WEBVTT

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 About 50 years after Jesus used John to write the book of Revelation,

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 a man named Polycarp, who was one of John's students and disciples,

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 and an important figure in the early church, was executed for his faith.

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 Now, the execution of Christians, as you are well aware probably,

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 was not rare in the early days of the church.

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 But it was still after a series of murders in which some believers were taken into an arena

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 and literally fed to wild animals that the bloodthirsty crowd began to cry out for the blood of Polycarp.

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 He was 86 years old at the time, and the official charge against him was atheism.

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 Now, don't let that confuse you.

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 It wasn't that he didn't believe that there was a God.

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 But in the Roman context, anyone who would have rejected the plurality of gods that they worshipped

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 were considered atheists.

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 It wasn't so much that he didn't believe in a God.

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 It was his position on the exclusivity of Christ and the Christian God

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 that was so offensive to them so that they considered it to be a violation of their law.

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 That was the charge levied against him, and that's what ultimately led to his execution.

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 There was an early pamphlet among the early church written by a man named Irenaeus.

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 Irenaeus was a student of Polycarp.

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 Irenaeus, we have many of his writings, but one of them was called the Martyrdom of Polycarp,

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 where he recorded the details of how this unfolded in his teacher's life.

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 Martyrdom was becoming so routine among Christians in those days

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 that the booklet Irenaeus wrote began to be circulated as a means of encouraging

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 and teaching Christians on how to suffer well for the sake of Christ.

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 With extraordinary resolve, Polycarp was brought into an arena as a crowd roared for his murder.

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 As an influential Christian in the region, the Roman proconsul was determined to get Polycarp

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 to publicly recant. He thought if he could get him to turn away and publicly recant against these

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 anti-Caesar beliefs that he was teaching and encouraging other people to believe,

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 that it would begin to diminish the effectiveness of the Christian gospel in the region.

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 And one of the things that the proconsul wanted for Polycarp to do

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 in this attempt to convince him to recant is he said for him to swear by the genius of Caesar,

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 in other words, to claim Caesar as Lord is what he wanted him to do.

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 And then he said to repent and say, away with the atheists.

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 And of course, Polycarp's response to that was to motion toward the crowd that had gathered

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 and was calling for his murder and to indeed say, away with the atheists.

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 That's quite the resolve in that particular moment.

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 It's said that the proconsul, sensitive to Polycarp's age even and his weakness as an 86-year-old man,

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 was somewhat reluctant to go through with the execution.

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 And he even encouraged Polycarp to make this turn, even if he didn't believe it truly in his heart,

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 if he would just make this public confession so that he could be released

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 and he wouldn't have to go through this execution.

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 And it's to that that Polycarp responded with the famous words that I'm sure you've heard before.

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 86 years I have served Christ and he never did me any wrong.

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 How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?

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 And after that, a pyre was erected.

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 Polycarp was put to death and burned at the stake.

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 Polycarp was the pastor of the church in Smyrna,

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 which is the congregation to which Jesus delivers this message

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 and to whom it was first intended.

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 Let's briefly consider the sermon's place here in this chiastic structure.

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 I did remember to put it on the screen this week.

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 Remember, as we're following this literary structure that John, under Jesus' direction, is using here,

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 that the mirror church of Smyrna is the church of Philadelphia.

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 Now, these two churches are related to one another in the sense that

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 neither of the churches receive a complaint, correction, or a call to repentance from Jesus.

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 Of the seven churches, two of them are healthy.

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 Two of them have no complaint from the Lord.

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 Two of them are not called to repentance, and it's Smyrna and Philadelphia.

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 If you read through them, you'll also find that they share a familiar opponent.

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 Both congregations are being harassed by a group of Jews

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 that Jesus refers to as the synagogue of Satan.

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 In both letters or in both sermons, that's the terminology that he uses.

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 And what we discover is that under intense pressure from the culture in which they lived,

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 these two churches shine as a glowing example of perseverance

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 in faithfulness to Jesus and to the gospel

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 and to what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel.

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 They become our example in a culture that may not be threatening us

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 with the same form of persecution,

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 but is in just as much of opposition against us.

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 And what will we do?

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 That's the question that we come to here in this passage.

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 Now, the content of Jesus' sermon to Smyrna

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 is hugely significant on at least two levels.

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 First, it helps us to develop a proper theology of suffering.

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 It helps us to think about the reality of suffering for the Christian

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 and God's role in that suffering.

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 There's no room for the heresies of prosperity gospel

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 and the word of faith movement in this message.

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 They don't know what to do with passages like this

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 except to ignore them and to reject them.

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 This sermon reminds us that Christians should expect

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 some measure of suffering for the name of Christ

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 and we must recognize God's sovereignty in that suffering.

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 It reflects this cosmic war that begins to unfold

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 in chapter four of the book of Revelation

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 or just after chapters four and five

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 where those who follow Christ

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 will in this life always suffer

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 at the hands of those who do not follow Christ.

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 And what we see in this sermon to Smyrna

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 is an early instruction from Jesus

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 about what we will see continue to unfold in the book.

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 Second, this sermon shows us

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 that the only way possible

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 to deal with the inevitable tribulation

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 is to wholeheartedly believe

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 the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 The only proper response,

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 the only proper and true hope

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 is to consider the gospel of Jesus.

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 How could Polycarp

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 and thousands of other Christians through the centuries

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 face persecution with such boldness and assurance?

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 How is that even possible to do that?

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 If you're like me,

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 you can't imagine being in a situation like that.

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 And if you understand your own weakness,

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 you probably don't think that you would respond

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 in the same way as Polycarp

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 and many others have done.

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 How can they possibly do that?

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 It's not because they're built different than us.

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 It's not what it is.

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 It's because they persevered

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 in the amazing hope

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 that can only be found

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 in the person and work of Jesus.

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 You can persevere through Christ,

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 but you will inevitably fall without Him.

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 So as we go through this sermon

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 and as we get to it here,

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 we want to consider those two things.

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 How is it that we are to develop a theology

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 of suffering as Christians?

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 What does that mean for us according to this passage?

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 And when we face it,

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 what do we do?

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 How do we respond?

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 Okay.

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 First thing I want you to see

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 is the church identity in Christ's title.

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 Again, we're going to be using these same points

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 as we work through each sermon.

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 But look with me at verse 8

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 as we think about these two things.

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 To the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

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 the words of the first and the last

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 who died and came to life.

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 The most notable thing

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 about the ancient city of Smyrna

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 for us this morning

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 is its intense loyalty to Rome.

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 From about 200 BC,

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 Smyrna was committed to Rome

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 even when its imperial success

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 was not a guarantee.

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 Even at the height of Rome's fight

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 and struggle against Carthage,

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 Smyrna historically

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 was very much loyal to Rome.

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 Cicero, as you will probably

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 at least recognize the name

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 from your history books,

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 said that Smyrna was one of Rome's

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 most faithful and ancient allies.

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 And loyalty was eventually rewarded to them

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 by Tiberius, who we see

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 in the New Testament Gospels,

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 as he chose Smyrna to be the city

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 and the guardian of a new temple

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 in honor of Caesar Augustus.

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 So this was a significant city

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 in the context of Rome.

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 They were very loyal.

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 To be Smyrna was to be a Roman.

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 They were proud of that.

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 They loved Rome,

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 and Rome loved them.

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 And it's this devotion to Rome

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 that explains why the citizens

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 of the city were so hostile

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 to Christianity.

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 Because Christianity represented

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 a threat against what they were

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 so loyal to in the imperial cult

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 of Rome.

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 And it also sets the tone

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 for Jesus' call for these believers

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 to be more faithful to him

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 than even their local

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 and national heritage.

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 That's an important implication here.

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 While Christ desires that Christians

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 be the best possible citizens,

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 our loyalty and our love for country

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 must pale in comparison

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 to our faithful devotion

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 to our Lord and Savior.

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 When it comes to it,

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 if it comes to it,

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 for you to decide

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 whether you'll be a faithful American

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 or a faithful Christian,

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 if those two things

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 are ever set in opposition

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 to one another,

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 Lord willing,

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 you'll choose to be

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 a faithful Christian.

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 That's what was happening

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 in Smyrna.

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 And that's what these Christians there

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 were up against.

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 And we need to keep this in mind

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 as we move forward

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 through this particular sermon.

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 Now let's think about

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 the Christ titles

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 for just a minute.

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 There's two of them here.

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 And before I mention them,

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 just remember,

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 this is not John's estimation

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 of who Jesus is.

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 This is Jesus's self-revelation.

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 He tells us who he is

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 so that our faith

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 is grounded in his words,

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 not just in what

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 John thought about him.

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 That's important to remember.

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 And how Jesus describes himself

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 to Smyrna

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 emphasizes that he is both God

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 and Savior,

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 sovereign over all things,

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 including life and death.

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 That's the significance

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 of the titles.

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 That Jesus is the first

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 and the last,

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 that's what he says in verse 8,

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 that he is the first

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 and the last

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 is a clear allusion

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 to the Old Testament descriptions

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 belonging only to Yahweh,

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 to God.

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 God describes himself this way

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 many times

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 through the prophet Isaiah.

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 Let me just read

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 two of them to you.

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 Isaiah 44, 6,

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 Thus says the Lord,

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 the King of Israel

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 and his Redeemer,

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 the Lord of hosts,

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 I am the first

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 and I am the last.

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 Besides me,

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 there is no God.

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 He says later in Isaiah 48,

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 Listen to me,

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 O Jacob and Israel,

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 whom I called.

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 I am he.

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 I am the first

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 and I am the last.

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 My hand laid the foundation

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 of the earth.

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 My right hand spread out

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 the heavens.

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 When I call to them,

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 they stand forth together.

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 What's Jesus doing here?

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 Jesus is identifying himself

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 with God the Father,

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 an explicit claim

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 of divinity

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 and oneness

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 with the Father.

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 And the significance

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 of this title

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 for the people in Smyrna

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 is that Jesus

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 is fully aware of

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 and sovereign over

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 their tribulation

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 and the persecution

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 and suffering

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 that they are indeed facing.

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 And the same is true for us.

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 It's true for us.

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 Nothing that happens to us,

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 neither the opposition we endure

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 nor the death

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 that we may face

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 for his sake

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 is outside

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 of the sovereign control

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 of the Lord Jesus.

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 He is the first

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 and the last.

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 He was before anything else.

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 He will outlive

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 everything else.

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 He is God alone.

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 This is a clear statement

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.080
 to his sovereignty

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.899
 over their circumstance.

00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:36.919
 That Jesus is the one

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.980
 who died

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.159
 and came to life

00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:41.279
 puts his gospel

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.840
 front and center

00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:44.919
 of Smyrna's trial.

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:45.940
 Do you see that?

00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:47.360
 He says,

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.220
 I am your God.

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.399
 I'm the sovereign one.

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:52.279
 I'm also your Savior

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:55.299
 capable of providing for you

00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:57.279
 what you fear most.

00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:00.939
 He reminds us

00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:02.100
 that we identify

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:03.639
 with him in suffering

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.740
 because he suffered

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.860
 for us.

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.019
 And if Jesus conquered death

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.120
 through the resurrection,

00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:14.839
 we can face the threat

00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:15.399
 of death

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.439
 without fear

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:18.480
 knowing that he promised

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:19.279
 the crown of life

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.879
 to all who will

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.039
 be faithful

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.120
 unto death.

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.940
 And in the end,

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:27.759
 what we find

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.000
 is that the sermon

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.159
 to the church in Smyrna

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.279
 isn't so much

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.360
 about their suffering

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.440
 as it is about

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.000
 the glory

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.080
 and the power

00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.399
 of the risen Lord.

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.860
 That's really

00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:38.580
 what this sermon

00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.179
 is about.

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.039
 Among other things,

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.840
 these two titles

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.500
 teach us that

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.580
 in the context

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.259
 of suffering,

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.120
 we are comforted

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.159
 by Christ's

00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.279
 divine sovereignty

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:51.039
 and we have

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.159
 our eternal hope

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.819
 resting

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:54.259
 on the fact

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.319
 of his resurrection.

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.939
 His resurrection.

00:15:57.959 --> 00:15:58.439
 The resurrection

00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.299
 is not something

00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:00.240
 we are to think of

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.539
 on Easter weekend

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.279
 alone.

00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.419
 It is our hope

00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:05.179
 every day.

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:08.019
 We sing about it.

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.559
 Because he lives,

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:11.139
 I can face tomorrow.

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.059
 Because he lives,

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.899
 all fear is gone.

00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.980
 Because I know

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.439
 he holds the future

00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:20.600
 and life is worth

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.220
 the living

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:23.919
 just because

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:25.379
 he lives.

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.840
 The resurrection

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.259
 makes all the difference

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.059
 when we come

00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:29.539
 and we begin

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.100
 to develop

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.819
 our theology

00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:31.439
 of suffering.

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.860
 How do we endure that?

00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.159
 How do we face it?

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:35.059
 We face it

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:35.740
 with the gospel

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.279
 of Jesus

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:38.059
 front and center.

00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:40.039
 How will we persevere?

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:42.399
 Only when we fully

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.480
 are convinced of

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.399
 entrusting in

00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.039
 the death

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.659
 and resurrection

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.639
 of Jesus Christ.

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.620
 That's the significance here.

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.039
 Well, let's look also

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.000
 at the commendation.

00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:51.960
 Verse 9,

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.960
 I know your tribulation

00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.800
 and your poverty

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:56.440
 but you are rich

00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:57.940
 and the slander

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.820
 of those who say

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.659
 that they are Jews

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.840
 and are not

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:02.139
 but are a synagogue

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.580
 of Satan.

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.220
 Well, the commendation

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.759
 here is implicit.

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.440
 Jesus commends them

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.279
 because they are

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.200
 persevering

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.440
 through this incredible

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:13.980
 hardship

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.460
 and what that hardship

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.200
 and perseverance

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.059
 is proving

00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:18.740
 is their faithfulness

00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.340
 to the Lord.

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.660
 The Lord's knowledge

00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.640
 of their tribulation

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.460
 is a statement

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.539
 of their commitment

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.259
 to the gospel.

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.420
 It is actually

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.559
 their faithfulness

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.180
 to the Lord

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.460
 that has produced

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.820
 their suffering

00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:35.080
 and Jesus assures them

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:36.480
 that he is fully aware

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:36.820
 of it.

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.240
 He knows their struggle.

00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:40.400
 I know your tribulation,

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.960
 he says.

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.980
 Tribulation here

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.799
 is defined

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.579
 by two other words.

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.660
 It's defined

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.460
 by poverty

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.860
 and it's defined

00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:51.019
 by slander.

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.759
 So just like

00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.279
 in the sermon

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.759
 to the church

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.319
 at Ephesus,

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.240
 we could really

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.279
 appropriately render

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.840
 this sentence,

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:59.579
 I know your tribulation,

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.759
 namely,

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:02.340
 your poverty

00:18:02.340 --> 00:18:03.779
 and the slander

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.460
 of the Jews.

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:06.240
 But it is important

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.000
 to recognize

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.120
 that the tribulation,

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:08.860
 the suffering,

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.019
 the affliction

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.819
 that this church

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.420
 is facing

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:13.480
 is coming specifically

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.519
 as a result

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:16.160
 of their faith.

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:17.960
 It's a specific

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:19.600
 kind of affliction.

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.740
 Jeffrey Weima

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.539
 says it this way,

00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.819
 in this context,

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.340
 tribulation refers

00:18:25.340 --> 00:18:26.420
 not to the kind

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.660
 of common suffering

00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.860
 that can fall

00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:30.160
 upon all humanity

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.319
 as a consequence

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:31.880
 of living

00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.860
 in a fallen world,

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:35.019
 but it is the specific

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.159
 kind of suffering

00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:37.779
 that stems

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:39.119
 from identifying

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.899
 as a Christian.

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.559
 Now,

00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.419
 we can take

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.299
 implications

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.959
 from this text

00:18:45.959 --> 00:18:46.939
 and apply it

00:18:46.939 --> 00:18:47.979
 to other suffering.

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:48.919
 We could take it

00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:49.740
 and we could apply it

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.359
 to suffering

00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:51.479
 with our health

00:18:51.479 --> 00:18:52.299
 or suffering

00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:52.799
 the things

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.479
 that are common

00:18:53.479 --> 00:18:54.319
 to all people

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.259
 as a result

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.639
 of living

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.500
 in a fallen world.

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.839
 Jesus is still

00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:59.219
 sovereign over those things.

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.039
 Our hope

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.559
 in those things

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.699
 is still the gospel

00:19:01.699 --> 00:19:02.839
 and the resurrection.

00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:03.839
 But what Jesus

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.699
 has in mind

00:19:04.699 --> 00:19:06.079
 specifically here

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.939
 and firstly

00:19:06.939 --> 00:19:08.479
 is this dynamic

00:19:08.479 --> 00:19:09.139
 of suffering

00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:09.979
 for the name

00:19:09.979 --> 00:19:10.500
 of Christ,

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.819
 for being

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.719
 a Christian.

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.359
 Contrary to what

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.219
 you hear conveyed

00:19:16.219 --> 00:19:16.939
 in popular

00:19:16.939 --> 00:19:17.899
 American Christianity

00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:18.539
 especially,

00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.479
 the Bible guarantees

00:19:20.479 --> 00:19:23.079
 that faithful Christians

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.639
 will have to endure

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.959
 some measure

00:19:25.959 --> 00:19:27.119
 of affliction

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.779
 for Christ.

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:28.579
 It's actually

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.099
 a guarantee.

00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:30.159
 It may not be

00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:30.859
 to the extent

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:32.000
 of Polycarp.

00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.839
 It probably

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.419
 won't be

00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.299
 to the extent

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.019
 of Polycarp.

00:19:35.199 --> 00:19:36.079
 But if you are

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.439
 to live

00:19:36.439 --> 00:19:37.359
 a faithful Christian

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.740
 life,

00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.899
 you will come

00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.679
 under some

00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:40.579
 measure

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.919
 of affliction

00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:43.099
 as a result.

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.359
 Jesus says it

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.139
 in Matthew 10.

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.659
 He tells the disciples

00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.219
 plainly,

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.639
 you will be hated

00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.419
 by all

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.859
 for my name's sake.

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.599
 But the one

00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.439
 who endures

00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:55.359
 to the end

00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:56.419
 will be saved,

00:19:56.479 --> 00:19:56.919
 he says.

00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:59.120
 Paul writes

00:19:59.120 --> 00:19:59.680
 to Timothy,

00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:00.800
 indeed all

00:20:00.800 --> 00:20:01.680
 who desire

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.539
 to live

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.400
 a godly life

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.320
 in Christ Jesus

00:20:04.320 --> 00:20:05.580
 will be persecuted.

00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:06.860
 That doesn't mean

00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.480
 put to death.

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.279
 It just means

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:08.700
 you're going

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.779
 to face opposition

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.920
 as a Christian.

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.539
 And he goes on

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:12.920
 and he says

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.660
 this will happen

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:15.060
 while evil people

00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:16.120
 and imposters

00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:17.140
 will go on

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.900
 from bad

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:18.840
 to worse,

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.060
 deceiving

00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:20.940
 and being deceived.

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:22.060
 But as for you,

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:22.600
 he says,

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.759
 continue

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:25.279
 in what you

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:25.779
 have learned.

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.579
 Peter says

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.099
 it this way

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:29.000
 in 1 Peter 4.

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:29.460
 Beloved,

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:31.220
 do not be surprised

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:33.180
 at the fiery trial

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.319
 when it comes

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.819
 upon you

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.579
 to test you

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.440
 as though

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.279
 something strange

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.759
 were happening

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.240
 to you.

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.779
 But rejoice,

00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.460
 he says,

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.019
 insofar

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.700
 as you share

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.960
 Christ's sufferings

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.299
 that you may

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.160
 also rejoice

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.920
 and be glad

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.299
 when his glory

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.859
 is revealed.

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.559
 There are many

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.279
 more passages

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.220
 than just these.

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.119
 But notice

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:53.839
 the commonality.

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.639
 There's a thread

00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.700
 that's bringing

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.259
 all of these

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.700
 together.

00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:58.240
 Part of the thread

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.900
 is that we will

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:01.280
 indeed face

00:21:01.280 --> 00:21:02.380
 opposition for our

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:02.680
 faith.

00:21:03.020 --> 00:21:03.920
 If we are to live

00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.520
 it faithfully,

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.360
 we will face

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.240
 opposition.

00:21:06.780 --> 00:21:07.500
 The other part

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.140
 of this thread

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:10.100
 is this encouragement

00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.040
 from the apostles,

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.600
 don't give up.

00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:13.680
 And from Jesus,

00:21:14.060 --> 00:21:14.800
 keep going,

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.580
 be faithful

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.280
 to the end.

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.660
 Paul says to

00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:18.000
 Timothy,

00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:19.000
 but you just

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.060
 stay steadfast,

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.380
 Timothy,

00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:20.880
 in the things

00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.300
 that you know

00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:21.720
 to be true

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.240
 in the Bible.

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.859
 Peter,

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.420
 rejoice in it.

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.059
 Not that you're

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.960
 happy to suffer,

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.059
 but rejoice

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.759
 in that you are

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.759
 identifying with

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.079
 Christ.

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.579
 Stay faithful,

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.160
 he means.

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.559
 Like I said,

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.299
 the odds of

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.140
 any of us

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.019
 facing martyrdom

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.420
 are really

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:38.880
 unlikely.

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:40.980
 But still,

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.759
 the fact is

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.599
 that all of us

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.200
 who publicly

00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.339
 confess Christ

00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.440
 and stand

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.120
 boldly on the

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:47.339
 gospel are going

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.059
 to face some

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.000
 form of persecution

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.480
 that will test

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:52.279
 whether or not

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.980
 we're serious

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.920
 about this faith.

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.299
 The world

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.980
 tests us.

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.319
 And it should

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:58.980
 be a conviction

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.599
 to us

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.900
 if we've never

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.440
 really dealt

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.019
 with this kind

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.599
 of opposition.

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.059
 If we've never

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.559
 really felt

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.680
 with any kind

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.140
 of opposition

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.120
 against our faith,

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.700
 it might be

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.900
 because

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:13.000
 we're not

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.200
 really pursuing

00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.279
 godliness at all.

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.000
 there's no way

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.599
 for the world

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.440
 to actually

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.519
 recognize that

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.240
 there is a

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.759
 Christianity

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.599
 that we

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.399
 subscribe to

00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:25.059
 because we're

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.599
 no different.

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.819
 Paul says

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.259
 those who

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.379
 desire to

00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.200
 live godly,

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.119
 well not

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.639
 everybody that

00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:32.039
 names the

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.779
 name of Christ

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.680
 desires to

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.319
 live godly.

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.039
 You say,

00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:36.779
 I haven't really

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.259
 ever faced

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.899
 opposition like

00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:38.039
 this.

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:38.559
 Well that may

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.559
 be the case.

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.700
 You may not

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.460
 be facing any

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.259
 kind of opposition.

00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.299
 It could be

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.960
 because you

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.059
 have decided

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.700
 to live in

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.940
 such isolation

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.139
 to the world

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:50.299
 that they never

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.039
 see your good

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.079
 works that

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.460
 could either

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.220
 glorify your

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.899
 Father which is

00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:54.819
 in heaven or

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.599
 face the

00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.319
 opposition that

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.960
 you face now.

00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:57.859
 It's not that

00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.339
 you don't live

00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.019
 godly, it's that

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.619
 you don't live

00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:00.019
 in the world

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.539
 that God has

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:00.980
 left you to

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.319
 live in.

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.399
 That's a

00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:03.819
 problem.

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.259
 It could be

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.740
 that you're

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.379
 living in the

00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:08.000
 world and that

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.399
 you're living

00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:09.259
 godly but when

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.700
 it comes to

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.099
 things like

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.859
 evangelism you

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.279
 are just

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.079
 unbelievably

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.879
 silent.

00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.540
 When the

00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:15.320
 tough conversations

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:15.960
 come up and

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.580
 the spirit gives

00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.280
 you an opportunity

00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:18.800
 to step in and

00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:19.440
 be a witness of

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.160
 the gospel you

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.120
 are motionless,

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.100
 silent.

00:23:23.780 --> 00:23:24.280
 Well how would

00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:24.940
 we expect to

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.540
 face opposition

00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:26.120
 if we're not

00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.880
 actually living the

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.760
 way that Christ

00:23:27.760 --> 00:23:28.500
 has called us to

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:28.760
 live?

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.100
 All of those

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:30.680
 things matter.

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.860
 But if you're

00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.420
 going to live

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.300
 faithfully in the

00:23:33.300 --> 00:23:34.160
 way that Christ

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.940
 has led us and

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.460
 called us to

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.680
 live this will

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.080
 happen.

00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:37.740
 It's going to

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.040
 happen.

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.620
 Let's think about

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.600
 the two particular

00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.900
 ways that Jesus

00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:42.620
 mentions their

00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:43.340
 affliction here.

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.720
 First he mentions

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.440
 poverty.

00:23:46.060 --> 00:23:46.580
 Poverty.

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.640
 I know your

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.000
 tribulation and

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.560
 your poverty.

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.420
 Now it is true

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.100
 that many

00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.840
 Christians in the

00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.300
 early church

00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.700
 especially came

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.660
 from the lower

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:59.200
 social classes but

00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.140
 what Jesus has in

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.060
 mind here is a

00:24:01.060 --> 00:24:01.860
 poverty that has

00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:03.000
 come as a result

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.140
 of their Christian

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.640
 faith.

00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:06.180
 And let's think

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.759
 about how this

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.740
 might have unfolded

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.160
 for them.

00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:08.960
 There's several

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.620
 ways that we can

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.360
 discern this.

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.519
 Hebrews chapter

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.359
 10 and verse

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:12.799
 34.

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.519
 If you want to

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.079
 write that in the

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.579
 margin of your

00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.199
 notes you can read

00:24:15.199 --> 00:24:15.539
 it later.

00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.179
 I don't have it in

00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:16.699
 front of me but

00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.979
 Hebrews 10 34

00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:19.539
 speaks of Christians

00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:21.819
 being attacked and

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.759
 their property and

00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.679
 belongings being

00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.659
 confiscated.

00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:27.159
 Being confiscated

00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:29.899
 not justly so but

00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:31.219
 simply on the

00:24:31.219 --> 00:24:32.240
 premise that they

00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.939
 are Christians and

00:24:32.939 --> 00:24:33.579
 they have enemies.

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.639
 It's intimidation.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.219
 It's threat.

00:24:36.479 --> 00:24:37.159
 Christians deal with

00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:37.500
 this.

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.659
 We deal with this

00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.199
 kind of stuff.

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:41.259
 In that day a

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.360
 worker's ability to

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:44.100
 be successful in

00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:45.519
 trade was

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.920
 tremendously hindered

00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:48.140
 when the larger

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.340
 culture cut them

00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.220
 out of society.

00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.220
 Right?

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.319
 So in the days of

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:55.100
 Smyrna it was the

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:56.420
 Christians who were

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.220
 up against the

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.299
 calls for boycotting.

00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:00.180
 Ironically it's the

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.620
 Christians these days

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.460
 that become so

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:04.700
 vindictively boycotting

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.480
 in the culture that

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.160
 they have subscribed

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.580
 to.

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.840
 But in this day it

00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.500
 was actually the

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.160
 Christians who were

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.940
 under that threat.

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.400
 They couldn't belong

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.440
 to certain trade

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.480
 guilds if they

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.980
 didn't participate in

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.220
 certain cultural

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:18.259
 religious ceremonies.

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.700
 Which means that they

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.980
 were completely cut out

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.880
 of the business trade.

00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.819
 Well if you can't get

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.660
 anybody to come and

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.579
 shop at your store

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:27.579
 or if they skip right

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.599
 over you in the market

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.700
 you're not going to

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.279
 make any money.

00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.460
 And because of their

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.740
 faith as an extension

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.980
 of this persecution

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.180
 they have developed

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.900
 this poverty.

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.820
 Some in the church

00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:40.000
 were facing imprisonment.

00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:40.799
 We find that later

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:42.480
 on in this sermon.

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.880
 And of course this

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.860
 brought another layer

00:25:44.860 --> 00:25:45.940
 of financial hardship

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.779
 for their families.

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:50.200
 What it boils down to

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.279
 is the Christians in

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.160
 Smyrna were faced

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.840
 with a dilemma.

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.840
 They were either going

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.660
 to make a living

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:57.620
 or they were going

00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.799
 to be faithful to Jesus.

00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:00.500
 Those were their

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:00.940
 options.

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.039
 They were in a corner.

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.680
 What do we do here?

00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:06.720
 Do we kind of quietly

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.559
 live our Christianity

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.799
 here on Sundays

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.480
 when we're at the

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.779
 house church but then

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.399
 during the week

00:26:11.399 --> 00:26:13.319
 we just participate

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.359
 in what the culture

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.339
 is because how else

00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:15.759
 are we going to

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.119
 survive?

00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:17.899
 Is that what we do?

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:20.180
 Or do we stay faithful

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.399
 both in private

00:26:21.399 --> 00:26:22.759
 and in public

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.539
 even at the risk

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:26.099
 of our own wealth

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.220
 and well-being?

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.119
 That's the dilemma

00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.039
 that they face.

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:32.920
 But then Jesus says

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.759
 this interesting thing

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.579
 here in verse 9.

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.680
 While acknowledging

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.379
 their poverty

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.819
 he reminds them

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.359
 of an eternal

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.980
 perspective.

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.899
 He says but you

00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.519
 are rich.

00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:43.200
 You're rich.

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.099
 What does he mean

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.559
 by that?

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.299
 Christian poverty

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.519
 and worldly riches

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.720
 in this life

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.639
 are somewhat

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.500
 of a facade.

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:55.399
 It's superficial.

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:58.580
 In the end

00:26:58.580 --> 00:26:59.180
 the wealth

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.860
 and prosperity

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.640
 of this world

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.640
 is going to perish

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.820
 and it's going to

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:04.380
 expose that those

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:05.840
 who rebel against

00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:06.280
 the Lord

00:27:06.280 --> 00:27:07.340
 are actually the ones

00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:07.880
 who are truly

00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.680
 destitute.

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.620
 But even though

00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:11.200
 a Christian

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.920
 and a believer

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.940
 may face affliction

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.720
 that results in

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.880
 poverty in this life

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:16.000
 in the end

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.000
 that poverty

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.820
 will pass

00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.860
 and it will reveal

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.840
 a kind of riches

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:21.100
 that this world

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:22.200
 cannot comprehend.

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:24.700
 And it is Jesus'

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.559
 intention

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.640
 for the church

00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:27.340
 in Smyrna

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:28.519
 and the church

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.340
 at Lake Norman

00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:31.220
 to live in light

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.480
 of this understanding

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.059
 so that when they

00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.100
 and we

00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.059
 are faced

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:37.059
 with this particular

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.660
 dilemma

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:39.279
 will we publicly

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.319
 profess Christ

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.660
 or will we only

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.900
 hide it in the corner

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.799
 so that we can still

00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.620
 continue to live

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.000
 in comfort

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.660
 in this life?

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.799
 Jesus is later

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.480
 going to say

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.860
 give it all up.

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.259
 Give it all up

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:50.779
 for me.

00:27:51.580 --> 00:27:52.059
 Why?

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.880
 Because you're rich

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.400
 in a way

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.039
 that this world

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.960
 does not understand.

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.140
 Those are hard words

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.860
 from our Lord.

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.559
 Those are hard words.

00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:05.059
 Well then he mentions

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.860
 their slander.

00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:09.460
 There's a group of Jews

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.279
 Jesus mentions

00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.500
 who are maliciously

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.700
 slandering these Christians.

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.460
 Now when John

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.299
 uses the term

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.100
 Jew here

00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.580
 he's using it

00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:18.180
 in the sense

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:19.140
 of being the true

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.059
 people of God.

00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.039
 That's the idea.

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.720
 he's not talking

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.799
 about ethnic

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.700
 Israel.

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.779
 He's talking about

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.639
 who are the true

00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.399
 people of God.

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.720
 That's why Jesus

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.319
 says

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.000
 or excuse me

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.399
 not John

00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:30.839
 but Jesus

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:32.220
 Jesus says

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.139
 that they

00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:34.240
 claim to be Jews

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.159
 but they are not.

00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:36.779
 Now what is

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.480
 Jesus saying?

00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:39.220
 Jesus is saying

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.940
 that though

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.399
 they are

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.359
 ethnically

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:44.359
 and religiously

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.059
 Jewish

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:47.659
 they are not

00:28:47.659 --> 00:28:48.339
 the true

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.599
 people of God.

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.460
 Why?

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.099
 Because they have

00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:52.819
 rejected

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:54.079
 the gospel.

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.639
 Rejected the gospel.

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.460
 That's the sense

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.139
 in which he's using

00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.799
 the term here.

00:28:59.220 --> 00:28:59.619
 Instead

00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:01.079
 he said

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.899
 that they belong

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:03.179
 to the synagogue

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:04.099
 of Satan.

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.559
 Christ

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.720
 adversary.

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.759
 That's what the word

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.379
 Satan means.

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.700
 It means

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.460
 adversary

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.679
 and he's the ruler

00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:11.539
 of this world

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.359
 in the book

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.119
 of the Revelation.

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:15.179
 Now what is

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:15.799
 this church

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.439
 going up against?

00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.139
 Well there are

00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:18.099
 ethnic and religious

00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:19.099
 Jews in Smyrna

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.379
 who are slandering

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.659
 them.

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.579
 They claim to be

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.419
 Jews but Jesus

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.219
 says they are not

00:29:23.219 --> 00:29:23.799
 the true people

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.239
 of God.

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.419
 Because they have

00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:26.239
 rejected me

00:29:26.239 --> 00:29:27.239
 they are not

00:29:27.239 --> 00:29:27.839
 my people.

00:29:28.459 --> 00:29:29.359
 The church

00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.679
 is his people.

00:29:32.459 --> 00:29:33.319
 The reason

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:33.839
 these Jews

00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.479
 were slandering

00:29:34.479 --> 00:29:34.959
 Christians

00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:35.699
 is actually

00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.479
 fairly simple.

00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:38.259
 Judaism

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.319
 was tolerated

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.279
 in Roman culture

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.659
 so long

00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.639
 as it was

00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:43.600
 not disruptive

00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.520
 to Roman

00:29:44.520 --> 00:29:44.920
 culture

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.460
 and life.

00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:47.259
 Christianity

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.480
 generally

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.480
 was viewed

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.420
 as a sect

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.680
 within Judaism

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.780
 and Christianity

00:29:52.780 --> 00:29:53.800
 by its very

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:54.360
 nature

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.380
 is disruptive.

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:56.800
 Jesus

00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:57.660
 told us

00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.500
 in some sense

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.340
 to be disruptive

00:29:59.340 --> 00:30:00.460
 not in a negative

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.840
 sense

00:30:00.840 --> 00:30:01.660
 but as we

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.900
 evangelize the world

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.660
 that's going to

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.640
 cause some problems

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.580
 because people

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:06.320
 are naturally

00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:07.080
 offended

00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:08.380
 by the gospel

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.060
 message.

00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:10.259
 Christianity

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.320
 is naturally

00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:11.880
 disruptive.

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.860
 Judaism

00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:14.060
 is tolerated

00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:14.580
 so long

00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:15.180
 as it isn't

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.660
 disruptive

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.300
 and the

00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:16.620
 problem

00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:17.040
 for these

00:30:17.040 --> 00:30:17.380
 Jews

00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:18.160
 is that the

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.420
 Romans

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:18.940
 considered

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.380
 Christians

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:19.840
 to be

00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.220
 Jews.

00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:21.460
 That was the

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:21.860
 problem.

00:30:22.780 --> 00:30:23.580
 So the Jews

00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:24.120
 knew their

00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.640
 hope for

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.340
 survival

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:26.940
 was if they

00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.340
 were the

00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:27.820
 ones who

00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.420
 were actually

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.320
 turning in

00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:30.000
 the Christians.

00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:31.260
 If they

00:30:31.260 --> 00:30:31.640
 were the

00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.640
 informants

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.320
 that were

00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:33.960
 making a

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.580
 distinction

00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:35.100
 between

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.600
 Judaism

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.020
 and

00:30:36.020 --> 00:30:36.620
 Christianity

00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.740
 then that

00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.280
 in some

00:30:38.280 --> 00:30:38.560
 sense

00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:38.920
 in their

00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.340
 minds

00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:39.980
 would get

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.500
 them off

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.000
 the chopping

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.379
 block

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:41.759
 and they

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.099
 would be

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:42.699
 sacrificing

00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:43.220
 the Christians

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:43.679
 instead.

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.399
 But in order

00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.119
 to do that

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.740
 it meant

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.059
 that they

00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.379
 had to

00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:46.799
 actually

00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.279
 make up

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.779
 lies

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.240
 about the

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.639
 Christians

00:30:48.639 --> 00:30:49.939
 and there's

00:30:49.939 --> 00:30:50.419
 lots of

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:50.939
 historically

00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:51.519
 documented

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:51.919
 lies

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.240
 that they

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.779
 were making.

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.139
 They were

00:30:54.139 --> 00:30:54.459
 accused

00:30:54.459 --> 00:30:54.819
 of being

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.539
 cannibals

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:56.819
 and they

00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.299
 would accuse

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.599
 them of

00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.099
 this because

00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.579
 of their

00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:58.939
 view of

00:30:58.939 --> 00:30:59.500
 the Lord's

00:30:59.500 --> 00:30:59.859
 Supper

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:01.119
 when they

00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:01.439
 would come

00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:01.819
 together

00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:02.119
 Sunday

00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:02.679
 by Sunday

00:31:02.679 --> 00:31:02.980
 and they

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.639
 would take

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:03.919
 of the

00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:04.279
 bread

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.619
 and the

00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:05.259
 wine

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.559
 as it

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:05.939
 related

00:31:05.939 --> 00:31:06.899
 and symbolized

00:31:06.899 --> 00:31:07.339
 the body

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:07.579
 and the

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:07.939
 blood of

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.240
 Jesus.

00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:08.799
 Well the

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.279
 Jews took

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:09.960
 that dynamic

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.320
 and that

00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:10.759
 theology

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.420
 and they

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.860
 told the

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.160
 Romans

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.660
 these people

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.440
 are cannibals

00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:15.600
 because they

00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:16.140
 called each

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.660
 other brother

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.259
 and sister

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.660
 in this

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.440
 familial

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.160
 relationship

00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:19.720
 they accused

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.160
 them of being

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.180
 incestuous.

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:24.080
 There were

00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:25.360
 accusations

00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:26.580
 of treason

00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:27.840
 because

00:31:27.840 --> 00:31:29.160
 Jesus was

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:29.779
 their Lord

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:31.180
 more than

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.920
 Caesar was

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.480
 their Lord.

00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:35.100
 As we saw

00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:35.940
 in Polycarp's

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.820
 case they

00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.279
 were accused

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.639
 of being

00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:38.480
 atheists.

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.179
 These are

00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:41.179
 all historical

00:31:41.179 --> 00:31:42.039
 charges brought

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.619
 against these

00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.159
 people that

00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.779
 we read in

00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:45.259
 the documents

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.859
 that we have

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.319
 surviving

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.759
 historical

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.539
 documents from

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:47.960
 Rome

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.599
 describing what

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.359
 this was like

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:50.740
 for these

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.200
 Christians.

00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.299
 You ever had

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:52.799
 somebody tell

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.339
 a lie about

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:53.579
 you?

00:31:54.439 --> 00:31:54.659
 You ever

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.259
 had somebody

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.099
 maliciously

00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.960
 and intentionally

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.919
 misrepresent

00:31:57.919 --> 00:31:58.659
 what you say

00:31:58.659 --> 00:31:59.039
 and what you

00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.159
 believe just

00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:00.899
 so that you

00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:02.119
 can face

00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:03.279
 hardship

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.659
 and difficulty?

00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:07.200
 This is

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.860
 exactly what

00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:08.240
 the Jews

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.620
 did to

00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:08.980
 Jesus.

00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.440
 They tried

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.060
 to accuse

00:32:12.060 --> 00:32:12.380
 him to

00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:12.800
 Rome

00:32:12.800 --> 00:32:13.600
 in Jerusalem

00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.960
 based on

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.759
 Roman law

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.779
 and they

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.519
 maliciously

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:17.960
 slandered

00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:19.019
 him which

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.680
 resulted in

00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.540
 his crucifixion.

00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:22.000
 It's what

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.400
 they did to

00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:22.759
 the church

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.320
 in Smyrna.

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.700
 It's what

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:24.980
 they're going

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.279
 to do

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.680
 until the

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.400
 Lord returns.

00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:28.040
 It's going

00:32:28.040 --> 00:32:28.360
 to keep

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:28.740
 happening

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.340
 that way.

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.080
 Slander.

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.680
 Poverty.

00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:34.279
 The question

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.640
 is when

00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.140
 we face

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.580
 this kind

00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.200
 of opposition

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.880
 will we

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.700
 stay faithful?

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.320
 Will we

00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:41.820
 stay faithful?

00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:43.680
 That's what

00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.259
 Jesus deals

00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:44.759
 with next.

00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:45.080
 Let's look

00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:45.299
 at the

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.080
 charge here.

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.019
 Verse 10

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.759
 Do not fear

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.120
 what you're

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.539
 about to

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:49.900
 suffer.

00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:51.640
 Behold the

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.039
 devil is

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.440
 about to

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:52.880
 throw some

00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.080
 of you

00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:53.660
 into prison

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.060
 that you

00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:54.440
 may be

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:54.860
 tested.

00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.380
 For ten

00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:56.900
 days you

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.240
 will have

00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:57.900
 tribulation.

00:32:58.060 --> 00:32:58.640
 Be faithful

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.460
 unto death

00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.940
 and I will

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.259
 give you

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.779
 the crown.

00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:04.840
 Well since

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.259
 there's no

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.019
 complaint for

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.360
 the church

00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:06.860
 in Smyrna

00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:07.900
 neither is

00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:08.340
 there a

00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:09.140
 correction or

00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:09.620
 a call to

00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:10.039
 repentance.

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.940
 So Jesus

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:13.180
 directly charges

00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:13.740
 them,

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:15.160
 commands them

00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:16.360
 regarding their

00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:18.180
 affliction and

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.980
 especially how

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.539
 their affliction

00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.140
 is about to

00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:20.700
 escalate.

00:33:22.100 --> 00:33:23.279
 He clarifies

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.100
 how he expects

00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:24.759
 his people to

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:26.779
 respond when

00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.580
 facing even

00:33:27.580 --> 00:33:28.440
 the severest

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.380
 forms of

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.180
 persecution and

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.539
 the bottom

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.340
 line is this

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:32.699
 we must be

00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:34.379
 faithful to

00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:34.859
 the end.

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.439
 Faithful to

00:33:36.439 --> 00:33:36.839
 the end.

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:38.199
 That's the

00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.119
 expectation of

00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.539
 our Lord.

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.039
 First,

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:43.720
 Jesus commands

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.359
 his people to

00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:44.839
 do what is

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.199
 seemingly

00:33:45.199 --> 00:33:45.879
 impossible.

00:33:46.199 --> 00:33:46.480
 Do you see

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:46.740
 that?

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.599
 Very first

00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.000
 phrase in

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.459
 verse 10.

00:33:49.459 --> 00:33:50.119
 Do not fear

00:33:50.119 --> 00:33:50.480
 what you're

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:50.899
 about to

00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:51.159
 suffer.

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.659
 And then he

00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:54.079
 goes on in

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.500
 the very next

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.939
 phrase and

00:33:54.939 --> 00:33:55.259
 says what

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.639
 you're about

00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:56.179
 to suffer

00:33:56.179 --> 00:33:57.119
 actually is

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.579
 that some

00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:57.899
 of you are

00:33:57.899 --> 00:33:58.240
 going to be

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.899
 imprisoned and

00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.399
 executed.

00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:02.960
 10 days

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.420
 here is

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.320
 probably not

00:34:04.320 --> 00:34:04.700
 meant to

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.380
 be taken as

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:05.759
 a literal

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.240
 10 day

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.800
 time frame.

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.259
 It's meant

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.019
 to be

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.619
 representative

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:10.599
 of a full

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.119
 and yet

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.039
 limited

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.900
 short term

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:15.119
 type of

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.900
 persecution

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.340
 that they're

00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:16.680
 going to

00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.099
 endure.

00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.099
 It will be

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:18.820
 limited because

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.240
 it's going to

00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:19.599
 lead very

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.059
 quickly to

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.639
 their death.

00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:22.460
 Jesus

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:22.940
 essentially

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.720
 says this,

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.360
 Satan is

00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:26.800
 about to

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.139
 have you

00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.599
 thrown into

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.160
 prison and

00:34:28.160 --> 00:34:28.400
 killed.

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.280
 And I'm

00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:30.420
 going to

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.700
 let him

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.099
 do it.

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:32.900
 I'm going

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:33.099
 to let

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.360
 him do

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:33.619
 it.

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.539
 But don't

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.099
 be afraid.

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:37.720
 What?

00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:38.800
 What do

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.000
 you mean

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.300
 don't be

00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:39.680
 afraid?

00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.039
 How can

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.400
 you not

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.000
 be afraid?

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:44.980
 How can

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.260
 you not

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:46.139
 be absolutely

00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:47.360
 terrified?

00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:49.940
 But Jesus

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.360
 does not

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:50.680
 give this

00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:50.980
 as a

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.440
 suggestion.

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:51.840
 This is

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.380
 an imperative.

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.099
 He says

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.519
 do not

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.139
 be afraid.

00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:55.099
 Do not

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.579
 be afraid.

00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.800
 Even

00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.000
 our

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:00.380
 suffering.

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:00.539
 What

00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:01.079
 stands out

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.579
 here is

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.059
 that Jesus

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.740
 speaks as

00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:04.099
 being in

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.800
 total control

00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:05.119
 of it.

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.559
 He's in

00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.139
 total control

00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:07.400
 of this

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:07.960
 situation.

00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.019
 Even

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.300
 our

00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:10.920
 suffering is

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.320
 part of

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:11.639
 God's

00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:12.240
 plan to

00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:12.720
 strengthen

00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:13.460
 our faith,

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.740
 to display

00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.480
 his glory,

00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:16.260
 to promote

00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.019
 his gospel.

00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:17.619
 I think it

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.360
 was Tertullian

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:18.960
 said that the

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.380
 blood of the

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.139
 martyrs is the

00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:20.619
 seed of the

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:21.019
 church.

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:22.760
 Historically,

00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:23.119
 that's what

00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:23.539
 we've seen

00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:23.940
 happen.

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:24.820
 Could it

00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:25.200
 be that

00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:25.740
 that's God's

00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.180
 design?

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:28.039
 Yes.

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:29.899
 And make

00:35:29.899 --> 00:35:30.519
 no mistake,

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.739
 Jesus says it

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.199
 plainly,

00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.359
 Satan is the

00:35:33.359 --> 00:35:34.279
 agent of our

00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:34.919
 persecution.

00:35:35.419 --> 00:35:35.839
 But what

00:35:35.839 --> 00:35:36.960
 Satan intends

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.319
 as a

00:35:37.319 --> 00:35:38.480
 temptation to

00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:39.039
 lure us

00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:39.899
 away from

00:35:39.899 --> 00:35:40.500
 the gospel,

00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.139
 God uses

00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:43.179
 as a test

00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:44.039
 to actually

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:44.599
 draw his

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.440
 people out

00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.779
 in faithfulness.

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.319
 James tells

00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:48.639
 us this

00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.079
 plainly.

00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:49.719
 James chapter

00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:49.980
 one,

00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:50.799
 count it all

00:35:50.799 --> 00:35:51.319
 joy,

00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:51.779
 brothers,

00:35:52.419 --> 00:35:52.839
 when you

00:35:52.839 --> 00:35:53.519
 meet trials

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.079
 of various

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.659
 kinds.

00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:55.579
 For you

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.079
 know that

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.739
 the testing

00:35:56.739 --> 00:35:57.159
 of your

00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:58.519
 faith produces

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:59.579
 steadfastness.

00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:00.699
 And let

00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.639
 steadfastness

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:02.000
 have its

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.699
 full effect,

00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:03.239
 that you

00:36:03.239 --> 00:36:03.619
 may be

00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.279
 perfect and

00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:04.779
 complete,

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:05.400
 lacking

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:05.819
 nothing.

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:06.400
 In other

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:06.579
 words,

00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.340
 James says,

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:07.960
 count it

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.420
 all joy

00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:09.079
 because God

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.579
 is using

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.259
 your suffering

00:36:10.259 --> 00:36:11.259
 to draw

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:11.940
 you out,

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.779
 to make

00:36:12.779 --> 00:36:13.199
 you more

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:13.679
 faithful,

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.799
 to strengthen

00:36:14.799 --> 00:36:15.519
 your faith

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:15.819
 and your

00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.219
 closeness

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:16.739
 with him.

00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.039
 James goes

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.519
 on to say,

00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:19.659
 blessed is

00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.259
 the man who

00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:20.980
 remains

00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:22.219
 steadfast

00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:23.420
 under trial,

00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.440
 for when he

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:24.900
 has stood

00:36:24.900 --> 00:36:25.500
 the test,

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.360
 he will

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.719
 receive the

00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.219
 crown of

00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:28.659
 life,

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.940
 which God

00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:30.559
 has promised

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.320
 to those

00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:31.699
 who love

00:36:31.699 --> 00:36:31.920
 him.

00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:32.519
 Is that

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:32.820
 not an

00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:33.260
 echo of

00:36:33.260 --> 00:36:33.539
 the Lord

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:33.840
 Jesus'

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:34.599
 words here?

00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:37.400
 Jesus

00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:37.920
 taught that

00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.320
 this kind

00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.000
 of persecution

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.820
 would ultimately

00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:41.019
 prove who

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.539
 is a true

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.079
 Christian and

00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:42.639
 who is not.

00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:44.039
 Do you

00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.579
 remember his

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.400
 parable about

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.239
 the soils?

00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:47.619
 In Mark

00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:48.239
 4, he

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:48.460
 said,

00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.039
 these are the

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:49.460
 ones who

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:49.840
 are sown

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.360
 on rocky

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:50.840
 ground.

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.320
 Those who,

00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:52.880
 when they hear

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:53.320
 the word,

00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.260
 immediately receive

00:36:54.260 --> 00:36:54.860
 it with joy,

00:36:55.120 --> 00:36:55.600
 but they

00:36:55.600 --> 00:36:56.060
 have no

00:36:56.060 --> 00:36:56.520
 root in

00:36:56.520 --> 00:36:57.020
 themselves,

00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:57.960
 they endure

00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:58.640
 for a while,

00:36:59.080 --> 00:36:59.540
 then when

00:36:59.540 --> 00:37:00.520
 tribulation and

00:37:00.520 --> 00:37:01.680
 persecution arises

00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:02.440
 on account of

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:02.920
 the word,

00:37:03.140 --> 00:37:03.900
 they immediately

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.580
 fall away.

00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:07.060
 How does

00:37:07.060 --> 00:37:07.700
 God use

00:37:07.700 --> 00:37:09.580
 persecution and

00:37:09.580 --> 00:37:10.300
 opposition for

00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:10.800
 his glory?

00:37:11.740 --> 00:37:12.780
 Well, he weeds

00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:13.440
 out those who

00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:14.040
 are not actually

00:37:14.040 --> 00:37:15.320
 serious Christians

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:16.580
 that are truly

00:37:16.580 --> 00:37:17.380
 converted,

00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:18.600
 and he exposes

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:18.920
 them.

00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.220
 But then he

00:37:20.220 --> 00:37:21.320
 actually exposes

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.440
 the glory of

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:23.320
 the gospel in

00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:23.740
 those who

00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:24.940
 remain faithful,

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.300
 and he uses

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.099
 that to win

00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:28.059
 more and

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:28.760
 more people

00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:29.559
 to Jesus

00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:29.980
 Christ.

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.420
 The second

00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:32.960
 part of this

00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:34.539
 charge is that

00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:35.380
 while enduring

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:36.360
 the persecution,

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.240
 Jesus wants

00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:38.960
 us to remain

00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:39.440
 faithful.

00:37:40.619 --> 00:37:41.119
 Be faithful

00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.880
 unto death,

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.260
 he says.

00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.179
 It's not the

00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.740
 only time the

00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.360
 Lord makes this

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:47.019
 kind of statement.

00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:48.920
 The New

00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:49.480
 Testament is

00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.820
 full.

00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.400
 Statements

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:52.059
 just like that.

00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:54.300
 But is it

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:55.220
 really fair

00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:57.320
 and reasonable

00:37:57.320 --> 00:37:58.920
 for Jesus

00:37:58.920 --> 00:37:59.559
 to have this

00:37:59.559 --> 00:37:59.920
 kind of

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.760
 expectation of

00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:01.159
 his people?

00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:03.820
 I think that's

00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.200
 an important

00:38:04.200 --> 00:38:04.920
 question for us

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.500
 to ask and

00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:06.840
 to take

00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:07.420
 seriously.

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.280
 Because what

00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:10.840
 the answer to

00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:11.320
 that question

00:38:11.320 --> 00:38:11.960
 is determines

00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:12.500
 whether or not

00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.039
 he's actually

00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:14.019
 a just God

00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:15.360
 or whether

00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:15.860
 we're wasting

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.440
 our time.

00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.400
 And we need

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:17.840
 to wrestle

00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.260
 with it.

00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:20.380
 Here's how

00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:20.940
 Jim Hamilton

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.559
 says it.

00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:23.599
 Only Jesus

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.240
 could make

00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:24.880
 this demand.

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:27.079
 Only Jesus

00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:28.079
 has the ability

00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.840
 to reward

00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:29.619
 those who

00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:30.139
 would obey.

00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.420
 Jesus is

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.039
 worth dying

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.400
 for.

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:35.059
 And if he's

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:35.659
 worth dying

00:38:35.659 --> 00:38:36.760
 for, then

00:38:36.760 --> 00:38:37.079
 he's worth

00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:37.740
 living for.

00:38:39.139 --> 00:38:39.880
 Only those

00:38:39.880 --> 00:38:40.559
 who are gripped

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.200
 by something

00:38:41.200 --> 00:38:41.800
 worth more

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.280
 to them

00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:43.000
 than life

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.920
 can be

00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:44.260
 truly

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:44.880
 courageous.

00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.519
 And courage

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:47.460
 is precisely

00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.139
 what Jesus

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:49.119
 calls the church

00:38:49.119 --> 00:38:49.679
 in Smyrna

00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.019
 too.

00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:51.400
 He is

00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:52.019
 proclaiming

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:52.500
 to them

00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.579
 that he

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.759
 is better

00:38:54.759 --> 00:38:55.940
 than life.

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.500
 And how

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.940
 is it

00:38:58.940 --> 00:39:00.099
 that he

00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:00.500
 is better

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.039
 to life

00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.940
 than life?

00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:03.839
 Well, look

00:39:03.839 --> 00:39:04.420
 at the promise

00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:04.839
 at the end

00:39:04.839 --> 00:39:05.380
 of the verse.

00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:08.259
 The one

00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:08.699
 who died

00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:09.079
 and came

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:09.619
 to life

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:09.980
 will give

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.579
 all who

00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:11.259
 persevere

00:39:11.259 --> 00:39:12.679
 the crown

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.179
 of life.

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:15.259
 I heard

00:39:15.259 --> 00:39:15.659
 a missionary

00:39:15.659 --> 00:39:16.179
 say one

00:39:16.179 --> 00:39:16.519
 time, he

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:16.759
 was a

00:39:16.759 --> 00:39:16.980
 missionary

00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.239
 to the

00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:17.619
 Middle East

00:39:17.619 --> 00:39:17.940
 and he

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.719
 had gone

00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:19.119
 through some

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:19.779
 significant

00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:20.480
 trials and

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.159
 persecutions,

00:39:21.239 --> 00:39:21.559
 his life

00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:21.960
 threatened on

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:22.619
 many occasions.

00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:23.099
 And he

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:23.399
 had gotten

00:39:23.399 --> 00:39:23.819
 to a point

00:39:23.819 --> 00:39:24.119
 where his

00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:24.519
 faith was

00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.519
 so strong

00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:25.779
 in the

00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:26.239
 gospel that

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:26.579
 he would

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:26.960
 say, you

00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:27.599
 can't threaten

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.000
 me with

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.259
 heaven.

00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:30.859
 He had

00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:31.500
 this gospel

00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:32.259
 perspective

00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:34.039
 that even

00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:34.759
 facing the

00:39:34.759 --> 00:39:35.839
 severest,

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:37.399
 most terrifying

00:39:37.399 --> 00:39:38.579
 persecutions,

00:39:38.779 --> 00:39:39.980
 he was so

00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:41.179
 trusting in

00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:41.719
 the gospel

00:39:41.719 --> 00:39:42.219
 of Jesus

00:39:42.219 --> 00:39:42.559
 and the

00:39:42.559 --> 00:39:43.000
 resurrection

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.599
 of Jesus

00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.380
 that all

00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:44.739
 he could

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.139
 see was

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:45.699
 the life

00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:46.639
 of blessing

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.079
 that comes

00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:47.460
 after.

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:48.360
 And that's

00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:48.840
 what Jesus

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.519
 is promising

00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:49.880
 here.

00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:50.760
 For all

00:39:50.760 --> 00:39:51.119
 who are

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:51.559
 faithful

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.199
 unto the

00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:53.380
 end, I

00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:54.000
 will give

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.340
 you the

00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:54.739
 crown of

00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.019
 life.

00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:55.480
 Well, how

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:55.780
 can we

00:39:55.780 --> 00:39:56.139
 know he'll

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:56.400
 give us

00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:56.739
 the crown

00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:57.179
 of life?

00:39:57.280 --> 00:39:58.139
 Because he's

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:58.699
 the one

00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.539
 who was

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.539
 dead but

00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:01.179
 came back

00:40:01.179 --> 00:40:01.820
 to life.

00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:04.659
 He's

00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:04.980
 conquered

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.619
 death for

00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:06.019
 us.

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.219
 And he

00:40:07.219 --> 00:40:07.900
 offers this

00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:08.940
 eternal life

00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:10.179
 to all who

00:40:10.179 --> 00:40:10.800
 will truly

00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:11.880
 love and

00:40:11.880 --> 00:40:12.460
 trust him.

00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:14.639
 we don't

00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:14.960
 need to

00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:15.639
 fear death

00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:17.059
 because for

00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:17.619
 the believer

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:19.139
 death leads

00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:19.659
 to true

00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.340
 life.

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:23.679
 To be

00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:24.199
 honest, this

00:40:24.199 --> 00:40:25.139
 life is easy

00:40:25.139 --> 00:40:25.900
 to trade

00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:27.480
 for the one

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.940
 who knows

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.480
 that Jesus

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.159
 will usher

00:40:29.159 --> 00:40:30.320
 them into

00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:31.500
 a life that

00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.000
 is far

00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.380
 better.

00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:33.960
 It's not

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.340
 what Paul

00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:34.840
 said, for

00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:35.420
 me to live

00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:35.940
 is Christ

00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:37.059
 but to die

00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:37.679
 is gain.

00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:39.399
 in our

00:40:39.399 --> 00:40:39.759
 adventure

00:40:39.759 --> 00:40:40.159
 club a

00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:40.440
 couple of

00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:40.759
 weeks ago

00:40:40.759 --> 00:40:41.139
 one of the

00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:41.460
 kids, it

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:41.659
 might have

00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:42.059
 been Gus,

00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:42.599
 was asking

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:43.519
 about things

00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.159
 about heaven

00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:45.460
 and how the

00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:46.079
 mystery of

00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:46.699
 that is

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.480
 sometimes

00:40:47.480 --> 00:40:48.139
 frightening

00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:48.799
 because all

00:40:48.799 --> 00:40:49.359
 we know is

00:40:49.359 --> 00:40:49.919
 this life

00:40:49.919 --> 00:40:50.219
 and this

00:40:50.219 --> 00:40:50.779
 world and

00:40:50.779 --> 00:40:51.339
 there's so

00:40:51.339 --> 00:40:51.719
 many things

00:40:51.719 --> 00:40:52.000
 that we

00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.500
 love about

00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.059
 this life

00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:53.759
 and what

00:40:53.759 --> 00:40:54.000
 the Lord

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:54.539
 has blessed

00:40:54.539 --> 00:40:54.919
 us with

00:40:54.919 --> 00:40:55.159
 here.

00:40:56.919 --> 00:40:57.279
 And the

00:40:57.279 --> 00:40:57.839
 answer I

00:40:57.839 --> 00:40:58.359
 think that

00:40:58.359 --> 00:40:59.359
 Amy gave

00:40:59.359 --> 00:40:59.859
 him was

00:40:59.859 --> 00:41:00.539
 something to

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.019
 the effect

00:41:01.019 --> 00:41:02.659
 of imagine

00:41:02.659 --> 00:41:03.339
 how great

00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.859
 this life

00:41:03.859 --> 00:41:04.419
 is and the

00:41:04.419 --> 00:41:05.000
 blessings that

00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:05.440
 God gives

00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:06.539
 here and

00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:06.860
 yet he

00:41:06.860 --> 00:41:08.000
 promises that

00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.480
 those who

00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:08.920
 know him

00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:09.380
 will receive

00:41:09.380 --> 00:41:10.000
 something far

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.300
 better.

00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:10.840
 We can't

00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:11.539
 even comprehend

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:13.179
 what this

00:41:13.179 --> 00:41:13.559
 crown of

00:41:13.559 --> 00:41:14.079
 life will be

00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:14.380
 like.

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.159
 We can't

00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:16.619
 even begin

00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:17.300
 to comprehend

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:18.220
 what this

00:41:18.220 --> 00:41:18.860
 life is.

00:41:19.659 --> 00:41:20.260
 Is this

00:41:20.260 --> 00:41:21.500
 life in a

00:41:21.500 --> 00:41:22.159
 fallen world

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:22.800
 worth trading

00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.480
 for that one?

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:24.639
 Oh my

00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:25.019
 goodness.

00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:26.980
 Surely it

00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:27.380
 is.

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.559
 Says

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:29.860
 Martin

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.519
 Luther, let

00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.079
 goods and

00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:31.840
 kindred go.

00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:33.599
 This mortal

00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:34.940
 life also.

00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:36.480
 The body

00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:36.940
 they may

00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:37.240
 kill.

00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:38.720
 God's truth

00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:39.280
 abideth

00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:39.740
 still.

00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.200
 His kingdom

00:41:41.200 --> 00:41:42.559
 is forever.

00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:44.460
 This world

00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:45.079
 and its

00:41:45.079 --> 00:41:46.179
 riches and

00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:46.800
 whatever glory

00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:47.380
 it has, it

00:41:47.380 --> 00:41:48.000
 will fade.

00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:48.380
 It will

00:41:48.380 --> 00:41:49.099
 pass away.

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:50.500
 That's what

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:51.079
 we learn in

00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:51.720
 the revelation.

00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:53.159
 God's going

00:41:53.159 --> 00:41:53.840
 to destroy it

00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:54.139
 all.

00:41:55.300 --> 00:41:55.800
 And only

00:41:55.800 --> 00:41:56.260
 those who

00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:56.740
 persevere

00:41:56.740 --> 00:41:57.420
 unto death

00:41:57.420 --> 00:41:58.599
 will receive

00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:58.980
 the new

00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:00.200
 heavens and

00:42:00.200 --> 00:42:00.519
 the new

00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:01.679
 earth and

00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:02.380
 eternity with

00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:02.940
 our Lord and

00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:03.179
 Savior.

00:42:03.179 --> 00:42:03.900
 That is far

00:42:03.900 --> 00:42:04.400
 better than

00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:05.420
 anything that

00:42:05.420 --> 00:42:05.760
 we know

00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:06.079
 here.

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.340
 So be

00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:07.980
 faithful unto

00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.240
 death.

00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:10.960
 Then we

00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:11.960
 conclude with

00:42:11.960 --> 00:42:12.500
 this call

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:12.960
 and conquer

00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.320
 in verse

00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:13.760
 11.

00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:15.960
 He who

00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:16.340
 has an

00:42:16.340 --> 00:42:17.860
 ear, let

00:42:17.860 --> 00:42:18.360
 him hear

00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:19.760
 what the

00:42:19.760 --> 00:42:20.380
 Spirit says

00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:20.680
 to the

00:42:20.680 --> 00:42:21.139
 churches.

00:42:22.139 --> 00:42:22.780
 The one

00:42:22.780 --> 00:42:23.400
 who conquers

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:23.800
 will not

00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.220
 be hurt

00:42:24.220 --> 00:42:24.579
 by the

00:42:24.579 --> 00:42:24.860
 second

00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.220
 death.

00:42:28.200 --> 00:42:28.780
 The truth

00:42:28.780 --> 00:42:29.260
 is we all

00:42:29.260 --> 00:42:30.079
 fear death.

00:42:31.039 --> 00:42:31.599
 Part of

00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:31.980
 that fear

00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:32.480
 is just the

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.019
 mystery of

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:33.340
 it, isn't

00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:33.539
 it?

00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:35.820
 We don't

00:42:35.820 --> 00:42:36.119
 know when

00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:36.360
 it's going

00:42:36.360 --> 00:42:36.840
 to come,

00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:37.320
 where it's

00:42:37.320 --> 00:42:37.519
 going to

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:38.179
 come, how

00:42:38.179 --> 00:42:38.460
 it's going

00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:38.940
 to happen.

00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:39.239
 It could

00:42:39.239 --> 00:42:39.599
 be in a

00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:39.840
 moment.

00:42:39.940 --> 00:42:40.219
 We don't

00:42:40.219 --> 00:42:40.519
 know.

00:42:40.599 --> 00:42:40.860
 That's

00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:41.400
 terrifying.

00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:41.619
 It's

00:42:41.619 --> 00:42:41.980
 frightening.

00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:44.300
 Outside

00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:44.820
 of Jesus,

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:45.340
 no one

00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:45.940
 has ever

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:46.779
 faced death

00:42:46.779 --> 00:42:47.039
 and then

00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:47.400
 come back

00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:47.679
 to let

00:42:47.679 --> 00:42:47.940
 us know

00:42:47.940 --> 00:42:48.279
 what it's

00:42:48.279 --> 00:42:48.659
 like so

00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:48.900
 that we

00:42:48.900 --> 00:42:49.679
 can cope

00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:50.139
 through it.

00:42:51.059 --> 00:42:51.420
 Nobody

00:42:51.420 --> 00:42:51.880
 has ever

00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:52.300
 done that.

00:42:52.659 --> 00:42:53.179
 We all

00:42:53.179 --> 00:42:53.739
 face it with

00:42:53.739 --> 00:42:54.079
 the same

00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.739
 mystery and

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:55.139
 none of us

00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:55.519
 want to

00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:55.980
 face it.

00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:57.000
 We don't

00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:57.239
 want to

00:42:57.239 --> 00:42:58.159
 experience pain.

00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:58.980
 We don't

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.300
 want to

00:42:59.300 --> 00:43:00.019
 consider leaving

00:43:00.019 --> 00:43:00.759
 people behind

00:43:00.759 --> 00:43:01.279
 that we love

00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:01.840
 so much

00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:02.240
 and wondering

00:43:02.240 --> 00:43:02.560
 will we

00:43:02.560 --> 00:43:02.920
 ever see

00:43:02.920 --> 00:43:03.420
 them again?

00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:05.100
 This is not

00:43:05.100 --> 00:43:05.680
 the fear of

00:43:05.680 --> 00:43:06.060
 death that

00:43:06.060 --> 00:43:06.540
 Jesus is

00:43:06.540 --> 00:43:07.160
 addressing in

00:43:07.160 --> 00:43:07.660
 this text.

00:43:07.860 --> 00:43:08.300
 That's not

00:43:08.300 --> 00:43:08.580
 what he's

00:43:08.580 --> 00:43:09.060
 dealing with

00:43:09.060 --> 00:43:09.280
 here.

00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.700
 So if

00:43:10.700 --> 00:43:11.100
 you're an

00:43:11.100 --> 00:43:11.500
 anxious

00:43:11.500 --> 00:43:12.180
 Christian

00:43:12.180 --> 00:43:12.920
 when it

00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:13.260
 comes to

00:43:13.260 --> 00:43:13.760
 the mystery

00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:14.280
 of death,

00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:14.860
 well join

00:43:14.860 --> 00:43:15.320
 the club.

00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:15.760
 I'm right

00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:16.160
 there with

00:43:16.160 --> 00:43:16.360
 you.

00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:17.480
 I'm not

00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:18.060
 looking forward

00:43:18.060 --> 00:43:18.580
 to that,

00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:19.360
 to be honest.

00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:20.300
 And it

00:43:20.300 --> 00:43:20.620
 would be

00:43:20.620 --> 00:43:20.960
 weird if

00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:21.340
 you were

00:43:21.340 --> 00:43:22.500
 in that

00:43:22.500 --> 00:43:22.840
 sense.

00:43:24.720 --> 00:43:25.120
 Don't

00:43:25.120 --> 00:43:25.700
 mistake this

00:43:25.700 --> 00:43:26.720
 text as a

00:43:26.720 --> 00:43:27.560
 condemnation of

00:43:27.560 --> 00:43:27.860
 you as a

00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:28.519
 Christian because

00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:29.100
 you fear the

00:43:29.100 --> 00:43:29.660
 mystery of it.

00:43:29.780 --> 00:43:30.160
 That's not

00:43:30.160 --> 00:43:30.820
 what Jesus is

00:43:30.820 --> 00:43:31.220
 addressing.

00:43:31.680 --> 00:43:32.019
 But if

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:32.640
 you are

00:43:32.640 --> 00:43:33.340
 someone who

00:43:33.340 --> 00:43:33.960
 fears death

00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:34.460
 because you're

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:34.920
 completely

00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:36.320
 uncertain about

00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:37.019
 what awaits

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:38.080
 you after it,

00:43:38.600 --> 00:43:39.260
 well Jesus has

00:43:39.260 --> 00:43:39.880
 something to say

00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:40.519
 to you actually.

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:43.140
 The Bible

00:43:43.140 --> 00:43:43.860
 makes it clear

00:43:43.860 --> 00:43:44.559
 that God

00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:45.420
 creates us as

00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:46.280
 eternal beings.

00:43:46.380 --> 00:43:46.700
 We have an

00:43:46.700 --> 00:43:47.539
 eternal soul

00:43:47.539 --> 00:43:48.620
 that will live

00:43:48.620 --> 00:43:49.960
 forever somewhere

00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:50.980
 and in some

00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:51.559
 state.

00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:53.420
 And this is

00:43:53.420 --> 00:43:53.920
 what Jesus

00:43:53.920 --> 00:43:54.740
 means by the

00:43:54.740 --> 00:43:55.580
 second death.

00:43:55.579 --> 00:43:55.719
 death.

00:43:57.779 --> 00:43:58.719
 To die in

00:43:58.719 --> 00:43:59.519
 your natural

00:43:59.519 --> 00:44:01.039
 sinful condition

00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:02.619
 will result in

00:44:02.619 --> 00:44:03.480
 this separation

00:44:03.480 --> 00:44:04.739
 from God in

00:44:04.739 --> 00:44:05.679
 the torments of

00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.460
 eternal hell.

00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:07.519
 That's the

00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:08.079
 second death

00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:08.679
 according to

00:44:08.679 --> 00:44:10.199
 Revelation 20

00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:11.400
 and 21.

00:44:12.860 --> 00:44:13.840
 But Jesus

00:44:13.840 --> 00:44:15.400
 offers salvation

00:44:15.400 --> 00:44:17.759
 from eternal

00:44:17.759 --> 00:44:18.319
 death for

00:44:18.319 --> 00:44:19.099
 anyone who

00:44:19.099 --> 00:44:19.779
 conquers.

00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:20.259
 That's what he

00:44:20.259 --> 00:44:20.480
 says.

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:20.940
 The one who

00:44:20.940 --> 00:44:21.779
 conquers will

00:44:21.779 --> 00:44:22.500
 not be hurt

00:44:22.500 --> 00:44:23.260
 by the

00:44:23.260 --> 00:44:24.059
 second death.

00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:25.780
 And to

00:44:25.780 --> 00:44:27.500
 conquer is

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:28.019
 to put your

00:44:28.019 --> 00:44:28.880
 total faith

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:29.619
 and trust in

00:44:29.619 --> 00:44:31.059
 him as the

00:44:31.059 --> 00:44:31.900
 conqueror.

00:44:32.539 --> 00:44:33.320
 That's the

00:44:33.320 --> 00:44:33.659
 point.

00:44:35.340 --> 00:44:36.139
 On the

00:44:36.139 --> 00:44:36.760
 cross he

00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:37.980
 bears God's

00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:38.679
 wrath for

00:44:38.679 --> 00:44:39.599
 sinners so

00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:40.300
 that all who

00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:41.260
 turn to him

00:44:41.260 --> 00:44:42.880
 receive forgiveness

00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:43.840
 because of what

00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:44.840
 he has absorbed

00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:46.199
 for us.

00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:47.659
 And in his

00:44:47.659 --> 00:44:48.960
 resurrection he

00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.159
 proves that he

00:44:50.159 --> 00:44:51.239
 alone has

00:44:51.239 --> 00:44:52.360
 victory over

00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:53.680
 life and

00:44:53.680 --> 00:44:54.120
 death.

00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:55.940
 And he can

00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.800
 give us life.

00:44:57.800 --> 00:44:58.680
 And all who

00:44:58.680 --> 00:44:59.519
 will believe and

00:44:59.519 --> 00:45:00.980
 follow him will

00:45:00.980 --> 00:45:01.920
 receive that

00:45:01.920 --> 00:45:02.200
 life.

00:45:02.300 --> 00:45:02.740
 That's his

00:45:02.740 --> 00:45:03.300
 promise.

00:45:03.780 --> 00:45:04.300
 No matter what

00:45:04.300 --> 00:45:05.400
 happens here we

00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:06.240
 will receive that

00:45:06.240 --> 00:45:06.559
 life.

00:45:06.860 --> 00:45:07.680
 Romans 10 tells

00:45:07.680 --> 00:45:08.380
 us very plainly

00:45:08.380 --> 00:45:08.840
 you say well how

00:45:08.840 --> 00:45:09.559
 do I do that?

00:45:10.220 --> 00:45:10.539
 Well it's very

00:45:10.539 --> 00:45:10.880
 clear.

00:45:11.780 --> 00:45:12.599
 Confess with your

00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:13.420
 mouth that Jesus

00:45:13.420 --> 00:45:14.720
 is Lord and

00:45:14.720 --> 00:45:15.360
 believe in your

00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:16.280
 heart that God

00:45:16.280 --> 00:45:16.920
 has raised him

00:45:16.920 --> 00:45:17.980
 from the dead and

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:18.780
 you will be

00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:19.280
 saved.

00:45:20.200 --> 00:45:20.640
 For with the

00:45:20.640 --> 00:45:21.220
 heart man

00:45:21.220 --> 00:45:21.980
 believes unto

00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:22.980
 righteousness and

00:45:22.980 --> 00:45:23.760
 with the mouth

00:45:23.760 --> 00:45:24.920
 confession is

00:45:24.920 --> 00:45:25.900
 made unto

00:45:25.900 --> 00:45:26.619
 salvation.

00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:27.539
 For the

00:45:27.539 --> 00:45:28.320
 scriptures say

00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:29.599
 everyone who

00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:30.420
 believes in him

00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:31.679
 will not be put

00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:32.159
 to shame.

00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.199
 That's the

00:45:34.199 --> 00:45:34.719
 promise of

00:45:34.719 --> 00:45:35.019
 Jesus.

00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:36.360
 If you

00:45:36.360 --> 00:45:38.179
 conquer you

00:45:38.179 --> 00:45:39.159
 will receive

00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:40.579
 the crown of

00:45:40.579 --> 00:45:40.940
 life.

00:45:41.380 --> 00:45:42.380
 You will not be

00:45:42.380 --> 00:45:42.960
 hurt by the

00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:43.539
 second death.

00:45:43.619 --> 00:45:44.240
 Well how can I

00:45:44.240 --> 00:45:44.559
 conquer?

00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:45.699
 You can't.

00:45:46.699 --> 00:45:47.300
 You can't.

00:45:48.300 --> 00:45:49.139
 He conquered

00:45:49.139 --> 00:45:50.639
 for you.

00:45:50.980 --> 00:45:51.799
 And he says

00:45:51.799 --> 00:45:53.519
 just believe me.

00:45:53.920 --> 00:45:54.940
 Confess me.

00:45:55.359 --> 00:45:56.039
 Give yourself

00:45:56.039 --> 00:45:57.159
 wholeheartedly to

00:45:57.159 --> 00:45:57.400
 me.

00:45:57.480 --> 00:45:57.879
 And no matter

00:45:57.879 --> 00:45:58.759
 what happens in

00:45:58.759 --> 00:46:00.139
 this life it

00:46:00.139 --> 00:46:01.679
 can't touch you.

00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:02.940
 Death that is.

00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:04.379
 You will live in

00:46:04.379 --> 00:46:05.599
 eternity with me.

00:46:05.739 --> 00:46:07.639
 But only if you

00:46:07.639 --> 00:46:08.460
 will follow me.

00:46:08.920 --> 00:46:10.480
 Only if you will

00:46:10.480 --> 00:46:11.079
 trust me.

00:46:11.420 --> 00:46:12.659
 So why wait?

00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:15.379
 Why risk it?

00:46:15.380 --> 00:46:18.019
 Why not receive

00:46:18.019 --> 00:46:18.860
 this wonderful

00:46:18.860 --> 00:46:20.119
 love and grace

00:46:20.119 --> 00:46:21.500
 displayed through

00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:22.300
 the work of

00:46:22.300 --> 00:46:23.079
 Jesus Christ?

00:46:23.220 --> 00:46:24.119
 He offers you

00:46:24.119 --> 00:46:24.519
 life.

00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:25.599
 He has been

00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:26.599
 victorious on

00:46:26.599 --> 00:46:27.180
 your behalf.

00:46:27.599 --> 00:46:28.700
 He only wants

00:46:28.700 --> 00:46:29.380
 you.

00:46:30.039 --> 00:46:30.380
 You.

00:46:31.400 --> 00:46:32.260
 Turn from your

00:46:32.260 --> 00:46:32.559
 sin.

00:46:33.740 --> 00:46:34.619
 Cry out to him

00:46:34.619 --> 00:46:35.140
 in faith.

00:46:35.680 --> 00:46:36.680
 He will save

00:46:36.680 --> 00:46:36.960
 you.

00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:38.760
 He will save

00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:39.079
 you.

00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:42.640
 You ever

00:46:42.640 --> 00:46:43.260
 wonder if

00:46:43.260 --> 00:46:44.700
 you know if

00:46:44.700 --> 00:46:45.320
 I face what

00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:46.400
 Polycarp faced

00:46:46.400 --> 00:46:48.260
 I just I

00:46:48.260 --> 00:46:48.780
 don't know that

00:46:48.780 --> 00:46:49.440
 I have it in

00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:51.760
 me to have

00:46:51.760 --> 00:46:52.300
 that kind of

00:46:52.300 --> 00:46:52.700
 resolve.

00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:54.440
 On Broad

00:46:54.440 --> 00:46:54.860
 Street in

00:46:54.860 --> 00:46:55.420
 Oxford England

00:46:55.420 --> 00:46:56.140
 there is a

00:46:56.140 --> 00:46:56.960
 marker in the

00:46:56.960 --> 00:46:57.360
 middle of the

00:46:57.360 --> 00:46:57.560
 road.

00:46:57.680 --> 00:46:58.040
 It's just a

00:46:58.040 --> 00:46:58.600
 simple cross.

00:46:58.940 --> 00:46:59.180
 If you didn't

00:46:59.180 --> 00:46:59.520
 know it was

00:46:59.520 --> 00:46:59.820
 there you

00:46:59.820 --> 00:47:00.240
 probably wouldn't

00:47:00.240 --> 00:47:00.740
 even notice

00:47:00.740 --> 00:47:00.920
 it.

00:47:01.920 --> 00:47:03.140
 It's there as

00:47:03.140 --> 00:47:04.160
 a dedication to

00:47:04.160 --> 00:47:04.840
 what's known as

00:47:04.840 --> 00:47:05.520
 the Oxford

00:47:05.520 --> 00:47:06.320
 Martyrs.

00:47:07.080 --> 00:47:07.440
 This was

00:47:07.440 --> 00:47:08.200
 Nicholas Ridley

00:47:08.200 --> 00:47:08.620
 and Hugh

00:47:08.620 --> 00:47:09.500
 Latimer and

00:47:09.500 --> 00:47:10.360
 Thomas Cranmer.

00:47:11.320 --> 00:47:12.040
 Thomas Cranmer

00:47:12.040 --> 00:47:12.660
 is the interesting

00:47:12.660 --> 00:47:13.200
 one in this

00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:14.659
 particular story.

00:47:15.839 --> 00:47:16.939
 Cranmer was

00:47:16.939 --> 00:47:18.899
 an Anglican

00:47:18.899 --> 00:47:19.359
 priest.

00:47:20.439 --> 00:47:21.099
 He served

00:47:21.099 --> 00:47:21.879
 underneath Henry

00:47:21.879 --> 00:47:23.299
 VIII and was

00:47:23.299 --> 00:47:24.239
 partly responsible

00:47:24.239 --> 00:47:25.719
 for helping the

00:47:25.719 --> 00:47:26.619
 Church of England

00:47:26.619 --> 00:47:27.699
 separate from the

00:47:27.699 --> 00:47:28.359
 Roman Catholic

00:47:28.359 --> 00:47:29.039
 Church and of

00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:29.419
 course there's a

00:47:29.419 --> 00:47:29.899
 whole history

00:47:29.899 --> 00:47:30.399
 behind that.

00:47:30.719 --> 00:47:31.219
 Thomas Cranmer

00:47:31.219 --> 00:47:32.219
 was hugely

00:47:32.219 --> 00:47:33.079
 influential in

00:47:33.079 --> 00:47:33.579
 all of that.

00:47:34.359 --> 00:47:34.980
 It was Thomas

00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:35.619
 Cranmer who

00:47:35.619 --> 00:47:37.059
 wrote the two

00:47:37.059 --> 00:47:37.659
 different editions

00:47:37.659 --> 00:47:38.599
 of the Book of

00:47:38.599 --> 00:47:39.259
 Common Prayer

00:47:39.259 --> 00:47:40.480
 which is still the

00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:41.599
 liturgical guide for

00:47:41.599 --> 00:47:42.139
 the Anglican

00:47:42.139 --> 00:47:43.179
 Church and it is

00:47:43.179 --> 00:47:44.279
 hugely influential

00:47:44.279 --> 00:47:45.259
 in even the forms

00:47:45.259 --> 00:47:45.859
 of worship that

00:47:45.859 --> 00:47:46.639
 we follow today.

00:47:46.859 --> 00:47:47.739
 If you come to

00:47:47.739 --> 00:47:48.579
 a wedding or a

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:49.239
 funeral that I'm

00:47:49.239 --> 00:47:50.219
 officiating in any

00:47:50.219 --> 00:47:50.839
 way you're going to

00:47:50.839 --> 00:47:51.480
 hear Cranmer.

00:47:51.719 --> 00:47:52.379
 That's a part of it.

00:47:52.440 --> 00:47:53.079
 It's just in the

00:47:53.079 --> 00:47:54.099
 language and you

00:47:54.099 --> 00:47:54.759
 don't even realize

00:47:54.759 --> 00:47:55.500
 the influence that

00:47:55.500 --> 00:47:56.639
 he still has on you

00:47:56.639 --> 00:47:56.899
 today.

00:47:57.299 --> 00:47:58.599
 He is a towering

00:47:58.599 --> 00:48:00.079
 figure in the

00:48:00.079 --> 00:48:01.039
 English Protestant

00:48:01.039 --> 00:48:01.719
 Reformation.

00:48:02.239 --> 00:48:03.039
 That's who Cranmer

00:48:03.039 --> 00:48:03.319
 is.

00:48:04.139 --> 00:48:04.759
 Well if you

00:48:04.759 --> 00:48:05.819
 remember your

00:48:05.819 --> 00:48:06.500
 English history

00:48:06.500 --> 00:48:06.919
 if you care

00:48:06.919 --> 00:48:07.639
 anything about that

00:48:07.639 --> 00:48:08.219
 you'll remember

00:48:08.219 --> 00:48:09.239
 that eventually

00:48:09.239 --> 00:48:10.399
 Mary Queen of Scots

00:48:10.400 --> 00:48:12.200
 ascends to the throne

00:48:12.200 --> 00:48:13.760
 she was devoutly

00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:14.160
 Catholic.

00:48:14.420 --> 00:48:15.079
 Protestants called

00:48:15.079 --> 00:48:15.860
 her Bloody Mary

00:48:15.860 --> 00:48:18.260
 and the reason for

00:48:18.260 --> 00:48:19.320
 that is because she

00:48:19.320 --> 00:48:21.360
 was determined to

00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:22.920
 destroy the Church of

00:48:22.920 --> 00:48:24.340
 England and set up

00:48:24.340 --> 00:48:26.200
 England's loyalty

00:48:26.200 --> 00:48:27.220
 once again to the

00:48:27.220 --> 00:48:28.180
 Roman Catholic Church

00:48:28.180 --> 00:48:28.960
 which was controlled

00:48:28.960 --> 00:48:30.000
 at that time

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:31.500
 primarily by Spain.

00:48:32.980 --> 00:48:33.900
 Mary Queen of Scots

00:48:33.900 --> 00:48:35.400
 has the three Oxford

00:48:35.400 --> 00:48:36.920
 martyrs arrested and

00:48:36.920 --> 00:48:38.420
 for years Cranmer is

00:48:38.420 --> 00:48:40.659
 in the imprisonment

00:48:40.659 --> 00:48:42.539
 in Oxford and all

00:48:42.539 --> 00:48:43.440
 of these Spanish

00:48:43.440 --> 00:48:45.300
 scholars are there

00:48:45.300 --> 00:48:46.440
 plaguing him day

00:48:46.440 --> 00:48:47.900
 after day after day

00:48:47.900 --> 00:48:48.940
 after day to get him

00:48:48.940 --> 00:48:50.119
 to recant of his

00:48:50.119 --> 00:48:52.720
 views publicly so

00:48:52.720 --> 00:48:53.519
 or else they're

00:48:53.519 --> 00:48:54.680
 going to take his

00:48:54.680 --> 00:48:55.019
 life.

00:48:56.139 --> 00:48:57.139
 They wanted him to

00:48:57.139 --> 00:48:58.019
 publicly recant

00:48:58.019 --> 00:48:58.880
 because it served

00:48:58.880 --> 00:48:59.820
 their purposes well

00:48:59.820 --> 00:49:00.420
 just like with

00:49:00.420 --> 00:49:00.940
 Polycarp.

00:49:00.980 --> 00:49:01.860
 He was so influential

00:49:01.860 --> 00:49:03.119
 they thought that a

00:49:03.119 --> 00:49:04.180
 public recantation

00:49:04.180 --> 00:49:05.280
 would actually serve

00:49:05.280 --> 00:49:06.200
 their purposes better

00:49:06.199 --> 00:49:07.079
 than just taking his

00:49:07.079 --> 00:49:07.759
 life right away.

00:49:08.899 --> 00:49:09.939
 Part of their

00:49:09.939 --> 00:49:10.960
 torture of him

00:49:10.960 --> 00:49:12.079
 was to actually

00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:12.919
 take him out

00:49:12.919 --> 00:49:14.039
 and force him

00:49:14.039 --> 00:49:15.339
 to watch them

00:49:15.339 --> 00:49:16.879
 burn at the stake

00:49:16.879 --> 00:49:17.779
 his two friends

00:49:17.779 --> 00:49:21.199
 Latimer and Ridley.

00:49:23.019 --> 00:49:24.480
 67 years old

00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:25.399
 with a heart condition

00:49:25.399 --> 00:49:25.939
 mentally,

00:49:26.319 --> 00:49:26.799
 emotionally,

00:49:27.579 --> 00:49:28.039
 physically

00:49:28.039 --> 00:49:29.199
 exhausted.

00:49:30.639 --> 00:49:31.379
 In the university

00:49:31.379 --> 00:49:31.919
 or near the

00:49:31.919 --> 00:49:32.719
 University Church

00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:33.339
 of Oxford

00:49:33.339 --> 00:49:34.960
 Cranmer recants

00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:37.300
 he can't take it

00:49:37.300 --> 00:49:37.659
 anymore.

00:49:37.760 --> 00:49:38.340
 The suffering's

00:49:38.340 --> 00:49:39.019
 just too much.

00:49:40.280 --> 00:49:41.260
 He signs the

00:49:41.260 --> 00:49:42.360
 recantation papers

00:49:42.360 --> 00:49:43.960
 and the only step

00:49:43.960 --> 00:49:45.500
 left is that he

00:49:45.500 --> 00:49:46.159
 must go to the

00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:47.079
 University Church

00:49:47.079 --> 00:49:47.659
 in Oxford,

00:49:48.199 --> 00:49:49.039
 stand in the pulpit

00:49:49.039 --> 00:49:50.659
 and read a drafted

00:49:50.659 --> 00:49:52.119
 recantation by the

00:49:52.119 --> 00:49:53.039
 Roman Catholic Church.

00:49:53.480 --> 00:49:54.280
 They needed this to

00:49:54.280 --> 00:49:54.720
 be public.

00:49:56.460 --> 00:49:57.619
 He signed the papers

00:49:57.619 --> 00:49:58.440
 with his right hand

00:49:58.440 --> 00:49:59.440
 and he goes to the

00:49:59.440 --> 00:50:00.280
 University Church

00:50:00.280 --> 00:50:00.800
 in Oxford

00:50:00.800 --> 00:50:01.820
 and as soon as he

00:50:01.820 --> 00:50:02.659
 gets into the pulpit

00:50:02.659 --> 00:50:03.960
 he can't go through

00:50:03.960 --> 00:50:04.399
 with it.

00:50:05.980 --> 00:50:06.899
 And in that moment

00:50:06.899 --> 00:50:07.659
 rather than read

00:50:07.659 --> 00:50:08.539
 the recantation

00:50:08.539 --> 00:50:10.539
 he admits and

00:50:10.539 --> 00:50:11.519
 confesses what he's

00:50:11.519 --> 00:50:12.319
 done in signing

00:50:12.319 --> 00:50:14.179
 them but rejects

00:50:14.179 --> 00:50:15.159
 the recantation

00:50:15.159 --> 00:50:16.420
 and commits

00:50:16.420 --> 00:50:17.920
 publicly to the

00:50:17.920 --> 00:50:18.899
 true gospel of

00:50:18.899 --> 00:50:19.639
 Jesus Christ.

00:50:21.519 --> 00:50:22.079
 Immediately

00:50:22.079 --> 00:50:23.940
 Cranmer is dragged

00:50:23.940 --> 00:50:24.659
 out of the pulpit

00:50:24.659 --> 00:50:26.000
 he's literally

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:27.000
 dragged down the

00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:27.539
 street to the

00:50:27.539 --> 00:50:28.379
 same place that

00:50:28.379 --> 00:50:29.239
 Latimer and Ridley

00:50:29.239 --> 00:50:29.960
 were executed

00:50:29.960 --> 00:50:31.780
 and as they're

00:50:31.780 --> 00:50:32.480
 taking him out

00:50:32.480 --> 00:50:33.119
 of the University

00:50:33.119 --> 00:50:34.220
 Church he vows

00:50:34.220 --> 00:50:34.980
 that because his

00:50:34.980 --> 00:50:36.059
 right hand so

00:50:36.059 --> 00:50:37.720
 offended God by

00:50:37.720 --> 00:50:38.460
 signing those

00:50:38.460 --> 00:50:39.559
 recantation papers

00:50:39.559 --> 00:50:40.900
 that as the flames

00:50:40.900 --> 00:50:41.920
 begin to burn he

00:50:41.920 --> 00:50:43.740
 would be first to

00:50:43.740 --> 00:50:44.559
 put his right hand

00:50:44.559 --> 00:50:45.119
 in the fire.

00:50:46.720 --> 00:50:48.720
 So they light the

00:50:48.720 --> 00:50:49.300
 fire and that's

00:50:49.300 --> 00:50:49.980
 exactly what he

00:50:49.980 --> 00:50:50.260
 does.

00:50:50.340 --> 00:50:51.340
 As he prays out to

00:50:51.340 --> 00:50:52.679
 God he holds his

00:50:52.679 --> 00:50:53.380
 right hand in the

00:50:53.380 --> 00:50:55.360
 fire so ashamed of

00:50:55.360 --> 00:50:55.940
 the fact that he

00:50:55.940 --> 00:50:57.000
 actually gave in for

00:50:57.000 --> 00:50:58.780
 a season and he

00:50:58.780 --> 00:50:59.619
 signed those papers.

00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:02.860
 I hear a story

00:51:02.860 --> 00:51:03.619
 like Cranmer's and

00:51:03.619 --> 00:51:04.579
 I take comfort at

00:51:04.579 --> 00:51:05.400
 least in one regard

00:51:05.400 --> 00:51:07.559
 that even someone

00:51:07.559 --> 00:51:08.820
 so influential and

00:51:08.820 --> 00:51:11.639
 so faithful can be

00:51:11.639 --> 00:51:12.460
 burdened by the

00:51:12.460 --> 00:51:13.039
 weakness of

00:51:13.039 --> 00:51:15.159
 suffering because I'm

00:51:15.159 --> 00:51:15.840
 not sure that I

00:51:15.840 --> 00:51:16.440
 could endure that

00:51:16.440 --> 00:51:16.699
 either.

00:51:18.380 --> 00:51:19.559
 If I was forced to

00:51:19.559 --> 00:51:20.360
 watch some of you

00:51:20.360 --> 00:51:21.099
 suffer in the way

00:51:21.099 --> 00:51:21.559
 that he had to

00:51:21.559 --> 00:51:22.220
 watch his friends

00:51:22.220 --> 00:51:24.119
 suffer I don't know

00:51:24.119 --> 00:51:24.599
 that I could

00:51:24.599 --> 00:51:25.480
 continue with that.

00:51:27.579 --> 00:51:28.940
 And yet in the

00:51:28.940 --> 00:51:29.940
 end I'm

00:51:29.940 --> 00:51:30.500
 he's faithful.

00:51:31.840 --> 00:51:32.679
 But how?

00:51:34.260 --> 00:51:35.380
 It wasn't because

00:51:35.380 --> 00:51:37.039
 Cranmer was better

00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:37.720
 than you and me.

00:51:38.360 --> 00:51:39.599
 It wasn't because

00:51:39.599 --> 00:51:40.519
 he had a better

00:51:40.519 --> 00:51:41.360
 understanding of the

00:51:41.360 --> 00:51:42.159
 gospel than you and

00:51:42.159 --> 00:51:42.320
 me.

00:51:43.480 --> 00:51:46.059
 In the end it is

00:51:46.059 --> 00:51:47.260
 Christ who holds us

00:51:47.260 --> 00:51:47.980
 in those moments.

00:51:49.740 --> 00:51:51.099
 It's not our best

00:51:51.099 --> 00:51:53.159
 efforts to be strong.

00:51:53.159 --> 00:51:56.420
 it is in Christ's power

00:51:56.420 --> 00:51:58.319
 to preserve his

00:51:58.319 --> 00:51:58.699
 people.

00:52:00.119 --> 00:52:01.179
 And even in the

00:52:01.179 --> 00:52:02.179
 darkest moments of

00:52:02.179 --> 00:52:02.980
 weakness if you're

00:52:02.980 --> 00:52:04.759
 afraid that you won't

00:52:04.759 --> 00:52:05.679
 be able to do it

00:52:05.679 --> 00:52:07.179
 if you truly know

00:52:07.179 --> 00:52:08.859
 Christ if you're truly

00:52:08.859 --> 00:52:11.899
 following him he will

00:52:11.899 --> 00:52:12.879
 preserve your faith.

00:52:12.880 --> 00:52:16.220
 And this is upheld in

00:52:16.220 --> 00:52:16.740
 the scriptures.

00:52:17.539 --> 00:52:18.720
 Philippians 1.6

00:52:18.720 --> 00:52:20.960
 I am sure of this

00:52:20.960 --> 00:52:22.119
 Paul says he who

00:52:22.119 --> 00:52:23.099
 began a good work in

00:52:23.099 --> 00:52:24.340
 you will bring it to

00:52:24.340 --> 00:52:24.820
 completion.

00:52:26.820 --> 00:52:27.940
 First Thessalonians

00:52:27.940 --> 00:52:28.360
 5

00:52:28.360 --> 00:52:30.120
 May the God of peace

00:52:30.120 --> 00:52:31.320
 himself sanctify you

00:52:31.320 --> 00:52:31.800
 completely.

00:52:32.920 --> 00:52:33.519
 And may your whole

00:52:33.519 --> 00:52:34.380
 spirit and soul and

00:52:34.380 --> 00:52:35.700
 body be kept blameless

00:52:35.700 --> 00:52:36.539
 at the coming of the

00:52:36.539 --> 00:52:37.000
 Lord Jesus.

00:52:37.380 --> 00:52:39.120
 He who calls you is

00:52:39.120 --> 00:52:39.539
 faithful.

00:52:40.260 --> 00:52:42.180
 He will do it.

00:52:43.800 --> 00:52:44.860
 Jude 24

00:52:44.860 --> 00:52:47.519
 Now to him who is able

00:52:47.519 --> 00:52:48.400
 to keep you from

00:52:48.400 --> 00:52:50.200
 stumbling and to

00:52:50.200 --> 00:52:51.380
 present you blameless

00:52:51.380 --> 00:52:52.420
 before the presence of

00:52:52.420 --> 00:52:53.260
 his glory with great

00:52:53.260 --> 00:52:54.800
 joy to the only God

00:52:54.800 --> 00:52:55.740
 our Savior Jesus

00:52:55.740 --> 00:52:57.700
 Christ be glory and

00:52:57.700 --> 00:52:58.340
 majesty and glory.

00:52:58.360 --> 00:52:59.380
 dominion and authority

00:52:59.380 --> 00:53:01.000
 before all time now

00:53:01.000 --> 00:53:02.340
 and forevermore.

00:53:03.140 --> 00:53:03.820
 He said I don't know

00:53:03.820 --> 00:53:04.519
 if I can do it.

00:53:04.700 --> 00:53:05.300
 You can't.

00:53:06.559 --> 00:53:07.380
 He will do it.

00:53:08.460 --> 00:53:09.260
 He will do it.

00:53:10.960 --> 00:53:12.019
 The one who conquers

00:53:12.019 --> 00:53:13.700
 only does so by the

00:53:13.700 --> 00:53:15.579
 gracious preserving

00:53:15.579 --> 00:53:17.099
 work of God in their

00:53:17.099 --> 00:53:17.480
 life.

00:53:17.960 --> 00:53:18.880
 And if you truly know

00:53:18.880 --> 00:53:20.640
 and follow Jesus you

00:53:20.640 --> 00:53:21.920
 can trust that he will

00:53:21.920 --> 00:53:23.120
 hold you fast.

00:53:24.360 --> 00:53:26.559
 Especially when you're

00:53:26.559 --> 00:53:28.180
 unable to bear up on

00:53:28.179 --> 00:53:28.599
 your own.

00:53:29.500 --> 00:53:30.699
 So take courage.

00:53:31.980 --> 00:53:33.000
 He is good.

00:53:34.199 --> 00:53:35.179
 He is faithful.

00:53:35.819 --> 00:53:37.019
 And because he is

00:53:37.019 --> 00:53:38.859
 faithful you will be

00:53:38.859 --> 00:53:39.199
 faithful.

00:53:40.339 --> 00:53:41.699
 He who has an ear to

00:53:41.699 --> 00:53:43.619
 hear let him hear what

00:53:43.619 --> 00:53:44.679
 the Spirit says to the

00:53:44.679 --> 00:53:45.000
 churches.

00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:45.539
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