WEBVTT

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 Today's sermon text is in Revelation chapter 2, very end of the Bible, Revelation chapter 2.

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 We'll read from verses 1 through 7.

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 For our visitors, I'll just give some context that on the past one year as a church, we were mostly preaching through the gospel of John.

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 We left off around John 14.

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 Once we're finished with this series on the church, we'll pick back up where we left off and we'll finish preaching through the gospel of John.

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 Over the summer, we also had a special little break and we looked at one psalm every Sunday.

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 So we started at Psalm 1 and we ended with Psalm 8.

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 Lord willing, next summer, we'll start with Psalm 9 and we'll keep that going.

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 And so today, we'll have our fourth of seven in a series called Life in the Father's House.

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 And that's a reference to what Jesus said in John 17, that he's going to his father's house to prepare a place for you, his church.

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 And while we're on earth, the church is the way that God prepares us for heaven, for his father's house.

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 Today's focus is church discipline.

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 And that just comes because we're following through our constitution three or four pages at a time.

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 And that's the section we got to in Sunday school.

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 So I wanted the sermon to complement that focus.

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 And so in our constitution, we looked at formative discipline and corrective discipline.

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 And so as a point of reference, this text, I see it as Christ providing formative discipline, ongoing discipline as he walks among and speaks to his church.

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 As I read this, keep in mind, we believe this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word.

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 It's God's very own word for you, his church.

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 So when I'm done reading, I'll say this is the word of God.

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 And if you believe this, you respond, thanks be to God.

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 Revelation 2, 1 through 7.

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 1 through 8.

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 Verse 3.

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 And as born and as patience for my name's sake, you have labored and has not fainted.

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 Verse 4.

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 Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love.

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 Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works,

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 or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of this place, except thou repent.

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 But this thou hast, that thou hast hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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 Verse 7.

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 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 You may be seated.

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 The Bible says that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord, it endures forever.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, we ask that you will give the eyes of faith and the ears of faith.

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 That though we're in this world that's fallen, and though the darkness hides you,

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 that by the power of your Holy Spirit, you will open our eyes to behold the glory of Jesus Christ

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 as he ministers to his church.

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 That you will minister here yourself, Lord Jesus.

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 We pray, Lord, that we can hear the gospel,

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 that we can hear the truth that Jesus Christ desires for his church,

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 from his throne room in heaven,

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 and from his ministry as the great high priest.

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 We ask all of this for your glory alone,

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 and for Christ's sake.

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 Amen.

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 Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 my prayer for you and for me today is simply that we would see Christ discipling his church.

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 We read the word, you hear the word,

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 but in Revelation, when John hears the voice, he sees a vision.

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 That's why I think it's appropriate that we would ask the Lord to help us to see Christ

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 through his word as it's ministered from this glorious text.

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 And to see how Christ disciples his church.

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 Let me ask you that question.

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 What do you think?

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 How long does Christ need to disciple his church?

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 How long does Christ disciple you?

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 I read this week of a young man as a teenager,

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 and he lived in England in the countryside,

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 later moved into London.

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 His name was Robert Robinson.

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 As a teenager, he and his buddies were mocking this lady who was on the street,

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 and she was known to make predictions,

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 and so they went around to mock her and ask her what the prediction was,

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 and she looked at this man, Robinson,

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 and said that one day your grandkids will know how to read,

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 which was more than he could say for himself or his entire family.

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 But that stirred in his mind,

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 and it actually led him to go hear a preacher preach for the first time.

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 It happened that that preacher was George Whitefield,

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 the first great awakening evangelist.

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 And the Lord did not save Robinson when he first heard the gospel,

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 but the gospel, like Pilgrim's Progress, it worked on him for three years,

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 and his own sin became like a burden on his back.

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 And later, the Lord saved this man and brought him into a church to be discipled.

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 The church he was taken into was the church in London.

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 The pastor at the time was John Gill.

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 John Gill came about 100 years before Charles Spurgeon in that same church.

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 The reason I tell you about Robinson,

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 after he was saved, after he was discipled in a wonderful church for many, many years,

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 he wrote this hymn, and the hymn begins this way.

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 Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it.

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 Prone to leave the God I love.

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 Is your heart prone to wonder like Robinson?

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 I know mine is.

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 And doesn't that thought terrify you?

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 So for how long does Christ disciple you?

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 Think about the perspective of our author here to give some context on Revelation.

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 It comes from the pen of the Apostle John.

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 John was most likely the youngest of all the disciples of Jesus

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 who walked with him in his ministry for three years.

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 And John, his last thoughts before our Lord Jesus was crucified

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 was of all of the disciples wandering away from Christ,

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 forsaking him and abandoning Jesus.

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 They did not love Jesus to the end, did they?

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 And maybe that's why the main message on John's tongue

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 that he wanted to preach or that he wanted to put in every epistle

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 and in his gospel, the main message is that Christ loves you to the end.

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 For how long do you need to be discipled?

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 Look at our sermon text, verse 4.

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 Verse 4 is the heart of this passage.

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 And not only do I want us to see where the church in Ephesus needed reprimand,

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 I want us to see how Christ discipled them and brought that to them.

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 In verse 4, John writes,

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 You, church of Ephesus,

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 you abandoned the love you had at first.

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 Remember and repent.

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 So we need Jesus Christ to disciple us,

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 to call us to himself,

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 for as long as our hearts are prone to wonder, don't we?

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 That's how long Christ keeps discipling the church.

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 The word discipleship, according to the Oxford Dictionary,

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 it comes from the Old English, a Latin phrase,

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 or a Latin word called discipulus,

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 and it means a learner.

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 A learner, and it comes from the term to discern.

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 So what was it that John learned?

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 He was a disciple of Christ.

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 Well, when John introduces himself in the Gospel of John,

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 he doesn't say I'm the last living apostle.

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 He doesn't say I'm the senior pastor

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 at the wealthiest, most prominent church,

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 which was the church of Ephesus.

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 He says,

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 I am the one whom Jesus loved.

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 That's all you need to know about me.

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 I ran away from Christ,

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 and he loved me to the end.

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 All of John's letters

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 elevate the theme of love

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 more than any other New Testament writer.

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 To give a comparison,

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 1 Corinthians uses the word love 15 times,

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 and that's our glorious love chapter.

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 But by comparison,

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 the Gospel of John uses that word

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 of the love of God

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 and to love his people 39 times.

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 And in that short little epistle

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 called 1 John,

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 26 times he writes

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 for the church to have that love.

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 John's main point

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 is stated really well

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 in that epistle,

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 1 John 3.1.

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 He says,

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 See what kind of love

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 the Father has given to us

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 that we should be called

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 children of God.

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 And so we are.

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 See, it's the love of God

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 shown in Christ.

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 You get to belong

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 to the family of God.

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 If you're a Christian,

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 by the love of God,

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 you are in the house

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 of the Father.

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 Well now,

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 this vision that he gets

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 in Revelation,

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 it comes from banishment

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 to the island of Patmos.

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 Most likely before this time,

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 tradition has it

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 that John had been

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 taken and tortured,

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 a boiling vat of oil,

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 and he was dipped inside of that

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 and pulled back out

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 before he could die.

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 So there's this old,

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 disfigured man

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 with chronic pain

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 in exile,

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 away from the church.

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 But by God's grace,

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 the Lord,

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 he says,

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 I'm worshiping on the Lord's day

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 and I'm in the Spirit.

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 And what God gives him

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 in Revelation 1.17

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 is a vision of heaven itself

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 opened up.

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 John writes,

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 I saw Jesus.

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 I fell at his feet

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 as though dead.

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 What was it that Jesus said to him?

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 Fear not.

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 I am the first and the last,

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 the living one.

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 I died and behold,

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 I am alive forevermore.

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 And I have the keys

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 of death and Hades.

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 Verse 19,

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 write therefore these things

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 that you have seen,

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 those that are,

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 and those that are

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 to take place

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 after this.

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 And so we come to our sermon text

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 and what I want to walk you through

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 are five descriptions

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 that John gives

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 to all the churches

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 of how Jesus disciples his church.

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 The first one is this.

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 See how close Christ is

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 to his church.

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 By the language John uses,

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 we see that Jesus Christ

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 is very, very close to his church.

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 Three evidences from the text.

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 First,

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 John tells us

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 that it is Christ himself

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 who speaks to his church.

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 Look at verse 1.

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 Revelation 2,

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 verse 1.

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 To the angel,

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 the word angel is messenger,

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 of the church in Ephesus,

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 write the words of him.

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 The Lord Jesus Christ

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 wants John

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 to write these letters

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 telling the church,

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 Jesus Christ speaks to you.

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 that phrase,

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 the words of him.

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 It's used 60 times

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 in the minor prophets.

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 You've heard it translated,

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 thus saith the Lord.

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 Jesus Christ

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 is the final prophet.

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 And he stands

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 from his throne in heaven

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 as prophet

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 speaking to his church.

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 How close is Jesus?

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 He speaks

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 through his word

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 to his church.

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 Jesus is acting

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 like one of those

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 minor prophet

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 covenant prosecutors.

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 But he's not

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 prosecuting

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 the Mosaic covenant.

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 He's shepherding.

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 He's using words

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 of encouragement

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 and words of exhortation

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 to shepherd his church

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 in the covenant of grace

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 until they're ready

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 for heaven with him.

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 And it's words

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 of encouragement

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 and exhortation

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 because we need both,

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 don't we?

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 That's how our Lord Jesus

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 speaks to his church.

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 Why is he telling

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 these words

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 to the church in Ephesus?

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 Think about

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 what a powerful church

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 this is.

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 The apostle John

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 became the elder

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 of the church in Ephesus.

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 Can you think of that?

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 You know,

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 the longest living apostle now,

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 one of the elders,

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 shepherding,

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 preaching to the church

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 in Ephesus.

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 Apollos,

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 a very gifted

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 man of rhetoric

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:13.439
 who was discipled

00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:13.900
 on the side

00:14:13.900 --> 00:14:14.580
 and then came back

00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.940
 preaching the glorious gospel.

00:14:16.300 --> 00:14:16.960
 He was a preacher

00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.140
 to the church in Ephesus.

00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.440
 Paul was a pastor

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:21.860
 or at least apostle

00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.940
 ministering and preaching

00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.460
 and teaching

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.280
 in Ephesus

00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:25.240
 for three years.

00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:27.020
 And when Paul left,

00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:28.060
 you know who he left

00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:29.000
 as the pastor,

00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:29.680
 one of the elders

00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:30.900
 to preach to the church

00:14:30.900 --> 00:14:31.420
 in Ephesus.

00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.720
 It was Timothy.

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.520
 This is the church

00:14:34.520 --> 00:14:35.320
 we're talking about.

00:14:35.880 --> 00:14:36.860
 A mature,

00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.100
 well-established church

00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:39.200
 that had been discipled

00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:40.460
 through Christ's messengers

00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:42.060
 one after the other.

00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:43.299
 And yet,

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.699
 they still need Christ

00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:46.079
 to disciple them now.

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.299
 They didn't arrive

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.659
 after all of that.

00:14:50.359 --> 00:14:50.759
 Now,

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.279
 don't think that this message

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.719
 is only for one church

00:14:53.719 --> 00:14:54.799
 at that time in history.

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.059
 Look at verse 7

00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:57.039
 of our sermon text.

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.739
 He who has an ear,

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.979
 let him hear

00:15:00.979 --> 00:15:02.679
 what the Spirit says

00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:04.019
 to the churches.

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:06.919
 So,

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.759
 from the island of Patmos,

00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.679
 the closest church

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.039
 would have been

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.960
 the church in Ephesus,

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.319
 right off the coast.

00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:12.980
 And then,

00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.639
 the Roman courier circuit

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.759
 would have included

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.720
 these seven churches

00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.059
 in this exact order.

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.079
 Why seven?

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.259
 Well,

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.799
 there are many more

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.279
 than seven,

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:20.840
 and these letters

00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:22.399
 were to be circulated

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.079
 among all of them.

00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:24.340
 Seven represents

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.480
 the number of completeness

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.279
 and fullness.

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:27.159
 So,

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:27.919
 by addressing

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.879
 individual churches,

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.059
 he's lifting up

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:31.179
 like case studies

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.519
 for all of the churches,

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.480
 even those who have

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.779
 an ear to hear now.

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.279
 This is the ministry

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.460
 of God to you, church.

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.460
 My first application

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.600
 is that Christ

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:42.159
 actively speaks

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.460
 to his church

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.340
 every day.

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.399
 Whoever has an ear

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.259
 to hear

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.079
 must hear

00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:49.539
 the words of Jesus Christ.

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.600
 He is close to you,

00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.720
 and he speaks.

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.319
 So,

00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:53.539
 what the church needs today,

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.939
 just as much as ever before,

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.439
 to use the phrase

00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.840
 from Haggai 113,

00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:00.240
 is the Lord's messenger

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.460
 in the Lord's message.

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.939
 He speaks

00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:06.039
 through his messengers

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.379
 at every faithful

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.199
 biblical church

00:16:08.199 --> 00:16:09.399
 the message

00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.519
 of Jesus Christ

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.220
 himself.

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:13.159
 You see how close

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.340
 Christ is to his church?

00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:16.139
 He speaks to his church.

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.240
 Second evidence

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.439
 of how close Christ is

00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:20.639
 is that he holds

00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.460
 his church.

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:22.840
 Verse 1

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.980
 describes Jesus

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:25.720
 as he who holds

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:27.220
 the seven stars

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.019
 in his right hand.

00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:33.059
 In each of these

00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:33.579
 addresses

00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.679
 to these seven churches,

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:36.340
 there's a little prologue.

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.840
 It describes the speaker.

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.840
 It describes Christ.

00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.259
 And each prologue

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.360
 has a point.

00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.500
 And the point

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.579
 is customized

00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:44.720
 to what that church,

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.579
 that congregation

00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:46.819
 needs to hear.

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.279
 To give you an example,

00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.740
 the church in Smyrna

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.559
 was persecuted.

00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:52.179
 And what Jesus

00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.980
 tells them

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.840
 that they need to hear

00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.879
 is a message

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.019
 from he who died

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:57.840
 and came to life.

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.100
 You're persecuted.

00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.059
 You're going to be martyred.

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.279
 Hear the message

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.539
 from him who died first

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.419
 for you

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.660
 and came to life.

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.639
 His resurrection

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.960
 is your hope.

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.480
 To the church

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.160
 in Pergamum

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:11.379
 in the prologue,

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.639
 they had allowed

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.339
 false teaching

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:13.839
 and heresy

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.480
 to creep in.

00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:15.779
 And the message

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.639
 to them is this.

00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:17.920
 It's the words of him

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.920
 who has the sharp

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.559
 two-edged sword.

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.879
 In Ephesians,

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:23.920
 back to Ephesians

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.599
 chapter 6

00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.099
 tells us

00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.539
 that's the sword

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.319
 of the Spirit,

00:17:27.459 --> 00:17:28.279
 the Word of God.

00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:29.299
 That's what they need.

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.159
 So what is the message

00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:31.899
 to the church

00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:32.559
 of Ephesus?

00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:33.480
 What is it

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.459
 that they need to hear?

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.759
 In verse 1,

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.939
 it's that Christ,

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.480
 he is the one

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.240
 who holds

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.480
 the seven stars

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.079
 in his right hand.

00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.679
 Jesus Christ

00:17:45.679 --> 00:17:47.740
 holds the messenger.

00:17:47.959 --> 00:17:48.439
 He holds

00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:49.539
 the spiritual

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.619
 representation

00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:52.299
 of every congregation

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:54.799
 in his right hand

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.419
 in heaven.

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.899
 They need to hear

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.680
 that this is

00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.940
 Christ's church.

00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:00.659
 Christ

00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.519
 is the one

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.440
 who holds it.

00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.000
 I think that

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.119
 this is an inference,

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.039
 but my best guess

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.740
 is that the church

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.220
 in Ephesus,

00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:16.599
 based on what comes next,

00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:17.899
 they might have been

00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.759
 tempted to think

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:21.539
 that the kingdom

00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.519
 of Christ

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.059
 on earth

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.140
 will rise or fall

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:24.680
 on them.

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.480
 Think of all those

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.379
 who had preached to them.

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.220
 Think of how well

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.160
 established this church

00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:29.539
 was.

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.740
 They need to hear

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.200
 Christ

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.480
 holds his church.

00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.759
 It is not

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.259
 by your works

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.140
 that anyone

00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:38.980
 will be saved.

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.319
 You be faithful

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.759
 and you serve

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.099
 in the church

00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:43.119
 out of love for Christ

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.500
 because he is the one

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.200
 who holds you, church,

00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.460
 and there is no amount

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.779
 of manly effort

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.539
 that you can bring

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.200
 to the table

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:52.000
 because if you lose

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.000
 the love for Christ,

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:53.860
 your lamp

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.519
 will go out.

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:57.019
 It is Christ's church.

00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:59.340
 You cannot hold it

00:18:59.340 --> 00:18:59.880
 all together

00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.940
 by your own strength.

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.519
 Isn't that a relief

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.039
 to us?

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.500
 It is Christ

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.580
 who holds his church.

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.680
 And with that also

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.240
 is the promise

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.120
 that no matter

00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:10.779
 what happens

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.259
 to his church

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.640
 on earth,

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.319
 spiritually,

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.000
 we are held

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.519
 by Christ.

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.240
 He holds us

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.840
 in his hands

00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.459
 and we are persecuted

00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:17.319
 but we are united

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.000
 to Christ.

00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.519
 In the week ahead,

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.339
 the next five days,

00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:20.859
 each of us

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:22.119
 in our different industries

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.259
 and lines of work,

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.279
 we will go through

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:24.959
 hardship.

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.359
 In this world,

00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:28.000
 we will have trouble,

00:19:28.199 --> 00:19:29.019
 various kinds.

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.459
 Christ holds you

00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:32.639
 because in Christ

00:19:32.639 --> 00:19:33.500
 you are united

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.599
 to God himself.

00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:35.959
 We get this promise

00:19:35.959 --> 00:19:37.159
 in 1 Corinthians 6,

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.220
 15, and 17.

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.459
 Your bodies

00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:40.679
 are the members

00:19:40.679 --> 00:19:41.799
 of Christ

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:43.199
 and he that is

00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:44.000
 joined to Christ

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.579
 is one

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.399
 spirit.

00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:47.339
 You and I

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.720
 are only truly

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.579
 held by Christ

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.779
 if we enjoy

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.759
 that union

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.419
 with Jesus himself

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.519
 as mediator.

00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:56.559
 The third evidence

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.559
 that Jesus is very

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.639
 close to his church

00:19:58.639 --> 00:20:00.279
 is that he walks

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.799
 among his church.

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.720
 Look at verse 1 again.

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.599
 Jesus describes himself

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.720
 as one

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.899
 who walks

00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:09.539
 among

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.579
 the seven

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.399
 golden

00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.799
 lampstands.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.000
 this is a word

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.659
 picture of the

00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:16.220
 menorah.

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.099
 The menorah

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.079
 was the seven

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:20.119
 lamps

00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:21.319
 that were set

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.259
 in the holy

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.399
 place

00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.519
 so that the

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.480
 priest would go in

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.919
 and trim the wick

00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:28.480
 and clean up the wax

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.379
 and add oil

00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.039
 so they would be

00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.079
 continually burning.

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.319
 And the purpose

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:32.779
 of these

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.819
 seven lamps

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.720
 was to light

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.220
 the way

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.460
 into the holy

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.299
 of holies.

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.480
 So Jesus

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.259
 is describing

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.839
 himself

00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.899
 as the high

00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.279
 priest

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.379
 who ministers

00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:43.379
 as a high

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.720
 priest

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.960
 leading you

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.059
 by the light

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.039
 of his work

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.919
 to the holy

00:20:47.919 --> 00:20:48.460
 of holies

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:48.980
 itself.

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.299
 That's who

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:50.960
 Jesus is.

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.579
 He's the one

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.539
 who walks

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.779
 among his

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.220
 church.

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.039
 He is the

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.119
 great final

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.799
 and everlasting

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.980
 high priest.

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.240
 Church,

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.079
 it is Christ

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.259
 who trims us.

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.759
 It's Christ

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.440
 who pours the

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.019
 oil of his

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.660
 Holy Spirit

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.740
 in us,

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.420
 in our lives,

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:08.980
 our hearts,

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.279
 in a congregation.

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.920
 He is the one

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.700
 who keeps the

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.759
 lamp burning.

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.359
 He ministers.

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.700
 He prays God.

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.059
 Do you see

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:19.259
 how close

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.879
 Jesus is

00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:20.539
 to his church?

00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.920
 The second thing

00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.379
 I invite you

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:24.960
 to see here

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.180
 is how well

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:27.460
 Christ knows

00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.119
 his church.

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.859
 He is so close

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.500
 to his church

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.759
 and he knows

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.599
 his church

00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.519
 so well.

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:37.940
 in verse

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.619
 two we read

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:40.259
 Jesus says

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.900
 to the church

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.039
 I know

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.059
 your works,

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.079
 your toil,

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:44.839
 and your

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.799
 patient endurance.

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.940
 He gives this

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.660
 list of three

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.480
 and it's called

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.119
 a triad.

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:50.960
 He gives three

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.240
 of those.

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.200
 So three triads.

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.920
 This is the first

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.160
 one.

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.440
 I know your works,

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.339
 your toil,

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.639
 and your patient

00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.160
 endurance.

00:21:57.160 --> 00:22:00.580
 that's how

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:00.940
 the church

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.380
 of Ephesus

00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:02.160
 was known.

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:03.620
 Christ says

00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.200
 I see you

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.080
 getting up early.

00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:05.860
 I see you

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.560
 arriving

00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.279
 and going

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.080
 the extra mile.

00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:09.420
 I see you

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:09.880
 sweating

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:11.340
 and laboring

00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:12.360
 alongside one

00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:12.660
 another.

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.400
 I see how

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.160
 you heard

00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.320
 my message

00:22:16.320 --> 00:22:16.940
 and you've

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.320
 been living

00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:17.700
 it out.

00:22:18.300 --> 00:22:18.740
 The message

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.519
 in Ephesians,

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.340
 the same church

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.500
 Ephesians 4.28

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.680
 was labor.

00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:23.980
 Do honest

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.500
 work with

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:24.900
 your own

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.300
 hands

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.000
 and share

00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.839
 with anyone

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.480
 in need.

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.460
 And it seems

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.259
 like the Ephesian

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.139
 church was

00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:30.740
 obeying that.

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:32.859
 Paul had

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.339
 written to

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.700
 Timothy.

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:35.240
 Paul probably

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:35.940
 worked anyone

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.539
 under the ground.

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.079
 Paul was a

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.599
 hard worker.

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.259
 And Paul

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.779
 admonished

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.180
 Timothy,

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.659
 though he was

00:22:39.659 --> 00:22:40.399
 weak and frail

00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:40.899
 in the body,

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:41.919
 Timothy,

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.559
 labor in

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.419
 preaching and

00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:44.819
 teaching.

00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.240
 Christ sees

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.259
 the toil of

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.779
 his church.

00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:49.819
 What else

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.359
 does Christ

00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.940
 know?

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:51.980
 Well,

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.299
 Christ commends

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:53.919
 his church

00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:55.159
 for also

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.980
 hating what

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.800
 Jesus hates.

00:22:57.540 --> 00:22:57.880
 Look at

00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.420
 verse 6.

00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.540
 He says,

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.300
 this you have,

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.940
 you hate the

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.740
 works of the

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.540
 Nicolaitans,

00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.720
 which I also

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.100
 hate.

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.140
 And Christ

00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:05.660
 commends them

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.140
 for this.

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.660
 The Nicolaitans

00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.800
 was a heresy

00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.420
 and it got

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.060
 long gospel

00:23:11.060 --> 00:23:11.460
 wrong.

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.480
 Nothing new

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.040
 under the sun,

00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:14.279
 right?

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.100
 We get long

00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:15.800
 gospel wrong,

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.480
 all kinds of

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.120
 problems creep

00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.880
 into the church.

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.140
 The Nicolaitans

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.160
 had said that

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.060
 there is a

00:23:22.060 --> 00:23:22.740
 special type

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.340
 of enlightenment

00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:23.980
 that some

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.820
 people can access

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.279
 and when you

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.740
 do that,

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.159
 it doesn't

00:23:26.159 --> 00:23:26.619
 matter how

00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.099
 you live.

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.480
 So it led

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.439
 to licentiousness

00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:29.939
 and all kinds

00:23:29.939 --> 00:23:30.659
 of evil sin

00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:32.659
 and the

00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.259
 Ephesian church

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.460
 says,

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:33.740
 no,

00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:34.359
 that's not

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:34.700
 what the

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.720
 apostles revealed,

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.079
 that's not

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.460
 what God

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.000
 gave in his

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.279
 word,

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:37.919
 that's not

00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.220
 what our

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.919
 Bible says.

00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.119
 Paul had

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:41.460
 been there

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:41.980
 for three

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.960
 years and

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.460
 he is using

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.059
 disciplined

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.779
 language by

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.419
 saying this.

00:23:48.679 --> 00:23:49.419
 He's saying,

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.980
 it's right for

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.819
 a biblical church

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.480
 that knows the

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.119
 Bible well,

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.319
 it's right for

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.919
 such a church

00:23:54.919 --> 00:23:55.919
 to hate what

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.539
 Christ hates.

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:57.939
 When there is

00:23:57.939 --> 00:23:59.039
 false teaching

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.599
 that's harmful,

00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.359
 you need to

00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:00.839
 hate that.

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:01.899
 He's saying this

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.619
 is a good thing.

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.259
 Why?

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.519
 Because I hate

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.819
 that,

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:05.500
 says Jesus.

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.339
 They're preaching

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.199
 a lesser gospel.

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.439
 They're distorting

00:24:08.439 --> 00:24:09.539
 the good news

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.939
 and they're distorting

00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:11.639
 all that I have

00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:12.479
 revealed in my

00:24:12.479 --> 00:24:12.679
 word.

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.139
 You need to

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.759
 know my word

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.539
 and it's good

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.519
 that you hate

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.259
 heresy.

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.399
 So Christ knows

00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.239
 that they worked

00:24:19.239 --> 00:24:19.500
 hard,

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.419
 he knows that

00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:20.979
 they hated the

00:24:20.979 --> 00:24:21.639
 right things

00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.200
 and in verse

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.960
 two he says,

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.160
 you cannot bear

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.740
 with those who

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.800
 are evil but

00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:26.320
 have tested

00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:26.780
 those who

00:24:26.780 --> 00:24:27.360
 call themselves

00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.280
 apostles and

00:24:28.280 --> 00:24:29.560
 are not and

00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:30.240
 found them to

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.320
 be false.

00:24:31.520 --> 00:24:31.920
 That's our

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.740
 second triad.

00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:34.960
 Let me give

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.560
 some context

00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.060
 to this.

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.800
 There was so

00:24:37.800 --> 00:24:38.759
 much corrupted

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.460
 living in the

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.200
 city of Ephesus.

00:24:42.300 --> 00:24:43.259
 The temple in

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.180
 Ephesus was called

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.820
 the temple of

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:47.900
 Diana and people

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.400
 would come from

00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:48.900
 all over the

00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.640
 world to worship

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.320
 the goddess

00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:51.020
 Diana which

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.400
 would then,

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:53.079
 it was syncretism

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.480
 where it was

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.139
 combined with

00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:55.559
 Greek mythology

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.160
 as well.

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.139
 So like the

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.819
 twin sister of

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:59.099
 Apollo got

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.619
 merged with

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.639
 Diana and it

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.139
 was the goddess

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:01.819
 of fertility.

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.759
 So around this

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.319
 temple were all

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.539
 kinds of sexual

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.339
 practices that

00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.099
 were extremely

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.700
 perverse.

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.160
 There were

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.139
 those who would

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.059
 take the silver

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.700
 and make it into

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.519
 little statues so

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.259
 all these pilgrims

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.960
 who came to

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.559
 worship at the

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.220
 temple of Diana

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.079
 could take back

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.940
 a silver souvenir.

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.000
 Well when the

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.799
 gospel arrived in

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.900
 Ephesus they wanted

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.480
 to kill Paul

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.360
 because the

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.299
 gospel undermined

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.880
 this entire

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.440
 industry.

00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:23.620
 And because

00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.000
 there was so

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.559
 much worship

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.000
 and people

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.519
 giving money

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.120
 to the temple

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:26.519
 of Diana

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.680
 it became a

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.519
 banking system

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.360
 so it was like

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.599
 the London of

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.279
 all of Asia

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.579
 Minor.

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.680
 And Paul had

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.400
 written to them

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:39.480
 those who go

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.000
 the way of the

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.839
 world and those

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.920
 who bow down

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.559
 their knee to

00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.519
 Diana this goddess

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.420
 of perversity.

00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:45.259
 It's Satan.

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.400
 It's represented

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.480
 in Revelation as

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.220
 Babylon and other

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.600
 things.

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:51.460
 You are choosing

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:52.680
 idolatry over the

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:54.140
 love of the true

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.420
 God.

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.140
 You're rejecting

00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:55.860
 the love of Christ

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.380
 and you're turning

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.299
 to adultery.

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.640
 And so he's

00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.380
 admonishing the

00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.500
 church to you

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.519
 need to discipline

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.180
 within the church

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.079
 any that are

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.980
 loving an idol

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.620
 more than they're

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:05.339
 loving Christ.

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.279
 If they're loving

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.880
 their sin more

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.440
 than they love

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.380
 the Lord Jesus

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.059
 their Savior

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.460
 it's right for the

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.460
 church to test that

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:13.579
 and to call it

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.579
 false and to not

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.400
 bear with that

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.259
 evil anymore.

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.220
 It's right for the

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.799
 church to do

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.019
 that.

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.500
 Well Christ

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.920
 he knows their

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.920
 toil he knows

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.539
 they hate the

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.779
 right things and

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.720
 he also commends

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.000
 them for patient

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:30.140
 endurance for his

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.759
 name's sake.

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.799
 This is the third

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.799
 and final triad in

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.299
 verse 3.

00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.720
 Jesus says to the

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.460
 church in Ephesus

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.819
 I know you are

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:38.099
 enduring patiently

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:39.500
 and bearing up for

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.879
 my name's sake and

00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:42.119
 you have not

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:43.379
 grown weary.

00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.480
 Praise God.

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.339
 In Ephesians 4

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.299
 they had been told

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.779
 as we are to walk

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.220
 in a manner worthy

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.059
 of Christ's calling.

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.480
 Do you remember

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.259
 that last week?

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.579
 And they're to walk

00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:55.420
 with all humility

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.500
 and gentleness and

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.980
 patience bearing with

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.960
 one another in love

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.019
 and the Lord Jesus

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.799
 Christ saw them obey

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.620
 what he told them by

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.759
 the spirit and he

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.819
 commends them for

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.779
 doing just that.

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.880
 You have been walking

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:08.380
 together as I called

00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:08.880
 you to do.

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.960
 We've seen how close

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.759
 Christ is to his

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.720
 church and we see how

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.900
 well Christ knows

00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.579
 his church.

00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.220
 Number three, see

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.319
 what Christ cares

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.160
 most about for

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.920
 his church.

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.440
 Verse 4.

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:25.519
 The words of the

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.660
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.640
 Church, I have

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:31.400
 this against you

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:33.279
 that you have

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:35.140
 abandoned the love

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.880
 you had at first.

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:42.380
 He brings correction.

00:27:42.760 --> 00:27:43.900
 He brings exhortation.

00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.240
 But there were nine

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.700
 words of encouragement,

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.340
 specific affirmation

00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.120
 to this church.

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.920
 Nine of them to one

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.360
 correction.

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.400
 That's the ratio

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.620
 Jesus sets up.

00:27:55.800 --> 00:27:57.280
 Who are we to make

00:27:57.280 --> 00:27:58.560
 up a different ratio

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.320
 than that, right?

00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.360
 We should always be

00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.240
 speaking the truth

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.720
 in love, encouraging

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.600
 one another, building

00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:04.380
 one another up.

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:05.580
 And when we need

00:28:05.580 --> 00:28:06.460
 to, there can be a

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.320
 place for correction,

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.680
 but it's wrapped in

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:10.240
 so much love and

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.760
 specific affirmation

00:28:11.760 --> 00:28:13.120
 that it's not

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.720
 critiquing and it's

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.640
 not nitpicking and

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.800
 it's not discouraging.

00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:19.240
 I'm convicted of my

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.220
 flesh and my tendency

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.060
 to bring any

00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:21.980
 correction that way.

00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.220
 I need to learn from

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.980
 the example of the

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.480
 Lord Jesus.

00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.620
 This is how he

00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.120
 disciples.

00:28:26.820 --> 00:28:27.620
 This is how he

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.820
 disciplines his

00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:29.240
 church.

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:35.700
 There's a tradition,

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.640
 I'm not sure, you

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.500
 know, if this is, you

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.259
 can prove it anywhere,

00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.599
 but, you know, the

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:41.079
 message in 1 John is

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.180
 little children love

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.660
 one another.

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:44.380
 And the one historian

00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.120
 has it that the

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.120
 apostle John, before

00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:47.640
 he got exiled, he

00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:48.620
 had been imprisoned

00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.700
 and he had to, you

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.599
 know, leave Ephesus,

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.620
 but he didn't get to

00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.480
 come back one last

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.359
 time as an old man.

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.339
 And what did he

00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:55.019
 preach to them?

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:55.980
 He said, little

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.099
 children of Ephesus,

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.339
 love one another.

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:01.480
 And that's the theme

00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.259
 that's on John's

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.160
 heart as an apostle

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.420
 and it's not because

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.259
 it's John's idea,

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.980
 that's because that's

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.839
 what Jesus taught

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.160
 John.

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.099
 And that's what the

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.980
 Lord Jesus himself

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.279
 had to say to the

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:11.120
 church in Ephesus.

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.019
 Love one another.

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:18.460
 John Owen makes a

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.640
 good observation and

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.759
 I don't know of

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.559
 anyone who gets law

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.259
 and gospel better

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.960
 than John Owen,

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.099
 at least more

00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:24.779
 thoroughly than

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.299
 John Owen.

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.140
 And he said that

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.460
 some abandoned their

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.220
 first love for

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.360
 Christ because they

00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.640
 think that abiding

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.860
 in Christ is a

00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:34.319
 plant that needs

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.120
 neither watering,

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.660
 fertilizing, or

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.799
 pruning, but that

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.500
 will thrive to

00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:39.960
 itself.

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.019
 Have you fallen

00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.579
 into that?

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.019
 Well, we know it's

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.880
 true from Ephesians

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.960
 2.8 that by grace

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.680
 we have been saved

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.759
 through faith and

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.600
 this is not our own

00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:49.680
 doing, it is the

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.279
 gift of God.

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:50.559
 Amen.

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.900
 We're not saved by

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.700
 works that no man

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.259
 should boast.

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:56.000
 But in verse 4 of

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:58.100
 Revelation 2, we read

00:29:58.099 --> 00:30:00.419
 that they had a love

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:02.079
 at the beginning

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.159
 that they no longer

00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:04.099
 have now.

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:07.359
 The word there is

00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:09.079
 that the love that

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.219
 you had, and that

00:30:10.219 --> 00:30:11.500
 verb is possession,

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.079
 to have a love.

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:15.759
 The Greek term, it

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.279
 brings all these

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:16.959
 connotations.

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.439
 It means to have

00:30:18.439 --> 00:30:19.759
 and to hold.

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:22.079
 It's to possess in your

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:24.159
 mind in a way that

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.840
 agitates the emotions.

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:28.720
 It's to cherish, to

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:31.240
 hold fast, to keep,

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:33.279
 and to highly regard.

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.540
 That's how they

00:30:39.540 --> 00:30:40.860
 viewed the Lord Jesus

00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:42.000
 when He first saved

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.560
 them out of their

00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:42.800
 sin.

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.800
 That's how they

00:30:44.800 --> 00:30:45.820
 viewed one another

00:30:45.820 --> 00:30:47.200
 when they first got

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.620
 started.

00:30:48.540 --> 00:30:49.800
 But somewhere along

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:51.860
 the way, by not

00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.880
 watering and

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.680
 fertilizing and

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.000
 tending to that

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.360
 love, it was

00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:57.960
 abandoned.

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.260
 It was neglected.

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.600
 That little plant of

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:02.460
 their love, the

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.120
 leaves are starting

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.840
 to turn yellow.

00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.880
 You can see some

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.900
 other stuff starting

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.400
 to grow.

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.880
 It's smaller.

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:11.060
 It seems dried up.

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.740
 And the Lord Jesus

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:14.220
 is the gardener, and

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.040
 He's walking in the

00:31:15.040 --> 00:31:15.860
 midst, and He says,

00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:17.280
 you need to tend to

00:31:17.280 --> 00:31:17.660
 this.

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.520
 You love because I

00:31:19.520 --> 00:31:20.440
 first loved you.

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:22.140
 now grow in my

00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:22.559
 love.

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.740
 He gospels them

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:28.180
 back to that kind

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:28.660
 of love.

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.600
 He gospels His

00:31:30.600 --> 00:31:30.980
 church.

00:31:32.600 --> 00:31:33.320
 They need to

00:31:33.320 --> 00:31:34.340
 remember how the

00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:35.160
 letter of Ephesians

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.740
 began.

00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.160
 Ephesians 1.5,

00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.240
 In love God

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:40.279
 predestined us for

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.120
 adoption to

00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:43.019
 Himself as sons

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.080
 through Jesus

00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:44.519
 Christ.

00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:46.340
 How in love He did

00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.620
 that.

00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:48.899
 Ephesians 1.15,

00:31:49.939 --> 00:31:51.000
 Paul encourages the

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.559
 church at that

00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:51.839
 stage.

00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:52.699
 He says, I have

00:31:52.699 --> 00:31:53.599
 heard of your

00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.959
 faith in the Lord

00:31:54.959 --> 00:31:56.719
 Jesus, and I have

00:31:56.719 --> 00:31:57.759
 heard of your love

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:59.519
 toward all the

00:31:59.519 --> 00:31:59.859
 saints.

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.279
 You need to get

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.239
 back to that place.

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.319
 You need to do

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:03.779
 that again.

00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:07.219
 So fourth, I want

00:32:07.219 --> 00:32:08.739
 us to see together

00:32:08.739 --> 00:32:09.559
 how Christ

00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:11.500
 disciplines His

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:11.939
 church.

00:32:12.439 --> 00:32:13.239
 Three observations

00:32:13.239 --> 00:32:14.039
 on how Christ

00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.639
 disciplines.

00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:18.020
 look at verse

00:32:18.020 --> 00:32:18.480
 five.

00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.759
 Remember, therefore,

00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:22.560
 from where you

00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:23.759
 have fallen.

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.460
 Jesus doesn't

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:27.100
 say, think about

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:28.640
 how you fell or

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.480
 why you fell.

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.960
 He says, remember

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:33.700
 from where you

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.000
 fell.

00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:35.860
 Think back.

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.700
 Recall.

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:38.180
 Remember, therefore,

00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:39.140
 from where you

00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.800
 have fallen.

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.860
 Put your sight on

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.259
 that.

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.459
 That's what I've

00:32:46.459 --> 00:32:47.039
 called you to.

00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:48.439
 Grow back into

00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:48.740
 that.

00:32:49.959 --> 00:32:50.679
 It's going to take

00:32:50.679 --> 00:32:51.079
 work.

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.319
 It can't be

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.139
 neglected and

00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:53.559
 abandoned.

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.359
 You must grow into

00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:55.659
 that.

00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:57.379
 Remember that vision

00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:58.519
 I have for you.

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.179
 I was trying to think

00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.279
 of a good illustration

00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:03.819
 of this.

00:33:04.419 --> 00:33:05.059
 And I picture a

00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.979
 family going on a

00:33:05.979 --> 00:33:08.359
 hike up a climb.

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:10.439
 And I'm not going

00:33:10.439 --> 00:33:11.179
 to put an age on

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:11.959
 this child who

00:33:11.959 --> 00:33:12.939
 loses the love,

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.859
 okay, but you can

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.559
 picture whatever you

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:14.919
 need to.

00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:16.219
 One of the children

00:33:16.219 --> 00:33:18.159
 in this family is

00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.379
 still walking along,

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.219
 but they are

00:33:20.219 --> 00:33:21.099
 emotionally checked

00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:21.359
 out.

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.799
 They're still taking

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:24.539
 the steps, but they

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:26.179
 are very bothered by

00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:26.959
 their sibling.

00:33:27.679 --> 00:33:28.479
 They don't want to

00:33:28.479 --> 00:33:29.139
 share their water.

00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.500
 They're not enjoying

00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:30.859
 this.

00:33:31.479 --> 00:33:32.159
 They're just putting

00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:33.139
 one foot in front of

00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:34.259
 the other out of

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.519
 duty.

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:37.160
 Remember what it

00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:38.119
 was like when we

00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.960
 first started, when

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.819
 there was more shade,

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:42.019
 when the dirt smelled

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:44.379
 good and wet, and

00:33:44.379 --> 00:33:45.099
 when you're having fun

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.859
 jumping up on the

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.619
 boulders and back

00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.000
 down.

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:47.879
 Remember that.

00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.660
 That's how we want

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.180
 it to be.

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.740
 We need to get back

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.579
 to that.

00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.819
 And the Lord Jesus

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:57.119
 next says not only

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.940
 remember it, but he

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.160
 calls them to take

00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.579
 action.

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.740
 He calls his church

00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.980
 to repent in verse

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.259
 five.

00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.400
 Repent and do the

00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:05.840
 works you did at

00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:06.340
 first.

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:12.220
 A mature, well

00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:13.420
 established, well

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.340
 taught church needs

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:14.960
 to repent.

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.639
 They need to return

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:21.500
 to the love that

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.740
 Christ first put in

00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.220
 their hearts.

00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.760
 He says to them,

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.320
 you are mature, you

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.300
 have sound doctrine,

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.700
 and you have worked

00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:30.559
 hard for a long

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:30.960
 time.

00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:33.039
 But now you need to

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.980
 preach the gospel to

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.800
 yourselves again.

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.860
 You need to have joy

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.539
 in all those little

00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.599
 things like you used

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:39.820
 to.

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:43.000
 Remember the gospel,

00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:43.500
 church.

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.240
 Never forget that.

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.480
 Ephesians 2, 3

00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.019
 through 5.

00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.800
 You once lived in the

00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:51.599
 passions of your flesh.

00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:52.539
 That's who you were.

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.639
 You were carrying out

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.920
 the desires of the body

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.980
 and of the mind.

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.340
 And you were by nature

00:34:58.340 --> 00:35:00.019
 children of wrath,

00:35:00.240 --> 00:35:01.460
 like the rest of

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:01.860
 mankind.

00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:03.220
 Have you forgotten

00:35:03.220 --> 00:35:03.980
 that that's what you

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.280
 were?

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:08.059
 But God, being rich in

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.199
 mercy because of the

00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:11.340
 great love with which

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:12.960
 he loved us, even when

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.440
 we were dead in our

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.940
 trespasses, made us

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:18.119
 alive together with

00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:18.820
 Christ.

00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:21.460
 That's what God did

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:24.699
 because he is love.

00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:28.099
 And if you think of the

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:29.899
 gospel, it will be a

00:35:29.899 --> 00:35:30.939
 reflex to obey.

00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:33.000
 You will do the works

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.219
 you did at first.

00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:36.559
 At first, remember how

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.359
 you used to serve

00:35:37.359 --> 00:35:37.719
 others.

00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:38.599
 You used to have

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.419
 someone else over to

00:35:39.419 --> 00:35:39.859
 your home.

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.179
 You used to encourage

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:43.039
 others, even when you

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.839
 were tired yourself.

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.699
 You will do those works

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:46.739
 again when you gospel

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.719
 yourself back through

00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:48.059
 this.

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:50.000
 When you ask God to

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.980
 fill you with his love

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.419
 because you ran out on

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.760
 your own, you will do

00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:54.700
 all those little things

00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:55.059
 again.

00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:57.300
 And God will bring your

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:59.019
 joy back into your heart

00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.300
 as you serve one another.

00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:01.680
 It's an expression of

00:36:01.680 --> 00:36:02.480
 your love for him.

00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:05.000
 How else does Christ

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:06.880
 disciple and discipline

00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.460
 his church?

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:11.420
 He uses covenantal

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.700
 terms.

00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:16.380
 He brings them curses and

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:16.820
 blessings.

00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:19.300
 Like an Old Testament

00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:21.980
 prophet, like Moses said

00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:23.039
 this pattern in Deuteronomy

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.099
 28 and 29.

00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:26.579
 If you go this path that

00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.840
 leads to death, there are

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.579
 warnings.

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:30.579
 There is eternity at stake.

00:36:31.699 --> 00:36:33.099
 But if you walk the

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:34.320
 narrow way, there are

00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.579
 blessings for those who

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.440
 belong to Christ.

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:39.019
 He lays out curses for

00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:40.579
 disobedience and blessings

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.619
 for obedience.

00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:43.460
 Jesus is a covenant

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.199
 prosecutor.

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:47.079
 What is the curse or the

00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:47.940
 threat that he brings

00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.960
 them for disobedience?

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:49.840
 Look at verse 6.

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:52.800
 If you do not remember

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.059
 and do not do those

00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:56.260
 works, I will come to

00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:56.559
 you.

00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:58.559
 Jesus Christ himself will

00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:00.260
 come to his church and

00:37:00.260 --> 00:37:02.780
 remove your lampstand from

00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:04.400
 its place unless you

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:04.760
 repent.

00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:07.120
 That means that that

00:37:07.120 --> 00:37:09.140
 congregation's light in

00:37:09.140 --> 00:37:10.039
 heaven will be

00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.740
 extinguished.

00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:12.559
 Their lamp will be turned

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:12.900
 off.

00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:16.820
 Let me clarify.

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:18.519
 I don't see anywhere here

00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:20.400
 that necessitates this to

00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:21.579
 be referring to an

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:23.619
 individual losing their

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.119
 salvation.

00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:26.039
 I see this as

00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:27.920
 congregational accountability.

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.740
 That congregation, the

00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:31.660
 doors will be closed.

00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:33.420
 It will become a junior

00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:33.940
 college.

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:34.000
 church.

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:38.039
 The work of Jesus as

00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:40.320
 prophet and as priest is

00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:42.200
 to fill the lamp with

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:43.880
 oil, the Holy Spirit, the

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:45.940
 love of God to trim and to

00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:47.460
 manage it, maintain it so

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.579
 that it does burn brightly

00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:49.800
 pointing the way to the

00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:50.559
 Holy of Holies.

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:52.380
 When a church does not do

00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:53.920
 those things for which God

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:55.920
 intended it to do, what

00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:56.940
 purpose does it have?

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.440
 It should shut down.

00:37:58.440 --> 00:38:02.119
 It's Jesus himself who

00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:03.480
 brings judgment and his

00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.800
 judgment starts with the

00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:05.139
 church.

00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:07.159
 When Christ comes, his

00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:08.920
 second coming, it will be a

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:09.820
 day of terror.

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.920
 And the ones who should

00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:13.200
 tremble the most are those

00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:14.440
 who are in a church.

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:16.200
 You need to look around and

00:38:16.200 --> 00:38:18.079
 be ready for that day within

00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:19.200
 whatever church you're at.

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:21.659
 He begins his judgment with

00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.380
 his own people.

00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:25.440
 1 John 4.20

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:28.320
 If anyone says, I love God

00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:29.340
 and hates his brother, he

00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.059
 is a liar.

00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:32.640
 For he who does not love

00:38:32.640 --> 00:38:34.140
 his brother whom he has

00:38:34.140 --> 00:38:36.539
 seen cannot love God whom

00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:38.100
 he has not seen.

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.559
 That's why it's so important

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.800
 to remember the love, the

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.840
 union you have in Christ.

00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:44.480
 It will play itself out in

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.480
 all your other relationships.

00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:47.300
 All those works that I'm

00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:48.480
 calling you to do, that's a

00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:49.660
 simple expression of whether

00:38:49.660 --> 00:38:51.480
 or not you belong to Christ.

00:38:53.200 --> 00:38:54.480
 Revelation 3.19

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:57.019
 He reminds them, it's those

00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:58.920
 whom I love, I reprove

00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:00.860
 and discipline, Jesus says.

00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:03.539
 So be zealous and repent.

00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:07.159
 And I will praise God if

00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:08.659
 right now he's convicting you

00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:11.039
 like he's convicted me this

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:12.000
 week and again now.

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.320
 I need to repent.

00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.940
 I need to remember that love.

00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.159
 Praise God.

00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:18.440
 Because that means that Christ

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.340
 loves you.

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:22.079
 He reproves and disciplines

00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:24.199
 you if he loves you.

00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:28.239
 What does this mean for

00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:29.400
 congregational church

00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:29.860
 discipline?

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.259
 That's our focus in the

00:39:31.259 --> 00:39:32.179
 series a little bit with

00:39:32.179 --> 00:39:32.739
 Sunday school.

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:35.519
 Well Hebrews 13.17

00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:38.099
 is the admonition that the

00:39:38.099 --> 00:39:40.340
 elders of each congregation

00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:43.460
 are to keep watch over your

00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:46.400
 souls as those who will give

00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:48.219
 an account to Christ

00:39:48.219 --> 00:39:49.119
 Christ himself.

00:39:51.719 --> 00:39:54.099
 Church discipline has Christ

00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:56.119
 in mind from the very

00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:57.739
 beginning to the very end.

00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:00.500
 We will give an account to

00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:02.739
 Christ for every single soul

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:04.919
 entrusted to the care of a

00:40:04.919 --> 00:40:05.419
 congregation.

00:40:06.439 --> 00:40:08.359
 And if the congregation as a

00:40:08.359 --> 00:40:10.459
 whole has gone so far from

00:40:10.459 --> 00:40:12.739
 forgetting Christ, they deserve

00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:13.739
 to be shut down.

00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:15.339
 Let that congregation close its

00:40:15.339 --> 00:40:15.559
 doors.

00:40:15.919 --> 00:40:16.839
 That's what Jesus says.

00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:18.140
 He'll do it himself.

00:40:20.240 --> 00:40:21.800
 The church is the dwelling

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:23.640
 place of God in Christ.

00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:27.600
 So church life is life in

00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:28.539
 God's house.

00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:31.860
 He judges his own house first.

00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:34.120
 So what do you pray?

00:40:34.200 --> 00:40:35.900
 What's your response with the

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:37.039
 thought of Christ coming to

00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:38.200
 judge and his judgment

00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:39.260
 beginning within his own

00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:39.640
 church?

00:40:40.600 --> 00:40:41.920
 Let's go back to that hymn.

00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:43.780
 Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel

00:40:43.780 --> 00:40:43.980
 it.

00:40:44.340 --> 00:40:46.360
 Prone to leave the God I love.

00:40:46.840 --> 00:40:50.019
 Take my heart, Lord.

00:40:50.660 --> 00:40:52.860
 Take and seal it with your

00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:56.140
 Holy Spirit in thy courts

00:40:56.140 --> 00:40:56.539
 above.

00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:58.420
 I don't trust myself with my

00:40:58.420 --> 00:40:59.360
 heart, with my soul.

00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.720
 Seal me, Lord.

00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:03.079
 May your Holy Spirit live in me

00:41:03.079 --> 00:41:04.059
 and fill me so that I don't

00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:04.980
 need to question that.

00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:06.200
 Do I belong to you?

00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:08.700
 Your Spirit will reassure me of

00:41:08.700 --> 00:41:08.900
 that.

00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:10.440
 And you seal me, Lord, in a

00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.960
 place that I can't touch, in a

00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:13.440
 place I can't mess up, in

00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:14.519
 heaven itself.

00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:19.039
 And then the fifth, last

00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:20.639
 heading I've got here is, see

00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:22.400
 how Christ disciples his

00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:22.780
 church.

00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:24.400
 We saw how he disciplines

00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:26.539
 through covenant curses and

00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:28.780
 threats, but he disciples by

00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:30.659
 also extending covenantal

00:41:30.659 --> 00:41:31.280
 blessings.

00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:34.019
 Blessings promised for

00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:34.800
 obedience.

00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:36.159
 Look at verse 7.

00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:39.300
 To the one who conquers.

00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:41.219
 He's not talking about an

00:41:41.219 --> 00:41:41.920
 entire congregation.

00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:43.039
 He's talking about an

00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:43.840
 individual now.

00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:45.579
 To the one who conquers.

00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:47.680
 I will grant to eat of the

00:41:47.680 --> 00:41:50.000
 tree of life, which is in the

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:51.159
 paradise of God.

00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:55.099
 The Lord Jesus stands in

00:41:55.099 --> 00:41:57.460
 heaven and he, he prosecutes

00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:58.780
 his covenant of grace to his

00:41:58.780 --> 00:41:59.139
 church.

00:42:01.200 --> 00:42:03.119
 Respond to my love and I will

00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:03.720
 bless you.

00:42:04.420 --> 00:42:06.240
 I am the second Adam, he says.

00:42:06.239 --> 00:42:09.000
 But remember with the original

00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:11.439
 Adam in the garden of Eden, he

00:42:11.439 --> 00:42:12.679
 was under a covenant of works.

00:42:12.859 --> 00:42:14.559
 Adam had to obey Christ, obey

00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:17.519
 God personally, perpetually and

00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:18.899
 perfectly in every way.

00:42:19.559 --> 00:42:20.819
 And Adam fell short of the glory

00:42:20.819 --> 00:42:21.299
 of God.

00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:23.399
 And all who are under Adam as the

00:42:23.399 --> 00:42:25.199
 first federal head are under the

00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:27.099
 curse of death because of sin.

00:42:27.539 --> 00:42:29.319
 Adam's sin as well as our own sin

00:42:29.319 --> 00:42:30.219
 added on to that.

00:42:30.859 --> 00:42:32.799
 And Jesus says, I am offering to

00:42:32.799 --> 00:42:35.139
 you the blessing of heaven as the

00:42:35.139 --> 00:42:36.679
 great and final Adam.

00:42:37.099 --> 00:42:38.339
 Why can Christ offer this?

00:42:38.379 --> 00:42:39.559
 That we get to eat from that

00:42:39.559 --> 00:42:40.679
 tree of life that Adam could

00:42:40.679 --> 00:42:41.239
 never touch?

00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:43.559
 It's because Christ already has

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:43.719
 it.

00:42:44.299 --> 00:42:46.879
 He fulfilled that demand of the

00:42:46.879 --> 00:42:47.099
 law.

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:49.019
 He himself put himself under the

00:42:49.019 --> 00:42:49.239
 law.

00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:50.920
 He accomplished the covenant of

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:52.779
 works that Adam fell short of.

00:42:53.299 --> 00:42:55.359
 And Christ holds, he holds that

00:42:55.359 --> 00:42:56.920
 fruit of the tree of life.

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:59.819
 So when he says that to the one

00:42:59.819 --> 00:43:01.460
 who conquers, I will give this,

00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:02.940
 it's because he already has it.

00:43:03.119 --> 00:43:04.059
 It's in his hands.

00:43:04.059 --> 00:43:06.779
 There's nothing that can take that

00:43:06.779 --> 00:43:07.659
 out of Christ's hands.

00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:09.759
 He merited it, not because he

00:43:09.759 --> 00:43:11.059
 lacked anything, but because we

00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:11.860
 lack everything.

00:43:12.420 --> 00:43:13.860
 And the Father has placed that in

00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:14.480
 his hands.

00:43:15.420 --> 00:43:17.159
 And it's to the one who conquers.

00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:21.539
 To the one who conquers an apathy

00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:22.239
 toward others.

00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:24.460
 To the one who conquers being

00:43:24.460 --> 00:43:25.920
 passive in your walk with the

00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:26.179
 Lord.

00:43:27.059 --> 00:43:29.019
 You conquer by remembering that

00:43:29.019 --> 00:43:30.599
 love of God for you, by

00:43:30.599 --> 00:43:32.360
 gospeling yourself back through that

00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:32.980
 once again.

00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:36.039
 Do you see how Christ disciples his

00:43:36.039 --> 00:43:36.380
 church?

00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:37.360
 He's the good shepherd.

00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:40.240
 His rod and his staff, they comfort

00:43:40.240 --> 00:43:40.579
 us.

00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:43.760
 His rod of correction puts us back on

00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:44.780
 the path when we stray.

00:43:45.180 --> 00:43:47.160
 And his staff, it guides us in the

00:43:47.160 --> 00:43:48.620
 way of life everlasting.

00:43:48.619 --> 00:43:55.380
 Christ's true church, every believer,

00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:59.359
 has love only because God first

00:43:59.359 --> 00:44:00.059
 loved you.

00:44:00.819 --> 00:44:03.579
 And he calls us to tend that love,

00:44:03.859 --> 00:44:05.380
 cultivate it, take care of it.

00:44:06.380 --> 00:44:08.259
 On this earth, it will always feel

00:44:08.259 --> 00:44:10.859
 like a battle to cultivate this love

00:44:10.859 --> 00:44:11.799
 that comes from God.

00:44:12.259 --> 00:44:13.779
 And that's because we have remaining

00:44:13.779 --> 00:44:14.880
 sin in our flesh.

00:44:15.359 --> 00:44:16.799
 Our hearts are prone to wonder.

00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:19.500
 So how long does Christ need to

00:44:19.500 --> 00:44:20.519
 disciple his church?

00:44:21.019 --> 00:44:22.800
 As long as your heart is prone to

00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:23.539
 wonder in mine.

00:44:24.140 --> 00:44:25.920
 How long does Christ keep discipling

00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:26.580
 us, his church?

00:44:26.840 --> 00:44:28.880
 He keeps discipling us as long as he

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:29.560
 loves us.

00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:31.820
 And his love is unending for his

00:44:31.820 --> 00:44:32.140
 church.

00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:34.860
 How long does Christ disciple his

00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:35.180
 church?

00:44:35.320 --> 00:44:36.900
 As long as we are still on this

00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:38.860
 fallen earth and he is in heaven.

00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:40.560
 And there will be a day when he

00:44:40.560 --> 00:44:42.580
 comes and his kingdom of heaven is

00:44:42.580 --> 00:44:43.840
 fully on earth.

00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:45.680
 That day will be prepared for

00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:47.139
 eternity with him.

00:44:48.099 --> 00:44:49.000
 But in the meantime,

00:44:50.299 --> 00:44:53.239
 remember, beloved congregation of

00:44:53.239 --> 00:44:55.500
 our Lord Jesus Christ, how close he

00:44:55.500 --> 00:44:57.199
 is to you, his church.

00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:58.599
 How he speaks to you.

00:44:58.799 --> 00:44:59.599
 He holds you.

00:44:59.940 --> 00:45:01.339
 He walks among us.

00:45:02.619 --> 00:45:04.500
 Stay close to him one step at a

00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:04.779
 time.

00:45:06.179 --> 00:45:07.579
 I love the picture of the Lord

00:45:07.579 --> 00:45:09.919
 Jesus of his yoke, his light.

00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:11.819
 You're yoked to Christ.

00:45:12.219 --> 00:45:13.259
 But he does all the work.

00:45:13.260 --> 00:45:14.780
 He's pulling and plowing and you're

00:45:14.780 --> 00:45:16.960
 walking in step with him.

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:19.640
 And as you walk with him, he teaches

00:45:19.640 --> 00:45:19.940
 you.

00:45:21.360 --> 00:45:23.500
 And what he loves, you love.

00:45:24.140 --> 00:45:26.820
 What he hates, you hate more and more

00:45:26.820 --> 00:45:27.100
 and more.

00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:30.800
 What you lack, you see right here,

00:45:30.920 --> 00:45:32.600
 yoked to Christ, I have it all.

00:45:32.599 --> 00:45:37.860
 In John 13, 34 through 35, Jesus said,

00:45:37.860 --> 00:45:40.300
 just as I have loved you, you are to love

00:45:40.300 --> 00:45:40.880
 one another.

00:45:41.480 --> 00:45:43.579
 And by this, all people will know that

00:45:43.579 --> 00:45:45.660
 you, dear church, are my disciples.

00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:48.079
 If you have love for one another,

00:45:48.700 --> 00:45:50.780
 your little lamp will be burning bright

00:45:50.780 --> 00:45:52.380
 and the weight of the Holy of Holies

00:45:52.380 --> 00:45:53.140
 will be visible.

00:45:53.860 --> 00:45:55.140
 Don't hide that light.

00:45:55.240 --> 00:45:56.740
 Let it shine brightly that the world

00:45:56.740 --> 00:45:59.539
 can see you are ones who I've saved

00:45:59.539 --> 00:46:01.059
 and I put my love in you and you point

00:46:01.059 --> 00:46:03.660
 the way to the only one who can give

00:46:03.659 --> 00:46:06.559
 such love to sinners that have been saved.

00:46:09.279 --> 00:46:11.920
 Never forget, beloved church,

00:46:12.139 --> 00:46:13.940
 what Christ cares most about.

00:46:14.779 --> 00:46:16.239
 And it's that we love him,

00:46:16.980 --> 00:46:18.779
 that we love one another.

00:46:21.819 --> 00:46:25.279
 Christ's heart never wonders from his church.

00:46:26.299 --> 00:46:28.699
 His love never runs out.

00:46:30.359 --> 00:46:32.839
 He loved you until the end of his death

00:46:32.840 --> 00:46:34.700
 on the cross and he loves you

00:46:34.700 --> 00:46:36.579
 until the very end

00:46:36.579 --> 00:46:37.980
 and into all eternity.

00:46:39.640 --> 00:46:41.500
 Praise the Lord of love.

00:46:43.059 --> 00:46:44.700
 We're going to sing this in a moment.

00:46:44.860 --> 00:46:46.760
 Crown him the Lord of love.

00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:49.019
 Behold his hands inside,

00:46:49.480 --> 00:46:51.900
 rich wounds yet visible above,

00:46:52.340 --> 00:46:53.700
 in beauty glorified.

00:46:54.360 --> 00:46:56.000
 All hail, Redeemer, hail,

00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:58.120
 for thou hast died for me.

00:46:59.019 --> 00:47:01.620
 Thy praise and glory shall not fail

00:47:01.619 --> 00:47:03.480
 throughout eternity.

00:47:05.359 --> 00:47:07.359
 We welcome the discipline

00:47:07.359 --> 00:47:09.039
 of our loving Christ.

00:47:09.659 --> 00:47:11.139
 He is so near to his church

00:47:11.139 --> 00:47:14.339
 and he is so worthy of our love.

00:47:15.359 --> 00:47:16.920
 And we do have the promise

00:47:16.920 --> 00:47:17.920
 as a congregation,

00:47:18.400 --> 00:47:19.319
 by God's help,

00:47:19.819 --> 00:47:22.559
 that as long as his love remains in us,

00:47:23.420 --> 00:47:24.980
 the lamp of this congregation

00:47:24.980 --> 00:47:25.940
 will never go out

00:47:25.940 --> 00:47:27.179
 because he is the one

00:47:27.179 --> 00:47:29.019
 who holds his church.

00:47:30.419 --> 00:47:32.019
 And he who rescued us

00:47:32.019 --> 00:47:33.519
 from our sin

00:47:33.519 --> 00:47:35.379
 because he is love,

00:47:35.739 --> 00:47:37.219
 he is the same one

00:47:37.219 --> 00:47:38.719
 who disciples us

00:47:38.719 --> 00:47:41.159
 because he is love.

00:47:41.719 --> 00:47:43.379
 Praise this God we have.

00:47:45.039 --> 00:47:46.139
 Would you pray with me?

00:47:46.139 --> 00:47:55.900
 Lord, our love for you

00:47:55.900 --> 00:47:57.579
 and for yours,

00:47:57.859 --> 00:47:59.779
 it is so prone to wonder.

00:48:02.299 --> 00:48:03.739
 But Father, we put our eyes

00:48:03.739 --> 00:48:04.639
 back on Christ.

00:48:04.799 --> 00:48:06.579
 We see him ministering to us

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:09.159
 and we see how you rescued us

00:48:09.159 --> 00:48:10.359
 from sin and danger,

00:48:11.139 --> 00:48:12.199
 how we are purchased

00:48:12.199 --> 00:48:13.859
 by your blood.

00:48:13.860 --> 00:48:16.180
 And we ask, Lord,

00:48:16.240 --> 00:48:16.940
 that by your help

00:48:16.940 --> 00:48:18.039
 we will walk on earth

00:48:18.039 --> 00:48:18.900
 as a stranger

00:48:18.900 --> 00:48:20.980
 because we are sons

00:48:20.980 --> 00:48:22.240
 and heirs of God

00:48:22.240 --> 00:48:22.780
 in heaven.

00:48:24.980 --> 00:48:25.420
 Amen.

00:48:27.300 --> 00:48:28.160
 Take some time

00:48:28.160 --> 00:48:29.559
 to reflect on the gospel

00:48:29.559 --> 00:48:30.400
 that you have heard.

00:48:31.960 --> 00:48:33.539
 Let the Lord stir back up

00:48:33.539 --> 00:48:34.320
 your love for him.