WEBVTT

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 Charles Simeon was an Anglican minister who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

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 Today he's remembered and honored in the evangelical community for his lifelong commitment to

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 expositional preaching, faithful leadership among evangelical Anglicans of his time,

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 other things he was responsible for helping found the missionary society in the early 1800s which

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 was very effective and noteworthy. He was a leader among those who were faithful to their gospel

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 convictions during his time but life and ministry if you know anything about Charles Simeon was

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 anything but easy. After graduating from King's College in Cambridge Simeon was appointed by the

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 local Anglican bishop to be the vicar or pastor of Trinity Church Cambridge. Now nothing about that

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 seems unusual until you learn that the church did not want Charles Simeon to be their pastor.

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 There was an assistant pastor there that they wanted more. Mr. Hammond, that's the one that they

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 really wanted as a church and they fought against this bishop because they did not want Charles Simeon

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 but Charles Simeon out of humility which was probably from what we understand historically

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 was probably not very natural to him especially at that point in his life in a humble statement went

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 to the bishop and says if the church doesn't want me it's probably not a good idea for me to be there.

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 The bishop responds even if you don't go I'm not putting Mr. Hammond in this place and Charles Simeon

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 feels at that point that there is a unique calling of God on his life to go to this church and so he

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 remains. Now here's what's interesting about it. The church didn't care that he wanted to be there.

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 In that this is a different world this is a different kind of framework for church life and church policy.

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 At that time the vicar of the church the pastor of the church was responsible and had authority for the

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 morning worship service. The congregation however and the church wardens had responsibility for their

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 afternoon service and so the church refuses to let Charles Simeon their pastor be the lecturer in the

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 afternoon service. He could do his thing on Sunday morning but they refused to let him speak on Sunday

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 afternoon. For his first five years the assistant pastor is the one that they gathered to hear speak

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 on Sunday afternoons. Well then Mr. Hammond decided to leave and he leaves the church and he goes on

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 to other things and the church still refuses to let Simeon be the afternoon lecturer. Instead they hire and

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 pay an independent preacher that does not belong to them in order to come and do the afternoon lecture

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 and he does that for the next seven years. So for the first 12 years of Charles Simeon's ministry at

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 Trinity Church Cambridge he was not even allowed by the congregation to preach in the evening service or the

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 afternoon service. He tried to discharge his duties as a pastor and to do pastoral calls and visits for

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 the people in the church and they refused to open the door and let him in. They scarcely attended the

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 morning worship service and the pew holders which is interesting if you've ever seen a picture of an old

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 church a congregational meeting house or something like that there were pews and the pews had doors on the

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 end so you had to be able to get in the door to get into the pew. Well you could rent or purchase your

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 pew. It's a completely different concept of somebody sitting in your seat at church. That was a reality.

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 There were certain things they were allowed to do whether it was to decorate or to put things in

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 their pew that they wanted to keep for themselves and they had locks on the doors of the pews. What the

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 pew holders would do is they would come in and they would lock the doors to the pews so that whoever came to

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 the morning worship service couldn't have a place to sit. So for 12 years Simeon preaches on Sunday

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 mornings to people who would have to sit or stand in the aisles or in the corners or the nooks of the

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 church building. At one point he personally purchases chairs for people to sit in. The church

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 wardens in protest to that come in take the chairs that he purchases and throws them into the church yard.

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 Simeon later would decide that he would give his own go at having his own evening service that would

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 take place after the afternoon service and in objection to that the church wardens came in and

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 locked the door so Simeon and no one else could even get in the building. 12 years of this. Now most of us

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 would have left this church very early if we would even win. Simeon out of a deep sense of calling from

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 God endured the opposition stayed faithful to discharge his duties as a pastor.

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 After 12 years the situation at Trinity Church gets better but life is still difficult for Simeon.

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 At this point he's a teaching fellow at King's College in Cambridge. He lived on the campus. He

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 never was married. He lived on the campus his entire ministry and he would preach in the church that was

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 nearby. He was a teacher there but he faced severe opposition for his gospel convictions.

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 Not only from the faculty but also from the students. Students would routinely interrupt his lectures.

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 They would gather on Sunday mornings in the streets and outside the church where he preached just to

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 disturb his preaching. His relationship with the other faculty was such that he writes in a journal how

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 overjoyed he was one day that one of his colleagues took the time to walk with him for 15 minutes around the college courtyard.

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 He was an outcast. Nobody wanted him. They didn't want to listen to him because of his stand for gospel truth.

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 Throughout his life Simeon endured occasional uprisings of disunity in the church.

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 Bouts with failing health for 13 years. He thought he was going to die every time he preached.

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 An intense opposition from those who did not appreciate his gospel preaching.

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 He had every human reason to quit but he continued faithfully for 54 years at Trinity Church and at King's College

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 until just before his death in 1836.

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 Later in his life one of his friends asked him how he had persevered through the opposition of his ministry

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 and Simeon responded this way. I think I have this quote for you if you want to read it on the screen.

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 Here's how he responded.

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 Brother, we must not mind a little suffering for Christ's sake.

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 Let us rejoice in the remembrance that Christ has surmounted all his suffering and triumphed over death.

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 Let us follow him patiently.

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 We shall soon be partakers of his victory.

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 In the sermon to the church of Philadelphia

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 we find a story that is similar to Charles Simeon's.

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 It was a congregation of little power

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 that persevered in uncompromising faith

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 amid severe opposition.

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 They trusted that Christ's suffering and triumph over death

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 guaranteed their sharing in his victory

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 and Jesus comes to them in this sermon with amazing comfort.

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 And if you've been with us through these now seven messages

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 through these two chapters or two and a half chapters

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 perhaps you will find with me that this text is a bit of fresh air.

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 While most of the other churches we've studied are failing

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 through either complacency or compromise

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 it's refreshing to read of a church

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 that was steadfast in the gospel.

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 But the overwhelming encouragement of this particular message from Jesus

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 comes from the fact that Jesus took notice of their faithfulness.

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 In fact it becomes abundantly clear

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 that Jesus' purpose in this message

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 this sermon to Philadelphia

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 is to reassure the beleaguered congregation.

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 He goes above and beyond to emphasize his divine power

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 for their good

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 because of their faithfulness.

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 So let's dive in

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 and see what Jesus has to say

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 to the church at Lake Norman

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 through his sermon

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 to the church of uncompromising perseverance.

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 Let's consider first the church identity

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 in Christ's title as always.

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 Verse 7

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 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write

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 the words of the Holy One

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 the true One

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 who has the key of David

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 who opens and no one will shut

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 who shuts and no one opens.

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 Philadelphia as you know

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 is the city of brotherly love

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 and it was so named

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 because of the

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 to honor a man of intense loyalty and love

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 for his brother

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 who was an ancient king of Pergamum.

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 But love and loyalty was not

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 the experience for the Christians in Philadelphia.

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 It's quite the opposite actually.

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 Like all the Christian churches

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 that we've studied at that time

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 the constant threat of persecution

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 from the Greco-Roman society

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 in which they lived

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 was a reality for these believers.

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 But like the church in Smyrna

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 which is its parallel

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 in the general structure

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 of these chapters

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 like the church in Smyrna

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 the opposition that Jesus addresses

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 in this sermon

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 is focused primarily on the Jewish community

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 what Jesus calls the synagogue of Satan.

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 The message to Smyrna

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 emphasized the slander that came from the Jews.

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 They were serving as informants

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 somewhat to the Romans.

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 Remember how we talked about

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 the slander and the shape that it would take?

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 They were taking common Christian doctrines

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 they were twisting them

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 and perverting them

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 and presenting them

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 as things that were a threat to Roman society.

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 Remember the Jews were taking

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 the doctrine of communion

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 the Lord's Supper

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 and they were accusing the Christians

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 of being cannibals

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 which was against Roman law.

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 They were thought of as atheists

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 not because they didn't believe there was a God

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 but because they denied all other gods

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 except for Jesus.

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 There were many other things

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 doctrines that were taken

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 and were twisted

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 and purported by the Jews

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 to be in violation of Roman law.

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 They were seeking to make a distinction

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 between themselves and the Christians

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 so that they wouldn't suffer

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 the same persecution

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 that the Christians were suffering.

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 So some of them became informants.

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 That's primarily what Smyrna was dealing with.

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 We would assume

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 though it's not listed explicitly

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 that that is very much the case

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 for the church in Philadelphia as well.

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 Now it will help us to understand too

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 which seems to be the focus

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 or the primary problem in Philadelphia

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 that some early Christians

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 continued their memberships

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 in the local synagogues

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 to take advantage of the fact

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 that many couldn't distinguish clearly

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 between Judaism and Christianity.

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 In the Greco-Roman world

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 Christianity was just

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 primarily considered a sect

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 within Judaism.

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 And so there wasn't a lot of

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 distinguishment that people could make

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 unless they were just very familiar

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 with the preaching of the Christians.

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 And so these early Christians

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 some of them would maintain

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 their memberships in the synagogue

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 as a form of protection.

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 The Jews had an agreement

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 with the Romans

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 that they could persist without problems

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 as long as the Jews

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 didn't create problems for Rome.

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 Christians were taking advantage of that

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 almost masking the fact

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 that they were Christians

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 to some extent

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 but it was something that was happening.

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 Eventually Jewish leaders realized

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 that Christians were enjoying protection

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 due to their political arrangement

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 so they closed the door

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 as it were

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 by kicking Christians out of their synagogues.

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 Something Jesus said to the disciples

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 clearly would happen.

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 Remember in John chapter 16

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 Jesus tells his disciples

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 I have said all these things to you

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 to keep you from falling away.

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 He's warning them of what is to come.

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 They will put you out of the synagogues.

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 Indeed the hour is coming

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 when whoever kills you

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 will think he is offering service to God.

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 And they will do these things

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 because they have not known the Father nor me.

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 But I have said these things to you

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 that when their hour comes

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 you may remember

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 that I told them to you.

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 Now do you see the parallels

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 between what Jesus was saying in John 16

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 and what he's now saying

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 to the church in Philadelphia?

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 There will be these Jews.

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 They're going to kick you out of the synagogue.

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 They're going to cut you off.

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 And then they're going to try to kill you.

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 They're going to become informants

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 as we find out historically they become.

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 They're going to become informants

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 to the Roman authorities in Philadelphia

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 that are going to try to kill you.

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 And they're going to think they're doing that

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 in the name of God.

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 But they don't know me, Jesus says.

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 They don't know the Father.

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 And when their hour comes

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 you'll remember what I'm telling you.

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 Stay faithful.

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 And now he says it to the Philadelphians

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 who are experiencing that very thing.

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 They've been cut off by the Jews.

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 They're exposed.

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 They have no protection.

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 The Jews are actively trying to have them killed

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 by turning them into Roman authorities.

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 And now they must be reminded of Jesus's words.

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 This is what Jesus said would happen.

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 Our responsibility now is to be faithful.

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 And that's exactly what this church was.

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 Now let's think about these Christ titles

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 for just a minute.

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 It's against this backdrop

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 that we are to understand

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 Jesus's self-revelation here.

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 He uses three titles.

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 All that have significant Old Testament parallels.

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 And we'll try to spell that out.

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 That he is the Holy One.

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 A term that's used dozens of times

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 in the Old Testament to refer to God.

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 Is a not so subtle way

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 of Jesus declaring his own deity.

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 Jesus is God.

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 He is the Holy One.

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 One of the Jews' most significant issues

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 with Christianity still today

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 has always been Jesus's claims of divinity.

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 His claims of divinity.

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 That he claimed to be one with God

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 was unthinkable to them.

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 And it's a critical element

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 in their vehemence against Jesus.

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 Not only in ancient history

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 but also in modern history.

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 So this title would have come

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 as uniquely reassuring to this church.

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 Here's the Jews

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 who have had the scriptures

00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:17.919
 who have been the privileged people

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.419
 as far as the scriptures are concerned.

00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.659
 And they're coming

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:22.439
 and they're working against Christ

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.679
 and against these Christians

00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.899
 saying that Jesus is an imposter.

00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:27.299
 Well now Jesus comes

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.339
 and he reassures them.

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.439
 It doesn't matter

00:15:29.439 --> 00:15:30.919
 what the Jews are saying.

00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:33.339
 They belong to the synagogue of Satan.

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.599
 They're liars.

00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:36.679
 I am the Holy One.

00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:37.360
 I am God.

00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:38.360
 He's the Holy One.

00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.779
 That's a reassuring statement

00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.419
 for this church.

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.139
 That he declares himself

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:44.060
 to be the true one

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:46.759
 is a polemic against these Jews

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.600
 who he calls liars

00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:50.659
 in verse 9.

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:54.960
 It speaks to his utter reliability.

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.240
 He can be trusted.

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.940
 But notice again

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:04.780
 the declaration of deity here.

00:16:06.020 --> 00:16:08.760
 Jesus is the true one.

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:11.640
 Meaning his trustworthiness

00:16:11.640 --> 00:16:13.280
 is perfect

00:16:13.280 --> 00:16:15.120
 and it's exclusive

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:18.160
 in a way that can only belong to God.

00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:19.980
 It can only belong to God.

00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:23.120
 They are liars, Jesus says.

00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.560
 I'll never lie to you.

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.780
 They're deceivers.

00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:29.759
 But I am the true one.

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.199
 And someone might argue

00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:33.539
 they may push back against it

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:33.819
 and they say

00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:36.839
 well don't all cult leaders

00:16:36.839 --> 00:16:38.699
 make similar statements?

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.980
 Don't they all say

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.679
 that they're the Holy One?

00:16:42.839 --> 00:16:44.360
 That they're the true one?

00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.500
 That they're the ones

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.419
 that will not lie?

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.059
 That everyone else is deceiving?

00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:51.379
 What's the difference

00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:52.699
 between them and Jesus?

00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:54.120
 Why would we listen to Jesus?

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.720
 Do you know the answer?

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:58.100
 Resurrection.

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.179
 Resurrection.

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.819
 Resurrection changes everything.

00:17:03.959 --> 00:17:04.799
 One other cult leader

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.519
 has died and come back to life.

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.779
 Sure there may have been

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:09.879
 signs of power

00:17:09.879 --> 00:17:10.700
 and other things

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:12.259
 that probably are initiated

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.379
 from the evil one.

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:16.220
 Jesus comes with divine power.

00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:17.519
 Ultimate power

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.940
 that's proven finally

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.119
 in his resurrection.

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.259
 He is the true one.

00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:24.399
 He is the Holy One.

00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:25.559
 The third title.

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.000
 He is the one

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.259
 who has the key of David.

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.399
 The key of David.

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.059
 Now this is an interesting title.

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.460
 To fully appreciate it

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.379
 we need to go back

00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:35.700
 to its Old Testament counterpart.

00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:36.079
 In fact

00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.519
 if you can get there quickly

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.019
 turn to Isaiah 22.

00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:41.139
 Isaiah chapter 22.

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:45.960
 You can read the whole passage later

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.899
 if you'd like.

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.039
 I want to point

00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:50.019
 out one verse

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.259
 especially to you.

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:54.839
 Isaiah chapter 22.

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.160
 Let me give you the background

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.859
 of what's happening

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.879
 before we read the verse.

00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.759
 Shebna

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.400
 was the palace steward

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.200
 in Jerusalem

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.119
 which was a very

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.779
 powerful position

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.839
 akin to

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.599
 the president's

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.440
 chief of staff

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.299
 we would say.

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.440
 If anyone

00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.359
 wanted access

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.420
 to the palace

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.180
 or access

00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.140
 to the king

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.599
 they had to go through

00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:19.759
 his chief executive

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.159
 which was

00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:22.399
 the palace steward.

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:23.959
 And at this point

00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:24.980
 in Isaiah's writing

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.019
 it's King Hezekiah

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.699
 and King Hezekiah's

00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:28.419
 palace steward

00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:29.899
 is a man named Shebna

00:18:29.899 --> 00:18:31.819
 but because of his arrogance

00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.859
 you can read in the chapter

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.659
 because of his arrogance

00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.599
 God removes

00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:36.059
 Shebna from power

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.899
 and he replaces him

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.839
 with a man named

00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.819
 Eliakim.

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:42.059
 And here's what God says

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.939
 through Isaiah

00:18:42.939 --> 00:18:43.799
 would be true

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.519
 of Eliakim.

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.779
 Look at verse 22.

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.319
 And I will place

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.339
 on his shoulder

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.799
 recognize the parallel

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.599
 the key

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.460
 of the house

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.200
 of David

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:56.619
 he shall open

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.660
 and none

00:18:57.660 --> 00:18:58.480
 shall shut

00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.500
 he shall shut

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.599
 and none

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.319
 shall open.

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:03.279
 Okay.

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.359
 Almost certainly

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:05.879
 Jesus

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.160
 is using

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.139
 this Old Testament

00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:08.799
 allusion

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.839
 as he speaks

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.519
 of himself

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.359
 to the

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:12.259
 Philadelphian church

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.859
 in Revelation

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:14.139
 chapter 3.

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.779
 And when he says

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.799
 that he is

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.240
 the one

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.779
 with the key

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.299
 of David

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.680
 who opens

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.500
 and no one shuts

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:20.960
 who shuts

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.720
 and no one opens

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:23.180
 what he means

00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.440
 is that he

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.139
 is the only one

00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:28.099
 with absolute

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:28.819
 authority

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.720
 over who can

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.200
 enter

00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:31.139
 the kingdom

00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:32.099
 of God.

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.579
 That's his point.

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.900
 The Jews

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.379
 may have had

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:36.799
 authority

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.700
 over their synagogue

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.940
 over who could

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.720
 belong there

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.740
 and who couldn't

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.420
 belong there

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.420
 but Jesus

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.220
 is the one

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.819
 who grants

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.319
 entrance

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.259
 to the

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.839
 eternal

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.759
 kingdom.

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.960
 Only

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:49.059
 Jesus.

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.659
 Not your parents

00:19:51.659 --> 00:19:53.720
 not your church

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:55.799
 not anyone else

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.139
 Jesus

00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:58.419
 only.

00:19:59.939 --> 00:20:00.139
 And their

00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:01.079
 Jewish and Roman

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.839
 oppressors

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:03.720
 had no power

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.720
 over their

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.799
 heavenly citizenship.

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.720
 That authority

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.720
 belongs to Jesus

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.220
 and he reminds

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.920
 this church

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.680
 right off the bat

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.480
 just with

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.779
 the self-revelation

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.779
 of who he is

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.500
 that no one

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.140
 can shut

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.700
 a door

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:20.160
 that he opens.

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.700
 He is the one

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.980
 with the key.

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.680
 And though this world

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.680
 with devil's field

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.519
 we'll sing later

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.799
 should threaten

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.839
 to undo us

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:32.779
 we will not fear

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.160
 for God has willed

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.680
 his truth

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.420
 to triumph

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.600
 through us.

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.820
 So let goods

00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:40.420
 and kindred

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:40.880
 go

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.340
 this mortal

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.340
 life also

00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.900
 the body

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.680
 they may kill

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.440
 God's truth

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.820
 abideth still

00:20:48.820 --> 00:20:50.440
 his kingdom

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.660
 is forever.

00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.580
 Now what comfort

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:54.519
 would this have come

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.120
 to the church

00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:56.779
 in Philadelphia?

00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.820
 What comfort

00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:00.660
 it should bring

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.100
 to you?

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:03.240
 Our world

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.059
 is just as broken

00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:04.559
 as theirs.

00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:07.119
 The severity

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.919
 of our opposition

00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:08.879
 may not be

00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:10.039
 to the same level

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.019
 not yet

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:13.219
 but our world

00:21:13.219 --> 00:21:14.139
 is just as broken.

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.039
 The threats

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:17.199
 against us

00:21:17.199 --> 00:21:17.819
 will grow

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.240
 more and more

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.980
 severe.

00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:20.959
 What is it

00:21:20.959 --> 00:21:21.619
 that will give us

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.740
 comfort and hope

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:24.539
 but to acknowledge

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.799
 that our Savior

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.599
 our Lord

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.199
 is the one

00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:27.659
 with the key

00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:28.099
 of David?

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.879
 He's the one

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.519
 with authority

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.480
 over the kingdom.

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.319
 They may have

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.720
 authority

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.559
 in this life

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.420
 only he has

00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:35.960
 authority

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.819
 in the next one

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.720
 and those

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.359
 who are faithful

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:38.980
 to him

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.000
 will have

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.660
 an open door

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.720
 that no one

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.259
 can shut.

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.059
 Let's look

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.920
 at the commendation.

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.779
 The churches

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.359
 in Smyrna

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.000
 and Philadelphia

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.839
 as you probably

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.639
 have already noticed

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.599
 are the only ones

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.700
 that are not

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.960
 confronted by Jesus.

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.660
 There's no correction

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:56.599
 there's no threat

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.619
 or call to repentance.

00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:59.419
 It's all

00:21:59.419 --> 00:22:00.319
 commendation

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.779
 and exhortation

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.259
 for them

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:04.119
 and the commendation

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.819
 for Philadelphia

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.759
 extends from verses

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.559
 8 to 10

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.599
 but its structure

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.139
 is unique

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:08.579
 which is why

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.339
 I'm pointing it out.

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.599
 Jesus commends

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.479
 them three

00:22:11.479 --> 00:22:12.279
 different times

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:14.019
 and each time

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.019
 he has

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.359
 a promise

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.559
 that he immediately

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.279
 attaches

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.479
 to the commendation.

00:22:19.739 --> 00:22:20.019
 So I want to

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.619
 break it up

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.500
 into those three

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.739
 sections.

00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:23.739
 The first one

00:22:23.739 --> 00:22:24.779
 is in the first part

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.459
 of verse 8.

00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.239
 Look at verse 8.

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.859
 I know your works

00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:29.279
 that's the commendation.

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.519
 Here's the immediate

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.460
 promise that follows.

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.240
 It's almost a

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.359
 parenthetical statement.

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.359
 Behold

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.579
 I have set

00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.299
 before you

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.160
 an open door

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.519
 which no one

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.120
 is able

00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.019
 to shut.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.000
 Now to every

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.579
 single one

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.220
 of these churches

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.620
 Jesus says

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.779
 I know.

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.319
 Remember in chapter 1

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.539
 he walks

00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.480
 among the golden

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.299
 lampstands

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.039
 those are the churches

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.000
 he holds

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.779
 the seven stars

00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.660
 in his right hand

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.779
 those are the pastors.

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.019
 In other words

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.200
 Jesus knows

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.079
 everything about

00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.620
 the churches

00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.799
 and he has

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.380
 sovereignty

00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.380
 and authority

00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:03.140
 over them.

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.660
 And for many

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.120
 churches

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:06.299
 if they are

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:06.980
 to hear Jesus

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.480
 say

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.400
 I know

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.299
 your works

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:11.279
 it would induce

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.140
 a measure

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.000
 of anxiety

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:15.380
 to be reminded

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.000
 of the fact

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.420
 that God

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.120
 sees all

00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.660
 and he knows

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.160
 the reality

00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:18.900
 of my heart

00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.599
 and the reality

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:19.920
 of what

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.720
 no one else

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.359
 may know

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.859
 is terrifying.

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.059
 dying.

00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.740
 But for the church

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.500
 in Philadelphia

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:29.219
 this brought

00:23:29.219 --> 00:23:29.939
 great comfort.

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.339
 Why?

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.359
 Not because

00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.059
 they were perfect

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:34.619
 but because

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.219
 they were neither

00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:36.199
 complacent

00:23:36.199 --> 00:23:37.359
 nor were they

00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.039
 entertaining

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.039
 compromise

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.599
 and to be

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.679
 reminded

00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:42.439
 that Jesus

00:23:42.439 --> 00:23:43.500
 is fully aware

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.839
 of their

00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.439
 perseverance

00:23:44.439 --> 00:23:46.179
 had to have

00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:46.500
 brought

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:48.119
 amazing joy.

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.159
 I know

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.139
 your works.

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.000
 When Jesus

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.819
 says that

00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.839
 to Sardis

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.839
 it's a problem.

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.699
 When he says

00:23:55.699 --> 00:23:56.559
 it to Philadelphia

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.019
 it's a relief.

00:23:58.719 --> 00:23:59.299
 Relief.

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.019
 He knows.

00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.379
 He sees

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.159
 our faithfulness.

00:24:03.739 --> 00:24:04.199
 He knows

00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:04.899
 we're struggling

00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:06.059
 and toiling

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.079
 for him

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.899
 and for his

00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.639
 name.

00:24:08.739 --> 00:24:09.500
 He knows.

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.019
 And what is

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.679
 the promise?

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.559
 The one

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.039
 with the key

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.639
 of David

00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.839
 opened for them

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:18.279
 a door of heaven

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.919
 that no one

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:20.379
 would be able

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:20.819
 to shut.

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:21.799
 I know your

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.220
 works.

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.079
 I have the

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.359
 key.

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.220
 I've opened

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:24.659
 the door.

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.919
 Walk through.

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:26.699
 No one

00:24:26.699 --> 00:24:27.299
 can shut it.

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.119
 It's yours.

00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.240
 Right?

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.399
 Second one.

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.259
 Second part

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.119
 of verse

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.419
 eight.

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.279
 Here's the

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.939
 commendation.

00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:36.000
 I know

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.319
 that you

00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:36.720
 have but

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.419
 little power

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.939
 and yet

00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:39.279
 you have

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.839
 kept my

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.279
 word

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.039
 and have

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.619
 not denied

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.319
 my name.

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.199
 Here's the

00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.639
 promise.

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.759
 Behold

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.980
 I will

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.579
 make those

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:46.919
 of the

00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:47.199
 synagogue

00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:47.919
 of Satan

00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:49.119
 who say

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.559
 that they

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.199
 are Jews

00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:50.779
 and are

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.299
 not

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.139
 but lie.

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:52.819
 He doesn't

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.279
 mean that

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.980
 they're faking

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.019
 their nationality.

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.339
 That's not

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:55.799
 what he means.

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.519
 When he's

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.240
 using Jew

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.839
 here he

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.659
 means he's

00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:59.139
 referring to

00:24:59.139 --> 00:24:59.539
 the true

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.039
 people of

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.339
 God.

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.339
 They say

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.939
 that they

00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:02.240
 are the

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.859
 true people

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.399
 of God

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:04.059
 but they're

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.460
 not.

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:04.759
 They're

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.319
 liars.

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.559
 Behold

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:06.899
 I will

00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:07.339
 make them

00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.899
 come and

00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.359
 bow down

00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:08.980
 before your

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.339
 feet

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.259
 and they

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.839
 will learn

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.819
 that I

00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.799
 have loved

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.059
 you.

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:14.539
 So both

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.399
 the commendation

00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:15.960
 and the

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.439
 promise

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:17.380
 gets more

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.860
 specific.

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.380
 Despite

00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.100
 having little

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.700
 power

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.539
 the

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.200
 Philadelphian

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.740
 Christians

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.700
 obeyed

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.240
 Christ's

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.680
 words

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:26.000
 and refused

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.700
 to deny

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.960
 his name.

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:28.900
 Now think

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.259
 about their

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.779
 context.

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.640
 As much

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:31.980
 as they

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.259
 would have

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.860
 wanted the

00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:33.299
 sense of

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:34.100
 security

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:35.220
 that came

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.640
 with being

00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:36.160
 linked to

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.660
 the synagogue

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.920
 they would

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.880
 not compromise

00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.740
 their faith

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.580
 in and

00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:41.120
 obedience

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.160
 to Christ

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.400
 for comfort

00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.440
 in this

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:44.920
 world.

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.600
 For a

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:46.980
 season

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.759
 there was

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.400
 a loophole.

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.180
 They could

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.779
 kind of sneak

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.180
 along.

00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:51.580
 They had

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.360
 this kind

00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.019
 of link

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:54.080
 to Judaism

00:25:54.080 --> 00:25:55.580
 until the

00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:56.320
 Jews made

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:56.700
 sure that

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.500
 link no longer

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:57.960
 existed.

00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:58.460
 Now they had

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:58.800
 a choice

00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.140
 at that

00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.460
 moment.

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:00.800
 We could

00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:01.259
 either just

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.660
 kind of

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.140
 diminish

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.840
 all of this

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.340
 Christian

00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:03.759
 stuff,

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.360
 this Christ

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:04.759
 stuff,

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.440
 and just

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.180
 seek comfort

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.940
 and security

00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.900
 or we

00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.620
 can embrace

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.900
 Christ knowing

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.440
 that it will

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.080
 cost us

00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:11.680
 everything.

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.620
 And what did

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.340
 the Philadelphian

00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:13.980
 church do?

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.220
 They embraced

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.000
 Christ.

00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:17.360
 They did

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.279
 not deny

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.019
 his words.

00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:19.799
 They did

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.580
 not deny

00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.420
 his name.

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.580
 They remained

00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.580
 faithful,

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.940
 uncompromisingly

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.380
 persevering.

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.539
 And they

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:29.860
 have little

00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.259
 power.

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.100
 There's no

00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:33.259
 political or

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.320
 cultural power

00:26:34.320 --> 00:26:35.259
 for this little

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.120
 church to lean

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:37.479
 on, yet

00:26:37.479 --> 00:26:38.239
 they publicly

00:26:38.239 --> 00:26:39.799
 remain faithful.

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.639
 Now is that

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.179
 not a word

00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:42.679
 for us?

00:26:46.739 --> 00:26:47.419
 We have

00:26:47.419 --> 00:26:48.139
 no power.

00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.559
 Nobody cares

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.279
 about us.

00:26:52.979 --> 00:26:53.839
 We may think

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.339
 of Christianity

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.019
 like that in

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.239
 general.

00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:55.659
 Let's just

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.219
 think about it

00:26:56.219 --> 00:26:56.799
 in terms of

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.459
 Lakeside Bible

00:26:57.459 --> 00:26:58.159
 Church for a

00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:58.379
 moment.

00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.959
 There's what,

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.819
 30 of us here

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.399
 this morning?

00:27:01.959 --> 00:27:02.659
 I know there's

00:27:02.659 --> 00:27:03.359
 more that belongs

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.839
 to our church,

00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:04.399
 but this morning

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:04.839
 there's about

00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.759
 30 of us here.

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:07.019
 We have no

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.379
 power.

00:27:08.199 --> 00:27:08.939
 We have no

00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:09.699
 influence in

00:27:09.699 --> 00:27:10.319
 this community.

00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:11.779
 If they all

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.359
 turned on us

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:12.919
 right now,

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:13.679
 we'd have

00:27:13.679 --> 00:27:14.259
 nothing to

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.619
 lean on.

00:27:15.699 --> 00:27:16.459
 We would

00:27:16.459 --> 00:27:17.379
 have to face

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.319
 this same

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.779
 dilemma.

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.439
 Do we

00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.059
 diminish our

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.500
 stand,

00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.899
 our gospel

00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.399
 convictions,

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.259
 in order to

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.079
 maintain some

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:25.539
 type of

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.159
 comfort and

00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:26.719
 peace with

00:27:26.719 --> 00:27:27.039
 the people

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.799
 around us?

00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:29.159
 Or do we

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:30.359
 embrace Christ

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.419
 and proclaim

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:31.819
 Christ,

00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:32.359
 knowing it's

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.799
 going to cost

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.339
 us everything?

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:35.419
 Christians in

00:27:35.419 --> 00:27:36.220
 Philadelphia said

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.759
 Christ is

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.259
 worth it.

00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:38.779
 And what's

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.259
 the promise

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.599
 that they

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.039
 received?

00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:41.659
 The promise

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.240
 is not,

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.220
 I'm going to

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.639
 make things

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.099
 better for

00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.480
 you right

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.740
 now.

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:47.859
 And I

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.159
 think it's

00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:48.679
 important that

00:27:48.679 --> 00:27:49.259
 we recognize

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.599
 that.

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.799
 Because there

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.019
 are some

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.519
 people out

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.819
 there that

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.259
 will try to

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.720
 tell you that

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.159
 if you just

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.480
 come to

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.659
 Christ and

00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:56.980
 you just

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.339
 join our

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:57.839
 church,

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.699
 and if you

00:27:58.699 --> 00:27:59.059
 do the

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.039
 things and

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.419
 you do your

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:00.980
 best and

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.439
 you try your

00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:01.740
 hardest,

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.339
 what God's

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:04.579
 going to

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:02.980
 do for you

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.259
 is going to

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.599
 make you

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:03.959
 happy,

00:28:04.699 --> 00:28:05.500
 and he's

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:05.639
 going to

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.000
 make things

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.379
 easy,

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.220
 and if your

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.720
 life isn't

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.559
 easy, it's

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.000
 because you're

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.500
 not believing

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.099
 hard enough.

00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.559
 It's a problem

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:12.879
 with your

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.159
 faith.

00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:16.139
 But Jesus

00:28:16.139 --> 00:28:16.740
 comes to this

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.240
 church that he

00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:19.000
 commends more

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.519
 than any other

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.339
 church with the

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:20.879
 exception of

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.220
 Smyrna.

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.259
 And he says,

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.000
 I realize your

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.619
 faithfulness, I

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.079
 know you're

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.919
 faithful, I

00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.339
 know you're

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.059
 more faithful than

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.459
 these other

00:28:27.459 --> 00:28:28.099
 churches are.

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:29.939
 But the

00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.519
 promise that he

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:30.980
 gives them is

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.799
 not, I'm going

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.299
 to take care of

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.859
 the Jews real

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.399
 quick here for

00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:34.059
 you so that

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.399
 you can be

00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:34.819
 more comfortable.

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.259
 He doesn't do

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.480
 that.

00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:36.819
 What's the

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.200
 promise?

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.059
 The promise

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.399
 that they

00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.079
 received is

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.440
 that they

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.359
 would ultimately

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.839
 be vindicated,

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:45.259
 not now, but

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.539
 at the

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:45.819
 judgment.

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.799
 You see, that's

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.379
 the point here.

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.039
 It's not about

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.019
 the Jews bowing

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.500
 down before

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:51.879
 Christians.

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.379
 That's not the

00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:52.980
 emphasis here.

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.220
 That's metaphorical

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.919
 language that

00:28:54.919 --> 00:28:56.119
 Jesus is using

00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:57.299
 to say, in the

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.359
 end, in the

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.819
 judgment, Christians

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:02.200
 will be vindicated.

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.240
 The ones who

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.399
 deny Christ and

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.299
 his followers will,

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.659
 in the end, know

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:07.619
 that they are

00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:08.019
 wrong.

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.119
 The Jews who

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.960
 wrongly believe

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.779
 themselves to be

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.599
 the true people of

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.819
 God will learn

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:15.319
 that God's love is

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.399
 set on those who

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:18.059
 believe and follow

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:19.099
 Christ.

00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.099
 They will know,

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.519
 Jesus says, that I

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.200
 have loved you,

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.279
 that you were

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:27.139
 mine, that you

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.879
 were the real,

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:29.740
 true people of

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.880
 God.

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.660
 The vindication

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.480
 comes in the end.

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.180
 Can I ask you, is

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.900
 that enough for

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.120
 you?

00:29:37.560 --> 00:29:38.480
 Are you good with

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.620
 Jesus so long as he

00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.380
 brings you some kind

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.680
 of vindication now?

00:29:43.020 --> 00:29:44.100
 Or is it enough for

00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:45.320
 you that he promises

00:29:45.320 --> 00:29:46.360
 to vindicate you

00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:48.460
 then in the

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:48.800
 judgment?

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.320
 The third set

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:51.900
 comes in verse

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.260
 10.

00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:54.240
 Because you have

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:55.160
 kept my word about

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.940
 patient endurance,

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:56.380
 that's the

00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:57.180
 commendation, here's

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:57.760
 the promise,

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:59.160
 I will keep you

00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:00.200
 from the hour of

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:01.560
 trial that is

00:30:01.560 --> 00:30:02.100
 coming on the

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.560
 whole world to

00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:04.360
 try those who

00:30:04.360 --> 00:30:05.720
 dwell on the

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:05.980
 earth.

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.300
 So here in the

00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:09.280
 final commendation,

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.660
 Jesus restates that

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.760
 these Christians have

00:30:11.760 --> 00:30:13.040
 kept his word

00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:14.420
 regarding patient

00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:14.960
 endurance.

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.760
 Now, let's talk

00:30:16.760 --> 00:30:17.580
 about the word of

00:30:17.580 --> 00:30:18.260
 patient endurance.

00:30:18.820 --> 00:30:19.940
 Jesus specifically

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.560
 and explicitly

00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:21.460
 taught this.

00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:23.040
 Several places,

00:30:23.260 --> 00:30:24.100
 I'll read it to you

00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:25.020
 from Matthew 10.

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.759
 brother will

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.519
 deliver brother

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.359
 over to death,

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.200
 Jesus says.

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.619
 The father

00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.599
 his child.

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.180
 Children will

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:33.859
 rise against

00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.940
 parents and

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.619
 have them put

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.079
 to death.

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:37.000
 All of this is

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.599
 in the context

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.379
 of the gospel.

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.500
 That all of this

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.160
 will be happening.

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.160
 Our own families

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.039
 will be turning

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:43.379
 against us because

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.220
 of our commitment

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.819
 to Christ.

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.460
 And then Jesus

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.839
 says, you will

00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.639
 be hated

00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:49.040
 by all

00:30:49.040 --> 00:30:49.920
 for my

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.720
 name's sake.

00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:52.759
 But the one

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.880
 who endures

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.900
 to the end

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:56.120
 will be saved.

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.080
 The one who

00:30:57.080 --> 00:30:57.700
 endures to the end

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.200
 will be saved.

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.540
 That's the word

00:30:59.540 --> 00:31:00.540
 about patient

00:31:00.540 --> 00:31:00.980
 endurance

00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:02.140
 that Jesus

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.700
 preached.

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.400
 And it would

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:04.240
 have been taught

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.920
 to these

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.600
 Philadelphian

00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:06.380
 Christians through

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.200
 the apostolic

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.100
 teaching.

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.100
 And Jesus

00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:09.920
 promises the

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.540
 Philadelphian

00:31:10.540 --> 00:31:11.400
 church that

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.000
 their faithful

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.380
 endurance will

00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:14.400
 be met with

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.020
 his divine

00:31:15.020 --> 00:31:15.820
 protection

00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:18.000
 when he returns

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.980
 to judge

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.960
 the earth.

00:31:20.179 --> 00:31:20.839
 Notice the

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.279
 language.

00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.419
 There is this

00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:23.779
 hour of trial

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:25.439
 that is coming

00:31:25.439 --> 00:31:26.599
 on the whole

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.579
 world

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:29.319
 to try those

00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:29.960
 who dwell on

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.399
 the earth.

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.159
 What is this

00:31:31.159 --> 00:31:31.700
 all about?

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.659
 The hour of

00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:35.000
 trial, I

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.759
 believe, to be

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.659
 this period of

00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:37.460
 tribulation

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.799
 leading to

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.460
 Christ's second

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:39.939
 coming.

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.899
 That's going to

00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.740
 be described in

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.279
 the subsequent

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.059
 chapters of

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.980
 Revelation beyond

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.619
 this chapter.

00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:46.479
 And there

00:31:46.479 --> 00:31:47.259
 are all kinds

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:47.959
 of suggestions

00:31:47.959 --> 00:31:49.519
 about what it

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.119
 means to be

00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:51.219
 kept from that

00:31:51.219 --> 00:31:52.079
 hour of trial.

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.979
 Some, and

00:31:53.979 --> 00:31:54.619
 maybe some of

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.219
 you even would

00:31:55.219 --> 00:31:56.259
 believe this to

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.659
 be a kind of

00:31:57.659 --> 00:31:57.979
 a secret

00:31:57.979 --> 00:31:58.819
 rapture that

00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:00.119
 Jesus will

00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:01.299
 remove his

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:02.459
 people, literally

00:32:02.459 --> 00:32:03.579
 physically remove

00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:04.079
 them from the

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.279
 earth.

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.239
 Others believe

00:32:05.239 --> 00:32:05.879
 that they will

00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:07.899
 be protected,

00:32:08.479 --> 00:32:09.719
 untouched by

00:32:09.719 --> 00:32:10.279
 the judgment

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.779
 though they

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:12.099
 remain on the

00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.359
 earth.

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.419
 It's not my

00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:14.159
 intention to get

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.720
 into those

00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:16.560
 debates, at

00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:17.080
 least in the

00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:17.360
 sermon.

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:17.880
 We can talk

00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:18.400
 about it after

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:18.860
 the service

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.300
 perhaps.

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.120
 The bottom

00:32:20.120 --> 00:32:20.980
 line is this.

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.320
 Those who

00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:25.080
 persevere in

00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:26.600
 the gospel will

00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.200
 not be in

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:27.740
 danger of

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.360
 Christ's judgment

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:28.940
 on the earth.

00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:29.580
 That's the

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:30.100
 bottom line.

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.080
 Because of

00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:34.240
 their patient

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.040
 endurance, because

00:32:35.040 --> 00:32:35.860
 they endure in

00:32:35.860 --> 00:32:36.940
 the faith all

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.540
 the way to the

00:32:37.540 --> 00:32:38.120
 end, they will

00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.920
 be kept from

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.580
 the hour of

00:32:39.580 --> 00:32:39.880
 trial.

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.900
 Meaning, you

00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.560
 will not have

00:32:41.560 --> 00:32:42.240
 to stand before

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.299
 Christ and give

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.859
 account for

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:46.019
 your sin, because

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.720
 you belong to

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:48.420
 him, and you

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.120
 have stayed the

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.559
 course.

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:53.259
 The holy, true

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.819
 one will keep his

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.859
 people safe and

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:57.839
 secure as he

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:59.799
 ushers them into

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.339
 eternity.

00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.220
 Isn't that a

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.980
 wonderful promise?

00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.980
 It's amazing.

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.660
 Remember, growing

00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.500
 up, people would

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.039
 talk about the

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.859
 book of Revelation

00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:09.400
 and all this

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.440
 imagery, and to be

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.100
 quite honest with

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:11.580
 you, especially

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.160
 as a kid, even

00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:13.200
 as an adult, it

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.900
 is absolutely

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.539
 terrifying.

00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.500
 I mean, you

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.180
 got creatures

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.660
 coming out of

00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.220
 the earth that

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:20.180
 look like scorpions

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.580
 and they have

00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:21.160
 stingers and

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:21.480
 they're going to

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.059
 sting people.

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.160
 That's weird.

00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.299
 Let's be honest,

00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:26.840
 that's weird.

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.200
 That's terrifying.

00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:30.240
 And I remember

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:30.820
 even as a

00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.299
 Christian young

00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:31.960
 person, I would

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.539
 read about those

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.039
 things, or I

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.480
 would think about

00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:33.920
 those things, or

00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.519
 people would teach

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:34.980
 them, and I would

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.440
 just be filled

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:35.860
 with fear.

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.100
 I don't want to

00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:37.700
 have to endure

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.039
 that.

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.879
 And then

00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:40.639
 Jesus comes and

00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:41.099
 he says, you

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.639
 won't have to

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:42.159
 endure that.

00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.779
 If you're mine, I

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:46.399
 will keep you from

00:33:46.399 --> 00:33:48.460
 the hour of trial

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:50.039
 that is to come on

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.480
 the whore.

00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:53.779
 Now, considering

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:55.059
 this commendation,

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:55.460
 now we're

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.099
 considering all

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.799
 three parts of

00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:58.700
 it, what is it

00:33:58.700 --> 00:33:59.180
 that we can

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:01.279
 discern that Jesus

00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:02.200
 desires from his

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.500
 people?

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.099
 What does he

00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:05.019
 desire from us?

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:08.800
 Clearly, Jesus

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.860
 is not concerned

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:12.039
 with or impressed

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.880
 by elaborate

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.639
 ministries with

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:17.000
 political influence,

00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:18.920
 dynamic metrics,

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.259
 and buildings,

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.139
 and staff, and

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.920
 money, and all the

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.400
 things that come

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.000
 along with it.

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.340
 Now, I'm not

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.099
 disparaging those

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.440
 things.

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.119
 It is sometimes,

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.139
 out of the faithful

00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:29.259
 blessing of Jesus,

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.619
 that some churches

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.340
 and some Christian

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.679
 groups enjoy that

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.340
 for a season.

00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:34.760
 I'm not taking

00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:35.500
 away from that.

00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.559
 What I'm saying

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:38.680
 is that those

00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:39.120
 are not the

00:34:39.120 --> 00:34:39.980
 things that Jesus

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.960
 intends for us to

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.800
 pursue as our

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.280
 focus.

00:34:43.620 --> 00:34:44.460
 What is it that

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.559
 Jesus desires from

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.460
 his churches?

00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.760
 Not that they try

00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:48.519
 to get as big as

00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:49.200
 they can get and

00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:49.660
 have all the

00:34:49.660 --> 00:34:50.360
 influence that they

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:51.059
 can possibly have

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.420
 in all those

00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:51.680
 things.

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.860
 That can't be

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.420
 our focus.

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.900
 In fact, Jesus

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.120
 doesn't commend in

00:34:57.120 --> 00:34:59.360
 these sermons any

00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.220
 of the things that

00:35:00.220 --> 00:35:01.680
 we tend to value in

00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:02.200
 contemporary

00:35:02.200 --> 00:35:02.980
 Christianity.

00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:05.940
 Jesus values

00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:06.780
 faithfulness.

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.420
 He desires that we

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:11.260
 keep his word and

00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:12.519
 glorify his name.

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.160
 He commends

00:35:14.160 --> 00:35:15.579
 uncompromising

00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.680
 perseverance.

00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.440
 And if we're going

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.860
 to be a

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:20.120
 Philadelphian church,

00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:22.039
 we must focus on

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:22.700
 what Jesus

00:35:22.700 --> 00:35:23.500
 commends.

00:35:24.620 --> 00:35:25.400
 Unwavering

00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:27.300
 faithfulness to

00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:27.620
 him.

00:35:28.120 --> 00:35:28.940
 That's what he

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.960
 desires from us.

00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:32.000
 That's what we need

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.960
 to focus on giving.

00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:33.900
 To him.

00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:36.000
 Let's consider the

00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.980
 charge now in verse

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.380
 11.

00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:38.980
 Jesus says,

00:35:39.120 --> 00:35:40.039
 I am coming soon.

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.780
 Hold fast what you

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:43.519
 have so that no one

00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:45.420
 may seize your crown.

00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:48.820
 There's no correction

00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:49.920
 or call to repentance

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.840
 here, but there is

00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.660
 this urgent

00:35:51.660 --> 00:35:52.980
 exhortation.

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:54.579
 immediately following

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.260
 immediately following

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.820
 Jesus' reference to his

00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:58.119
 return to judge the

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.420
 earth.

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.840
 He affirms that he

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.840
 is coming soon,

00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:04.559
 bringing urgency to the

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.519
 charge that he's about

00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:06.039
 to deliver.

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.159
 And what is this

00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:07.679
 charge?

00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:09.800
 Though the church was

00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:11.099
 not guilty of the

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:12.420
 complacency and compromise

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.340
 of others,

00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:16.920
 Jesus understands that as

00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:18.280
 they await his return,

00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:21.320
 both sins will only grow

00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.060
 in temptation.

00:36:23.120 --> 00:36:24.720
 That the longer Jesus

00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:25.880
 tarries his return,

00:36:26.060 --> 00:36:27.180
 the more tempting it

00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:28.260
 will be for us to grow

00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:30.380
 spiritually cold and to

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.300
 spiritually compromise.

00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:33.440
 Think about Charles

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.400
 Simeon for a moment.

00:36:35.060 --> 00:36:36.280
 How many of us would

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.460
 have made it six months,

00:36:37.540 --> 00:36:38.960
 much less 54 years?

00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:42.060
 Over time, you weary.

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:44.420
 the persecution, the

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.759
 opposition, the problems,

00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:47.000
 and finally you just are

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.320
 tempted to concede.

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.739
 And the longer you have

00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:51.779
 to endure, the more the

00:36:51.779 --> 00:36:53.139
 temptation grows for you

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:54.019
 to concede and to

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.000
 compromise and to grow

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:55.340
 cold.

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.960
 The same is true for

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.420
 churches.

00:36:58.259 --> 00:37:00.039
 The longer Jesus tarries

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:01.599
 his return, the larger

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.059
 the temptation grows for

00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:04.639
 us to be complacent, to

00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:07.259
 stop being persistent in

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.279
 the things Jesus has

00:37:08.279 --> 00:37:09.639
 called us to be, and it

00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:10.619
 tempts us more and more

00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.460
 to compromise.

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.740
 Out of the opposition

00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.980
 that we face, we just

00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:15.179
 grow weary.

00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.840
 Jesus understands that.

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:18.559
 So he brings urgency to

00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.460
 this exhortation.

00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:21.900
 He says, I'm coming soon.

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.619
 And here's what he tells

00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.079
 them to do.

00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:25.199
 Hold fast.

00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:29.240
 Hold fast what you have.

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.500
 And what is it that they

00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.079
 have?

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.039
 The gospel.

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:36.559
 That's what they have.

00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:39.539
 Jesus simplifies what it

00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:40.840
 means to prepare for his

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:41.340
 return.

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:44.300
 By urging us to hold fast to

00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:46.679
 the gospel, to keep his

00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:49.860
 word, to glorify his name.

00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.860
 You say, how are we supposed

00:37:52.860 --> 00:37:53.420
 to wait?

00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:55.420
 How are we supposed to wait

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.019
 with expectancy?

00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:57.840
 How are we supposed to look

00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:59.199
 for the return of Jesus?

00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:01.800
 He tells us plainly, hold fast

00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:02.380
 to the gospel.

00:38:02.720 --> 00:38:04.039
 Stay committed to the gospel

00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:04.559
 of Jesus.

00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.860
 Don't waver on it.

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:07.420
 Don't waver from the word.

00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:09.019
 Don't grow cold in your

00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:10.639
 devotion to the truth of God.

00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:13.700
 Glorify his name even when

00:38:13.700 --> 00:38:15.119
 it comes at great cost.

00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.519
 Proclaim his name.

00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.800
 Declare his name.

00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:19.180
 Glorify his name.

00:38:19.220 --> 00:38:20.159
 Not only in the things that

00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.159
 you say, but in the life

00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:21.700
 that you live.

00:38:22.200 --> 00:38:23.840
 In other words, persevere

00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.920
 without compromise.

00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:26.659
 That's how we wait for the

00:38:26.659 --> 00:38:27.380
 return of Christ.

00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:28.940
 That's how we acknowledge

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.800
 he's coming soon and I want

00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:31.420
 to be ready.

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:34.420
 And for those tempted to give

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:36.639
 in and give up, Jesus reminds

00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:37.940
 them of the consequence here

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:39.240
 in verse 11.

00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:42.220
 That no one may seize your crown.

00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:46.920
 This crown is not the royal diadem.

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:50.420
 It's the victory wreath awarded

00:38:50.420 --> 00:38:53.639
 to winners of athletic events.

00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:56.500
 In other words, to turn away

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:58.740
 from Jesus as a result of false

00:38:58.740 --> 00:39:00.840
 teaching or fear of persecution.

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:03.880
 is the equivalent of losing

00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:04.440
 the victory.

00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:07.860
 Of allowing someone to take

00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.360
 your crown.

00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:12.200
 Remember Jesus' word.

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:16.079
 The one who endures to the end

00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:17.980
 will be saved.

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:20.260
 That's not a threat for Jesus

00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:21.980
 to take away salvation from

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:23.480
 someone to whom it truly belongs.

00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.260
 That's not what he means.

00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:26.240
 But we do know in the scripture

00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:28.860
 that those who persevere are the

00:39:28.860 --> 00:39:29.760
 true people of God.

00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:32.960
 Those who fall away never were.

00:39:34.040 --> 00:39:35.840
 And yet Jesus gives us these warnings

00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:37.280
 over and over in the New Testament

00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:40.040
 as a means of causing us to persevere.

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.700
 Don't give up.

00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:43.000
 Don't turn back.

00:39:43.640 --> 00:39:46.080
 The one who endures will be saved.

00:39:47.220 --> 00:39:48.780
 The next time Jesus comes,

00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:50.660
 it will be for judgment.

00:39:50.659 --> 00:39:54.420
 And his coming is nearer than it's ever been.

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:57.139
 So hold fast, church.

00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:58.319
 Hold fast.

00:39:59.259 --> 00:40:00.239
 Don't give up.

00:40:01.339 --> 00:40:02.379
 Don't give in.

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.920
 Don't lose your crown.

00:40:06.299 --> 00:40:07.980
 Let's consider the final call

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:09.219
 and conquer formula here.

00:40:09.879 --> 00:40:11.019
 Verses 12 and 13.

00:40:11.379 --> 00:40:12.420
 Just mention it briefly.

00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:14.559
 The one who conquers,

00:40:14.680 --> 00:40:15.619
 I will make him a pillar

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.920
 in the temple of my God.

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:19.119
 Never shall he go out of it.

00:40:19.940 --> 00:40:21.900
 I will write on him the name of my God,

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:23.240
 the name of the city of my God,

00:40:23.300 --> 00:40:24.039
 the new Jerusalem,

00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:26.519
 which comes down from my God out of heaven.

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.579
 And my own new name.

00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:30.740
 He who has an ear,

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:33.079
 let him hear what the Spirit says

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:33.800
 to the churches.

00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:36.880
 So in contrast to what will happen

00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:39.360
 to those who do not hold fast to the gospel,

00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:42.740
 the call and conquer formulas of this message

00:40:42.740 --> 00:40:45.420
 reiterate what will be true

00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.940
 for those who do persevere.

00:40:47.740 --> 00:40:49.000
 And wasn't it that Jesus says,

00:40:49.200 --> 00:40:49.920
 this is amazing.

00:40:50.080 --> 00:40:52.800
 I wish that I would have taken more time

00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:54.480
 to develop this more for this morning.

00:40:56.180 --> 00:40:58.220
 Jesus, the one with the key of David,

00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.860
 will give all who conquer

00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:04.800
 an honored and permanent place

00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:05.660
 in his kingdom,

00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:08.700
 like a pillar in the temple.

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:12.840
 The one who has authority

00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:14.400
 over who is shut in

00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:16.160
 and who is shut out

00:41:16.160 --> 00:41:18.240
 will never kick us out

00:41:18.240 --> 00:41:19.740
 of our heavenly home.

00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:22.660
 He will put the mark of God,

00:41:23.660 --> 00:41:25.260
 the new Jerusalem,

00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:28.260
 and of himself on us.

00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:30.980
 A public display

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:34.380
 that we belong to him.

00:41:35.680 --> 00:41:37.180
 Now think about that for a moment.

00:41:38.040 --> 00:41:38.620
 He says,

00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:39.240
 I'm going to write

00:41:39.240 --> 00:41:40.820
 the name of my God on you.

00:41:41.800 --> 00:41:42.540
 I'm going to write

00:41:42.540 --> 00:41:45.220
 the name of his city on you.

00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:46.480
 And I'm going to write

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:47.500
 my name on you.

00:41:49.140 --> 00:41:50.140
 God says,

00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:51.480
 you're mine

00:41:51.480 --> 00:41:54.080
 and I want everybody to know it.

00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:57.739
 For those who continue,

00:41:58.679 --> 00:41:59.840
 that's what I'm going to do.

00:42:00.799 --> 00:42:01.599
 You're mine.

00:42:02.099 --> 00:42:02.699
 In other words,

00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:04.819
 everything that the world

00:42:04.819 --> 00:42:06.360
 denies us in this life

00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:08.799
 will be ours beyond measure

00:42:08.799 --> 00:42:10.119
 in eternity.

00:42:11.779 --> 00:42:13.500
 He who calls you is faithful,

00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:14.159
 Paul said.

00:42:14.799 --> 00:42:17.360
 He will surely do it.

00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:18.940
 Take heart, church.

00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:20.860
 The promise is good.

00:42:21.279 --> 00:42:21.759
 It's true.

00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:24.980
 There is a lesson

00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.720
 of perseverance

00:42:25.720 --> 00:42:26.660
 in this message.

00:42:26.760 --> 00:42:27.860
 There's no doubt about that.

00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:30.920
 But there's also

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:32.640
 a necessary encouragement

00:42:32.640 --> 00:42:34.380
 from Jesus

00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:35.800
 that we need to take heart.

00:42:38.060 --> 00:42:40.020
 Like the Philadelphian congregation,

00:42:40.260 --> 00:42:41.380
 Lakeside Bible Church

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:42.360
 is of little power.

00:42:43.060 --> 00:42:44.020
 To most people,

00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:45.540
 we are weak

00:42:45.540 --> 00:42:47.400
 and insignificant.

00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:50.800
 And this will inevitably

00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:52.780
 lead to discouragement.

00:42:53.780 --> 00:42:55.519
 It will lead to temptations

00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:56.860
 to quit or compromise

00:42:56.860 --> 00:42:58.980
 when facing opposition

00:42:58.980 --> 00:43:00.920
 for our gospel convictions.

00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:02.280
 Let's just be honest.

00:43:02.340 --> 00:43:03.119
 That's a reality.

00:43:03.240 --> 00:43:03.660
 That's coming.

00:43:03.960 --> 00:43:05.340
 Better not to deny

00:43:05.340 --> 00:43:06.900
 that that will be the case

00:43:06.900 --> 00:43:07.599
 in our future,

00:43:08.019 --> 00:43:09.680
 but to acknowledge it

00:43:09.680 --> 00:43:11.079
 and be prepared when it does.

00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:13.160
 This will be a temptation

00:43:13.160 --> 00:43:14.639
 we face as a church.

00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:17.920
 It won't be easy.

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:20.839
 But we need to remember

00:43:20.839 --> 00:43:22.019
 that Jesus knows

00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:23.279
 our works.

00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:26.219
 He has set before us

00:43:26.219 --> 00:43:26.659
 a door

00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:28.900
 that no one can shut.

00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:32.000
 And we must hold fast

00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:32.639
 to the gospel.

00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:35.239
 And with Simeon

00:43:35.239 --> 00:43:37.039
 and the Philadelphian Christians,

00:43:37.579 --> 00:43:39.859
 follow Christ patiently,

00:43:39.860 --> 00:43:42.099
 for we will soon

00:43:42.099 --> 00:43:42.900
 be partakers

00:43:42.900 --> 00:43:44.579
 in His victory.

00:43:46.039 --> 00:43:47.400
 He who has an ear,

00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:49.120
 let him hear

00:43:49.120 --> 00:43:50.880
 what the Spirit says

00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:51.559
 to the churches.

00:43:51.559 --> 00:43:51.820
 Let us.

00:43:51.820 --> 00:43:51.860
 Let us.