WEBVTT

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 All right, so we are back in the book of Revelation tonight.

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 This summer, if you've been with us, we've been studying Jesus' seven letters to the

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 seven churches of Asia Minor.

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 And we've been seeing that these letters are sort of like spiritual sort of diagnoses,

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 that Jesus addresses each one of these churches for their spiritual health, and in his letter

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 to them, he gives them exactly what they need, the kind of prescription, as it were, to either

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 become or to stay healthy and vibrant in their walk with him.

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 And of course, these letters are for us to today because we see our own lives and we see

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 our own churches oftentimes in these sort of spiritual diagnoses.

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 You know, often people will ask, well, how do I grow spiritually?

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 How do I get healthier, more vibrant?

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 How do I flourish in my relationship with God?

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 And that's part of what these letters are here for, to help us to do just that.

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 Tonight, we're looking at the fourth letter in this series, the letter to the church in

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 a city called Thyatira.

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 And it's found in the book of Revelation, chapter 2, verses 18 through 29.

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 That's page 1029 in the Pew Bible, if you want to follow along there.

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 Let me encourage you to turn there, actually.

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 It'll be on the screen above as well.

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 Page 1029, Revelation chapter 2, verses 18 through 29.

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 All right, let me read this for us.

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 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, the words of the Son of God, who has

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 eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

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 I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works

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 exceed the first.

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 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess

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 and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed

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 to idols.

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 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

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 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw

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 into great tribulation unless they repent of their works, and I will strike her children

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 dead.

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 And all of the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will

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 give to each of you according to your works.

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 But to the rest of you in Thyatira who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned

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 what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.

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 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

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 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over

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 the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron as when earth and pots are broken

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 in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

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 And I will give him the morning star.

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

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we ask that you would give us ears that hear what your Spirit is speaking to us tonight.

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 God, we pray that as a church and as individuals, you would open our hearts to rightly respond

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 to this message before us.

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 And God, as I seek to explain this passage, grant that I would do so with clarity and

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 with grace, Father.

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 Come before you in the name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 So what does the church need today?

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 What do we need?

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 What does the church need to be effective in its call to evangelism?

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 That is, sharing the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ to heal our relationship

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 with him?

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 What do we need to actually sort of do that in a way that people will actually listen and

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 that people will even want to listen?

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 And what do we need today to be effective, not just in evangelism, but in discipleship?

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 What do we need to be effective in helping one another to live in line with the truth of

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 the gospel?

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 To encourage one another and to teach one another to live a life more and more shaped like Jesus?

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 Jesus.

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 And what do we need today to be effective in our highest calling?

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 Our calling to display the glory and the beauty of God to the world in our life together?

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 What does the church need to reflect God's awesome nature out into the world and to reflect

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 the praises of creation back to him?

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 What do we really need to be, in other words, God's image bearers, sort of that mirror of

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 his glory in the world as a church?

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 Well, the answer, what we need, you and I, might seem kind of simple at first.

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 The answer is love.

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 Jesus himself said, people will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.

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 That's John 13, 35.

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 And of course, Jesus isn't talking about a breezy, kind of self-serving, take it or leave

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 it sort of love.

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 You know, that sort of love when it's convenient for my schedule kind of love.

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 No, the sort of love that Jesus has in mind is the kind of trusting, sacrificial, stick

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 it out through thick and thin sort of love.

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 You know, that same night when Jesus told his disciples what I just read to you, he said

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 this, he said, this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

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 And how did Jesus love us?

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 He says in the next verse, John 15, 13, greater love is no one than this, that someone laid down

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 his life for his friends.

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 That's the kind of love that Jesus has shown us.

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 He's loved us with a sacrificial, lay down your life sort of love.

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 And friends, that's what we need today, you and I, we need that kind of love.

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 And this church in Thyatira that Jesus is talking to here, if you look at verse 19, that's exactly

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 what they had, a trusting, sacrificial, stick it out through thick and thin love.

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 Jesus says, I know your works, your love, your faith, your trust, your service, your sacrifice,

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 and your patient endurance.

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 Here was a truly loving church.

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 And not just that, it was an increasingly loving church.

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 And the rest of verse 18, Jesus commends them.

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 I know that your latter works exceed the first.

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 You know, often when you get sort of excited about something, like, you know, my wife and

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 I were just, we just moved into a new place and, you know, we're sort of excited about

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 it.

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 We're, we're like doing lots of projects around the house and painting and scraping and

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 cause it's an old place, you know, building stuff.

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 But look, I know, and you, I mean, you and I both know that sooner or later that thrill

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 is going to sort of wear off, right?

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 Like pretty soon we're just going to be sick of doing projects around the house and it's going

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 to peter out.

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 And isn't that how it is with so much of our life?

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 And yet here, Jesus is saying, no, actually you have an increasing sort of love that when

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 you first heard this unbelievably good news that God sent his son to pay for your sins

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 and to reconcile you free of charge back to him.

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 When this church came to believe that and when they came alive through God's spirit, they

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 began to love each other and they began to meet each other's physical needs and their

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 emotional needs and they, and they started to overlook each other's faults and forgive

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 each other's wrongs.

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 There was this love and peace instead of bitterness and gossip and all these ways.

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 And then here's the amazing thing.

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 Jesus says it didn't actually just trickle out and run out over time.

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 This wasn't just a passing fad or an enthusiasm for something new.

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 That this stream of love became a river.

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 That as the amazing news of God's love for them settled deeper and deeper into their hearts,

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 they loved each other more and more.

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 Their latter works exceeded their first.

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 Now, friends, isn't that the kind of church that you want to be?

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 Isn't that the kind of church you want to be a part of?

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 Where the love of God for us in Christ becomes just this torrent of love toward one another.

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 I mean, imagine how much easier our witness would be to our neighbors.

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 Think of how much easier evangelism would be if I knew that like when my neighbor showed up

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 to Trinity, they would just see a bunch of people who loved each other like crazy.

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 I mean, I'm pretty sure that would increase their awareness or at least their curiosity

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 into what this Jesus thing was all about.

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 Jesus commends this church in Thyatira for their love.

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 But you know, there's a danger.

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 There's a danger for churches that love well.

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 And there's a danger for Christians that love well.

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 And it's actually the opposite danger that we saw back in the beginning of chapter 2

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 in the letter to the church at Ephesus.

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 If you remember back there, we saw a picture of a church that was passionate about truth

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 and sound doctrine, all very, very, very good things.

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 But, Jesus says, you have no love.

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 The problem in Ephesus was a loveless orthodoxy.

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 But here in Thyatira, the problem is nearly the reverse.

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 They love, but they haven't been careful to preserve what's true.

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 In particular, they've tolerated, as Jesus says at the beginning of verse 20,

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 a kind of teaching that undermined holy living.

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 And this teaching, it seems, was being spread by a person

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 that Jesus actually likens to the character of Jezebel in the Old Testament.

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 And in case you're not familiar with the Old Testament,

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 that's not a very flattering comparison.

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 We learn about Jezebel in the book of 1 Kings,

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 starting in chapter 16.

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 She was the wife of a really bad king, Ahab,

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 in the northern kingdom of Israel.

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 And along with Ahab, she promoted idol worship

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 and despised the words of the prophets

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 and took advantage of the poor.

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 Pretty bad figure.

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 And apparently here in Thyatira,

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 there was a person, it seems a woman,

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 who was promoting and seducing people

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 into a certain kind of teaching

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 that then led into just an embrace of idolatry

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 and sexual immorality.

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 And she may have even been a prominent figure in the church.

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 Who knows?

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 She might have been a deacon.

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 She might have been a recognized officer.

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 She was maybe even a prophetess,

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 someone who had the gift of prophecy,

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 so it seemed.

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 And if you look down at verse 24,

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 we see that this group, led by this particular person,

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 was claiming to have some sort of secret knowledge,

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 it seems.

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 That they claimed to have figured out

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 some sort of deep spiritual truth.

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 Maybe like Paul sort of references in 1 Corinthians 10,

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 maybe this group was sort of teaching that,

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 you know, idols aren't really anything.

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 We know that there's one God,

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 so these idols aren't nothing.

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 Therefore, it doesn't matter if you go to the temple

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 and feast with them and worship them.

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 It doesn't matter,

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 because we know idols aren't real

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 and we figured out that deep, secret spiritual truth.

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 And maybe they were also teaching that,

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 you know, that for truly spiritual people

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 who've understood these deep, secret things,

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 you know, once you sort of see the truth as it really is,

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 it doesn't really matter what you do with your body.

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 I mean, it's the spiritual thing that counts.

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 So, you know, sex outside of marriage, not a big deal,

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 because what you do in your body

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 doesn't really affect your soul.

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 So, you know,

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 this is a sort of deeper teaching of Christianity.

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 Christianity.

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 This is probably the kinds of things that they were saying.

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 And Jesus looks upon all of these claims

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 to a deeper insight.

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 These claims to really know the truth,

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 and Jesus says,

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 it's all a lie of Satan.

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 That's what he says.

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 He says, these deep things of Satan.

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 So, as I think we look over this letter,

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 I think the first lesson for us is this.

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 As we strive as a church to love well,

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 and we should strive as a church

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 with all the strength that God gives us to love well,

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 we have to also be discerning.

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 We have to recognize, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13,

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 that great love chapter in the New Testament,

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 that love does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

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 but rejoices with the truth.

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 That that's part of what it means to love.

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 In other words, we need love and truth.

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 We need love and holiness.

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 True love cares deeply about both.

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 In fact, it's almost as if Jesus is telling them here

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 that, look, if you have this love

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 without the sort of the skeleton

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 of the truth of the gospel,

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 it's all going to just turn into a puddle.

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 Imagine a body without a skeleton.

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 It's not going to be a body much longer.

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 And the second lesson,

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 I think that we see here,

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 is that Jesus' stern warning here,

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 his stern warning,

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 doesn't mean

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 that there's no place for sinners in the church.

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 No, no, no.

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 If you want to be a part of the church of Jesus,

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 then you have to admit

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 just that,

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 that you're a complete moral failure.

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 You know,

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 that's the only way in.

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 The only way in

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 to the church of God

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 is through admitting

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 that you're a sinner

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 and you're broken

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 and you can't do it on your own.

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 In other words,

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 the gospel of grace

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 is just that.

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 A gospel,

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 a good message of news,

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 of grace,

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 of undeserved favor

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 for people like you and me

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 who don't get it

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 and don't deserve it.

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 So Jesus isn't saying here

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 that there's no room

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 for sinners.

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 But he is saying

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 that unrepentant sin,

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 sin that we

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 don't acknowledge

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 and don't turn away from,

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 is deadly

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 and is dangerous.

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 Look at verse 21.

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 Jesus,

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 in his mercy

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 and in his kindness,

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 gave this particular teacher

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 time to repent.

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 He had been

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 beckoning

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 to them

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:30.399
 to turn around,

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.120
 to realize

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.539
 that you're headed

00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.539
 in the wrong direction

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.799
 and to come home.

00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:35.340
 Come back.

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.539
 But it seems

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.740
 in this particular instance,

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:40.659
 this particular teacher refused.

00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:44.199
 So friend,

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.340
 maybe you're here tonight

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:47.100
 and maybe you're feeling

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.360
 like you've completely

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.480
 and utterly

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.480
 blown it.

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.139
 That you've stumbled

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.939
 into sin

00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:55.319
 that maybe it's big

00:15:55.319 --> 00:15:56.460
 sort of obvious sin

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.279
 and maybe stumble

00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.220
 is kind of a euphemism

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.120
 because you just

00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.600
 dove right in

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.340
 with both feet.

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.820
 Friends,

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.220
 the message

00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:04.759
 of this text

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.340
 for you

00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:06.500
 is that Jesus

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.279
 is saying,

00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:09.200
 come home.

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.799
 There's a place

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.179
 for you

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:13.139
 at my table

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.340
 and in my kingdom

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.220
 and my love

00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:15.480
 for you

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.279
 hasn't changed

00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:16.980
 so come.

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:17.980
 There's time

00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:18.580
 to turn

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.480
 tonight

00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.820
 and come back.

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:22.139
 It's not too late.

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:28.259
 The third lesson

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:28.919
 I think we see here

00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.740
 is that there's a warning.

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.620
 There is a warning

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.360
 for those

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.240
 who willfully

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.039
 teach

00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.279
 and support

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.679
 false teaching.

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:39.120
 In verse 22

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.019
 through 23,

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.419
 Jesus issues

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.960
 a massively

00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.220
 stern warning.

00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:45.860
 Sickness,

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:46.819
 suffering,

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.519
 even death,

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:49.039
 he says,

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.259
 is the outcome

00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.759
 of knowingly

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.799
 and willingly

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:54.000
 teaching and leading

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.039
 God's people astray.

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.879
 This is very serious.

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:01.719
 And just as Jesus

00:17:01.719 --> 00:17:02.719
 welcomes absolutely

00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:03.819
 everyone who turns

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.279
 from sin,

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.319
 no matter what

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:05.960
 that sin is,

00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:06.859
 and comes to him

00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.200
 for grace,

00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.519
 he also warns

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.599
 that those who persist

00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.000
 in leading others astray

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.279
 are going to face ruin.

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:15.339
 Particularly those

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.139
 who are in positions

00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:16.779
 of authority

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.440
 and leadership

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.299
 who lead people away

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:21.500
 and who don't

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.519
 turn and repent.

00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:26.379
 Jesus is the one,

00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:26.899
 he says,

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.059
 who searches

00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.039
 minds

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.099
 and hearts

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.119
 and will give

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:31.660
 to each

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:33.259
 according to their works.

00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:34.319
 Now what does that mean?

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.940
 It doesn't mean

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.559
 that Jesus

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.039
 is going to take

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.660
 all our good deeds

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.619
 and all our bad deeds

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.259
 and weigh them

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.859
 on a scale,

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.019
 see which way it tips

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.460
 and say,

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.600
 okay, that's what you get.

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.740
 That is nowhere

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.400
 in the Bible.

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.680
 He's not talking

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.039
 about the amount

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.920
 of deeds.

00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:52.299
 He's talking about

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.160
 the disposition

00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.559
 of the heart.

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.779
 That's what it means

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.600
 that he's going to give

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:59.380
 according to their works.

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.360
 You see,

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:00.920
 for those who

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.220
 humbly listen to Jesus

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.980
 and turn to him

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.940
 in repentance and faith,

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.920
 he's going to grant

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.960
 abundant grace.

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:08.039
 Even if you have

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.980
 a modicum

00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:12.240
 of turning to him,

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.220
 he will meet you

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.240
 with an overflow

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.500
 of grace.

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.120
 But,

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:16.839
 to the one

00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.380
 who refuses

00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.039
 to listen,

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.640
 the one who

00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.440
 proudly thinks

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:20.960
 that they can

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.240
 do it their own way

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.620
 and find the loophole

00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.880
 or the spiritual secret

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.359
 to justify their actions,

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.400
 to that one

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.539
 who remains unrepentant,

00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.339
 Jesus says,

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:29.759
 okay,

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.779
 I'll give you

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.620
 what you ask for.

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.660
 If you want to live life

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.740
 your own way,

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.700
 if you want to keep

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.620
 going in that direction,

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.660
 fine,

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.779
 it's yours.

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:44.220
 And that path

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:44.740
 is the path

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.299
 of ruin

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.859
 and disintegration

00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.960
 and ultimately

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.539
 death.

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.299
 But,

00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:53.440
 you know,

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.319
 this stern warning

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.839
 isn't the last word

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.579
 of Jesus

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.559
 to this church

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.399
 and to us

00:18:59.399 --> 00:18:59.759
 tonight.

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.539
 Jesus issues

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.119
 this call

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:02.740
 to repentance

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:04.980
 with a fresh glimpse

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.799
 of his person

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.819
 and of his promises.

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.160
 You know,

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.259
 he opens in verse 18

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.400
 by describing himself

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.299
 as he who has eyes

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.640
 like a flame of fire

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.519
 and whose feet

00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.839
 are like burnished bronze.

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.039
 Now,

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.599
 on the surface,

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:16.960
 Jesus is talking

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.859
 about his glory

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:19.099
 and his holiness here.

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:19.980
 He's the one

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.879
 who sees our hearts.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.660
 He's the one

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.200
 who shines

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.700
 with the glory

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.240
 of the Father.

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:23.879
 But,

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.039
 you know,

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.599
 to the citizens

00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:25.960
 of this particular city

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.779
 of Thyatira

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.119
 in western Turkey,

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:29.759
 this sort of image

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.119
 of Jesus

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.799
 probably would have

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.640
 resonated a lot

00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.140
 more deeply

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:32.660
 with them.

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.099
 Because one of the things

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.599
 that we know

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.819
 sort of from archaeology

00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.439
 and from history

00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:38.039
 is that the city

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.879
 of Thyatira

00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:40.099
 on the one hand

00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.779
 was politically

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.059
 and culturally

00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:44.039
 basically unimportant.

00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:46.759
 It was on the margins

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.460
 and it didn't have

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.000
 much status.

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.279
 But,

00:19:48.419 --> 00:19:49.359
 the one thing

00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.039
 that Thyatira

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.079
 was known for,

00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.319
 the one little

00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:53.179
 claim to fame

00:19:53.179 --> 00:19:53.799
 it had,

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:56.899
 was its metalworking.

00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.240
 In particular,

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:00.980
 in Thyatira

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.879
 there was a guild,

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.579
 which is sort of

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.519
 a group of workmen.

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.359
 there was a guild

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.500
 of bronze workers

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.519
 who were just

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.480
 completely famous

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.379
 throughout the region.

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.160
 The city prided

00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.799
 themselves

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:13.160
 on being able

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.779
 to make

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.440
 and fashion

00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.200
 a certain kind

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.660
 of bronze

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.180
 that you could get

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.940
 nowhere else.

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.519
 In fact,

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:17.940
 some scholars

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.400
 think that the

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.000
 unique language

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.839
 that Jesus uses

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.400
 for burnished bronze

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.119
 in verse 18

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.339
 was a technical term

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.420
 for that same sort

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:24.779
 of bronze

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.299
 that they made

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.980
 in Thyatira.

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:26.940
 This bronze

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.420
 that you couldn't

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:27.920
 get anywhere.

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.500
 And this bronze

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:29.879
 was made

00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:30.539
 by a specialized

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.119
 process

00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.259
 that this particular

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.119
 tradesman guild

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.819
 in Thyatira

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:35.219
 kept utterly secret

00:20:35.219 --> 00:20:36.000
 and they guarded

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.459
 this secret

00:20:36.459 --> 00:20:36.899
 because it was

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.399
 like their trade

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:37.859
 secret, right?

00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.219
 It's like they

00:20:38.219 --> 00:20:38.579
 weren't just going

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:38.879
 to sort of

00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:39.639
 broadcast it

00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.119
 all over the place.

00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:40.559
 Here's how you

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.559
 make the one thing

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.419
 that we actually

00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:43.379
 have worth out of.

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:45.259
 And no one else

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.699
 could get it

00:20:45.699 --> 00:20:46.319
 and no one else

00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:46.839
 could make it

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.439
 and no one else

00:20:47.439 --> 00:20:48.319
 had a claim to it.

00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:51.000
 No one else

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.579
 that is

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:53.199
 except Jesus.

00:20:55.959 --> 00:20:57.159
 This prized

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.059
 thing

00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:59.399
 that this city

00:20:59.399 --> 00:21:00.119
 celebrated,

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.899
 this secret

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.819
 protected thing

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.419
 that made them

00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:02.899
 feel

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.940
 the one thing

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.320
 that made them

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:04.720
 feel like they

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.360
 were some

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.000
 thing

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.580
 or some

00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:07.220
 body.

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.019
 Jesus says

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.660
 what you're

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.600
 actually looking

00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.040
 for

00:21:10.040 --> 00:21:12.400
 is me.

00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.420
 I'm the one

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.940
 in whom all

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.460
 the treasures

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.160
 of wisdom

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.080
 and knowledge

00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.780
 and worth

00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:20.340
 are found.

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.519
 You're looking

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.140
 for worth,

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.040
 for importance,

00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:24.820
 for identity.

00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:25.780
 You're being led

00:21:25.780 --> 00:21:26.759
 astray by teachers

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.620
 who are telling you

00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.000
 that they have

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.220
 this special insight

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.080
 but don't you see

00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:30.920
 that I'm the treasure

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.780
 you're looking for?

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:36.200
 How liberating

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.060
 is the end

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:38.019
 of verse 24.

00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.259
 Jesus says

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.820
 to those

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.680
 who aren't being

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.140
 led astray

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.780
 by this teaching,

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.080
 look,

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.400
 I'm not laying

00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.680
 on you.

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.840
 I'm not laying

00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:46.140
 on you

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:47.280
 any other burden.

00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:49.300
 Only hold fast

00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:50.100
 what you have

00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:51.140
 until I come.

00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.660
 In other words,

00:21:53.780 --> 00:21:54.160
 look friends,

00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:55.540
 there's not a second tier,

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.019
 there's not a deeper

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.660
 plane,

00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:58.500
 there's not a special

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.600
 secret you have to learn,

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.980
 there's no inner guild

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.960
 that you have to join.

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.700
 Jesus is saying,

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.860
 if you have me,

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:05.140
 then you've got it all.

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.779
 I'm not going to lay

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.779
 on you some burden

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.700
 to prove yourself

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:11.339
 or to initiate yourself.

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.779
 Take my yoke upon you,

00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.640
 Jesus once said

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.799
 in his earthly ministry.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.500
 My burden is easy

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:20.640
 and my yoke is light

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.920
 and you'll find rest

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.599
 for your souls.

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.379
 You see,

00:22:26.439 --> 00:22:27.799
 what Jesus is showing us

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.939
 about his person

00:22:28.939 --> 00:22:31.159
 as he issues this call

00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:32.759
 for us to be both loving

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.859
 and discerning,

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:36.079
 what he's saying is,

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.419
 is that,

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:36.839
 look,

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.919
 my eyes are like fire,

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.059
 I see the very depths

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.779
 of your soul,

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.599
 but my feet are like

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.459
 burnished bronze

00:22:43.459 --> 00:22:44.179
 on the treasure

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:45.319
 that you're longing for.

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.399
 And you know,

00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:49.299
 if we start to realize

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.059
 that in Christ

00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:51.199
 we have all

00:22:51.199 --> 00:22:52.379
 that we really need,

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:55.959
 then we actually can

00:22:55.959 --> 00:22:57.079
 love well

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:59.519
 and make hard calls

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.079
 when something isn't right.

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.439
 Why did the church

00:23:03.439 --> 00:23:04.000
 in Thyatira

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.379
 tolerate this false teaching?

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.319
 Well, maybe it was,

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.659
 you know,

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.359
 maybe it was taught

00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:10.919
 in such a way

00:23:10.919 --> 00:23:12.179
 that made them feel important,

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.919
 that they were getting

00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:14.659
 secret insight,

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.279
 that they were

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.759
 sort of advancing

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.339
 beyond maybe

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.319
 some of the other churches.

00:23:19.719 --> 00:23:21.519
 They were feeling special.

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:24.279
 Or maybe they didn't

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.599
 like just

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.019
 not having people

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.559
 like them.

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:28.259
 They were a really

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.899
 loving church.

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.959
 They probably loved people.

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.419
 And the thought of

00:23:31.419 --> 00:23:32.279
 sort of saying no

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.000
 to something,

00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:34.519
 well,

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.199
 they didn't want

00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:36.059
 that disapproval.

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:36.659
 They didn't want

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.639
 that sort of reaction.

00:23:38.939 --> 00:23:39.839
 But either way,

00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:40.459
 Jesus is saying,

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:40.779
 look,

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.079
 in me,

00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:44.359
 you've got all of that.

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.219
 You've got the one

00:23:46.219 --> 00:23:47.559
 whose approval matters

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.299
 more than anything else.

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.180
 You've got the one

00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.139
 whose worth

00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:50.899
 and glory

00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.919
 will last forever.

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.440
 But Jesus points

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.440
 not just to his person,

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.559
 but to his promises.

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.159
 For those who

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:03.500
 stay close to him,

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.000
 for those who

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.599
 overcome,

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.399
 as he says,

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.539
 he promises

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.180
 that they will

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.779
 rule with him

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.019
 in authority

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.519
 over the nations.

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:16.079
 This image

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.180
 there at the end

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.759
 of our section

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.559
 of breaking pots

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.279
 and ruling

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.539
 with a rod of iron

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.639
 actually comes

00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.859
 from Psalm chapter 2,

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.099
 Psalm number 2.

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.519
 And it's a picture,

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.480
 it's a very graphic

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.859
 picture,

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.599
 isn't it,

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.139
 in the Psalm

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:32.700
 of God's king

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:34.039
 ruling the world

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:37.059
 and putting down

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.480
 and putting to an end

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.059
 rebellion

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.379
 and evil

00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.519
 and injustice

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.700
 and all the things

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.720
 that deep in our hearts

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.799
 we cry out against

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.259
 in the world.

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.720
 It's a graphic picture

00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.099
 of God

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:48.359
 bringing all of that

00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.059
 to an end

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.759
 and establishing

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.379
 once again

00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.940
 peace

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:54.480
 and wholeness.

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.980
 And Jesus is saying

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.779
 to us and to this church,

00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:57.980
 look,

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.059
 I know you don't feel

00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.900
 important now.

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:01.379
 I know you're tempted

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:03.200
 to let these important

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.119
 sounding teachers

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:04.839
 in the door

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.980
 and I know it's so much

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.039
 easier to just go along

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.400
 with it.

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:07.700
 Look,

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.579
 it would have been

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.379
 very, very,

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.980
 a whole lot easier

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.160
 in a pagan city

00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.019
 like Thyatira

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.000
 to just give in

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.539
 to idol worship.

00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:14.799
 Look,

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.160
 everyone was doing it.

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.360
 The whole sort of

00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:19.940
 culture revolved

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.019
 around these temples

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.019
 and these practices.

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.660
 It would have been

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.740
 so much easier

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.400
 in their context

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.480
 to just not worry

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.299
 about holiness

00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.940
 and sexual purity

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.940
 and all those things.

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.599
 But Jesus is saying,

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:31.900
 look,

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.140
 don't you see?

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:36.340
 I know you're feeling

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:37.060
 trampled now.

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:37.860
 I know you're feeling

00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.480
 marginalized.

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.180
 But hold on to me.

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.160
 It's not always

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.020
 going to be that way.

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.560
 You are the kings

00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:48.960
 and the queens

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:50.220
 of the world to come.

00:25:52.320 --> 00:25:54.759
 You are the new humanity

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.900
 in the midst of the old.

00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.280
 You're the ones

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.879
 who are going

00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:01.220
 to share my reign

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:03.460
 in the world to come.

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.359
 So don't be afraid

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:08.940
 to make distinctions now

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:10.160
 between what's good

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.720
 and what's evil,

00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.539
 between what's right

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.160
 and what's wrong.

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.680
 Don't be afraid

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.700
 to let your love

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.039
 express itself

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.980
 in holiness.

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.019
 Friends,

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:19.839
 you're going to share

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.639
 my authority

00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.079
 one day,

00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:21.759
 Jesus says.

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.220
 And Jesus promises

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.180
 in addition to all that

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.879
 in verse 28

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.740
 at the very end,

00:26:28.760 --> 00:26:29.860
 I will give

00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.300
 to the one

00:26:30.300 --> 00:26:31.020
 who overcomes,

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:31.460
 to the one

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.200
 who conquers,

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.860
 the morning star.

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.200
 Now,

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.600
 what in the world

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.720
 is the morning star?

00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.200
 Well,

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.700
 in the ancient world,

00:26:39.760 --> 00:26:40.320
 the morning star

00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:40.860
 would have been

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:42.460
 the planet Venus,

00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:42.940
 actually,

00:26:43.020 --> 00:26:43.840
 as it sort of rose.

00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:45.060
 And it would have

00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:45.940
 stood out as sort of

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.280
 the brightest star-like

00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:48.700
 object in the sky.

00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:49.140
 It would have been

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.780
 sort of prominent

00:26:49.780 --> 00:26:50.420
 and brighter

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.240
 than all the rest.

00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.600
 But it's interesting,

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.580
 at the end of Revelation

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.400
 in chapter 22,

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.000
 verse 16,

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.860
 Jesus calls himself

00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.779
 the morning star.

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.339
 At the very end

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:00.639
 of the book,

00:27:00.679 --> 00:27:00.959
 he says,

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.639
 I am the root

00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.699
 and descendant of David,

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.979
 the bright

00:27:03.979 --> 00:27:05.500
 and morning star.

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.799
 The most radiant

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.719
 object

00:27:10.719 --> 00:27:12.179
 in the night sky,

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:12.979
 the thing

00:27:12.979 --> 00:27:14.039
 that you can't miss,

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.079
 the beauty

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.639
 among beauties,

00:27:16.719 --> 00:27:17.599
 Jesus is saying,

00:27:17.979 --> 00:27:19.019
 it's me.

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:25.519
 And Jesus is telling them

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:27.839
 to hold fast.

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.779
 Hold fast.

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.559
 And what will you receive?

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.480
 He's not just going

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.319
 to give you a throne,

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:36.740
 friends.

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.619
 He's saying,

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.619
 I'm going to give you

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.779
 my very self.

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:42.879
 You get the morning star.

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.619
 You get all of me.

00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:47.719
 You get me,

00:27:47.939 --> 00:27:48.519
 Jesus says.

00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:51.819
 And you know,

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.719
 at the end of the day,

00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:54.719
 what Jesus is asking of us,

00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:58.379
 what Jesus is calling us to

00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.019
 in the gospel,

00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:01.279
 is to give our whole selves

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.739
 to him.

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.939
 To heed his word,

00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:06.419
 to trust his ways,

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.939
 to give him our whole selves.

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:11.660
 And you know,

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:11.860
 friends,

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.620
 we know

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:14.299
 that that

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.519
 must be

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.360
 for our good.

00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:19.400
 Because Jesus Christ

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.640
 has done the same thing

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.259
 for us.

00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:24.320
 He has given

00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:25.799
 himself to us.

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.140
 One day,

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.500
 we're going to embrace him

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.759
 in all of his beauty

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.400
 and glory,

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:31.960
 the bright

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.980
 morning star.

00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:33.380
 But you know,

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.400
 before that self-giving,

00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.380
 long ago,

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:36.980
 before that,

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.559
 he had already

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.519
 given himself

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:40.139
 on the cross.

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.859
 That the morning star

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.619
 actually went

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.799
 into darkness.

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.819
 And the ruler

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.460
 of the nations

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:50.839
 was crushed to pieces

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:52.339
 by the rulers

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.119
 of this age.

00:28:54.399 --> 00:28:55.519
 He gave himself

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.899
 for us.

00:28:58.639 --> 00:28:59.799
 So that when we

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.659
 give ourselves

00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:01.700
 to him,

00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:04.419
 we find righteousness

00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:05.399
 and life

00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.480
 and peace

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.379
 and joy.

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:10.220
 he gave himself

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.619
 for us

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.059
 so that all

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.460
 who put their

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.279
 trust in him

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:13.779
 could rule with him

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:15.119
 and could shine

00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.679
 with him

00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:16.399
 forever.

00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.839
 So friends,

00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:21.519
 as we wrap up

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.019
 with this

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.940
 letter,

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:25.139
 let's love

00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.639
 one another.

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:28.800
 let's love

00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:29.259
 one another

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.740
 with a trusting,

00:29:31.060 --> 00:29:31.740
 sacrificial,

00:29:32.320 --> 00:29:33.200
 stick it out

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.700
 through thick

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.100
 and thin

00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:34.820
 kind of love

00:29:34.820 --> 00:29:36.340
 and in our

00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:37.080
 loving,

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.440
 let's hold fast

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.660
 to truth

00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.620
 and holiness

00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.640
 even if it makes

00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.700
 us unimportant

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.820
 in the world's eyes.

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.160
 Even if that makes

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:45.759
 us incredibly

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.400
 unpopular,

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.680
 even despised,

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.420
 not that we go

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.100
 sort of looking

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.900
 for people to not

00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.380
 like us,

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.759
 but even if that's

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.180
 a result,

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.859
 even if it makes

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.619
 life hard,

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:56.579
 let's give

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.539
 ourselves to Christ

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:59.180
 with no reserves

00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.559
 because,

00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.119
 friends,

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.799
 he's the one

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.980
 who has given

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.920
 himself to us

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:04.339
 and who will

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.019
 give us

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.960
 so much more.

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:09.740
 let's pray.

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.100
 Father,

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.539
 we do ask

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:16.880
 that you would

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.380
 give us the

00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:17.819
 courage

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:19.680
 to love well.

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.559
 God,

00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:21.079
 so often

00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.059
 we're fearful

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.620
 and afraid

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.299
 to love

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.000
 our brothers

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.460
 and sisters

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.000
 in the church

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.400
 and to love

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:25.819
 our neighbors

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.519
 as ourselves,

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.420
 so God,

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:27.799
 would you grant

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.240
 us courage

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.880
 to do that?

00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.620
 And Lord,

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.380
 in our loving,

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.000
 would you help

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.180
 us to love

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.220
 also what is

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.019
 true and what

00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.600
 is beautiful

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.420
 and what is good

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.700
 help us to

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.539
 hold fast

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.960
 to truth

00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:41.900
 and to holiness

00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:43.680
 and would that

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.500
 be an expression

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.080
 of our deep

00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.660
 love for you

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.220
 and for others,

00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:46.519
 God?

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.580
 Jesus,

00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.140
 we need your

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.580
 spirit

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:51.380
 not just to

00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:52.019
 hear this

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.519
 message

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:54.039
 but to live

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.340
 it out,

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.779
 so would you

00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.360
 come and would

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:55.920
 you dwell among

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.320
 us?

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.220
 Oh,

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.920
 bright morning

00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.420
 star,

00:30:59.519 --> 00:30:59.720
 oh,

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.480
 ruler of the

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:00.860
 nations,

00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.960
 would you call

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.680
 us forth to

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.340
 yourself by

00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:04.920
 your spirit

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:06.700
 so that we

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.259
 might live in

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.640
 a way that

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.279
 pleases you.

00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:10.500
 Amen.

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.019
 Well,

00:31:15.060 --> 00:31:15.259
 friends,

00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:16.200
 as a way of

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.220
 responding tonight,

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.740
 we're going to

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.720
 take the Lord's

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.360
 Supper together.

00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:19.779
 Um,

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.339
 um,

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:20.639
 um,