WEBVTT

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 When we first became parents, Natalie and I were determined to be good parents.

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 We'd worked out in advance of having kids.

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 But it didn't take us long to realise that we were far better parents without kids than with kids.

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 It's just a whole lot easier, I think, to think about and actually do it.

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 There were a few things that we decided we weren't going to bend on.

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 Sugar intake and TV time were the two things that we, amongst other things, were going to draw a line on.

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 We were pretty strict with both.

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 Poor little Izzy, for some time, thought that milk arrowroot was the best biscuit in the world.

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 That's because that's what I consistently told her, it was the best biscuit in the world,

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 until her little fingers wrapped for the first time around a Tim Tam.

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 And she discovered that I was lying.

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 I remember the first time that chocolate actually touched her lips.

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 I forget how old she was.

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 I don't think she was, she wouldn't have been a year old, I don't think.

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 But we were on a ferry between Townsville and Magnetic Island.

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 We were travelling with some friends and one of the lady had a, she was eating a Magnum ice cream.

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 Sitting, and she had Izzy on one lap, she's eating his Magnum ice cream.

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 And without even thinking about it, she ripped off a whole chunk of the chocolate and shoved it in her mouth.

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 And her eyes just lit up.

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 And the world changed.

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 It was all Technicolor and fireworks and fairies.

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 And she just immediately, having tasted the chocolate, she just immediately grabbed the other hand and went,

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 with the chocolate, with the ice cream and took a mouthful of it.

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 But for me in that moment, I was like, oh, compromise.

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 You know, and yet from that moment, how easy, it was all spoiled by that moment,

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 so how easy it is from that moment to compromise from one thing to the next thing to the next thing.

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 And now we go on holidays and I hear myself saying things like, it's holidays.

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 Eat an ice cream every day if you like.

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 How quickly it was that I bent.

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 And that's to say nothing about TV.

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 When your kids have been sick for a week, mum becomes a waitress and the TV's the nurse.

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 I mean, which is what's been happening for the last 10 days.

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 Our kids have just been, you know, one Peter Rabbit thing and Bob the Builder and all this other stuff that they watch.

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 One thing, Saddle Club, one after another after another.

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 And one of the things that I used to think was a real shame was I'd drive past people,

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 I'd take them on the highway and they'd see the TVs glowing in the back of the car.

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 And I remember thinking, oh, I'd never do that.

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 I've now worn out three sets of those dual screen TV things in the back of my car.

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 I'm looking for the fourth one already.

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 Compromise, I think, is one thing when it's sugar and TV.

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 It's another thing when it comes to sin and Jesus.

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 After 20 years of ministry, I cannot count the number of people who I know in all sorts of various ways

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 who have compromised with Jesus and walked away from faith in him.

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 I actually think, for me personally, it's one of the hardest things about ministry

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 is people making those decisions which ultimately see them walking away from Jesus.

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 Some of those people were more committed than me.

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 They were better taught.

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 They were further down the track, being Christians a lot longer.

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 People who were fervent for Christ.

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 Some were kids in youth groups.

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 Some were youth group leaders.

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 Some were students with me at Moore College.

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 Some of them were high-profile pastors and preachers.

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 It's very sad when it happens.

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 I remember specifically where I was when one of my best friends phoned me up

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 and in the course of the conversation said to me,

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 Steve, I'm just not convinced it's true anymore.

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 I remember pleading with another young lady

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 not to marry a certain non-Christian guy

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 they married and she is now finished with Jesus

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 none of these people

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 all circumstances are different

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 but one of the things which is interesting

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 is that none of them sought counsel earlier

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 in making their decisions

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 none of them shared their conflicts and their struggles of their hearts

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 now let me say

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 Jesus might not be finished with them

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 but for the moment

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 they are finished with Jesus

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 and as Jesus addresses this church at Pergamon

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 the believers there seem to be flirting with false teaching

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 they are not openly embracing immorality

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 and idolatry

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 but what they haven't done

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 is they haven't closed the door on it

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 they are leaving the door open to it

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 Jesus begins with a strong commendation of this church at Pergamon

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 and this commendation is made even stronger

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 because Jesus knows that they are living in a fairly bad neighbourhood

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 verse 13

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 I know where you live

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 where Satan has his throne

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 that's Pergamon

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 now so if Ephesus

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 we have looked at Ephesus and Smyrna so far

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 so if Ephesus is the sort of like business

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 you know

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 place of

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 of Asia Minor

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 sort of like your Sydney of Asia Minor

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 Smyrna was more like the Melbourne

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 cultural trendy kind of place

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 of Asia Minor

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 Pergamon was its Canberra

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 poor Pergamon

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 okay

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 so you've got the picture right

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 okay

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 it was the seat of government

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 in Asia Minor

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 and as such

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 it was the first place

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 to have a temple

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 which was authorised

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 as a place of worship

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 for the emperor

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 and so Pergamon

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 was the most important city

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 in Asia Minor

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 as far as the Roman imperial cult

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 was concerned

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 so Roman pagan idolatry

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 quickly gained acceptance

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 it amalgamated with a bunch of other

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 religious practices of Pergamon

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 so there was a nice

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 official

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 approved

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 blend

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 of

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 religious practices

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 and ideas

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 and thoughts

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 that's

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 where Pergamon was

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 that's the neighbourhood

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 but in spite of the bad influence

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 of the neighbourhood

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 Jesus says in verse 13

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 yet you remain true to my name

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 you did not renounce your faith in me

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 even in the days of Antipas

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 my faithful witness

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 who was put to death

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 in your city

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 where Satan lives

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 so in spite of their

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 proximity

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 to Satan's throne

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 they remain true

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 to the name of Jesus

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 that means what

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 they were actually living

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 for the glory

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 of Jesus

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 we can see here

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 that Jesus name

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 his glory

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 matters a lot

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 to him

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 by the way that he mentions it

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 to these churches

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 not just this one

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 to the other churches

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 so in chapter 2 verse 3

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 you have persevered

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 and have endured hardship

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 for my name

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 verse 13

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 you remain true

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 to my name

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 verse 8

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 of chapter 3

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 you have kept my word

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 and have not denied my name

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 verse 12

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 of chapter 3

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 I will write on him

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 the name of my God

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 and my own new name

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 Jesus cares

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 about his name

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 that is

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 he cares about

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 his reputation

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 I remember

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 going to a restaurant

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 with a member

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 of my extended family

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 when I was a teenager

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 and as we

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 sat down

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 we had this sort of

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 big table booked

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 and we sat down

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 and my grandfather

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 the patriarch

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 of the family

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 said to us all

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 at the table

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 now

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 listen up

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 I'm well known

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 in this place

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 now the implication

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 was that we had

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 to behave ourselves

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 and not do anything

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 that would actually

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 embarrass him

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 in any way

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 which as a teenager

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 you're kind of tempted to

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 once he says it

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 and he was concerned

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 for his reputation

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 we took it

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 as a bit of a joke

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 and as him

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 big noting himself

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 which is what he tended

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 to do

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 but all these years later

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 I mean we took a number

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 of years later

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 like 30 odd years later

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 now

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 it's still a joke

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 in the family

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 so

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 as my brothers

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 and my parents

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 and the extended families

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 went out to a restaurant

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 last year sometime

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 as we walked in the restaurant

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 dad turned around

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 and said

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 now boys

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 don't forget

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 I'm well known

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 in this place

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 so behave yourselves

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 and I think he'd had

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 a coffee there

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 once before

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 or something like that

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 and dad was up here

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 visiting recently

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 and he came to church

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 with me on Sunday morning

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 and I said to him

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 now dad remember

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 I'm well known

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 in this place

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 behave yourself

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 now I suspect

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 that most parents

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 know that feeling

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 that in some ways

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 my kids

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 are a reflection

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 on me

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 in some ways

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 and here we see

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 Jesus is saying

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 I care about my name

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 I care about my reputation

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 and this church

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 at Pergamum

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 had held fast

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 to the name of Jesus

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 and by doing that

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 by holding fast

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 to the name of Jesus

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 even to the point of death

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 as in the case

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 of Antipas

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 they were declaring

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 to the city of Pergamum

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 that Jesus

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 is better than life

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 it's what we looked at

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 last week

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 they held up well

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 in this satanic

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 stronghold

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 in which they lived

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 but their faithfulness

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 to Jesus name

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 was under threat

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 see it there

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 in verse 14

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 nevertheless

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 I have a few things

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 against you

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 you have put up

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 you have people there

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 who hold to the teaching

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 of Balaam

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 who taught Balak

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 to entice the Israelites

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 to sin

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 by eating food

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 sacrificed to idols

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 and by committing

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 sexual immorality

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 likewise

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 you also have

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 those who hold

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 to the teaching

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 of the Nicolaitans

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 now this is a bit

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 of a tricky bit

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 but this point here

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 is the heart

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 of the issue

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 for this church

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 at Pergamum

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 in the Old Testament

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 there's this strange

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 prophet

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 named Balaam

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 and there's another man

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 with a similar

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 sounding name

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 called Balak

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 now Balaam

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 was a prophet

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 for hire

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 and Balak

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 was the king

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 of Moab

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 and in Numbers

00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:27.519
 22 to 24

00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.919
 we read

00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:30.419
 that Balak

00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:31.659
 offered Balaam

00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:32.679
 money

00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:34.980
 to prophesy

00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:35.919
 a curse

00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:36.879
 upon God's people

00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.539
 Israel

00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:39.659
 you see

00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:40.659
 Balak was worried

00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.899
 because he had seen

00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:42.659
 how numerous

00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:43.559
 the people of Israel

00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:43.879
 were

00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:44.559
 they'd come out

00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:45.079
 of Egypt

00:10:45.079 --> 00:10:46.220
 and they were just

00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:47.319
 growing in prominence

00:10:47.319 --> 00:10:48.159
 and everywhere they went

00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.039
 they just succeeded

00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:50.100
 and he was kind of worried

00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:50.879
 they're going to move

00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:51.439
 into Moab

00:10:51.439 --> 00:10:52.360
 they're going to destroy

00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.000
 his kingdom

00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.159
 depose him as a king

00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.300
 and take over the place

00:10:55.300 --> 00:10:57.039
 and so he pays

00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:57.659
 Balaam

00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:59.340
 to curse God's people

00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.200
 to send them off

00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:02.220
 but every time

00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.139
 Balaam tried to

00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:03.700
 prophesy

00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.019
 against God's people

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:07.139
 blessing came out

00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.060
 rather than cursing

00:11:08.060 --> 00:11:09.680
 it's fairly comical

00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:10.120
 actually

00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.980
 he'd stand up

00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:11.159
 and go

00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:11.620
 okay okay

00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.340
 I'll do it this time

00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:13.279
 and speak

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:15.399
 and blessing comes out

00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:17.360
 rather than curses

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.840
 and Balaam

00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:21.039
 desperately wanted

00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.019
 to get paid

00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:22.740
 he was a

00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:24.579
 prophet for hire

00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:26.399
 and Balak's

00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.379
 pulling his hair out

00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:27.860
 because he wants

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:29.099
 these people cursed

00:11:29.099 --> 00:11:32.599
 he couldn't get God

00:11:32.599 --> 00:11:33.419
 to curse his people

00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:34.159
 and so he came up

00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:34.919
 with another plan

00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.199
 it's there in

00:11:36.199 --> 00:11:37.339
 chapter 25

00:11:37.339 --> 00:11:38.219
 verses 1 to 3

00:11:38.219 --> 00:11:39.339
 the men began

00:11:39.339 --> 00:11:39.980
 to indulge

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.980
 in sexual immorality

00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.000
 with Moabite women

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000
 who invited them

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.839
 to the sacrifices

00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:44.860
 to their gods

00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.279
 the people ate

00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:47.299
 and they bowed down

00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:48.279
 before these gods

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.000
 and so Israel

00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.199
 joined in worshipping

00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:52.600
 the Baal of Peor

00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.360
 and the Lord's

00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:55.500
 anger burned

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.300
 against them

00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:57.759
 see what happened

00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.920
 the Israelite men

00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:00.700
 were seduced

00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:02.200
 into idolatrous worship

00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:03.240
 which back in those days

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:04.140
 was nothing short

00:12:04.140 --> 00:12:05.900
 of mass orgies

00:12:05.900 --> 00:12:07.720
 and if you flick

00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.620
 over to

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:10.040
 Numbers 31

00:12:10.040 --> 00:12:11.940
 verses 15

00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:12.720
 to 16

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.560
 it mentions

00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:15.600
 these Moabite women

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.040
 again

00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.219
 it says

00:12:17.219 --> 00:12:18.559
 these were the ones

00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:19.759
 who followed

00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:21.519
 Balaam's advice

00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:23.679
 and were the means

00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:24.419
 of turning

00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.159
 the Israelites

00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:25.860
 away

00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.059
 from the Lord

00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:27.740
 in what happened

00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.319
 at Peor

00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.939
 so that a plague

00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:30.620
 struck

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:32.079
 the Lord's people

00:12:32.079 --> 00:12:34.459
 this whole plan

00:12:34.459 --> 00:12:35.519
 was Balaam's idea

00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:39.179
 and the plan

00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:40.120
 worked a treat

00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.240
 he could not

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.719
 get

00:12:41.719 --> 00:12:42.599
 God

00:12:42.599 --> 00:12:43.360
 to abandon

00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:44.139
 his people

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:44.980
 so what he did

00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:45.759
 was he came up

00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.759
 with a scheme

00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:48.419
 where God's people

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.279
 abandoned God

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.279
 and so God

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.019
 cursed his people

00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:55.199
 for their

00:12:55.199 --> 00:12:56.799
 compromise

00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:57.819
 and their rebellion

00:12:57.819 --> 00:13:01.259
 it seems here

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.419
 are similar things

00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:03.379
 happening at Pergamon

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:05.600
 the people at Pergamon

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.379
 are offered

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.720
 one of two choices

00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:08.279
 persecution

00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:09.240
 like Antipas

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:09.819
 who will

00:13:09.819 --> 00:13:11.139
 who remains

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.980
 steadfast

00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.360
 in the name

00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:12.779
 of Jesus

00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:14.360
 or

00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.779
 seduction

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:18.100
 a giving away

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.960
 a giving up

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:22.759
 this church

00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.620
 had stood firm

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.060
 in the time

00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:24.600
 at Antipas

00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.019
 but now

00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.680
 there's a threat

00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:26.580
 of compromise

00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:27.800
 not all of them

00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:28.680
 there's a group

00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:29.060
 there

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:30.460
 who are

00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:30.920
 threatening

00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:31.980
 to compromise

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.539
 they're being

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.039
 seduced

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.779
 by the city

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.360
 and

00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.560
 by its culture

00:13:37.560 --> 00:13:38.700
 and Jesus

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:39.200
 now says

00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:39.639
 this church

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.799
 at Pergamon

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.080
 you've got

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.519
 some people

00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.100
 in your midst

00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.220
 the Nicolaitans

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:45.460
 who are teaching

00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:46.220
 the same sort of thing

00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:47.019
 that Balaam taught

00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:49.919
 they're trying

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.600
 to encourage

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.000
 Christians

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:51.639
 to compromise

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.259
 don't take it

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.019
 so seriously

00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:54.539
 it doesn't matter

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.279
 that much

00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:59.399
 these Nicolaitans

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.159
 were at Ephesus

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.139
 and it's quite

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:02.620
 possible

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.319
 that they're

00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:04.639
 at Thyatira

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.059
 the church

00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:05.840
 for next week

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.019
 their leader

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:08.699
 is possibly

00:14:08.699 --> 00:14:09.159
 the woman

00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.639
 that John

00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.279
 calls

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.039
 Jezebel

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.720
 in chapter 2

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.340
 verse 20

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.500
 who calls

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:13.899
 herself

00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:14.879
 a prophetess

00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:16.340
 but we see

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:16.919
 in chapter 2

00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:17.639
 verse 6

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:19.519
 that Jesus

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.639
 was pleased

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.699
 with the

00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.559
 Ephesians

00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.480
 because they

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.419
 rejected the

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:25.279
 Nicolaitans

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.620
 it says

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.299
 but you had

00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:27.840
 this in your

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.120
 favour

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.819
 you hate

00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.600
 the practices

00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.439
 of the

00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:31.220
 Nicolaitans

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:32.240
 which I

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.100
 also

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.980
 hate

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:35.759
 but Pergamon

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.039
 they left

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.500
 the door

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.319
 open to

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:38.519
 it

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:41.279
 and what

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:41.899
 was almost

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.399
 certainly

00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:42.799
 taught

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.720
 was syncretism

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.439
 a combination

00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.259
 of religions

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.899
 a combining

00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:46.340
 a coming

00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:46.740
 together

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.720
 a tolerance

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.379
 of ideas

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:48.759
 that led

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.500
 to a tolerance

00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.399
 of all sorts

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:50.840
 of different

00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:51.360
 expressions

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.240
 and lifestyles

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.899
 it was a

00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.679
 drawing together

00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.220
 ultimately

00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:54.860
 it was a

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.279
 lessening

00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:55.939
 of sin

00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:56.539
 what the

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:56.779
 Bible

00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.159
 calls

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:57.639
 sin

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.819
 and a

00:14:58.819 --> 00:14:59.399
 minimisation

00:14:59.399 --> 00:14:59.819
 of the

00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.200
 importance

00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:00.939
 of Jesus

00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:02.840
 in a word

00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.220
 what these

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.559
 people were

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:03.740
 doing

00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:04.819
 was compromising

00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:07.040
 the Roman

00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:08.060
 imperial cult

00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:08.879
 included

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.980
 worship

00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:10.460
 of the

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:10.860
 emperor

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.400
 and of

00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:12.100
 the gods

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:12.900
 that would

00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:13.140
 be

00:15:13.140 --> 00:15:14.140
 inescapably

00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:15.180
 idolatrous

00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:16.280
 nothing short

00:15:16.280 --> 00:15:16.580
 of just

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.040
 pure

00:15:17.040 --> 00:15:17.780
 idolatry

00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.920
 and there

00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:19.320
 is no

00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:19.700
 shortage

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.500
 of evidence

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.320
 that as

00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:22.060
 they participate

00:15:22.060 --> 00:15:22.840
 in their

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.640
 idolatry

00:15:23.640 --> 00:15:24.240
 everything

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:24.960
 just descended

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.260
 into

00:15:25.260 --> 00:15:25.720
 drunkard

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.280
 orgies

00:15:26.280 --> 00:15:28.180
 and the

00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:28.580
 teaching

00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:28.940
 of the

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.700
 Nicolaitans

00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.480
 probably

00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.840
 validated

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.660
 a certain

00:15:32.660 --> 00:15:33.300
 level of

00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:33.880
 participation

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.820
 in this

00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.220
 kind of

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:35.600
 civic

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.279
 life

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.820
 the

00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:38.379
 celebrations

00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:38.779
 of the

00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.000
 city

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.200
 of

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:39.740
 Pergamum

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.659
 which

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:40.820
 would

00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:40.939
 have

00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:41.200
 been

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.139
 idolatrous

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:42.580
 and

00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.159
 immoral

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.799
 it was

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.480
 causing

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:45.759
 the

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.179
 teaching

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:46.480
 was

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:46.980
 opening

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.240
 the

00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:47.659
 door

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.439
 for

00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:48.939
 God's

00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:49.200
 people

00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:49.460
 to

00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.379
 compromise

00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:55.580
 the

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.779
 1924

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.360
 summer

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.740
 Olympics

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.519
 were hosted

00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:59.240
 by the

00:15:59.240 --> 00:15:59.500
 city

00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.240
 of Paris

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.519
 Eric

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:01.799
 Little

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.679
 was a

00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.000
 devout

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.459
 Christian

00:16:03.459 --> 00:16:04.459
 who refused

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.159
 to run

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.459
 his heat

00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:07.379
 in the

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:07.799
 100 metre

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.419
 race

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.539
 because it

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:09.899
 was held

00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:10.179
 on a

00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:10.459
 Sunday

00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:13.740
 it was

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.279
 his best

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:14.719
 event

00:16:14.719 --> 00:16:16.419
 the schedule

00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:16.959
 had been

00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:17.519
 published

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.740
 several months

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.439
 in advance

00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:20.500
 his decision

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.079
 was made

00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:21.719
 several months

00:16:21.719 --> 00:16:22.259
 in advance

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:22.579
 that he

00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:23.059
 would not

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:23.500
 compromise

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.759
 his conscience

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.120
 and his

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.579
 principles

00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:26.319
 and run

00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:26.719
 on a

00:16:26.719 --> 00:16:27.039
 Sunday

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.740
 and he

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.899
 came under

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.939
 enormous amount

00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.360
 of pressure

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:32.839
 he's running

00:16:32.839 --> 00:16:33.139
 for his

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.519
 country

00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:33.799
 so

00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.599
 enormous

00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:34.939
 amount

00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:35.439
 of pressure

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:36.679
 for him

00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.360
 to

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.639
 it doesn't

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:38.959
 matter

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.819
 that much

00:16:39.819 --> 00:16:41.419
 compromise

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.319
 just a bit

00:16:42.319 --> 00:16:43.480
 I mean

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:43.839
 the Olympics

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:44.279
 only come

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.860
 around once

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.199
 in four

00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:45.419
 years

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:45.740
 go to

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.199
 church

00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:46.899
 next

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.379
 Sunday

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:50.740
 his decision

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.399
 was final

00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.439
 he trained

00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:52.980
 instead

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.980
 for what

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.339
 is now

00:16:54.339 --> 00:16:54.860
 the 400

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.139
 metre

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.599
 race

00:16:55.599 --> 00:16:56.059
 it wasn't

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.599
 his best

00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.059
 race

00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:57.559
 in fact

00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:58.059
 far from

00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:58.139
 it

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.279
 he was

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:58.500
 fairly

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:58.959
 mediocre

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.439
 at it

00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.479
 and when

00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:00.939
 the day

00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.239
 of the

00:17:01.239 --> 00:17:01.519
 Olympic

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.439
 400 metre

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:02.879
 race

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.459
 came

00:17:03.459 --> 00:17:04.339
 Liddell

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:04.740
 went to

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.279
 the starting

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.740
 blocks

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.399
 and as

00:17:06.399 --> 00:17:06.720
 he went

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.039
 there

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.879
 one of

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.019
 the

00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.519
 American

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:08.899
 Olympic

00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:09.319
 team

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.000
 masseurs

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.779
 came to

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.019
 him

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.599
 and gave

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:11.859
 him

00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:12.339
 a piece

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:12.740
 of paper

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.319
 and on

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:13.720
 that piece

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.179
 of paper

00:17:14.179 --> 00:17:15.139
 was written

00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:15.779
 1 Samuel

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.200
 2

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.599
 verse 30

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.019
 those who

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.639
 honour me

00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:21.019
 I will

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.379
 honour

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:23.220
 and that

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.419
 inspired him

00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:25.599
 to run

00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.059
 and to

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:26.359
 run

00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.099
 hard

00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:29.399
 you see

00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:29.740
 he was

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.359
 prepared to

00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.159
 give away

00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:31.859
 a certain

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.539
 Olympic medal

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.039
 he was

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.719
 the favourite

00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:35.859
 for the

00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:36.480
 100 metre

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.779
 gold medal

00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:39.579
 he was

00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.319
 prepared to

00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.139
 give up

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:41.619
 an Olympic

00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:41.959
 medal

00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:42.399
 but he was

00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:43.139
 not prepared

00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.199
 to give up

00:17:44.199 --> 00:17:44.659
 on his

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.139
 conscience

00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:45.559
 he was

00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.299
 not prepared

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.359
 to compromise

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.240
 and to sell

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.599
 out on

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:48.919
 Jesus

00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.959
 and for him

00:17:49.959 --> 00:17:50.839
 that was a

00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.279
 drawing of

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.759
 the line

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:53.279
 as it

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.819
 turns out

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.639
 he ran

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:54.939
 hard

00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:55.200
 and he

00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:55.339
 won

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:55.480
 the

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:55.679
 gold

00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:55.879
 medal

00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:56.200
 for the

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.679
 400

00:17:56.679 --> 00:17:59.799
 those who

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.220
 honour

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.359
 me

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.519
 I will

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:02.819
 honour

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:05.779
 and Jesus

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.539
 says to this

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.000
 church at

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.279
 Pergamum

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:07.759
 I know

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.220
 where you

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.460
 live

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:08.819
 I know

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.319
 you're in

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:09.720
 Satan's

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.179
 domain

00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:12.200
 I know

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.519
 where you

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:12.659
 live

00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:13.079
 I know

00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:13.419
 where I've

00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:13.899
 put you

00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:15.700
 the same

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.639
 evil one

00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:18.899
 here at

00:18:18.899 --> 00:18:19.399
 Pergamum

00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:20.359
 is the

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:20.740
 ruler of

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.079
 the kingdom

00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.359
 of the

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:21.559
 air

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.200
 he tried

00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.779
 to tempt

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.299
 Jesus

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.899
 into

00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:24.779
 compromising

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.259
 in Matthew

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.139
 chapter 4

00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.299
 he used

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:27.960
 Peter to

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.379
 try and

00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:28.980
 dissuade

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.359
 Jesus

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:29.799
 from going

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.019
 to the

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:30.460
 cross

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.980
 and Jesus

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.179
 turns to

00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:33.799
 his best

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.240
 mate

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.799
 and calls

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.119
 him by

00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.659
 his worst

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:35.980
 enemy

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.319
 and says

00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.279
 get behind

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.559
 me

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.000
 Satan

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.759
 this evil

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.039
 one

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.859
 masquerades

00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:43.220
 as an

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.740
 angel of

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.159
 light

00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:45.319
 forget all

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.259
 images of

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:46.919
 horns and

00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:47.819
 tails and

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.259
 fire and

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:49.700
 all sorts of

00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.159
 stuff like

00:18:50.159 --> 00:18:50.460
 that

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:52.279
 he is

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.100
 a fast

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.700
 talking

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.360
 clean cut

00:18:55.360 --> 00:18:56.319
 charming

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.480
 logical

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.640
 morally

00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.559
 bankrupt

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.360
 con man

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:03.180
 he is

00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.660
 the ruler

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.100
 of the

00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.380
 kingdom

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:04.779
 of the

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.140
 air

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:05.960
 and he's

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.360
 at work

00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:06.620
 in the

00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:06.819
 world

00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.160
 now

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.539
 and his

00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.380
 desire

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:08.900
 if he

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.259
 cannot

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.900
 destroy

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.160
 you

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:10.840
 front up

00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:11.319
 his

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:11.860
 desire

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.360
 will be

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.259
 to seduce

00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:13.640
 you

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.440
 until you

00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:14.980
 compromise

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.059
 until you

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.700
 compromise

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.400
 until you

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:17.920
 compromise

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:22.560
 and Jesus

00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:23.500
 knows

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.860
 where you

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.500
 live

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:27.860
 he knows

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.480
 the pressure

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.200
 that you

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.820
 are under

00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:30.680
 when you

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.420
 are confessing

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.019
 him at

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:32.480
 work

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.460
 he knows

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:33.980
 the pressure

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.519
 on the

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.460
 sporting field

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.140
 or university

00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:37.060
 at home

00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:38.060
 he knows

00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:39.060
 it can mean

00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:39.740
 loss and it

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.039
 can mean

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.759
 hardship and it

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.160
 can mean

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.100
 laughter and it

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.380
 can mean

00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.160
 rejection

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:45.140
 exclusion

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:48.080
 he knows

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:48.660
 the pressure

00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:50.400
 to sleep

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:50.840
 in on

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.259
 Sunday

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.880
 instead

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.800
 I'm

00:19:54.800 --> 00:19:55.120
 deeply

00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:55.680
 encouraged

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.060
 by

00:19:56.060 --> 00:19:57.720
 friends

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.920
 of mine

00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:00.140
 who made

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.720
 a decision

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.360
 early in

00:20:01.360 --> 00:20:01.840
 their marriage

00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.160
 and even

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.400
 when they

00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.080
 had kids

00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:04.620
 is that

00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:04.980
 we'll be

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.520
 at church

00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:06.860
 every Sunday

00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.220
 we are

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.600
 physically

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.020
 able to

00:20:08.020 --> 00:20:08.240
 be

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:10.300
 regardless

00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:11.480
 and I

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:11.700
 said

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.220
 why did

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:12.480
 you make

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.000
 that call

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.740
 they said

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:13.960
 we do

00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.360
 not trust

00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:14.840
 ourselves

00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.899
 we open

00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:18.539
 the door

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.819
 just a

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:20.339
 moment

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:20.959
 particularly

00:20:20.959 --> 00:20:21.299
 for our

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.579
 kids

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.179
 just open

00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:22.459
 the door

00:20:22.459 --> 00:20:22.759
 for a

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.039
 moment

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.559
 and make

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.459
 one excuse

00:20:24.459 --> 00:20:25.539
 we open

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:25.839
 up the

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.339
 floodgates

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:26.659
 to make

00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.379
 all kinds

00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:28.019
 of excuses

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:32.599
 Christians

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.240
 in the

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.699
 end

00:20:33.699 --> 00:20:34.699
 are people

00:20:34.699 --> 00:20:35.240
 who do

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.879
 say no

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:37.099
 there are

00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.939
 things that

00:20:37.939 --> 00:20:39.099
 we won't

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:39.500
 believe

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:39.799
 and there

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.139
 are things

00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:40.459
 that we

00:20:40.459 --> 00:20:41.199
 won't do

00:20:41.199 --> 00:20:42.039
 and especially

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.699
 we say no

00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.220
 if it means

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.679
 saying no

00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.180
 to Jesus

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:46.900
 and frankly

00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:47.420
 that is

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.019
 hard

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.700
 in our

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.160
 culture

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.019
 it is so

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.620
 ironic

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.480
 how a

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:54.900
 soft

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.460
 centered

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.740
 tolerant

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.340
 progressive

00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:58.140
 open and

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.620
 permissive

00:20:58.620 --> 00:20:59.299
 society

00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.700
 can be

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.380
 curiously

00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.060
 hard

00:21:02.060 --> 00:21:03.240
 on those

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.019
 who refuse

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.440
 to go

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.000
 along

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.259
 with them

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:08.120
 they can

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.840
 be curiously

00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:09.660
 hard and

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.320
 intolerant

00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:10.820
 of those

00:21:10.820 --> 00:21:11.240
 who say

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:11.680
 no

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.779
 who won't

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.120
 join

00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:13.640
 with them

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:15.160
 and Jesus

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.840
 says I

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.680
 know where

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.200
 I have

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.019
 placed you

00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:20.320
 I

00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:20.860
 understand

00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:23.980
 but take

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.279
 note

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.620
 Jesus takes

00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.000
 compromise

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.799
 very seriously

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.560
 verse 16

00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:28.180
 he calls his

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.980
 church to

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.519
 repent

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.680
 he calls

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:30.960
 them to

00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.400
 turn their

00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:31.900
 back

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.279
 on compromise

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.940
 otherwise

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.560
 he says

00:21:34.560 --> 00:21:34.960
 I will

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.400
 come

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.180
 to you

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.779
 and will

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.240
 fight

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.960
 against them

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.340
 with the

00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:38.740
 sword of

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:39.460
 my mouth

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:43.500
 the option

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.380
 is either

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.000
 be judged

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.420
 by the

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:45.880
 world

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.680
 or be

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.079
 judged

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.920
 by Jesus

00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.819
 there is

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.680
 no possibility

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.259
 of laying

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.559
 low

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.100
 keeping your

00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:51.519
 head down

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:51.900
 ducking

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.360
 for cover

00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.059
 hoping the

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.600
 trouble sort

00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.200
 of passes

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:57.900
 God has

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.220
 just as God

00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.440
 struck down

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.940
 those who

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.539
 compromised

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.539
 in numbers

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.180
 25

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.799
 those who

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.200
 sin

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.059
 so Jesus

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.640
 threatens to

00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.160
 come and

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.299
 fight against

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.460
 those holding

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:08.799
 to the

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.120
 teaching

00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:09.319
 the

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.079
 Nicolaitans

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.619
 he will

00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:10.919
 fight

00:22:10.919 --> 00:22:11.279
 against

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.419
 them

00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:11.779
 with the

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.139
 sword

00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:12.799
 of his

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.419
 mouth

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.079
 is what

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.599
 it says

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.239
 which is

00:22:15.239 --> 00:22:15.539
 what is

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:15.959
 announced

00:22:15.959 --> 00:22:16.819
 there at

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.179
 the beginning

00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:17.500
 of this

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.779
 section

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.139
 in verse

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.519
 12

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.259
 these are

00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:19.619
 the words

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.000
 of him

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.379
 who has

00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:21.000
 the sharp

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.799
 double-edged

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.259
 sword

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.639
 we read

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.119
 in chapter

00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:25.039
 19

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:26.019
 verse 15

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:27.259
 that when

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.159
 Jesus returns

00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:28.699
 in glory

00:22:28.699 --> 00:22:29.579
 from his

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.039
 mouth

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.619
 it says

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:31.599
 comes a

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.500
 sharp sword

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.259
 which to

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.399
 strike down

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:34.779
 the

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.239
 nations

00:22:35.239 --> 00:22:38.419
 rather than

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.039
 I think

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.620
 imagining

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.220
 that Jesus

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.920
 has this

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.500
 sort of

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:41.840
 sword

00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.779
 shaped

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.759
 tongue

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.960
 we should

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.759
 see here

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.279
 that what

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.900
 he means

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.400
 is that

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:47.779
 Jesus

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.500
 in the end

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.019
 will speak

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.980
 decisive words

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.519
 of judgment

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:52.120
 his words

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.340
 will be

00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.759
 final

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.920
 his judgment

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.620
 is final

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:56.539
 and in

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.000
 Ephesians

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.779
 chapter 6

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.519
 where Paul

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.259
 is encouraging

00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.960
 Christians to

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.700
 stand firm

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.800
 stay strong

00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:02.420
 with Jesus

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.380
 and to stay

00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.100
 strong with

00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:04.900
 Jesus against

00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.759
 all the attacks

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.240
 of the evil

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.580
 one

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.740
 he encourages

00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.379
 Christians to

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:08.879
 take on the

00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:09.339
 armor of

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:09.679
 God

00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:10.240
 and in

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.619
 verse 17

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.379
 of Ephesians

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:12.659
 6

00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.019
 it says

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.699
 the sword

00:23:13.699 --> 00:23:14.519
 of the

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.099
 spirit

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.980
 is the

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.480
 word of

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:16.939
 God

00:23:16.939 --> 00:23:18.899
 and in

00:23:18.899 --> 00:23:19.179
 Hebrews

00:23:19.179 --> 00:23:20.000
 chapter 4

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.240
 the word

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.699
 of God

00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:22.199
 is a

00:23:22.199 --> 00:23:22.559
 living

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.659
 and active

00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.159
 sharper

00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:24.839
 than any

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.559
 double-edged

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.099
 sword

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:27.759
 it judges

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.379
 the thoughts

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:28.720
 and the

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.079
 attitudes

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.359
 of the

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:29.720
 heart

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:31.039
 ultimately

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.059
 everything

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.119
 will be

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.539
 judged

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.179
 according

00:23:34.179 --> 00:23:35.240
 to its

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.000
 alignment

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.380
 with

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:37.799
 the

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.359
 word

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:38.859
 of

00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.259
 God

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.619
 with

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:40.960
 Jesus

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.400
 word

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:44.660
 and so

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:44.940
 we're

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.200
 called

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.519
 here to

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.000
 listen to

00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.180
 the

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.420
 word

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.579
 of

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:46.819
 God

00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.039
 and

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.299
 judge

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.880
 everything

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.019
 in

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.480
 accordance

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.039
 with

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.240
 it

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.759
 because

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.299
 ultimately

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.720
 everything

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.019
 will be

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.299
 judged

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.859
 by

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.279
 it

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:56.420
 means

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:56.880
 you judge

00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.140
 all

00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:57.839
 teaching

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.480
 all

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.160
 instruction

00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.920
 by

00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.460
 the

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:00.640
 word

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:00.799
 of

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.259
 God

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:03.259
 not

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.619
 by the

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:03.779
 word

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:03.940
 of

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.319
 Pergamum

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.519
 not

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.880
 what the

00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.200
 culture

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.799
 is saying

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:07.259
 what does

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.419
 the word

00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:07.559
 of

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:07.859
 God

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.399
 say

00:24:08.399 --> 00:24:09.099
 that

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.440
 is my

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:09.859
 guide

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.279
 that

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.599
 is my

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.079
 rule

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.799
 that's

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:11.919
 what

00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:12.079
 I

00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:12.500
 obey

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:14.379
 let me

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:14.720
 say that

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.000
 every

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.399
 person

00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:15.759
 that I

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.119
 have seen

00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.680
 compromise

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.440
 with sin

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.220
 and eventually

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.799
 walk away

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.379
 from Jesus

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:20.220
 has cut

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.819
 themselves off

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.299
 from listening

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.639
 to the

00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:21.940
 word of

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.240
 God

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:24.180
 they only

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:24.680
 listen to

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.059
 teaching

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.619
 that affirms

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.119
 their view

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:28.000
 they pull

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.619
 back from

00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.759
 Bible reading

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.419
 and from

00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:31.079
 Bible study

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.180
 and from

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.839
 other Christians

00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.299
 particularly

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:33.879
 who challenge

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.000
 them

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.619
 they surround

00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:34.939
 themselves

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.119
 with

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.459
 people

00:24:35.459 --> 00:24:35.819
 who will

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.000
 not

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.159
 bring

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.299
 the

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.559
 scriptures

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:36.859
 to bear

00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.079
 on their

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.519
 lives

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.519
 they pull

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.899
 away

00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.139
 from

00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:39.739
 church

00:24:39.739 --> 00:24:45.599
 they reject

00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:45.899
 the word

00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.359
 of God

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:51.319
 now there is a promise here to those who overcome

00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:55.559
 it's for those who repent and turn away from compromise

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.460
 in verse 16

00:24:56.460 --> 00:25:00.240
 he will come and fight with those who compromise and tarnish the name of Jesus

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:05.939
 but in verse 17 he will come and give manna and a white stone with a new name

00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:08.559
 written on it known only to him who receives it

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:38.539
 now it's sort of difficult to know exactly what that means or both those things mean except to say it's it means good it's good stuff manna is that strange bread in that God gave to the people of Israel as they went in the wilderness he miraculously fed them day in day out and Jesus had in that that picture of God's miraculous provision of his people in the old testament when he said I am the bread of life

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:41.700
 all who come to me will never grow hungry

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:48.700
 and Jesus also said that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:54.480
 and the word that brings judgment here is also the word that brings life forever

00:25:54.480 --> 00:26:06.039
 and Jesus promises to be our feed to feed us for all of eternity to give us nourishing life and sustenance for all of eternity

00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:12.119
 now the white stone with a name written on it is a little bit more confusing

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:18.379
 it was what they used to do to get access into the stadium

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:21.460
 we call it ticker tech nowadays

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:24.099
 they called it white stoner tech

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:29.859
 what they used to do is you get a white stone get your name on it that gave you entry into the stadium

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:35.839
 and what Jesus promised here is basically

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:42.419
 those who remain faithful to Jesus name will each be given a white stone by Jesus

00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:45.319
 with a new name written on it

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:52.059
 and it will guarantee you access into his presence forever

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:54.039
 that's the promise

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:58.960
 because God honours those who honour him

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.599
 one final challenge from this letter

00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:05.599
 what is interesting in this text is it flows from plural to singular

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:07.639
 singular to plural all the way through

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:10.420
 and

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:13.779
 only some of the people in this church

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.240
 at Pergamum

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:17.460
 hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:20.539
 but the letter comes to the whole church

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.819
 the whole church

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:24.700
 and Jesus says I will come to you and deal with them

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:28.639
 and it points to the way that as members of the church

00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:31.399
 we are both individually responsible for ourselves

00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:35.119
 and corporate responsibility for other members of the body

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:37.460
 the whole church is being judged guilty

00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:39.879
 because they aren't doing anything to discipline

00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:42.319
 those who are holding to the teaching of Nicolaitans

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:44.859
 which threatens to unravel the whole thing

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:48.759
 they are failing to rebuke their brothers and sisters

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:52.519
 and repentance here is to take the form of the church

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:55.240
 pursuing a process of discipline

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:58.579
 with those who are holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans

00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:00.539
 and this process of discipline

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:04.579
 is motivated by a desire to keep Jesus

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:07.500
 from coming and fighting against them

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:09.200
 to keep Jesus from coming and judging them

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:15.140
 here the minority are compromising

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:18.880
 and the majority aren't doing anything about it

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:23.680
 and the call to this church at Pergamum

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:25.620
 is dare to discipline

00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:28.740
 because compromise kills

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:31.780
 and so it's not just good enough for me

00:28:31.780 --> 00:28:33.500
 and it's not just good enough for you

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.920
 to hold to the Bible's truth

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:38.259
 we must watch out for each other's lives

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:40.660
 you must watch out for me

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:42.140
 and I must watch out for you

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.780
 you must watch out for each other

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:45.960
 do you love Jesus?

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:49.799
 do you love the honour of his name

00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:51.519
 and your brothers and sisters

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:54.740
 enough to speak the truth to them?

00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:57.220
 to nip it in the bud early

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.700
 when things start to arise

00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.859
 and say my brother, my sister

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:03.180
 you are in a dangerous place right now

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:05.319
 so much is at stake for you

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:08.339
 now I suspect there are those amongst us

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:10.440
 who have never done that

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.420
 and may have been

00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:13.139
 potentially been Christians for years

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:14.140
 never in love

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:15.840
 pulled up another Christian brother and sister

00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:18.240
 and actually raised

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.259
 privately with them

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.180
 raised an issue

00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.940
 of wrong understanding

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.540
 wrong thinking

00:29:22.540 --> 00:29:23.280
 or wrong living

00:29:23.280 --> 00:29:25.820
 maybe we're being fed

00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:26.920
 by our culture too much

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.259
 we go

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.420
 all that stuff's private

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:28.940
 you know

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.100
 you can't tell me how to live

00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:31.420
 it's my own business

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:34.759
 I think the Bible calls us to it

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.259
 maybe we think

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.840
 it's the pastor's job to do it

00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:40.480
 it's my job to do it

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:45.200
 it's interesting

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.339
 when I first came here

00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.079
 I had two

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:49.140
 people separately

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.240
 pull me aside

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.039
 and ask me

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.860
 what I was going to do

00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:52.980
 with so and so over there

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:54.860
 another person

00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:58.059
 and I asked both of them

00:29:58.059 --> 00:30:00.579
 who had known the person

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.319
 for decades

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:04.180
 what have you done so far?

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.940
 nothing

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:08.700
 nothing's been done

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:10.940
 and I've been here for months

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.720
 and you expect me to

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:13.880
 if something was done

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:14.860
 decades ago

00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:16.460
 we might not have the same issue

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.140
 we've got right now

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:22.559
 let me say that I am

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.640
 incredibly grateful

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.980
 to the people

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.080
 in my life

00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:27.080
 who have spoken

00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:28.700
 who have had the courage

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.320
 to speak words of truth

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:30.880
 to me

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:34.420
 someone in love

00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.300
 pulled me aside

00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:36.260
 for my questionable

00:30:36.260 --> 00:30:37.220
 humour

00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:38.200
 in fact right now

00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:38.980
 I'd say it's not

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.900
 questionable at all

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.980
 they were right

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.860
 I was wrong

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:43.040
 I'm glad they said it

00:30:43.040 --> 00:30:45.140
 someone in love

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.700
 pulled me up

00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:47.680
 this is just a few examples

00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.080
 keep going really

00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:50.980
 pulled me up for

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.300
 demeaning a young person

00:30:52.300 --> 00:30:52.620
 once

00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:53.320
 putting them down

00:30:53.320 --> 00:30:54.100
 inappropriately

00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:55.740
 with my humour

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:57.620
 and they were right

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:59.260
 I had a potential

00:30:59.260 --> 00:31:00.040
 to crush someone

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.740
 who I ought not

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.639
 have been doing that to

00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:03.139
 someone asked me

00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:03.980
 once

00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.740
 whether I

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.879
 whether I thought

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.379
 I was spending

00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.039
 too much time

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.539
 with a person

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.599
 of the opposite sex

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.859
 particular person

00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.940
 they thought I was

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.119
 I'm really glad

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.339
 that they spoke to me

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:14.500
 I'm grateful

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.680
 because frankly

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.559
 my heart will do

00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.539
 all sorts of back flips

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:19.059
 and gymnastic contortions

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:21.119
 to justify itself

00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:23.500
 it will just do that

00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:26.639
 I need to add here

00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.799
 I don't want to be spoken to

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:29.039
 by people who are angry

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:30.420
 people who have got

00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:31.879
 agendas to drive

00:31:31.879 --> 00:31:33.379
 people who are whingers

00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.940
 I don't need people

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.759
 to rebuke me

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.240
 who really enjoy rebuking

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:39.839
 I want people to come to me

00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:40.579
 with tears

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.559
 with their heart

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:43.000
 being ripped out

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:44.420
 in love for me

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.539
 love for Christ

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.639
 and the glory of his name

00:31:46.639 --> 00:31:47.259
 but I need them

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.079
 to do it anyway

00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:50.399
 I need them to do that

00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:51.859
 for the promise

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.759
 for those who overcome

00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:54.019
 is so important

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.359
 that we need

00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:56.440
 a church culture

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.680
 where we allow others

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.560
 to open the Bible

00:31:58.560 --> 00:31:59.900
 and speak to us

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:01.120
 and where we will

00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:02.160
 actually speak to them

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:02.640
 as well

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:04.320
 where we have the courage

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:05.299
 to speak to others

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.480
 because frankly

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.440
 I want to be

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.420
 an overcomer

00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:10.680
 I want to get that

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.299
 white stone

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.160
 whatever it is

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.960
 I just know it's good

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:16.580
 our core values

00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:17.700
 of humble authenticity

00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.799
 and treasuring Jesus

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.400
 reflects

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.460
 the sort of culture

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:20.820
 we need

00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:21.320
 at St Paul's

00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:21.759
 a culture

00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.720
 where we

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.620
 communicate

00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.679
 with honesty

00:32:24.679 --> 00:32:25.399
 authenticity

00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:26.339
 transparency

00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.239
 with vulnerability

00:32:27.239 --> 00:32:29.079
 of our imperfections

00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:29.779
 a culture

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.319
 where we will

00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.239
 covenant together

00:32:31.239 --> 00:32:32.699
 make a commitment

00:32:32.699 --> 00:32:33.279
 together

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.479
 to watch over

00:32:34.479 --> 00:32:35.299
 each other's lives

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.099
 with vigilance

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.719
 and accountability

00:32:36.719 --> 00:32:39.879
 we need

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:41.099
 to help each other

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.979
 to become

00:32:41.979 --> 00:32:43.019
 overcomers

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.799
 and sometimes

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:45.019
 helping each other

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:46.000
 become overcomers

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.439
 means

00:32:46.439 --> 00:32:48.259
 a difficult conversation

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:51.640
 may we have the

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.140
 humility

00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:53.200
 to own it

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.980
 and accept it

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.160
 and hear it

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:58.059
 my brothers and

00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.359
 sisters

00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.460
 do you have

00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.019
 ears

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:01.220
 to hear what

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:01.759
 the spirit

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.319
 says

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.579
 to this church

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.319
 St Paul's

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:05.900
 Amen