WEBVTT

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 So this morning we're in the book of Revelation, chapter 3.

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 We're going to be taking a look at this letter to the church of Philadelphia.

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 For the last five weeks, we've been making our way through these seven letters

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 that Jesus commanded the Apostle John to send out in this circuit

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 around the territory of Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey,

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 so a little bit northwest of the country of Israel.

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 And John, of course, we know is on the island of Patmos,

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 not because he likes vacationing, but because of his faithful witness to the word.

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 He's been exiled there.

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 The testimony he has made about Jesus has not gone over well,

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 and he has been sent away.

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 And yet, his work is not over.

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 In fact, he is to continue bearing witness to the faithful witness, Jesus Christ.

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 So John has been writing these letters,

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 dictating the words of Jesus to these seven churches.

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 And as we've seen in the last five weeks, it's a mixed bag with these churches.

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 So far, all but one have been rebuked in some way,

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 chastised in some way by Jesus for their lack of faithfulness to him.

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 Some churches are tolerating false teaching,

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 the teaching of the Nicolaitans or the false prophetess Jezebel.

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 Others are compromising their holiness and befriending the world.

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 Ephesus, the first church we looked at, has lost its first love.

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 They've been doing all the right things,

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 but there's no love and affection for the risen King Jesus.

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 Smyrna is the only church so far that has been praised by Jesus without any sort of correction.

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 And Jesus says that they can expect in the near future imprisonment and death as a reward for their faithfulness.

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 Each letter concludes with Jesus' promise to each and every person who overcomes,

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 who remains faithful to him.

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 And these promises are incredible.

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 Eternal joy in the presence of God,

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 established as his people,

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 possessed by the Lord Jesus,

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 and on and on they go.

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 So all of these letters share this call by Jesus to overcome.

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 And they share the authoritative word of Jesus and his knowledge of the works of these churches.

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 And all of them come with a promise of some sort of conflict in this life.

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 For those churches being faithful to Jesus,

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 they can expect conflict with the world.

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 And for those churches who are compromising their loyalty to Jesus,

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 they can expect to be in conflict with him.

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 So today we look at the Church of Philadelphia.

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 Lucas, thank you, brother, for reading this for us today.

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 Because God's word is what's important,

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 I want to read it to us again,

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 not because of Lucas' poor job,

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 but because the word is sufficient for us.

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 I'd rather you hear it than me.

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 So follow along as I read for us again

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 the letter to the Church of Philadelphia.

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 And 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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 I know your works.

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 I know your works.

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 Behold, I have set before you an open door

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 which no one is able to shut.

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 I know that you have but little power.

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 And yet you have kept my word

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 and have not denied my name.

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 Behold,

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 I will make those of the synagogue of Satan

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 who say that they are Jews and are not,

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 but lie.

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 Behold,

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 I will make them come

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 and bow down before your feet

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 and they will learn

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 that I have loved you.

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 Because you have kept the word

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 about my patient endurance,

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 I will keep you from the hour of trial

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 that is coming on the whole world

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 to try those who dwell on the earth.

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 I am coming soon.

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 Hold fast what you have

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 so that no one may seize your crown.

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 The one who conquers,

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 I will make him a pillar

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 in the temple of my God.

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 Never shall he go out of it.

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 And I will write on him

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 the name of my God

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 and the name of the city of my God,

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 the new Jerusalem,

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 which comes down from my God

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 out of heaven

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 and my own new name.

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 He who has an ear,

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 let him hear what the Spirit says

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 to the churches.

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 In this letter,

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 we see Jesus

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 commending the church of Philadelphia

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 for their faithfulness to him.

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 It is this commendation

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 that leads us to the main point

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 of what Jesus is getting at

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 for us today.

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 Hear this, church.

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 Jesus is calling us

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 to exalt him

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 in word

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 and in deed

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 until the end.

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 Jesus is calling us

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 to exalt him,

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 to lift him high,

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 to glorify his name

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 here and now

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 in both our word

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 and in our deeds

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 until the end.

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 We're going to see this

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 worked out

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 by just walking

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 through this letter

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 like we would

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 any other letter.

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 Any good letter,

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 of course,

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 has a dear so-and-so,

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 I'm writing to you

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 and then

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 sort of the body

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 of the letter

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 with the main content.

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 So we're going to take a look

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 at the introduction

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 found in verse 7

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 and then we're going to walk

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 through the body

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 of the letter

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 found in verses 8 to 12.

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 So first the introduction.

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 The recipient of this letter

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 we read in verse 7

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 is to the angel

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 of the church

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 in Philadelphia.

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 So this is

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 a church

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 in the city of Philadelphia,

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 not Pennsylvania,

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 the one over

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 in the Middle East region.

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 A city that,

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 by God's grace,

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 has a local body

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 of believers.

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 People have heard

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 of the good news

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 of the life,

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 death,

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 and resurrection

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 of Jesus Christ

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 and have forsaken

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 the world

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 and allied themselves

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 with Him.

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 And it's a church

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 that Jesus loves

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 very much

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 and wants to speak to

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 for their benefit.

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 So a bit of background

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 about this city.

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 A couple things

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 to keep in mind

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 and we'll see them

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 worked out a little bit

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 in how Jesus

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 speaks to this church.

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 First,

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 there was a,

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 the region

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 was on a fault line

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 and there were

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 earthquakes

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 that regularly

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 unsettled this region

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 of the world.

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 In fact,

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 the last church

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 we looked at,

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 Sardis,

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 in AD 17,

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 there was an earthquake

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 that kind of hit

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 about right on top

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 of that city,

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 but it had this

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 lasting,

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 devastating effect

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 for the people

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 of Philadelphia.

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 Aftershock

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 after aftershock

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 after aftershock,

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 year after year

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 after year

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 to where a lot

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 of the city

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 crumbled.

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 And in fact,

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 the citizens

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 of Philadelphia

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 had to appeal

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 to the Roman Empire

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 for government

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 assistance to come

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 and rebuild

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 their land.

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 Fortunately for them,

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 Rome agreed to this.

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 In part,

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 probably because

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 of the nickname

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 this city was given.

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 Philadelphia was called

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 the Gateway

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 to the East.

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 It was a strategic city

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 in the eyes

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 of the Roman Empire

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 that would spread

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 their culture

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 and their philosophy

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 and their way of life

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 deep into the reaches

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 of Asia Minor.

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 It was a strategic city.

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 So that's who

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 is receiving the letter

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 and that's kind of

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 the city they live in.

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 And now we turn

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 and see who's writing

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 this letter.

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 In fact,

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 who's speaking this letter

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 that John records.

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 Of course,

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 it's Jesus himself

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 and we see in verse 7

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 how he describes himself.

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 And as with all

00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.360
 of these letters,

00:09:13.520 --> 00:09:14.360
 the way that Jesus

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 describes himself

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 matters to this

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 particular church

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 at this particular time.

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 He picks up

00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:21.640
 on the vision

00:09:21.640 --> 00:09:22.480
 that John sees

00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:23.960
 of him in chapter 1

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 and he's picking out

00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:26.360
 specific things

00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:27.080
 about that vision

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 to reveal about himself

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 to these individual churches.

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 Here Jesus leads out

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 the words of the Holy One.

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 This is a term

00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:39.900
 we instantly recognize

00:09:39.900 --> 00:09:40.800
 from the Old Testament

00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:41.680
 to be reserved

00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:43.060
 exclusively for God.

00:09:44.900 --> 00:09:46.500
 Jesus pulls no punches.

00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:49.060
 He self-identifies

00:09:49.060 --> 00:09:50.200
 as God.

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 He is the Holy One.

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 And he continues,

00:09:55.140 --> 00:09:57.040
 the true one

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 springs to our mind

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 things of faithfulness

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 and reliability

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 that Jesus

00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:04.599
 is claiming

00:10:04.599 --> 00:10:05.879
 to be trustworthy.

00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:09.299
 John calls him

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 the faithful witness

00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.019
 in chapter 1,

00:10:12.099 --> 00:10:12.620
 verse 5

00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:13.159
 and we know

00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:14.519
 that his faithful witness

00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:16.019
 to his father

00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:17.120
 cost him his life.

00:10:19.939 --> 00:10:20.719
 Jesus is telling

00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:21.240
 the truth

00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.279
 every single time

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 he opens his mouth.

00:10:25.719 --> 00:10:26.579
 This Jesus has,

00:10:26.699 --> 00:10:27.459
 we keep reading,

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.219
 the key of David.

00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:29.300
 David.

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 Well we've seen

00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:32.620
 this key language

00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.240
 in the vision

00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.180
 of chapter 1

00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.399
 where Jesus says

00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:36.720
 in verse 18

00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:37.720
 I have the keys

00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:38.259
 of death

00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:39.160
 and Hades.

00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:41.660
 And here it's

00:10:41.660 --> 00:10:42.440
 the key of David.

00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.660
 Key is always

00:10:43.660 --> 00:10:44.639
 significant

00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:46.100
 speaking of authority.

00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:49.060
 So it says

00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:49.720
 essentially

00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:50.800
 that Jesus says

00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:51.639
 I have the key

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.100
 of David

00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:52.779
 just like I have

00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:53.139
 the key

00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:53.720
 of death

00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.220
 and Hades.

00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:56.019
 I have authority

00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:56.500
 over life

00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:57.000
 and death.

00:10:58.879 --> 00:10:59.779
 I have authority

00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:00.519
 over eternity.

00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:02.059
 And David

00:11:02.059 --> 00:11:02.860
 specifically

00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:03.379
 is speaking

00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.120
 of the eternal

00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.679
 kingdom of God.

00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.600
 Jesus rules over it

00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.740
 as its exclusive

00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.879
 king.

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:13.799
 He says

00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.480
 this authority

00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:15.159
 allows him

00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:16.080
 to open doors

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:16.659
 that no one

00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:17.220
 can shut

00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:19.360
 and shut doors

00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:20.379
 that no one opens.

00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:23.799
 Jesus holds

00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:24.820
 exclusive rights

00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:25.460
 over matters

00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:26.420
 of life and death.

00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:28.040
 Friend,

00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:28.680
 if you want

00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:29.540
 into the kingdom

00:11:29.540 --> 00:11:30.580
 of heaven

00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:32.920
 Jesus alone

00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:34.340
 grants access.

00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:35.759
 In fact,

00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.639
 he himself

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.480
 is the access

00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.860
 into the kingdom

00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:40.519
 of heaven.

00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.540
 He shed his blood

00:11:41.540 --> 00:11:42.500
 and died

00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.519
 for all who would

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:43.840
 enter

00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.100
 by faith in him.

00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:48.480
 Even this introduction

00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.680
 it just continues

00:11:49.680 --> 00:11:50.220
 to speak

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.000
 of his call

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:51.379
 to us

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:51.940
 to exalt

00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:52.540
 him

00:11:52.540 --> 00:11:54.120
 to the end.

00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:57.440
 So,

00:11:57.560 --> 00:11:58.139
 we know now

00:11:58.139 --> 00:11:58.879
 who this letter

00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.620
 is written to

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.560
 and who is

00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:01.660
 writing the letter,

00:12:01.780 --> 00:12:02.340
 who is speaking

00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:02.820
 the letter.

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:05.200
 Now,

00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.040
 we turn to the body

00:12:06.040 --> 00:12:06.960
 starting in verse 8

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.780
 and what's he want

00:12:08.780 --> 00:12:09.600
 this church

00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.259
 to know.

00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:12.980
 Look at verse 8.

00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:13.920
 The first words

00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:14.740
 Jesus makes

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:16.080
 is a claim.

00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.460
 Like every single letter,

00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:19.280
 all seven of them,

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:19.960
 the first thing

00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.620
 he leads in

00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:22.000
 after the introduction

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.360
 is I know

00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.019
 your works.

00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.519
 It's still true today.

00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.399
 Jesus is still

00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:30.860
 in the midst

00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.679
 of all of his churches

00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:32.639
 and he still knows

00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.320
 the works

00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.559
 of all of his churches.

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:36.799
 So,

00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:37.299
 for us,

00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.720
 if before God

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.299
 our conscience

00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:40.080
 is clear

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:40.820
 and we

00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:42.779
 know

00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:43.419
 that we are

00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:44.539
 seeking to be faithful,

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.720
 this brings joy

00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.600
 and gratitude

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.620
 and a peace

00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:48.399
 that surpasses

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:49.059
 understanding.

00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:51.619
 but if we are

00:12:51.619 --> 00:12:52.339
 compromising

00:12:52.339 --> 00:12:53.039
 in any way,

00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:54.719
 this should bring

00:12:54.719 --> 00:12:55.179
 terror

00:12:55.179 --> 00:12:56.359
 if we understand it,

00:12:56.459 --> 00:12:57.359
 that Jesus still

00:12:57.359 --> 00:12:58.039
 today knows

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.559
 our works.

00:12:58.659 --> 00:12:59.659
 He's not far off.

00:12:59.739 --> 00:13:00.479
 He's not aloof.

00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:01.639
 He hasn't taken a nap.

00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:02.979
 He knows.

00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:05.500
 But his knowledge

00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.079
 is not here

00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:07.339
 intended to just

00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:09.319
 keep us in the dark.

00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:11.019
 It's intended

00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:11.859
 for us to come

00:13:11.859 --> 00:13:12.519
 in repentance

00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:14.479
 and bow before him

00:13:14.479 --> 00:13:15.319
 confessing

00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.500
 and finding the grace

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.459
 of forgiveness.

00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:19.899
 He knows

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.519
 our works

00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:20.779
 too,

00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:21.299
 church.

00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:23.679
 And we'll

00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.159
 jump over

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.839
 this next

00:13:25.839 --> 00:13:26.319
 sentence

00:13:26.319 --> 00:13:27.099
 in verse 8

00:13:27.099 --> 00:13:27.599
 for a minute,

00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:28.459
 the behold,

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.619
 to pick back up

00:13:30.619 --> 00:13:31.299
 on how Jesus

00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:31.799
 is going to

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.799
 describe the works

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.599
 of this church.

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.779
 I know your works

00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:36.419
 and then he picks

00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:36.919
 back up,

00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:37.519
 I know,

00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:38.659
 and he gives

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.379
 three little pieces

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.379
 of knowledge

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:41.799
 about this church

00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:42.500
 and their works.

00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:44.580
 first,

00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.320
 I know that you

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.039
 have but little

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.519
 power,

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:48.580
 and yet you

00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.720
 have kept my word

00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:52.399
 and have not

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.379
 denied my name.

00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:55.620
 Now this,

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.000
 of course,

00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:56.679
 is not the kind

00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:57.139
 of church

00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:57.759
 that is going

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.399
 to be praised

00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.460
 by man's wisdom.

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.019
 They're weak.

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.179
 They don't have

00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:03.919
 much ability.

00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.559
 Maybe it's because

00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:05.960
 there weren't

00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:06.860
 very many Christians

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.679
 in Philadelphia.

00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.079
 Maybe it's an

00:14:09.079 --> 00:14:10.399
 intelligence thing

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.659
 or a social

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:12.579
 status thing,

00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.279
 but for whatever

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.679
 reason,

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.759
 this church is weak.

00:14:16.479 --> 00:14:17.539
 And Jesus just

00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.739
 moves right past it.

00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.719
 He doesn't bring

00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:20.419
 a hammer down.

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.019
 He doesn't say,

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.779
 how dare you,

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.459
 you weaklings.

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.620
 He commends them.

00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:25.859
 He praises them

00:14:25.859 --> 00:14:29.279
 because they've

00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.079
 kept his word

00:14:30.079 --> 00:14:31.719
 and not denied

00:14:31.719 --> 00:14:32.759
 his name.

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.719
 They're being praised

00:14:35.719 --> 00:14:36.919
 for faithfulness

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.959
 to Jesus

00:14:37.959 --> 00:14:39.240
 in spite of

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:39.699
 their weakness.

00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:41.039
 In fact,

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.979
 it probably

00:14:41.979 --> 00:14:43.240
 even contributed

00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.919
 to their being

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:46.740
 able to praise

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:48.120
 him and honor

00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:48.559
 him with their

00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.039
 lives.

00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.539
 Second Corinthians,

00:14:52.979 --> 00:14:53.860
 Jesus tells Paul,

00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:54.819
 my power is made

00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:55.860
 perfect in weakness.

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.559
 It's not something

00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:58.679
 to be ashamed of.

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.319
 Jesus does not

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.799
 harass them over it.

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.779
 He commends them

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.959
 for their faithfulness.

00:15:05.079 --> 00:15:05.679
 And notice that

00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.219
 it's a specific

00:15:07.219 --> 00:15:08.079
 faithfulness.

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:08.579
 Right?

00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.479
 There's this,

00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.479
 you've kept my word

00:15:11.479 --> 00:15:13.579
 and you have not

00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:14.379
 denied my name.

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.939
 They've been lifting

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:19.219
 high the name of

00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:19.579
 Jesus.

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:22.039
 They've been exalting

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.319
 their first love,

00:15:24.479 --> 00:15:25.759
 refusing to compromise

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.279
 or tolerate any sort

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.979
 of outside influences

00:15:28.979 --> 00:15:30.500
 other than the voice

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:32.539
 and name and person

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.039
 of Jesus,

00:15:33.219 --> 00:15:33.679
 their Lord.

00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.179
 There's no hint

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.259
 of false teaching

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.139
 that they are

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:37.939
 welcoming into

00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:38.679
 their church.

00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.819
 Jesus commends

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:40.079
 them,

00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:40.779
 well done.

00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:44.899
 In saying that

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.399
 they've kept

00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:46.000
 his word,

00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:47.959
 he intends to say

00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:49.039
 that you've been

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.819
 living for me,

00:15:49.979 --> 00:15:51.159
 you're living your

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.719
 life for my

00:15:52.719 --> 00:15:53.479
 namesake.

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.239
 And you've aligned

00:15:55.239 --> 00:15:56.059
 your life such

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.979
 with my word.

00:15:57.459 --> 00:15:58.399
 You're obeying

00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.379
 my word.

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:03.299
 And that second

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.240
 half of their

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.279
 faithfulness is,

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.120
 you have not

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:07.200
 denied my name.

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.700
 They've been

00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:11.840
 identifying verbally

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:12.960
 and audibly

00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.860
 to identifying

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.580
 with Jesus.

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:15.980
 us.

00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:19.100
 We should not

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.620
 see in this

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.800
 simply avoiding

00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:21.780
 denying him

00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:22.520
 as if,

00:16:22.520 --> 00:16:24.639
 if faced with

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.759
 death or denial,

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.780
 they choose

00:16:26.780 --> 00:16:27.300
 death.

00:16:28.020 --> 00:16:28.500
 But they're

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.520
 active in this.

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.120
 They're proclaiming

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.100
 Jesus' name because

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.180
 Jesus hasn't

00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:33.879
 mentioned anything

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.600
 about death

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.320
 in our letter,

00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:37.160
 and yet we see

00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:37.740
 in verse 9

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.360
 that there's

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:38.840
 opposition.

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.040
 This is an

00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:42.259
 advancing of

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.180
 Jesus' name,

00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:43.820
 friends,

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.960
 not just avoiding

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.060
 denying it.

00:16:49.260 --> 00:16:50.040
 Though they're

00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.840
 being opposed

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.140
 by this group

00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:52.820
 from the synagogue

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.480
 of Satan,

00:16:53.900 --> 00:16:54.400
 though they are

00:16:54.400 --> 00:16:55.640
 exalting Jesus'

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.640
 name and trouble

00:16:56.640 --> 00:16:57.580
 is coming upon

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:57.900
 them,

00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.879
 Jesus praises

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.940
 their faithfulness.

00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:04.779
 And that's

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.880
 pretty much all

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.500
 he says about

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.140
 their works.

00:17:08.080 --> 00:17:08.519
 It's so

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.100
 interesting.

00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:10.380
 There's no

00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.019
 correction,

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:11.740
 there's no

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.259
 criticism,

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.080
 there's no,

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.859
 you're doing

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.500
 pretty good,

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:14.879
 but if you

00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:15.539
 just add

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.019
 this thing,

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.480
 you'll be

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.299
 really good.

00:17:17.939 --> 00:17:18.319
 It's just,

00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:20.259
 good job,

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:20.740
 you're being

00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.259
 faithful.

00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.059
 That's why in

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.720
 verse 11 he

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.519
 simply just says,

00:17:24.699 --> 00:17:25.419
 hold fast,

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:26.899
 hold fast,

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.679
 stay the course.

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.419
 Church of

00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:30.199
 Philadelphia was

00:17:30.199 --> 00:17:30.659
 on the right

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.119
 track.

00:17:31.419 --> 00:17:32.000
 They were doing

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.720
 what they were

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.399
 supposed to be

00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:33.759
 doing,

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.679
 and Jesus

00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:35.659
 praises them

00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.019
 for their

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.799
 faithfulness.

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.539
 But obviously

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.099
 we haven't

00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.139
 finished the

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:41.339
 letter,

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.199
 there's much

00:17:42.199 --> 00:17:42.859
 more text

00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.379
 in front of

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:43.519
 us,

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.639
 so what we

00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.259
 need to see

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:45.779
 is that

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:47.539
 after Jesus

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:47.819
 says,

00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:48.279
 I know your

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:48.720
 works,

00:17:49.439 --> 00:17:51.059
 the rest of

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.579
 this letter

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:53.399
 really brings

00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.480
 Jesus to

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.279
 center stage.

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:56.879
 And he says,

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.740
 I know your

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.059
 works,

00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.759
 and now I

00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.419
 want you to

00:17:59.419 --> 00:17:59.879
 know my

00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.379
 works.

00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:01.839
 What I've

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.599
 already done,

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.259
 and what I'm

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.980
 about to do,

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.740
 and what I

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.220
 will do at

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.619
 the end.

00:18:07.939 --> 00:18:08.819
 So that's how

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.559
 we're going to

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.159
 proceed through

00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:10.560
 the rest.

00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.540
 We're going to

00:18:11.540 --> 00:18:12.240
 focus on

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.880
 Jesus and

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:13.600
 his activity

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.720
 that he

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.360
 reveals to

00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:15.920
 this church,

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.600
 and all of

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:16.740
 it,

00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:17.120
 friends,

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.700
 all of it

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.220
 is meant to

00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.960
 encourage and

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.180
 motivate all

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.740
 of God's

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.519
 people to

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.300
 faithfulness to

00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:24.120
 Jesus, to

00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.620
 continue exalting

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.320
 him in word and

00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:26.860
 deed with our

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.980
 whole lives until

00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:29.140
 the very end.

00:18:31.540 --> 00:18:32.279
 So first,

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:32.880
 back in verse

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.759
 8, that behold

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.440
 that we jumped

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.380
 over earlier,

00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.240
 we go back

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.700
 there to see

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.420
 that Jesus has

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.100
 done something

00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:39.719
 for this

00:18:39.719 --> 00:18:43.000
 church that's

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.959
 quite remarkable.

00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:45.559
 He says,

00:18:45.659 --> 00:18:46.079
 Behold,

00:18:46.439 --> 00:18:46.879
 look,

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:47.419
 see,

00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.299
 I've set

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.039
 before you an

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.039
 open door which

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.139
 no one is able

00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:52.939
 to shut.

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.240
 This immediately

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.719
 should start

00:18:56.719 --> 00:18:57.339
 triggering the

00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:57.839
 introduction,

00:18:58.199 --> 00:19:00.279
 the person of

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:00.919
 Jesus who has

00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:01.359
 the key of

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.039
 David and

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.919
 opens doors no

00:19:02.919 --> 00:19:03.599
 one can shut,

00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:04.599
 shuts doors no

00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.439
 one can open.

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.820
 remember he's

00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:08.460
 the true one

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.400
 so he's

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.360
 trustworthy at

00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.620
 this word and

00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.259
 so we need to

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.140
 ask, what's

00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:13.720
 this door?

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.400
 There's some

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.140
 reason to see it

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:20.240
 as an opportunity

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.019
 for ministry,

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.500
 that Jesus is

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.140
 opening this

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:24.500
 door for the

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:24.840
 Philadelphia

00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:25.700
 church, though

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.100
 they're weak,

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.140
 to advance the

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:27.840
 gospel, to

00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:29.000
 somehow be on

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.779
 mission and to

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.640
 see that their

00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.559
 work is rewarded

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.519
 in faithfulness.

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:34.700
 The Apostle

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.579
 Paul uses this

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.339
 kind of language

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.940
 at the end of

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.480
 some of his

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.079
 letters to

00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:38.839
 churches saying,

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.139
 please pray for

00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:40.940
 us that God

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.759
 would open a

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.839
 door for the

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.819
 advancement of

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.359
 the gospel.

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.500
 And Philadelphia

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.440
 after all is the

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.160
 gateway to the

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.539
 east.

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:51.319
 They're poised to

00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:51.900
 be a gospel

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.859
 headquarters to

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.559
 get this news

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.299
 out throughout

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.000
 Asia Minor,

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.559
 not advancing

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.559
 Greek culture but

00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.339
 advancing the good

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.119
 news about Jesus.

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.480
 So I think a

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.039
 little bit of

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.740
 what's going on

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.279
 in this door

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.759
 quite possibly is

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.539
 this opportunity

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.440
 that Jesus has

00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.119
 set before the

00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:09.639
 church.

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.639
 We could point

00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.279
 to those kind of

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.259
 opportunities in

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:14.759
 our midst,

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.200
 can't we church?

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.299
 There are

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.480
 faithful people of

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.539
 our congregations

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.819
 serving children,

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.980
 both our own

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.799
 children and those

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.579
 of our communities.

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.119
 Every Sunday,

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.940
 a couple guys

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.620
 make breakfast,

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.460
 a couple more,

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.559
 preach the word

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.519
 of God to anyone

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.420
 from the community

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.980
 who comes in and

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.440
 wants to be with

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:39.860
 us.

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.400
 These are doors that

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.539
 God has opened for

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.640
 us to advance his

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:46.000
 name in the city.

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.580
 And there are many

00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:47.660
 more, individual

00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.480
 after individual

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.360
 after individual,

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.700
 can testify to

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.759
 this reality in our

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.220
 lives because God

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.420
 wants Jesus' name

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:57.539
 exalted here in

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.720
 Kenosha, in our

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.680
 midst, and everywhere

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.420
 in this city.

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.680
 He wants this to

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.940
 happen, church.

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.799
 And he's entrusted

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.620
 us with this good

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.019
 news.

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.240
 But there's also,

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:14.900
 I think, an even

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.740
 more significant

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.420
 piece to this door

00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.580
 language that Jesus

00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.340
 uses here.

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:22.060
 So, setting aside

00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:22.720
 the very real

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.500
 reality that there

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.400
 are doors of

00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.519
 opportunity in our

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:28.000
 midst, let's

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.900
 consider again

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.880
 what he means.

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.539
 In verse 7,

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.599
 Jesus calls

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.920
 himself the

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:38.200
 true one.

00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:41.319
 And in verse 9,

00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.619
 he calls this,

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.819
 the local Jews

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.559
 in the city of

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.099
 Philadelphia,

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.339
 a synagogue of

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:50.220
 Satan who are,

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:50.700
 in fact,

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:51.700
 liars.

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:57.059
 the door language

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.840
 is really

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.680
 answering the

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.980
 question, who

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.340
 is it that

00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:02.500
 holds the key

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.480
 to the kingdom

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.480
 of God?

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.240
 Is it the

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.559
 ethnic Israelites

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.400
 who have received

00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.500
 the law of God?

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.539
 Or is it God's

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.000
 son, Jesus

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.500
 Christ?

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:15.579
 Christ?

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.859
 Imagine this news

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.980
 from Jesus if you

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.980
 were among the

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.759
 Christians in

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.279
 Philadelphia.

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.500
 You're being

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.400
 harassed,

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.819
 slandered,

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.359
 perhaps even

00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.759
 violently persecuted

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:34.480
 by the local Jews

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.119
 who are zealous

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.779
 for God,

00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.619
 but misplaced.

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.339
 And you hear

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.079
 from Jesus,

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.619
 fellowship with

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.960
 God in his

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.819
 kingdom is

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.680
 mine to

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.079
 give,

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:49.960
 and I have

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.440
 opened the

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.140
 door to you.

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.740
 That's the

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.019
 door.

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.059
 Entry into

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.500
 the kingdom

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.279
 of heaven where

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.620
 we will

00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.840
 fellowship with

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.620
 the risen King

00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.519
 Jesus forever.

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.340
 Jesus alone

00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:05.079
 holds the key

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:06.000
 to that place,

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.940
 and he himself

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:09.400
 accomplishes the

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.500
 work needed for

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.620
 all of God's

00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.140
 people to

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.480
 enter.

00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.960
 God's

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.400
 love.

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.059
 So this

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.840
 open door is

00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:19.620
 referencing the

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.579
 access that the

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.299
 people of God

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.120
 have to his

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.860
 eternal kingdom.

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.319
 Jesus has

00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:24.860
 opened it,

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.480
 and remember,

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.380
 no one

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.940
 will shut it.

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.660
 Jesus continues

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.039
 from,

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.140
 I want you to

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.600
 know about my

00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.220
 past work,

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:36.779
 to I want you to

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.319
 know about this

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.039
 future work,

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.880
 and he's going to

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.900
 kind of move in

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.700
 stages from

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.819
 near to far,

00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:43.419
 or soon to

00:23:43.419 --> 00:23:45.039
 down the road.

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.200
 Verse 9,

00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:48.980
 we've already

00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:50.339
 looked at who

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.240
 these people are

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.639
 that are

00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:53.720
 persecuting the

00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.119
 church of

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:54.599
 Philadelphia,

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.339
 but we need to

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.039
 see what Jesus

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.179
 promises will

00:23:57.179 --> 00:23:58.000
 happen, what

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.059
 will come of

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.299
 them.

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.179
 Notice the

00:24:02.179 --> 00:24:03.200
 repetition of

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.139
 behold, I will

00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.119
 make, in

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:05.679
 verse 9.

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.460
 Second, behold,

00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.139
 I will make,

00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.379
 we see that I

00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:10.940
 will make them

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.260
 come and bow

00:24:12.260 --> 00:24:14.460
 down before

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:16.860
 your feet, and

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.420
 they will learn

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:17.860
 that I have

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.500
 loved you.

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.880
 Isn't that

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.380
 remarkable?

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.260
 The very enemies

00:24:24.260 --> 00:24:25.360
 of God's people

00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:26.700
 in this city will

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.880
 come and bow

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.460
 down at their

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:28.780
 feet.

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.140
 That's an

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.140
 incredible promise

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.740
 for people facing

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.600
 such opposition.

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:35.659
 confession.

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.480
 I imagine that

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.039
 Jesus is

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.339
 particularly excited

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.419
 about these

00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:44.299
 words, not

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.679
 because of the

00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:47.299
 eventual end

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:49.039
 times triumph of

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.839
 God over all of

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:52.039
 his enemies, but

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.159
 because of what

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:53.779
 he's been getting

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.699
 at throughout this

00:24:54.699 --> 00:24:56.159
 letter that I want

00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.000
 us to see so

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.359
 clearly.

00:24:58.959 --> 00:25:00.279
 He might be

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.559
 speaking about the

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.219
 last judgment,

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.919
 when all of God's

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.360
 enemies and God's

00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:05.880
 people will be

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.720
 vindicated, when

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:08.200
 God's people will

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:09.019
 be shown to be

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.019
 true and all of

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.779
 God's enemies shown

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.500
 to be false.

00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:12.600
 Maybe.

00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:15.300
 There's reason to

00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:15.860
 think that Jesus

00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:17.160
 has a much more

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:20.140
 glorious image

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.660
 on his mind.

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.320
 Jesus is saying

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:26.960
 that the fruit of

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.060
 faithful witness

00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:30.680
 will be salvation

00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.900
 for the enemies

00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:33.160
 of God.

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.360
 You will see

00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.940
 your enemies

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.840
 come to faith,

00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:38.580
 not all of them,

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.480
 but some of them,

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.680
 because you're

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.759
 remaining faithful

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.519
 to the name

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.299
 of Jesus.

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.480
 The reward of

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.580
 the church of

00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:50.620
 Philadelphia's

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:52.539
 faithfulness to

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:54.299
 Jesus is new

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.279
 believers from

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.000
 old enemies.

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.099
 Jesus.

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.619
 It's a church

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.420
 not tolerating

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.019
 falsehood.

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.559
 It's a church

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.480
 not befriending

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.019
 the world.

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.220
 And once again,

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.660
 right, once again

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.539
 we see that the

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.700
 foolishness of

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.960
 God triumphs over

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.759
 the wisdom of

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.759
 men at every

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.980
 single turn.

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.119
 This weak

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.880
 church, this

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.019
 unable church,

00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:15.940
 by their

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:17.079
 faithfulness, is

00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.059
 winning converts

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.720
 to Jesus.

00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:20.279
 It's glorious.

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.000
 Does anybody

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.900
 need that today?

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:26.720
 Friends, it is

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:29.100
 always, always

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:30.120
 wholehearted,

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.220
 fiery faithfulness

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.360
 to Jesus that

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:33.880
 bears fruit.

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.700
 We ought to

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.560
 praise God for

00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:41.180
 the fruit of the

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.259
 faithful witness of

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.920
 our brothers and

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.420
 sisters in

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.860
 Philadelphia.

00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:46.340
 But Jesus isn't

00:26:46.340 --> 00:26:46.600
 done.

00:26:47.080 --> 00:26:47.700
 He's just kind of

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.300
 getting started

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:48.740
 actually.

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.580
 He's going to go

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.900
 in verse 10 and

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.820
 share his promise

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.980
 for this church.

00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.319
 If you look there,

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.079
 you'll notice this

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.599
 connection.

00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:59.000
 It's because you

00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:00.740
 have kept, I will

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.279
 keep you.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:07.000
 Jesus foretells an

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.960
 hour of trial that

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.819
 is coming upon the

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.359
 whole world.

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.460
 And just a quick

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.480
 note that when

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:15.099
 Revelation uses

00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.960
 those who dwell on

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.399
 the earth,

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.259
 thanks Billy,

00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.960
 he always is

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.619
 referring to the

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.179
 non-believers.

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.320
 non-believers.

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.740
 But Jesus here is

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.539
 not focused primarily

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.620
 on the non-believers.

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.680
 He's focused on his

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.400
 promise to the

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.140
 church and he says,

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.160
 because you have

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.820
 kept my word,

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:34.960
 I will guard you

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.740
 in the hour of

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.120
 trial.

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.860
 Jesus protects,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.380
 keeps, guards

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:44.600
 those who keep

00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:45.360
 his word.

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:48.119
 period.

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.319
 It's why he says in

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.759
 verse 11,

00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.539
 hold fast,

00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.759
 that no one may

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.559
 take your crown.

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.319
 This is a matter of

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.159
 life and death.

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.519
 The victory crowned at

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.599
 the end of this race is

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.639
 eternal life in the

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:05.139
 presence and glory of

00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.500
 God.

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.979
 So hold fast.

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.099
 Christ.

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:13.019
 And then Jesus moves

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.620
 us way out into the

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:16.059
 end of all things

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:18.420
 future in verse 12.

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.339
 He arrives at the

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:25.120
 time when future just

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:26.960
 moves right into

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.420
 eternity.

00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:28.400
 The time when the

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.640
 need of endurance

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:32.160
 ceases to exist.

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.120
 The time when those

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:35.979
 who have conquered

00:28:35.979 --> 00:28:38.959
 rest forever.

00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:42.019
 And it's because

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.459
 Jesus has conquered

00:28:43.459 --> 00:28:45.039
 and there remain no

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.519
 enemies for him to

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.899
 defeat.

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.000
 There's two elements

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:52.059
 to the promise to the

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.019
 one who conquers in

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.699
 verse 12.

00:28:54.739 --> 00:28:56.139
 A permanent residence

00:28:56.139 --> 00:29:00.179
 in God's house and

00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.379
 being possessed by

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:02.259
 Jesus forever.

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.359
 forever.

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.539
 This would be

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.879
 particularly sweet

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:09.640
 news for a city

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:11.460
 being pummeled by

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.059
 earthquakes.

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.559
 This infrastructure

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.519
 is shaken.

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.500
 Requiring frequent

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.599
 evacuation of the

00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.640
 very city that they

00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:24.539
 call home for safety

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.079
 reasons.

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.039
 And Jesus says,

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.119
 I will make the one

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.379
 who overcomes a

00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:32.240
 pillar in the temple

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.059
 of my God.

00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.940
 Pillars do not

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.440
 move.

00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:42.339
 They're unshakable.

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:46.160
 And never shall he

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.079
 go out of it again.

00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.180
 It's permanent.

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:51.680
 A permanent fixture,

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.480
 permanent place of

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.660
 prominence in the

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.680
 unshakable house of

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.279
 God for the one who

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.799
 overcomes.

00:29:57.799 --> 00:30:00.859
 And for a church

00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:03.000
 likely having been

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.879
 shut out of the

00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:05.680
 city synagogues and

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.960
 shut out of

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:09.700
 family and friends

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.859
 who've disowned

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.859
 them, Jesus says,

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.480
 you'll be mine

00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.419
 forever.

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.079
 You belong to me.

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:22.539
 The ultimate end for

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.720
 all those who exalt

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:26.139
 Jesus now will be

00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:27.440
 everlasting joy then.

00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.640
 Named by the Lord

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.840
 Jesus and possessed

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:32.680
 by him.

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.540
 I hope you're seeing

00:30:36.540 --> 00:30:37.800
 that throughout this

00:30:37.800 --> 00:30:38.900
 letter, Jesus is

00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:39.880
 calling us,

00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:42.759
 Christ the King

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.759
 Church in Kenosha,

00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:45.240
 Wisconsin in 2018,

00:30:45.540 --> 00:30:46.680
 Jesus is calling us

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:49.160
 to exalt him in word

00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:51.220
 and in deed until the

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.560
 end.

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:54.299
 to lift his name

00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:57.619
 high, to speak with

00:30:57.619 --> 00:31:01.379
 affection for him, to

00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:03.339
 do good to others.

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.059
 So how do we do

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.399
 this?

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.819
 In the last, in the

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:09.480
 remaining time, I want

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.319
 to try and answer this

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.000
 question for us.

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:12.339
 How do we do this?

00:31:14.679 --> 00:31:16.019
 The simple answer is we

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:18.519
 open our mouths and we

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.279
 live for him.

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:24.859
 We speak with joy about

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:27.000
 the testimonies of God's

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.279
 grace that he has

00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:30.920
 gifted to us in Christ.

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.559
 We share with others

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.839
 that Jesus is the King

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.940
 of Kings and the Lord

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.519
 of Lords.

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.940
 That he shed his blood

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:39.299
 for sinners like us.

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:42.399
 That he is risen and

00:31:42.399 --> 00:31:44.079
 radiant and reigning now

00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:44.579
 and forever.

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:44.699
 forever.

00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.939
 And we live for him.

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.699
 We follow his example.

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.359
 We show compassion to

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.899
 our neighbors.

00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.699
 We seek the well-being

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:58.299
 and the interest of

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.759
 others.

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.399
 Those in life groups

00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:04.019
 studying 1 Peter, you'll

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.000
 recognize this one.

00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:07.119
 We don't repay evil for

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:09.159
 evil or reviling for

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.699
 reviling.

00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:11.980
 But on the contrary, we

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.559
 bless.

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.259
 For to this we've been

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.660
 called.

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.519
 It's clear, right?

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.660
 It's simple.

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:24.799
 But it's nowhere near

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.480
 easy.

00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.500
 Jesus is so clear what

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.319
 he's calling us to.

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.319
 And yet this is really

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.460
 hard work, church, isn't

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:32.580
 it?

00:32:32.580 --> 00:32:33.360
 We know this.

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.140
 And there are many ways

00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:36.240
 that we can talk ourselves

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.299
 out of this and that we

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:39.000
 can shrink back from this.

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.440
 And our text gives us

00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:43.180
 three traps that we must

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.619
 avoid.

00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.720
 Three traps that we must

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.019
 avoid.

00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:48.200
 There's one in verse 8,

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.420
 one in verse 9, and one

00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:50.980
 in verse 10.

00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:54.400
 When Jesus says in verse

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:56.740
 8, I know your works, you

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.799
 have but little power.

00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.460
 There's a trap that we all

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.380
 face of focusing on our

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:06.880
 own abilities or lack

00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.599
 thereof.

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:12.480
 The risen Jesus

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:15.019
 identifies this in the

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.259
 church of Philadelphia that

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.799
 you don't have much

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.900
 strength and yet what does

00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:19.240
 he say?

00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:20.900
 He's not bothered by it.

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.680
 Because the salvation of

00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:26.240
 sinners is not in human

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.039
 ability.

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.500
 It requires someone to

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:31.200
 open a door that is

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:33.019
 beyond us and our

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.160
 human

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:36.540
 abilities.

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.400
 So we must not fall into

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:40.740
 the trap of focusing on

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.820
 ourselves as we seek to

00:33:42.820 --> 00:33:45.019
 exalt Jesus in word and

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:45.980
 deed until the end.

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:49.779
 We won't get very far if we

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.700
 fall into that trap.

00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:55.480
 Second trap from verse 9 is

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:58.340
 the trap of focusing on our

00:33:58.340 --> 00:33:59.200
 current opposition.

00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.299
 opposition.

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:05.500
 There were Jewish citizens in

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.779
 Philadelphia that were

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:08.440
 opposing the church of God.

00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:14.920
 And it's easy to shrink back in

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.980
 the midst of opposition.

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:16.980
 We know this.

00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:20.420
 The devil who prowls around like a

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:23.179
 roaring lion loves to knock the

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.940
 church of Jesus off course.

00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:27.260
 He's well equipped.

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.720
 He's seeking to harm and

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:31.519
 unsettle God's people at every

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:31.880
 turn.

00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:36.400
 He wants the opposition that we

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.840
 face here in Kenosha and

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:40.099
 wherever our relationships are

00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:40.340
 found.

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:42.000
 He wants that opposition to

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.119
 silence us.

00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:46.280
 Or to get us on the defensive.

00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:48.000
 Shrinking back from faithfulness

00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:49.579
 to Jesus.

00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:54.380
 He wants to quiet our witness

00:34:54.380 --> 00:34:57.680
 and perhaps produce compromise

00:34:57.680 --> 00:35:00.340
 and blending in with the world

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.940
 that's against our Lord.

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:07.440
 There are many enemies.

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:09.900
 Many who oppose the kingdom of

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:11.240
 God and his righteousness.

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:16.400
 But we must not focus on the

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:16.900
 opposition.

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.039
 opposition.

00:35:20.720 --> 00:35:24.160
 It's a trap that will be our

00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:24.639
 undoing.

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:26.960
 There's one more trap from verse

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:30.460
 10 and it's the trap of focusing

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.579
 out into the future.

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:34.760
 The worry about what's ahead.

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.840
 The opposition that maybe we

00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:39.840
 aren't facing right now but you

00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:41.440
 can see the storm clouds kind of

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.619
 gathering and moving in on the

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.059
 horizon.

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:47.579
 Jesus knows about that too,

00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:48.339
 doesn't he?

00:35:49.859 --> 00:35:52.079
 Verse 10, we see that there's an

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:53.799
 hour of trial that's coming upon

00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.480
 the whole world.

00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:58.400
 We cannot let future trials,

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:01.519
 concerns about what might be,

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:05.019
 become a trap to us.

00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:08.539
 We all know about how it is,

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:10.039
 right, to fear the immediate

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:12.519
 fallout from opening our mouth

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:15.579
 to share Jesus with somebody.

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:18.139
 We can go, oh, I just read

00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:19.259
 something from the Psalms this

00:36:19.259 --> 00:36:22.440
 morning that's so relevant to

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:24.340
 what this person is sharing and I

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:26.280
 just, God, help me remember it so

00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:29.000
 I can share it with my non-believing

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.480
 co-worker.

00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:33.440
 And then it's like this default

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.940
 switch that just flips in us,

00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.260
 isn't it?

00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:37.220
 It's like, but if you do that,

00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:39.539
 what will they say?

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:41.079
 How will they respond to that?

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:43.940
 How will that go over with your

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:45.340
 boss and your employers and your

00:36:45.340 --> 00:36:46.360
 other friends in the office?

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:48.380
 And now you're risking so much

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:48.700
 here.

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:52.159
 It's this immediate future we can

00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:54.500
 get scared off by but we also,

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.960
 if we look out beyond, I mean,

00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:59.099
 what is to come of us in the next

00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:00.900
 five or ten or fifteen years?

00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:02.700
 Does any of us really know?

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:06.300
 Maybe things will start looking

00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:10.539
 up, but it might be just as

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.740
 reasonable to expect things are

00:37:11.740 --> 00:37:12.220
 getting worse.

00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:15.079
 And if we focus out there on the

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:17.639
 potential dangers that await us,

00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:21.599
 we've been snared yet again.

00:37:23.179 --> 00:37:25.099
 Jesus helps us, friends, in this

00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:26.800
 text see where our focus must be,

00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:29.119
 on Him.

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:34.359
 He opens doors that no one can

00:37:34.359 --> 00:37:34.699
 shut.

00:37:36.279 --> 00:37:39.380
 He grants salvation to enemies like

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:42.400
 you and me and wants to grant it to

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.880
 more and more and more.

00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:48.859
 He uses the faithful church to

00:37:48.859 --> 00:37:51.159
 glorify and exalt His name.

00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:55.319
 He always has and He always will.

00:37:56.659 --> 00:38:01.039
 Our eyes must be on Him if we are to

00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:01.699
 exalt Him.

00:38:03.259 --> 00:38:06.059
 We cannot focus on the traps of

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:09.000
 inability or circumstances, present or

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.980
 future, because they will always throw

00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:12.279
 us off course.

00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:16.040
 So let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.740
 today and always.

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:22.920
 Brothers and sisters serving in King's

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.540
 place, you fix your eyes on Jesus.

00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:26.580
 You stand fast.

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.780
 Stay the course.

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.840
 Breakfast team,

00:38:32.620 --> 00:38:33.000
 same.

00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:34.380
 Stay the course.

00:38:35.220 --> 00:38:35.980
 Exalt Jesus.

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:39.699
 For all of us,

00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:44.400
 Mike has invited us to pray for 10 new

00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.840
 believers this year,

00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:49.000
 that before the end of our ministry

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:50.059
 year in June,

00:38:50.240 --> 00:38:52.320
 we would have 10 new people in this

00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:53.639
 room with arms raised,

00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.880
 praising God.

00:38:58.159 --> 00:39:00.719
 If we don't bear witness to Jesus,

00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.940
 how will that happen?

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:06.980
 Teachers,

00:39:07.260 --> 00:39:09.420
 you who are in what seems like hopeless

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.099
 situations,

00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:12.119
 do not focus on the circumstances.

00:39:13.139 --> 00:39:15.260
 Fix your eyes on Jesus and press on.

00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:17.280
 Press on.

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:23.940
 Friends,

00:39:24.099 --> 00:39:25.559
 there's one last thing I want to share

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.039
 with us.

00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:30.500
 It's found in verse 10.

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:36.679
 I've been really excited about this

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:37.139
 all week.

00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:39.360
 It's both

00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:40.340
 convicting

00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:42.420
 and so encouraging.

00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:46.900
 John calls Jesus

00:39:46.900 --> 00:39:48.000
 the faithful witness

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.920
 back in chapter 1.

00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:53.599
 And this text

00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:55.000
 is telling us today,

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.860
 our text from Philadelphia,

00:39:57.059 --> 00:39:58.699
 that we need to let Jesus

00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.480
 lead us.

00:40:00.419 --> 00:40:01.539
 We need to let Jesus

00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:02.839
 define faithfulness

00:40:02.839 --> 00:40:03.739
 for us.

00:40:04.879 --> 00:40:06.319
 If you look at verse 10,

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.319
 this phrase,

00:40:10.779 --> 00:40:12.419
 my word about

00:40:12.419 --> 00:40:13.460
 patient endurance.

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.500
 See that phrase there?

00:40:18.439 --> 00:40:20.299
 If you're one that marks up your Bible,

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:23.159
 I'd invite you to circle the my

00:40:23.159 --> 00:40:26.039
 and draw an arrow

00:40:26.039 --> 00:40:28.500
 in front of the word

00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:29.539
 patient endurance.

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:35.139
 The my that Jesus

00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:36.399
 is talking about here

00:40:36.399 --> 00:40:38.799
 is not

00:40:38.799 --> 00:40:40.039
 you've kept my word.

00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:42.819
 The my that Jesus

00:40:42.819 --> 00:40:44.099
 is speaking about here

00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:44.659
 is about

00:40:44.659 --> 00:40:45.940
 his own

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:47.460
 patient endurance.

00:40:50.879 --> 00:40:51.940
 Church of Philadelphia,

00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:52.559
 Jesus says,

00:40:52.659 --> 00:40:53.300
 you have kept

00:40:53.300 --> 00:40:54.519
 the word

00:40:54.519 --> 00:40:55.159
 about

00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:56.099
 my

00:40:56.099 --> 00:40:57.019
 endurance.

00:41:00.900 --> 00:41:02.019
 That's how it should read.

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:03.159
 Because you have kept

00:41:03.159 --> 00:41:03.599
 the word

00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:03.960
 about

00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:04.380
 my

00:41:04.380 --> 00:41:05.380
 patient endurance.

00:41:07.579 --> 00:41:08.400
 And in that,

00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.340
 we see the example

00:41:09.340 --> 00:41:10.059
 of our king,

00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:10.760
 don't we?

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.880
 His patient

00:41:13.880 --> 00:41:14.559
 endurance

00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:15.380
 defines

00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:16.000
 how we

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:16.659
 understand

00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.380
 our own

00:41:17.380 --> 00:41:17.740
 patient

00:41:17.740 --> 00:41:18.179
 endurance.

00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:18.359
 endurance.

00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:21.759
 Jesus'

00:41:21.759 --> 00:41:22.359
 patient

00:41:22.359 --> 00:41:22.859
 endurance,

00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.319
 perhaps,

00:41:26.679 --> 00:41:27.440
 we're,

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.559
 we realize

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.299
 this is unfortunate

00:41:30.299 --> 00:41:31.799
 because it's scary

00:41:31.799 --> 00:41:32.719
 as we start talking

00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.460
 about what

00:41:33.460 --> 00:41:34.480
 he's getting at,

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.879
 but he was not

00:41:35.879 --> 00:41:36.819
 patiently enduring

00:41:36.819 --> 00:41:37.619
 like somebody

00:41:37.619 --> 00:41:38.339
 who prepares

00:41:38.339 --> 00:41:40.279
 to board up

00:41:40.279 --> 00:41:40.839
 their house

00:41:40.839 --> 00:41:41.759
 because the

00:41:41.759 --> 00:41:42.519
 hurricane's coming.

00:41:42.519 --> 00:41:46.500
 no one

00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:46.860
 would

00:41:46.860 --> 00:41:48.139
 think that

00:41:48.139 --> 00:41:48.840
 about Jesus

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:50.259
 when we read

00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:50.900
 of his life.

00:41:53.320 --> 00:41:54.179
 This is not

00:41:54.179 --> 00:41:54.679
 an endurance

00:41:54.679 --> 00:41:55.119
 that says,

00:41:55.219 --> 00:41:55.280
 well,

00:41:55.300 --> 00:41:56.340
 let's hunker down,

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:57.719
 just kind of

00:41:57.719 --> 00:41:58.119
 ride out

00:41:58.119 --> 00:41:58.639
 the storm.

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:01.639
 Jesus'

00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:02.500
 patient

00:42:02.500 --> 00:42:03.000
 endurance

00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:04.440
 was a day

00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.639
 after day

00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:06.840
 after day

00:42:06.840 --> 00:42:07.759
 proclaiming

00:42:07.759 --> 00:42:08.259
 of the kingdom

00:42:08.260 --> 00:42:08.860
 of God.

00:42:13.060 --> 00:42:13.660
 See,

00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:13.900
 the

00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:14.580
 Philadelphian

00:42:14.580 --> 00:42:14.960
 church

00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:15.400
 keeping

00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:16.140
 the word

00:42:16.140 --> 00:42:16.800
 about his

00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.200
 faithful

00:42:17.200 --> 00:42:17.640
 endurance

00:42:17.640 --> 00:42:18.500
 is keeping

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:19.220
 the gospel

00:42:19.220 --> 00:42:20.520
 of a suffering

00:42:20.520 --> 00:42:21.800
 crucified

00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:22.600
 Messiah.

00:42:24.600 --> 00:42:25.580
 You can't

00:42:25.580 --> 00:42:26.240
 keep that

00:42:26.240 --> 00:42:27.220
 to yourself

00:42:27.220 --> 00:42:28.480
 and be

00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:29.040
 faithfully

00:42:29.040 --> 00:42:29.780
 enduring

00:42:29.780 --> 00:42:30.860
 in light

00:42:30.860 --> 00:42:31.140
 of this

00:42:31.140 --> 00:42:31.600
 passage.

00:42:32.240 --> 00:42:32.940
 We can't.

00:42:35.220 --> 00:42:35.700
 The

00:42:35.700 --> 00:42:36.180
 faithful

00:42:36.180 --> 00:42:36.680
 endurance

00:42:36.680 --> 00:42:37.320
 of Jesus

00:42:37.320 --> 00:42:38.220
 is a

00:42:38.220 --> 00:42:39.380
 see,

00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:39.580
 we're

00:42:39.580 --> 00:42:40.100
 going up

00:42:40.100 --> 00:42:40.940
 to Jerusalem

00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:42.320
 kind of

00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:42.980
 patient

00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.660
 endurance.

00:42:45.700 --> 00:42:46.300
 We know

00:42:46.300 --> 00:42:46.780
 what happened

00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:46.960
 there.

00:42:47.059 --> 00:42:47.480
 Jesus says,

00:42:47.780 --> 00:42:48.200
 the Son of

00:42:48.200 --> 00:42:48.519
 Man will

00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:48.980
 be handed

00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:49.380
 over,

00:42:49.680 --> 00:42:49.960
 betrayed

00:42:49.960 --> 00:42:50.340
 into the

00:42:50.340 --> 00:42:50.720
 hands of

00:42:50.720 --> 00:42:50.940
 men,

00:42:51.240 --> 00:42:51.640
 mocked

00:42:51.640 --> 00:42:52.200
 and flogged

00:42:52.200 --> 00:42:52.860
 and crucified.

00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:54.900
 And then

00:42:54.900 --> 00:42:55.340
 three days

00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:55.600
 later,

00:42:55.680 --> 00:42:55.900
 he will

00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:56.519
 be raised.

00:42:58.539 --> 00:42:58.980
 His

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.500
 patient

00:42:59.500 --> 00:42:59.960
 endurance

00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:00.460
 was a

00:43:00.460 --> 00:43:00.880
 life of

00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:01.460
 opposition

00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.059
 from the

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.420
 world.

00:43:06.220 --> 00:43:06.820
 From the

00:43:06.820 --> 00:43:07.100
 synagogue

00:43:07.100 --> 00:43:07.740
 of Satan

00:43:07.740 --> 00:43:08.360
 on a

00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:08.640
 large

00:43:08.640 --> 00:43:09.019
 scale.

00:43:10.640 --> 00:43:11.340
 It's no

00:43:11.340 --> 00:43:11.620
 wonder,

00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:11.880
 right,

00:43:11.960 --> 00:43:12.160
 church,

00:43:12.220 --> 00:43:12.580
 that he

00:43:12.580 --> 00:43:13.260
 says to

00:43:13.260 --> 00:43:13.940
 his people

00:43:13.940 --> 00:43:14.460
 over and

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:14.920
 over again

00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:15.539
 things like,

00:43:16.360 --> 00:43:16.760
 do not be

00:43:16.760 --> 00:43:17.440
 surprised if

00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:17.760
 the world

00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:18.340
 hates you,

00:43:19.300 --> 00:43:19.760
 hated me

00:43:19.760 --> 00:43:20.220
 first,

00:43:21.180 --> 00:43:23.039
 or a

00:43:23.039 --> 00:43:23.580
 servant is

00:43:23.580 --> 00:43:24.000
 not above

00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:24.660
 his master.

00:43:26.660 --> 00:43:27.320
 If they

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:28.120
 persecute you,

00:43:28.200 --> 00:43:28.539
 it's only

00:43:28.539 --> 00:43:29.700
 because they've

00:43:29.700 --> 00:43:30.519
 persecuted me.

00:43:31.780 --> 00:43:32.320
 It's why the

00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:32.920
 Apostle Paul

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:33.840
 understands suffering

00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:34.480
 so clearly

00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:34.820
 and can

00:43:34.820 --> 00:43:35.059
 say,

00:43:35.500 --> 00:43:36.079
 all who

00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:36.840
 desire to

00:43:36.840 --> 00:43:37.220
 live a

00:43:37.220 --> 00:43:38.019
 godly life

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.559
 in Christ

00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:39.320
 Jesus will

00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:40.519
 be persecuted

00:43:40.519 --> 00:43:42.420
 because Jesus'

00:43:42.760 --> 00:43:44.280
 patient endurance

00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.579
 was to the

00:43:45.579 --> 00:43:46.100
 cross.

00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:51.620
 Friends,

00:43:51.700 --> 00:43:52.420
 we endure

00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:53.240
 patiently the

00:43:53.240 --> 00:43:53.940
 opposition of

00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:54.480
 the world by

00:43:54.480 --> 00:43:55.200
 exalting

00:43:55.200 --> 00:43:57.039
 Jesus in

00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:57.960
 spite of

00:43:57.960 --> 00:43:58.420
 inability,

00:43:59.120 --> 00:43:59.640
 opposition,

00:44:00.700 --> 00:44:01.260
 whether it's

00:44:01.260 --> 00:44:02.160
 current or

00:44:02.160 --> 00:44:02.460
 future.

00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:04.920
 not by

00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:05.220
 boarding

00:44:05.220 --> 00:44:05.840
 things up

00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:06.280
 and hunkering

00:44:06.280 --> 00:44:06.720
 down for

00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:07.240
 the storm.

00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.159
 This is not

00:44:09.159 --> 00:44:10.039
 a passive

00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:11.920
 patient

00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:12.380
 endurance.

00:44:12.699 --> 00:44:13.159
 This is an

00:44:13.159 --> 00:44:14.260
 advancing of

00:44:14.260 --> 00:44:14.940
 the kingdom

00:44:14.940 --> 00:44:16.220
 patient

00:44:16.220 --> 00:44:17.039
 endurance

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:18.579
 met with

00:44:18.579 --> 00:44:19.340
 opposition at

00:44:19.340 --> 00:44:20.000
 every side.

00:44:24.820 --> 00:44:25.340
 Jesus

00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:26.059
 leaves us an

00:44:26.059 --> 00:44:26.639
 example and

00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:26.980
 then says,

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:27.460
 if anyone

00:44:27.460 --> 00:44:27.900
 would come

00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:28.420
 after me,

00:44:28.519 --> 00:44:28.800
 let him

00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:29.579
 deny himself,

00:44:30.059 --> 00:44:30.579
 take up his

00:44:30.579 --> 00:44:31.039
 cross,

00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:31.980
 and follow

00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:32.280
 me.

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:37.360
 That's our

00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:37.800
 example,

00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:38.320
 church.

00:44:39.619 --> 00:44:39.860
 The

00:44:39.860 --> 00:44:40.380
 faithful,

00:44:41.139 --> 00:44:41.539
 patient

00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.099
 endurance

00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:43.240
 of our

00:44:43.240 --> 00:44:43.780
 crucified

00:44:43.780 --> 00:44:44.639
 king.

00:44:47.400 --> 00:44:47.740
 And just

00:44:47.740 --> 00:44:48.059
 so we're

00:44:48.059 --> 00:44:48.400
 clear,

00:44:48.559 --> 00:44:49.240
 his example

00:44:49.240 --> 00:44:51.039
 is also

00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:52.500
 our

00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:53.079
 salvation.

00:44:53.079 --> 00:44:53.139
 salvation.

00:44:55.880 --> 00:44:56.159
 Jesus

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.860
 patiently

00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:57.759
 endured the

00:44:57.759 --> 00:44:58.159
 cross,

00:44:58.279 --> 00:44:58.799
 despising

00:44:58.799 --> 00:44:59.319
 its shame

00:44:59.319 --> 00:44:59.900
 so that he

00:44:59.900 --> 00:45:00.719
 might win

00:45:00.719 --> 00:45:01.319
 sons and

00:45:01.319 --> 00:45:02.279
 daughters for

00:45:02.279 --> 00:45:02.819
 his father.

00:45:05.299 --> 00:45:05.840
 The innocent

00:45:05.840 --> 00:45:06.619
 dying for the

00:45:06.619 --> 00:45:07.460
 guilty so that

00:45:07.460 --> 00:45:08.099
 the guilty may

00:45:08.099 --> 00:45:08.840
 go free and

00:45:08.840 --> 00:45:09.960
 find the open

00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:10.719
 door into the

00:45:10.719 --> 00:45:11.119
 kingdom of

00:45:11.119 --> 00:45:11.860
 heaven forever

00:45:11.860 --> 00:45:12.659
 for them.

00:45:13.840 --> 00:45:14.179
 Sinners

00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:14.940
 deserving of

00:45:14.940 --> 00:45:15.340
 wrath,

00:45:15.719 --> 00:45:16.400
 welcomed into

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:17.039
 the household

00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:17.759
 of God,

00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:18.840
 established as

00:45:18.840 --> 00:45:19.799
 pillars forever,

00:45:20.139 --> 00:45:20.840
 conquerors,

00:45:20.840 --> 00:45:21.600
 not because of

00:45:21.600 --> 00:45:22.220
 our merit,

00:45:22.559 --> 00:45:23.220
 but because of

00:45:23.220 --> 00:45:24.780
 Christ and

00:45:24.780 --> 00:45:25.740
 his grace

00:45:25.740 --> 00:45:26.780
 forever.

00:45:29.500 --> 00:45:30.480
 He is the

00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:31.240
 author and

00:45:31.240 --> 00:45:31.940
 perfecter of

00:45:31.940 --> 00:45:32.519
 our faith.

00:45:34.860 --> 00:45:35.420
 So church,

00:45:35.539 --> 00:45:36.280
 let us exalt

00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:37.780
 him in word

00:45:37.780 --> 00:45:39.160
 and deed until

00:45:39.160 --> 00:45:39.800
 the very,

00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:40.840
 very end.

00:45:40.840 --> 00:45:44.100
 let the one

00:45:44.100 --> 00:45:44.660
 who has an

00:45:44.660 --> 00:45:45.740
 ear hear what

00:45:45.740 --> 00:45:46.200
 the spirit

00:45:46.200 --> 00:45:47.680
 says to the

00:45:47.680 --> 00:45:48.120
 churches.

00:45:49.160 --> 00:45:49.460
 Amen.