WEBVTT

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 Hey, the first Friday of every month, that is this Friday.

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 So if you are interested in joining a midweek gathering this Friday,

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! What time would we meet here?

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!

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 This is the place that you want to be.

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 Morning, everyone. Good morning. Good morning, Danny.

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 What have you got there? What drink have you got?

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 Coffee.

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 Coffee, just straight coffee.

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 There's fatigue. There's fatigue. I don't know if you're feeling it.

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 There's fatigue. We had a first month of September,

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 and then, of course, it's a holiday now. It's break.

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 We have a few people who are away.

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 But we're here, and I'm excited for today.

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 I'm excited for what we're going to share.

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 But as I said last week, we're going to keep repeating

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 just so we remember some of the things that we're learning.

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 We're starting this new season together,

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 and we're saying, let's start with the end in mind.

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 So let's go all the way to Revelation.

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 If we're going to talk about church,

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 let's go to see what Jesus says about the church, right?

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 That's going to be the most important thing,

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 because we don't want to start something that then, at the end,

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 Zhao Zhou Yang, or he doesn't like, or he doesn't recognize.

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 And we're like, oh, we've been doing church for 50 years, Jesus.

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 And Jesus is like, that isn't my church.

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 That doesn't look like my church.

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 Turn around. Like, I don't want that.

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 I want to start with the end in mind, right?

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 And so he writes to the church, and he writes to seven churches,

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 which represents the whole complete church.

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 And the first church he writes to is Ephesus.

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 And he says, you're doing all these good things.

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 You're A star, but you're missing one thing.

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 What are they missing, Godfrey?

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 Love.

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 They're missing love.

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 That sofa looks so comfy, by the way.

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 It just looks so good.

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 You're missing love.

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 You're doing all these great things for the community,

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 yet you don't have love.

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 Then because of that, I'm going to come and shut you down.

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 That's what he says.

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 Then the messenger keeps going up the coast,

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 and he goes to the next place, which is Smyrna.

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 Oh, good, guys.

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 Smyrna.

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 They have trouble coming.

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 They're going to be thrown into prison.

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 And he says, for 10 days, you'll be thrown into prison,

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 and you'll be tested, and you will have tribulation.

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 Be faithful unto death.

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 What?

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 There's no help coming.

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 I'm not going to come and break you out of prison.

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 I'm not going to stop you from going into prison.

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 I'm going to give you something even more.

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 If you are faithful unto death,

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 I will give you the crown of life.

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 You won't be hurt by the second death.

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 We'll all die once.

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 But the prayer is that we don't die twice.

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 It's huge.

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 And then he carries on going to the next city,

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 which is the city of Pergamum.

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 What was Pergamum's thing?

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 Mark?

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 Some of them were doing some things that weren't good.

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 Questionable.

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 Compromised.

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 They were compromised.

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 They were like, hey, we can be Christians,

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 but then we can do all this other stuff on the side,

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 and then we can have the best of both worlds.

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 The problem is when you have the best of both worlds,

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 you give up eternity.

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 When you have the best of both worlds,

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 you give up the true life.

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 At the very end.

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 And now we reach the church in Thyatira.

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 Now this is different.

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 Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum,

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 these were like almost,

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 these are the big cities.

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 This was New York, London, Tokyo.

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 Thyatira is kind of like this working class city,

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 and it's a little bit different.

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 But really the message time and time again,

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 and actually this one has lots of overlap

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 with the one from last week.

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 Time and time again is what this is.

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 Christians, you Christians,

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 you have to be different.

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 You just have to be different.

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 You're built different.

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 You look different.

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 You sound different.

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 The challenge though here is,

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 we're trying to live in this world,

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 and trying to make a living in this world,

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 and trying to survive in this world,

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 and often we're trying to reach people

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 in the most relational way possible.

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 I think I've literally said this myself.

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 Hey, those Christians are no different to you guys.

00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:09.700
 We're not weird.

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 We're just as normal.

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 We're just as cool.

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 We try to be cool.

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 Haven't you heard someone say that,

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 or you want to say that?

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 Oh, we're no different.

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 We're okay.

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 But the truth is,

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 if you look at these letters,

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 it seems to say,

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 Paul's saying,

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 sorry,

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 Jesus is saying to the church,

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 if you're a follower of me,

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 you've got to be different in some way.

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 You've got to be different.

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 The question is,

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 are we different?

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 Are we different to any other group out there

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 that's meeting

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 because they have similar interests as well?

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 Is our one just because we're interested

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 in this guy called Jesus?

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 We're interested in talking about him

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 because he sounded like a good guy.

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 Are we different?

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 And so as we reach this letter,

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 I want to ask you,

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 ask the Lord,

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 what is it that you want me to hear today?

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 How do you want me to be different?

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 Not abrasive,

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 not rude,

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 not obnoxious,

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 not arrogant.

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 How do you want me to be different?

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 What does that look like?

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 And so to read the word,

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 I'm going to actually ask

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 one of the deacons of our church,

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 Tony,

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 who's been a long, long, long,

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 long standing member of our church.

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 And Tony,

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 just going to invite you up

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 to come minister to us

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 with the word of God.

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 And then as I invite him up,

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 can I invite you,

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 can I invite us

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 to stand for the word of the Lord?

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 Can you use that mic?

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 Yeah, okay.

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 To the church,

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 to the angel of the church

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 in Thyatira write,

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 these are the words

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 of the Son of God

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 whose eyes are like blazing fire

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 and whose feet

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 are like burnished bronze.

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 I know your deeds,

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 your love and faith,

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 your service and perseverance,

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 and that you are now doing more

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 than you did at first.

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 Nevertheless,

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 I have this against you.

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 You tolerate that woman,

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 Jezebel,

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 who calls herself a prophet.

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 By her teaching,

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 she misleads my servants

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 into sexual immorality

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 and the eating of food

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 sacrificed to idols.

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 I have given her time

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 to repent of her immorality,

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 but she is unwilling.

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 So I will cast her

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 on the bed of suffering,

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 and I will make those

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 who commit adultery with her

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 suffer intensely,

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 unless they repent of her ways.

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 I will strike her children dead.

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 Then all the churches will know

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 that I am he

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 who searches hearts and minds,

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 and I will repay each of you

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 according to your deeds.

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 Now I say to the rest of you

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 in Thyatira,

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 to you who do not hold

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 to her teaching

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 and have not learned

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 Satan's so-called

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 deep secrets,

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 I will not impose

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 any other burden on you

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 except to hold on

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 to what you have

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 until I come.

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 To the one who is victorious

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 and does my will to the end,

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 I will give authority

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 over the nations.

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 That one will rule them

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 and with an iron scepter

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 and will dash them

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 to pieces like pottery.

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 Just as I have received

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 authority from my Father,

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 I will also give that one

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 the morning star.

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 Whoever has ears,

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 let them hear

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 what the Spirit

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 says to the churches.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thank you, Tony.

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 Please take a seat.

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 And well done,

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 everyone who's on a beanbag.

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 Standing and sitting

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 is no easy task.

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 Thank you for doing that.

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 Hey, you know,

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 it's just one of those things

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 that we're trying to do.

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 I don't know about you,

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 but I so often

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 take for granted

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 the word of the Lord.

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 I'm like,

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 oh, I've got to read my Bible.

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 I've got to read this thing.

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 Or like when someone

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 reads it,

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 you just glaze over

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 or it just kind of

00:07:52.219 --> 00:07:52.899
 goes in and out.

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 Don't you have that?

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 And I'm like,

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 but if this is really

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 what we say it is,

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 if it really is as valuable

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 to us,

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 people die for this book.

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 And then we treat it

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 just kind of like,

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 oh, I've got to read it.

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 So, I mean,

00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.240
 it can be frustrating

00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:08.819
 sometimes needing

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 to stand up and down,

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 but I feel as though

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 it helps me.

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 I'm like, man,

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 this is God,

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 and he's here

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 and he's speaking

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 to us

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 and I want to take heed

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 what he has to say.

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 This is the word of God.

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 So, he's going to this church

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 in Thyatira.

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 I mean,

00:08:23.400 --> 00:08:24.600
 we're in the fourth church now

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 and it's kind of like,

00:08:25.760 --> 00:08:26.060
 okay,

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 there's a lot of things

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 to be scared of

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 out there, right?

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 There's the devil

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 who's throwing people

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 into prison.

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 There's people who are doing

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 all the right things

00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:37.639
 for all the wrong reasons

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 and they're going to get

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 shut down.

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 So, if I'm the church

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 in Thyatira,

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 I'm like, okay,

00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.580
 it's now our turn.

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 What's going to happen?

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 And he says

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 to the angel of the church

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 in Thyatira,

00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:49.879
 write the words

00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:50.720
 of the Son of God.

00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:52.960
 He introduces himself

00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.819
 as a big deal.

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 I am the Son of God.

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 Now, Thyatira was a city

00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:01.120
 that actually worshipped

00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.439
 lots of different kinds

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 of gods

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 and one of them

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 was Apollo.

00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.100
 Apollo, if you watch

00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:06.620
 the film Troy,

00:09:06.700 --> 00:09:07.559
 which I quoted last week,

00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.000
 you can see a little bit

00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:09.779
 of what that looks like.

00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:11.939
 It was the God of the sun.

00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:13.139
 It was the God of the sun,

00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:13.500
 sunshine.

00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:15.559
 Apollo was known

00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:16.379
 in Greek mythology

00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.699
 to be the son of Zeus.

00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:18.600
 In fact,

00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:19.600
 some people in the city

00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:20.879
 would call Caesar

00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:22.179
 the son of God,

00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:22.980
 the son of Zeus.

00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.199
 So, Jesus,

00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:25.480
 seemingly knowing that

00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:25.879
 and says,

00:09:26.179 --> 00:09:27.059
 I'm writing to you,

00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:27.699
 these are my words

00:09:27.699 --> 00:09:28.539
 and guess who I am?

00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:30.319
 I am the real son of God.

00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.379
 You guys keep putting

00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:32.000
 other people

00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:32.919
 as the sons of God

00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:33.840
 and sons of Zeus.

00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:35.039
 Let me tell you who I am.

00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:36.200
 I am the son of God

00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:36.919
 whose eyes

00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:37.979
 are like a flame

00:09:37.979 --> 00:09:38.759
 of fire.

00:09:39.479 --> 00:09:40.279
 He's quoting from

00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:41.059
 Revelation 1

00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:41.799
 when we introduce

00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:42.779
 that picture of Jesus.

00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:43.679
 Remember when I told you

00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:44.259
 that Christina

00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:45.199
 has eyes like fire?

00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:46.500
 Yep, this is it.

00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.120
 Jesus is like,

00:09:48.219 --> 00:09:48.419
 hey,

00:09:48.819 --> 00:09:49.879
 I am the son of God

00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:51.620
 and I see right through you.

00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:54.199
 I see through

00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:54.839
 what you're doing.

00:09:56.439 --> 00:09:57.439
 My eyes,

00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:58.019
 my sight,

00:09:58.339 --> 00:09:58.740
 my vision

00:09:58.740 --> 00:09:59.799
 is purifying.

00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:00.479
 It's cleansing.

00:10:00.599 --> 00:10:01.779
 You can't hide anything

00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:02.439
 from me.

00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:04.800
 That's who he's talking,

00:10:05.040 --> 00:10:05.960
 that's how he's introducing

00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:06.620
 himself and he's like,

00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:07.640
 whose feet are like

00:10:07.640 --> 00:10:08.560
 burnished bronze.

00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:09.680
 Kingdoms rise

00:10:09.680 --> 00:10:10.460
 and kingdoms fall.

00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:11.300
 Now it's the Romans.

00:10:11.420 --> 00:10:12.280
 It used to be the Persians

00:10:12.280 --> 00:10:13.080
 and it's the Syrians.

00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:14.540
 Soon it will be the Americans

00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:15.180
 and then it will be

00:10:15.180 --> 00:10:16.620
 whatever kingdom,

00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.260
 whatever nation,

00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:17.980
 it doesn't matter.

00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:20.080
 The kingdom of God,

00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:21.680
 the other kingdoms

00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:22.340
 rise and fall,

00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:23.100
 the kingdom of God

00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:23.680
 remains.

00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:24.760
 Like feast,

00:10:24.900 --> 00:10:26.320
 like burnished bronze.

00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:27.320
 Purified,

00:10:28.260 --> 00:10:29.160
 gone through the fire,

00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:30.440
 steadfast.

00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:33.000
 I'm the last one standing

00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.300
 is what he's saying.

00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:36.540
 I can see right through you

00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:38.120
 and I'm the last one standing

00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:40.379
 and I'm the son of God.

00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.160
 So listen to my words.

00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:43.760
 And then he says this.

00:10:44.520 --> 00:10:44.740
 He says,

00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:45.180
 I know you're,

00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:46.280
 I actually like this.

00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:46.640
 This is,

00:10:47.020 --> 00:10:48.120
 these guys are doing a good job.

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.680
 They've got the fab five.

00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:50.640
 I know your works,

00:10:50.760 --> 00:10:51.180
 your love,

00:10:51.420 --> 00:10:51.920
 your faith,

00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:52.740
 your service

00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:54.040
 and your patient endurance.

00:10:54.260 --> 00:10:55.320
 That's pretty good.

00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:56.540
 Right?

00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.280
 The Ephesus church had it all

00:10:58.280 --> 00:10:59.120
 but they didn't have love.

00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.220
 These guys have love.

00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:00.900
 Can you imagine

00:11:00.900 --> 00:11:02.200
 just hearing this letter,

00:11:02.460 --> 00:11:03.000
 the fourth one,

00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:03.480
 as you're telling me,

00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:03.620
 like,

00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:04.220
 dude,

00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:05.040
 we have love.

00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:05.620
 Oh,

00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.600
 it's all good.

00:11:07.680 --> 00:11:08.440
 We've got love.

00:11:09.560 --> 00:11:10.620
 And then it's even better.

00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.260
 Then they say,

00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.560
 and Jesus says,

00:11:12.660 --> 00:11:13.700
 and your latter works

00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:15.360
 are greater than your first.

00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:16.740
 What does that mean?

00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:18.400
 What do you think that means?

00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:20.640
 It means they're growing.

00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:23.900
 Like you started off like this

00:11:23.900 --> 00:11:25.020
 and all the works

00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:25.539
 you've got to hear

00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:26.460
 and then it's growing

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.500
 and now your latter works

00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.319
 are greater than your first.

00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.659
 You are a growing church.

00:11:31.199 --> 00:11:31.759
 Praise God,

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.039
 we are a growing church.

00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:35.340
 We're figuring a lot of things out.

00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:36.179
 This is our first week

00:11:36.179 --> 00:11:37.159
 in trying a TV

00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:39.000
 just to see those at the back.

00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:40.120
 Was that better or not?

00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:40.720
 Having,

00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.120
 having,

00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:42.179
 it was a little bit better.

00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:44.179
 With that Spotify playlist.

00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:46.579
 So if you still can't see the TVs,

00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:48.419
 then the next best option

00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:49.240
 is to download

00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:50.699
 or get the Spotify playlist

00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:51.980
 and learn all the songs

00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:52.759
 off by heart

00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:54.160
 and then you won't need the lyrics.

00:11:55.420 --> 00:11:56.379
 We've actually got

00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:58.020
 these sermons

00:11:58.020 --> 00:11:59.100
 also on another

00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:00.540
 Spotify podcast channel

00:12:00.540 --> 00:12:01.660
 which we will share

00:12:01.660 --> 00:12:02.520
 especially if you're

00:12:02.520 --> 00:12:03.360
 in the gathering group.

00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:05.240
 We're trying to figure things out.

00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:06.620
 Last week,

00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:07.420
 we were pretty full

00:12:07.420 --> 00:12:08.440
 and I know it's flu season

00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.860
 and praise God for Agnes.

00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:10.379
 Where's Agnes?

00:12:10.640 --> 00:12:11.379
 Is she here or is she busy?

00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:12.620
 There's Agnes.

00:12:13.780 --> 00:12:14.800
 Round of applause for Agnes

00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.520
 and I'll tell you why.

00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:18.439
 We were like,

00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.740
 there's so many people here

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.419
 and everyone's like,

00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:22.559
 because it's flu season

00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:23.799
 and before you know it,

00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:24.460
 we have seven

00:12:24.460 --> 00:12:25.759
 air purifying machines

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.980
 dotted around the place

00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:29.100
 with a sticker

00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:31.480
 that says 99.9%

00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:32.519
 COVID elimination.

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.740
 That's good.

00:12:36.079 --> 00:12:37.340
 We're figuring things out.

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.519
 We're a growing church.

00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:39.659
 We don't know what to do.

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.659
 Some people are still standing.

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.240
 We don't know.

00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.240
 We're figuring

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:43.600
 all those things out

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.399
 and it's exciting.

00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:46.480
 But let me tell you,

00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:47.340
 as we're growing,

00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:48.579
 here are the things on my heart.

00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:50.220
 Do we have these things?

00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.980
 If our works are getting more

00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.039
 and I've had a few of you,

00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:54.399
 actually,

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.600
 side reminder,

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:56.399
 if you filled out

00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.360
 your prison ministry form

00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.319
 and you haven't given it to me yet,

00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.100
 please give it to me.

00:12:59.179 --> 00:12:59.340
 Okay?

00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.899
 My brother will be back next week

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.699
 because he's in the UK right now.

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.199
 Give it to me

00:13:02.199 --> 00:13:03.860
 and we'll get that process started.

00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:05.220
 Our works are growing.

00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:06.419
 We've got fun things happening.

00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:09.000
 But I pray as we're growing,

00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.419
 we'll have the love of Thyatira

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:13.639
 that we would love God,

00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:15.840
 that we don't love this space,

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.220
 that we don't love the view,

00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:19.860
 that we don't love the songs,

00:13:20.939 --> 00:13:22.080
 but we love God.

00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.600
 We love His Word.

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.080
 We start to love His Word.

00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.240
 Loving is hard.

00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.340
 Anyone who's been married

00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:28.319
 for any amount of time

00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:28.740
 will tell you

00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.480
 loving is hard

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.539
 requires effort.

00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:32.600
 Learn how to love.

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:33.899
 Learn how to love Him.

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.720
 Learn how to love His Word.

00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:35.740
 Learn how to love people.

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.659
 If you've been around

00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.659
 human beings at all,

00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:38.940
 you'll know human beings

00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:39.639
 are hard to love.

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.940
 That's why it's a command.

00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:42.639
 Love.

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.779
 Because it's not easy.

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:44.779
 It's not natural to love.

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.580
 I hope we grow in love

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.419
 as we grow.

00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:50.200
 I hope we grow in faith.

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.200
 That we start to see,

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:52.519
 man,

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.799
 everything isn't quiet

00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.340
 as it seems.

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.279
 This isn't just a service here.

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.379
 This isn't just a group

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.080
 of people gathering

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.259
 to make each other feel better.

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.680
 The thing they're gathering for

00:14:01.680 --> 00:14:02.120
 is real.

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.620
 We can't see Him,

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.240
 but it's real.

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.379
 The battle outside is real.

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.000
 We have faith

00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.019
 that the one who lives in us

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.860
 is greater than the one

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.960
 who lives in the world.

00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.840
 I hope that we grow in faith.

00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:17.840
 I also hope we grow in service.

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:19.740
 The prison ministry

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.679
 that whilst we gather,

00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:21.659
 we also, what?

00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:22.960
 Scatter.

00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.639
 That we go out.

00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.320
 That we go and meet people

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.620
 and introduce them

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.220
 to the gospel.

00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.100
 I was just talking to a friend

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.820
 over lunch on Friday.

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.080
 I'm like,

00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:33.299
 you know,

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.440
 we do so many church things.

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.039
 I come to church

00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:37.279
 and I do this Bible study.

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.080
 I do this group.

00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:38.720
 I do that group.

00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.779
 But then when I'm at work,

00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:42.360
 I don't talk about Jesus at all.

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.480
 Who does that?

00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:46.519
 Who does all the church

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.240
 Christian stuff

00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.419
 in church,

00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.120
 but none of it outside?

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.340
 Right?

00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.179
 Your colleagues don't know

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:53.860
 what you do on a Sunday.

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.399
 When you see them tomorrow morning,

00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:55.919
 how was your weekend?

00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:56.799
 Or you see them on Tuesday

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.560
 because it's public holiday.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:57.879
 Woo!

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.080
 They were like,

00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.840
 oh, what did you do this weekend?

00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.919
 Oh, I did all this other stuff.

00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.079
 But we don't talk about church.

00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:06.860
 That's just like a side thing.

00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:09.779
 How do we grow in service

00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:10.959
 and reach and scatter

00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:11.919
 to the people

00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.399
 who actually need this good news?

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.879
 And to grow in patient endurance

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.959
 because it's not easy.

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.699
 To battle against all the things

00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:22.059
 in this world is not easy.

00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:24.500
 To live harmoniously here

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:26.179
 is not easy.

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.719
 Oh, I think someone pressed

00:15:29.719 --> 00:15:31.259
 the fire door outside.

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:31.619
 Anyway.

00:15:34.359 --> 00:15:35.179
 We are going to try

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:35.879
 and fight through that.

00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:38.859
 As we're growing,

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.599
 do we have love?

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.379
 Do we have service?

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.119
 Do we have patience?

00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:47.699
 Do we have the endurance

00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:48.500
 it takes to get one?

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.339
 The church in Thyatira has it

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:51.420
 and I want to have it too.

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.500
 But,

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.780
 here's the big but.

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.100
 You guys are doing really well

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.860
 so that was really loud.

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:58.820
 But,

00:15:59.040 --> 00:16:02.680
 you're doing all these

00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:03.320
 good things, guys.

00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:04.840
 You even have love.

00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:05.940
 But,

00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:07.139
 you tolerate

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:09.040
 that one person.

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.680
 That woman

00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:14.540
 who calls herself

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.300
 a prophetess.

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:17.639
 Now,

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.740
 that woman's name

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:20.000
 isn't actually Jezebel.

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.399
 It's not actually Jezebel.

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:21.840
 But,

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.100
 of course,

00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:23.040
 we know Jezebel

00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.639
 to be the evil woman

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.420
 in the Old Testament

00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:26.660
 who's married to King Ahab

00:16:26.660 --> 00:16:27.920
 who causes the Israelites

00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:29.259
 to all worship Baal.

00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.100
 This woman.

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.160
 And he's saying,

00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.759
 you tolerate this woman.

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.740
 You're not joining her,

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.480
 but you're tolerating her.

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.700
 There's someone

00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:41.080
 in your midst

00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.000
 who's teaching

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.940
 and seducing

00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.980
 my servants

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.759
 to practice

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.620
 sexual immorality

00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.560
 and to eat food

00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.379
 sacrificed to idols.

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:50.259
 that's dangerous.

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.100
 The question is,

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.779
 do we have any

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:56.139
 of that compromise here?

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.799
 This is the same

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.360
 as last week

00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.179
 to start with here.

00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.080
 Are there compromises

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.580
 that you've made?

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.500
 Is there a woman here?

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.360
 Is there a man here?

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.700
 Is there an individual here

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.599
 who is teaching

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.720
 and seducing people

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.720
 astray?

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:08.779
 Now,

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.259
 actually,

00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:09.980
 it wasn't even

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.720
 that

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.099
 malicious almost.

00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:14.059
 You know what she was saying?

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.099
 Do you know the things

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:15.519
 that she was saying?

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.220
 Let me tell you a little bit

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.859
 about Thyatira.

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.539
 Thyatira was a working class

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.079
 kind of city.

00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.980
 It had loads of trade guilds.

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.200
 So loads of associations

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.799
 of merchants

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.359
 and craftsmen

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.339
 and all these kinds of things.

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:28.319
 And one of the essentials

00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:29.480
 of joining one of these

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.980
 trade guilds,

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.759
 if you want to kind of

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.660
 do any kind of business,

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.160
 now,

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.000
 Thyatira,

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:33.639
 Lydia,

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.480
 has anyone heard of Lydia

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.019
 in the Bible?

00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.940
 Lydia was a businesswoman

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.180
 from Thyatira.

00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:39.519
 She's mentioned

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.480
 in Acts 16.

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.539
 She's the woman

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.579
 who actually backs

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.980
 Paul in Philippi

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:45.180
 to start the first church

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:45.579
 in Europe.

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.480
 So she's from Thyatira

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.660
 and she was a woman,

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.259
 a businesswoman

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.079
 of purple cloth.

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.539
 And so Thyatira

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.480
 is filled with this

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.420
 kind of business here,

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.500
 filled with all these

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.200
 trade guilds.

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.720
 And the thing

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.460
 with these trade guilds

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.339
 was you have to attend

00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.720
 all these dinners,

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.740
 all these banquets.

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.180
 You do all these things

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.940
 to kind of stay

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.980
 within the trade guild

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.860
 so you can be,

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:06.380
 you can have,

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.200
 you can network,

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.599
 you can have a community,

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.660
 you can have connections.

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.740
 And so this prophetess

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.640
 was basically just saying,

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:12.820
 hey,

00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:13.860
 it's actually okay

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.779
 to go to those things.

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:15.820
 Christians,

00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.440
 we are freed

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:19.320
 from slavery now.

00:18:19.540 --> 00:18:19.940
 We can actually,

00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:20.660
 we're free to go

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.660
 and go to all these banquets

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.200
 and these things.

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.680
 Now the problem was

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.840
 as you enter these things,

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.519
 so often these banquets

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.140
 and these events

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.700
 would descend into chaos,

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.620
 would descend

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:31.180
 into sexual immorality.

00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:32.680
 But she was saying,

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:32.880
 hey,

00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:34.320
 if we're saved by Christ,

00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:34.860
 we can do whatever

00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.480
 we need to do.

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.860
 Do whatever we need to do

00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.840
 to stay ahead,

00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.560
 to be part of society.

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.400
 That's what she's saying.

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.460
 And then Jesus is saying,

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.620
 and you tolerate her.

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.380
 The question is,

00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.180
 what do we tolerate?

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:48.740
 And last week,

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.580
 I asked you this question,

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:49.740
 right?

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.019
 I said,

00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:50.840
 like,

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.160
 we're called to be in Hong Kong,

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.400
 but what if Hong Kong

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.519
 has seeped into our church?

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.240
 What if Hong Kong,

00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:56.980
 what if the city

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.680
 has seeped into the church?

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.980
 What banquets

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.940
 do you have to go to

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.580
 for your work?

00:19:03.340 --> 00:19:03.580
 I don't know,

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.300
 finance guys.

00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:06.880
 Finance is

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:08.700
 the big thing

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.300
 here in Hong Kong.

00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:10.379
 What are the things

00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.419
 that you have to do

00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:12.220
 to go to

00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.740
 to keep your career going,

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.859
 to expand your business empire?

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.159
 Whether you go out

00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.159
 for dinners with clients

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:22.919
 and it descends

00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:23.680
 into something else

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.119
 that you know

00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.819
 is going there,

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.539
 but you're like,

00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:27.539
 and you reason to yourself,

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:27.779
 oh,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.200
 it's okay.

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.319
 It's the same thing

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:30.819
 I said last week,

00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:31.720
 going to a party

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.859
 to help your friends

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.500
 who are getting drunk

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.940
 to look after them.

00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:35.919
 What are the things

00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:36.779
 that you're justifying

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:38.240
 if you're a finance guy,

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.379
 if you're in real estate

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.680
 and you have to

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.579
 take these meetings

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:43.160
 that go late into the night

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.920
 that there's lots

00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.779
 of alcohol involved.

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.220
 What are you thinking here?

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:49.139
 What's your thought process here?

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.740
 Is there any area

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.299
 of compromise

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.559
 that we have in our lives

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.500
 that we have

00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.420
 in our friendship groups?

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.660
 I want to keep

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.460
 this group of friends,

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:58.700
 but I know

00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.440
 this group of friends

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.720
 has to go

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.759
 and do this kind of stuff.

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.940
 and you're like,

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.119
 oh,

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.740
 but it's okay.

00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:04.519
 It's okay.

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.240
 That's the compromise.

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.039
 What about those

00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.879
 in the entertainment industry?

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.039
 Those who are influencers,

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.960
 those who are online.

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.299
 What do you have to do?

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.059
 What are the things

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.680
 that you have to do

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.240
 to kind of like,

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.240
 man,

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.180
 if I don't go to that,

00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.720
 I'll be ignored,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.240
 right?

00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:23.720
 If I don't play ball

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.500
 in this,

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.640
 then I won't

00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:27.779
 get my career going.

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.079
 In church,

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.680
 if you're a newcomer here

00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.500
 and you don't know

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.160
 anything about Jesus,

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.840
 we welcome you.

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:34.779
 We're not weird.

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.380
 We're no different.

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.200
 But we are

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.700
 also very different

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.880
 because we believe

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.320
 there's something

00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:41.100
 outside of this world.

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.820
 We welcome you

00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:42.279
 and we want you

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.799
 to see what it is.

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.880
 But we also need

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.299
 to know that

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.320
 we're trying not

00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:49.759
 to compromise it.

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.960
 Maybe it's not

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.759
 even compromise.

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.259
 Here's a dangerous

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.720
 word that I want

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.340
 to post to you.

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:57.039
 Guys are particularly

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.640
 good at this.

00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.640
 Compartmentalize.

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.080
 I was talking

00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:04.100
 to a good friend

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.779
 of mine who's

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.360
 the managing director

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:07.640
 of a big consulting firm

00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.920
 and I was like,

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.100
 hey,

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.039
 you're a Christian.

00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:12.500
 Why has God

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.539
 put you where you are

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.240
 and what does that

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.660
 look like?

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.320
 What does your faith

00:21:15.320 --> 00:21:16.180
 and your work look like?

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.460
 Do you know what he said?

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.560
 He's like,

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.400
 oh, actually,

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.220
 they're two separate things.

00:21:21.560 --> 00:21:22.640
 There's just two departments

00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:23.940
 that I'm trying to,

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.120
 I mean,

00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:25.400
 typical consultant language.

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:28.060
 There's just two different areas

00:21:28.060 --> 00:21:28.840
 that I need to kind of,

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.140
 oh,

00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:29.420
 oh,

00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:30.240
 that's interesting.

00:21:30.780 --> 00:21:31.500
 I'm not where you are

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.600
 so I don't dare say

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.540
 how I would react

00:21:33.540 --> 00:21:34.100
 and do that,

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:36.160
 but something tells me

00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.700
 that this book

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.000
 doesn't want us

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.900
 to compartmentalize.

00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:41.620
 That Jesus is either

00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:42.040
 your Lord

00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:42.600
 or he's not.

00:21:44.020 --> 00:21:45.259
 But are there certain things

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.200
 that we compartmentalize

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.100
 and the easiest one is,

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.320
 hey,

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.740
 on a Sunday morning,

00:21:49.280 --> 00:21:49.860
 I am good.

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:51.840
 I come to church,

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.300
 I'm good,

00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:52.900
 I'm tired

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.600
 because on Saturday night

00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:55.680
 I stayed really late

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:57.600
 and I got home really late.

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.740
 So we compartmentalize

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.019
 certain parts of our week

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:03.339
 into being for Jesus

00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:04.659
 and the rest of the time

00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:06.039
 is whatever.

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.719
 Do you compromise

00:22:09.719 --> 00:22:12.039
 and do you compartmentalize?

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.519
 Jesus wants us to,

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:16.099
 Jesus wants all of us.

00:22:16.699 --> 00:22:17.240
 He doesn't say,

00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:18.659
 love me with your mind,

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.079
 soul,

00:22:19.219 --> 00:22:19.439
 heart.

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:19.719
 He says,

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.119
 love me with all

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:22.439
 of your heart,

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:22.639
 soul,

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:22.939
 mind,

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.439
 and strength.

00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.940
 Do we compromise

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:28.100
 and do we compartmentalize?

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:28.759
 Are there parties

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.820
 that you have to go to?

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:30.740
 Are there things

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.960
 that you have to do

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.620
 in order to be accepted

00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.460
 to get where you want?

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.480
 Who's watched

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.320
 Chariots of Fire?

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.039
 That's a really old film.

00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:40.980
 I think the older people

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.200
 are like,

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.380
 oh,

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.620
 yep,

00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.039
 that was me.

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.340
 Watch it.

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.200
 It's about a guy

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.980
 who doesn't compromise.

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.200
 It's about a guy

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.519
 who is a sprinter

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.680
 but doesn't want to sprint

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.160
 on a Sunday

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.640
 because that's God's day

00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:56.440
 and everyone's just outraged.

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.759
 Outraged.

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.220
 Why would you not do it

00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.720
 on a Sunday?

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.100
 Just do it.

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.539
 Do church on another day.

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.640
 There's reasons

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.420
 for everything, right?

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.220
 Now,

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.440
 of course,

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.080
 there's some jobs.

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.400
 There's some,

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.779
 like,

00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:09.080
 you have to go to work

00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:09.460
 on a Sunday.

00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:09.799
 I get it.

00:23:09.820 --> 00:23:10.060
 Erica,

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.160
 don't not show up

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.100
 to work on a Sunday.

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.220
 She's a doctor.

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:13.519
 Like,

00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.259
 that's not good.

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.759
 I know Trevor has to go to work.

00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.019
 Like,

00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:16.720
 there are some jobs

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.320
 you can't,

00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:18.480
 but there are other things

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.180
 that are kind of like,

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.820
 we reason, right?

00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:21.820
 Oh,

00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:22.299
 it's okay.

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:22.659
 We can,

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.139
 we can,

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.559
 I guess,

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.480
 Sunday used to be church,

00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.659
 but we can do that instead

00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:28.319
 and we'll wake it up somehow.

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:28.779
 You know what?

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.720
 We'll watch it online.

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.200
 We'll watch church online

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.180
 so we can go and,

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.279
 we can go and do what we do.

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.879
 Little things,

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.319
 little things

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.299
 that we let through the door,

00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:40.659
 little things

00:23:40.659 --> 00:23:41.919
 that sound reasonable

00:23:41.919 --> 00:23:44.279
 and that's all it takes.

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.200
 Church,

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.899
 I want us to grow,

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.099
 but I want us to grow

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.500
 in love,

00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:48.899
 faith,

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.899
 patient endurance

00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:50.659
 and service,

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:53.459
 but also not to compromise,

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:56.159
 to not make things

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:57.000
 so seeker sensitive

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.659
 that we become

00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.359
 sin sensitive.

00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.980
 If you're a seeking here,

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.719
 we welcome you,

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:05.980
 but we also can't tolerate

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:07.000
 when there are things

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.919
 that are in our lives

00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:09.019
 that are destroying us,

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.299
 consuming us,

00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:11.039
 corrupting us.

00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.759
 If we truly loved you,

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.079
 we wouldn't,

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.339
 we can't just stand by

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:14.939
 and let you do it.

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.319
 Oh,

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.720
 because we're a tolerant society.

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:18.759
 No,

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.779
 tolerance isn't a spirit,

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.439
 fruit of the spirit.

00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.299
 Love is,

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.419
 grace is.

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.720
 And this is the hardest line

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.799
 because society out there

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.899
 has so many things

00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:30.240
 that are challenging.

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:30.439
 Go,

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:30.639
 hey,

00:24:30.699 --> 00:24:32.259
 what do you guys think about this?

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.539
 What do you guys think about that?

00:24:35.199 --> 00:24:36.720
 Would you let that kind of person in?

00:24:37.919 --> 00:24:39.159
 Christina and I finally got around

00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:40.759
 to watching the Jesus Revolution film.

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.559
 Has anyone watched that?

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.419
 It's on Netflix now.

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.220
 It's about the kind of

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.059
 the Jesus hippie movement

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.779
 from the 70s.

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.359
 Pretty cool.

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.879
 It's actually a really well done movie

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.619
 and it's not your typical

00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.000
 cliche,

00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:51.079
 cheesy Christian movie.

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.259
 Worth a watch.

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.099
 And of course,

00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:54.819
 there's loads of flaws

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.919
 and actually they do highlight

00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.019
 some of those things there as well.

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.579
 It's on Netflix.

00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.139
 But one thing is basically

00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.980
 there was a church,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.759
 a small church

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:04.159
 filled with the kind of

00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:04.740
 typical people

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.059
 that you'd expect to be in church

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:07.059
 in the 70s in America.

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.879
 And then suddenly,

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.399
 like,

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:11.359
 they start inviting hippies in.

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:13.219
 And you can imagine

00:25:13.219 --> 00:25:15.079
 the tension there.

00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:17.000
 And then the pastor says

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.839
 this one thing that I love.

00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.139
 He says,

00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:20.059
 how can we close our doors to them?

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.119
 How?

00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:23.339
 If you look at the Bible,

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.779
 the essence of the faith

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:28.240
 is that we welcome anyone.

00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:30.419
 Jesus himself

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:32.159
 hung out with people.

00:25:33.479 --> 00:25:33.779
 Actually,

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.919
 the most disputed thing

00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.399
 about Jesus

00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:36.859
 is who he shared the table with,

00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:38.519
 who he ate dinner with.

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:40.379
 Why did you eat with them people?

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.920
 Why did you eat with these people?

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.240
 And the guy in the book says,

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.639
 the essence of the faith

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.059
 is that

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:48.619
 these people are welcomed in.

00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.940
 But there's a difference

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.299
 between welcome

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.940
 and accepting.

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.519
 I'm trying to find this line.

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.299
 I want to welcome

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:03.200
 every single person in.

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.879
 And you come

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:06.059
 just as you are.

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.819
 That's what God says.

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.399
 You come

00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:10.539
 but he loves you enough

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.259
 to not keep you

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:11.919
 where you are.

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.619
 Right?

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.960
 I can welcome you

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.000
 but I don't necessarily

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.939
 need to accept

00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:18.879
 what you're doing.

00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:23.419
 You guys help me

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:25.000
 and God help us

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.819
 find that line.

00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:28.980
 Jesus does this so well.

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.919
 Have you read Jesus' stuff?

00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.279
 Have you read his sermon?

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.619
 Jesus says,

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.639
 the law says

00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:37.039
 if you commit adultery,

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:38.599
 you can't do that.

00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.059
 That's not good.

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.519
 And then Jesus says,

00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.279
 the law says this

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.559
 but what I'll say is this.

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.220
 If you look at someone,

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.180
 you better cut your eye out.

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.299
 He sees the law

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.240
 and then he like ups it

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.119
 each time.

00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:56.099
 But haven't you found it fascinating

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:57.319
 that each time he does that

00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:57.940
 yet the lowest,

00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.839
 the worst of the sinners

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.519
 keep coming to him?

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:01.639
 I don't know how he does it.

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.099
 I really don't know

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.599
 how he does it.

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.240
 But that comes back to

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.660
 bring them to me.

00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.720
 Bring them to me.

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.579
 So they even just reminded me

00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:14.940
 just now.

00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.079
 That's what the Lord wants.

00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:16.779
 As a church,

00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:18.059
 we are pointing people

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.720
 to him.

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:19.839
 I'm like,

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.740
 I don't know what to do

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.379
 with your situation.

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.099
 I don't know

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:24.039
 whether Jesus likes it.

00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.460
 Well actually,

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.400
 there's some things

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:26.359
 I know that Jesus

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:26.920
 doesn't like that.

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.640
 There are other things

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:27.840
 I'm like,

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.220
 I don't know.

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.259
 Come to us.

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.160
 Be with us.

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.900
 We welcome you

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.880
 and go to him

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:33.500
 and let him be the one

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.320
 that tells you the truth.

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.420
 Let him be the one

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.380
 that delivers the truth

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.460
 with grace and love

00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.539
 because I can't do it.

00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:39.820
 Not to the level

00:27:39.820 --> 00:27:40.360
 that he can.

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.360
 That's why Jesus says,

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.279
 bring them to me

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:45.019
 and I'll do it.

00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:46.560
 But you as a body,

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:46.940
 welcome.

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.960
 You don't have to accept

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.600
 but welcome.

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.600
 But don't tolerate.

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.600
 It was harsh for these guys

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:52.920
 because actually

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.940
 they weren't doing anything.

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:57.000
 They were just tolerating.

00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.539
 They weren't joining in necessarily.

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.360
 And yet Jesus says,

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.500
 that's the problem

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.779
 because when you have a group

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.779
 and I pointed at that couch

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.160
 last week,

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.120
 maybe it's this couch.

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.000
 Maybe it's just you two.

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.019
 Maybe it's just Sonny and Godfrey.

00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:10.779
 You're teaching us

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.960
 how to compartmentalize,

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.700
 how to compromise

00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:15.539
 and you start telling people,

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:15.940
 hey actually,

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.340
 it's okay.

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.559
 It's okay to do this

00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:21.220
 and then you can do this.

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.779
 It's okay to be there

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.640
 and then you'll be there.

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:26.640
 Jesus is saying,

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.220
 that's dangerous

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.920
 because that kind of just

00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:30.759
 seeps through

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.779
 to everywhere else.

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.740
 That's the danger.

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.660
 It's interesting,

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.299
 he says this.

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.000
 He says,

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.120
 to the rest of you,

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:40.120
 so that's the naughty corner,

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.960
 but to the rest of you,

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.600
 sorry guys,

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.340
 I'll come and give you

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:43.720
 a hug later.

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.240
 It's just the couch.

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.880
 I'm just jealous of that couch.

00:28:49.080 --> 00:28:50.340
 To the rest of you,

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.259
 you have not held

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.940
 to this teaching

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:53.080
 and you have not learned

00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:54.100
 the so-called

00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:55.660
 deep things of Satan.

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.200
 What's that?

00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:57.080
 Can you see that?

00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:57.880
 Can you read that there?

00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:59.200
 What a strange way to put it.

00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.500
 Jesus does a little like

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:02.100
 so-called.

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.620
 Verse 24,

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.660
 but to the rest of you

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.320
 in Thyatira

00:29:06.320 --> 00:29:07.360
 who do not hold

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:07.940
 this teaching,

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.100
 who have not learned

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.799
 what some call

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:11.240
 the deep things of Satan.

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:14.120
 there were some people,

00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.799
 some people

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.660
 sat in that corner

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.279
 over there

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.599
 who were telling people,

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:18.819
 hey,

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.700
 we've actually got

00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.799
 a secret thing.

00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.599
 We actually,

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:25.279
 we've got a secret revelation.

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.799
 We know more now.

00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.180
 Do you know what we found out?

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:28.680
 That the body

00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.180
 and the soul

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.680
 are separate,

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.620
 which means

00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:32.339
 if you've accepted Jesus

00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.279
 and you believe in him,

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.380
 your soul's going to be saved

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.180
 and your body,

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:35.759
 you can do whatever

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.279
 you want with.

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.640
 There's a rising group

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.019
 of people,

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:39.559
 they were called

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.120
 the Gnostics

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:40.659
 at the time

00:29:40.659 --> 00:29:41.739
 who were professing

00:29:41.739 --> 00:29:42.619
 to have this special

00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.319
 realization

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:45.319
 of the spiritual things.

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.639
 Saying,

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:46.959
 oh,

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:48.059
 in the spiritual realm

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.659
 that's okay

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:50.319
 and in the physical realm

00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.019
 this is okay.

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.479
 So that's why

00:29:52.479 --> 00:29:53.379
 Jesus was kind of doing

00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.239
 the air quits,

00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.219
 the so-called

00:29:55.219 --> 00:29:56.079
 deep things of Satan.

00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.799
 There was another group

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.199
 that was saying,

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.399
 hey,

00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.839
 do you know how you conquer

00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.879
 the things of Satan?

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.279
 Go do them.

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.479
 That was the,

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.259
 hey,

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.739
 do you know how to

00:30:05.739 --> 00:30:06.419
 stick it to Satan?

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.559
 Go do the things

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.419
 that he wants you to do.

00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.739
 That was literally

00:30:11.739 --> 00:30:12.219
 the reasoning.

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:12.959
 It's like,

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.459
 if you do them,

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.519
 if you go deeper

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.099
 into sin,

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.339
 then you will experience

00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:17.539
 grace to a deeper level.

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.500
 Have you done that?

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.459
 Have you convinced

00:30:23.459 --> 00:30:24.379
 yourself of that?

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.919
 When you're in a place

00:30:25.919 --> 00:30:26.239
 where you're just

00:30:26.239 --> 00:30:27.259
 in self-pity mode,

00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:28.500
 that's it,

00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:28.739
 I'm,

00:30:29.739 --> 00:30:31.599
 I suck at this

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.379
 Christian stuff this week,

00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:32.859
 I'm just going to go

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.379
 deeper in.

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:34.899
 I don't know,

00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.460
 God will save me

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.980
 at some point.

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.400
 To the rest of you

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.940
 who haven't,

00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:40.759
 Jesus is saying,

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.580
 to the rest of you,

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.840
 hold fast till I come.

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.259
 Hang in there

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.780
 is what he's saying.

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.800
 He also says

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.480
 something interesting.

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.320
 If we just rewind

00:30:51.320 --> 00:30:51.800
 a little bit,

00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.519
 I found this is

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.000
 pretty cool.

00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:53.940
 He says,

00:30:54.280 --> 00:30:56.080
 verse 21,

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.400
 he's talking about

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:57.820
 Jezebel,

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.800
 who's the one

00:30:58.800 --> 00:30:59.320
 who's leading

00:30:59.320 --> 00:30:59.880
 all of this,

00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.680
 and then he says,

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.460
 I gave her time

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.980
 to repent.

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.700
 Isn't that cool?

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.340
 The worst of them,

00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.980
 the one who's leading

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.579
 everyone astray,

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.480
 seducing everyone.

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:09.900
 Well,

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.539
 he's trying to,

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.000
 Jesus is saying,

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.259
 I gave her time

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.920
 to repent.

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.559
 He's not hasty

00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.200
 with his judgment.

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.180
 I don't know

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.759
 whether you feel

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.200
 like the sheep

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.980
 being led astray

00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.900
 by the prophetess,

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.860
 or you feel like

00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:23.420
 the prophetess

00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.160
 who's actually doing

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.860
 the leading.

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.400
 This is saying,

00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.180
 however deep

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.720
 your sin is,

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.360
 it doesn't matter.

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.420
 Jesus still gives you

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.039
 time to repent.

00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.619
 Even if you are

00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.240
 Jezebel,

00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.299
 no one should name

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:35.119
 their daughter Jezebel.

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.059
 It's not a name

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.539
 to give

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:39.059
 if you're having

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.000
 a daughter anytime soon,

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:40.819
 or a son,

00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.359
 but that's for

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:41.819
 different reasons.

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.259
 Don't,

00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.720
 no one likes

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.879
 this name Jezebel.

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.740
 This prophetess,

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.639
 this evil queen,

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.379
 some describe her

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:49.859
 to be the most

00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.740
 evil woman

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:52.680
 in the history

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.359
 of mankind.

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.019
 And yet,

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.019
 Jesus says,

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.759
 I gave her time

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.159
 to repent.

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.940
 Just to give you

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.319
 a glimpse

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.859
 of what Jesus

00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.279
 is like.

00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:03.759
 He's fierce,

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.299
 his eyes

00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.180
 are like fire.

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.680
 Can you imagine

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:07.940
 that?

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.759
 He's piercing

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.720
 through to the

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.539
 very depths

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.220
 of your soul,

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.039
 knows all

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.759
 of your sin,

00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.920
 yet in that

00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.279
 moment,

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.339
 he still gives

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:15.779
 you time

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.279
 to repent.

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.019
 That's who

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.539
 Jesus is.

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.119
 But then he

00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:23.399
 says,

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.899
 but she did not

00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:25.500
 repent of her

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.240
 sexual immorality.

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:26.819
 Behold,

00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.299
 I will throw her

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.960
 onto a sickbed.

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.380
 That's a bit

00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:29.960
 of a strange

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.600
 thing to say.

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:31.740
 But really,

00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.340
 it's tied into

00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:33.000
 the saying of,

00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.340
 actually,

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.920
 you make your

00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.319
 own bed.

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:35.920
 Have you heard

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.279
 that saying

00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.559
 before?

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.079
 You make

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.539
 your own bed.

00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:38.779
 You suffer

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.620
 the consequences

00:32:39.620 --> 00:32:41.700
 of your own

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:41.960
 sin.

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.420
 And this

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.100
 prophetess,

00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:46.600
 who's teaching

00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:47.299
 people to commit

00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.819
 adultery,

00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:49.799
 often done on

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.140
 a bed,

00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:50.740
 he's saying,

00:32:50.840 --> 00:32:51.180
 I will throw

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.620
 her onto a

00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:51.860
 sickbed.

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.420
 I will let

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:52.640
 her,

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.779
 I will leave

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.259
 her to her

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:54.680
 own devices,

00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.600
 and she will

00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:56.019
 suffer the

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.539
 consequences

00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:56.920
 that she

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.279
 deserves.

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.819
 she's made

00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.139
 her own

00:32:59.139 --> 00:32:59.339
 bed.

00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.200
 So often,

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.399
 we think about

00:33:03.399 --> 00:33:04.160
 Christianity as

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.660
 these are the

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.240
 things that we're

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.839
 not allowed to

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.079
 do.

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:06.940
 Oh,

00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:08.299
 we're dating,

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.920
 but we're not

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.539
 allowed to have

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.139
 sex before

00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:10.539
 marriage.

00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:11.099
 Hey,

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:11.519
 we're doing

00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:11.759
 this,

00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.259
 but we're not

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.819
 allowed to go

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.539
 to that party.

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:13.920
 We're not

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:14.480
 allowed to do

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:14.759
 this,

00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.019
 we're not

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.359
 allowed to

00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:15.879
 do that.

00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:18.940
 And yeah,

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.500
 those are

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.759
 things,

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.180
 but what are

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.859
 they there for?

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.279
 Why do I tell

00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.200
 my children that

00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.660
 they are not

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.279
 allowed to play

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.559
 with the

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.059
 firehop in

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.420
 the kitchen?

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.279
 Because it'll

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:27.799
 hurt them.

00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:30.339
 Until we

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:30.819
 realize that

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.319
 actually Jesus

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:31.940
 is for our

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.119
 good,

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.000
 he gives us

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.480
 time to

00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:33.720
 repent,

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.240
 even if he

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.619
 sees the

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.039
 very depths

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.359
 of our

00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:35.539
 soul.

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.339
 What he

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:38.759
 doesn't want

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.240
 is for us

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.740
 to suffer the

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.539
 consequences of

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:40.899
 our own

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.059
 sin.

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.899
 Because every

00:33:43.899 --> 00:33:45.000
 time a couple

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.740
 decides to

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.700
 give in to

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.379
 the temptations

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:49.039
 and to give

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.359
 in to the

00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:50.079
 insecurities,

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.259
 when a couple

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:51.660
 decides,

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:51.960
 okay,

00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:53.799
 if I don't

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.299
 do this with

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.779
 this person,

00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.579
 I'm not going

00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.360
 to keep them.

00:33:56.620 --> 00:33:57.019
 I'm going to

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.500
 lose them.

00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.920
 That insecurity,

00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.579
 after it's done,

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.140
 is that insecurity

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.460
 gone?

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.940
 Not.

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.279
 It just

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:04.840
 worsens.

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.299
 It just gets

00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:06.720
 worse.

00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:09.420
 The sins that

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.980
 we have that

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.760
 keep us captive

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.199
 are actually

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:12.679
 things that are

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.280
 destroying us.

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.940
 That's why Jesus

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.940
 is so harsh on

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:15.079
 them.

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.220
 Not because he's

00:34:16.220 --> 00:34:16.980
 harsh about the

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.699
 actual things,

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.679
 but because he

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.599
 loves you and

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.480
 I so much

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.179
 that he's like,

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.800
 don't do them.

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.619
 Don't do them.

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.400
 Those consequences

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.260
 are so painful.

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.760
 Every time you

00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.019
 give in,

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.480
 every time you

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.840
 compromise,

00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.440
 you know it

00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:30.880
 doesn't help.

00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:31.820
 You know it

00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:32.159
 doesn't get

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.420
 better.

00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:36.400
 And I just

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:36.820
 need to quickly

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.260
 address this.

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:37.800
 Verse 23,

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.280
 and I will

00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:38.760
 strike her

00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.320
 children dead.

00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:41.480
 That's as

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:41.900
 harsh as it

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.159
 gets.

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:42.960
 But what he's

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.440
 saying here is

00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.099
 there are people

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.460
 that she's

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.900
 teaching and

00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.179
 following.

00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:45.679
 There are her

00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.099
 disciples.

00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:46.579
 There are her

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.199
 spiritual kids.

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:47.980
 There are people

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.659
 who follow her

00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:48.920
 way.

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:51.960
 They will be

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.360
 removed.

00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:53.880
 They will be

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.079
 gone.

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.320
 The body of

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.800
 Christ cannot

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.840
 tolerate these

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.139
 things.

00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:00.099
 Bring them to

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:00.280
 me.

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.300
 Let me confront

00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:01.559
 them.

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.039
 And only hold

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.360
 fast till the

00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:06.559
 end.

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.440
 And keep my

00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:07.980
 works or keep

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.900
 my will till

00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.240
 the end.

00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:10.880
 Hold fast.

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.400
 That's like a

00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.340
 battle.

00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:14.380
 I was talking to

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:14.940
 someone about this

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.200
 recently.

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:15.480
 I was like,

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.059
 life is just

00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:16.719
 filled with

00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.039
 battles.

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.679
 Does your

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.199
 life feel like

00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:19.480
 an uphill

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:19.760
 battle?

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:21.159
 What are we

00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:21.559
 facing here?

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:21.880
 What are the

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.360
 battles that we

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.039
 face in society

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.260
 here?

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:23.719
 Let me ask some

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.199
 questions here.

00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:25.559
 What are the

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:26.039
 battles that we

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.980
 face in society?

00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:30.699
 What do you

00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:30.820
 think?

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.300
 Trevor, what do

00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.519
 you got?

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:33.920
 Lust.

00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:34.820
 That's an

00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:35.340
 uphill battle.

00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:36.960
 There's a book

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.300
 called Every

00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:37.840
 Man's Battle.

00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:39.340
 But of course,

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.639
 lust isn't just

00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:42.039
 unique to men

00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.240
 either.

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.079
 It's to women.

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.460
 For women.

00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.000
 It's for all of

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.199
 us.

00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:47.259
 And it's not

00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:47.960
 lusting even

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:50.480
 just physically

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.400
 for other human

00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:51.739
 beings.

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:53.159
 It's lusting all

00:35:53.159 --> 00:35:53.759
 kinds of things.

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.639
 Lust is a huge

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:54.799
 one.

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.219
 What other

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:55.759
 battles do we

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.000
 face?

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:56.799
 Paul, what

00:35:56.799 --> 00:35:57.219
 battles do

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.519
 you face?

00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:01.659
 Greed.

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:02.860
 Greed.

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.739
 Always wanting

00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:05.679
 more and always

00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.380
 needing more.

00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.759
 I said a couple

00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:09.159
 of weeks ago,

00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:10.119
 one of my

00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.519
 friends who

00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:12.340
 knows super

00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:12.940
 wealthy people,

00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.259
 and he says,

00:36:13.299 --> 00:36:13.619
 it's really

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:13.920
 funny.

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:14.380
 The more

00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:14.840
 wealthy they

00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:15.099
 are, the

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:15.460
 more poor

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:15.920
 they feel.

00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:18.239
 They genuinely

00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:19.119
 feel I need

00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.480
 more.

00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:21.099
 Lust.

00:36:21.279 --> 00:36:21.559
 Greed.

00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:22.679
 What are the

00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.099
 other things?

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:26.779
 What have we

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:26.940
 got?

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:28.299
 Tony, you

00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:28.579
 got anything

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:28.920
 for us?

00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.099
 What are we

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.559
 battling in

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.059
 this society?

00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.480
 Success.

00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:38.159
 Success.

00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:39.179
 Needing to

00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:39.699
 feel like we've

00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:41.279
 achieved having

00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:42.139
 X amount of

00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:43.380
 followers on

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:45.079
 IG and

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.820
 likes that

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.180
 come with

00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:47.960
 it or the

00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:48.480
 job title

00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:48.780
 that we

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.119
 need.

00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:50.440
 Those are the

00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:50.700
 battles.

00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:51.500
 There's this

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.500
 interesting battle

00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:53.240
 that I watched

00:36:53.240 --> 00:36:54.960
 in a video by

00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.300
 the Bible

00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:55.700
 project.

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.380
 There's this

00:36:56.380 --> 00:36:56.940
 battle going

00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.519
 on between the

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.000
 garden and

00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.380
 the city.

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:01.059
 The values and

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.720
 the principles of

00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:02.079
 the garden,

00:37:02.220 --> 00:37:02.740
 the garden of

00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:03.220
 Eden, the way

00:37:03.220 --> 00:37:03.559
 that God

00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:04.180
 created the

00:37:04.180 --> 00:37:04.760
 garden to be,

00:37:05.140 --> 00:37:05.720
 one of peace

00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:06.380
 and tranquility

00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.140
 and prosperity,

00:37:07.720 --> 00:37:08.119
 filled with

00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:08.420
 everything.

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.500
 That's what we

00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:09.900
 were supposed

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.340
 to have.

00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.619
 Yet, as you

00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:11.980
 see in the

00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:12.380
 Old Testament,

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:14.039
 you start seeing

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:14.639
 these cities

00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:14.980
 come.

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:15.840
 That's where you

00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:16.280
 get the Tower

00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:17.200
 of Babel and

00:37:17.200 --> 00:37:17.619
 you get all

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.360
 these Sodom and

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:18.860
 Gomorrah and

00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:19.480
 all these things.

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:20.960
 The values of

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.500
 the city that

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:21.820
 are pitched

00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.300
 against the

00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:22.840
 values of the

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.079
 garden.

00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:24.760
 That's a battle

00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:25.740
 right there that's

00:37:25.740 --> 00:37:27.920
 happening for

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.500
 our souls.

00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:30.240
 Our souls yearn

00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:30.639
 to be in the

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:30.840
 garden.

00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:31.579
 Psalm 23,

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:32.980
 that we lie

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:33.780
 by still waters.

00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.220
 Yet, we're

00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:36.119
 filled with the

00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:36.980
 city of cities

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.880
 where the

00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.480
 battle is just

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.719
 constantly, the

00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:40.079
 battle of

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.760
 success, the

00:37:40.760 --> 00:37:41.139
 battle of

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:41.599
 busyness.

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.579
 Hong Kong is

00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:44.199
 nuts now.

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:45.780
 Of course, there's

00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:46.860
 the whole wanting

00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:47.240
 to get the

00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:47.880
 nightlife and the

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.500
 night markets and

00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.019
 all those things,

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.780
 which are quite

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:50.260
 fun as well.

00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.820
 But, the

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.179
 battle of

00:37:52.179 --> 00:37:52.500
 busyness,

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.300
 success, lust,

00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:53.679
 greed.

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.760
 The battle of

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.699
 excessiveness.

00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.380
 Between the

00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:58.920
 garden and the

00:37:58.920 --> 00:37:59.860
 city, between the

00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:00.780
 flesh and the

00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:00.980
 spirit.

00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.880
 Romans 8 talks

00:38:01.880 --> 00:38:02.260
 about that

00:38:02.260 --> 00:38:02.519
 battle.

00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:04.880
 Romans 7 talks

00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:05.440
 about the battle

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.139
 that Paul has

00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:06.599
 within it.

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:08.320
 He's saying,

00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.260
 man, I want

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:09.820
 to do this.

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:10.900
 The things I

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.159
 know I

00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:13.300
 shouldn't do, I

00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:13.740
 want to do.

00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.240
 And those are

00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:14.880
 things I know I

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:16.420
 should do, I

00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:16.880
 don't want to do

00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.159
 at all.

00:38:17.659 --> 00:38:18.059
 He's got a

00:38:18.059 --> 00:38:18.780
 constant battle

00:38:18.780 --> 00:38:19.059
 within.

00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:20.500
 And then it's

00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:21.219
 an uphill one.

00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:22.980
 But then what's

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:24.539
 Jesus' comfort?

00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:25.380
 What's Jesus'

00:38:25.639 --> 00:38:26.079
 encouragement?

00:38:26.659 --> 00:38:27.320
 And this is where

00:38:27.320 --> 00:38:27.760
 he finishes.

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:29.019
 In the midst of

00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:29.740
 that battle,

00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:30.579
 whatever battle

00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.400
 it is that you

00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:32.280
 are facing right

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:34.280
 now, Jesus

00:38:34.280 --> 00:38:35.780
 says, the one

00:38:35.780 --> 00:38:36.420
 who conquers and

00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:36.940
 who keeps my

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.599
 works until the

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.280
 end, to him I

00:38:38.280 --> 00:38:38.539
 will give

00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:39.300
 authority over

00:38:39.300 --> 00:38:40.480
 the nations, and

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:40.940
 he will rule

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.579
 them with a

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.180
 rod of iron as

00:38:42.180 --> 00:38:42.680
 when earthen

00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:43.360
 pots are broken

00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:44.820
 in pieces, even

00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:46.740
 as I myself have

00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.440
 received authority

00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:48.200
 from my father.

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.840
 The ESV version is

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.340
 a little bit hard

00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.780
 to understand.

00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.300
 What he's saying

00:38:51.300 --> 00:38:52.539
 here is, to the

00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.380
 one who conquers, to

00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:53.860
 the one who keeps

00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:55.780
 my will, I will

00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:56.460
 give him authority.

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:57.139
 He will win.

00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:59.280
 He will win all

00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:00.119
 of those battles.

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:03.179
 He will win like a

00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:03.940
 shepherd who is

00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:06.139
 holding a rod and

00:39:06.139 --> 00:39:07.000
 has the authority.

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:08.900
 Why?

00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.679
 Because the

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.380
 father gives

00:39:10.380 --> 00:39:11.179
 authority.

00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.659
 That's what he's

00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:12.900
 saying.

00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:14.599
 The father gives

00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:16.279
 you authority to

00:39:16.279 --> 00:39:17.079
 win that battle, not

00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:17.759
 because you will win

00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:18.519
 it, but because Jesus

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.159
 already has.

00:39:21.259 --> 00:39:22.159
 To the one who

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:23.559
 holds fast to the

00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.440
 end, to the one who

00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:25.420
 conquers and keeps my

00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:26.239
 works until the end,

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:28.479
 you will win.

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.219
 I want you to have a

00:39:30.219 --> 00:39:31.039
 little thought exercise

00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:31.479
 right now.

00:39:31.879 --> 00:39:32.559
 The battle that you're

00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:35.259
 going through, and I

00:39:35.259 --> 00:39:35.979
 was just talking about

00:39:35.979 --> 00:39:36.899
 this with a good friend

00:39:36.899 --> 00:39:37.979
 over breakfast, who

00:39:37.979 --> 00:39:38.619
 feels as though when

00:39:38.619 --> 00:39:40.099
 he's going to work, he's

00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:40.719
 just going into the

00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:41.099
 battle ring.

00:39:42.459 --> 00:39:44.059
 Like, every time, I'm

00:39:44.059 --> 00:39:45.079
 just ready to fight.

00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:46.219
 I've got to fight

00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:46.799
 something, I've got to

00:39:46.799 --> 00:39:47.339
 fight someone.

00:39:49.839 --> 00:39:50.939
 Imagine for a second

00:39:50.939 --> 00:39:54.159
 how you would approach

00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:55.059
 that if you truly

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:56.219
 believed that Jesus

00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:57.339
 has already won.

00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:01.159
 Just imagine with me

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:02.019
 for a second, whatever

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:03.179
 battle it is that you're

00:40:03.179 --> 00:40:04.179
 facing, whether it's one

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.239
 of lust, whether it's

00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:06.439
 one with greed, whether

00:40:06.439 --> 00:40:07.579
 it's one with success,

00:40:07.939 --> 00:40:08.639
 whether it's one with

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.899
 busyness, approval,

00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:11.139
 whatever it might be,

00:40:11.439 --> 00:40:12.899
 imagine with me for a

00:40:12.899 --> 00:40:14.379
 second, whatever arena

00:40:14.379 --> 00:40:15.179
 that you're battling in,

00:40:15.219 --> 00:40:15.839
 whether it's finance,

00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:16.980
 entertainment, education,

00:40:17.179 --> 00:40:18.319
 health care, whatever it

00:40:18.319 --> 00:40:21.739
 is, imagine if the

00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:23.239
 truth of Jesus' victory

00:40:23.239 --> 00:40:25.399
 actually rung true in

00:40:25.399 --> 00:40:25.779
 your ring.

00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:31.539
 imagine if Jesus himself

00:40:31.539 --> 00:40:32.679
 is in that ring.

00:40:32.679 --> 00:40:37.779
 how would that change the

00:40:37.779 --> 00:40:38.279
 way you live?

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:41.980
 How would that change the

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.839
 way you fight?

00:40:43.879 --> 00:40:44.460
 Would it?

00:40:45.339 --> 00:40:46.079
 It should.

00:40:47.399 --> 00:40:48.399
 And we were just talking

00:40:48.399 --> 00:40:48.739
 about that.

00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:50.519
 We were like, if we're

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:52.739
 battling in the ring, in a

00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:53.679
 battle that has already

00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:57.379
 been won, that means, and

00:40:57.379 --> 00:40:58.619
 Jesus is in the ring with

00:40:58.619 --> 00:41:00.059
 you, so he won't let anything

00:41:00.059 --> 00:41:03.000
 happen to you, the one who

00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:03.860
 conquers won't be hurt by

00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:06.960
 the second death, then it

00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:08.019
 changes the way you fight.

00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:09.219
 Do you know what it means?

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:11.279
 It means you can turn the

00:41:11.279 --> 00:41:11.920
 other cheek.

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.779
 It means you can take

00:41:13.779 --> 00:41:16.099
 punches and hits from the

00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:17.139
 people that you're fighting

00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:19.299
 with, because you know that

00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:20.259
 the one who conquers and

00:41:20.259 --> 00:41:21.259
 keeps his works until the

00:41:21.259 --> 00:41:22.059
 end, he will give authority

00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:23.340
 over the nations.

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:24.760
 He will give you victory.

00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:30.440
 Imagine, in your arena,

00:41:31.820 --> 00:41:34.940
 Jesus who won is stood there

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.440
 right with you.

00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:37.120
 That changes everything.

00:41:37.780 --> 00:41:37.960
 Right?

00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:41.539
 That's what he's saying here.

00:41:45.160 --> 00:41:47.680
 It means that if you're

00:41:47.680 --> 00:41:48.840
 competing against a colleague

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:51.700
 to win a project in your

00:41:51.700 --> 00:41:54.059
 company, and the colleague

00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:57.780
 is using dirty tactics, you

00:41:57.780 --> 00:41:59.420
 don't have to worry, because

00:41:59.420 --> 00:42:00.900
 if Jesus wants you to win

00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.120
 that project, he will win it

00:42:02.120 --> 00:42:03.740
 for you, so you don't have to

00:42:03.740 --> 00:42:04.559
 compete in the same way.

00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:09.140
 When you have a friend who's

00:42:09.140 --> 00:42:10.180
 slandering you and saying

00:42:10.180 --> 00:42:11.500
 things that aren't true about

00:42:11.500 --> 00:42:13.880
 you, you don't have to worry

00:42:13.880 --> 00:42:14.880
 what everyone else thinks or

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:16.940
 whether you'll lose your status

00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:17.860
 in the friendship group,

00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:20.440
 because Jesus is in that

00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:21.800
 ring, is in that friendship

00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:22.420
 ring with you.

00:42:23.820 --> 00:42:24.960
 So that changes everything.

00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:27.380
 You can turn the other cheek.

00:42:28.059 --> 00:42:28.920
 You don't have to feel

00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:29.300
 offended.

00:42:32.579 --> 00:42:33.720
 Because Jesus is there with

00:42:33.720 --> 00:42:34.539
 you, and he took on the

00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:35.700
 ultimate offense for you, so

00:42:35.700 --> 00:42:36.460
 you won't have to feel

00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:36.760
 offended.

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:39.659
 Changes the way we fight,

00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:40.360
 brothers and sisters.

00:42:40.740 --> 00:42:41.740
 This battle that we have,

00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:43.340
 when you know that the

00:42:43.340 --> 00:42:44.599
 battle is won, the way you

00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:45.579
 fight it is completely

00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:45.920
 different.

00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:48.820
 You fight by holding fast to

00:42:48.820 --> 00:42:51.000
 what you have until the end,

00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:53.760
 knowing that that promise is

00:42:53.760 --> 00:42:53.980
 coming.

00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:57.180
 And then he says at the end,

00:42:57.200 --> 00:42:57.940
 and this is where I'll finish,

00:42:58.039 --> 00:42:58.700
 and I will give him the

00:42:58.700 --> 00:42:59.240
 morning star.

00:43:02.240 --> 00:43:03.599
 I'm not an astrophysicist

00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:05.099
 here, but actually the

00:43:05.099 --> 00:43:06.159
 morning star is the one in

00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:08.079
 Revelation 22, when Jesus

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:09.440
 introduces himself as the

00:43:09.440 --> 00:43:10.180
 bright morning star.

00:43:12.360 --> 00:43:13.260
 The ancient Christian

00:43:13.260 --> 00:43:14.200
 astronomers would say that

00:43:14.200 --> 00:43:15.500
 the morning star would be the

00:43:15.500 --> 00:43:16.539
 one that comes at the

00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:17.860
 darkest part of the night,

00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:20.059
 which apparently is 2, 3 a.m.

00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:23.719
 When the night is just as

00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:24.880
 dark as it can be, the

00:43:24.880 --> 00:43:26.659
 morning star, as faint as it

00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:27.960
 can be, pops up.

00:43:29.059 --> 00:43:29.800
 And do you know what that

00:43:29.800 --> 00:43:31.059
 little morning star does from

00:43:31.059 --> 00:43:31.739
 that moment on?

00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:32.760
 Because that's the darkest

00:43:32.760 --> 00:43:33.480
 point of the night.

00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:35.659
 From that moment on, the sun

00:43:35.659 --> 00:43:36.019
 follows.

00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:39.039
 That morning star pulls in the

00:43:39.039 --> 00:43:39.300
 morning.

00:43:41.360 --> 00:43:42.860
 Morning is broken because of

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:43.539
 that morning star.

00:43:44.820 --> 00:43:46.099
 We now know that star to

00:43:46.099 --> 00:43:47.579
 actually, the one that the

00:43:47.579 --> 00:43:49.079
 Christian astronomers back

00:43:49.079 --> 00:43:50.420
 then to be looking at is

00:43:50.420 --> 00:43:50.960
 actually Venus.

00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:55.039
 What's interesting is after

00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:56.300
 Venus shows up in our sight,

00:43:56.880 --> 00:43:58.599
 shortly after the sun shows up,

00:43:59.120 --> 00:44:01.420
 and that's how each day goes

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:01.720
 around.

00:44:03.079 --> 00:44:04.200
 Jesus says, I am the morning

00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:04.500
 star.

00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:06.140
 I am the one that will usher in

00:44:06.140 --> 00:44:06.539
 the light.

00:44:06.940 --> 00:44:08.500
 I am the one that comes at the

00:44:08.500 --> 00:44:09.780
 moment when it is the darkest,

00:44:09.780 --> 00:44:11.080
 and I am the one that gives

00:44:11.080 --> 00:44:11.440
 hope.

00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:14.740
 When you are in your ring, and

00:44:14.740 --> 00:44:16.840
 you are battling, and you are

00:44:16.840 --> 00:44:17.960
 on the ground, and you've been

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:19.519
 KO'd because someone slapped you

00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:23.140
 hard, because people all around

00:44:23.140 --> 00:44:24.860
 you, you have a target on your

00:44:24.860 --> 00:44:25.160
 back.

00:44:26.260 --> 00:44:27.740
 When you think it's the darkest,

00:44:27.860 --> 00:44:30.500
 in that moment, Jesus says, and I

00:44:30.500 --> 00:44:31.960
 will give them the morning star.

00:44:32.019 --> 00:44:33.120
 I will give them myself.

00:44:33.540 --> 00:44:34.700
 I will enter the ring.

00:44:34.699 --> 00:44:37.000
 I will introduce myself already in

00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:39.579
 the ring, and the victory will be

00:44:39.579 --> 00:44:39.899
 yours.

00:44:44.219 --> 00:44:45.699
 Imagine if we held that truth going

00:44:46.439 --> 00:44:47.779
 into our work on Tuesday morning.

00:44:49.359 --> 00:44:51.059
 Imagine if we held that truth going

00:44:51.059 --> 00:44:52.519
 into our socializing this weekend,

00:44:53.259 --> 00:44:55.359
 that there are some things that we

00:44:55.359 --> 00:44:56.339
 don't have to strive for, that we

00:44:56.339 --> 00:44:57.139
 don't have to battle for.

00:44:57.779 --> 00:44:58.839
 It's off our shoulders.

00:44:59.939 --> 00:45:00.960
 The victory is his.

00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:04.840
 Imagine that, just for a second.

00:45:06.139 --> 00:45:07.619
 The morning star pulls in the

00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:09.300
 morning in behind it, just like

00:45:09.300 --> 00:45:10.539
 Jesus pulls in the kingdom of

00:45:10.539 --> 00:45:11.440
 heaven just behind him.

00:45:14.980 --> 00:45:16.260
 That's what he promises us.

00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:20.300
 He who has ears, let him hear what

00:45:20.300 --> 00:45:21.699
 the Spirit says to the churches.

00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:25.360
 Let those of us who have an ear to

00:45:25.360 --> 00:45:26.780
 hear what is being said right now

00:45:26.780 --> 00:45:29.760
 from this word, let us take heed to

00:45:29.760 --> 00:45:29.920
 that.

00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.920
 The victory is won.

00:45:33.079 --> 00:45:34.079
 The victory is his.

00:45:36.519 --> 00:45:37.760
 If you sum up that whole book of

00:45:37.760 --> 00:45:40.260
 Revelation, that confusing book

00:45:40.260 --> 00:45:42.320
 filled with imagery, it's simple.

00:45:42.699 --> 00:45:44.340
 Jesus wins.

00:45:45.800 --> 00:45:47.780
 And because of that, we win too.

00:45:49.019 --> 00:45:50.940
 So every battle we face is no longer

00:45:50.940 --> 00:45:52.240
 the same battle that we think we're

00:45:52.240 --> 00:45:52.480
 fighting.

00:45:54.619 --> 00:45:56.460
 Can I ask you to continue to imagine

00:45:56.460 --> 00:45:56.720
 that?

00:45:57.059 --> 00:45:59.380
 What that looks like for you as you

00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:00.179
 face your battles?

00:46:00.179 --> 00:46:04.059
 If I can finish with an encouragement,

00:46:04.219 --> 00:46:05.940
 an exhortation, that is when you leave

00:46:05.940 --> 00:46:07.679
 this place and you go back to the

00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:09.199
 battle that you're facing, whatever it

00:46:09.199 --> 00:46:10.899
 is, the battle that is within you or the

00:46:10.899 --> 00:46:14.239
 battle that is in front of you, can you

00:46:14.239 --> 00:46:16.919
 have that victory deep in your heart and

00:46:16.919 --> 00:46:17.059
 soul?

00:46:17.059 --> 00:46:22.460
 That's what Jesus is trying to instill in the

00:46:22.460 --> 00:46:23.239
 church in Thyatira.

00:46:23.860 --> 00:46:27.679
 And I think it's the thing that he wants us to

00:46:27.679 --> 00:46:30.460
 hold on to until the end.

00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:33.500
 I'm going to invite Paul now to come up and we're

00:46:33.500 --> 00:46:37.119
 going to have a short time of response.

00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:39.980
 Again, just to sing this song.

00:46:40.420 --> 00:46:43.179
 When we sing songs, this isn't the only way we

00:46:43.179 --> 00:46:43.420
 worship.

00:46:43.539 --> 00:46:45.219
 You guys have been worshiping simply by

00:46:45.219 --> 00:46:47.839
 listening to this word and just asking God to

00:46:47.839 --> 00:46:48.139
 speak to you.

00:46:48.139 --> 00:46:49.400
 You guys are worshiping by being here.

00:46:49.480 --> 00:46:51.359
 You guys are worshiping later if you have

00:46:51.359 --> 00:46:53.359
 lunch, whether it's here or with anyone else.

00:46:53.679 --> 00:46:54.440
 Worship is everywhere.

00:46:54.539 --> 00:46:55.559
 Don't compartmentalize.

00:46:55.559 --> 00:46:57.980
 You can worship him anywhere.

00:46:59.079 --> 00:47:00.519
 He doesn't need us to worship him either.

00:47:01.360 --> 00:47:03.679
 The rocks outside would cry out and worship him

00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:04.119
 if we don't.

00:47:07.500 --> 00:47:11.320
 But as we sing now, worship music worship, I

00:47:11.320 --> 00:47:12.539
 often call, is a low-hanging fruit.

00:47:12.639 --> 00:47:14.579
 It's an easy way to do it because it's hard

00:47:14.579 --> 00:47:15.980
 sometimes to worship when you're in your

00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:18.139
 workplace, in the ring, fighting your

00:47:18.139 --> 00:47:18.460
 colleagues.

00:47:19.360 --> 00:47:20.420
 So worship with us here.

00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:21.119
 Worship him here.

00:47:22.259 --> 00:47:23.980
 And I pray that it will fill you with the

00:47:23.980 --> 00:47:26.199
 kind of faith that the church in Thyatira

00:47:26.199 --> 00:47:29.019
 had as they face their trade guilds.

00:47:29.579 --> 00:47:31.559
 May we face our life here with that same

00:47:31.559 --> 00:47:34.199
 faith that the victory is his.

00:47:34.599 --> 00:47:35.559
 Can I invite you to stand?