WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400
 All right, thanks, Martin.

00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:06.299
 Yep, great song.

00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:10.120
 Emma says, me too, for favourite Colin song.

00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:15.620
 It's great to know that the Lord is not just in and among his world,

00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:17.300
 but this is his world.

00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:21.100
 It's a really encouraging thought, good reminder.

00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:26.019
 So I forgot to say in the hustle and bustle of me changing computers,

00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:28.940
 we're going to have the Lord's Supper after the sermon.

00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:34.539
 So if you don't yet, you may want to quickly grab some food

00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:36.240
 and drinks so that we can share that together.

00:00:37.160 --> 00:00:38.700
 So, yeah, try and have that ready.

00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:43.760
 But what we're going to do now is hear God's Word read to us

00:00:43.760 --> 00:00:45.560
 and then we'll have the kids talk after that.

00:00:45.700 --> 00:00:49.780
 So we'll go to Catherine for the Bible reading in Revelation 1

00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:52.859
 and then we'll cross to Don for the kids talk.

00:00:54.740 --> 00:00:55.180
 Okay.

00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.299
 Hi, everybody.

00:00:56.299 --> 00:00:59.579
 We're reading from Revelation 1.

00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:06.959
 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants

00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:09.060
 the things that must soon take place.

00:01:10.459 --> 00:01:13.959
 He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:19.739
 who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ,

00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:21.859
 even to all that he saw.

00:01:21.859 --> 00:01:27.239
 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy.

00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:34.200
 And blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it,

00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:36.340
 for the time is near.

00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:41.820
 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia.

00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:50.719
 Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.019
 and from the seven spirits who are before his throne

00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:58.919
 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,

00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:04.079
 the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of kings on earth.

00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:12.419
 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom,

00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:15.039
 priests to his God and Father.

00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:20.079
 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:21.060
 Amen.

00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:47.740
 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God,

00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:53.460
 who is and who was and who is to come.

00:02:54.100 --> 00:02:55.020
 The Almighty.

00:02:58.219 --> 00:03:03.140
 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom

00:03:03.140 --> 00:03:05.620
 and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,

00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:11.180
 was on the island called Patmos on account of the Word of God

00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:13.100
 and the testimony of Jesus.

00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:18.799
 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and I heard behind me

00:03:18.799 --> 00:03:22.419
 like a loud voice, like a trumpet, saying,

00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:27.579
 write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches,

00:03:28.419 --> 00:03:33.900
 to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira

00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:39.519
 and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:45.760
 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me

00:03:45.760 --> 00:03:49.620
 and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands

00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:53.600
 and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man,

00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:58.780
 clothes with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:03.640
 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.

00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:07.500
 His eyes were like a flame of fire.

00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:11.959
 His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace

00:04:11.959 --> 00:04:16.319
 and his voice was like the loud roar of many waters.

00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.879
 In his right hand he held seven stars.

00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:25.740
 From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword

00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:31.599
 and his face was like the sun, shining in full strength.

00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.680
 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

00:04:36.760 --> 00:04:39.520
 But he laid his right hand on me, saying,

00:04:40.200 --> 00:04:45.980
 fear not, I am the first and the last and the living one.

00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.420
 I died and behold, I'm alive forevermore

00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:54.620
 and I have the keys of death and Hades.

00:04:56.520 --> 00:04:59.300
 Write, therefore, the things that you've seen,

00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:04.079
 those that are and those that are to take place after this.

00:05:05.660 --> 00:05:09.300
 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand

00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:11.360
 and the seven golden lampstands,

00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:15.759
 the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches

00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.980
 and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:28.980
 So, after 11 weeks of churching online,

00:05:30.200 --> 00:05:31.700
 how are you feeling about it?

00:05:34.340 --> 00:05:37.460
 Perhaps you've been surprised how your thinking has changed

00:05:37.460 --> 00:05:39.100
 over the 11 weeks.

00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:40.060
 I certainly have.

00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:43.160
 So, initially, I was really quite fearful

00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:46.120
 that we would not even survive going online.

00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:50.639
 Everything that was familiar and comfortable was lost

00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.660
 in our face-to-face physical meeting.

00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:56.120
 But at some point, I'm not quite sure when,

00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:58.840
 but at some point I decided I quite like things as they are now.

00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:02.319
 And the reason, once I started to think about it,

00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:05.279
 is because it gives me so much control.

00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:09.939
 I realized that I can be at church on my terms,

00:06:10.479 --> 00:06:15.859
 engaging only with the bits I like or think worthwhile,

00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:17.959
 and then just getting up and doing other things

00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:19.659
 if I want to at other parts,

00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:23.000
 and speaking only to people I choose to speak to.

00:06:25.099 --> 00:06:28.359
 So, now I have changed, and I'm now quite fearful again.

00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:31.500
 I'm quite fearful that many actually won't want

00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:33.019
 to go back to physical meeting.

00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:36.339
 It's quite nice being in control, isn't it?

00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.879
 And doing just what you want.

00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:42.459
 So, the elders believe that the COVID-19 pandemic

00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:44.979
 has been a God-given opportunity

00:06:44.979 --> 00:06:48.379
 to reset our thinking and practice of church.

00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:51.859
 And so, what we want to do today through this series,

00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.219
 we want to start a church family conversation

00:06:54.219 --> 00:06:57.459
 shaped by the teaching of Revelation 1-3.

00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:02.419
 Going online was hard.

00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:04.659
 It was new territory for everyone.

00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:06.719
 None of us had experienced it.

00:07:06.919 --> 00:07:08.359
 None of us knew what it should look like.

00:07:08.859 --> 00:07:10.759
 And we had to decide quickly what was essential

00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:11.639
 and what wasn't.

00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:15.859
 I think resuming face-to-face meeting

00:07:15.859 --> 00:07:16.680
 will be even harder.

00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:19.500
 Because we all have experience.

00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:22.099
 We all have a personal bias

00:07:22.099 --> 00:07:25.240
 about what it should or could look like.

00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.960
 So, it's another opportunity to have a conversation

00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:31.019
 directed by God's Word.

00:07:34.220 --> 00:07:35.340
 So, the question then is,

00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:38.280
 will we be happy to resume physical meeting

00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:41.660
 simply by returning to what we've always done?

00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:44.040
 To what's familiar?

00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:45.620
 To what's comfortable?

00:07:45.620 --> 00:07:47.740
 If we do that,

00:07:48.340 --> 00:07:51.620
 that's actually resurrecting a culture of churching,

00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:55.060
 which might actually be quite mindless.

00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:56.740
 Now, of course,

00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:59.040
 some of our commitments and practices and thinking

00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:00.439
 may have been really good in the past,

00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:03.579
 and we need to be fighting for them into the future.

00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:05.120
 We don't want them to go.

00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.819
 But, likewise,

00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:09.759
 some of them may have been quite wrong

00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:12.120
 and need to be abandoned.

00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:15.439
 Over the next seven weeks,

00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:17.879
 we're going to zoom into the seven churches,

00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:19.240
 the letters of the seven churches.

00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:23.759
 But, imagine Jesus was zooming into our church today.

00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:25.620
 Of course, we know he is,

00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:28.120
 but let's just use the imagination for a minute.

00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.759
 What would Jesus have to say

00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.720
 about the shape and practices of our church?

00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.080
 What would Jesus have to say

00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:37.720
 about the passions and priorities

00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:40.480
 of individuals within our church?

00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.639
 What are our blind spots

00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:49.220
 in regard to what Christ calls us to in church?

00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:52.160
 You know, the things we don't want to do

00:08:52.160 --> 00:08:54.220
 because of the personal

00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:56.019
 or perhaps the financial cost.

00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.259
 The things we just don't like to do

00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:01.019
 because we don't like them.

00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:03.159
 The points at which maintaining

00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:04.319
 our personal autonomy

00:09:04.319 --> 00:09:08.360
 will override what Christ calls us to

00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:09.179
 as a church.

00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:13.559
 Those are big questions, aren't they?

00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:16.019
 They're confronting questions

00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:17.559
 to ask of ourselves

00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:19.120
 and to have others ask of us.

00:09:20.319 --> 00:09:21.019
 Or, again,

00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:24.419
 is it possible to have a vibrant spiritual life

00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:27.279
 that is to move closer to God

00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:29.979
 while only having loose attachment

00:09:29.979 --> 00:09:31.939
 to this community of Christ's people?

00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:33.799
 So, the question, in other words,

00:09:33.839 --> 00:09:36.500
 is what part does God mean

00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:37.759
 our church to have

00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.019
 in our spiritual growth?

00:09:41.719 --> 00:09:44.839
 Now, the way you answer these questions

00:09:44.839 --> 00:09:46.740
 will reflect your thinking.

00:09:47.079 --> 00:09:48.240
 Not a doubt about that.

00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:50.840
 But far more important

00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:53.460
 is what Christ thinks of his church.

00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:54.899
 And so we need to hear his thinking.

00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:56.960
 And on that,

00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.659
 let's turn to God's word in Revelation

00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:02.419
 and see how he answers these questions.

00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.799
 Now, moving into Revelation,

00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:06.159
 we need to get our bearings

00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:08.060
 by letting the text speak for itself.

00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:10.759
 Dave's already taken us well down this pathway

00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:11.480
 in his introduction.

00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:14.440
 So, the introduction makes clear,

00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:15.700
 the introduction to Revelation

00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:16.759
 makes clear that Revelation

00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:17.920
 is not a weird,

00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:19.480
 futuristic writing,

00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.720
 as many suggest today.

00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:23.320
 It's very plain.

00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:24.779
 In these first four verses,

00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:25.700
 how were to approach it?

00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:26.340
 How were to read it?

00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:26.820
 Verse one,

00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:27.820
 as Don said,

00:10:27.920 --> 00:10:30.279
 it's the revelation of Jesus Christ

00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.720
 which God gave him

00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.720
 to show his servants

00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:34.639
 the things that must soon take place.

00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.000
 The Greek word is apocalypse.

00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:40.220
 And that means,

00:10:40.300 --> 00:10:41.460
 as Don quite help,

00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:43.080
 it means to uncover

00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:44.500
 or reveal something

00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:45.620
 that was previously hidden.

00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:48.360
 Verse three,

00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.440
 we have this joint communique,

00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.100
 as it were,

00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:55.000
 from God the Father

00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.279
 and the Lord Jesus Christ

00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:59.120
 delivered by supernatural inspiration

00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:00.840
 through John the Apostle.

00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.680
 So, putting that all together,

00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.120
 what is it?

00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:05.220
 Well, Revelation is the story

00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:07.840
 of God's unfolding word

00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:10.340
 and plan of salvation

00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.180
 in Jesus Christ

00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:11.739
 and the gospel.

00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.279
 It's the story

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.779
 of God's unfolding plan

00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:16.519
 seen from God's perspective.

00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:18.479
 It's what I'm calling this morning

00:11:18.479 --> 00:11:19.799
 the inside story.

00:11:22.219 --> 00:11:23.500
 Now, look at verse two.

00:11:23.839 --> 00:11:24.379
 Why was it written?

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.059
 Well, it was written specifically

00:11:26.059 --> 00:11:28.199
 for the benefit of Christians

00:11:28.199 --> 00:11:30.299
 struggling to live faithfully

00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.559
 in a hostile world,

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.259
 including verse nine,

00:11:33.339 --> 00:11:34.519
 as Don's referred to,

00:11:34.599 --> 00:11:35.620
 John's own imprisonment.

00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:38.560
 So, it's meant to benefit now.

00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:41.259
 It's not some sort of futuristic formula.

00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.279
 And promises, therefore,

00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.120
 verse three,

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:49.679
 immediate blessing and comfort

00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:51.340
 for all who read it

00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:52.919
 and take it to heart.

00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:56.299
 So, it's a letter,

00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:58.959
 but it's more than just a letter.

00:11:58.959 --> 00:12:00.319
 Look at the introduction

00:12:00.319 --> 00:12:01.199
 that John gives

00:12:01.199 --> 00:12:02.959
 in verses four through to eight there.

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.379
 It's a picture book love letter

00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:06.199
 from Jesus

00:12:06.199 --> 00:12:07.519
 to his beloved people.

00:12:08.479 --> 00:12:09.519
 And his beloved people,

00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:10.319
 verse 11,

00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.599
 are described

00:12:11.599 --> 00:12:13.639
 as the seven churches

00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.839
 and the list of them there.

00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:17.220
 And seven in Revelation

00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:19.080
 always denotes completeness

00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:20.180
 or perfection.

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.300
 So, this is a way of Jesus saying,

00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:24.800
 I'm writing a love letter

00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:25.580
 from me

00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:28.080
 to my whole church,

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:29.120
 my complete church,

00:12:29.420 --> 00:12:30.680
 represented as it is

00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:32.080
 through these seven churches,

00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:32.940
 real churches,

00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:34.160
 in the time

00:12:34.160 --> 00:12:35.100
 that John was writing.

00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:37.960
 And when we look through

00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.100
 the way John

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:40.639
 brings the introduction

00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.840
 and introduces Jesus to us,

00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:43.200
 as it were,

00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:44.500
 through the introduction,

00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.540
 it's easy to feel

00:12:46.540 --> 00:12:48.480
 the calming influence

00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.040
 of Jesus' reassurance.

00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:53.780
 Look at the words there

00:12:53.780 --> 00:12:55.060
 in verses four and five.

00:12:55.420 --> 00:12:56.440
 It's as if Jesus is saying,

00:12:57.160 --> 00:12:58.100
 I loved you

00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.759
 before the world began.

00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.820
 I died for you

00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:04.220
 to make you my special people.

00:13:04.680 --> 00:13:06.360
 I will always be

00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:08.100
 a faithful witness of you.

00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:10.540
 I will never abandon you.

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.740
 I know your pain.

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.040
 I know your suffering.

00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.639
 I will come to you soon

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:17.559
 and your trust in me,

00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.399
 verse seven and eight,

00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:20.539
 will be vindicated before all.

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:25.240
 Now, we delight to get letters.

00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:26.339
 We delight to get those

00:13:26.339 --> 00:13:27.139
 sort of love letters,

00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.500
 those reassuring,

00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:30.500
 calming words,

00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.399
 calming to us

00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.539
 on paper.

00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.519
 And that's what this letter is.

00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:37.500
 It's a picture book love letter.

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.519
 Picture book because there's

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.500
 lots of images.

00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:42.039
 A picture book love letter

00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:42.659
 from Jesus.

00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:44.220
 Now, with that sort of introduction,

00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.799
 let's jump into the first picture.

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.220
 And the first picture is

00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:49.820
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:51.379
 and his church

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:53.039
 as seen from God's perspective.

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:55.039
 So, come with me

00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:55.480
 just for a minute

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.679
 in a bit of imagination

00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:58.240
 because I think this will help us

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.279
 get a handle

00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.399
 for what's happening in Revelation.

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.360
 I want you to imagine

00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.740
 you're a news reporter

00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:07.439
 and you're covering the launch

00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:10.000
 of a massive new architectural plan

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.759
 for the CBD of Newcastle.

00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.980
 So, there you are in the room

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:15.980
 and the future Newcastle CBD

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:18.039
 is under a large white sheet.

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:20.639
 What would you expect

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.720
 when the unveiling finally happens?

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.180
 Well, you would expect

00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.399
 multiple aspects

00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:29.139
 and components to the design

00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.200
 which are integrated

00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.379
 around an existing

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.940
 key feature of the city.

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.420
 All these things

00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:35.639
 would tie together

00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.420
 or unite

00:14:36.420 --> 00:14:37.899
 or give form

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.100
 to the overall design.

00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.500
 And you would immediately see

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.980
 that every part of the design

00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:43.639
 is important

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.060
 and interesting

00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:46.759
 but you can't possibly

00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:47.920
 write about them all at once.

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.399
 And so, the designer

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:53.779
 helps you

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.659
 by immediately

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.959
 directing your eyes

00:14:55.959 --> 00:14:57.620
 to the most dominant feature

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.100
 in the design

00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.759
 from which

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.000
 all other parts

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.759
 take their shape.

00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:04.959
 Well, friends,

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:06.579
 that's exactly

00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.299
 what happens

00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.500
 in the book of Revelation.

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.159
 Verse 10 and 11

00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:12.939
 the Spirit says to John

00:15:12.939 --> 00:15:13.620
 start writing.

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.299
 Start writing

00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:15.960
 as God

00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:17.279
 starts to roll

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.220
 back the sheet

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.699
 and reveal

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.940
 his word,

00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:21.680
 his plan

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:23.900
 as the inside story

00:15:23.900 --> 00:15:25.120
 from God's perspective.

00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:28.140
 And what immediately

00:15:28.140 --> 00:15:30.360
 captures John's attention

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.320
 is the centerpiece

00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:31.960
 of God's plan.

00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:32.980
 And what is it?

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.680
 Well, Jesus

00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:37.520
 and his consuming passion

00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:39.060
 his church.

00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.580
 In verse 10

00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:43.060
 John startled

00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:46.300
 and pushed into work

00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:48.740
 by a commanding voice.

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.659
 Get writing, John.

00:15:52.219 --> 00:15:53.079
 And in verse 12

00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:54.339
 when John turns

00:15:54.339 --> 00:15:54.959
 to see

00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:55.719
 who the voice

00:15:55.719 --> 00:15:56.839
 is coming from

00:15:56.839 --> 00:15:59.159
 he sees

00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.099
 verse 12

00:16:00.099 --> 00:16:00.799
 a circle

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:03.039
 of golden lampstands

00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:04.699
 seven lampstands.

00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.299
 Now that's

00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:06.439
 Old Testament imagery

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:08.120
 symbolizing

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.139
 Christ's

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:09.939
 complete church

00:16:09.939 --> 00:16:10.639
 represented by

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.339
 these local

00:16:11.339 --> 00:16:12.979
 seven local churches.

00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:15.879
 and in the center

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.039
 of the church

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.060
 is none other

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:19.700
 than the Lord

00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.759
 Jesus Christ

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.320
 described here

00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.720
 as one like a son of man

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.960
 emphasizing again

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.340
 in Old Testament imagery

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.200
 his unlimited

00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.080
 power

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.340
 and wisdom.

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.840
 Now this is the same

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.320
 Jesus

00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:34.200
 that John

00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.120
 introduced us to

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.159
 in verses 48.

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.600
 John introduces

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.220
 us as

00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:39.639
 Jesus

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.560
 God's

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:40.899
 King

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.579
 and Savior

00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:42.559
 Jesus

00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:43.299
 who controls

00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.240
 every detail

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:44.939
 of his universe

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.240
 sweeping away

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.159
 with a word of judgment

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.139
 any who dare

00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:48.919
 to oppose him.

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.039
 This Jesus

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.959
 who ultimately

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.379
 everyone will

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:53.939
 recognize

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.539
 verse 7

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.439
 as he truly is.

00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.340
 So John

00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.539
 starts to see

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:02.159
 what's at the center

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.740
 of God's plan

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.779
 and purpose

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.539
 for his world

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:07.180
 the unlimited

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.000
 power

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.799
 and wisdom

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.519
 of Jesus

00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:11.980
 but it's

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.660
 more focused

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.180
 than that

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.539
 because his

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.339
 total focus

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.500
 of the Lord

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:16.819
 Jesus

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.279
 is on his church

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.960
 the community

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.920
 of his

00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.639
 died for

00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.099
 people.

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.779
 In verse 16

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:26.259
 in his right hand

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.740
 he held

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.619
 seven stars

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:29.099
 from his mouth

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:29.799
 came a sharp

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.900
 two-edged sword

00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:32.559
 and his face

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.460
 was like the sun

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.119
 shining

00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:35.099
 in full strength.

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:37.379
 again

00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:38.699
 picture language

00:17:38.699 --> 00:17:39.659
 upon picture language

00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:40.740
 Jesus

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.759
 holds

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.719
 his church

00:17:42.719 --> 00:17:43.719
 his community

00:17:43.719 --> 00:17:45.159
 of died for

00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:45.539
 people

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.500
 in his hand

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.819
 securely

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.359
 and their

00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:49.959
 object

00:17:49.959 --> 00:17:51.039
 their purpose

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.480
 in life

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.939
 to reflect

00:17:52.939 --> 00:17:53.500
 his light

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.240
 their stars

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.659
 reflecting the light

00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.759
 the beauty

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.519
 and the hope

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.259
 of the sun

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.939
 into

00:17:59.939 --> 00:18:00.859
 the darkness

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.480
 of the world

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:04.019
 and his

00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.759
 every word

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.460
 this two-edged

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:05.740
 sword

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.839
 his every word

00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:08.220
 is designed

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.019
 to protect

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.259
 them.

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.579
 It's a wonderful

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.039
 picture

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.759
 of this

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.420
 unlimited

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.180
 power and

00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:16.500
 wisdom

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.799
 being totally

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.700
 focused on

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.779
 and applied

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.500
 to

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.480
 and available

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.180
 for

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.740
 the community

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.279
 of his

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.779
 died for

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.059
 people.

00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:25.480
 That's what

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.279
 Jesus is about.

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.700
 It's a beautiful

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.559
 picture and yet

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:30.000
 there's another

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.799
 aspect to the

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.079
 picture.

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.460
 This Jesus

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.200
 is so

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.839
 awesome

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.200
 so

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.899
 confronting

00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:38.240
 that he's

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.000
 not to be

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.500
 messed with.

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.240
 Look at verse

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.720
 17.

00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:41.980
 As soon as

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.659
 John even

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.519
 gets a glimpse

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:43.960
 of this

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.819
 awesome Jesus

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.299
 he collapses.

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.440
 He just

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.079
 cannot

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.019
 stand

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.099
 in front

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.419
 of this

00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:50.799
 person.

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.500
 How's it

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:53.799
 going to go

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.220
 from here?

00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.460
 Well

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.659
 look at the

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.179
 tenderness.

00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.460
 This same

00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.940
 Jesus tenderly

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.740
 helps John

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.120
 back to his

00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:03.380
 feet.

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.980
 Not just

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.400
 helping him

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:05.860
 back to his

00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.440
 feet but

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.340
 speaks to him

00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:08.319
 reassuringly.

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.539
 Fear not.

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:11.559
 Get on

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:11.799
 with the

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.360
 job that

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:12.720
 I've set

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:12.940
 you to

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.059
 do.

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.460
 Get on

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.700
 with the

00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.200
 job of

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.960
 writing down

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.079
 the inside

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.840
 story as

00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:18.019
 I peel

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.940
 back the

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.700
 layers and

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.240
 let you

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.740
 see the

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.700
 world and

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.120
 God's

00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:22.640
 purpose from

00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:22.940
 God's

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.380
 perspective.

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.559
 Friends,

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.400
 the message

00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.200
 is simple

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.280
 but profound

00:19:31.280 --> 00:19:31.920
 in all

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.460
 its imagery.

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.940
 Viewed from

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.420
 God's

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.000
 perspective,

00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.220
 it is the

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.080
 Lord Jesus

00:19:38.080 --> 00:19:38.880
 and his

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.540
 church that

00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:41.300
 is central

00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:42.019
 to God's

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.519
 purpose in

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:42.960
 this world.

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:44.560
 Put it in

00:19:44.560 --> 00:19:45.120
 different words.

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:46.519
 I don't think

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.140
 it's too much

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.640
 to say that

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:49.620
 nothing is

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.560
 more important

00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:51.100
 to Jesus

00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:51.900
 than his

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.320
 church.

00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.080
 Put it in a

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.320
 couple of

00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:55.660
 questions.

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.800
 What was

00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:57.640
 Jesus doing

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.019
 when he

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.600
 came into

00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.140
 this world?

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.140
 Well, if you

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.480
 go back

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:00.820
 through the

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.240
 Gospels,

00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:01.680
 it's very

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.259
 clear that

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.900
 Jesus came

00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:03.840
 to establish

00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.980
 and build

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.720
 his church.

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.420
 Then we

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:08.720
 ask, well,

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.300
 what's Jesus

00:20:09.300 --> 00:20:09.880
 doing now

00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.180
 that he's

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:10.620
 returned to

00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:11.420
 heaven in

00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:11.680
 all his

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.060
 glory?

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.200
 Well,

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:13.720
 Revelation

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.259
 tells us

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.680
 he is still

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.240
 building his

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:17.720
 church.

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.840
 He's totally

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:20.500
 focused on

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.500
 building and

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.740
 protecting his

00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.140
 church.

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.079
 The base

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.779
 of operations

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.359
 for Jesus

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.059
 has changed,

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.819
 but the

00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:30.420
 operation

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.180
 remains the

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.420
 same.

00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.120
 And woven

00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.900
 into all

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.559
 that imagery

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:37.039
 is our

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.420
 identity.

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:37.960
 If you look

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.259
 at verse

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:38.680
 20,

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.180
 as for the

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.900
 mystery of

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.420
 the seven

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.440
 stars that

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.960
 you saw in

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.339
 my right

00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:43.539
 hand,

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.240
 the seven

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.920
 golden lamp

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.180
 stands,

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.620
 the seven

00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:46.620
 stars are

00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.200
 the angels

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.680
 of the seven

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.120
 churches,

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.440
 and the

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:48.960
 seven lamp

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.940
 stands are

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.339
 the seven

00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:50.779
 churches.

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.099
 Now,

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:52.779
 verse 20

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.160
 is a sort

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:53.680
 of strange

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:53.899
 verse.

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.579
 There's an

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.160
 intense

00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.720
 cluster of

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.240
 imagery.

00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.660
 For what

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:58.960
 purpose?

00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.440
 Well,

00:20:59.460 --> 00:20:59.819
 it actually

00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.799
 shifts the

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.759
 spotlight onto

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.399
 Christ's

00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:02.740
 church.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.440
 So far,

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.079
 it's been on

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.839
 Christ himself

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.359
 in the center

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:05.599
 of the

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:05.799
 church.

00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.480
 Now,

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.519
 it spotlights

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.579
 or highlights

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.279
 the church

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.740
 itself.

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.379
 It's a

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:10.899
 transition

00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:12.160
 verse into

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:12.899
 chapters two

00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.299
 and three.

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.119
 Now,

00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.440
 the word

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.000
 angel here

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.420
 in verse

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.440
 20 is the

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.220
 word messenger.

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:19.899
 So,

00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.319
 to be honest,

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.899
 it's not

00:21:20.899 --> 00:21:21.839
 entirely sure

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.339
 how we

00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.779
 should read

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.319
 this imagery

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.720
 in all

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.259
 its detail.

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.579
 It may

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.319
 be the

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.119
 completeness

00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.039
 of Christ's

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.399
 church,

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.980
 including the

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.599
 leaders or

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.159
 the pastors

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:31.559
 of those

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:31.819
 churches.

00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.099
 In other

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.220
 words,

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.639
 the angels

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.099
 might be

00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.679
 the pastors

00:21:33.679 --> 00:21:34.000
 of the

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.299
 church.

00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:35.939
 Or,

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:36.859
 it may

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.619
 be imagery

00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:39.099
 that speaks

00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.519
 of the

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.159
 importance

00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:41.319
 of Christ's

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.619
 church,

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.399
 so that

00:21:42.399 --> 00:21:42.879
 even the

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.159
 heavenly

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:43.799
 beings,

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.939
 angels,

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.700
 taking the

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.099
 angels at

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.619
 face value,

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.980
 are tasked

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:49.240
 with guarding

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.079
 and protecting

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.700
 Christ's

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.140
 church on

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.380
 earth.

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.319
 Now,

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:52.839
 I favor that

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:53.579
 second option

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.180
 personally.

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.440
 I think it's

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.059
 an easier way

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.660
 to go with.

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.079
 It means there's

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.579
 lots we don't

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:58.980
 understand,

00:21:59.099 --> 00:21:59.519
 but what it

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.220
 does give us

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.960
 is that sense

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.440
 of importance.

00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:02.259
 Even the

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.559
 heavenly

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.620
 beings are

00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.120
 reflecting

00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:06.880
 Christ's focus

00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.740
 and sense of

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.299
 importance in

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.620
 the church,

00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.120
 because they

00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:10.240
 too have been

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.240
 assigned to

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.819
 guard and

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.960
 protect Christ's

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.380
 church on

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:13.620
 earth.

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.359
 Either way,

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:15.720
 it doesn't

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.180
 really matter.

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.759
 Either way,

00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.299
 the focus

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.279
 moves to

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.779
 Christ's

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.200
 church on

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.420
 earth,

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.720
 the community

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.220
 have died

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.820
 for people,

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.259
 his renewed

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.279
 resurrection

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.100
 community that

00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:25.560
 we saw in

00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.120
 John's gospel

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.640
 just a few

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.140
 weeks ago,

00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:28.519
 a community

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.480
 already greeted

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.440
 so warmly

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.340
 in verses

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:31.860
 48.

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.740
 And what

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.019
 does the

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.340
 spotlight

00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:34.779
 emphasize?

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:35.980
 Well,

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.519
 it emphasizes

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.220
 our identity.

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:38.600
 Now,

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.220
 hear this

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.580
 really,

00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.299
 really carefully.

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.820
 We,

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.600
 as Christians,

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.259
 are not

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.460
 simply part

00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:45.859
 of the

00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.259
 church.

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.059
 We're not

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.519
 simply

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.680
 involved in

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.079
 church.

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.279
 We are

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:54.879
 the church

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.559
 of Christ.

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.900
 How so?

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.240
 By virtue

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.079
 of being

00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.819
 in Christ.

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:00.879
 When we're

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.200
 converted,

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.859
 when we come

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.779
 into Christ,

00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:03.940
 we come

00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.420
 into church.

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.000
 We are

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.500
 the church

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.079
 of Christ.

00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.059
 The two

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.000
 are inseparable.

00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.019
 The connection

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.879
 is inseparable.

00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:12.879
 And here's

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.319
 how it works.

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:13.579
 You see,

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.240
 God's

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.659
 purpose,

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.159
 contrary to

00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:15.379
 what we

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:15.879
 often think

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.379
 these days,

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.220
 God's

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.779
 purpose was

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.000
 never simply

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.839
 to save

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.919
 individuals.

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.000
 His purpose

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.799
 was always

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.519
 to save

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.319
 individuals

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.159
 into a

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:27.839
 new kingdom,

00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:28.599
 a new

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.199
 community

00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:30.240
 of people

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.960
 reflecting

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:32.259
 the character

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.679
 of their

00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:33.119
 king and

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.379
 savior,

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.419
 reflecting

00:23:34.419 --> 00:23:35.519
 their high

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.460
 priest,

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.319
 Jesus.

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.480
 Friends,

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:40.960
 we are

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.359
 defined by

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.119
 our relationship

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.959
 with God

00:23:43.959 --> 00:23:45.719
 through Jesus.

00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:47.359
 We're

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.019
 defined by

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.759
 being in

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.039
 Christ.

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:49.919
 We are

00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:51.199
 defined as

00:23:51.199 --> 00:23:51.859
 the church,

00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.579
 the resurrection

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.519
 community of

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.019
 the Lord Jesus

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.500
 Christ.

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.059
 Now,

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.439
 let's get

00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:59.559
 some enormous

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:01.500
 confronting

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.859
 implications.

00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:04.959
 We should

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:06.119
 never allow

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.819
 ourselves to

00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.519
 think of

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:09.099
 church as

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.740
 a responsibility.

00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:13.299
 that is,

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.900
 we should

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.500
 never allow

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:14.940
 ourselves to

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.259
 think of

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:15.620
 church as

00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:15.900
 something

00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:16.440
 Christians

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.099
 have to

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.039
 do or

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.539
 have to

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.160
 be involved

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.460
 in.

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.620
 Church is

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.339
 what defines

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.279
 us, the

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.660
 resurrection

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.480
 community of

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.740
 Jesus, who

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.839
 by identity

00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.920
 reflect the

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.420
 light of

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.880
 Jesus into

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.420
 our dark

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.759
 world.

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.140
 So,

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.900
 we pursue

00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.579
 the implication

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.059
 of this.

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:38.319
 well, it's

00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.079
 no surprise

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.879
 that the

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.539
 Lord Jesus,

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.200
 the head of

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.759
 the church,

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.480
 that like

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:42.799
 the Lord

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.220
 Jesus, the

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.419
 head of

00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:43.700
 the church,

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:45.240
 we also

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.119
 are to

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.879
 have one

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.899
 consuming

00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.599
 passion,

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.359
 and that

00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:50.720
 is to

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.079
 reflect

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.899
 Christ's

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.519
 passion for

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.980
 his church.

00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:53.579
 And that's

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.099
 what Revelation

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.679
 2 and 3

00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.019
 is about,

00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.240
 and we're

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.359
 going to

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:55.659
 see that

00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:55.919
 over the

00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.359
 next seven

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:56.599
 weeks.

00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:56.759
 We're

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:56.980
 going to

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.500
 look at

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.779
 each of

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.039
 these

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.619
 churches

00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.379
 individually.

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:01.440
 And with

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.040
 the same

00:25:02.040 --> 00:25:02.940
 commanding

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.420
 voice,

00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.280
 Jesus speaks

00:25:04.280 --> 00:25:04.620
 to his

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.080
 church.

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.300
 He speaks

00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:06.660
 to the

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.020
 churches

00:25:07.020 --> 00:25:08.220
 in chapters

00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:09.000
 2 and

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.300
 3.

00:25:09.780 --> 00:25:10.400
 What does

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:10.660
 he have

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.040
 to say?

00:25:11.280 --> 00:25:11.680
 Well, just

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.140
 very, very

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.620
 briefly, and

00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:12.940
 we'll dig

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:13.280
 into the

00:25:13.280 --> 00:25:13.780
 details over

00:25:13.780 --> 00:25:14.060
 the next

00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:14.600
 seven weeks.

00:25:15.260 --> 00:25:16.500
 He demands

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.620
 that his

00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.980
 church reflect

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.560
 his own

00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:21.340
 character in

00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:21.960
 terms of

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.520
 witness,

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.840
 purity,

00:25:25.780 --> 00:25:26.400
 and maturity.

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:27.820
 That is,

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.920
 he demands

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.259
 that his

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.920
 church reflect

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.220
 his own

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.620
 character,

00:25:31.060 --> 00:25:31.740
 both in

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.519
 proclaiming

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.340
 and modelling

00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:34.580
 the mind

00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.140
 of Christ.

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:38.060
 As he is

00:25:38.060 --> 00:25:38.539
 the faithful

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.120
 witness to

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.980
 us, back

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.380
 to chapter

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:40.880
 1, verse

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.620
 5, so

00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.600
 he demands

00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:44.220
 his church

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.779
 should be a

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.539
 faithful witness

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:47.100
 to him as

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.900
 king and

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.860
 saviour in

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.480
 God's world.

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.920
 As he is

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.640
 pure and

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:55.039
 holy, so

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.660
 he demands

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.320
 his church

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:57.519
 should aspire

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.300
 to be pure

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.039
 and mature

00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.940
 in action,

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.299
 demonstrating

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.099
 truth and

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.379
 unity.

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.680
 Remember,

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.159
 so that

00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:03.740
 repeatedly

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.079
 through

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.500
 John's

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:04.839
 gospel,

00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:05.960
 truth and

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.579
 unity within

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.319
 the church

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.779
 and before

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.299
 the watching

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.720
 world.

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.680
 Friends,

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.039
 therefore,

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.940
 it is never

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.599
 enough to

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.480
 say we are

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.919
 Christians.

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.220
 We need to

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.879
 demonstrate

00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:21.240
 that we are

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.659
 Christ.

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.960
 and as we

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.680
 demonstrate

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.300
 that, then

00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:26.540
 we are the

00:26:26.540 --> 00:26:27.019
 church

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:29.680
 reflecting the

00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.380
 passion of

00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:31.779
 Jesus into

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.340
 his dark

00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:32.680
 world.

00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:36.940
 We'll see

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.240
 over the

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.840
 coming weeks

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:39.200
 that Jesus

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.220
 knows all

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.680
 about the

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.500
 external trials

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.180
 as people have

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.900
 to face daily.

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.320
 They're in the

00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:44.360
 middle of serious

00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:45.560
 persecution from

00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:45.980
 the Roman

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.800
 authorities at

00:26:47.800 --> 00:26:48.320
 this particular

00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:48.740
 time.

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.180
 And Jesus

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.799
 is well aware

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.019
 of that.

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.759
 We'll see

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.120
 that as we

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.420
 look into

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:52.819
 these letters.

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.359
 But here's

00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.120
 the rub.

00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.740
 Jesus sees

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.200
 an even

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.299
 greater danger

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.000
 facing his

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.400
 church.

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.319
 Something even

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:02.000
 more dangerous

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.940
 than persecution

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.620
 and loss of

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.000
 life.

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.700
 What's that?

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.339
 Well,

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.380
 Jesus sees

00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:09.759
 the danger

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.819
 of compromise.

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.279
 Compromise on

00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:12.880
 the inside,

00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.019
 in attitudes

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.960
 and desires

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.740
 and thinking

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:17.039
 which drive

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.660
 their actions.

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:20.940
 So at one

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.580
 point in

00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.120
 chapters 2

00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:22.420
 and 3

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.960
 as Jesus

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.340
 speaks into

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:24.960
 his church,

00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:26.420
 at one

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.779
 point he

00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.360
 doesn't hold

00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:27.800
 back.

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:28.700
 He's

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.259
 confronting

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.920
 and exposing

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:32.080
 bad attitudes,

00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.440
 wrong desires.

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.660
 He's calling

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.400
 out shallow

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.180
 displays of

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.640
 loyalty,

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.900
 lacking true

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.900
 substance in

00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.320
 the heart.

00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:41.980
 And friends,

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.420
 over the next

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.019
 seven weeks,

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.640
 we need to

00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.320
 make sure that

00:27:45.320 --> 00:27:46.860
 we are in

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.459
 a position

00:27:47.459 --> 00:27:48.059
 to hear

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.679
 his word

00:27:48.679 --> 00:27:49.179
 speak to

00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.740
 us and

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.099
 speak to

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.399
 our heart

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:51.359
 and that

00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:51.679
 we are

00:27:51.679 --> 00:27:52.459
 willing to

00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:53.079
 have Jesus

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.879
 speak to

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.319
 us and

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.719
 speak to

00:27:54.719 --> 00:27:55.179
 our hearts.

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.179
 Otherwise,

00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:56.979
 nothing will

00:27:56.979 --> 00:27:57.399
 change.

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.279
 But at

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.919
 another point,

00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:02.059
 Jesus speaks

00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.539
 into his

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:02.879
 church,

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.759
 offering words

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.379
 of encouragement

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:04.879
 and hope,

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.099
 and he calls

00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.599
 his people to

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.459
 press on in

00:28:07.459 --> 00:28:08.099
 truth and

00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.519
 unity,

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.599
 in spite of

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:09.979
 genuine

00:28:09.979 --> 00:28:10.859
 hardships in

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.319
 this world.

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.319
 words of

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.919
 encouragement

00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.639
 and

00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.319
 encouragement.

00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.779
 And friends,

00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:16.480
 we need to

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.599
 make sure we

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.480
 hear both

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.539
 equally,

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.240
 words of

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.720
 encouragement,

00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.240
 but words of

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.299
 confrontation and

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.279
 exposure also.

00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.439
 And there's

00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:27.039
 another thing we

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.460
 need to be

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:27.980
 aware of.

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.919
 We need to

00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.539
 be aware of

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.359
 reading Jesus'

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.119
 words to the

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.799
 seven churches

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.599
 comparatively.

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.819
 So our

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.419
 temptation, I

00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:36.899
 think, is

00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:37.200
 that we'll

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.419
 identify with

00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.339
 the circumstances

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.480
 or failings

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.000
 of one

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.819
 church and

00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.399
 then dismiss

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:43.759
 the other.

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.139
 So in other

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:44.480
 words, we'll

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.119
 try and see

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.240
 G-E-C-N as

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.799
 one of those

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.579
 seven churches.

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.339
 But that's

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.740
 not how they're

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.139
 to be read

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.139
 because they're

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:51.839
 typical, they're

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.740
 representative, so

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.439
 we should read

00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.019
 them as

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.579
 representing the

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.599
 typical sin which

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.379
 might pop up in

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.259
 any church at

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.919
 any time,

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.399
 including ours,

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.339
 in 2020,

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.639
 unless we stay

00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:03.299
 focused on what

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.819
 we're meant to

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.379
 be as Christ

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:04.799
 Church.

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.259
 There's a real

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.000
 problem if we

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.400
 read them

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.059
 comparatively.

00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:11.859
 And what will

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.299
 happen if we

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.720
 read them

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.700
 comparatively is

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.500
 that the level

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.380
 of passion we

00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.339
 are aiming for

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:18.859
 will be one

00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.880
 we set for

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.480
 ourselves.

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.660
 And it'll

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.200
 work because

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.960
 we'll allow

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.539
 ourselves to

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.359
 feel good about

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.740
 ourselves relative

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.339
 to other

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:27.680
 churches.

00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:28.640
 Well, we

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.359
 might have this

00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.099
 particular sin

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.440
 that we need

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:30.859
 to deal with,

00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:31.859
 but boy, we're

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.059
 sure not guilty

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.779
 of those things

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.339
 that those other

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.819
 churches were

00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.400
 guilty of.

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.140
 And so we

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:38.059
 set the bar

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:39.039
 according to

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.559
 how we think

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.720
 we're performing

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:43.579
 in relation to

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.259
 other churches.

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.919
 Rather than

00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:49.559
 looking for the

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.839
 bar of Christ's

00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:52.839
 passion and

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:54.359
 his demand for

00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:55.440
 unity and truth

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.019
 and authentic

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.099
 living as

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.779
 Christians in

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.119
 community.

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.919
 It's Christ's

00:29:59.919 --> 00:30:01.399
 word that needs

00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:02.659
 to inform and

00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:03.779
 direct and shape

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.759
 our conversation

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:06.200
 moving forward

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.420
 as a church.

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.700
 But let me

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.200
 leave you with

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.920
 this thought as

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.539
 we begin to

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.400
 transition back

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:12.859
 to physical

00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:13.180
 meeting.

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:16.319
 And it's

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.339
 two options

00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:17.980
 for asking

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.640
 the question.

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.759
 Each option

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.700
 reveals something

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.440
 quite severe.

00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:26.440
 Here it goes.

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:26.940
 Here it goes.

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.339
 Do you ask,

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.740
 where does

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.660
 God and the

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.740
 church fit into

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:33.059
 my life or

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.759
 work or

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.079
 leisure?

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.559
 I'll repeat

00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:35.819
 that.

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.559
 Do you ask,

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.359
 where does

00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.980
 God and the

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.599
 church fit into

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.539
 my life or

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.039
 work or

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.359
 leisure?

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.099
 When the

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:43.839
 real question

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.440
 should be,

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.500
 how does my

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.319
 life reflect

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.480
 Christ's passion

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.240
 for his church

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.279
 as the

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.539
 defining point

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.000
 of my

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.400
 existence?

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.540
 existence?

00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:54.780
 How does

00:30:54.780 --> 00:30:56.100
 my life reflect

00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:57.220
 Christ's passion

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:57.960
 for his church

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.800
 as the

00:30:58.800 --> 00:30:59.540
 defining point

00:30:59.540 --> 00:30:59.820
 of my

00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:00.180
 existence?

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.000
 Well,

00:31:02.040 --> 00:31:02.220
 friends,

00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:02.720
 I hope the

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.600
 conversation opens

00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:04.140
 up over the

00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:05.100
 next few weeks

00:31:05.100 --> 00:31:05.759
 directed by

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.300
 God's word.

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:07.920
 But in the

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.300
 meantime,

00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:09.000
 thank you very

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.380
 much for

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.060
 listening to me.

00:31:10.280 --> 00:31:10.980
 Back to Dave

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.220
 again.

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.080
 Thank you.

00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:12.120
 Thank you.

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:12.160
 Thank you.

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.200
 Thank you.

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:16.120
 Thank you.

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.160
 Thank you.

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:17.160
 Thank you.

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:18.120
 Thank you.

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:18.160
 Thank you.

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.660
 Thank you.

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.160
 Thank you.

00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:19.200
 Thank you.

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.120
 Thank you.

00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:20.200
 Thank you.

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.220
 Thank you.

00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.620
 Thank you.

00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.160
 Thank you.

00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.120
 Thank you.