WEBVTT 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:02.160 Good afternoon, everybody. 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:08.040 This time of year, I'm always so thankful when the light is just streaming in the windows. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:10.380 It just transforms this space. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.620 If you're just joining us for the first time, welcome. 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:14.500 I'm Tommy. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:16.420 I'm one of the pastors at Church of the Advent. 00:00:17.140 --> 00:00:21.640 And for the last couple of weeks, we've been looking together at this amazing book in the 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:21.859 Bible. 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:26.699 It's the last book in the Bible, the book called Revelation, the Revelation of St. John. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:28.580 And it's fascinating. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:29.859 It is confusing. 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:32.380 It is at times intimidating. 00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:35.060 There's a lot going on. 00:00:35.140 --> 00:00:36.399 It's hard to make sense of it. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:42.539 But we've been looking at this letter because it's incredibly relevant for us as the church. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:48.659 Because this letter is all about, this book is all about the role of the church in God's 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:50.820 plan to renew the world. 00:00:51.519 --> 00:00:53.039 Or we might put it this way. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:59.600 If the Gospels tell us about the death and resurrection of Jesus, then Revelation tells 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:02.359 us about the death and resurrection of the church. 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:09.959 The book of Revelation tells us about the great wedding at the end of all time where the church 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:12.180 is joined to the bridegroom of Christ. 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:15.260 It's a grand and marvelous book. 00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:18.099 And so we've been looking together at it, asking this question. 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.319 Who are we called to be as God's church in the world? 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.399 There are so many different kinds of churches. 00:01:25.119 --> 00:01:27.019 What does Jesus want from us? 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:31.539 What does Jesus call us to focus on as His bride, as His people? 00:01:31.919 --> 00:01:33.319 And so we've been asking that question. 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:38.280 This week we're going to be looking at Revelation chapter 2, verses 12 to 17. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:46.340 The first couple of chapters of Revelation contain seven letters that Jesus writes to His church, 00:01:46.460 --> 00:01:47.219 to His bride. 00:01:47.320 --> 00:01:50.260 These are letters of preparation for all that is to come. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:56.340 And the letter to Pergamum is particularly relevant to us because Pergamum was, in many 00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:59.439 ways, like the Washington, D.C. of Asia. 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:02.000 And so we're going to look more closely at this. 00:02:02.379 --> 00:02:05.120 And Jesus tells us two things in this letter. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:11.020 First of all, He tells us about a two-pronged attack that we as the church need to be on 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:12.939 guard against, a two-pronged attack. 00:02:13.259 --> 00:02:19.719 And then the second thing He shows us is He gives us a two-part promise, hope to sustain 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:22.040 us through all that is to come. 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:24.319 So let's pray, and then we'll open God's Word. 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:31.860 Lord, we thank You for Your Word, and it would be such a temptation to take Your Word and to 00:02:31.860 --> 00:02:39.840 put it on a dissection table and to dissect it and to parse it out and to cut it apart 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:41.860 and to evaluate it. 00:02:42.760 --> 00:02:50.440 But Lord, we need most desperately to sit under Your Word, to be on the table. 00:02:50.439 --> 00:03:00.740 And we need Your Word to dissect us and to open up and expose those deep places where 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:03.520 we most need Your love and Your grace. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:08.780 And so, Lord, we pray that that's what would happen tonight and that through that we might 00:03:08.780 --> 00:03:12.439 see Your Son, Jesus Christ, the living Word, face to face. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:13.719 And it's in His name that we pray. 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:14.379 Amen. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:14.460 Amen. 00:03:15.519 --> 00:03:20.759 So first of all, Jesus, in this letter to the church at Pergamum, warns them and us. 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:21.939 These are open letters. 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:23.340 They're meant for all the churches. 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:29.039 He warns us about a two-pronged attack that we need to be on guard against. 00:03:29.579 --> 00:03:31.460 The church faces two threats. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:33.879 One is external and one is internal. 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:37.919 The first that we see is the threat of persecution, overt persecution. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.639 So I'll read from verse 13. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:41.939 Jesus says, 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:47.539 I know where you dwell, speaking to His people in Pergamum, where Satan's throne is. 00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:53.619 Yet you hold fast to My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:58.039 My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 00:03:58.619 --> 00:04:05.279 So Jesus is describing Pergamum as the place where Satan dwells, where His throne is. 00:04:05.339 --> 00:04:06.479 Now, that's pretty strong language. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:13.500 And it makes a little more sense when you understand that Pergamum was the seat of Roman power in Asia. 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:19.039 This was the place of Roman authority, the center of Roman authority in Asia. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:24.579 And along with that, Pergamum was also the center of the imperial cult. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:29.680 So these are people who worshipped their political leaders as gods. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.279 They worshipped the emperor as a divine being. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:41.479 And so that's what defines this culture in Pergamum, the worship of political power. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:48.500 And so it makes sense if you think about that kind of culture, men and women who are worshipping their political leaders, 00:04:49.159 --> 00:04:52.679 it makes sense that Christians would not be very welcome in a place like that. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:05:00.800 Because anywhere you find a Christian community, anywhere a Christian community dwells, 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:05.439 they are inherently subversive to the political powers. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:08.519 They're inherently subversive. 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:14.720 Because Christians submit to their political leaders because they are called to, they're commanded to, 00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:15.600 and so they submit. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:19.520 But their true allegiance remains with a higher king. 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:22.180 And they know that for now they submit. 00:05:22.820 --> 00:05:24.800 And yet they also know that even as they submit, 00:05:24.900 --> 00:05:28.320 they know that one day that regime will come to its end. 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:30.160 Its days are numbered. 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:34.600 And so Christians are seen as a threat to political leaders, 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:36.600 especially totalitarian leaders. 00:05:37.580 --> 00:05:38.600 Christians are subversive. 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:39.160 Subversive. 00:05:39.960 --> 00:05:42.200 And so they are persecuted. 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:45.200 And here we see that the persecution has gotten quite fierce, 00:05:45.520 --> 00:05:49.720 and one person has actually been violently killed as a result of this antipathy. 00:05:49.900 --> 00:05:51.040 And so Jesus says, 00:05:51.320 --> 00:05:53.780 you're facing persecution, and yet he commends them. 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:55.720 He says, you're holding fast to the faith. 00:05:55.820 --> 00:05:58.879 You're staying faithful even in the midst of overt persecution. 00:05:59.080 --> 00:06:00.640 So he's encouraging them. 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:04.480 So that's the external threat, persecution. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.780 But what really concerns Jesus, and the focus of this letter, 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:12.400 is the other attack, the internal threat, 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.080 the second prong of attack which we might call seduction, 00:06:16.520 --> 00:06:18.200 or spiritual seduction. 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:21.000 Verse 14, he says, 00:06:21.080 --> 00:06:23.000 But I have a few things against you. 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.160 You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.580 who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, 00:06:29.579 --> 00:06:35.579 so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:40.240 Now he's referring back to a specific time in Israel's history. 00:06:40.359 --> 00:06:41.180 And as a matter of fact, 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:44.620 these seven letters written to the seven churches in Asia, 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:49.579 each letter actually corresponds to a period of time in Israel's history, 00:06:49.899 --> 00:06:52.899 beginning with creation and going all the way through the intertestamental period. 00:06:52.979 --> 00:06:54.219 It's pretty fascinating, actually, 00:06:54.219 --> 00:06:58.299 when you realize that these letters are a recapitulation of Israel's story. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:01.819 That's something we'll get into down the road, 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:04.520 but just a little preview of what's to come in Revelation. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:06.540 But for now, I want to focus on the fact that 00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:09.400 he's referring back to a specific time in Israel's past. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:11.600 This is the time where they were wandering in the wilderness. 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:15.420 They had been in the wilderness for almost 40 years at this point, 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:20.580 and they had had a series of great military victories in Canaan. 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:23.819 And so the king of Moab is named Balak, 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:25.780 and he sees what's happening with Israel, 00:07:25.780 --> 00:07:28.220 and he's afraid, and I think rightfully afraid, 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.699 that the Israelites are going to come for him next. 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:33.360 And he realizes that he needs to do something 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:36.020 because it doesn't look like he's going to be able to defeat them 00:07:36.020 --> 00:07:37.439 if they decide to attack. 00:07:37.840 --> 00:07:40.960 And so he sends word to a man named Balaam. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:44.220 And Balaam is a pagan prophet. 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:47.300 And Balak sends word to Balaam and says, 00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:48.980 Hey, I'm going to pay you a bunch of money 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:51.439 if you come where I am, 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:53.439 and I want you to curse my enemies. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:56.120 I want you to curse Israel and weaken them 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:58.579 so they're no longer a threat to me and I can defeat them. 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:00.740 And this is a fascinating story. 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:02.480 We don't have time to get into all the details. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.540 But the short version is Balaam agrees, 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:07.740 and he comes to curse Israel, 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:09.360 and he goes out and he looks upon Israel, 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:10.779 and he goes to speak a curse. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:13.379 But instead of a curse, 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:15.399 a blessing comes out. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:16.980 And he blesses them. 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:19.740 And he's confused, and Balak is furious. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.400 So Balak says, What are you doing? 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.620 And he says, Let's try again. 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:23.680 And so he takes them to another place. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:24.860 He says, All right, there's Israel. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:25.680 Curse them. 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:26.280 And he says, Okay. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:27.540 And he goes to curse them again. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:28.759 And again, he blesses them. 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:30.400 So Balak gets even more angry. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:31.879 And so Balak says, A third time. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:32.860 Let's try one more time. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:33.740 Let's go to another place. 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:34.860 So they go to another high place. 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:35.940 They look down on Israel, 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:37.460 and for a third time, 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:42.299 Balaam blesses the people that he's been paid to curse. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:43.680 And so Balak is furious. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:45.440 And he says, I paid you all this money, 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:47.980 and you've blessed my enemy three times. 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:48.940 Now they're stronger. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:53.120 And what we find out later in Numbers chapter 31 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:56.299 is that Balaam responds, 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:00.620 and he says, Okay, the overt attack is not going to work on these people. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.720 But I've got a plan. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:04.480 Seduce them. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:09.379 Seduce them with idol worship. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.379 Seduce them with sensuality. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:15.500 Seduce them, and then they'll fall apart from the inside. 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:19.799 And in fact, that attack is quite devastating. 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:22.519 And so by referring to this, 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:24.299 what Jesus is saying to the church is, 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:25.179 he's saying this, 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:27.419 he's saying the real danger that we face 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:28.720 in a place like D.C. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.960 is not external. 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:33.639 The real threat is not the secularization of the West. 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:35.240 Right? 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:38.580 The real threat is not limits to religious freedom. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:42.100 The real threat is not the social rejection 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:44.899 that we might experience by our neighbors and coworkers. 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:46.220 Now these are important issues, 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:48.480 and some of you work on issues like religious freedom. 00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:49.120 So they're important, 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.419 but that's not the real threat to the church. 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:53.940 The real threat is not external. 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:55.360 It is internal, 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:56.799 from the inside out. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.919 It's like termites in your home. 00:10:00.339 --> 00:10:02.979 The real threat is the spiritual seduction 00:10:02.979 --> 00:10:05.139 to idol worship. 00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:07.599 And there are a couple of things 00:10:07.599 --> 00:10:09.799 that this shows us that we need to see 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:13.620 about the seductive power of idols. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.959 The first thing that we can see is this, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:18.559 that the spiritual seduction that we're talking about 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.979 is not something that happens through our intellect. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:24.960 It happens through our body 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.899 and how we use our body. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:28.600 So in verse 14, 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.680 Jesus mentions eating food sacrificed to idols, 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:33.940 and He mentions sexual immorality. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.139 And the word that is translated sexual immorality 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:38.019 is actually a broad word 00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:41.100 that can mean indulging in your lusts, 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.360 any one of your lusts, 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.300 in a kind of unlawful way. 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:49.879 And so the focus here is on bodily indulgence. 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:52.240 And so the issue is not simply 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:54.340 that these things are wrong or bad 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:57.419 or they're on God's list of things 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:58.419 that we should avoid. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.899 The real issue and the real concern, 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.840 and this is the insight that the Bible gives us, 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:05.659 that you're not going to find 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:06.519 in a lot of other places. 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.279 Here's what it tells us, 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.480 is that the way we use our bodies, 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:13.039 what we do with our bodies, 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:15.940 is tremendously important. 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:18.440 That most of us don't realize 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:20.640 that our bodies are actually the gateway 00:11:20.640 --> 00:11:23.220 to our hearts and to our desires. 00:11:23.900 --> 00:11:25.160 And what we do with our bodies, 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:27.820 particularly the repeated habits 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:29.460 and patterns and rituals 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:34.800 that we live within day in and day out, 00:11:34.880 --> 00:11:37.200 those have a massive formative impact 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.440 on our hearts and on our desires. 00:11:40.140 --> 00:11:42.300 Our bodies are the gateway to our hearts. 00:11:42.640 --> 00:11:43.680 And so what happens is, 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.620 over time, 00:11:45.099 --> 00:11:46.759 as we unthinkingly, 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:50.219 unthinkingly and uncritically 00:11:50.219 --> 00:11:52.639 imbibe the pleasures of a culture, 00:11:53.219 --> 00:11:56.120 we come to love the idols of that culture. 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.939 When we are uncritically 00:11:58.939 --> 00:12:01.879 enjoying the pleasures of a culture, 00:12:02.099 --> 00:12:03.879 we can very easily come to love 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.919 the idols of that culture. 00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:07.179 Right? 00:12:07.219 --> 00:12:08.759 So people hear about idol worship 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.299 and they think, 00:12:09.359 --> 00:12:10.079 well, what's the big deal? 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.220 I would never worship an idol. 00:12:12.400 --> 00:12:12.540 You know, 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.420 the idea of worshiping an idol 00:12:14.420 --> 00:12:15.400 in this day and age 00:12:15.400 --> 00:12:16.460 feels very primitive 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.420 and ancient 00:12:17.420 --> 00:12:18.020 and pagan 00:12:18.020 --> 00:12:18.820 and weird. 00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:19.220 And people say, 00:12:19.280 --> 00:12:20.280 well, I would never do that. 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:21.639 But the problem 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:22.980 with that way of thinking is, 00:12:23.040 --> 00:12:23.780 we are assuming 00:12:23.780 --> 00:12:25.100 that idol worship 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.540 is an intellectual decision 00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:27.080 that we make. 00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:29.120 We're treating it 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:30.240 like we treat all religion, 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.180 including Christianity. 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:31.920 We're treating it 00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:33.700 as though it's just a belief system 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.960 that we decide to adopt intellectually. 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.560 And the truth of the matter 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.960 is it has very little to do with that. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.200 It's not something that happens 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.700 at the level of consciousness. 00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:46.440 Idol worship is much more subtle than that. 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:48.420 It happens in us 00:12:48.420 --> 00:12:49.960 without us realizing. 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:51.060 And most of the time, 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:52.980 you realize it only when you look back. 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:53.940 It's in retrospect 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:54.780 that you look back 00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:55.660 and you realize 00:12:55.660 --> 00:12:57.040 how much an idol 00:12:57.040 --> 00:12:58.920 has taken hold of your heart. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.519 Right? 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:02.680 So I never consciously chose 00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:05.160 to worship the idol of consumerism. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.240 You know, 00:13:06.280 --> 00:13:07.740 I didn't look at that belief system 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.000 and say, 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:09.159 that looks pretty good. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.360 I think I'll sign up for that. 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:12.100 You know, 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:12.360 I mean, 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:13.419 what happens, right? 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:15.180 I just got used to 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:16.539 and started to like the fact 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:18.180 that I could go to the grocery store 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:18.879 and there were like, 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:19.240 you know, 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:20.799 600 different salad dressings 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:21.500 I could choose from. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:22.799 You know, 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:24.740 or I just got used to the fact 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.480 that there are, 00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:26.019 you know, 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.539 1,500 different churches 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:29.039 that I can choose from 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.180 that will exactly meet me 00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:32.519 and do exactly 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:33.360 what I want them to do. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.800 And I just started 00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:35.960 to get used to the fact 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.620 that I could just swipe left 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.159 or right on human beings. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.220 You know, 00:13:40.560 --> 00:13:42.539 I got used to being able 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:43.800 to customize my order 00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:44.720 at Chipotle. 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:45.779 I got used to listening 00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:47.340 to my music with Spotify 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.639 and then I just started to 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.360 think that the rest of my life 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.360 should work like Spotify. 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:55.500 So we just sort of become 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:58.220 idolatrous without even knowing it. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.700 It just sort of sinks in 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:01.860 on an unconscious level. 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:03.180 So that's the first thing 00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:03.879 is that idol worship 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.480 is not something 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.940 that's an intellectual decision. 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.759 It happens through our bodies 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.980 and the way we use our bodies. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.840 It's very pre-conscious, 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:12.700 subconscious. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.419 The second thing 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.039 that we need to see 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.419 about this seductive power 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:18.000 of idolatry is this. 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:20.899 Not only do idols tear us away 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:23.000 from the God who made us, 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.639 but idol worship gives rise 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:29.480 to all kinds of beliefs 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.180 and practices 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:32.359 that devalue 00:14:32.359 --> 00:14:34.359 and dehumanize people. 00:14:35.459 --> 00:14:36.979 So you look at any culture, 00:14:38.219 --> 00:14:39.359 you look at any culture, 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:41.179 and you look at the beliefs 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.879 and practices 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.879 in that culture 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.199 that devalue 00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:45.819 and dehumanize people, 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:47.299 and chances are 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.259 behind those beliefs 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:48.799 and practices 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.319 you will find idol worship. 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:52.879 Right? 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.519 So the Canaanites, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:57.039 the reference in our passage 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:57.899 to the Canaanites, 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.460 they regularly practiced 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.360 child sacrifice to Baal. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.039 And the reason they did that 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.320 is because in their culture, 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.879 fertility was an idol. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.860 They had come to worship fertility. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:10.720 Good weather, 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.620 abundant crops, 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.460 lots of kids, 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.840 that was their idol. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.600 And it makes sense 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.240 in a world that they lived in 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.580 why fertility would matter. 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:20.820 But it wasn't just a good thing, 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.920 it had become an ultimate thing, 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.700 and it was worth any sacrifice. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.019 It was worth whatever it took 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.460 to guarantee fertility. 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.899 It was worth sacrificing 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.899 the life of your child. 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:30.820 That's what it took. 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.460 Right? 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.320 So there was an idol 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.100 underneath this 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:36.200 dehumanizing practice. 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:38.700 But every culture 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:40.180 has examples like this. 00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:40.379 Right? 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:41.000 So you see 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.460 some cultures 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.440 around the world 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.820 still practice stoning. 00:15:45.780 --> 00:15:46.280 We say, 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.160 well, how in the world 00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:48.400 could anybody do that? 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:48.800 Well, 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.740 underneath that practice 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.480 you find 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:53.759 that family honor 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.240 has become an idol. 00:15:57.020 --> 00:15:58.100 To have honor 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:58.900 and to have a good name 00:15:58.900 --> 00:15:59.440 as a family 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.420 is a good thing, 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.000 but that's become 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.800 an ultimate thing. 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.080 And when that's 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:03.700 the ultimate thing, 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.800 it's worth any price 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:05.920 to maintain that honor. 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.600 And so you have practices 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.980 like stoning that result. 00:16:09.300 --> 00:16:09.920 Some cultures 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.940 treat foreigners 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:12.060 with contempt, 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.400 and they treat other people 00:16:13.400 --> 00:16:14.740 who are of different races 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.379 or ethnicities 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.040 with contempt. 00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.780 They're unwelcome. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:18.360 And under that 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.300 you see the idol 00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:20.040 of nationalism. 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:20.840 Right? 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.700 So these idols exist 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:23.600 and they give rise 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.300 to all kinds 00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:25.320 of dehumanizing, 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:26.800 destructive beliefs 00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:27.800 and practices. 00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:29.040 Now, 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.660 now think about 00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:30.640 our own culture. 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:32.040 And I just spent 00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.480 a little time 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.200 thinking this week 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.759 about what are the issues 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.280 that people 00:16:35.280 --> 00:16:36.160 in our church 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.959 have been discussing 00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:38.399 with me. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.519 What are the concerns 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.039 that people 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:41.120 have talked about 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.459 with me? 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:41.759 And I just, 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:42.219 you know, 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.199 a few examples 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:43.860 just from the last 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.480 couple of weeks. 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.279 Number one, 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.319 the fact that we ship 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.419 millions of tons 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.879 of waste overseas 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.980 to some of the poorest 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.120 countries in the world 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.319 who have no ability 00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:54.059 to deal with 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.339 or process our waste, 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.339 including e-waste. 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.319 And we're literally 00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:58.699 burying communities 00:16:58.699 --> 00:16:59.379 of the poor 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.839 in our garbage. 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.439 Or the reality 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.080 of divorce. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:04.900 You know, 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.420 there's been some 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.759 really painful 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.759 struggles recently. 00:17:08.320 --> 00:17:09.259 People I know 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.019 struggling, 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.680 fighting to save 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.080 marriages, 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:12.660 people wanting 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.240 to walk out. 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:13.920 And what you realize 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.000 is, again and again, 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.660 you see people 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:16.279 who abandon 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.019 their spouse 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.720 and abandon 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.360 their children 00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:19.200 because they're 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.740 looking for 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.660 personal fulfillment 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.140 elsewhere. 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.340 Or look at 00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:24.039 gentrification. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.120 Just this past week, 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.039 some of us got together 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.840 and had a very hard 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.700 conversation about 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.320 gentrification. 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:29.920 And you know, 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.700 gentrification is 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.580 a mixed bag. 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:33.400 And yet, 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:33.900 what we see 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.880 is that all too often 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.620 development, 00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:36.519 urban development 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.460 happens with no 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:38.360 regard for justice. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.820 And all too often, 00:17:41.080 --> 00:17:42.340 the poor are the 00:17:42.340 --> 00:17:43.100 ones who suffer 00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:45.840 and are dislocated, 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.920 ejected from their 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:49.740 communities that they 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.360 grew up in. 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.140 Think about the 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.960 ongoing reality 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.539 of abortion. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.100 A lot of people 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:57.420 in our church 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:57.779 have been very 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.279 concerned about 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.980 the legislation 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.339 that is being 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.160 pushed and passed 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.299 around abortion. 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.019 We've talked a lot 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.900 about the Me Too 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:05.759 movement and what 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.259 that has exposed 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:08.319 in our society. 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.740 This pattern of 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.960 men in power 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.000 abusing that power 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.440 to sexually assault 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.079 and take advantage 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.519 of women. 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:15.900 And you think about 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.819 all of these issues 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.620 and they all seem 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.620 unrelated and yet 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.160 I want to ask you 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.940 this, what do all 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.599 those issues have 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.059 in common? 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.599 They all have 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.380 something in common. 00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.599 See, people on the 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.620 left are concerned 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.160 about some of these 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.420 issues. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.180 People on the right 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:29.640 are concerned 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.060 about some of 00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:30.460 these issues 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.519 and yet all of 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.000 these issues 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.000 have the same 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.580 core cause. 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.380 They are all 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.340 rooted in idol 00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:37.940 worship and in 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.820 fact it's the same 00:18:38.820 --> 00:18:39.720 idol across the 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.019 board. 00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.160 It's I think one 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.440 of the most 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.100 powerful and 00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:42.880 seductive idols 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.980 of American 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.740 culture which is 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.340 the idol of 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:46.560 radical individualism. 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.759 It gives rise 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.480 to all of these 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.720 and in every case 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.880 you see beliefs 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.519 and practices 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.039 that are devaluing 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.100 and dehumanizing 00:18:55.100 --> 00:18:55.539 people. 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:56.759 Beliefs and practices 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.400 that are declaring 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:58.400 some people are 00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.019 more important 00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.680 than other people. 00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.840 Some lives are 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.300 more important 00:19:01.300 --> 00:19:02.160 than other lives. 00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.960 This is the symptom 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:06.259 that lets us know 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:06.980 that there is an 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.400 idol at work. 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:10.340 And so here's the 00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:10.660 thing. 00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.820 It is much easier 00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:14.340 to spot the idols 00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:15.480 in someone else's 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.660 culture than it is 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.080 your own. 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:18.340 We are almost 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.900 completely blind 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.000 to the idols 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.780 that we are 00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:22.940 enthralled to. 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:25.380 And this is the 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.460 brilliance of 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:28.059 Balaam's strategy 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.440 because he says 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.259 here's what Balaam 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.080 is really saying 00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:31.500 and here's what 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.299 Jesus is worried 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:32.539 about. 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.080 Balaam is saying 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:36.039 if I can't curse 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.740 the Israelites 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:38.600 what I can do 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.580 is trick them 00:19:39.580 --> 00:19:40.340 into cursing 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:41.000 themselves 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.019 because that's 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.779 what idol worship 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.700 really is. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.700 When we give 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.440 ourselves to an 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.259 idol we are 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.240 cursing ourselves. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.400 We're giving 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.080 ourselves to 00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:50.660 something that 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.740 will destroy us 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.759 and rob us 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.519 of our humanity. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.299 So this is why 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.380 Jesus in this 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.519 passage comes 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:01.120 with the sharp 00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.539 two-edged sword 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.180 as it says in 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.819 verse 16 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.859 the sword of 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.420 his mouth. 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.500 Because only 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.319 God's word 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.400 is able to 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.339 cut through 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.720 and pierce 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.380 our hearts 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:13.539 and expose 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.339 the idols 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:14.779 that have 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.940 colonized us. 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.859 Only when you 00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.839 hold your life 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.700 up next to 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.279 God's word 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:20.759 and when you 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.359 compare 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.899 your reality 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.279 and your 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.819 experience 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.259 and your 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.779 priorities 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.179 and your 00:20:25.179 --> 00:20:25.619 loves 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.019 and your 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.619 desires 00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:28.959 with God's 00:20:28.959 --> 00:20:29.500 word 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.819 with God's 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.579 calling 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.799 with God's 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.659 description 00:20:34.659 --> 00:20:35.219 of what a 00:20:35.219 --> 00:20:35.699 human being 00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:36.339 is and what 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:36.819 we're here to 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.259 do. 00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:38.399 When you begin 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:38.859 to make that 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.339 comparison you 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:39.659 begin to 00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:40.159 realize how 00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:41.019 far off the 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.899 rails we 00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:42.579 have gone. 00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:45.119 And so 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.039 Jesus warns 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.599 us about the 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.699 two-pronged 00:20:47.699 --> 00:20:49.399 attack of 00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.219 persecution on 00:20:50.219 --> 00:20:50.759 the one hand 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.619 and seduction 00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:52.740 on the other 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.400 and while we 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.000 might be able 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.559 to resist 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.319 persecution 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.940 we can easily 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.819 be taken in 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.859 by the idols 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.940 of our age. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.420 And yet Jesus 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.579 doesn't leave us 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.640 in this place 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:05.400 he also gives us 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.059 a promise 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.519 and it's an 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.099 amazing 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:08.059 two-part 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.619 promise. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.200 Verse 17 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.019 he says this 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.799 to the one 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.460 who conquers 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.200 I will give 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:13.980 some of the 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.700 hidden manna 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.579 and I will 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.059 give him a 00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.799 white stone 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.319 with a new 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.900 name written 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.500 on the stone 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.299 that no one 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:19.980 knows except 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.700 the one who 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.819 receives it. 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:22.339 So let me just 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:23.440 explain these 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.240 images so we 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.839 understand what's 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.339 happening here. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.259 First he says 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.740 I'm going to 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.259 give the one 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.799 who conquers 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.779 hidden manna. 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.160 Now what's 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.420 that? 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:31.079 Well again 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.180 this is referring 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.859 us back to the 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:34.180 time when Israel 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:34.700 was in the 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.079 wilderness. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.079 When they were 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.500 in the wilderness 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:36.940 they were 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:38.259 starving and 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:39.259 so God 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.440 sustains them 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.720 with manna 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.160 right? 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.380 Bread that 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.059 comes from the 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.420 sky and 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.799 God instructs 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.420 his people to 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.119 take some of 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.039 this bread from 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.960 heaven and to 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.779 put it in a jar 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.500 and to put that 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.519 jar in the ark 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.200 of the covenant. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.900 Hide the manna 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:55.279 away. 00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.480 No one is allowed 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:56.960 to touch it. 00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.519 Not even the 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.220 priests are allowed 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:58.759 to touch the 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.279 hidden manna 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.079 because God 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.079 says this is for 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.259 future generations. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.240 You're going to 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.019 save some of this 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.140 for future generations 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:06.580 so that they 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.500 know and remember 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.259 that I'm the 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.020 Lord your God 00:22:09.020 --> 00:22:09.700 who brought you 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.360 out of Egypt 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.340 and set you 00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:11.700 free. 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:12.140 Right? 00:22:12.280 --> 00:22:13.040 So it's set apart 00:22:13.040 --> 00:22:13.820 for future generations. 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.320 So what is 00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:14.960 Jesus saying? 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.940 He's saying to 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.320 his church, 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:17.840 he's saying to 00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:18.840 us, that hidden 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.500 manna that was 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.300 set apart so long 00:22:20.300 --> 00:22:21.280 ago, that's for 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:21.620 you. 00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.620 It was for you. 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.420 He had you in 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:26.120 mind when he set 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.900 it aside to begin 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.340 with. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.140 And Jesus is 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:28.480 saying to the 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.220 one who conquers, 00:22:29.520 --> 00:22:30.280 you will eat of 00:22:30.280 --> 00:22:31.120 that manna, 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.160 that heavenly bread. 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:33.540 And you know 00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.720 again, we every 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.120 week we can't 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.700 come to this 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:37.280 table and we 00:22:37.280 --> 00:22:37.940 eat the bread 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.580 that comes from 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:38.860 heaven. 00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:40.180 We eat not just 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.400 bread and wine, 00:22:41.520 --> 00:22:42.700 but we eat the 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:44.340 body of Christ, 00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:45.400 the blood of 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:45.759 Christ. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.900 He sustains us 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.720 within himself, 00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:48.300 the hidden 00:22:48.300 --> 00:22:48.960 manna. 00:22:49.020 --> 00:22:49.620 And the promise 00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.340 that Jesus gives 00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:51.300 is that we will 00:22:51.300 --> 00:22:52.540 eat this meal 00:22:52.540 --> 00:22:53.840 together every 00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.820 time we gather 00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:56.060 until that great 00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:56.860 wedding supper of 00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:57.220 the Lamb. 00:22:58.780 --> 00:22:59.480 And so the 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.340 invitation corresponds 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.220 to the warning 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.940 that we saw a few 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.520 minutes ago. 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.540 Right? 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.099 We talked about 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.420 how our appetites 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.379 and our desires 00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:09.099 can lead us to be 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.079 seduced by idols. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.039 And they 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.159 dehumanize us. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.259 And Jesus is 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.960 saying if you can 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.920 hold out, if you 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.839 can resist the 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.779 seductive power of 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.539 idols and instead 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.220 of trying to get 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.379 nourished, instead 00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:21.920 of trying to get 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.740 your needs met 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:25.319 there, eat the 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:25.839 bread that comes 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.299 from heaven. 00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.659 Eat the food that 00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.099 doesn't dehumanize 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.960 you but rehumanizes 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.240 you. 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:33.559 Come to the table 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:35.359 and eat a meal that 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.120 will make you more 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.140 truly and fully 00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.519 human. 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.440 That's the invitation. 00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.279 The hidden manna, 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:41.279 it was set aside, 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.200 it's for you. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.059 Come and eat. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.120 And then the second 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.220 promise Jesus makes 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.720 concerns a white 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.319 stone. 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.759 He says you'll be 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.859 given a white stone 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.940 with your name on it. 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.799 And again, this 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.720 points us back to the 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.019 wilderness. 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.579 We remember that the 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:57.740 high priest, the high 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.519 priest of the people 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.859 of Israel had a breast 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.180 plate. 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.940 And on that breast 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.700 plate, there were 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.840 stones and on each 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:04.460 stone was a name of 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.140 one of the twelve 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.539 tribes of Israel. 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.700 And so Jesus is 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:11.180 saying, I am the 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:13.320 great high priest and I 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:14.539 have a stone with each 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.500 of your names on it. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.120 And you know, when the 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.279 Bible talks about your 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.240 name, it's not just 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.500 talking about phonetics, 00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:20.799 right? 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.940 The Bible is talking 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.740 about your entire 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.240 character, your entire 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.340 personality, your 00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:26.820 identity. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.480 And so Jesus is saying, 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.940 I have a stone with 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:31.319 your true name on it, 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.779 with your true identity 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.880 written on it. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.440 And so the invitation 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.539 is when we come to 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:38.460 him, we are given 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.839 that stone, we are 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.980 given that name and 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.519 that identity. 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:43.240 And so again, it's an 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.440 invitation away from 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:44.740 idols. 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.779 He says if you give 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.819 yourself to an idol, 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.759 that idol will 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.799 dehumanize you. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.839 It will rob you of 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.259 your identity. 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.400 It will convince you 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.480 that you're someone or 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.200 something else. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.019 You know, this is the 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.440 great irony of idols. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:58.580 If I worship beauty, if 00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.740 beauty is the thing that 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.559 matters most and I want 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.440 to be attractive and I 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:01.980 want to be the most 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.820 beautiful person in the 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:04.000 room, what happens? 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:06.059 I will always feel ugly. 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.940 I will always feel ugly. 00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:10.320 If I worship intelligence 00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:10.940 and I want to be the 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.960 smartest guy in the room, 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.100 I'm going to spend every 00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:16.200 day feeling stupid, 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.480 feeling like a fraud, 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.900 terrified that somebody's 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.980 going to find out that 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.180 I'm not as smart as they 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:21.900 think I am. 00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:23.620 And on and on and on. 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.580 That's how idols work. 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:28.139 They convince us to 00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:28.939 believe lies about 00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.480 ourselves. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.480 But Jesus says if you 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.720 come to me, I will give 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.659 you your true identity. 00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:35.919 I'll give you your true 00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:36.399 purpose. 00:25:37.699 --> 00:25:38.980 You'll finally figure out 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.960 who you really are. 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:42.199 And this name is 00:25:42.199 --> 00:25:43.339 infinitely particular. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.559 He says no one knows 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.859 it except the one who 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.619 receives it. 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.939 And me, Jesus. 00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.980 And that means that you 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.399 are infinitely particular. 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:53.079 And isn't that ironic? 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.679 We live in this 00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:54.759 individualistic culture 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.619 and we think that the 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:57.439 way to gain a sense of 00:25:57.439 --> 00:25:58.659 identity is to assert our 00:25:58.659 --> 00:26:00.000 rights and to express 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.980 ourselves to the world. 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.939 And anybody who gets in 00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:02.659 the way of that needs to 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:03.619 be battered down because 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:05.379 only I, only I can 00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:06.199 determine who I am. 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.000 That's the road to 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.279 identity. 00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.199 And Jesus says no. 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.460 If you try to keep 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.139 yourself, if you try to 00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:11.079 define yourself and hold 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.899 on to yourself, you're 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.720 going to lose yourself. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.699 But if you give yourself 00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:15.419 away, if you give 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:17.059 yourself to me, then the 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.980 day will come when we see 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.839 each other face to face 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:20.240 and I will give you the 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.079 identity that you've been 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.879 looking for your whole 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:23.500 life and it will make 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.919 sense. 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.319 And you will know that 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.359 you are so infinitely 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:28.399 particular that there 00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:29.819 never has been nor will 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.799 there ever be anyone 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.599 quite like you. 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:34.059 You know, I was just 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:35.019 recently at a gathering 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:37.299 celebrating the life of 00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:37.919 Fred Rogers. 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:41.000 And somebody talked about 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.619 the power of that message 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:44.339 that Mr. Rogers would 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.240 always talk about how 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:47.579 unique and how special 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.699 each child was. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.879 What was interesting is 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.780 this is a room full of 00:26:50.780 --> 00:26:51.160 adults. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.160 But as this person 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.200 described that message, 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.820 the adults were hanging 00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.700 on every word. 00:26:56.760 --> 00:26:57.180 Right? 00:26:57.280 --> 00:26:58.180 With bated breath. 00:26:59.040 --> 00:27:00.360 Every single grown up 00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:01.540 child in that room was 00:27:01.540 --> 00:27:02.840 still longing to know 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.180 that. 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:06.100 I do matter to somebody. 00:27:06.760 --> 00:27:07.700 I am infinitely 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.240 particular. 00:27:09.040 --> 00:27:10.000 The way I'm made up 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.620 somehow has value and 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:11.980 meaning. 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.480 I'm not like this by 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:13.960 accident. 00:27:15.020 --> 00:27:15.940 And so what Jesus is 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.700 saying is I'm going to 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:18.320 give you this name and 00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:19.060 it's going to show you 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:19.840 that no one has ever 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.519 been like you. 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.359 No one will ever be 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:21.740 like you. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.459 And what that means is 00:27:22.459 --> 00:27:23.519 when God created the 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.259 heavens and the earth, 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:26.799 he had you in mind. 00:27:28.919 --> 00:27:30.139 The world needed someone 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.980 exactly like you. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.839 So these are the promises 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:37.159 that were given by Jesus. 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:39.199 So this is the two-pronged 00:27:39.199 --> 00:27:40.039 attack and the two-part 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.439 promise. 00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:41.699 The church must be on 00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:42.659 guard not only against 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:44.240 persecution but also 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.399 against seduction. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.699 The church has held up 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.439 quite well over the 00:27:47.439 --> 00:27:48.359 centuries against 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:48.859 persecution. 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.219 By the way, 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.119 persecution tends to be 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.659 a good thing. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.859 It's seduction that does 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.339 damage. 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.740 And then we have this 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.959 two-part promise. 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.799 To the one who conquers, 00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.740 Jesus will sustain us 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.599 with his own body 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:04.119 and he will give to each 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.279 of us our true name. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.679 So let me ask you this 00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:08.899 final question as we 00:28:08.899 --> 00:28:11.399 prepare to pray and move 00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:12.299 on with our service. 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:14.419 as you think about your 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.980 own life, and you know, 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.779 I've done a lot of 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.599 thinking this week. 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:19.940 I think, you know, I 00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:21.419 just, I don't think I've 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.519 experienced that much 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.480 direct persecution. 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.799 You know, maybe some 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.619 here and there, but I 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.379 mean, nothing like what 00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.299 the Bible talks about 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:28.899 and you think, is 00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.779 persecution really that 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.099 big a deal? 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:30.740 I really haven't 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.559 experienced that much. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.899 And here, if we're 00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.579 reading this passage, 00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.240 here's what I think we 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.159 need to ask ourselves. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.400 If I look at my life 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.220 and I'm totally honest, 00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.580 is there anything in my 00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:42.940 life worth persecuting? 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.180 Is there anything in my 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.279 life worth persecuting? 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.700 Or have I been so seduced, 00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:51.040 so taken in? 00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.840 Is my faith so 00:28:52.840 --> 00:28:54.140 compartmentalized and 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.840 privatized and squishy 00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:58.440 and compromising and 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:01.320 perpetually agnostic that 00:29:01.320 --> 00:29:02.779 it's not worth time and 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.860 energy to persecute? 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:07.419 That's a hard question, 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.659 but I think we need to 00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.439 reflect on that. 00:29:09.719 --> 00:29:11.539 But here's the hope that 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.859 if there's anyone here who 00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:15.119 does desire to stand in 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.899 the faith and the hope of 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:17.199 Jesus Christ, if there's 00:29:17.199 --> 00:29:18.159 anyone here who does 00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:20.479 desire to be the one who 00:29:20.479 --> 00:29:22.240 conquers, as this passage 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.519 talks about, this is why 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.879 the gospel is such good 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.279 news. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.779 Because, you know, in the 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.939 days of Balaam and 00:29:27.939 --> 00:29:29.459 Balak, when the Israelites 00:29:29.459 --> 00:29:31.059 were taken in with idol 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.219 worship, you know how they 00:29:32.219 --> 00:29:33.019 put a stop to it? 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:35.420 Phinehas, the priest, 00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.900 realizes what's going on. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:38.059 He goes, he gets a spear, 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.160 he comes up to one of the 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.539 Israelites, and he jams the 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.079 spear through him. 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.759 He kills him. 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.900 And that puts a stop to it 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.379 right quick. 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:46.980 But we realize that Jesus 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:50.139 is the greater Phinehas. 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:52.259 He's the greater priest. 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.940 He's the true high priest. 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:56.559 And that when Jesus saw his 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:58.759 people totally taken in by 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.519 idols, and when Jesus saw his 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:02.420 people utterly compromised and 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:05.700 seduced and inert and 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.640 spiritually dead, he didn't 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:09.440 take up a spear and threaten 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.480 his people with a spear. 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:12.980 In fact, he allowed himself to 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:16.140 be killed by a spear and by 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:19.580 nails on the cross at Calvary. 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:22.539 And because of that, anyone who 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.980 comes to Jesus in faith, no 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.779 matter how compromised or how 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.379 seduced you may feel that you 00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:28.779 have become, if you come to 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.699 Jesus in faith, if you ask for 00:30:30.699 --> 00:30:32.980 his forgiveness, and if you ask 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.159 for him to spiritually strengthen 00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:35.519 you, he will do that. 00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:38.159 He will forgive you and he will 00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:38.879 set you free. 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:40.819 Because the truth of the matter is 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:42.779 that Jesus Christ is the one who 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.279 conquers. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.619 He's the one who has conquered. 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.839 Let's pray. 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:46.859 Let's pray. 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:46.899 Let's pray. 00:30:46.899 --> 00:30:46.919 Let's pray.