WEBVTT

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 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives

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! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth

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! Today, you'll be hearing week seven of our sermon series through the book of Revelation.

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 We are looking at Revelation 2, verses 18-29, which is Christ's letter to the church in Thyatira.

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 Now, here's something that is powerful to note before you listen. Thyatira was a church that was

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 growing in love. The text says that their latter works exceeded their first, which essentially means

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 they were getting better, not worse. This church had demonstrated love, faith, service, and patient

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 endurance. But Jesus also confronts this church. Some in the congregation were tolerating Jezebel,

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 a false prophetess who was leading believers into idolatry and sexual immorality. This wasn't just

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 a bad teaching, it was seducing people away from Christ to worship another god. The text mentions

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 that Christ, whose eyes were like fire and feet like burnished bronze, calls the church to repent or to

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 face judgment. What a reminder for us today. We live in a world where there is compromise everywhere,

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 and there's this pressure to tolerate corruption and to blend in rather than to stand out. But it is

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 Christ who searches our minds and our hearts. His eyes are like fire, and they see everything. He calls

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 for us to stand firm in Him and to hold fast. In this sermon, you'll hear three practical applications

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 for your life. First is to receive the light of Christ, to believe in Him, to receive His salvation,

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 and to remain rooted in Him. The second is to resist evil and to let your lamp shine. Don't hide your

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 light under a bushel. Let it shine. And third is to share the hope of the morning star, to help others

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 find the light, love, and truth of Jesus Christ. And here is the beautiful imagery that runs through this

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 entire message. We are like the lamps. We are like lamps that are shining in the night. And Jesus Christ

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 is the morning star. We are living in this darkness of this age and letting our light shine that we

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 received from Christ. Letting it shine in the darkness as we await for the dawn of the morning star to rise

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 and bring forth a new eternal day. Just like when the power goes out, you need a flashlight or a candle

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 until the sun comes up. Well, in the same way, we are carrying the light of Christ now as we await for

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 the greater light. To the faithful who hold fast, Christ promises the morning star, Himself. He promises

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 authority, inheritance, and to reign with Him forever. Let us refuse compromise. Let us resist evil. Let us

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 hold fast to Christ alone. And let us await for the coming of the morning star. Let us now listen to

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 today's message, Hold Fast to the Morning Star. Paul, good morning, everyone. Today we are continuing

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 through our study through the book of Revelation. And we've been going through these seven churches that are

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 found in Revelation. Let us be reminded of Christ and this imagery that we have about how He holds the seven

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 stars and that He walks among the lampstands, showing the sense of completedness, the sense of the church, and

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 walking among them, showing the power and the authority that Jesus Christ has. It's important for us to recognize that

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 these churches, not only were they historical, but there are specific situations that we can learn from and that we can be

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 mindful of. When we find it in Scripture, sometimes we wonder, well, what in the world does, how does that, what does that even

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 look like today? And are there patterns that happen from Scripture that we can see today? Absolutely.

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 It is just like how there are so many people in this life that are in darkness.

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 And before, feel free to turn your Bibles to Revelation 2, chapter 2, verses 18 through 29.

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 And I want you to, as we are turning our Bibles, I want you to get this image in your head.

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 We've seen throughout Scripture this image of a lamp.

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 As the children sang this song earlier, this little light of mine, I am going to let it shine.

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 And it's a cute song. It's a historical one, one that gets you going and gets you wanting to stomp your feet as the

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 children were doing. But it's important to realize how the symbolism and the significance of lamps are.

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 To receive the light of Christ. To receive the fire, the flame, the oil in the lamp.

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 And how important it is to not hide it under a bushel.

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 Or not to hide it under a bed.

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 But to put it out and to let it shine.

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 And what's so powerful about that, the implication, is that lamps are placed out when it's dark.

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 We think about that, you know, when it's dark, I need a flashlight.

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 Or I need a lamp.

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 But think of a moment of how there is darkness in the world.

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 And how we are waiting for the true light, the light of Christ to come.

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 And we'll see how that is so connected when Scripture talks about lamps and these little flames that are flickering.

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 And how we wait for the greater light in Christ.

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 We'll see how this is connected with this church in Thyatira.

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 And so, are we there, church?

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 Are we here at the church in Thyatira?

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 It's on page 1219.

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 Revelation chapter 2, verses 18 through 29.

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 Church, let's read this together.

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 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

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 The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like what?

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 A flame of fire, and whose feet are like what?

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 Burnished bronze.

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 I know your works, your love, and faith, and service, and patience, endurance.

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 And that your latter works exceed the first.

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 But, uh-oh.

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 I have this against you.

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 You tolerate who?

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 That woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess.

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 And is teaching and doing what?

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 Seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality,

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 and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

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 Isn't that interesting how we have this time to partake in communion as an act of worship?

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 And you see in Scripture, just like in this,

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 an act of worship to another God.

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 Very interesting, right?

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 Verse 21,

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 I gave her time to repent.

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 Does she accept?

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 No, she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

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 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed,

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 and those who commit adultery with her,

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 I will throw into great tribulation,

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 unless they repent of her works.

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 And I will strike her children dead,

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 and all the churches will know that I am he who searches what?

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 Mind and heart,

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 and give to each of you according to your works.

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 But to the rest of you in Thyatira,

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 who do not hold to this teaching,

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 who have not learned what some called the deep things of Satan,

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 to you I say,

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 I do not lay on you any other burden.

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 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

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 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end,

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 to him I will give authority over what?

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 The nations.

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 And he will rule them with a rod of iron,

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 as when earthen pots are broken in pieces,

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 even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

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 And I will give him what?

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 The morning star.

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 There it is.

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 He who has an ear,

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 let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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 Really interesting.

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 We have a lot of things that are going on here.

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 Father God,

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 we pray that as we have read the Scripture,

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 that your Word speaks to us.

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 We ask that it will be made abundantly clear,

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 not only what you are going for,

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 but what are the lessons we can learn,

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 and how can we apply it to our very lives.

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 We know that you are the God of simplicity,

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 but through simplicity,

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 there are deeper things.

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 May we be hungry to learn more about this church in Thyatira,

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 and how Christ is the morning star.

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 We say together, church, amen?

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 So, in this,

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 let's go into what exactly is happening here, right?

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 Well, we see first and foremost

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 that Christ is speaking to the church in Thyatira,

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 and this church is known for four things then.

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 If you look back in your Bibles,

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 or you can look on the screen as well,

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 you see here that there are,

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 I know your works, right?

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 So, we see your love,

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 your faith,

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 your service,

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 and patient endurance.

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 So, there are four things

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 that make up the works of the church in Thyatira then, right?

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 So, that's interesting that we see, right?

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 That Christ is introducing himself

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 as the son of God.

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 He's recognizing these four things.

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 And the text is mentioning

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 that the latter works are exceeding the first.

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 Now, that's kind of a weird language that's going on.

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 We have,

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 as we went over the church in Ephesus,

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 first and foremost,

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 we've got to love God and to love people.

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 That is the foundation

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 of when we think of churches,

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 not only back then,

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 but churches even today.

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 When we think of what happened back in Ephesus,

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 they had lost that love.

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 And what a tragedy it must be

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 to lose the love of God

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 and let alone the love for others.

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 Here,

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 love being that foundation for the church,

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 they had grown

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 in their ability to do good things

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 in the name of Christ.

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 And that's something that's very important for us

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 is we have,

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 we've got to love God.

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 And we've got to love others as well.

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 We continue to grow in the word

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 and we should be moved to do good in his name.

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 And so then we see in here,

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 Christ is confronting the tolerance of Jezebel.

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 That's kind of an interesting one, right?

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 Now, for some of us nowadays,

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 we may have heard a show of hands

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 or if you're online and watching this,

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 some of you may have heard the phrase,

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 a Jezebel spirit.

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 Have you heard that recently?

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 So-and-so's got a Jezebel spirit.

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 It's really icky, right?

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 It's really something you,

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 you don't want to be called that kind of thing.

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 Well, what we're going to do

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 is go into what exactly

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 the significance of Jezebel

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 and why does she reappear in Revelation?

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 I'll tell you,

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 when someone's calling someone a Jezebel spirit,

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 that's usually typically tied

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 into someone who's rebellious.

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 It's a lot heavier of a word

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 than people should be calling people church.

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 That's very important for us to know.

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 So, Christ has something against the church,

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 their tolerance.

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 Now, what's very interesting

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 for those of you

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 who are more scholarly

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 and more academic,

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 you have different manuscripts.

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 Some that follow the KJV versus the ESV,

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 it's different manuscripts

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 of the old languages.

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 Well, what's interesting

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 is that some translation are saying

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 that the tolerance of Jezebel

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 is resulting in suffering.

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 That's what the KJV says.

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 And in the English standard

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 and in a lot of modern translations,

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 it's saying you're permitting it to happen

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 and you're not doing anything about it.

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 And I think it's important for us

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 to note that there is suffering

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 that is happening

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 because it is falling into sin.

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 And it's also important to note

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 nothing is being done about this.

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 Well, you have this woman,

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 this prophetess,

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 who is just doing

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 these very wicked thing.

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 She is false

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 and leading believers

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 into idolatry and immorality.

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 And what I want to say

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 first and foremost

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 is how important it is.

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 this section

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 can be misused

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 and misread.

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 There are some people out there

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 that say,

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 well, see,

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 this is why we don't have women

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 in ministry.

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 And that's inaccurate.

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 This is a very specific situation

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 of a woman

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 who had power

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 and abused that power.

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 This is not

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 ammunition to say,

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 well, this is why we don't have

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 any women in ministry.

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 And I want to speak to that

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 because this is one of those verses

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 that can be misused

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 and used in such a way

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 to unfortunately attack

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 women in ministry.

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 That is very inaccurate

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 because this is a very specific situation.

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 Here's what I mean.

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 Jezebel, in this sense,

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 is leading people

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 into sexual immorality

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 to the point

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 where they're worshiping another god

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 or having them partake in meals

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 as acts of worship.

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 That's very different

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 than someone

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 who is dedicated

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 to the Lord

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 and leading people to Christ.

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 Do we all understand that?

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 That's very different.

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 And unfortunately,

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 what we find

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 is something

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 that is inaccurate

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 or what some people

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 would call

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 misinformation on that.

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 So tolerance,

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 in this sense,

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 is allowing someone

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 to do wrong

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 and it's because

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 of their permissiveness

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 that Christ

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 is going to intervene

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 in here.

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 Christ is warning

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 of the sickbed

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 for Jezebel

00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:31.260
 and tribulation

00:15:31.260 --> 00:15:32.760
 for those who do not repent.

00:15:32.880 --> 00:15:33.580
 And let us remember,

00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:34.940
 when we talk about repentance,

00:15:35.140 --> 00:15:37.020
 it is changing your mind, right?

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.820
 It's so important for that.

00:15:39.380 --> 00:15:40.620
 When we're doing wrong,

00:15:41.180 --> 00:15:42.440
 we've got to repent of that.

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.760
 We've got to change our mind

00:15:43.760 --> 00:15:44.860
 in understanding

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.680
 why it is wrong

00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:48.800
 and how can we course correct.

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.559
 It's just like how

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.740
 when you see in Scripture

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.439
 repent and believe,

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.620
 it's change your mind

00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.399
 about Christ

00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.740
 so that you come

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.500
 to believe in Him.

00:15:57.959 --> 00:15:58.859
 Well, we continue

00:15:58.859 --> 00:15:59.519
 to repent,

00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:01.019
 seeing how God

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.099
 is going to mold us

00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:03.339
 and make us more like Him

00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:04.539
 to make us more holy

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:06.319
 and also to act upon

00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:07.459
 the faith that we have

00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.039
 in Him.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.779
 And so,

00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.819
 Christ offers mercy

00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.679
 to all of those

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.339
 who repent.

00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.899
 it's a reminder for us.

00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:18.580
 Should we fall into sin,

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.820
 we've got to change our minds

00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:23.960
 to get back on the course

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.660
 and to remain in Him.

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.879
 To remain faithful to Christ

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.879
 is so important for us.

00:16:30.660 --> 00:16:32.040
 It goes on further,

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.920
 going back here,

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.500
 it says,

00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.759
 to all the churches who,

00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:41.240
 I am He who searches mind and heart.

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.660
 The language talks about

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.679
 knowing your inward parts.

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.939
 Isn't that interesting?

00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.939
 It's very similar

00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:48.799
 when we find in Scripture,

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.500
 before you were born,

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.819
 I knew you, right?

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.899
 The inner workings

00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.659
 of who you are.

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:54.480
 Well,

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.659
 before you're born,

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.159
 God knows your inner workings

00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.740
 and certainly after the fact

00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.339
 that you're born

00:16:59.339 --> 00:17:00.319
 when you're here on the earth,

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.379
 God knows who you are,

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.939
 your inner workings.

00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:06.359
 So that's important as well.

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.059
 And so,

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.899
 hold fast to what I come.

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.759
 Verse 24,

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.819
 to the rest of you in Thyatira

00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:15.119
 who do not hold this teaching,

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.900
 who have not learned,

00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.000
 I'm not going to lay any other burden.

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.799
 You keep doing what you're doing.

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.460
 And it's important that

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.879
 when there's a scandal,

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.660
 when there is something

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.960
 that is happening

00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:28.200
 where someone is partaking in sin

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.259
 or in evil

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.420
 or whatever it is,

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:32.740
 for us that are not partaking in it,

00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.180
 we just remain in Christ

00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:34.960
 and by golly,

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.700
 we keep journeying in Christ.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.200
 we remain,

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.400
 we hold fast

00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:40.740
 as the language is saying.

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.680
 And so,

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.799
 Christ is commanding

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.940
 to hold fast

00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.720
 until I come.

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.720
 And the promise then

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.120
 is the morning star,

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.600
 which is the light of Christ.

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.660
 And we start to see

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.960
 how some of this,

00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.680
 when I had gone over

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:56.000
 the parabolic language

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.440
 of the parable of the lamps,

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.580
 a lot of that language

00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:00.420
 is finally getting tied in

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:02.059
 to what we see in Revelation.

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.460
 In other words,

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:05.500
 we are waiting in darkness,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.380
 shining the light of Christ,

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.319
 waiting for the brightness

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:11.599
 of the light of Christ to come.

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.000
 It's fascinating

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.420
 how that kind of connection

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.440
 begins to happen

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.140
 within Scripture.

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.880
 Let's go to that next slide here.

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.180
 I want to show you something.

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.420
 When you see in Scripture

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.779
 this language of

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:24.319
 eyes like fire,

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.539
 right,

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:27.380
 and feet like burnished bronze,

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:28.920
 this is the same type of language

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.359
 that we see in Daniel

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:32.220
 chapter 10, verse 6,

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:34.160
 where the prophet Daniel

00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.480
 is kind of seeing

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.580
 a heavenly figure.

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.440
 Some scholars say

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.900
 this is actually Christ

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.540
 that he's seeing.

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.080
 Some say it's an angelic being.

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.380
 But in any case,

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.880
 it's the same kind of description

00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:45.480
 that is being shown

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.340
 in Revelation

00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.500
 and in Daniel.

00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:48.620
 And it's fascinating

00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:50.019
 when we see that kind of thing,

00:18:50.080 --> 00:18:50.259
 right?

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.480
 Now, obviously,

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.640
 in Daniel,

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.140
 he's talking about

00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:54.160
 the arms and the legs

00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.700
 compared to the feet,

00:18:55.820 --> 00:18:56.019
 right?

00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:56.480
 Obviously,

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.759
 different parts of the body,

00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:58.880
 but still kind of

00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.680
 the same idea with this.

00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.460
 And that's really fascinating

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.079
 when we see that.

00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.400
 We can go to the next slide here.

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:07.360
 And what's important for us

00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:07.920
 is that

00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:10.299
 what are the things

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.400
 we can learn

00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.600
 from this?

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:14.079
 It's very interesting

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.740
 to see, like,

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.440
 okay, you have Jezebel,

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.420
 you have all these things

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.340
 that are going on

00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.480
 and remaining firm.

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.779
 Well, the first thing here

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.100
 is recognizing

00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:23.640
 that Christ refines

00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:25.480
 and searches our hearts,

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.700
 right?

00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.640
 As it mentions

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:29.779
 in Hebrews 4, verse 13,

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.019
 that no creature

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.680
 is hidden from his sight.

00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:33.700
 I always love,

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.639
 you guys remember

00:19:34.639 --> 00:19:37.279
 the story of the garden

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.819
 where God's saying,

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.759
 where are you, Adam?

00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.599
 I always love that.

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.519
 It's like as though

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.660
 God doesn't actually know

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.680
 where Adam is, right?

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.940
 He's calling for him

00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:47.379
 to come and out of hiding,

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.160
 hey, let's deal

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:49.500
 with this kind of thing, right?

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.099
 And so I've always found

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:53.619
 God having a sense

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.799
 of humor in Scripture,

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.399
 especially what you find

00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:58.119
 back in Genesis here, right?

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:59.899
 And that it's important

00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:00.659
 for us to know

00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:04.419
 Christ knows our intention, right?

00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:05.479
 When we think of the things

00:20:05.479 --> 00:20:06.179
 that we think of,

00:20:06.219 --> 00:20:07.219
 that's why it's so important

00:20:07.219 --> 00:20:09.299
 for us to think about

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.079
 what we think about.

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.079
 What are you filling

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.199
 your mind with, right?

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.619
 When we talk about the heart,

00:20:13.739 --> 00:20:14.939
 what is your intention

00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:17.239
 for God and for other people?

00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:20.779
 And so it's important for us

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:24.000
 that not only do we seek out Christ,

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:27.319
 but we have the Lord refine us, right?

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.460
 That's the same kind of language

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.319
 of transformation

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:31.579
 or becoming sanctified, right?

00:20:31.659 --> 00:20:34.259
 The language of being more holy

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.919
 and becoming like him.

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:38.759
 And ask yourself the question then,

00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:41.659
 how is Christ purifying

00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:42.659
 your life right now?

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.619
 Or is he?

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:47.019
 If not, perhaps it's a call for you

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.539
 to ask the Lord

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:50.539
 to search your heart and your mind

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:52.740
 and to continue to mold you.

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.740
 Because I find that as a Christian,

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.660
 as I have grown in my faith,

00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:00.720
 I hope you can say this as well.

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.880
 It's wonderful to see

00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:04.839
 how God changes you

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.220
 and then you look back

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.000
 at who you were.

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:09.120
 Not even a year ago

00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.660
 or even a few months ago.

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.960
 You see how God is working in you,

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.799
 continuing to transform you.

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.440
 The second thing then

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.500
 is Jezebel shows a pattern

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.460
 of abused power.

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:25.019
 Now, we'll go into that.

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.620
 You know, let's go to that

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.480
 next slide, actually.

00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:29.420
 I want to show you some examples

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:32.660
 of what exactly Jezebel is doing here.

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:38.340
 Now, throughout 1 and 2 Kings,

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:41.519
 we see this constant battle between,

00:21:41.600 --> 00:21:42.460
 I mean, we see throughout

00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.200
 through all Scripture,

00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:45.000
 the battle between good and evil, right?

00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:46.779
 That's why we trust in the living God.

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.440
 We trust in Jesus Christ

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.519
 because he's victorious.

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.460
 But here you're seeing Jezebel,

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:56.200
 who she went and served Baal

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:58.420
 and worshipped him, right?

00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:00.319
 Someone that is serving another God

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.379
 and to the point where

00:22:02.379 --> 00:22:04.539
 I am going to go against

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.180
 the people of God.

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.879
 That's important for us to understand.

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:11.740
 Not only did she worship another God,

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:13.240
 but she was waging war

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.859
 against the people of God.

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.619
 That is the pattern

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.740
 that you see not only

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.539
 in 1 and 2 Kings

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.359
 throughout Scripture,

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:22.159
 but also what is happening

00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:24.779
 in Revelation 2 here.

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:27.339
 Now, do we know

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:31.000
 if they are giving the title

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.599
 Jezebel to this prophetess?

00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.119
 Some argue that.

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.779
 Some are saying

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:38.099
 it's someone who has that same name.

00:22:38.179 --> 00:22:39.479
 Never name your child Jezebel.

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.759
 Can we not do that, right?

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.700
 You don't want to live up

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.500
 to that name, okay?

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.619
 So, in any case,

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.319
 it could have been

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.099
 someone literally named Jezebel

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.720
 or it could have been

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.140
 we're just going to give you the title

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.160
 because it's just like

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.240
 what happened in the past.

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.099
 There is some debate on that.

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.319
 But in any case,

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.900
 you see in this other verse

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.140
 with the green here,

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.619
 there was none

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:02.259
 who's referencing King Ahab

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:04.200
 who sold himself to do

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.059
 what was evil

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.339
 in the sight of the Lord,

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.980
 whom Jezebel,

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.920
 his wife incited.

00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:10.940
 Right?

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.819
 So, we're talking about influence.

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.799
 We're talking about

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.279
 this sense of

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.299
 I'm going to make

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:19.500
 people turn against the Lord

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:21.500
 and do evil in his sight.

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.799
 So, when we see that

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:25.319
 in the Old Testament,

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.440
 we can actually have

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.720
 an understanding of what,

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.960
 a better understanding

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:30.799
 of what's happening here.

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.860
 In other words,

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.660
 Jezebel in the Old Testament

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:36.440
 and this Jezebel in Revelation

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:38.740
 is using their power

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:40.800
 and their influence

00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:43.220
 to turn people away from God

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:45.540
 to sexual immorality,

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.680
 offering their bodies

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:48.060
 to another God

00:23:48.060 --> 00:23:51.040
 and partaking in these meals.

00:23:52.040 --> 00:23:54.320
 That's a very specific thing.

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.840
 And so, when you hear someone say

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:58.040
 they've got a Jezebel spirit,

00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:59.320
 that's a very heavy title

00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:00.820
 and I don't think that should be

00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:03.220
 loosely just thrown out at people.

00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:05.740
 This is a very specific thing

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.440
 that happens

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:08.500
 that Christ is against

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.779
 in this case.

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:12.299
 And so, I show that to you

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:15.579
 just as how important for it,

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:17.299
 for us to understand

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.900
 who is Jezebel?

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.460
 What did she do?

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.960
 And why is it here

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.120
 in Revelation again?

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.200
 Let's go back to the interpretation

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.839
 that previous slide here.

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:28.860
 Right?

00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:32.000
 It's a pattern of abused power.

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:35.180
 We have to think for us,

00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:36.420
 if you want to bring it home,

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:38.500
 is how you influence people.

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:40.819
 Some of us are in positions of power.

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.960
 Some of us have positions

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.700
 where we can influence people.

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.619
 We have to consider

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:48.900
 what God has given to us, right?

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.619
 Time, talent, treasure, testimony,

00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:54.599
 but also how we influence people.

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:57.440
 You would be absolutely amazed

00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:01.019
 at how you can lead people to Christ

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:03.200
 or lead people away from them.

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.720
 Now, I don't know about you.

00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:08.840
 I don't know any Jezebels.

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:11.000
 And if you do,

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.620
 pray for them.

00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:15.400
 Pray that God will intervene

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.960
 in their life

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.779
 and that they may repent.

00:25:19.320 --> 00:25:21.820
 Just as Christ was offering

00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:24.120
 Jezebel to repent.

00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:27.419
 I pray that we don't have any of those,

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.639
 but I would be foolish to say

00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.959
 it's never going to happen again.

00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:32.079
 It is in those cases

00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:33.119
 that we stand firm

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.579
 and we don't fall into

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:36.119
 that type of seduction

00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:38.779
 or that temptation as it were.

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.159
 And so,

00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:43.179
 use your power,

00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.939
 your influence for good.

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.379
 Right?

00:25:46.479 --> 00:25:48.159
 This is the same pattern.

00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:51.459
 We also think of the responsibilities

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:53.600
 of pastors and shepherds,

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.900
 that we are to lead people

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.860
 to Christ

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:58.600
 and to offer ourselves,

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:01.240
 our bodies, as it were,

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.579
 to the Lord.

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.220
 Not in sexual immorality,

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.620
 but in purity.

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:09.360
 We don't send people into darkness.

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:11.360
 We send people to light.

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:13.740
 That is important for us.

00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:15.900
 And this whole thing about meals

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:17.200
 and partaking in that,

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.579
 let us just remember

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:21.360
 when we partake in communion together,

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:24.200
 we worship the living God

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.900
 and we say thank you

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:27.920
 and we reflect on that.

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:28.819
 Let us,

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:30.039
 and I hope none of us

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:33.480
 ever partake in a meal like that

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.840
 as an act of worship to another God.

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.259
 It's very clear in Scripture

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.660
 to not do that.

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:41.140
 The third thing then that shows up

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:44.100
 is that Christ is our hope,

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.480
 the morning star,

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:47.579
 that there is a reward

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:49.680
 for remaining in Christ

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.820
 even in the presence of evil.

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.920
 We think of how things

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.940
 are going on today

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:57.259
 with, well, things globally,

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.440
 things that are going on in Sudan

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:02.799
 and the terrible things

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.640
 that are happening there.

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.440
 We think of things that are going,

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.039
 I mean, we can go on and on

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.539
 about just all of the tragedies,

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.400
 the war,

00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.920
 all of these things

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.560
 that are happening.

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:16.859
 In the face of evil,

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.879
 we stand firm,

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.139
 trusting in Christ,

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.519
 the living hope.

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:25.940
 you can't take away

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:29.500
 the love that God has for us.

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.180
 You can't.

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.980
 And no matter what

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.680
 politician, government,

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.539
 regime ever happens,

00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:39.720
 we believe in the King of Kings

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.259
 and the Lord of Lords,

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:44.599
 whose power is far greater

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:46.379
 than any human being.

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:48.240
 And so,

00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.260
 in this,

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.680
 Christ,

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:51.000
 as the morning star,

00:27:51.320 --> 00:27:53.180
 will share in the inheritance

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.640
 and his authority

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:57.080
 to reign with him forever

00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.580
 in the new heaven

00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.960
 and in the new earth.

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.360
 And so,

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.800
 as I gave you this imagery

00:28:02.800 --> 00:28:04.260
 about the lamp

00:28:04.260 --> 00:28:05.880
 that shines in the darkness,

00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:08.620
 Christ being the morning star,

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:11.360
 we await for the day to break.

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:13.460
 Just as scripture says,

00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:15.740
 joy comes in the morning.

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.220
 And so,

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.080
 ask yourself,

00:28:19.520 --> 00:28:21.700
 are you living your life

00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:23.760
 settling into the night?

00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:26.200
 Or are you living your life

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.100
 in anticipation

00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:29.020
 for the light to come?

00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:30.800
 I know we're getting,

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.040
 I'm getting a little far here.

00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.120
 Let's keep going.

00:28:33.260 --> 00:28:34.940
 Let's go to our application then.

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.200
 So,

00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:37.340
 how should we respond?

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.140
 How do we live this out?

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.340
 Well,

00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.080
 the first thing,

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.800
 the first most important thing

00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:43.180
 is to receive the light of Christ.

00:28:43.280 --> 00:28:45.360
 We've got to believe in Jesus Christ

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.599
 and receive his salvation

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:49.719
 and we remain rooted in Christ.

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:52.539
 We have him as our firm foundation.

00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:55.719
 That is the ultimate decision.

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:57.240
 That is the greatest decision.

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.419
 Right?

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.259
 Receive salvation.

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.699
 Receive the light of Christ.

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.699
 Receive and to remain in him.

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.959
 Never be afraid

00:29:04.959 --> 00:29:06.740
 to go to the Lord.

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:09.019
 Never be afraid to seek him

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.699
 and to ask him to search you.

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:13.080
 Consider the words of the Psalms.

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.759
 I love it.

00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:14.920
 Psalm 139

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.480
 where it says,

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.840
 Search me, O God,

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.960
 and make me true.

00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:18.740
 Ask God.

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:19.660
 Now,

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:21.400
 don't only ask God for salvation,

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.080
 but ask him

00:29:22.080 --> 00:29:23.680
 to be more like him.

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.340
 Because God will mold us

00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.920
 in some incredible ways.

00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:29.279
 Love,

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.019
 patience,

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.620
 joy,

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.700
 the peace that surpasses

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.279
 all understanding.

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:33.440
 I mean,

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.340
 we can go on and on

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:35.700
 about all of the wonderful things

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.819
 that God gives to us.

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.939
 And even when we have

00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:39.279
 this language of receiving

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.319
 the morning star

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.679
 or the white stone,

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.720
 all of these things

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:44.539
 is showing the gifts

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:46.679
 that the Lord has for us.

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.279
 Ask yourself

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:50.619
 if you have received salvation,

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.980
 if you have that light of Christ.

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.379
 The second thing then

00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:55.599
 is to what, church?

00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:57.819
 Resist evil.

00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:58.319
 Right?

00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.279
 And let your lamp shine.

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:00.839
 Right?

00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.299
 And we can see

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.579
 how this gets connected, right?

00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.839
 We don't hide our lamp

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.619
 under a bushel.

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:07.519
 We don't hide it under a bed.

00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:10.059
 As we journey in faith,

00:30:10.439 --> 00:30:12.899
 we will face pressures

00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:14.000
 from the world.

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.819
 It can be at work.

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.319
 It can be people

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:19.159
 that are against your faith.

00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.419
 It can be people

00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:20.879
 that say,

00:30:20.959 --> 00:30:21.359
 you know what?

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.979
 You used to be

00:30:22.979 --> 00:30:24.219
 this kind of person.

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.399
 Why aren't you

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.379
 that person anymore?

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:28.379
 Could be those kind of things.

00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.759
 In any case,

00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:33.379
 we stay the course

00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.979
 and we resist evil.

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.980
 That's where we use

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.880
 the language

00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.319
 of standing firm,

00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.400
 remaining rooted.

00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.480
 Right?

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.360
 Because we have that

00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:43.380
 solid rock in Christ

00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:45.019
 which we can build

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.240
 our house upon.

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.799
 Very important.

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.700
 And this is just like how

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:51.039
 when we recite

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.079
 or when we pray

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:53.019
 the Lord's Prayer,

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.599
 lead us not

00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:56.400
 into temptation

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:58.400
 but deliver us

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.220
 from evil.

00:30:59.220 --> 00:31:01.259
 It's wonderful

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.279
 how things are

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.700
 connected as this.

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.920
 Are you being asked

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.559
 to partake in evil?

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.799
 That's a question

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:12.000
 that you can reflect on.

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.059
 And in those moments,

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.819
 may you resist evil.

00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.799
 May you stand firm.

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:20.059
 May you navigate

00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:22.779
 or maybe even help someone

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:24.480
 resist evil

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.460
 in their life.

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:28.299
 It's very important.

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.240
 And then finally,

00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.980
 share the hope

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:32.920
 of the morning star.

00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.519
 I want to turn there.

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.740
 We'll have a little bit

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.380
 of time here.

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:38.960
 I want to show you

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.640
 something that I think

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.440
 is very interesting

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:42.059
 throughout Scripture

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:43.660
 in here.

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.160
 In Genesis,

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.759
 we all know

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.440
 that in the beginning

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.579
 God created the heavens

00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.100
 and the earth

00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:51.519
 and the earth

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:51.920
 was out

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.460
 with formless

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.160
 and void.

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.140
 There was darkness

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:56.079
 that was over it.

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.620
 And then God said,

00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:00.180
 let there be light.

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.299
 The implication

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.940
 is that

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.920
 it's actually

00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:05.620
 a mini creation story

00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:07.460
 within the creation story.

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.600
 The world being

00:32:08.600 --> 00:32:09.200
 in darkness

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.100
 and the light

00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:10.779
 of Christ

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.519
 coming

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.559
 and breaking

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.240
 through.

00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:15.360
 How powerful

00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.000
 is that?

00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.420
 Just as how

00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.340
 Jesus says,

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.579
 I am the light

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.360
 of the world.

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.779
 Whoever follows me

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:23.460
 will have the light

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.059
 of life

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:25.059
 just like how

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.440
 Christ is saying,

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.359
 I will give him

00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.619
 the morning star.

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.639
 And then as we're

00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.839
 going in Revelation

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.799
 to the one

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.720
 who conquers,

00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.639
 I will give

00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.440
 the morning star.

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.160
 We can see.

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:39.359
 And if you need

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.259
 it even more clear,

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.940
 Jesus identifies

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.619
 himself as

00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:44.700
 I am

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.619
 the bright

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.700
 morning star.

00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:49.079
 What beautiful

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:50.000
 connections here,

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:50.379
 church.

00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:52.500
 stars and light

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.700
 shining in the

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.080
 darkness.

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.540
 I want you to

00:32:56.540 --> 00:32:57.180
 think as we

00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.960
 close here.

00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.240
 Today,

00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:01.840
 we live

00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:03.420
 in darkness

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:05.120
 as though

00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:05.780
 the night

00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:07.200
 is here

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:09.160
 and we hold

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.980
 our lamps

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:12.060
 in anticipation

00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:13.500
 and waiting

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.080
 for Christ

00:33:14.080 --> 00:33:14.500
 to come.

00:33:16.020 --> 00:33:17.040
 We await

00:33:17.040 --> 00:33:17.620
 the light

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.360
 of the morning

00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:18.979
 star and

00:33:18.979 --> 00:33:19.479
 we await

00:33:19.479 --> 00:33:19.979
 for God

00:33:19.979 --> 00:33:20.419
 to say,

00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:20.879
 let there

00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:21.459
 be light

00:33:21.459 --> 00:33:21.839
 and there

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.199
 will be

00:33:22.199 --> 00:33:22.599
 light.

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.359
 So powerful.

00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:26.039
 And there's

00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:27.159
 always an end

00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:28.959
 to every storm.

00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:30.779
 There's light

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.719
 at the end

00:33:31.719 --> 00:33:32.359
 of darkness

00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.519
 and there's

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:33.939
 morning

00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:35.479
 after the

00:33:35.479 --> 00:33:35.799
 night.

00:33:36.479 --> 00:33:37.159
 And that is

00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:37.559
 why

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.979
 we shine

00:33:38.979 --> 00:33:39.719
 our lamps

00:33:39.719 --> 00:33:40.659
 brightly.

00:33:41.699 --> 00:33:42.740
 We wait

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.639
 for the greater

00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:44.479
 light to come.

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:46.059
 Think about it.

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.099
 when you're

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:47.720
 in a dark

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:47.940
 room,

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.240
 let's say

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:48.700
 the power

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.099
 is out.

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.399
 You've got

00:33:50.399 --> 00:33:51.179
 a little

00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:51.619
 lighter,

00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.319
 right?

00:33:52.679 --> 00:33:53.559
 Or a candle.

00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:54.839
 There's only

00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:55.720
 so much light

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.319
 that is

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:56.919
 illuminating

00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:57.419
 in the room.

00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:58.819
 But my

00:33:58.819 --> 00:33:59.159
 gosh,

00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.559
 when the

00:33:59.559 --> 00:33:59.960
 sun is

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.240
 out,

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.379
 I can

00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:02.200
 see everything,

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.519
 right?

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.299
 And we

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.819
 think of

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.179
 that when

00:34:04.179 --> 00:34:04.619
 it comes

00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:05.259
 to Christ.

00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:07.159
 That his

00:34:07.159 --> 00:34:08.119
 light is

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:09.019
 unlike any

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:09.639
 other light.

00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.380
 And this

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.059
 is why we

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.779
 share in the

00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.659
 gospel message,

00:34:13.779 --> 00:34:14.000
 right?

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.360
 It's that.

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:15.699
 Let's go

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.059
 back to

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:17.820
 the application.

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.079
 That's why

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.559
 we share

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.079
 the hope

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.940
 of the

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.659
 morning star.

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.960
 Because there's

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.400
 so many

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.539
 people that

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.059
 don't have

00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.599
 that light.

00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:26.860
 They're not

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.480
 holding a

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.079
 lamp yet.

00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.280
 A lamp

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:29.940
 that's lit.

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:31.440
 Well,

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.699
 think about

00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:32.920
 it.

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.800
 If the

00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.460
 power goes

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:34.920
 out and

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:35.440
 it's dark

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:35.860
 and you've

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.239
 got the

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:36.639
 lamp and

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.099
 your friend

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.719
 doesn't,

00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:38.559
 hey,

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:38.860
 buddy,

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.179
 you've

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.380
 got to

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:39.719
 have a

00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:39.960
 lamp

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.219
 here.

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.099
 We've

00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.280
 got to

00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:42.820
 find you

00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:43.059
 one.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:43.880
 Let's

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.279
 get you

00:34:44.279 --> 00:34:44.579
 some

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:44.900
 light.

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.259
 Let's

00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:45.639
 get you

00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.239
 a candle

00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:46.719
 kind of

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.019
 thing.

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.759
 That is

00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:49.219
 the kind

00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:49.380
 of

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.699
 imagery

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:49.980
 we

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.219
 think

00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:50.360
 of

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:50.500
 when

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:50.659
 we

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:50.900
 share

00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:51.059
 the

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.400
 gospel

00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:51.619
 so

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:51.779
 that

00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.039
 they

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.279
 too

00:34:52.279 --> 00:34:52.480
 can

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:52.739
 have

00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:52.900
 the

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.219
 light

00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:53.960
 and

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.139
 that

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:54.360
 they

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:54.779
 too

00:34:54.779 --> 00:34:55.320
 can

00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:55.699
 wait

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.480
 for the

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:56.820
 greater

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.139
 light

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:57.320
 to

00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.559
 come.

00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:58.639
 We

00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.079
 tell the

00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.400
 world

00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.699
 of the

00:34:59.699 --> 00:34:59.900
 hope

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.059
 of

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.360
 Jesus

00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:00.960
 and

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.139
 we

00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:01.480
 speak

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:01.619
 of

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:01.799
 how

00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.159
 God

00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:02.420
 has

00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:02.699
 worked

00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:02.860
 in

00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.019
 our

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.360
 life.

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:04.299
 Think

00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:04.400
 of

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:04.539
 that

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:04.900
 imagery.

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:05.699
 Hey,

00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:05.920
 I'm

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.219
 holding

00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:06.719
 a lamp

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:08.199
 here and

00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:08.460
 it's

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:08.859
 shining.

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.059
 Do you

00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.319
 want to

00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:10.719
 see where

00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:10.939
 you're

00:35:10.939 --> 00:35:11.279
 going?

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.579
 Let's

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:12.899
 get you

00:35:12.899 --> 00:35:13.339
 a lamp.

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.500
 Go

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:14.859
 to the

00:35:14.859 --> 00:35:15.219
 light.

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.019
 See how

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.739
 simple

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.559
 God is

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:17.879
 when we're

00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.379
 thinking of

00:35:18.379 --> 00:35:18.960
 this kind

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.099
 of

00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:19.579
 language?

00:35:19.939 --> 00:35:20.579
 We can

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:20.779
 think

00:35:20.779 --> 00:35:21.119
 literally

00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:21.379
 like,

00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:21.559
 hey,

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:21.839
 bud,

00:35:21.879 --> 00:35:22.079
 you're

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.439
 in the

00:35:22.439 --> 00:35:22.739
 darkness.

00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:22.939
 I've

00:35:22.939 --> 00:35:23.059
 got to

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.259
 get you

00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:23.419
 a

00:35:23.419 --> 00:35:23.899
 flashlight,

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.319
 right?

00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.279
 But we

00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:25.619
 think in

00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:25.819
 the

00:35:25.819 --> 00:35:26.299
 spiritual

00:35:26.299 --> 00:35:26.819
 sense

00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:27.699
 how

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.219
 powerful

00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.500
 that

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:28.779
 is.

00:35:29.939 --> 00:35:30.439
 We

00:35:30.439 --> 00:35:30.699
 speak

00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:30.939
 of

00:35:30.939 --> 00:35:31.659
 his

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.179
 promises

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:33.759
 and we

00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.259
 have to

00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:34.519
 think,

00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:34.879
 church,

00:35:34.879 --> 00:35:35.259
 of how

00:35:35.259 --> 00:35:36.039
 important it

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:36.480
 is for

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.719
 the world

00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:38.800
 to know

00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.960
 of Jesus

00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.719
 Christ more

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.039
 than ever

00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.480
 before.

00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:42.900
 Because there's

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.380
 still a lot

00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:43.820
 of darkness

00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.980
 as we

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.760
 wait for

00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.079
 the light

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.519
 to come.

00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:48.000
 People need

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:48.420
 to know

00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:48.800
 that there

00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:49.340
 is more

00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:49.719
 to the

00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.380
 confusion,

00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.159
 the darkness,

00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:52.000
 the sin,

00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:52.699
 and the

00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.240
 evil that

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:53.960
 exists in

00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.360
 the world

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:54.719
 today.

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:55.940
 It does

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.360
 not,

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.039
 the existence

00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:57.719
 of evil

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.260
 does not

00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:58.820
 change our

00:35:58.820 --> 00:35:59.159
 call.

00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.500
 We share

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:00.900
 in the

00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:01.380
 hope of

00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:01.659
 Jesus

00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.320
 Christ for

00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:02.659
 others.

00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:03.699
 We share

00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:04.300
 the gospel,

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.480
 we grow

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.820
 as we've

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.179
 received

00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:07.760
 salvation

00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.519
 and we

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.099
 do good

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.719
 in the

00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.280
 name of

00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:10.699
 Christ.

00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.679
 And I

00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.059
 want you

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:12.420
 to think

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:12.820
 as we

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.300
 close,

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.980
 who can

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.539
 you share

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.380
 the light

00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:17.920
 of Christ?

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.039
 Ask

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.760
 yourself that.

00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:20.740
 Think of

00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.800
 someone that

00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:22.240
 you can

00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:23.099
 share in

00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.559
 the gospel

00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:24.320
 message with

00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:25.619
 this week,

00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:26.539
 the next

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.179
 person that

00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.619
 you know,

00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.360
 a friend,

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:28.920
 a family,

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:29.579
 a co-worker,

00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.179
 a student,

00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:30.639
 whatever.

00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:31.860
 Think of

00:36:31.860 --> 00:36:32.099
 that.

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.420
 In closing,

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:34.980
 let us

00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.720
 think of

00:36:35.720 --> 00:36:35.920
 this

00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:36.400
 beautiful

00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:36.920
 imagery

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:38.360
 of Christ

00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:38.920
 being the

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:39.680
 morning star.

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:40.880
 We are

00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.420
 in this

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:41.900
 darkness

00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:42.480
 shining,

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.039
 holding these

00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.740
 lamps together

00:36:44.740 --> 00:36:45.659
 as we

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.680
 wait for

00:36:46.680 --> 00:36:47.079
 the dawn.

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:47.840
 Let's

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.400
 pray together.

00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.440
 Father God,

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.220
 we thank

00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:51.960
 you for

00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:52.619
 this time,

00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:53.340
 this opportunity

00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.059
 for us to

00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:55.019
 go over

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.320
 this wonderful

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:58.920
 church in

00:36:58.920 --> 00:36:59.500
 Thyatira.

00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:01.659
 We just

00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:02.039
 pray,

00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.059
 first and

00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:03.420
 foremost,

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:03.780
 that we

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.579
 recognize that

00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.099
 your Son,

00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:05.840
 Jesus Christ,

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.720
 is the

00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:07.059
 Son of

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.760
 God and

00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.220
 He is the

00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:08.720
 fulfillment

00:37:08.720 --> 00:37:09.880
 of prophecy.

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.240
 We pray,

00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:11.599
 Father,

00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.400
 that lives

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.380
 are transformed.

00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:14.780
 We pray

00:37:14.780 --> 00:37:15.260
 that if

00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:15.920
 anyone has

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.420
 not made

00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:16.880
 a decision

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.440
 for Christ,

00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.340
 they believe

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:18.619
 in the

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:18.860
 death,

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:19.220
 burial,

00:37:19.220 --> 00:37:19.780
 and resurrection

00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:20.300
 of your

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:20.539
 Son,

00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.280
 Jesus Christ.

00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.000
 We pray

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:23.039
 that individually

00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:24.059
 and collectively

00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.820
 as a church,

00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:26.139
 we may grow

00:37:26.139 --> 00:37:26.860
 in the

00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:27.820
 deeper things

00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:28.380
 of God

00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:29.079
 and not in

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.559
 the deep

00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:30.300
 things of

00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:30.780
 Satan,

00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.340
 as the

00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:32.159
 Scripture mentions.

00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:33.159
 we pray

00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:33.559
 that we

00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.079
 can have

00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:34.619
 the ability

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.279
 to discern

00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:35.799
 right from

00:37:35.799 --> 00:37:36.219
 wrong,

00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:36.980
 truth from

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.359
 lies,

00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:37.879
 good from

00:37:37.879 --> 00:37:38.299
 evil,

00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:39.500
 and that we

00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.079
 can stand

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.699
 firm and

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:41.399
 hold fast

00:37:41.399 --> 00:37:41.739
 in our

00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:42.460
 faith so

00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.139
 that should

00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.679
 there be

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:45.039
 a Jezebel,

00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:45.960
 or should

00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.699
 there be a

00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:47.440
 synagogue of

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:47.759
 Satan,

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.399
 or should

00:37:48.399 --> 00:37:48.779
 there be

00:37:48.779 --> 00:37:49.399
 Satan's

00:37:49.399 --> 00:37:49.819
 throne,

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.420
 that we

00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:51.359
 can resist

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:51.779
 that.

00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:53.859
 That we

00:37:53.859 --> 00:37:54.379
 can stand

00:37:54.379 --> 00:37:54.879
 firm and

00:37:54.879 --> 00:37:55.659
 we continue

00:37:55.659 --> 00:37:56.099
 on the

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:56.599
 journey that

00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:57.500
 exists in

00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:57.980
 you,

00:37:58.880 --> 00:37:59.920
 just as

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.820
 you have

00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.340
 shown us

00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:01.960
 that Christ

00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:02.539
 is the

00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.300
 shepherd leading

00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:04.099
 us to

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:05.340
 green pastures.

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.820
 We are

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.380
 awaiting,

00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:08.119
 and may

00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:09.840
 we wait

00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:10.739
 upon you,

00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:13.099
 for we

00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:13.579
 are like

00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:15.159
 holding those

00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:15.579
 lamps,

00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:17.340
 waiting for

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:17.900
 the light of

00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.239
 Christ,

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:18.800
 the morning

00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.360
 star to

00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:19.599
 come.

00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:21.760
 I pray,

00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.099
 Father,

00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:23.639
 that as we

00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:24.179
 close our

00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:24.860
 time today,

00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:26.300
 that this

00:38:26.300 --> 00:38:27.620
 imagery of

00:38:27.620 --> 00:38:28.640
 standing firm,

00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:29.599
 this imagery

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.840
 of lamps

00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:31.480
 shining in

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.000
 the darkness

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.720
 waiting for

00:38:32.720 --> 00:38:33.579
 the dawn

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.620
 will resound

00:38:34.620 --> 00:38:35.059
 with us,

00:38:35.120 --> 00:38:35.380
 that we

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:36.200
 will remember

00:38:36.200 --> 00:38:36.840
 it and

00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.420
 take it to

00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:37.720
 heart,

00:38:38.420 --> 00:38:39.180
 and that we

00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:40.260
 may share

00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:40.840
 in the gospel

00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:41.380
 message,

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.519
 share in the

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:43.180
 words of our

00:38:43.180 --> 00:38:43.920
 testimonies,

00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:45.500
 and live and

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:46.620
 love like

00:38:46.620 --> 00:38:47.099
 you.

00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:48.579
 It is in

00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:49.860
 the name of

00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.780
 Jesus Christ,

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.599
 the morning

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.000
 star,

00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:52.800
 that we pray,

00:38:53.160 --> 00:38:53.680
 and we all

00:38:53.680 --> 00:38:54.280
 say together,

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:54.820
 amen,

00:38:55.080 --> 00:38:55.360
 church?

00:38:55.660 --> 00:38:56.220
 Amen.

00:38:57.540 --> 00:38:58.380
 Thank you for

00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:59.040
 tuning in to

00:38:59.040 --> 00:38:59.980
 Ontario Community

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.360
 Church.

00:39:00.620 --> 00:39:01.620
 If this message

00:39:01.620 --> 00:39:02.360
 encouraged you,

00:39:02.620 --> 00:39:03.460
 I encourage for

00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:04.200
 you to share it

00:39:04.200 --> 00:39:04.700
 with a friend

00:39:04.700 --> 00:39:05.480
 or a family

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:05.860
 member.

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:07.140
 Maybe you know

00:39:07.140 --> 00:39:07.820
 someone who is

00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:08.500
 struggling with

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.040
 compromise,

00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:10.120
 or maybe you

00:39:10.120 --> 00:39:10.900
 know someone who

00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:11.800
 just needs to

00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:12.780
 hear about the

00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:13.420
 hope that we

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:14.200
 have in Christ.

00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.740
 Remind them that

00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.519
 Christ knows

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.100
 their heart,

00:39:17.540 --> 00:39:18.660
 Christ understands

00:39:18.660 --> 00:39:19.460
 their circumstance,

00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.960
 and he calls for

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.860
 each and every one

00:39:21.860 --> 00:39:22.600
 of us to come

00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:23.059
 to him,

00:39:23.420 --> 00:39:24.460
 to remain in

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:24.719
 him,

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:25.559
 and to hold

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.819
 fast until he

00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:28.199
 returns as the

00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:29.059
 bright morning

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:29.500
 star.

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.980
 Let us receive

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.679
 his light.

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.799
 Let us resist

00:39:32.799 --> 00:39:33.599
 evil with the

00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:34.319
 power of the

00:39:34.319 --> 00:39:34.940
 Holy Spirit.

00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.619
 Let us share in

00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:37.500
 the gospel with

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.579
 others who are

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.480
 still in the

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:39.819
 darkness.

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:41.440
 In today's

00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.000
 sermon, we

00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:42.819
 learned that we

00:39:42.819 --> 00:39:43.759
 are like lamps,

00:39:44.199 --> 00:39:45.019
 shining in the

00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:45.860
 night, awaiting

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.739
 the morning

00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:47.179
 star.

00:39:47.179 --> 00:39:48.639
 And just as a

00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:49.679
 lamp helps us to

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.359
 see in the

00:39:50.359 --> 00:39:51.359
 darkness, we

00:39:51.359 --> 00:39:52.500
 carry the light

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.659
 of Jesus Christ

00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.399
 today.

00:39:54.859 --> 00:39:56.019
 We await the

00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:57.059
 full dawn of

00:39:57.059 --> 00:39:57.719
 when Christ

00:39:57.719 --> 00:39:59.059
 returns as the

00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:00.419
 morning star to

00:40:00.419 --> 00:40:01.339
 bring eternal

00:40:01.339 --> 00:40:01.739
 light.

00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:02.819
 That is our

00:40:02.819 --> 00:40:03.960
 hope, that is

00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:05.159
 our future, and

00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:06.199
 that is what we

00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:07.079
 hold fast to.

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:08.919
 Think about this.

00:40:09.299 --> 00:40:10.299
 If the power goes

00:40:10.299 --> 00:40:11.099
 out and you have

00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:12.419
 that flashlight, but

00:40:12.419 --> 00:40:13.440
 your friend doesn't,

00:40:13.839 --> 00:40:14.899
 you would obviously

00:40:14.899 --> 00:40:16.539
 help them find a

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:17.579
 flashlight to or

00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:18.259
 shine the light

00:40:18.259 --> 00:40:18.920
 upon them.

00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:20.119
 That is what

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:21.019
 sharing the gospel

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.619
 is like.

00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:22.759
 We have the

00:40:22.759 --> 00:40:23.519
 light of Christ.

00:40:23.900 --> 00:40:24.639
 Let us help

00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:25.880
 others find the

00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:27.179
 light of Christ so

00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:28.679
 they too can wait

00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.340
 for the greater

00:40:29.340 --> 00:40:30.059
 light to come.

00:40:30.699 --> 00:40:31.559
 You're welcome to

00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:32.279
 visit Ontario

00:40:32.279 --> 00:40:33.119
 Community Church

00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:34.119
 dot org for more

00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:34.960
 information about

00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:36.300
 our church, how to

00:40:36.300 --> 00:40:37.579
 connect with us, or

00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.219
 how you can get

00:40:38.219 --> 00:40:38.619
 involved.

00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:39.800
 Just visit our

00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:40.199
 website.

00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.739
 Next week, we

00:40:41.739 --> 00:40:42.920
 will continue in our

00:40:42.920 --> 00:40:44.199
 sermon series through

00:40:44.199 --> 00:40:44.619
 the book of

00:40:44.619 --> 00:40:45.619
 Revelation with the

00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:46.799
 Church in Sardis,

00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:48.159
 found in Revelation

00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:50.039
 chapter 3, verses 1

00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:50.619
 to 6.

00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:52.199
 We will be looking at

00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:53.599
 Christ's message to a

00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:54.380
 church that has a

00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.659
 reputation for being

00:40:55.659 --> 00:40:57.059
 alive, but is

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:57.799
 actually dead.

00:40:58.319 --> 00:40:59.039
 And what does it

00:40:59.039 --> 00:41:00.559
 mean to wake up, to

00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:01.859
 strengthen what remains,

00:41:02.059 --> 00:41:03.500
 and to remember what

00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.400
 we have received?

00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:06.339
 Grace and peace to you

00:41:06.339 --> 00:41:07.159
 in our Lord Jesus

00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:07.679
 Christ.

00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:09.179
 May you receive the

00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:09.859
 light of Christ.

00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:11.480
 May you resist evil

00:41:11.480 --> 00:41:12.699
 and let your lamp

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.480
 shine brightly.

00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:15.280
 May you share in the

00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:16.000
 hope of the morning

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:17.519
 star with others, and

00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:18.940
 may Christ search your

00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:20.599
 heart and refine you,

00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:22.320
 making you more like

00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:22.519
 him.

00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:24.440
 May you hold fast and

00:41:24.440 --> 00:41:25.960
 wait with joy for the

00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:27.659
 dawn when Jesus Christ,

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:29.019
 that morning star,

00:41:29.139 --> 00:41:29.539
 returns.

00:41:30.260 --> 00:41:31.500
 He searches your heart

00:41:31.500 --> 00:41:32.440
 and he knows your

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.000
 circumstance.

00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:34.880
 May you turn to him,

00:41:35.219 --> 00:41:36.300
 and may you come to

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:37.900
 know Jesus, the way,

00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:39.800
 the truth, and the life.

00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:41.059
 God bless you.

00:41:41.059 --> 00:42:11.039
 God bless you.

00:42:11.059 --> 00:42:41.039
 God bless you.

00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:41.719


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00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:41.719