WEBVTT

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 So we're reading from Revelation chapter 3, verses 7 to 13,

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 to the church in Philadelphia.

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 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

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 the words of the Holy One, the true one, who has the key of David,

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 who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

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 I know your works.

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 Behold, I have set before you an open door,

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 which no one is able to shut.

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 I know that you have but little power,

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 and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

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 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan,

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 who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie.

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 Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet,

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 and they will learn that I have loved you.

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 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance,

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 I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.

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 to try those who dwell on the earth.

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 I am coming soon.

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 Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

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 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

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 Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God,

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 and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem,

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 which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

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 Here who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 Now, I've just connected the microphone.

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 So, Ian and Beck Mathias, I can see you.

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 Thumbs up?

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 Yep, okay, you can hear me.

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 Fantastic.

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 Okay, well, we're going to be looking at Revelation 3, verses 7 to 13.

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 Now, it is tough being on the outside.

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 I remember the experience some years ago of sitting in a room with about six colleagues,

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 those I'd worked with for about three or four years,

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 and sharing my side of the story,

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 and realising that none of them believed me,

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 none of them would support me,

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 and that within that team,

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 I was now completely and utterly marginalised.

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 Well, maybe you've had an experience like that in the workplace or another scenario.

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 I think all of us, at some time or another,

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 have had an experience like that.

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 Perhaps in a social situation,

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 where you've felt awkward and uninvited,

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 and people have avoided speaking to you.

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 Perhaps it's in the playground.

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 Everyone else is involved in a game,

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 but you were all alone.

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 Sorry, here we go.

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 Perhaps at work,

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 shut out from the decision-making process.

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 Perhaps it's an experience to do with your family situation,

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 living in a broken family,

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 or an experience of singleness or infertility,

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 where you feel excluded.

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 You're excluded from the joy that you see others experiencing.

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 Perhaps it's at church.

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 You feel like everyone else at church has close relationships,

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 except for you.

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 You know the hurt,

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 and the loneliness,

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 and the powerlessness,

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 and the fear of being on the outside.

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 One of the most painful experiences in life

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 is simply to be left outside.

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 In the world's eyes,

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 the Christians in Philadelphia were on the outside.

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 Now, we're not told what was going on in the Philadelphian church,

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 but of the seven churches that John addresses in Revelation,

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 that Jesus addresses in Revelation chapters two to three,

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 Philadelphia is one of only two,

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 which receives no criticism,

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 no rebuke.

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 The other Smyrna.

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 Jesus finds no fault with them.

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 Instead,

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 he commends them repeatedly for their faithfulness.

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 In verse eight,

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 Jesus says,

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 you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

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 Verse 10,

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 you have kept my word about patient endurance.

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 That is,

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 they had endured patiently,

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 just as Jesus commanded.

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 However,

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 this faithfulness had come in the face of struggles.

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 Verse eight,

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 they were weak.

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 Jesus says to them,

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 I know that you have but little power.

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 Verse nine,

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 they were persecuted by those Jesus calls the synagogue of Satan.

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 That is by the Jewish community in Philadelphia.

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 Now,

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 again,

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 we're not told what form this persecution took,

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 but I think there are two possibilities and it may have involved either or

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 both of these.

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 The first of the possibilities is that the persecution involved exclusion from

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 the synagogue.

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 We know that many first century Christians were Jews or were God fearing Gentiles who had

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 previously associated with a synagogue and faith in Jesus frequently led to

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 exclusion from this community that they had formerly been part of.

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 But it may have been even more serious than that because within the Roman Empire,

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 Jews had some legal protections to practice the exclusive worship of Yahweh.

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 And it's possible,

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 perhaps even likely that some Jews in Philadelphia had brought accusations about the

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 Christians to the Roman authorities,

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 exposed them to prosecution for refusing to worship the Roman Emperor.

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 Whatever the precise nature of the persecution they faced,

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 here was a small struggling church.

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 It was a minority fringe,

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 minority on the fringe of society,

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 a church on the outside.

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 Now,

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 perhaps you personally are going through something like the Philadelphians.

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 You feel the pressure of being a small minority.

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 You're battered and weary in your Christian life.

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 Your strength is flagging and it feels like you're just barely hanging on by your

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 fingernails.

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 Well,

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 there's an important encouragement for you in these verses.

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 Of course,

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 that won't be everyone here.

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 Some may be new Christians in the full flush of enthusiasm thinking,

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 what's fantastic to be a Christian?

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 Well,

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 if that's you,

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 that's great.

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 But I think these words will still encourage you.

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 But for others,

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 for who are facing,

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 who are finding the Christian life,

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 a real uphill battle,

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 these words of Jesus today should have special significance for you.

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 Jesus speaks to those who are on the outside in the world to assure them that they are on the inside with God.

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 You see,

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 a far greater tragedy than being on the outside in the world,

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 much worse is to be shut outside of the city of God.

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 You know,

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 that the glorious city of John's vision in Revelation chapter 21,

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 the new Jerusalem,

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 where there'll be no more death and mourning and crying or pain because we'll be with God and God will be with us.

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 Far worse,

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 far more terrible,

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 indeed terrifying is to be shut out of that city.

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 But for the faithful Philadelphian church and for all who keep Jesus' word,

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 Jesus speaks in Revelation chapter 3,

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 not to terrify,

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 but to strengthen and to encourage and fill with hope.

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 Now,

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 we won't be able to look at everything in Revelation chapter 3 and Jesus' words to the Philadelphian church.

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 But in particular,

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 we're going to look at four striking images,

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 four striking images,

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 the key,

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 the door,

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 the crown,

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 and the pillar.

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 Now,

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 none of these images is particularly unusual for us.

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 They basically mean what we expect them to.

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 But I want to suggest,

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 perhaps if you're one of our younger members listening along this morning,

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 these are the four things to listen out for,

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 the key,

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 the door,

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 the crown,

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 the pillar.

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 And maybe if you're in,

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 you know,

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 in primary school or,

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 it might,

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 it'll help you remember,

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 why not draw a picture of each one

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 and try and write down a few words

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 about what each of them means.

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 They're the four things.

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 So let's look at each in turn.

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 First,

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 the key,

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 the key.

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 Jesus says in verse 7,

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 and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia,

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 write,

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 the words of the Holy One,

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 the true one.

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 Now,

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 we'll get to the key in a moment,

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 but first,

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 holy and true.

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 These are Old Testament descriptions of God.

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 God is the Holy One.

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 God is the true one.

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 Here,

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 Jesus addresses the Philadelphian church

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 as the second person of the Trinity,

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 as the one who,

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 together with the Father and the Spirit,

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 shares all the perfections of the divine nature.

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 He speaks to us as the Holy One.

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 He speaks to us as the true one.

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 And so every word from his mouth

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 is likewise holy and true.

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 No word of Jesus is unworthy.

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 No word of Jesus can fail.

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 With that in mind,

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 let's consider what Jesus says

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 in the second half of verse 7.

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 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia,

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 write,

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 the words of the Holy One,

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 the true one,

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 who has the key of David,

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 who opens and no one will shut,

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 who shuts and no one will open.

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 Jesus has the key of David.

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 Now,

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 what does this mean?

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 Well,

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 a key is a symbol of authority.

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 So there's a 21st birthday custom.

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 I don't know if it's practiced as much now,

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 but it was when I was younger.

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 21st birthday custom

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 where parents will give their 21-year-old son or daughter

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 a key.

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 And it symbolizes that

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 now they've come to maturity.

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 Now they hold new authority.

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 Traditionally,

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 it was the key to the family home.

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 But now they hold a new authority

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 in the family home.

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 The key to the front door.

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 They may come and go as they please.

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 Well,

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 the biblical symbolism is similar.

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 The specific metaphor,

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 the key of David,

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 comes from Isaiah chapter 22.

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 And in Isaiah chapter 22,

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 the one who holds the key to the house of David

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 is the steward who's in charge of the palace.

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 He controls access to the royal city.

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 He controls access to the royal house.

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 He opens to let people in.

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 He shuts to keep people out.

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 Here in Revelation chapter 3,

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 Jesus says,

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 I hold the key.

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 Jesus is the one who can let you in,

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 into the city of God,

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 into the royal house,

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 into the presence of God

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 and God's king.

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 He has the authority.

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 When he opens,

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 no one can shut.

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 And what he shuts,

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 no one can open.

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 Now,

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 the pluralism of our day

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 tells us that there are many keys

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 and many doors.

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 As long as you sincerely believe,

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 you'll enter the eternal city.

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 But Jesus says,

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 there's only one key

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 and he has it.

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 If he shuts the door,

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 no one else can let you in.

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 Muhammad does not have the key.

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 Buddha does not have the key.

00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:27.939
 Krishna does not have the key.

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 The key called living a decent life

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 will not open this door.

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 Only one person holds the key

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 and that is Jesus.

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 Do you know the one

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 who holds the key of David?

00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:48.599
 Well,

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 there's our first image,

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 the key of authority.

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 The second image

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 is related to the first

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 and that is the door.

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 Verse eight.

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 Verse eight.

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 I know your works.

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 Behold,

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 I have set before you

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 an open door

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 which no one is able to shut.

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 I know that you have

00:12:09.640 --> 00:12:10.500
 but little power

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 and yet you have kept my word

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 and have not denied my name.

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 To the person

00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:20.340
 who has kept his word,

00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:21.440
 Jesus says,

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 I have set before you

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 an open door

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 which no one is able to shut.

00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:30.500
 Perhaps like the Philadelphians,

00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:31.800
 you feel that you

00:12:31.800 --> 00:12:32.880
 have little strength,

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.560
 little power.

00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:34.320
 You feel overwhelmed

00:12:35.140 --> 00:12:36.020
 by the forces

00:12:36.020 --> 00:12:37.220
 that are stacked against you.

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.360
 The might of this world,

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.340
 the frustrations

00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.680
 and disappointments of life,

00:12:42.780 --> 00:12:44.340
 the merciless busyness

00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.760
 that just seems out of control,

00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:47.980
 the relentless pressure

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.860
 of temptation.

00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:54.980
 If Jesus has set before you

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.820
 the open door,

00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:58.159
 then no one

00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.440
 can close it.

00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.960
 This door is

00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.159
 non-shuttable.

00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.000
 If Jesus

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.740
 has allowed you

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:09.139
 to enter the city of God,

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.440
 then no one else

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:11.399
 can keep you from it.

00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.120
 It is simply

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.000
 not in their power

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:14.620
 to do so.

00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:17.700
 And indeed,

00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.120
 the way

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.000
 has been opened

00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.740
 once and for all.

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.700
 Jesus' death

00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:25.519
 on the cross

00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.299
 has burst open

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.340
 the door to paradise.

00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:30.740
 Through him,

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.200
 we're invited in,

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.200
 invited to enter

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.279
 the presence of God

00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:35.460
 as one of his

00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:36.340
 forgiven children.

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:39.240
 And you remember,

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:39.899
 of course,

00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:41.560
 that dramatic demonstration

00:13:41.560 --> 00:13:42.240
 of this

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.200
 as Jesus died

00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:43.800
 on the cross.

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.519
 That moment

00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.240
 when the curtain

00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:46.759
 in the temple

00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.000
 was torn in two

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:48.860
 from top to bottom.

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:50.019
 That curtain

00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:51.019
 that had symbolically

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.920
 separated

00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:53.240
 the holy God

00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.300
 from sinful people.

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.320
 It was ripped apart.

00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:57.700
 The way opened

00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:58.639
 for us

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.060
 to enter

00:13:59.060 --> 00:14:00.180
 the most holy place

00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:01.360
 into the presence

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.000
 of God.

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:04.460
 Jesus,

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.240
 forsaken

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:07.059
 on the cross

00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:07.700
 outside,

00:14:09.059 --> 00:14:11.000
 we invited

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.539
 inside

00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.419
 into the family

00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:12.899
 of God.

00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:16.379
 Jesus says,

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.220
 I have set

00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.919
 before you

00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.259
 an open door

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.899
 which no one

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.259
 is able to shut.

00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:25.539
 And notice

00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:26.320
 how in verse 8,

00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:27.480
 actually,

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.720
 Jesus interrupts

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.659
 what he'd started

00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.399
 to say

00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.360
 to give this

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:31.779
 assurance

00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.819
 about the open door.

00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:34.199
 Verse 8,

00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.360
 I know your works,

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.459
 it starts,

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.480
 but then

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.419
 it's the latter

00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:39.179
 part of the verse

00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.720
 that tells us

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.740
 what those works were.

00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.659
 I know your works

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.259
 down to the second

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:43.740
 half of the verse.

00:14:43.959 --> 00:14:44.579
 I know that you

00:14:44.579 --> 00:14:45.579
 have but little power

00:14:45.579 --> 00:14:46.620
 and you have

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.600
 kept my word

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.019
 and have not

00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.819
 denied my name.

00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:49.579
 There's the works

00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:50.240
 that Jesus says

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:50.759
 he knows.

00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:52.819
 But before

00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:53.620
 Jesus lists

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.439
 their works,

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.419
 their works,

00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:57.199
 he reminds them

00:14:57.199 --> 00:14:58.740
 of his work.

00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:00.620
 Behold,

00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:01.100
 I've set

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:01.559
 before you

00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:02.279
 an open door

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.259
 which no one

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.199
 is able to shut.

00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:08.139
 The door

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.699
 to paradise

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.479
 has not

00:15:09.479 --> 00:15:10.139
 been opened

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.279
 by our works

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.359
 but by

00:15:12.359 --> 00:15:13.059
 Jesus' blood.

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:15.939
 So when

00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:16.539
 you're weak,

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.219
 remember,

00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.359
 Jesus holds

00:15:18.359 --> 00:15:18.839
 the key.

00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.679
 And when

00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.219
 you're weak,

00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:21.819
 remember,

00:15:22.619 --> 00:15:23.159
 Jesus has

00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.839
 opened the door.

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:26.340
 and this door

00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:26.800
 that Jesus

00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.399
 has opened,

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:28.280
 neither man

00:15:28.280 --> 00:15:28.920
 nor demon

00:15:28.920 --> 00:15:29.639
 nor anything

00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.280
 else in all

00:15:30.280 --> 00:15:30.759
 creation

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.420
 is able to

00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:31.660
 shut.

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.639
 They may

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.019
 shut you

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.379
 out of the

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.639
 synagogue.

00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:36.080
 They may

00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.460
 shut you

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:36.780
 out of the

00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.300
 workplace.

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.560
 They may

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.040
 shut you

00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:39.420
 out of the

00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:39.860
 halls of

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.580
 earthly power.

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.080
 Let them

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.360
 do their

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:42.759
 worst.

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.720
 The door

00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.360
 to the city

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:45.920
 of God

00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:46.759
 stands open

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.480
 before you.

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:51.680
 What have

00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:51.980
 we seen

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.399
 so far?

00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:52.779
 We've seen

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.159
 the key

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:53.720
 of authority

00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.060
 and we've

00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:55.360
 seen the

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.940
 door of

00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:56.460
 salvation.

00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.379
 The third

00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:58.779
 image we're

00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:58.899
 going to

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.320
 consider is

00:15:59.320 --> 00:15:59.920
 the crown.

00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.240
 The crown.

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:01.620
 It's down

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:01.940
 in verse

00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:02.279
 11.

00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:04.879
 Jesus

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.320
 says in

00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:05.720
 verse 11,

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.220
 I am

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:06.980
 coming soon.

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:08.940
 Hold

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.820
 fast what

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.659
 you have

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.200
 so that

00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:12.639
 no one

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.259
 may seize

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:13.860
 your crown.

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.200
 The promise

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.720
 that Jesus

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.279
 is coming

00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.740
 soon is

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.220
 further

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.839
 motivation

00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:19.240
 for us

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.759
 to hold

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.620
 fast what

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.019
 we have.

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.679
 Hold on.

00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:22.439
 Persevere.

00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.379
 Don't give

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:23.639
 up.

00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:24.959
 Don't give

00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:25.259
 up on

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.539
 Jesus.

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.579
 Just a

00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:28.120
 little while

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.480
 and we

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.000
 will receive

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.500
 our crown.

00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.079
 Now for

00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:35.459
 us,

00:16:36.819 --> 00:16:37.600
 in how we

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:37.939
 think about

00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:38.379
 crowns,

00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:38.860
 crowns are

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.240
 worn by

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:39.600
 rulers.

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.500
 And so

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.100
 the crown

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.799
 is a

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.299
 symbol of

00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:43.120
 rule and

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.879
 power and

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.319
 authority.

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.660
 crowns are

00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:46.460
 more

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:46.860
 and

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.120
 in the

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.379
 ancient

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:47.720
 world,

00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:48.120
 other

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.780
 shades of

00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:49.080
 meaning

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.379
 were

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:49.700
 more

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.160
 prominent.

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:51.800
 One of

00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:52.140
 those was

00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:52.680
 victory,

00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:53.879
 because the

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.340
 winner of

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.879
 a contest

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.540
 would be

00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:56.280
 awarded a

00:16:56.280 --> 00:16:56.580
 crown,

00:16:56.660 --> 00:16:56.860
 would be

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.440
 crowned.

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:57.820
 Now it

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.120
 could be an

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.940
 athletic contest

00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.640
 like a race,

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.320
 or it could be

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:00.879
 another kind of

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.340
 contest, like a

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:01.820
 contest between

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:02.760
 performers, between

00:17:02.760 --> 00:17:04.200
 actors or public

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.400
 speakers or so on.

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:07.140
 And so the

00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.500
 crown symbolises

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.040
 victory, or

00:17:09.040 --> 00:17:09.640
 that the crown

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.700
 is the prize

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.800
 that can only

00:17:11.800 --> 00:17:12.680
 be attained

00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.900
 through winning

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.800
 that contest.

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.560
 And we see

00:17:17.560 --> 00:17:20.180
 that motif,

00:17:20.300 --> 00:17:20.840
 that shades of

00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.320
 meaning there in

00:17:21.320 --> 00:17:21.900
 the New Testament.

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.400
 But even

00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.100
 victory, I want to

00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:24.660
 suggest, wasn't

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.280
 the primary

00:17:25.280 --> 00:17:26.180
 symbolism of

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.740
 the crown.

00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.300
 Primarily in

00:17:29.300 --> 00:17:29.840
 the ancient

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.800
 Mediterranean, the

00:17:30.800 --> 00:17:31.640
 crown is a

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.240
 symbol of

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.980
 honour, a

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.480
 symbol of

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:34.980
 glory.

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:36.980
 Now examples

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:37.280
 of this

00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:39.160
 abound, including

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.100
 in Asia Minor

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:41.500
 where these

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:41.940
 letters are

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.519
 addressed to

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.180
 churches in

00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:43.900
 various cities

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.519
 in Asia Minor.

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.720
 And examples

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.380
 of this, they're

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:48.840
 all over the

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.019
 place.

00:17:49.080 --> 00:17:49.340
 So I'm going

00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:49.540
 to give you

00:17:49.540 --> 00:17:50.160
 a couple, but

00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.660
 they're so

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.120
 numerous.

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.140
 A city or

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.000
 an association

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.060
 would honour

00:17:56.060 --> 00:17:57.060
 someone for

00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:57.640
 some significant

00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.480
 achievement by

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.340
 crowning them,

00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:00.360
 by awarding

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:00.780
 them a crown.

00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.560
 It could be a

00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:02.700
 crown of gold

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.680
 or a precious

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.180
 medal, or it

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.660
 could be just

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.800
 a laurel

00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:06.080
 wreath.

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.440
 So I think

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:07.759
 we've got a

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.779
 couple of

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.660
 texts that are

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:09.960
 going to come

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.320
 up on the

00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:10.720
 screen.

00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:12.000
 So here's the

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.420
 first one.

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:12.820
 This is a

00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:13.440
 late first

00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.460
 century inscription.

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.680
 It was found

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.160
 on a white

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.440
 marble altar in

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.180
 Kibera in

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.060
 southern Asia Minor.

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.360
 And here's what

00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.300
 it reads, this

00:18:21.300 --> 00:18:21.680
 inscription.

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.180
 The people and

00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:24.279
 those engaged in

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.220
 business here

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.740
 honoured Menepus,

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:28.019
 son of Eutychus,

00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.440
 also known as

00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.440
 Chrysorus, who

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.279
 served as

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.340
 overseer of the

00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:34.299
 market in the

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:36.420
 57th year with

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.140
 a beautiful gold

00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:39.660
 memorial crown.

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.500
 Artemidorus set

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:44.279
 this up for his

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.440
 father Chrysorus as

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:45.860
 a memorial.

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:47.279
 So what's

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.740
 happened here?

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.259
 This man

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.120
 named Menepus,

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.180
 who's also

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.160
 called Chrysorus,

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.339
 has served as

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:53.940
 an overseer of

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.500
 the market and

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.220
 those engaged in

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.759
 business in the

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.180
 market have

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.620
 honoured him.

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.200
 How have they

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:57.599
 honoured him?

00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.480
 By presenting

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.039
 him with a

00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.799
 beautiful gold

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.740
 memorial crown.

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:01.759
 And then

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.380
 Chrysorus' son

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:06.940
 has kind of

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.480
 made a

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.339
 permanent record

00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.339
 of that by

00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.120
 setting up this

00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:11.200
 inscription on a

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.740
 white marble

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.819
 altar as a sign

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.240
 of how his

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.920
 father was

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.319
 honoured.

00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.120
 Or another

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.739
 example, here's

00:19:17.739 --> 00:19:18.000
 a second

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.399
 example.

00:19:18.719 --> 00:19:19.139
 This is from

00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:20.519
 second century

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.899
 description from

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.500
 Thyatira.

00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:24.599
 The Dyers

00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:26.339
 honoured Marcus,

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.839
 Julius, Dionysius,

00:19:28.239 --> 00:19:28.819
 Acleanos,

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.219
 twice crown

00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:32.619
 bearer, who

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:34.279
 pursued glory

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.539
 since childhood.

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.299
 So he'd been

00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:40.399
 a crown bearer,

00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.019
 given a crown

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.599
 twice.

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.179
 But notice that

00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:43.679
 those other

00:19:43.679 --> 00:19:44.819
 themes are there

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.399
 in this text.

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.659
 Honour, glory,

00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:49.719
 and you can

00:19:49.719 --> 00:19:50.000
 see there,

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.379
 this one we've

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.139
 got actually

00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:52.000
 in the slide

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.639
 a facsimile

00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.379
 of the inscription

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:54.279
 and it's the

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.979
 fourth line

00:19:54.979 --> 00:19:55.379
 there,

00:19:56.239 --> 00:19:57.939
 de stephanouphoron,

00:19:58.239 --> 00:19:59.039
 twice crown

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.399
 bearer.

00:19:59.500 --> 00:19:59.619
 You know,

00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.500
 that's our key.

00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:01.679
 But you see

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.219
 what a crown,

00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:03.179
 a crown is

00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:03.979
 a symbol of honour.

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.159
 You present

00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.979
 someone a crown

00:20:05.979 --> 00:20:06.579
 to honour

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.379
 them because

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.000
 of something

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.399
 significant they've

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:09.579
 done,

00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.259
 some service

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.559
 they've done

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.139
 to the community

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:11.579
 or to an

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.199
 association

00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:14.299
 or to a

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.059
 particular group

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.859
 or because

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.119
 of their

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.559
 position.

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.220
 It's a symbol

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.039
 of honour

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.859
 and glory.

00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:21.480
 The material

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.039
 value,

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.019
 whether gold

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.639
 or whether it's

00:20:23.639 --> 00:20:24.019
 a laurel

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.200
 wreath,

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.919
 that mattered

00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.720
 less than the

00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.519
 symbolism of

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:26.859
 the act

00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.379
 itself.

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.099
 In the honour

00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.980
 shame culture

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.519
 of the ancient

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.119
 Mediterranean,

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.440
 the supreme

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:34.079
 value was honour

00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:35.740
 and to be

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.240
 crowned was

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:37.960
 to be honoured.

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.679
 The crown

00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:39.419
 was a crown

00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:40.039
 of glory.

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:43.720
 Well,

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.139
 in first

00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:44.480
 century

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.059
 Philadelphia,

00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:47.519
 there were

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.659
 no crowns

00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:49.139
 for those

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.639
 who followed

00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.099
 Jesus.

00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.440
 Their deeds

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:53.779
 were not

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.500
 inscribed on

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.839
 marble.

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.359
 Their names

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.019
 would not be

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.399
 remembered.

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.940
 These first

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.680
 century believers

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.720
 shared in the

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.619
 shame of their

00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.659
 crucified master.

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:10.240
 shame,

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:10.740
 I think,

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.220
 is the most

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.519
 painful dimension

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.460
 of exclusion.

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.259
 It's easier

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.820
 to live without

00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:17.180
 money than

00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:17.900
 to live without

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.720
 at least some

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.560
 sense that you

00:21:19.560 --> 00:21:20.500
 are known and

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.180
 valued and

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.880
 esteemed by

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.240
 others.

00:21:23.040 --> 00:21:23.620
 Some sense

00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:23.880
 that you

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.180
 matter.

00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:26.480
 Does that

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:26.980
 ring true of

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.759
 your experience?

00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:30.880
 Perhaps

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:32.259
 God's

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.900
 particular

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:33.960
 calling on

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.740
 your life

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.640
 is

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.860
 exposes

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.240
 you to

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.580
 shame.

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.259
 I don't

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.440
 want to

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.759
 make a

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.380
 big deal

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.620
 of this

00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:42.920
 in my

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.080
 own

00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:43.420
 experience,

00:21:43.540 --> 00:21:44.560
 but in

00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:45.140
 God's

00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:45.640
 wisdom,

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.120
 he's

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.580
 called me

00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:46.980
 to a

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.640
 form of

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.400
 service in

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.279
 an inter-church

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.820
 ministry on

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:51.400
 campus with

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:51.920
 AFES.

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.340
 Some would

00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:53.680
 use the

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:53.900
 label

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.540
 para-church

00:21:54.540 --> 00:21:54.800
 for that,

00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.180
 although I

00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:55.540
 don't

00:21:55.540 --> 00:21:55.880
 particularly

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.320
 like that

00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:56.560
 label.

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.460
 But at

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.080
 times,

00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.300
 fellow

00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:00.960
 believers,

00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:01.320
 other

00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:01.720
 Christians,

00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:02.820
 shame me

00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:03.779
 for that.

00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:05.279
 Now,

00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:05.600
 thankfully,

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:05.860
 I can

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.160
 say,

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:06.600
 with all

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:06.840
 honesty,

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.620
 I've never

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.060
 experienced

00:22:08.060 --> 00:22:08.540
 that in

00:22:08.540 --> 00:22:08.840
 this

00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:09.240
 congregation

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.640
 as part

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:09.740
 of

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:09.980
 Grace

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.600
 Evangelical.

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.000
 In fact,

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.440
 I've found

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.220
 that my

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.519
 wife and

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:13.900
 I've received

00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.140
 much

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.700
 encouragement

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.360
 here in

00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:15.540
 this

00:22:15.540 --> 00:22:15.920
 ministry,

00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.320
 and a

00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:17.640
 patient

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.200
 acceptance

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.120
 that on

00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.279
 my part,

00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:21.820
 much of

00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:22.259
 my ministry

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.060
 lies outside

00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:23.960
 this particular

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.160
 congregation of

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.380
 Grace

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:25.980
 Evangelical.

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:31.480
 God's

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:31.960
 God's

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.880
 God's

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.079
 kingdom.

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.759
 In that

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:35.980
 view,

00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.579
 all that

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.120
 matters is

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.579
 the local

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.160
 church,

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.839
 and inter-church

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.720
 ministry is

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.400
 insignificant.

00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.339
 Well,

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:43.779
 that's one

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.299
 form of

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.860
 shame that

00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:45.200
 God's

00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.620
 particular

00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:46.200
 calling on

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.980
 my life

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.440
 exposes

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.839
 to me

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.440
 too at

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:48.839
 times.

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.659
 And,

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:49.899
 you know,

00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:50.299
 it might

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.720
 not seem

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.220
 like much,

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:51.899
 but there

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.359
 are times

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:52.720
 that it

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.179
 stings.

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.459
 Well,

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.119
 perhaps God's

00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:56.639
 calling on

00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.559
 your life

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.859
 exposes

00:22:58.859 --> 00:22:59.299
 you to

00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.679
 shame.

00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:01.579
 You know,

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.139
 where God

00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:02.559
 has placed

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:02.919
 you,

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.699
 the gifts

00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:06.079
 God has

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.619
 given you,

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.919
 the opportunities

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.339
 God has

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:09.899
 given you,

00:23:10.699 --> 00:23:11.599
 what God

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.119
 has called

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.859
 on you

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.399
 to do.

00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:15.379
 You know,

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.500
 maybe it

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.859
 just doesn't

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.379
 seem like

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.819
 much in

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.200
 the eyes

00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.419
 of the

00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:19.819
 world.

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.039
 Maybe it

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.359
 doesn't even

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.700
 seem like

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.079
 much in

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.399
 your own

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:23.799
 eyes.

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.460
 Whether or

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:28.799
 not that's

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.200
 the case,

00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.599
 for all

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:30.939
 of us

00:23:30.939 --> 00:23:31.359
 who follow

00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:31.899
 Jesus,

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.939
 many times

00:23:33.939 --> 00:23:34.399
 the world

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:34.919
 will shame

00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.259
 us.

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:36.759
 I was

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.159
 speaking with

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.579
 someone this

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.179
 week who's,

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.720
 they were

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.159
 catching up

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:40.319
 with a

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:40.700
 non-Christian

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.059
 friend,

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.240
 and,

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:42.559
 you know,

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:42.980
 the non-Christian

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.399
 friend was a

00:23:43.399 --> 00:23:44.139
 bit surprised

00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:45.259
 to find that

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.419
 this,

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:45.839
 my friend,

00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:46.980
 was still

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.960
 someone who

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.779
 follows Jesus,

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.139
 and loves

00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:49.460
 Jesus,

00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:50.460
 and this

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.960
 non-Christian

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.740
 friend called

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.480
 her Christian

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:53.919
 friend,

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.899
 called her

00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:56.099
 Christian friend's

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.960
 love for

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.500
 Jesus,

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.519
 cute.

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.019
 So,

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.179
 Noah,

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.839
 you still

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.379
 love Jesus?

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.619
 Oh,

00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.159
 that's cute.

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.639
 What a

00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.099
 backhanded

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:05.700
 compliment if

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:05.980
 ever there

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.419
 was one.

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.059
 Cute.

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.659
 In other

00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:08.879
 words,

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.559
 infantile,

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.639
 naive,

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.439
 charming,

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.419
 but childish.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:14.500
 You know,

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:14.839
 like a

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.939
 toddler waving

00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:16.700
 excitedly at

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.019
 a puppy.

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:20.539
 so that

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.000
 the world,

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.480
 our world

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.259
 doesn't award

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:25.299
 crowns for

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.740
 faith in

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.460
 Jesus Christ.

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.440
 But what is

00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:30.779
 of little

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.319
 value in

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.819
 the world's

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:33.000
 eyes is

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.519
 of great

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.240
 value in

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.599
 God's

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:34.960
 eyes.

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.220
 So the

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.660
 crown in

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.180
 verse 11,

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.240
 I don't think

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.619
 it's the only

00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:40.119
 place in

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:40.579
 this passage

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:40.960
 where we

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.119
 see shame

00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.639
 and honour

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.299
 alluded to.

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:43.940
 You see it

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.299
 also in

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.839
 verse 9.

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:45.740
 Have a look

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.319
 at verse 9.

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:48.939
 Behold,

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:51.399
 I will

00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:51.960
 make those

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.279
 of the

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.619
 synagogue

00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.339
 of Satan

00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.759
 who say

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.220
 they are

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.799
 Jews and

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.319
 are not

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.099
 but lie.

00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.079
 Behold,

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.939
 I will

00:25:00.939 --> 00:25:01.279
 make them

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.740
 come and

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.240
 bow down

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.859
 before your

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:04.659
 feet and

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.259
 they will

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.059
 learn that

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:07.039
 I have

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.519
 loved

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.500
 you.

00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.700
 That I

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.579
 have loved

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.899
 you.

00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:14.000
 You.

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.179
 You.

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:18.159
 Now,

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.439
 there are

00:25:18.439 --> 00:25:19.179
 further

00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.639
 allusions

00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:19.879
 to

00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.240
 Isaiah

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.480
 here.

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:20.799
 Isaiah

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.559
 49,

00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:22.339
 60,

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:22.839
 where

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:24.240
 there's

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.359
 the

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:24.720
 promise

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.059
 of the

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.379
 nations

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:25.700
 coming

00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:25.960
 and

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.639
 bowing

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:27.099
 down

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:28.039
 before

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.439
 God's

00:25:28.439 --> 00:25:28.720
 people.

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:29.980
 This

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.759
 moment of

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.480
 vindication.

00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:33.759
 Vindication.

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.899
 Jesus

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.639
 himself

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.220
 gives

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.500
 this

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.859
 promise.

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.539
 Jesus

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.119
 himself

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.619
 will see

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.039
 to it

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:43.079
 that all

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.460
 who are

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.019
 shamed

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.319
 for

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:44.799
 following

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.259
 him

00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.720
 will

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.779
 be

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.720
 honoured

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:50.720
 and that

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.059
 all who

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.799
 despise

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.200
 Jesus

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.920
 people in

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.119
 this

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:53.480
 present

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:53.940
 age

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.399
 must

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:54.899
 one day

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.359
 acknowledge

00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.119
 that the

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.460
 very

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:56.899
 people,

00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.399
 the very

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:57.899
 ones they

00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.920
 despised

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.980
 are the

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.619
 ones Jesus

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:02.180
 has loved.

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.720
 So bear

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.359
 the shame

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:08.039
 for the

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.240
 honour

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.740
 awaits.

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:08.960
 The

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.659
 I am

00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:11.980
 coming

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.420
 soon.

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:13.879
 Hold

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.500
 fast

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.119
 what you

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:15.659
 have

00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:17.279
 so that

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.639
 no one

00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.119
 may seize

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.299
 your

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.619
 crown.

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.099
 And if

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.440
 you fear

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.819
 you lack

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.319
 the strength

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.779
 to hold

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.339
 fast,

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.079
 well,

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.440
 remember

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.839
 you know

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.619
 that the

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.019
 one who

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.440
 holds the

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.639
 key and

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:32.859
 the one

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.240
 who opens

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.740
 the door

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.680
 and the

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:34.960
 one who

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.519
 grants the

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.259
 crown is

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.779
 the same

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.339
 one who

00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:38.379
 will protect

00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:38.960
 you and

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.819
 shield you

00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.700
 from any

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.559
 trial or

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.299
 test that

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.559
 would be

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.039
 too great

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.279
 for you

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.640
 to bear.

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.500
 That at

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:45.920
 least is how

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.480
 I understand

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.160
 Jesus'

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:47.700
 promise in

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.180
 verse 10

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.440
 to keep

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:49.720
 us from

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.100
 the hour

00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.559
 of trial

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:50.880
 ahead,

00:26:52.080 --> 00:26:52.420
 but we

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:52.660
 don't have

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.039
 much time

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.340
 to dwell

00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:53.580
 on that

00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:53.880
 now.

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:54.860
 So what

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.019
 have we

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.400
 seen so

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:55.680
 far?

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.279
 We've

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.539
 seen the

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:57.880
 key of

00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.259
 authority,

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.740
 the door

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.400
 of salvation

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.960
 and the

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.600
 crown of

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.220
 glory.

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:03.860
 Fourthly

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.400
 and finally

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.220
 the pillar

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.059
 of security.

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.779
 Look at

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.319
 verse 12.

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:09.399
 The one

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:10.099
 who conquers,

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.319
 I will

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:11.919
 make him

00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:12.539
 a pillar

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.419
 in the

00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:13.859
 temple of

00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.319
 my God.

00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:15.879
 Never

00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:16.299
 shall he

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.639
 go out

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:16.919
 of it.

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.339
 And I

00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.740
 will write

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:18.980
 on him

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.460
 the name

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:19.819
 of my

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.240
 God and

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.539
 the name

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:20.819
 of the

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.220
 city of

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.639
 my God,

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.099
 the new

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.579
 Jerusalem,

00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.500
 which comes

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.059
 down from

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.579
 God out

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:24.960
 of heaven

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.740
 and my

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.799
 own new

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.460
 name.

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:30.859
 This

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.879
 pillar of

00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.559
 security is

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:32.939
 a particularly

00:27:32.939 --> 00:27:33.939
 apt image for

00:27:33.939 --> 00:27:34.220
 the

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.740
 Philadelphian

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.139
 Christians.

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.800
 The city

00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:36.960
 of

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.280
 Philadelphia

00:27:37.280 --> 00:27:37.780
 was built

00:27:37.780 --> 00:27:38.080
 on a

00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:38.580
 fault line

00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:39.840
 and it

00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:40.060
 was at

00:27:40.060 --> 00:27:40.300
 times

00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:40.880
 devastated

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.140
 by

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.680
 earthquakes.

00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:42.580
 When

00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.120
 tremors

00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:43.720
 were felt,

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.360
 people would

00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:45.140
 flee the

00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:45.560
 city for

00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:45.920
 safety.

00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:47.980
 But in

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.360
 the city

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:48.960
 of God,

00:27:49.780 --> 00:27:50.320
 his people

00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:50.700
 would be

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.320
 solid,

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:52.940
 sturdy,

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.380
 unshakable.

00:27:56.020 --> 00:27:56.520
 These

00:27:56.520 --> 00:27:57.620
 pillars would

00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:59.080
 never need

00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.800
 leave the

00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:00.140
 temple.

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.040
 A pillar

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.400
 in the

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.820
 temple of

00:28:02.820 --> 00:28:03.220
 my God,

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.320
 never shall

00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:04.940
 he go out

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.240
 of it.

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.120
 The Jews

00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:08.660
 in Philadelphia

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.120
 may have

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:09.440
 driven

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.080
 Jewish

00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:10.519
 Christians

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:10.940
 from the

00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.240
 synagogue,

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.080
 but in

00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.519
 God's city

00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:13.840
 they would

00:28:13.840 --> 00:28:14.140
 have a

00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.460
 permanent

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.000
 place in

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.500
 his temple.

00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:16.880
 They would

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.320
 dwell with

00:28:17.320 --> 00:28:18.740
 God and

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.180
 God would

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.620
 dwell with

00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:19.880
 them.

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.140
 In the

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.620
 world they

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.299
 are excluded,

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.460
 welcomed neither

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.200
 by the Jewish

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.900
 community with

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.440
 their synagogue,

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.539
 nor the Roman

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.259
 community with

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.700
 their worship

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.200
 of Caesar.

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.100
 But in the

00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:32.680
 new Jerusalem

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.140
 they would

00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:34.100
 be at

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:35.139
 last where

00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:35.779
 they belonged,

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.579
 in the city

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.059
 of God,

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.559
 with the

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.419
 Father and

00:28:40.419 --> 00:28:40.899
 the Son

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.579
 whose names

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.339
 they bore.

00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:46.319
 Now,

00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:46.539
 friends,

00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.119
 Christians may

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:48.519
 look numerically

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.099
 insignificant.

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.839
 we may not

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.480
 have political

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.000
 clout,

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.639
 we may be

00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.379
 laughed at

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:54.740
 by the

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.199
 world,

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.199
 or worse,

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.019
 just ignored.

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.119
 We may

00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.759
 seem weak,

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.619
 fragile.

00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:04.240
 Perhaps you

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.839
 feel that way

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.219
 now.

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.219
 But inside the

00:29:10.219 --> 00:29:10.819
 city of God

00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:11.319
 you will be

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.219
 strong and

00:29:12.219 --> 00:29:13.159
 stable as a

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:13.359
 pillar.

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:15.299
 Jesus will

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:15.740
 make you

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.479
 eternally

00:29:16.479 --> 00:29:16.979
 secure.

00:29:19.459 --> 00:29:20.439
 Inside that

00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:21.039
 city is where

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.459
 you,

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.079
 Christian,

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.039
 finally come

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.339
 home.

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.240
 There's a

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.719
 place for you

00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:26.979
 there.

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.439
 When you

00:29:29.439 --> 00:29:29.819
 arrive,

00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:30.579
 Jesus will

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.379
 welcome you.

00:29:32.659 --> 00:29:33.359
 He will

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.000
 mark you

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.519
 with his

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:36.599
 name and

00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:36.859
 with the

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.219
 name of

00:29:37.219 --> 00:29:38.899
 God and

00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.419
 the name of

00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:39.779
 the city,

00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:40.259
 the new

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.799
 Jerusalem.

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:40.960
 Jerusalem.

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.619
 You have

00:29:43.619 --> 00:29:45.299
 arrived where

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.039
 you belong

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:48.159
 and you

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:48.599
 will never

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.259
 again have

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.759
 to leave.

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.599
 And to

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.099
 this weak

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:55.359
 despised

00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:55.879
 church,

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.619
 this weak

00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.480
 church despised

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.039
 in the world,

00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.819
 Jesus made

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.619
 these incredible

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:01.079
 promises.

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.680
 Jesus holds

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.259
 the key of

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.659
 authority.

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.419
 Jesus has

00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:06.859
 opened the

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.220
 door of

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.680
 salvation.

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.839
 Jesus will

00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.480
 adorn you

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.839
 with the

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.299
 crown of

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:12.240
 glory and

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.860
 Jesus will

00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:13.500
 make you a

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.940
 pillar of

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.360
 security.

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.319
 The

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:18.240
 outsiders in

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.700
 the world

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.120
 have a

00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.180
 place inside

00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.839
 the eternal

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.480
 city and

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:21.880
 the temple

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.360
 of God.

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.360
 There,

00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:25.740
 they have

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.980
 honour and

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.299
 security and

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.880
 protection and

00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.660
 fellowship with

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:30.960
 God.

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.460
 And Jesus

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.400
 promises spur

00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.240
 us on so

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.980
 that we may

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.539
 continue patiently

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.379
 to endure.

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.799
 Do not

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.240
 look within

00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:43.720
 yourself.

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.480
 Jesus says,

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:45.799
 I know

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.299
 you're weak.

00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:48.399
 Do not

00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:48.720
 look at the

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.139
 opposition.

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.019
 Jesus says,

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.480
 I know it's

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:51.859
 relentless.

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.579
 But look to

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.420
 our risen

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.579
 Lord Jesus,

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.559
 to the

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.319
 door he has

00:30:59.319 --> 00:30:59.819
 opened for

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.359
 us and

00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:01.619
 to the

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.099
 welcome that

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.539
 awaits.

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.960
 Look to

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.480
 him who has

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.079
 given us his

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.980
 wonderful promises.

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.740
 I have

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.240
 placed before

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.539
 you an

00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.099
 open door.

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.099
 I have

00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:11.700
 loved you.

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.759
 I will

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.380
 keep you.

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.339
 I am

00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.019
 coming soon.

00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.460
 Amen.

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:22.720
 Come,

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.759
 Lord Jesus.