
 individually and

00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:14.460
 together as a

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:16.019
 church unit to

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.880
 take whatever

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.960
 actions are

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.600
 necessary to

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:18.880
 repent.

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:19.519
 We thank you,

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.200
 Lord, that in

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.079
 your graciousness

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.120
 you pursue us

00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.519
 when we stumble

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.939
 and wander into

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.239
 sin.

00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.799
 And we thank

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.139
 you, Lord,

00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:27.799
 that you give us

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.639
 time and

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.619
 opportunity to

00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.000
 repent.

00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.459
 Lord, I pray

00:26:32.459 --> 00:26:33.000
 that we might

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.019
 think reflectively

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.539
 as a church

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.000
 family, that we

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.979
 might reset

00:26:36.979 --> 00:26:38.079
 where we need

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.659
 to reset, and

00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:40.239
 that ultimately

00:26:40.239 --> 00:26:41.179
 we might praise

00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:41.819
 you for both

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:43.399
 exposing our

00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.579
 sin and

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.399
 helping us move

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.159
 through it into

00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:47.119
 new purity.

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.779
 Help us, we

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:48.939
 pray.

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.959
 Be merciful to us,

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.359
 we pray.

00:26:50.959 --> 00:26:51.799
 In Jesus' name.

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.319
 Amen.

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.440
 Amen.