WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. It's good to be with you guys, good to worship with you.

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 It looks like a lot of our members are traveling for Thanksgiving, but you guys are here.

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 I hope that doesn't mean you didn't get to have a good Thanksgiving meal and time with friends and family.

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 And if you have a Bible, please open with me to Revelation chapter 3.

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 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand. We'd love to give you one that you can have and use.

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 Revelation chapter 3.

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 We've been going through this series for a couple months now, and we're in chapter 3 today,

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 the last letter of the seven letters to the churches that Jesus writes.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Father, you are the God, the ancient of days, the God of all truth.

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 Your word is truth, and your son Jesus is the faithful and true witness.

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 And so, Lord, today we want to hear from you.

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 We want to be adjusted by your perspective.

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 We want to submit to your commands.

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 So we humble ourselves before you.

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 Minister to us by your word in your spirit.

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 Make us a church that is zealous for you, for your glory.

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 Fill us more and more with your spirit.

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 We plead with you in the name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 If you are able, please stand and join us as I read through Revelation 3, verses 14 to 22.

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

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 the words of the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

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 I know your works.

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 You are neither cold nor hot.

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 Would that you were either cold or hot.

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 So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold,

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 I will spit you out of my mouth.

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 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.

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 Not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

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 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich.

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 And white garments, so that you may clothe yourselves,

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 if any shame of your nakedness may not be seen,

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 and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

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 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline.

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 So be zealous and repent.

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 Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

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 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

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 I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.

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 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne,

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 as I also conquered and sat down with my father on his throne.

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

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 If you have been a Christian for a little while,

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 you have probably been taught at some point that all sinners are equal before the eyes of God.

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 Or maybe you've heard it said this way,

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 that the ground is level at the foot of the cross.

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 This is an important truth,

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 because the Bible does say that there is no distinction,

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 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

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 God makes no distinction between sinners,

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 because all of us have fallen short of God's standard,

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 and all of us need to be justified by God's grace as a gift

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 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

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 So imagine comparing two sinners in their level of sinfulness,

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 like comparing two people's heights.

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 For example, Connor.

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 You guys know Connor?

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 Connor Failure?

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 Is he here?

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 He's not here.

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 He's a little bit taller than me.

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 He's like six foot four.

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 I'm like five foot four on a good day.

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 So like I said, he's just a little bit taller than me.

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 If you want to be a stickler for details,

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 he's quite a bit taller than me.

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 But if you look down on me and Connor from a thousand feet up,

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 we're basically the same height, right?

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 I mean, that's the difference,

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 because you're so much higher up that everybody down here looks diminutive.

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 That's what it's like for God to look at sinners.

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 We all fall so woefully short of God's perfect righteousness

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 that our relative righteousness or our relative sinfulness

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 really doesn't matter in terms of our standing before God.

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 Whether you broke one law or whether you broke a thousand laws,

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 you're still a lawbreaker.

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 As James 2.10 says,

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 for whoever keeps the whole law but fails at one point

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 has become guilty of all of it.

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 In terms of our legal standing before God,

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 all sinners are in the same boat.

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 We are all headed to hell apart from God's gracious intervention.

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 That does not mean, however,

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 that there aren't lesser sins and greater sins.

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 There is a gradient.

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 For example, the Old Testament refers to idolatry and sexual immorality

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 in particular as a great sin,

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 which implies in some way that they are worse offenses than other sins.

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 1 Corinthians 6.18 singles out sexual immorality

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 as a sin that is uniquely against one's own body

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 because it does violence to a Christian's spiritual union with Christ

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 because their body is a temple of the Spirit.

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 In John 19.11, Jesus says that the sin of betraying

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 and handing him over to the authorities

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 is a greater sin than Pilate's sin of condemning Jesus.

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 In Matthew 5.19 and in Matthew 23.23,

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 Jesus clearly teaches that there are least of the commandments

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 and weightier matters of the law,

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 which prove that some of God's commands are weightier than others

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 and constantly be a greater offense to break them.

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 I say all of that to demonstrate a simple point

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 that not all sins are equal.

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 Some sins are worse than others.

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 Not in terms of our legal standing before God,

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 but in terms of their relative weightiness.

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 Some sins are more dangerous than others.

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 Some sins are more insidious than others.

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 And the sin that is at the root of all other sin is pride.

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 It was the first sin.

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 Before Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil,

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 they had pride in thinking that they can, quote,

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 be like God, knowing good and evil.

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 They thought that they could be themselves the arbiters of good and evil

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 in the place of God.

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 They thought that they knew better than God what is actually good for them.

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 C.S. Lewis famously wrote in his book, Mere Christianity,

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 that the essential vice, the utmost evil is pride.

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 Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that

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 are mere flea bites in comparison.

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 It was through pride that the devil became the devil.

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 Pride leads to every other vice.

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 It is the complete anti-God state of mind.

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 End quote.

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 And if I may take that one step further,

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 among the various kinds of pride,

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 there is a particular type of pride that is especially stealthy

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 and therefore dangerous among Christians,

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 and that is spiritual pride.

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 Jonathan Edwards warns of it in this way.

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 The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age

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 is spiritual pride.

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 This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those

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 who are zealous for the advancement of Christ.

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 It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit

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 to darken the mind and mislead the judgment.

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 Pride is the main handle by which he has hold of Christian persons

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 and the chief source of all the mischief that he introduces

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 to clog and hinder a work of God.

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 Spiritual pride is the main spring,

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 or at least the main support of all other errors.

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 Until this disease is cured,

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 medicines are applied in vain to heal all other disease.

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 It is by spiritual pride that the mind defends

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 and justifies itself in other errors

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 and defends itself against light by which it might be corrected and reclaimed.

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 The spiritually proud man thinks he is full of light already

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 and feels that he does not need instruction,

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 so he is ready to ignore the offer of it.

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 Because of the nature of spiritual pride,

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 it is the most secret of all sins.

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 There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful

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 and unsearchable,

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 and there is no other sin in the world

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 that men are so confident in.

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 The very nature of it is to work self-confidence

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 and drive away any suspicion of any evil of that kind.

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 There is no sin so much like the devil

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 as this for secrecy and subtlety

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 and appearing in great many shapes

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 that are undetected and unsuspected.

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 If you think that's a bit hyperbolic, it's not.

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 Jonathan Edwards is not alone.

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 Many teachers, pastors, theologians throughout church history

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 have said this very thing.

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 Spiritual pride is difficult to detect

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 because it is by its very nature self-concealing.

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 It's like pancreatic cancer,

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 which has the highest mortality of all the major cancers.

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 One of the main reasons for its deadliness

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 is that pancreatic cancer is nearly impossible to catch early.

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 The pancreas looks like a comma

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 that's like fallen on its side.

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 Some of you guys are doctors.

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 You guys know what I'm talking about.

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 And it's like nestled.

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 It's cupped by the small intestine,

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 and it's like hidden behind the stomach,

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 the upper abdomen,

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 and then it meets its tail.

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 It ends in the spleen.

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 So it's like it's hidden, surrounded by,

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 and hidden behind all these other internal organs

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 so that pancreatic tumors are impossible to see or feel

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 during routine medical exams.

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 And so the only way to find them,

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 to detect them,

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 is by imaging tests like ultrasound and CT scans

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 and MRI scans and PET scans.

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 But people with pancreatic cancer

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 usually don't sign up for those imaging tests.

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 Why?

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 Because in its early stages,

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 pancreatic cancer is what some doctors call

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 the silent disease

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 because it often has no presenting symptoms

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 in its early stage.

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 So it's only when it's advanced beyond cure,

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 often when it's harder to treat,

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 that pancreatic cancer becomes detected.

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 And that's why it's so deadly.

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 That's what spiritual pride is like.

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 Spiritual pride is self-concealing,

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 which is why it is so insidious.

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 The devil often uses it to beguile,

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 as Jonathan Edwards said,

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 those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ.

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 And what we learn here in Revelation 3, 14 to 22,

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 is that once spiritual pride has taken root

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 in the heart of a zealous believer,

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 it saps the zeal right out of him.

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 It makes him lukewarm.

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 And that's what we see in Jesus' letter

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 to the church in Laodicea.

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 And that's why we must be vigilant

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 against the creeping effects of spiritual pride.

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 And this is the main point of our passage this morning.

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 We must repent of our lukewarmness

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 and be zealous for the Lord Jesus

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 so that we might enjoy our communion with him.

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 I'm gonna first talk about the author,

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 the sender of this letter, Christ,

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 who is faithful and true.

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 Then secondly, I'm gonna talk about the condition,

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 according to Jesus' evaluation,

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 the condition of the church in Laodicea,

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 that they're neither cold nor hot.

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 Third, I'll talk about the command,

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 Jesus' command to be zealous and repent.

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 And then lastly, I'll talk about the reward

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 that Jesus promises to those who obeyed,

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 communion, riches, relationships, and rule

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 that we get to share in Christ.

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 So let's first talk about Christ,

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 the author and sender of this letter

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 to the angel of the church in Laodicea.

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 So far, in all of the letters,

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 Jesus introduced himself in a way

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 that was particularly suitable for the situation

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 that the church was in on the ground.

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 So why does Jesus introduce himself in verse 14

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 as the amen, the faithful and true witness?

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 The beginning of God's creation.

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 The general pattern in Jesus' letters

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 to these seven churches in Revelation 2-3

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 is that after saying, I know your works,

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 Jesus then goes on to list their works that he knows.

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 Sometimes they're good works,

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 sometimes they're bad works,

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 usually a mix of both.

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 And then after sharing his commendations

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 and then corrections, Jesus issues his command,

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 and then he gives them the promise of reward.

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 But here in verse 15,

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 it kind of doesn't follow that usual pattern

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 because after saying, I know your works,

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 there is no commendation whatsoever.

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 Laodicea and Sardis are the only two churches

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 that receive no commendation

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 and receive only corrections from Jesus.

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 And Laodicea is even worse than Sardis.

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 It's probably the worst church on this list

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 because Sardis at least had a few people,

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 according to Jesus,

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 a remnant who had not soiled their garments.

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 A few, there was a faithful few in Sardis,

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 but there's no mention of such a faithful remnant

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 in Laodicea.

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 They're all together, naked,

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 and in need of being clothed

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 with the white garments of Christ's righteousness.

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 Ironically, however,

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 the church in Laodicea is blind

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 to their own spiritual poverty and nakedness.

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 They say in verse 17,

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 I am rich, I prospered,

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 and I need nothing.

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 Not realizing that they are wretched,

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 pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

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 Here's an example of spiritual pride.

00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:46.699
 The self-confidence and self-satisfaction

00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:48.099
 of the spiritually proud person

00:15:48.099 --> 00:15:51.399
 inoculates him against self-suspicion.

00:15:52.219 --> 00:15:53.539
 He says, I need nothing.

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:57.120
 Like an overconfident, complacent driver

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.779
 who doesn't bother to check the blind spot.

00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.759
 Well, I've seen everything.

00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.899
 And then switches lanes

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.459
 and then gets into a car wreck.

00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.000
 The spiritually proud person

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.839
 does not suspect

00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:10.019
 that he can possibly be blind to something.

00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:14.939
 The church in Laodicea

00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:15.740
 does not realize

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.519
 that they are wretched,

00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:18.620
 pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:21.259
 In fact, these words

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.959
 are the exact opposite

00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:25.079
 of how the church in Laodicea

00:16:25.079 --> 00:16:26.319
 would have viewed themselves.

00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.500
 They didn't think

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.219
 that they were wretched or pitiable.

00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.519
 They said to themselves,

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:34.360
 I prospered, and I need nothing.

00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.539
 They thought they were blessed.

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.699
 They thought they were enviable.

00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:43.540
 They didn't view themselves as poor.

00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:44.500
 They said to themselves,

00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.220
 I'm rich.

00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:48.140
 And this was, in fact, true,

00:16:48.520 --> 00:16:49.920
 at least in a material sense.

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:53.300
 Laodicea was a prosperous banking center

00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:54.320
 in its heyday,

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.780
 located at the junction

00:16:55.780 --> 00:16:57.180
 of two important roads

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.920
 that made them a commercial success.

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.920
 They were so well off

00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:02.240
 and so self-sufficient

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.140
 that when a disastrous earthquake

00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:05.980
 completely leveled the city

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.100
 in 60 AD,

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:09.059
 the Roman Empire, Rome,

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.899
 offered them disaster relief,

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.879
 and then they said,

00:17:11.939 --> 00:17:12.740
 oh, no thank you.

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.439
 We'll take care of it.

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.339
 We have enough resources.

00:17:16.219 --> 00:17:17.219
 That reveals,

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.159
 that historical fact

00:17:18.159 --> 00:17:19.399
 reveals both their pride

00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:21.139
 and their wealth.

00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.899
 They also didn't view themselves

00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:24.639
 as blind.

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.319
 Laodicea was a center of medicine

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:29.799
 and boasted a prominent medical school

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.219
 whose most famous graduate

00:17:31.219 --> 00:17:33.379
 was Demosthenes Philolethes,

00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:35.340
 an optometrist

00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:36.440
 who wrote the book

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.940
 Ophthalmicus,

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.920
 which dealt with various eye diseases

00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.040
 and is considered

00:17:41.040 --> 00:17:42.540
 the most influential work

00:17:42.540 --> 00:17:43.440
 of ophthalmology

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.760
 in the ancient world.

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.720
 Laodicea was sought out

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.600
 for its production

00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:51.760
 of the Phrygian powder

00:17:51.760 --> 00:17:53.320
 and eye salve

00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:54.180
 used to treat

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.560
 various eye diseases.

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.619
 So, no,

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.679
 Laodicean believers

00:17:58.679 --> 00:17:59.799
 did not see themselves

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.619
 as blind.

00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:01.799
 They saw themselves

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.279
 as the ones

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.960
 who make other blind people see.

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.119
 And yet,

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.899
 they themselves

00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:07.960
 were spiritually blind.

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.500
 And finally,

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.259
 the Laodiceans

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.099
 did not perceive

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.159
 of themselves

00:18:13.159 --> 00:18:14.200
 as being naked.

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.639
 Laodicea was known

00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:16.799
 for its textiles,

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.519
 especially the production

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.619
 of fine wool.

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:21.559
 They believed themselves

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.919
 to be well clothed

00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:24.839
 with the finest wool.

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.699
 They would have never imagined

00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.419
 that they were naked.

00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:29.299
 Yet,

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.059
 this is exactly

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.039
 what Jesus tells them.

00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:31.799
 You are wretched,

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:32.779
 pitiable,

00:18:32.979 --> 00:18:33.299
 poor,

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.000
 blind,

00:18:34.459 --> 00:18:35.079
 and naked

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:36.679
 because they were spiritually

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:38.159
 all of those things.

00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:40.019
 Social success,

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.459
 material wealth,

00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.919
 and physical health

00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:44.559
 can feed

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.519
 spiritual pride.

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.879
 We can falsely assume

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.920
 that we are doing well

00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:50.500
 spiritually

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:52.260
 when everything else

00:18:52.260 --> 00:18:53.420
 seems to be going well

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.360
 in our lives.

00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:55.660
 Like the Israelites

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.840
 in Hosea 12, 8,

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.320
 they say,

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:57.780
 ah,

00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.780
 but I am rich.

00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.060
 I found wealth

00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:00.780
 for myself

00:19:00.780 --> 00:19:01.840
 in all my labors

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.880
 they cannot find

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.480
 in me

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.320
 iniquity

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.300
 or sin.

00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:06.860
 They're connected.

00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:09.900
 The sinful human heart

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.920
 has a penchant

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:12.920
 for the prosperity gospel

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.220
 to presume

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.280
 that health

00:19:15.280 --> 00:19:16.360
 and wealth

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.220
 and success

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.860
 are foolproof signs

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.740
 of God's pleasure

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.500
 and favor

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.719
 while sickness,

00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:22.519
 poverty,

00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.139
 and failure

00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:23.639
 are signs

00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.659
 of God's displeasure

00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.879
 and disfavor.

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.819
 But we see

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.459
 throughout Scripture

00:19:28.459 --> 00:19:29.419
 that that is not

00:19:29.419 --> 00:19:30.459
 necessarily the case.

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:33.479
 So in order

00:19:33.479 --> 00:19:34.119
 to expose

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.959
 their self-deception

00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:35.559
 and convince

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.039
 the church

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.599
 that thinks

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.319
 I need nothing,

00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:38.000
 that in fact

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.899
 they are very needy,

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.259
 Jesus introduces

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.000
 himself to them

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.859
 as the amen,

00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.479
 the faithful

00:19:43.479 --> 00:19:44.740
 and true witness,

00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.379
 the all-seeing one,

00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:47.379
 the only one

00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:47.840
 who truly

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.880
 has no blind spot.

00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:51.040
 The word amen

00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:51.680
 is typically

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.340
 an expression

00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:53.380
 of affirmation

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.120
 of faith

00:19:54.120 --> 00:19:55.020
 that something

00:19:55.020 --> 00:19:55.700
 that God has said

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.580
 will indeed help

00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:57.620
 and let it be so.

00:19:58.800 --> 00:19:59.760
 As far as I know,

00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:00.780
 this is the only place

00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:01.620
 where the word amen

00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:02.240
 is used

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.200
 as a title

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:03.860
 for Jesus.

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.120
 The word amen

00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:07.020
 comes from

00:20:07.020 --> 00:20:07.940
 the Hebrew verb

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.420
 that means

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.340
 to believe in

00:20:09.340 --> 00:20:10.600
 or to trust in

00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.020
 someone

00:20:11.020 --> 00:20:12.040
 which in turn

00:20:12.040 --> 00:20:12.500
 comes from

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.040
 the Hebrew word

00:20:13.040 --> 00:20:14.340
 for God's faithfulness

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.319
 or truthfulness.

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.819
 So the phrase

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.319
 the faithful

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.000
 and true witness

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.240
 is really an explanation

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.539
 of the title

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.740
 the amen.

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.339
 It says

00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.939
 in Genesis 15, 6

00:20:25.939 --> 00:20:26.879
 that Abram

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.279
 believed the Lord

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:30.179
 or amened

00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:30.939
 the Lord

00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:32.899
 and he counted it

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.259
 to him

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.939
 as righteousness.

00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:35.339
 And what's going on

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.000
 in that passage?

00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:36.879
 Despite the fact

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.939
 that his wife Sarai

00:20:37.939 --> 00:20:38.779
 was well past

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.740
 childbearing age,

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.279
 in fact,

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.419
 post-menopausal,

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.799
 Abram nevertheless

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.619
 believed in God's promise

00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:45.220
 that he would have

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.819
 a son through Sarai

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.700
 and that his descendants

00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.519
 would be as numerous

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.220
 as the stars in the sky.

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.440
 And God delivered

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.259
 on that promise.

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.200
 That's how faithful

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.019
 or trustworthy God is.

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.899
 I've said this to you before,

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.559
 when you're faced

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.500
 with two options,

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.059
 an impossibility

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:05.200
 and the promise of God,

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.859
 you can bank on it

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:08.319
 that the promise of God

00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.000
 will happen.

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:12.960
 because God's word

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.000
 and his promise

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.400
 is more reliable

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.920
 than natural law,

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.279
 more reliable

00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:19.019
 than logic,

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.839
 more reliable

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:21.119
 than common sense.

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:24.819
 And Jesus is the embodiment

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.140
 of that faithfulness

00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.099
 and trustworthiness

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.819
 of God.

00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.180
 That's why he is describing

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.460
 in 2 Corinthians 1, 20

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:30.759
 this way,

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:32.059
 all the promises of God

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.259
 find their yes

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.339
 in Christ.

00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.359
 That is why

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:36.319
 it is through him

00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.819
 that we utter our amen

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.539
 to God for his glory.

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.740
 Because all the promises

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:44.000
 of God find their fulfillment

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.159
 ultimately in Jesus

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:46.519
 is through Christ

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.639
 that we can say amen

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:49.899
 to all of God's promises,

00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:52.059
 trusting that not one

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.740
 of his promises

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.659
 will fall to the ground.

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.259
 That's why Jesus

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.599
 introduces himself

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.200
 this way,

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.839
 the amen,

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.359
 the faithful

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.339
 and true witness.

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.639
 He's telling the church

00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:02.399
 in Laodicea,

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.759
 I am the true

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.759
 and faithful witness.

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.779
 my assessment of you

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.879
 is more true

00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.900
 and reliable

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.839
 than your self-assessment.

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.859
 You think that you are rich,

00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:15.559
 but I say that you are poor,

00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.859
 so listen to me

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:19.700
 and repent.

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:23.099
 What about the following phrase,

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.660
 the beginning of God's creation

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.779
 in verse 14?

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:28.279
 The phrase does not mean

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:30.420
 that Jesus is the first thing

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.660
 that God created.

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:34.960
 That's a heretical belief

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.380
 held by the Jehovah's witnesses.

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.300
 They believe that Jesus

00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:40.320
 is the preeminent creature,

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.940
 but that they nonetheless

00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.580
 believe that Jesus

00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:44.080
 is a created being.

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.300
 That's a grave,

00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.840
 unbiblical error.

00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:50.060
 In Revelation 5,

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:52.140
 the four living creatures

00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.019
 which represent

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.480
 all the creatures

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.600
 that God ever created,

00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:56.940
 they fall down

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.960
 before the lamb,

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:58.620
 which is Jesus,

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.860
 and they worship Jesus.

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:02.299
 Jesus is clearly viewed

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.059
 in that scene

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.659
 not as one of the creatures

00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.539
 that God created,

00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:06.579
 represented by the four

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.319
 living creatures,

00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:09.439
 but as the creator,

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:10.659
 as God,

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.240
 who is separate from them.

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.179
 Moreover,

00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.899
 later on in Revelation 19.10,

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:18.019
 John tries to fall down

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.059
 to feet

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.959
 and bow down

00:23:19.959 --> 00:23:20.579
 and worship

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.699
 a mighty angel,

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.359
 and then the angel

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.139
 stops him and says,

00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:24.479
 you must not do that

00:23:24.479 --> 00:23:25.819
 because I'm a fellow servant

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.439
 with you

00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:27.859
 and your brothers

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.679
 who hold to the testament

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.039
 of Jesus,

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.100
 worship God.

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.640
 So then Jesus,

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.820
 the lamb of God,

00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.759
 early in Revelation,

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.259
 accepts the worship

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.320
 that even a mighty angel

00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:39.900
 is unworthy to receive

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.539
 because Jesus is far greater

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.140
 than a creature.

00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:44.759
 The word translated

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.940
 beginning here

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.600
 is a Greek word

00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:47.720
 that can also be translated

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.700
 as the origin

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:50.340
 or the source

00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:52.019
 or the ruler

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.960
 as it's translated

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.019
 in Luke 12.11

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.060
 and Romans 8.38.

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:57.179
 So then the phrase

00:23:57.179 --> 00:23:57.759
 the beginning

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.720
 of God's creation

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.639
 is not saying

00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:01.679
 that Jesus was the first part

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:02.679
 of God's creation,

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.480
 but it's saying

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:05.419
 that Jesus is the origin

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:07.099
 of all of God's creation

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.919
 and the ruler

00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:10.220
 over all of God's creation.

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.419
 This is confirmed

00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:13.740
 by what Paul says,

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.539
 the parallel in Colossians 1.15

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.980
 where Jesus is called

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.079
 the firstborn

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.480
 of all creation.

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:20.879
 Once again,

00:24:20.919 --> 00:24:21.720
 that does not mean

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:23.299
 that Jesus is the first being

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.179
 that God created.

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.060
 How do we know that?

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:27.680
 Because verses 16 to 17

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.640
 which follow immediately

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.779
 explains precisely

00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.080
 why Jesus is called

00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:32.440
 the firstborn

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.640
 of all creation.

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.580
 For by him

00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:37.860
 all things were created

00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:39.060
 in heaven and on earth,

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.220
 visible and invisible,

00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.100
 whether thrones

00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.660
 or dominions

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.620
 or rulers or authorities,

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.600
 all things were created

00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:44.200
 through him

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.320
 and for him

00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:47.340
 and he is before all things

00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:48.160
 and in him

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.799
 all things hold together.

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.700
 This confirms

00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.560
 our interpretation

00:24:52.560 --> 00:24:53.799
 of Revelation 3.14.

00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.640
 In a culture,

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:57.000
 in an ancient culture

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.720
 governed by primogeniture

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.640
 where the firstborns

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.660
 rule the household

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:03.400
 and inherit

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.340
 the father's estate,

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.180
 the expression highlights

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.560
 Jesus' primacy

00:25:07.560 --> 00:25:08.320
 and rule

00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:09.980
 over all of God's creation.

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.940
 Jesus is not

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.100
 one of the creatures.

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.240
 He's the one

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.799
 by whom all things

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.420
 were created.

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.000
 He is the first mover,

00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:18.000
 the originator.

00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.320
 In the beginning

00:25:19.320 --> 00:25:20.000
 was the word

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.460
 and the word

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.160
 was with God

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.640
 and the word

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.380
 was God.

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.259
 He was in the beginning

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.320
 with God.

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.240
 All things were made

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.000
 through him

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.960
 and without him

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.759
 was not anything

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.460
 that was made.

00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:30.460
 So why is Jesus

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.740
 highlighting that reality

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.759
 to the church

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.420
 in Laodicea?

00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.700
 Because if you're wretched,

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:36.500
 you need the one

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.600
 who can make you blessed.

00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.600
 If you're pitiable,

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.480
 you need the one

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.140
 who can show you mercy.

00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.480
 If you're poor,

00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.180
 you need the one

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.400
 who can make you rich.

00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:46.200
 If you're blind,

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.780
 you need the one

00:25:46.780 --> 00:25:48.180
 who can make you see.

00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:49.080
 If you're naked

00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:49.980
 in your shame,

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.560
 you need the one

00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.480
 who can clothe you

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.360
 and cover you

00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.279
 with his righteousness.

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.860
 God had promised

00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:59.940
 to create a new heavens

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.220
 and a new earth.

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.740
 In Isaiah 65, 17,

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:04.420
 Jesus is the fulfillment

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.519
 of that promise.

00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:06.759
 As it says

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.180
 in 2 Corinthians 5, 17,

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.440
 therefore,

00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.779
 if anyone is in Christ,

00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:11.140
 he is a new creation.

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.920
 The old has gone.

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.720
 Behold,

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.779
 the new has come.

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:18.460
 So Jesus

00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:20.619
 clearly doesn't pull

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.339
 any punches here

00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:21.819
 in this letter,

00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:24.059
 but he's also comforting

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.440
 the church in Laodicea

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.980
 by reminding them

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.379
 that in spite of their wretched

00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.920
 and pitiable condition,

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:33.859
 he can make them new again

00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:35.879
 because he is the creator.

00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.799
 He's the one

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.920
 who the originator

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.759
 of the creation

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.759
 and originator

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.839
 of the new creation,

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.019
 he can make the blind see

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.139
 and the poor rich.

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:48.660
 Now let's look at

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.220
 the faithful

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.759
 and true assessment

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.399
 of Jesus,

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.019
 the faithful

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.700
 and true witness

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:54.160
 in verses 15 to 16.

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.359
 I know your works.

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.819
 You are neither cold

00:26:58.819 --> 00:26:59.500
 nor hot.

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.079
 Would that you were

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.359
 either cold or hot.

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:04.139
 So because you are lukewarm

00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:04.960
 and neither hot

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.539
 nor cold,

00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.899
 I will spit you

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:08.000
 out of my mouth.

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.819
 This is their condition.

00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:14.480
 Neither cold nor hot.

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:19.420
 Sometimes people mistakenly think

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.740
 that being hot here

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:22.019
 represents being passionate,

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.319
 being on fire for Jesus,

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.019
 and then being cold

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:27.480
 represents rejecting Jesus

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.000
 altogether.

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.920
 If that were the case,

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.160
 these verses would be similar

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.019
 to what God says

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.640
 to the Israelites

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.500
 in 1 Kings 18-21.

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.519
 How long will you go limping

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.960
 between two different opinions?

00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:40.200
 If the Lord is God,

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.980
 follow him.

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.700
 But if Baal,

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.799
 then follow him.

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.380
 But there,

00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.279
 in that context,

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.500
 God is exposing

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.599
 the hypocrisy

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.960
 and two-faced nature

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.120
 of Israel's worship

00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.960
 and allegiance.

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.860
 He's telling them

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:53.480
 that in fact

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.779
 it is not possible

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:56.099
 to serve both Yahweh

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.839
 and Baal

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:58.460
 and that they must

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.440
 make a choice.

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.200
 But that's not

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.019
 what Jesus is saying

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.099
 here in Revelation 3.

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.259
 Here in verses 15 to 16,

00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:06.160
 being cold

00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.740
 and hot

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:09.880
 are both good things.

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.519
 The choice is not

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.779
 between one bad option

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.900
 and one good option,

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.779
 but between two good options.

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.200
 Jesus says in verse 15,

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.740
 would that you were

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:21.200
 either cold or hot.

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:22.360
 Jesus would prefer,

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.740
 Jesus would be happy

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.279
 if the church

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.300
 were either cold

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:26.300
 or hot.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.060
 If being cold

00:28:29.060 --> 00:28:30.180
 represents completely

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:31.300
 rejecting Jesus,

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:31.960
 I don't think he would

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:33.200
 present the two options

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.900
 this way

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:35.160
 as if both were acceptable.

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.759
 Laodicea was located

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.940
 near two other

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.800
 ancient cities,

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.840
 Hierapolis,

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:42.640
 Hierapolis,

00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.500
 and Colossae.

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.400
 All of them

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:46.420
 were in that same region

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:46.980
 of Phrygia

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.800
 in Asia Minor,

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.519
 modern Turkey.

00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:50.440
 And why is that significant?

00:28:50.560 --> 00:28:51.600
 Because Hierapolis

00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.660
 was famous

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.759
 for its hot springs,

00:28:54.840 --> 00:28:55.960
 which were great

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.580
 for relaxing

00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:58.900
 and healing baths.

00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.540
 And Colossae

00:29:00.540 --> 00:29:02.100
 near the mountains

00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:02.700
 had access

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.420
 to cold,

00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:03.779
 pure,

00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:04.840
 refreshing water

00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:05.480
 that came down

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.140
 from the mountains.

00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:08.480
 But Laodicea,

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.980
 removed from

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.920
 that cold water

00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.779
 from the mountains,

00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:13.340
 which by the time

00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:14.279
 it was transported

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:16.420
 to where they are,

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.920
 would be heated

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.900
 and be lukewarm.

00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.320
 And Laodicea

00:29:19.320 --> 00:29:20.480
 also didn't have access

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.500
 to the hot springs

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:23.660
 of Hierapolis.

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.000
 They had to

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.519
 pipe that water in,

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.620
 and by the time

00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:28.220
 it got there,

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.940
 it was tepid,

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:31.940
 lukewarm.

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:34.340
 And having to drink

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:35.660
 that lukewarm water

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.600
 was a sore spot

00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:37.480
 for this otherwise

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:39.400
 wealthy and proud city.

00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.600
 And Jesus is mentioning

00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.200
 that reality

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:44.080
 to drive his point home.

00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.900
 You know that

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:47.259
 that lukewarm water

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.519
 that you have to drink

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.019
 every day

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.700
 that makes you

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.680
 want to puke?

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:54.240
 that's what you are

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.940
 like to me

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:56.200
 because of your

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.480
 spiritual lukewarmness.

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.360
 Hot water

00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.200
 is relaxing,

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.080
 cold water

00:30:04.080 --> 00:30:05.000
 is refreshing,

00:30:05.560 --> 00:30:06.500
 but tepid water

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.080
 is just

00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:08.700
 meh, right?

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:12.160
 I was just

00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.920
 at a restaurant

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.559
 recently

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:15.299
 that served

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:15.880
 our family

00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:18.059
 lukewarm water.

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:18.759
 I don't know,

00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:19.319
 it was like

00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.660
 literally lukewarm.

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.500
 I'd never been

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.900
 served that

00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.620
 in a restaurant before.

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.779
 And none of my kids

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.460
 wanted to drink it

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.120
 because it's gross.

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.299
 We had to ask

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.740
 for ice.

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:28.799
 Similarly,

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.080
 when you go to a cafe,

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.160
 menus have all kinds

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.980
 of hot coffees

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.539
 and all kinds

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:34.100
 of iced coffees.

00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.960
 When have you

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.600
 gone to a cafe

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.259
 and saw on the menu

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.200
 lukewarm coffee?

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.220
 I mean,

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:40.319
 nobody wants that.

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.920
 So Jesus is saying

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.220
 be either cold

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.000
 or hot.

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:48.140
 Be earnest

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:49.740
 and be fervent

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:51.180
 about something.

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.180
 The church in Ephesus

00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:59.019
 that we saw

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.880
 earlier in chapter 2

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:01.559
 had theological discernment

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.920
 and so they rejected

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.840
 the false teachers

00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:05.400
 but they had no love.

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.620
 The church in Thyatira

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.639
 had love

00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:11.439
 but they had no

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:12.599
 theological discernment

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.519
 and they tolerated

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.559
 false teachers.

00:31:16.739 --> 00:31:17.739
 These churches

00:31:17.739 --> 00:31:19.139
 were not perfect

00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:20.979
 but they were fervent

00:31:20.979 --> 00:31:22.399
 about something.

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:25.019
 They were eager

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.819
 and earnest

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:27.000
 about something.

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:31.519
 loving and loving

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:35.480
 and being compassionate

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.380
 toward your neighbors

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.740
 then do that.

00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.619
 Even better,

00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:39.839
 do both.

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.519
 But be earnest

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.259
 and fervent

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:44.519
 about something

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.839
 because the church

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.660
 in Laodicea

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.920
 had no strength

00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.279
 and no commendable

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.740
 attributes.

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.319
 They're good

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.299
 at neither being

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.339
 hot nor cold.

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.500
 They're a bland

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.599
 mediocrity

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.640
 in every way.

00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:56.660
 A lukewarm

00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.799
 tepid water

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:59.180
 is good for nothing.

00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.960
 So Jesus issues

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.359
 a severe warning

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:08.579
 in verse 16.

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.819
 Because you are lukewarm

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.680
 and neither hot

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.019
 nor cold

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.880
 I will spit you

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.660
 out of my mouth.

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.980
 The word translated

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.740
 spit here

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.200
 is actually

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.880
 most commonly

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:17.079
 means to vomit.

00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:19.299
 There's another

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.720
 Greek word

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.139
 that means

00:32:20.139 --> 00:32:20.720
 to spit

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.240
 and that's not

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.519
 the one

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.220
 that's used here.

00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:24.119
 The Greek translation

00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:25.579
 of Isaiah 19.14

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.699
 uses that same

00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:27.439
 Greek word here

00:32:27.439 --> 00:32:28.759
 used in Revelation 3.16

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:30.139
 to refer to a drunken man

00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:31.779
 staggering in his vomit.

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:34.099
 So Jesus is saying

00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:36.439
 you are nauseating.

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.659
 You make me sick.

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.679
 Make me throw up.

00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:43.799
 The church in Laodicea

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.659
 is on the verge

00:32:44.659 --> 00:32:45.899
 of being rejected.

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.180
 They're about to

00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:48.580
 the light

00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:49.560
 the fire of the spirit

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.300
 on their lampstand

00:32:50.300 --> 00:32:51.420
 is about to go out

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.580
 because of their

00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:53.660
 lack of zeal.

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.780
 Why do I think

00:32:57.780 --> 00:32:58.820
 lukewarmness here

00:32:58.820 --> 00:33:00.519
 is a vivid picture

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:02.800
 of their lack of zeal?

00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:03.940
 Because of Jesus'

00:33:04.300 --> 00:33:04.960
 prescription

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.019
 in verse 19.

00:33:06.580 --> 00:33:08.019
 Be zealous

00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:09.640
 and repent.

00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.140
 Jesus commands

00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.560
 the church

00:33:12.560 --> 00:33:13.000
 in Laodicea

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.900
 to be zealous

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.740
 precisely because

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.740
 they are lukewarm.

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.519
 Neither cold nor hot.

00:33:18.320 --> 00:33:18.920
 That brings us

00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:19.680
 to my third point

00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.180
 the command

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.920
 be zealous

00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.660
 and repent.

00:33:22.280 --> 00:33:23.360
 It says in verse 19

00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:24.759
 those whom I love

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.540
 I reprove

00:33:25.540 --> 00:33:26.360
 and discipline

00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.860
 so be zealous

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.759
 and repent.

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.880
 It's so gracious

00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:33.380
 of Jesus here

00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:35.080
 to say this

00:33:35.080 --> 00:33:37.460
 before giving them

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:37.800
 the command

00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.120
 to say

00:33:38.120 --> 00:33:39.460
 those whom I love

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.680
 I reprove

00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.860
 and discipline.

00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:43.579
 this is a church

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.259
 that makes

00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.519
 Jesus want to puke.

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.839
 It's a church

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.719
 that has nothing

00:33:48.719 --> 00:33:49.579
 going for it.

00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.079
 It's a church

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:52.639
 that has zero thing

00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:53.559
 to commend

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.419
 and yet

00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:55.500
 to that church

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.359
 Jesus says

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:58.359
 I am reproving you

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:59.619
 because I love you.

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:07.000
 I know these things

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.739
 are hard to hear

00:34:07.739 --> 00:34:09.000
 church in Laodicea

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.299
 but I want you

00:34:10.299 --> 00:34:10.619
 to know

00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.940
 that I am disciplining you

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:13.699
 because I love you.

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:16.719
 you've got nothing

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:18.480
 lovable about you

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.980
 and yet

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.159
 I love you

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:22.480
 because you are mine.

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:34.339
 The Lord disciplines

00:34:34.339 --> 00:34:35.219
 those whom he loves

00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:36.339
 says in Hebrews 12

00:34:36.339 --> 00:34:41.460
 a father disciplines

00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.119
 the son

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.839
 the child

00:34:42.839 --> 00:34:43.619
 that he loves

00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:47.179
 that's why I think

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.059
 even though the church

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.679
 in Laodicea

00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.699
 is on the verge

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.839
 of ceasing to be

00:34:50.839 --> 00:34:51.759
 a true church

00:34:51.759 --> 00:34:53.440
 they are a true church

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.819
 because

00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:56.819
 Jesus

00:34:56.819 --> 00:34:58.059
 reproves them

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:59.199
 because he loves them

00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:00.920
 because as we saw

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.239
 earlier in Revelation 1

00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.259
 they still have

00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.539
 the golden lampstand

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.460
 their lampstand

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.259
 is one of the seven

00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.259
 golden lampstands

00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:08.539
 before God's throne

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:11.319
 and they have

00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:12.539
 an angelic representative

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.400
 in heaven

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.619
 that's why he's writing

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.300
 to the church

00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:16.780
 to the angel of the church

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:19.340
 in Laodicea

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:22.200
 Jesus doesn't want

00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:23.099
 to spit them out

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.720
 Jesus doesn't want

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.460
 to vomit them out

00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.700
 so this warning

00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:28.800
 serves to preserve them

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:30.380
 to bring them to repentance

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:32.420
 so that that would not happen

00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:38.139
 be zealous

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:38.940
 and repent

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.139
 the word zealous

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.119
 used in verse 19

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.639
 refers

00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:43.340
 it's used

00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:44.119
 throughout the Bible

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.680
 it refers to the church

00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:46.519
 in Corinth's

00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.139
 readiness

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:48.740
 or their eagerness

00:35:48.740 --> 00:35:49.880
 to give financially

00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:50.619
 for the relief

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.680
 of the poor Christians

00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:52.240
 in Jerusalem

00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:53.619
 in 2 Corinthians 9

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:55.920
 in 2 Corinthians 7

00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.159
 11

00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:56.839
 the word zeal

00:35:56.839 --> 00:35:57.480
 is parallel

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:59.039
 to earnestness

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.019
 and refers to

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.599
 the believer's

00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:01.699
 godly grief

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.339
 and repentance

00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:03.019
 from sin

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.599
 in John 2

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.319
 13-17

00:36:05.319 --> 00:36:06.359
 Jesus is turning

00:36:06.359 --> 00:36:07.539
 over tables

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.319
 and driving out

00:36:08.319 --> 00:36:09.039
 the money changers

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.699
 from the temple

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:11.059
 because it says

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:12.659
 quoting Psalm 69-9

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:14.400
 zeal for your house

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.579
 will consume me

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.339
 because Jesus

00:36:16.339 --> 00:36:17.339
 was consumed

00:36:17.339 --> 00:36:18.079
 by zeal

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.679
 for the house

00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:19.119
 of the Lord

00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.880
 which should have been

00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:20.679
 a house of prayer

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:22.199
 and not a house of trade

00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:25.319
 so to be zealous

00:36:25.319 --> 00:36:26.219
 is to be eager

00:36:26.219 --> 00:36:27.399
 and to be earnest

00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:29.359
 to be intensely serious

00:36:29.359 --> 00:36:31.279
 to be dedicated

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:32.039
 to something

00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:35.199
 but don't get me wrong

00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.980
 by zeal

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.359
 I'm not just

00:36:37.359 --> 00:36:38.179
 referring to

00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:40.039
 mere emotional fervor

00:36:40.039 --> 00:36:43.279
 people have different

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:44.739
 upper and lower

00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:46.119
 registers of emotions

00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:48.239
 and so

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.379
 a person's

00:36:49.379 --> 00:36:50.119
 emotional expressiveness

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:52.139
 is not necessarily

00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:53.419
 an accurate indicator

00:36:53.419 --> 00:36:54.159
 of their zeal

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:55.799
 so what then

00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:57.019
 is an accurate indicator

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:58.079
 of their zeal

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:59.259
 English pastor

00:36:59.259 --> 00:36:59.980
 J.C. Ryle

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.159
 from the 1800s

00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:02.019
 helpfully describes

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.940
 Christian zeal

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.579
 in this way

00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:04.279
 I think we have the quote

00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:04.719
 to show

00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:06.599
 a zealous man

00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:07.440
 in religion

00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.519
 is preeminently

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.159
 a man

00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:10.480
 of one thing

00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:13.179
 it is not enough

00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:13.819
 to say he is

00:37:13.819 --> 00:37:14.279
 earnest

00:37:14.279 --> 00:37:14.980
 hardy

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:16.000
 uncompromising

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:16.659
 wholehearted

00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.719
 fervent in spirit

00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:19.259
 he only sees

00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.079
 one thing

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:21.460
 he cares

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.199
 for one

00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:22.920
 thing

00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:24.039
 he lives

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.940
 for one

00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.779
 thing

00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:26.579
 he is swallowed

00:37:26.579 --> 00:37:27.340
 up in

00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:27.980
 one

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.719
 thing

00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:29.480
 and that one

00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.079
 thing is to

00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.819
 please God

00:37:30.819 --> 00:37:33.480
 whether he lives

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.860
 whether he dies

00:37:34.860 --> 00:37:35.759
 whether he has

00:37:35.759 --> 00:37:36.199
 health

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:37.159
 or whether he has

00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:37.719
 sickness

00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.980
 whether he is rich

00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:39.739
 or whether he is

00:37:39.739 --> 00:37:40.159
 poor

00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:41.420
 whether he pleases

00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:41.880
 man

00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:42.679
 or whether he gives

00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.340
 offense

00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:44.400
 whether he is thought

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:44.960
 wise

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.619
 or whether he's

00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.400
 thought foolish

00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:47.199
 whether he gets

00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:47.699
 blame

00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:49.059
 or whether he gets praise,

00:37:49.419 --> 00:37:50.379
 whether he gets honor,

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.579
 whether he gets shame.

00:37:51.859 --> 00:37:55.259
 For all this, the zealous man cares nothing at all.

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:59.079
 He burns for one thing

00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:02.239
 and that one thing is to please God

00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:04.579
 and to advance God's glory.

00:38:05.639 --> 00:38:07.859
 If he is consumed in the very burning,

00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:09.199
 he cares not for it.

00:38:09.419 --> 00:38:10.159
 He is content.

00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:13.379
 He feels that like a lamp he's made to burn

00:38:13.379 --> 00:38:15.460
 and if consumed in burning,

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:18.460
 he has but done the work for which God appointed him.

00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:24.860
 Are you a man or are you a woman

00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:28.639
 who is consumed with the one thing?

00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:34.720
 But one thing I do.

00:38:35.179 --> 00:38:37.380
 Paul said, forgetting what is behind

00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:39.340
 but straining toward what is ahead

00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:42.579
 so that I may press on toward the goal

00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:47.159
 for the price of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.539
 The one thing.

00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:52.440
 One thing, David prays,

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:54.079
 I have asked of the Lord.

00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:57.659
 One thing that I will seek after

00:38:57.659 --> 00:39:00.039
 that I might dwell in the house of the Lord

00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:02.299
 all the days of my life

00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:04.739
 to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:07.179
 and to inquire in his temple.

00:39:07.299 --> 00:39:10.000
 It's the one thing David sought.

00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:13.879
 As Jesus tells Martha in Luke 10, 38 to 42,

00:39:14.179 --> 00:39:17.099
 you are anxious and troubled about many things

00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:20.239
 but one thing is necessary.

00:39:21.959 --> 00:39:24.739
 And what's that one thing to sit at the feet of Jesus?

00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:32.159
 And here's a telltale sign that

00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:35.579
 you're losing your zeal.

00:39:37.639 --> 00:39:39.019
 Look at verse 17.

00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:40.899
 You say, I'm rich.

00:39:41.339 --> 00:39:42.639
 I prospered.

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:44.439
 And I need nothing.

00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:48.399
 That's the telltale sign.

00:39:49.839 --> 00:39:51.519
 Self-sufficiency.

00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:51.659
 Self-sufficiency.

00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:57.979
 Spiritual complacency.

00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:02.219
 That's the telltale sign of lukewarmness.

00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:06.739
 When was the last time you clung to Jesus

00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:11.439
 because you realized your desperate wickedness

00:40:11.439 --> 00:40:13.539
 and your dire need for his mercy?

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:21.159
 When was the last time you fell upon your knees in prayer

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:24.159
 because you realized that your utter weakness

00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:26.159
 and complete helplessness

00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:28.279
 and Jesus is all-sufficiency?

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:36.199
 Jesus says in John 15, verse 5,

00:40:36.319 --> 00:40:37.239
 I am the vine.

00:40:37.399 --> 00:40:38.659
 You are the branches.

00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:41.059
 Whoever abides in me and I in him,

00:40:41.219 --> 00:40:43.279
 he it is that bears much fruit.

00:40:43.399 --> 00:40:45.559
 For apart from me,

00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:48.639
 you can do nothing.

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:55.119
 A zealous branch that bears much fruit

00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:57.639
 is one that abides in Jesus

00:40:57.639 --> 00:40:59.960
 and depends on Jesus,

00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:01.960
 knowing full well that apart from him,

00:41:02.639 --> 00:41:03.500
 she can do nothing.

00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.619
 If you catch yourself saying,

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:08.719
 I'm rich.

00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:12.079
 I prospered.

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:14.079
 I need nothing.

00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:18.519
 Remember the height from which you have fallen and repent.

00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:26.679
 Note that drinks default to becoming lukewarm.

00:41:26.679 --> 00:41:29.879
 If you want to stay cold,

00:41:29.980 --> 00:41:33.019
 you need to keep the drink in the fridge

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:35.899
 or you need to keep putting new ice in it.

00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:38.379
 If you want water to stay hot,

00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:40.359
 you need to keep it on the hot plate.

00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:43.779
 As soon as you remove it from the source of the chill

00:41:43.779 --> 00:41:45.119
 or the source of the heat,

00:41:45.339 --> 00:41:49.019
 it quickly becomes tepid room temperature water.

00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:53.860
 This is why we must not be slothful in zeal

00:41:53.860 --> 00:41:55.759
 but be fervent in the Holy Spirit.

00:41:55.860 --> 00:41:57.159
 As it says in Romans 12, 11,

00:41:57.259 --> 00:41:59.059
 we need to keep the fire burning

00:41:59.059 --> 00:42:01.340
 and keep the ice freezing

00:42:01.340 --> 00:42:03.960
 by abiding in the source,

00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:06.960
 the origin of God's new creation, Jesus,

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:08.960
 who gives us the Holy Spirit.

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:15.699
 Listen to Jesus' counsel to us in verse 18.

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:18.340
 I counsel you to buy from me,

00:42:18.340 --> 00:42:21.280
 gold refined by fire so that you may be rich

00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:24.640
 and white garments so that you may clothe yourself

00:42:24.640 --> 00:42:27.079
 and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen

00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:30.539
 and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:35.900
 Note how Jesus is systematically breaking down

00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:39.180
 everything that the church in Laodicea took pride in.

00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:43.300
 Their wealth, their wool, clothing,

00:42:43.960 --> 00:42:45.240
 their eye salve.

00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:50.239
 Jesus wants them to acknowledge their spiritual poverty

00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:53.819
 and come buy from him gold refined by fire.

00:42:54.419 --> 00:42:56.539
 True riches, heavenly riches

00:42:56.539 --> 00:42:58.799
 that will not be burned away in the final judgment.

00:42:59.659 --> 00:43:02.699
 Jesus wants them to acknowledge their spiritual nakedness

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:05.139
 and instead of their wool garments

00:43:05.139 --> 00:43:07.099
 to put on the white garments of Christ

00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:08.500
 to cover their shame.

00:43:08.500 --> 00:43:12.380
 Jesus wants them to acknowledge their spiritual blindness

00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:14.699
 and instead of boasting in their eye salve

00:43:14.699 --> 00:43:17.360
 to get the spiritual eye salve

00:43:17.360 --> 00:43:18.820
 that only Christ offers

00:43:18.820 --> 00:43:21.199
 and the only cure to spiritual blindness.

00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:24.379
 Let me ask you,

00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:28.359
 what are the things that you take pride in

00:43:28.359 --> 00:43:32.980
 that you are tempted to depend on,

00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:35.519
 to lean on for your sense of well-being?

00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:40.599
 Is it your youth and beauty?

00:43:44.519 --> 00:43:46.380
 Is it your intelligence?

00:43:47.940 --> 00:43:52.259
 Is it your emotional awareness and social coolness?

00:43:54.259 --> 00:43:58.539
 Is it your athleticism, physical prowess?

00:43:58.539 --> 00:44:04.519
 Is it your wealth or success in the world?

00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:10.719
 Or is it your academic or family pedigree?

00:44:13.480 --> 00:44:14.340
 Brothers and sisters,

00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:17.139
 we're in a dangerous place in the world.

00:44:17.279 --> 00:44:19.940
 We're in one of the wealthiest cities in the world,

00:44:20.019 --> 00:44:22.900
 one of the most highly educated cities in the world.

00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:28.680
 There's so many things that you can point to

00:44:28.680 --> 00:44:30.000
 that you can take pride in.

00:44:31.400 --> 00:44:36.460
 But don't, don't, don't derive

00:44:36.460 --> 00:44:40.200
 an ounce of your assurance,

00:44:40.660 --> 00:44:42.940
 an ounce of your confidence

00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:45.119
 from any of those things.

00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:49.280
 Because to the degree that you rely on those things,

00:44:49.519 --> 00:44:51.760
 that much you will not be relying on Jesus.

00:44:52.900 --> 00:44:54.920
 And you'll be farther away from him.

00:44:58.900 --> 00:45:01.639
 Cling to the one thing.

00:45:05.619 --> 00:45:08.180
 But note the irony of Jesus' command.

00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:12.400
 He just told the church in Laodicea,

00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:13.920
 you're dirt poor.

00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:17.059
 You got nothing.

00:45:18.260 --> 00:45:19.559
 And then he tells them,

00:45:19.980 --> 00:45:22.440
 I counsel you to buy from me.

00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:24.300
 Gold refined by fire,

00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:25.480
 so that you might be rich.

00:45:26.039 --> 00:45:28.400
 How's a dirt poor church

00:45:28.400 --> 00:45:30.840
 supposed to buy gold refined in the fire?

00:45:38.119 --> 00:45:40.400
 Remember our call to worship from Isaiah 55.

00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:41.900
 Come.

00:45:41.900 --> 00:45:45.539
 Everyone who thirsts come to the waters.

00:45:45.539 --> 00:45:47.880
 And he who has no money,

00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:50.760
 come buy and eat.

00:45:51.800 --> 00:45:54.680
 Come buy wine and milk without money

00:45:54.680 --> 00:45:56.400
 and without price.

00:45:56.940 --> 00:45:59.460
 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:01.500
 and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:03.639
 Listen diligently to me

00:46:03.639 --> 00:46:04.639
 and eat what is good

00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:06.480
 and delight yourselves in rich food.

00:46:06.480 --> 00:46:09.139
 Incline your ear and come to me.

00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:12.219
 Hear that your soul may live

00:46:12.219 --> 00:46:15.440
 and I will make with you an everlasting covenant

00:46:15.440 --> 00:46:18.280
 my steadfast, sure love for David.

00:46:18.280 --> 00:46:21.960
 We can buy heavenly food

00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:23.560
 and heavenly riches

00:46:23.560 --> 00:46:25.360
 and gold refined in the fire

00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:26.660
 without money

00:46:26.660 --> 00:46:28.180
 and without price

00:46:28.180 --> 00:46:31.980
 because Jesus has paid the price.

00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:37.079
 The penalty for sin

00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:38.119
 is death

00:46:38.119 --> 00:46:40.119
 and separation from God

00:46:40.119 --> 00:46:42.679
 and we were all once slaves to sin

00:46:42.679 --> 00:46:44.139
 and not a single one of us

00:46:44.139 --> 00:46:46.159
 could afford that ransom price

00:46:46.159 --> 00:46:48.380
 to secure our freedom

00:46:48.380 --> 00:46:50.340
 but God paid that price

00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:52.119
 in Jesus Christ,

00:46:52.179 --> 00:46:52.920
 his only son

00:46:52.920 --> 00:46:53.820
 on the cross

00:46:53.820 --> 00:46:55.840
 because he died for our sins

00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:57.320
 and was raised from the dead.

00:46:57.320 --> 00:46:59.780
 We were like that.

00:47:00.180 --> 00:47:02.100
 Imagine like a homeless orphan

00:47:02.100 --> 00:47:04.080
 just walking along the street

00:47:04.080 --> 00:47:05.920
 and on Thanksgiving Day

00:47:05.920 --> 00:47:08.340
 and he looks into a well-lit house

00:47:08.340 --> 00:47:09.220
 in their dining room

00:47:09.220 --> 00:47:10.680
 and there's a beautiful family

00:47:10.680 --> 00:47:12.940
 and they're enjoying a sumptuous feast

00:47:12.940 --> 00:47:14.740
 and then he's looking longingly

00:47:14.740 --> 00:47:16.380
 but he cannot afford it.

00:47:17.660 --> 00:47:19.640
 He has not a penny to his name.

00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:21.760
 He has no family

00:47:21.760 --> 00:47:24.780
 and God the Father

00:47:24.780 --> 00:47:26.840
 took his son

00:47:26.840 --> 00:47:28.880
 make him take our place

00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:32.019
 so that we can be brought into his family

00:47:32.019 --> 00:47:33.700
 adopted as his children

00:47:33.700 --> 00:47:34.920
 so that we can enjoy

00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:37.140
 a heavenly feast

00:47:37.140 --> 00:47:39.700
 without any money,

00:47:40.720 --> 00:47:43.640
 without any price

00:47:43.640 --> 00:47:47.400
 because he paid the price.

00:47:47.400 --> 00:48:00.660
 and look at the amazing promise

00:48:00.660 --> 00:48:02.740
 that Jesus gives us

00:48:02.740 --> 00:48:04.079
 in verses 20 to 22,

00:48:04.460 --> 00:48:05.000
 the communion.

00:48:07.400 --> 00:48:09.220
 I wish I could spend an hour on this.

00:48:09.660 --> 00:48:10.980
 I'm just gonna have to wrap up here.

00:48:10.980 --> 00:48:13.360
 It says,

00:48:13.519 --> 00:48:13.860
 Behold,

00:48:14.740 --> 00:48:16.619
 I stand at the door and knock.

00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:21.760
 If anyone hears my voice

00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:23.679
 and opens the door,

00:48:24.539 --> 00:48:25.800
 I will come into him

00:48:25.800 --> 00:48:27.539
 and eat with him

00:48:27.539 --> 00:48:28.639
 and he with me.

00:48:29.659 --> 00:48:30.960
 The one who conquers,

00:48:31.320 --> 00:48:32.119
 I will grant him

00:48:32.119 --> 00:48:34.119
 to sit with me on my throne

00:48:34.119 --> 00:48:35.920
 as I also conquered

00:48:35.920 --> 00:48:37.820
 and sat down with my father

00:48:37.820 --> 00:48:39.120
 on his throne.

00:48:43.580 --> 00:48:44.720
 This is why

00:48:44.720 --> 00:48:46.000
 spiritual pride,

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:48.880
 the lack of zeal,

00:48:49.800 --> 00:48:50.840
 the complacency,

00:48:51.580 --> 00:48:52.360
 self-sufficiency

00:48:52.360 --> 00:48:53.780
 is such,

00:48:54.280 --> 00:48:58.120
 it's such a grievous sin

00:48:58.120 --> 00:49:00.180
 because it closes the door

00:49:00.180 --> 00:49:00.840
 on Jesus.

00:49:00.840 --> 00:49:04.980
 Instead of abiding in Jesus

00:49:04.980 --> 00:49:06.480
 and deriving our strength

00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:07.220
 and life from him,

00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:08.660
 it closes the door

00:49:08.660 --> 00:49:09.180
 on Jesus

00:49:09.180 --> 00:49:09.800
 when we say,

00:49:09.900 --> 00:49:10.000
 Oh,

00:49:10.059 --> 00:49:11.180
 I don't need that.

00:49:11.940 --> 00:49:13.079
 I got everything I need.

00:49:16.360 --> 00:49:17.579
 This is why Paul

00:49:17.579 --> 00:49:18.640
 in 2 Corinthians 12

00:49:18.640 --> 00:49:19.440
 is so eager

00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:22.200
 to boast in his weakness.

00:49:23.340 --> 00:49:23.480
 See,

00:49:23.539 --> 00:49:24.760
 this doesn't make any sense

00:49:24.760 --> 00:49:25.660
 if you don't understand

00:49:25.660 --> 00:49:26.260
 this reality.

00:49:27.400 --> 00:49:28.519
 He asked God,

00:49:28.640 --> 00:49:29.240
 pleaded with God

00:49:29.240 --> 00:49:29.800
 to take away

00:49:29.800 --> 00:49:30.700
 some kind of weakness

00:49:30.699 --> 00:49:31.579
 that he was wrestling with

00:49:31.579 --> 00:49:32.419
 and God refused

00:49:32.419 --> 00:49:33.359
 to take it away from him

00:49:33.359 --> 00:49:34.579
 and instead God said to him,

00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:37.079
 My grace is sufficient for you

00:49:37.079 --> 00:49:38.079
 for my power

00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:39.119
 is made perfect

00:49:39.119 --> 00:49:40.199
 in weakness.

00:49:41.259 --> 00:49:41.699
 Therefore,

00:49:42.039 --> 00:49:42.379
 Paul says,

00:49:42.460 --> 00:49:43.259
 I will boast

00:49:43.259 --> 00:49:44.819
 all the more gladly

00:49:44.819 --> 00:49:45.960
 of my weaknesses

00:49:45.960 --> 00:49:48.299
 so that the power of Christ

00:49:48.299 --> 00:49:49.599
 may rest upon me.

00:49:50.199 --> 00:49:51.599
 For the sake of Christ

00:49:51.599 --> 00:49:52.460
 and I am content

00:49:52.460 --> 00:49:53.559
 with weaknesses,

00:49:53.919 --> 00:49:54.500
 insults,

00:49:54.579 --> 00:49:55.019
 hardships,

00:49:55.559 --> 00:49:56.279
 persecutions,

00:49:56.379 --> 00:49:57.059
 and calamities

00:49:57.059 --> 00:49:59.159
 for when I am weak

00:49:59.159 --> 00:50:01.539
 then I am strong.

00:50:01.539 --> 00:50:02.139
 strong.

00:50:04.320 --> 00:50:05.360
 That's why as Christians

00:50:05.360 --> 00:50:06.279
 we boast

00:50:06.279 --> 00:50:07.840
 in our weaknesses.

00:50:10.159 --> 00:50:11.539
 Hear all these things

00:50:11.539 --> 00:50:12.340
 that I am weak at.

00:50:12.539 --> 00:50:13.739
 Hear all these things

00:50:13.739 --> 00:50:14.779
 that I cannot do

00:50:14.779 --> 00:50:15.599
 that I'm not good at.

00:50:15.800 --> 00:50:17.199
 Hear all these things

00:50:17.199 --> 00:50:19.279
 in which I have suffered.

00:50:19.860 --> 00:50:20.860
 Hear all these ways

00:50:20.860 --> 00:50:22.119
 in which I am ridiculed

00:50:22.119 --> 00:50:22.779
 and persecuted.

00:50:23.320 --> 00:50:24.719
 Hear all my weaknesses.

00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.400
 Let's boast in them

00:50:26.400 --> 00:50:27.940
 because when I am weak

00:50:27.940 --> 00:50:30.720
 then I am strong

00:50:30.720 --> 00:50:32.000
 because then

00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:33.559
 in all those weaknesses

00:50:33.559 --> 00:50:35.619
 Christ's all sufficiency

00:50:35.619 --> 00:50:36.579
 meets us.

00:50:36.780 --> 00:50:38.039
 In all our weaknesses

00:50:38.039 --> 00:50:39.539
 Christ's fullness

00:50:39.539 --> 00:50:41.280
 meets us

00:50:41.280 --> 00:50:43.740
 so that he becomes

00:50:43.740 --> 00:50:44.500
 all in all.

00:50:51.780 --> 00:50:52.980
 Don't you want

00:50:52.980 --> 00:50:54.639
 that communion with him?

00:50:54.639 --> 00:50:56.179
 Look at how intimate

00:50:56.179 --> 00:50:57.139
 this picture is.

00:50:57.259 --> 00:50:57.940
 Table fellowship

00:50:57.940 --> 00:50:58.679
 in the ancient world

00:50:58.679 --> 00:50:59.139
 especially

00:50:59.139 --> 00:51:00.299
 but even in our day

00:51:00.299 --> 00:51:02.440
 implies intimate relationship.

00:51:03.599 --> 00:51:04.500
 You don't get

00:51:04.500 --> 00:51:05.400
 a random stranger

00:51:05.400 --> 00:51:06.079
 out on the street

00:51:06.079 --> 00:51:06.539
 and invite them

00:51:06.539 --> 00:51:07.019
 to your house

00:51:07.019 --> 00:51:07.599
 for a dinner.

00:51:08.819 --> 00:51:10.539
 You invite your friends

00:51:10.539 --> 00:51:11.440
 to dinner.

00:51:13.279 --> 00:51:14.679
 Jesus is offering

00:51:14.679 --> 00:51:15.699
 his friendship

00:51:15.699 --> 00:51:16.920
 which is remarkable

00:51:16.920 --> 00:51:18.039
 because he is the king.

00:51:19.460 --> 00:51:20.940
 I will come eat with you.

00:51:22.359 --> 00:51:23.460
 You could eat with me.

00:51:24.639 --> 00:51:25.179
 Amen.

00:51:25.179 --> 00:51:25.259
 Amen.

00:51:25.259 --> 00:51:25.400
 Amen.

00:51:34.759 --> 00:51:35.719
 This is not

00:51:35.719 --> 00:51:37.940
 speaking of unbelievers

00:51:37.940 --> 00:51:38.519
 needing to open

00:51:38.519 --> 00:51:39.379
 the door of their hearts

00:51:39.379 --> 00:51:40.119
 to receive Jesus.

00:51:40.239 --> 00:51:40.599
 He is talking

00:51:40.599 --> 00:51:41.519
 to a church here.

00:51:45.940 --> 00:51:47.259
 In what ways

00:51:47.259 --> 00:51:47.960
 through your own

00:51:47.960 --> 00:51:48.900
 self-sufficiency

00:51:48.900 --> 00:51:50.139
 and in your pride

00:51:50.139 --> 00:51:50.819
 are you shutting

00:51:50.819 --> 00:51:51.500
 the door

00:51:51.500 --> 00:51:52.619
 on Jesus

00:51:52.619 --> 00:51:56.239
 instead of opening up your weaknesses

00:51:56.239 --> 00:51:57.820
 and letting him come in.

00:52:01.340 --> 00:52:03.119
 And if we do that, he says,

00:52:03.199 --> 00:52:05.219
 the one who conquers and endures to the end,

00:52:05.739 --> 00:52:08.340
 I will grant him to sit with me on my throne

00:52:08.340 --> 00:52:11.239
 as I also conquered and sat down

00:52:11.239 --> 00:52:12.820
 with my father on his throne.

00:52:15.860 --> 00:52:17.780
 This is a promise for the future,

00:52:17.880 --> 00:52:19.179
 the ultimate fulfillment of this,

00:52:19.179 --> 00:52:21.619
 but even now those who put their faith in Jesus

00:52:21.619 --> 00:52:24.059
 get to reign with Jesus.

00:52:24.699 --> 00:52:26.839
 Ephesians 1.21 teaches that God the Father

00:52:26.839 --> 00:52:28.239
 raised Jesus from the dead

00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:30.059
 and seated him at his right hand

00:52:30.059 --> 00:52:31.299
 in the heavenly places,

00:52:31.480 --> 00:52:33.960
 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion

00:52:33.960 --> 00:52:35.500
 and above every name that is named.

00:52:36.139 --> 00:52:38.419
 And then shortly thereafter in Ephesians 2.6,

00:52:38.480 --> 00:52:40.419
 it says that God raised us up

00:52:40.419 --> 00:52:43.099
 and seated us with Jesus

00:52:43.099 --> 00:52:45.179
 in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

00:52:45.739 --> 00:52:47.059
 That's our lot.

00:52:49.179 --> 00:52:51.579
 You get to reign with Jesus

00:52:51.579 --> 00:52:53.980
 at the right hand of God the Father,

00:52:54.799 --> 00:52:56.879
 reign with Jesus who has all authority

00:52:56.879 --> 00:52:58.419
 and dominion and power and rule.

00:53:00.719 --> 00:53:01.859
 Compared to that,

00:53:02.639 --> 00:53:04.239
 how poor is

00:53:04.239 --> 00:53:06.980
 Elon Musk,

00:53:09.059 --> 00:53:09.839
 Jeff Bezos?

00:53:11.839 --> 00:53:13.019
 They're dirt poor.

00:53:13.019 --> 00:53:17.259
 Compared to that,

00:53:17.400 --> 00:53:21.059
 how weak and powerless is Joe Biden,

00:53:22.420 --> 00:53:22.920
 Xi Jinping,

00:53:23.539 --> 00:53:25.559
 and Vladimir Putin?

00:53:25.719 --> 00:53:26.400
 How weak,

00:53:27.739 --> 00:53:28.480
 how powerless.

00:53:33.480 --> 00:53:35.699
 Do you see the kind of power,

00:53:35.880 --> 00:53:37.259
 kind of wealth,

00:53:38.480 --> 00:53:39.639
 the kind of privilege

00:53:39.639 --> 00:53:41.519
 we've been offered in Jesus?

00:53:41.519 --> 00:53:45.219
 Let's claim that

00:53:45.219 --> 00:53:48.519
 by being weak and humble,

00:53:49.139 --> 00:53:50.920
 being zealous,

00:53:52.960 --> 00:53:53.900
 abiding in Jesus.

00:53:54.820 --> 00:53:55.900
 Let's pray together.

00:53:55.900 --> 00:53:55.960
 Let's pray together.

00:53:55.960 --> 00:53:57.900
 Let's pray together.

00:53:57.900 --> 00:53:59.900
 Let's pray together.

00:53:59.900 --> 00:54:09.900
 Let's pray together.

00:54:09.900 --> 00:54:14.360
 Father,

00:54:15.019 --> 00:54:18.599
 we repent of our lukewarmness,

00:54:18.599 --> 00:54:30.280
 but we dare not try to

00:54:30.280 --> 00:54:33.960
 manufacture or produce

00:54:33.960 --> 00:54:36.179
 this zeal

00:54:36.179 --> 00:54:37.780
 with our own willpower,

00:54:38.220 --> 00:54:40.619
 for we know that it comes from you.

00:54:43.440 --> 00:54:45.119
 So we pray now,

00:54:45.400 --> 00:54:46.500
 because we need you.

00:54:46.960 --> 00:54:49.480
 We need you to make us burn

00:54:49.480 --> 00:54:51.019
 hot

00:54:51.019 --> 00:54:53.380
 for your glory.

00:54:55.079 --> 00:54:56.440
 Make us a church

00:54:56.440 --> 00:54:59.619
 that is about the one thing

00:54:59.619 --> 00:55:03.199
 to know and love you,

00:55:03.880 --> 00:55:05.819
 to serve you.

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 Oh, make us zealous.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.