WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.379 It's really good to have it. Can you believe it's only week four that we're here? 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:11.820 It feels like a lifetime ago, but God is doing something. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:20.519 ! If you've been with us on this journey, we've been going through, we decided just to kick the stabilizers off and start with the end in mind. 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:23.080 So we're starting this thing and we're going to start in Revelation. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:23.960 So that's what we did. 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:28.660 We just went straight to Revelation just to figure out what it is that Jesus talks about. 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:33.159 When he's talking to the church, I can see Danny. I always like seeing Danny. 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:40.679 Fresh trim, bro. Nice. Look at that. Nice. Are you going to get it finished later today? 00:00:42.259 --> 00:00:46.519 Oh, no. Sorry. I too had a fresh trim last night. I do. 00:00:47.900 --> 00:00:54.079 Thank you, Joe, for the bold jokes. Every week, every week. So creative. So creative. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:58.579 Revelation. We're going through the seven churches. 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:03.339 Actually, the experts say if you want people to remember something, you need to say it seven times. 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:07.459 Only then will they remember it. Only then will they log it in and remember what you're actually saying. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:12.299 So each of these seven letters, I'm going to keep recapping bits just to help us remember. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.319 If you've been here from weeks one to seven, then I'm sorry. 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:19.739 But for the rest of us, and some of us are new here, and that's completely okay. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.699 We're talking about Jesus talking to the church. 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:28.419 He's talking to the seven churches, and he's saying, listen up. 00:01:29.419 --> 00:01:33.119 I see you. I know you. I walk among you. 00:01:33.219 --> 00:01:35.079 And this is what I have to say. 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:38.679 Church, don't we want to know what Jesus has to say to his church? 00:01:39.139 --> 00:01:42.299 And I keep saying, hey, this isn't a memorial service. 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:48.539 So often when we go to church, it's almost like we're walking into a memorial service about a guy called Jesus. 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:51.379 We're acting as though he's not alive anymore. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:56.439 We're acting as though he existed 2,000 years ago, that he was a good, nice guy, that he had great testimonies. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:58.400 And there's people who come up and share different things. 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:01.420 And there's a photo collage video to show how good he was. 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:03.599 But it's not the case. 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:06.840 Jesus is alive and walking right now. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:08.639 Do you believe that, though? 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:11.019 That's the question. Do you believe that? 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:13.740 That's what we're trying to remind ourselves here. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:16.159 And then so he writes and he speaks. 00:02:16.380 --> 00:02:19.320 John writes on behalf of Jesus and talks to us. 00:02:19.900 --> 00:02:20.740 Talks to the church. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:24.840 And he introduces this Jesus, which is nothing like the one we see in Sunday school. 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:27.920 He's not blonde like Grace. 00:02:28.100 --> 00:02:30.120 He's not got blue eyes like the ones we see. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:32.760 This is a terrifying image of Jesus. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:33.860 And it challenged me. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.480 It's like, actually, the Jesus that I think I know. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:43.179 That Jesus that bobbles his head saying yes to things when we ask him, hey, can you help us get better? 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:43.919 Can you help? 00:02:44.019 --> 00:02:44.979 Can you protect us from COVID? 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.819 Can you help us get that deal at work? 00:02:47.179 --> 00:02:49.060 And then Jesus is like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:50.359 That's not Jesus. 00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:52.299 I just got dizzy doing that. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:55.560 Jesus is different. 00:02:56.519 --> 00:03:00.139 Jesus will blow your mind if we care to know who he actually is. 00:03:01.019 --> 00:03:03.219 And that's what we've been challenging ourselves to go through. 00:03:03.399 --> 00:03:04.719 Quick quiz for those who have been here. 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:06.979 So Jesus speaks to the churches. 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:07.779 He speaks to seven. 00:03:07.859 --> 00:03:08.500 We've done two. 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:09.619 Who remembers the first one? 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:11.919 Ephesus. 00:03:12.579 --> 00:03:16.299 Ephesus, great church, a star church, does everything right. 00:03:16.359 --> 00:03:17.339 He says, I know your works. 00:03:17.399 --> 00:03:18.000 I know your toil. 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:19.119 I know your patient endurance. 00:03:19.339 --> 00:03:21.119 I know how you are enduring patiently. 00:03:21.839 --> 00:03:24.859 But, but, but I have this against you. 00:03:24.859 --> 00:03:26.699 What does he have against the church in Ephesus? 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:29.679 Lost their first love. 00:03:30.459 --> 00:03:33.399 That means you're an eight star pupil, but you've forgotten the name of the class. 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:37.959 You're great at doing what you do, but you're doing it for all the wrong reasons. 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:39.639 And what's the, what's the threat? 00:03:39.859 --> 00:03:41.679 What's, what's the, what's the consequence of that? 00:03:43.139 --> 00:03:45.439 He said, I'll come to you and I'll remove your lampstand from his place. 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:47.199 He said, I will shut you down. 00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:48.219 I don't need you. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:54.179 If there's ever a reminder that God doesn't need the church to do stuff, that is it. 00:03:55.339 --> 00:03:57.339 He doesn't need the church's actions. 00:03:57.519 --> 00:03:58.819 He needs the church's heart. 00:04:00.139 --> 00:04:01.679 And then we move on. 00:04:01.779 --> 00:04:03.679 He goes 30, 40 miles up. 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:07.419 The messenger goes from Ephesus and goes up to the next place, which was last week. 00:04:07.799 --> 00:04:08.439 What was that place? 00:04:09.579 --> 00:04:09.939 Smyrna. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:15.779 Smyrna is an interesting one because it gets away with any kind of criticism, nothing. 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:22.220 And so he's just like, Hey, here are the words of those who, the one who is the first and 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:24.100 the last, the one who died and is now alive. 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:26.279 And he's saying, I know the stuff that you're going through. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:27.500 You're being thrown into prison. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:34.759 And Jesus here introduces the main villain of the history of mankind, who is Satan, the 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:35.000 devil. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:38.100 He said, behold, the devil's about to throw some of you into prison. 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:42.320 And for 10 days, you will have tribulation, but that you may be tested. 00:04:43.320 --> 00:04:44.379 They're getting their faith tested. 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:47.920 This was a group that was getting constantly, they were poor as well. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.500 So they had, they were running businesses, but the Christians in Smyrna were poor because 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:54.759 everyone else was discriminating against them. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:57.939 And Jesus says, I know, but then he doesn't give relief. 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:03.340 He says, be faithful unto death and I'll give you the crown of life. 00:05:03.520 --> 00:05:06.819 So the one who conquers, they will not be hurt by the second death. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:10.460 He's saying, Hey, I know things are tough. 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:14.420 I know you want me to relieve you of this, but it's not happening right now. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:16.139 I want you to be faithful unto death. 00:05:16.139 --> 00:05:19.959 And when we say, we finished with, why does he have the authority to say that? 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:24.240 It's because he was faithful unto death, even than death on the cross. 00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:27.219 And then when he rose again, all our authority was given to him. 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:29.680 And so he can say that I'll give you the crown of life. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:32.240 And so now we reached letter three. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:36.419 Now imagine this messenger, he's going up and he's reading this letter to the different 00:05:36.419 --> 00:05:36.839 churches. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:38.459 And now you're the next churches. 00:05:38.539 --> 00:05:39.639 This is the church of Pergamum. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:42.360 So actually likely you would have probably heard the other two. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:43.899 You're like, Oh, Ephesus. 00:05:44.099 --> 00:05:45.860 Oh, you've lost your first love. 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:48.100 Oh, you guys sucks to be you. 00:05:48.460 --> 00:05:49.500 You might get shut down. 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:52.180 And then you go to, and then you hear about the Smyrna one. 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:54.180 Oh, those guys are getting thrown into prison. 00:05:54.460 --> 00:05:54.939 That's bad. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:56.280 Oh, you're going to stick it out. 00:05:56.340 --> 00:05:56.939 Even if you die. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:58.879 Oh, but there's a second death. 00:05:58.980 --> 00:05:59.740 Oh, that's interesting. 00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:01.020 That's cool. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:02.319 You won't be hurt by the second death. 00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:04.000 That's the one that we should be scared of. 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:08.759 We're all going to have the first death, but the second one, how do we conquer so that 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:10.000 we don't get hurt by the second one? 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.920 The one that separates us from God eternally. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:16.199 And now he reaches Pergamum. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:20.180 And as we read this, I'm going to ask Gabriel to come up to read this for us. 00:06:21.019 --> 00:06:21.980 Again, the same thing. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:25.060 I want you just to imagine that you are the church in Pergamum. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:29.899 That you're sat there and you're hearing these words from Jesus himself. 00:06:29.899 --> 00:06:34.199 And I want you to feel what they feel. 00:06:34.459 --> 00:06:35.839 And that's what we're going to unpack today. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:38.219 So can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord? 00:06:48.359 --> 00:06:51.179 And to the angel of the church in Pergamum, right? 00:06:51.799 --> 00:06:54.879 The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:58.339 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:04.479 Yet you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas, 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.779 my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 00:07:09.359 --> 00:07:11.379 But I have a few things against you. 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:16.739 You have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling 00:07:16.739 --> 00:07:21.739 block before the sons of Israel so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice 00:07:21.739 --> 00:07:22.859 sexual immorality. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.819 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:28.980 Therefore, repent. 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:34.560 If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:39.060 He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:44.399 To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:49.339 stone with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives 00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:49.539 it. 00:07:50.039 --> 00:07:50.980 This is the word of the Lord. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:52.360 Praise be to God. 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:53.980 Thank you, Gabriel. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:54.639 Please take a seat. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:54.699 Thank you. 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:54.699 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:54.699 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:54.699 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:54.699 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:54.759 Thank you. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.759 00:07:54.759 --> 00:08:06.899 So the angel of the church in Pergamum writes the words of he who holds the sharp two-edged 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:07.219 sword. 00:08:08.599 --> 00:08:08.759 Okay. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.319 So Ephesus gets a different thing. 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:17.680 He gets, they get the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:18.939 among the seven golden lampstands. 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:22.399 He's saying, I am the one who is with you. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:23.579 I'm walking among you. 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:24.459 That's what, that's Ephesus. 00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:26.239 That's how he introduces himself to Ephesus. 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:32.699 To Smyrna, he says the words of the first and the last, the one who died and came to 00:08:32.699 --> 00:08:32.860 life. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:36.840 Remember I told you Smyrna was a city that died, was destroyed and then came to life. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.579 They were, they were very fascinated with games, athletic games. 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:45.680 And so they first, and they proud, proud, pride in themselves as the first city of Asia. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:49.160 So Jesus introduces himself like that. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:54.580 Imagine if someone introduces himself to you and say, Hey, the words of him who holds the 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:55.639 sharp two-edged sword. 00:08:57.960 --> 00:08:59.379 That should freak you out a little bit. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:03.720 That means Jesus has changed his tone a little bit with this church. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:08.379 They were just about to get, Oh, the, the God who, the God who is going to come and come 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:08.540 for you. 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:08.820 No, no, no. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:13.060 I am the words of him who holds a sharp two-edged sword. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:16.420 If you're the church in Pergamum, you're like, uh-oh. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:21.620 Interestingly about Pergamum, it's a, it's a, it's a city again. 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:25.620 Actually, it was the official capital of Asia Minor at the time. 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:31.720 And the symbol of the city was a sword because in this city, they were allowed to, uh, deliver 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:32.639 capital punishment. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:36.940 So if someone had done a crime that was deserving of this, they could actually kill someone. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.220 So the logo, the symbol of the city was the sword. 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:41.399 Jesus knows this. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:45.039 And he says, the words of him who holds the sharp two-edged sword. 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:51.220 And then he says, in the words of kind of like Liam Neeson in Taken, I know where you 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:51.480 live. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.940 Just stop there for a second. 00:09:54.940 --> 00:09:55.680 Let's just pause. 00:09:55.820 --> 00:10:00.860 This guy, Jesus introduces himself as the words of him who holds the sharp two-edged sword. 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:02.900 I know where you dwell. 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:07.640 That should strike the fear of God into your heart. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:10.060 The question is why? 00:10:10.660 --> 00:10:11.600 The question is why? 00:10:11.700 --> 00:10:12.820 What is it about this city? 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.680 What is about this church that's interesting? 00:10:15.040 --> 00:10:18.400 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. 00:10:19.280 --> 00:10:22.080 The enemy is now introduced again to this church. 00:10:22.540 --> 00:10:23.940 This is where Satan rules. 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:30.200 Jesus acknowledges and concedes that in this place, Satan is having his way. 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:33.879 That's scary. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.140 And I'll tell you a little bit more about why that is. 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:41.360 Not only was it political capital, it was also the capital of emperor worship. 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.700 They had so many temples in Pergamum. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:44.400 So many. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:57.059 Pergamum was on the top of the hill. 00:10:57.059 --> 00:10:59.259 And on the top of the hill, there were all these other temples. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.240 And Zeus was a main one. 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:04.919 There was another one called Asclepius, which is actually the god of healing. 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:09.940 The people who worshiped this one, it's fascinating and terrifying at the same time. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:12.759 So they believed this god would heal people. 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:19.139 And so there would be a temple where there would actually be tame, harmless snakes inside the temple. 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:23.759 And inside this temple, people from all over the world who had different kinds of sickness. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:26.899 Imagine you have a sickness that you can't heal, that your doctor can't heal. 00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:28.720 So you go to this temple. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:31.199 And what you do is you spend the night there. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.179 And you spend the night in the complete darkness with all these tame snakes around you. 00:11:35.699 --> 00:11:38.220 And you would wait and hope for a snake to touch you. 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.840 In the hope that if the snake touched you, you would get healed. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.860 Isn't that fascinating? 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.259 Isn't that terrifying? 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:50.080 If you look, if you look at the, who's heard of the World Health Organization? 00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:50.860 WHO. 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:54.200 We used to get lots of memos from them during COVID times, right? 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:55.660 And now we don't care who they are. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:56.440 WHO. 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:58.160 Look at their logo. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:00.300 Their logo is a staff. 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.300 And what's around it? 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:02.700 Snakes. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.160 Where Satan's throne is. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:08.280 People would pursue healing. 00:12:08.280 --> 00:12:10.920 Would pursue the touch of the serpent. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.460 To be healed. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.280 Where Satan's throne is. 00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:22.720 But, Church of Pergamum, you hold fast my name. 00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:25.120 You did not deny my faith. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:30.759 In this city with all these other gods, this pluralistic society, you did not deny my name. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.320 When everyone is collecting gods like they collect Pokemon cards right now, 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.900 you are holding fast to my name. 00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:40.100 That's like, that's good. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:44.040 The man with the sharp two-edged sword is not angry yet. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:50.320 He said, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, you stuck to it. 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.080 Who's Antipas? 00:12:51.920 --> 00:12:54.320 Tradition says Antipas is probably one of the leaders of the church. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.759 Probably the pastor of this church in Pergamum. 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.480 And he was killed. 00:12:57.540 --> 00:12:59.220 And he said, and he was killed among you. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.259 Can you imagine just where this congregation is right now? 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:06.120 You're in a city that's filled with all these other gods. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.019 Your own pastor gets dragged away and gets killed. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:15.500 Historians tell us Antipas got killed by being boiled alive in a big bronze kettle. 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:17.460 I don't know, guys. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:18.960 I was thinking about this yesterday. 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.480 There's a few of us who pray here. 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.919 I was like, what if I died? 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.220 What if I got hit by a bus? 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:24.799 I mean, I'd prefer not to be bored in a kettle. 00:13:25.219 --> 00:13:28.120 But what if I was dragged away and I was killed? 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.859 How would it make you feel now? 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:31.879 Some of you are visitors here. 00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:33.120 You're like, I don't know you, James. 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:35.819 So I guess I don't know how I'd feel. 00:13:39.099 --> 00:13:40.779 Francis is just like, oh, who's going to get your shoes? 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.039 Imagine that. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:47.919 Your leader's gone. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.399 Dragged away. 00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:50.359 In public. 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:50.959 Persecuted. 00:13:51.099 --> 00:13:51.319 Killed. 00:13:52.959 --> 00:13:54.500 The fear that you would have at that moment. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:58.419 And Jesus says, I know that you hold fast my name, that you did not deny my faith. 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:02.139 Even in the days of Antipas, you held on. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.759 That's good. 00:14:04.859 --> 00:14:09.019 And then he says, yet I have a few things against you. 00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:11.199 Ephesus has only got one. 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.359 Now it was a big one. 00:14:12.599 --> 00:14:14.599 It was a major in the driving test failure. 00:14:14.859 --> 00:14:15.359 It's a major. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.419 He says, I have a few things against you, Pergamum. 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:21.120 What are those few things? 00:14:21.859 --> 00:14:22.740 Let me read it to you. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:26.860 If you're taking notes or you're following, we are now on verse 14. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.799 But I have a few things against you. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.240 You have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:38.180 block before the sons of Israel so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice 00:14:38.180 --> 00:14:39.299 sexual immorality. 00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:44.959 So also you have, you hold some, some of you hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans and actually 00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:48.039 both groups here for all intents and purposes, they did the same thing. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:56.120 This church is living against a lot of persecution, a lot of pressure, and it's deciding I'm going 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.620 to trust in Jesus and nothing else. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.799 So I'm not going to worship all these other gods. 00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:07.240 But whilst they were keeping look on the outside, they'd let something in through the back door. 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:10.340 Have you watched Troy, the Brad Pitt movie? 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.379 Who's watched Troy, the Brad Pitt movie? 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.460 Who's old enough to watch Troy? 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:18.360 Well, actually, there's probably one even older than that, but the Brad Pitt one is the one 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.039 that I grew up with. 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:22.759 The Trojan horse is how it gets in right. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:27.620 And so basically he's saying this church has let in a Trojan horse. 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:32.019 You've been so busy fighting the enemy on their front, you've let something in through the back 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.220 door. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:36.580 So whilst you're holding fast my name, even if your pastor is getting killed through the back 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.899 door, there are some of you here. 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:40.779 There are some of you, maybe it's this couch here. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.899 Maybe it's that back row over there. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:50.480 Some of you here hold to the teaching that isn't of me. 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:51.840 Now, what is that? 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:56.519 Now, those of you who are well-versed in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:59.660 Numbers, who's well-versed in the book of Numbers here? 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.840 Yeah, hands going up everywhere. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:07.360 Numbers 22 to 24 is where this happens. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:11.300 There's a king of the Moabites, he's called Balak, and he's hearing about the Israelites. 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.940 He's hearing about what they're doing. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.580 They're conquering city by city, and he's getting a little bit freaked out. 00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:17.600 So he hires a sorcerer. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:20.680 Hey, can you put a curse on these Israelites? 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.679 But the sorcerer Balak can't do it. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.959 He's stopped from doing it. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:26.019 And read the story. 00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:26.579 It's fascinating. 00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:29.939 He's stopped from doing it, and he's stopped in the most hilarious of ways. 00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:31.039 A donkey is involved. 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.919 I'm just going to leave it there. 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.019 A donkey is involved. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.339 A talking donkey is involved. 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:36.879 And it's not Shrek, okay? 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:40.779 And so Balak doesn't know what to do. 00:16:40.859 --> 00:16:43.279 He says, King, I can't put a curse on these people. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.360 But I'll tell you what I'll do. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.039 I'll tell you what you should do. 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:49.980 Instead of conquering over them, you should just corrupt them. 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:54.539 Instead of conquering over them, you should corrupt them from within. 00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:58.279 Get them to start practicing sexual immorality. 00:16:58.699 --> 00:17:01.100 Get them to start compromising on some of their beliefs. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:06.180 Get them to compromise on some of the things that they had to hold to, to remain a holy people. 00:17:06.820 --> 00:17:09.940 You can't beat them, but you can corrupt them from within. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.039 That's what he's saying. 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.120 He's saying, some of you have held to that teaching. 00:17:15.340 --> 00:17:16.160 And what were they doing? 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.680 Two things. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.820 It says two things here. 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:21.720 They're practicing sexual immorality, and they're eating food sacrificed to idols. 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:25.080 Okay, we know those are bad things. 00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:26.560 But I want to tell you how bad they were. 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.340 Now, you see, Paul talks about this. 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.279 He's talked about it. 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:34.420 He's saying, hey, if there's food that you're picking in the supermarket, you're buying it from there, 00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:37.140 don't worry too much about everything that's happened before. 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.460 It's okay. 00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:40.660 But that wasn't what they were doing. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:45.160 They weren't accidentally buying food sacrificed to idols at the supermarket in Welcome or Infusion. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.580 They weren't doing that. 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:54.740 What they were doing were attending banquets in the temples of these other gods and eating food there in the temples. 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:58.440 So it wasn't just innocently eating food that was sacrificed to idols. 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.720 They were doing it as an act of worship or at least joining in with the crowd to do it. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:05.980 Can you imagine a city where there's so many different gods and so many different celebrations? 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:09.180 I mean, we've had loads of fundraising dinners in Hong Kong right now, so they're not quite the same. 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:15.579 But imagine all these banquets and dinners and gatherings organized by all these different people who are worshiping all these different gods. 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:19.380 And so the Christians are starting to think, oh, well, I'm getting invited to these things. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:23.420 Hey, actually, I know I shouldn't go to that because I follow Jesus. 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:27.839 But there's some people there I really need to get to know. 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:31.180 Because if I get to know them, then they'll help me with my business and then I'll be okay. 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.279 And actually, that person's okay. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:35.180 He's like a worship follower of Zeus, but not really. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.519 He's not really a devout one. 00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:39.320 So I'm just going to go and hang out and eat and it's going to be okay. 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:41.180 That's what's happening here. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.140 And there's people who are starting to say, you know what? 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.580 We are followers of Jesus. 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.220 We are free. 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:47.039 We don't have all the laws that the Jews had. 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:49.920 We can do whatever we want to and we'll still be okay. 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:52.980 Because our spirit, our soul is safe. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.259 Which means that whatever we do with our bodies is fair game. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.660 It doesn't matter anymore. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:09.099 So in a church like this where there's lots of persecution happening outside, where to even get to church, they probably have to lose their trail to make sure that no one's following them. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:15.279 Within, there was a couch of people that were starting to follow different ways. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:21.019 But even though they were turning up on Sunday, Saturday night, they were somewhere very, very different. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.980 And Jesus was talking to them. 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:36.359 He's saying, you've been guarding the front door, but the back door and a little bit of yeast spread through bread can be disastrous. 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:39.839 He's saying, you've got to sort that out. 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:43.779 And again, practicing sexual immorality, again, this is not good anyway. 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:50.460 But they were doing it in the temples as an act of worship with prostitutes. 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:53.799 So this wasn't just something that you were just doing with your body. 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:55.079 Your soul was getting involved. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:00.279 Now, Jesus then comes out with a pretty harsh thing. 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:03.339 This is literally like a, why so serious, Jesus? 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:05.019 Like, why so serious? 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:08.240 Actually, the stuff that we're doing, we're not worshiping them. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.920 We're not harming anyone else. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.519 It's all consensual. 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:15.200 We're not going out to hurt people. 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:16.619 We're not murdering any people. 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.740 We're not stealing from other people. 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.619 We're just attending a couple banquets. 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.099 We're just hanging out. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:23.940 And maybe those people are doing bad stuff, but I'm not. 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.220 Have we been there? 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.119 Have we had those kinds of things? 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.299 We should have friends. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:34.400 So going in university in England, there's a huge culture of clubbing. 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.599 Do you guys call it clubbing here? 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.079 Is that a thing? 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.639 It was partying, whatever it would be, clubbing. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:42.460 And personally, I didn't go because I can't dance. 00:20:43.080 --> 00:20:45.180 Well, I can dance, just no one likes the way I dance. 00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:48.340 Show us. 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.720 You really don't want to. 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.380 But usually people pay for that kind of stuff. 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:55.220 So I never went. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:21:01.120 And then, of course, as a warm-blooded young male, I'm like, actually, I know that place 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.320 isn't really good for me. 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.360 And so I don't go. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:06.200 But then I had my bros, my friends, who are Christians, who are Christ followers. 00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:07.020 Oh, that's cool. 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.280 That's cool. 00:21:07.340 --> 00:21:07.640 We go. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.800 It's completely okay. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.060 We're not doing any of the bad stuff. 00:21:10.280 --> 00:21:15.040 Or my favorite one, we're here to really share the gospel and help those who are drunk 00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:15.820 to look after them. 00:21:17.060 --> 00:21:18.220 That's a cool story, bro. 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:19.460 That's a really cool story. 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.340 How did it go? 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.799 Oh, I don't remember. 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.500 I don't remember. 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.659 But we all made it happen. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.319 Oh, okay. 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:25.679 Wow. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.059 Jesus was really glorified in you doing that. 00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:28.879 Really, really cool. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:30.879 Compromises. 00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.079 Compromises. 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:39.259 Boyfriend, girlfriend who just meet each other and then suddenly engage in relations that 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.119 they're not really supposed to. 00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:44.480 That's something that's just preserved, reserved for two people who are fully committed to each 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:44.659 other. 00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:48.159 Oh, we both agreed it's okay. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.980 Just try it's not hurting anyone else. 00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:52.880 But you're separating the body from the soul again. 00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:56.279 There's something about it that's together. 00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.980 Don't compromise on those things. 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.540 And people have said, oh, Christianity. 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:10.180 Christianity has such a strict, low view of sex in the sense that you're not allowed to 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.200 enjoy it or anything. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.059 No, no, no. 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.539 Here's the thing. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:17.740 Christianity actually has a very, very, very, very high view of sex, of how beautiful it 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.099 can be. 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:22.740 There's a high bar, not a low floor that we're trying to avoid. 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:25.700 But so often we minimize it to sin management. 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:28.500 We minimize it to, oh, what can I not do? 00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:31.839 When it's, what could it be? 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.420 There's a difference there. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.519 And so you don't compromise. 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.380 And Jesus is so serious. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.859 Why so serious, Jesus? 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:44.380 Why are you coming to us with your sharp two-edged sword and telling us you know where we live? 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:48.580 It's because Jesus hates one thing and he hates slavery. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:51.660 He hates his children being in slavery. 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:58.320 It's not the sin necessarily, but he knows what you're doing right now is keeping you 00:22:58.320 --> 00:23:01.060 locked in a cage and he hates that. 00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:08.820 But then we now live in a society where, and I'm praying for the grace of God to cover us 00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:10.040 here as I share this. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:14.779 We're living in a society where we have to be tolerant about anything and everything. 00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:20.759 But did you notice that the fruits of the Spirit, you don't see the word tolerance? 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:25.180 You see understanding, you see grace, you see patience in the Bible. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.359 You see love, you see truth. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:31.899 You don't see tolerance because tolerance is different. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:39.319 When you tolerate something that keeps someone in captivity, that's not good. 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:41.799 That's why Jesus is so serious. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:44.379 That's why he's, and he's saying, I will come to you. 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:48.279 I mean, I think the NIV is quickly, ESV is, I will come to you soon. 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:50.839 This needs to be addressed right now. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:53.740 And I'll come to you and I'll war against them. 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:57.019 Now, interesting here, when he's talking to the church, he's not talking to everyone. 00:23:57.099 --> 00:24:00.379 He's saying, he's not saying, I'm going to come to you and I'm going to tear you apart 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:01.420 with my sharp two-edged sword. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:04.379 He said, I will come to you soon and I will war against them. 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:08.839 He knows it's a small group that's doing this. 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:13.679 And he's saying, I'm going to come to that and I'm going to war against them with the 00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:17.259 sword in my mouth because they've compromised. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:21.619 But the only problem is they think they're not hurting anyone else. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.899 But by doing so, they've compromised the whole thing. 00:24:25.699 --> 00:24:30.079 Because you let, Pergamon was a fascinating place. 00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:37.259 This capital, it had a library, a huge library that had 200,000 parchments. 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:40.500 It was a, do you know when you walk into a library or a bookstore? 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:42.500 I like walking, I'm not a very learned kind of person. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:44.220 I'm not a really educated, smart kind of person. 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:48.220 But when I walk into a bookstore or a library, I feel more educated. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:48.859 Do you? 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:52.460 Because you're just like, if you just walk into ES Light, I walk through ES Light because 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:54.359 there's a bubble tea inside in Causeway Bay. 00:24:54.359 --> 00:25:01.419 But even as I walk through, I'm like, oh, there is, there is intellect surrounding me. 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:05.459 And by osmosis, it's going to diffuse into my mind. 00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:10.339 Simply by me being here, sipping this bubble tea, I will get more smart. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.379 Can you imagine just walking into these libraries? 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.939 I mean, maybe my favorite one is probably the New York one, right? 00:25:15.979 --> 00:25:18.799 The New York one is just majestic and it's just huge. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:23.279 And you walk in, you're like, there is something here that is just bigger than me. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.579 That's what that does to me. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.940 So this city was a city filled with these ideas. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:33.799 And what we see here, why Jesus is being so serious, why he's warring here is because he 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:35.680 knows the battle is in the mind. 00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:45.599 He knows if you solve this, if you take this captive, then a lot of problems will be solved. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:48.259 You will then no longer compromise. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.639 So that's why he's so serious. 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:56.899 His problem wasn't the fact that this church was in Pergamum. 00:25:58.419 --> 00:26:00.539 Because we're called to be in this world, but not of this world. 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:03.599 His problem was the fact that there was too much Pergamum in the church. 00:26:05.959 --> 00:26:08.259 Let me translate that for us here in Hong Kong. 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:13.000 Have you ever wondered, we talked about last week about the pressures of Hong Kong. 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:20.460 Some of the things that aren't really of God that we've let seep into our, the way we do church, the way we do life. 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:25.319 Jesus is saying, the problem isn't that this church is in Hong Kong. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.180 The problem isn't that this church is in Anmolte. 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:30.259 The problem is there is too much of Hong Kong in this church. 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:36.839 That you've let society dictate how you live for me. 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.920 That's what he's saying. 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:41.920 I mean, what are the things, if you can think, what are the things that you've observed? 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:45.539 There are many of us here, many of us who have been in church for many, many years. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:52.000 What are some of the things that you think that you see so much of in the world that seep into the way we do church? 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.700 Do you have any ideas? 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.480 Have a think. 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.740 I might put some people on the spot. 00:26:55.840 --> 00:26:59.160 What do you see that there is too much of the world in the church sometimes? 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:02.920 Maybe you don't have to say specifically this one, but just the church in general. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:07.180 What do you see in the church that actually shouldn't be there, but is actually of the world? 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:11.279 Consumerism. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.279 Consumerism. 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:19.259 Joe mentioned what I said about, hey, so often we come to church, we attend a service, and we are the spectators. 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.980 We are the fans. 00:27:21.340 --> 00:27:22.779 But that's not the case. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:28.779 If you come thinking that you're just a fan just to watch this service, then you've got it the wrong way around. 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:29.700 I'm not the player here. 00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.140 You guys are the players. 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:39.460 My job is to help coach you so you actually recognize and acknowledge and realize that you are the players, that you are the ones that must scatter. 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:46.300 Because if you come here and you're just here just to watch a show, then we've got it all the wrong way around. 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.759 But consumerism, huge one. 00:27:48.759 --> 00:28:00.660 And especially when you're in a place like Hong Kong where there are so many churches on every MTR line, the moment you don't like one or the moment your schedule doesn't fit one, you're like, okay, it's okay. 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.579 I'm just going to go to the other one. 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:05.559 And then you just keep hopping around because you're just going to watch games. 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:08.099 You're just a spectator. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:08.700 You're just a fan. 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:11.900 So absolutely, consumerism. 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:13.279 What are the other ones? 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:17.279 Entitlement. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.359 Entitlement. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.440 That's a huge one. 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:24.980 What can your pastor, what can my pastor do for me? 00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:27.059 What can church do for me? 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:30.220 What can Jesus do for me? 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:32.079 I'm going to come in here. 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.819 Jesus, I need you to help me fix this. 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:36.379 I need a boyfriend fast. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.319 I need a job fast. 00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.940 I need a way of life. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:44.279 Now, Jesus, can you, what? 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.519 You're not doing this for me? 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:49.299 You're not helping me deal with this anger and this hurt? 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.400 Oh, I'm leaving. 00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.160 Find somewhere else. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.240 I'm entitled to all this. 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.620 I deserve all this. 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.519 You see, that's the problem. 00:28:58.420 --> 00:29:00.759 The gospel is that we all fall short of the glory of God. 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.039 That we don't deserve anything. 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:04.600 That while we were sinners, he loved us. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.240 Entitlement. 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.200 We've let it seep in. 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:09.480 That we walk in, we're like, oh, what can this church do for me? 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:11.460 Entitlement, huge. 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.400 Consumerism, entitlement. 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:12.980 One more, maybe? 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.380 Anything? 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.039 Gossip. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:25.460 I don't come to church because you Christians are just as bad, if not worse, than those of us outside. 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.279 Have you heard that before? 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:31.639 I don't believe in God because, man, you guys gossip so much. 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:36.119 Paul has really harsh words to say about this. 00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:39.539 But we let it seep in. 00:29:40.979 --> 00:29:42.059 We let it seep in. 00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:43.059 We whisper. 00:29:43.179 --> 00:29:43.519 We talk. 00:29:46.179 --> 00:29:46.579 Compromise. 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:49.979 Jesus says to the church in Pergamum, don't compromise. 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.859 Otherwise, I'm coming to you soon. 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:52.719 Quickly. 00:29:53.419 --> 00:29:54.799 And I'm going to war against you. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:58.440 What have we compromised? 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.839 What have we let seep into? 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:06.859 Well, let's zoom back in, away from church and just you. 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.940 What have you compromised? 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:11.500 You're placed in this world, but not out of this world. 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.940 You're placed in this city, but not out of this city. 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:16.680 But what of the city is in you? 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:22.400 And the city is saturated with everything. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:27.900 We were praying there just earlier before service and you were saying, we want to just be desperate for God. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:30.120 We want to be hungry for God. 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:33.360 And I've shared this a lot of times with the people I'm around. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:35.840 I'm rarely ever hungry in Hong Kong. 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.240 Full stop. 00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:39.860 Are you? 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:46.279 Like every meeting we have is we're going to go eat something and drink something. 00:30:46.919 --> 00:30:48.619 My doctor says my cholesterol is high, by the way. 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.299 That's a confession. 00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:51.099 And my blood sugar. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:54.359 So my 冬奶茶 is now 酒甜, not 宿甜. 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.539 That sucks. 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.740 Right? 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.159 It sucks. 00:30:57.979 --> 00:31:01.259 I'm never hungry in Hong Kong because all the people I meet, I'm eating something. 00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:04.939 There's like five meals, five legitimate meals a day that you can justify. 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:08.500 And I realize that's the same with God. 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:11.519 I'm so saturated with everything. 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:14.500 I'm so saturated with all the adverts I see on the MTR. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:18.460 I'm not hungry for the only thing that will satisfy me. 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.720 You know what Jesus is saying here? 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:22.779 Jesus is saying here, you guys are snacking so much on the side. 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.900 You are not ready for the big banquet. 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.900 You're snacking. 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.619 My daughter has this problem. 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.839 My daughter loves snacking. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:35.019 I'm saying it quietly because I'm quite scared of her. 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:38.879 All the time she's snacking. 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.339 We have a rule. 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.619 After 4 p.m., no snacks. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:40.940 Why? 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:42.480 Because it ruins your appetite for dinner. 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.420 That's exactly what Jesus is saying. 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:47.980 You guys have compromised and you're constantly snacking. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:50.740 All this junk food that isn't good for you, you think it's good for you. 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:52.480 And now you're not even ready for the big banquet. 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.740 Now you're not even invited. 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:57.960 You have to be hungry for this banquet in order to come in. 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.620 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.180 Who's snacking here? 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:08.539 Who's snacking here in the things of this world, in the things of this city here? 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.960 John, are you snacking? 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.420 Sorry, I always pick on John. 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.759 He's literally just come out. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:20.220 John, so good to have Tobes back, right? 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.900 Tobes, he's done such a great job. 00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.640 Without, seriously, seriously. 00:32:23.780 --> 00:32:24.840 But it's really good to have you back. 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.900 He's much better with you around. 00:32:29.300 --> 00:32:30.160 What are we snacking? 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:33.820 And then he says, he who, I mean, he says this in everyone. 00:32:34.040 --> 00:32:38.100 So he who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 00:32:38.320 --> 00:32:39.519 Here he turns to us. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:41.360 Like, yeah, he's writing to the church in Pergamum. 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:46.660 And now he's saying, anyone who hears these words, anyone who hears these words, 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.960 let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:51.120 That, brothers and sisters, is us. 00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:56.140 That's why I actually deliberately go out of my way and not putting slides up so you can just kind of like, 00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:56.920 feed me. 00:32:57.120 --> 00:33:00.360 Let me, no, we need to actively listen out for God. 00:33:03.300 --> 00:33:05.320 So he says, he who has ears. 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:09.240 So whoever, whichever of you here heard what Gabriel was reading, 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:13.360 let him hear, let her hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:17.960 Let him hear, her hear what the Spirit is saying to each of us. 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:20.920 What have we compromised on? 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:23.779 He who has ears, let him hear. 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:26.200 Now, to the one who conquers. 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.840 He always finishes with an encouragement. 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:32.960 I mean, this, Jesus does something that's very good in terms of constructive feedback. 00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:35.860 It's called a certain sandwich in certain quarters. 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:38.140 But it's called a poop sandwich, right? 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:41.000 You've got the good stuff, and then you've got the bad stuff, and then you've got the good stuff at the end. 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:46.259 So this is, so he always finishes off with this, and he says, to the one who conquers. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:51.519 Like, yeah, I might come to you soon and war against you, but to the one who is able to overcome this, 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.160 this time he gives them two promises. 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:57.420 He says, I have a few things against you, but now I have two promises to give you. 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.880 And so that's cool. 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.559 And that's nice. 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:02.279 So this is how he finishes well. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:06.000 And so he said, to the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna. 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:08.219 They will have known what this is. 00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:11.899 We know what this is, because in the Old Testament, you see the Israelites in the desert. 00:34:12.879 --> 00:34:14.659 In the desert with no food. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.319 Hungry. 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.439 And then what happens? 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:21.419 Honeybread falls from the sky. 00:34:22.439 --> 00:34:24.059 I don't want us just to kind of gloss it over. 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:25.000 Oh, yes. 00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:26.759 Yeah, I've heard that in a movie somewhere. 00:34:26.879 --> 00:34:29.599 No, this is the word of God, and this is what happened. 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.779 Imagine you were there. 00:34:30.839 --> 00:34:31.539 You are starving. 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.699 You have children. 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:34.519 You don't know where the children are going to eat. 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:36.699 You're beloved. 00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:38.539 You don't know whether they're going to survive tomorrow. 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:41.539 And boom, there's honey bread that falls from the sky. 00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:46.019 What does that tell you about God in that moment? 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:50.960 That he breaks through the natural, and he can feed you if he wants to. 00:34:53.119 --> 00:35:00.019 He's saying, to the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna, the secret bread of life. 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:03.380 What he's saying is here is, you don't have to go to these banquets anymore. 00:35:03.759 --> 00:35:09.659 You don't have to attend these celebrations that your friends invite you to, because you think you need to do this in order to climb up in society. 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.000 You don't have to do all those things. 00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:14.599 You don't have to compromise, because I am all you need. 00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:17.880 I am all you need. 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:21.000 So stop compromising. 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:25.679 If you eat of my bread, you will truly be satisfied. 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:32.980 And then he says, and I will also give him a white stone with your name written on it. 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:36.599 Now, there's about nine interpretations of what this is. 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:40.679 But let me just sum them up into what I think it symbolizes at the least. 00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:43.859 It symbolizes access and intimacy. 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:50.940 He's saying, hey, I will give you a white stone with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. 00:35:51.339 --> 00:35:58.379 Now, in those days, in these ancient games, if there was a winner, if you were a medalist in the 100-meter race, or whatever it is, a little shot put. 00:35:58.859 --> 00:36:00.000 You just look like a shot put guy. 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:01.000 Yes, shot put guy. 00:36:02.399 --> 00:36:06.179 Or just, you know, whatever ballerina stuff that Joe does. 00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:11.099 If you win, then you often get a little stone. 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.699 Like a medal. 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:17.879 And what's special about this medal is that you get invited to big banquets. 00:36:18.859 --> 00:36:22.319 And you can show that medal and go, hey, I'm a gold medal winner. 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:27.559 And with your name written on it, you can actually gain access to some of these special dinners. 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:31.920 So there's an access element to this. 00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:36.299 If you conquer this, I will give you access to everything that you need. 00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:41.900 You don't need to go to the things that you think you're going to to get the access into society that you think you need. 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.559 I will give it to you. 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:46.559 I have the ultimate coupon. 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:50.179 Another interpretation is one of intimacy. 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.779 I mean, we've seen this maybe growing up. 00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:55.660 You have two friends who want to commit to each other and you buy each other a bracelet. 00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:59.920 Or you have a stone that's kind of like the half-half and you write a name on each side. 00:37:00.120 --> 00:37:01.100 And you give it to each other. 00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:02.440 Oh, I remember that. 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:05.700 You're like, there's an intimacy there. 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:08.320 And it's a name that only the one who perceives it knows. 00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:11.680 He's saying, I'll give you access. 00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:13.740 And I'll give you intimacy. 00:37:14.540 --> 00:37:16.200 The intimacy that you so crave. 00:37:17.100 --> 00:37:19.680 Why are you bowing down to all these idols anyways? 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:20.760 Because you want intimacy. 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:24.440 Because you're looking for a place to feel truly satisfied. 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:26.040 To be accepted and loved. 00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:29.660 Let me tell you, I'm going to give you a stone that only you and I will know. 00:37:32.060 --> 00:37:34.360 To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. 00:37:35.140 --> 00:37:37.300 I'll give him a white stone with a new name written on it. 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.500 That's what Jesus promises. 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.940 Access and intimacy. 00:37:43.140 --> 00:37:43.320 Why? 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:46.020 Because he's saying, I'm the door. 00:37:47.040 --> 00:37:48.080 I am the door. 00:37:48.560 --> 00:37:49.620 I am the way. 00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.820 I am the destination. 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:53.620 I am what you need. 00:37:53.700 --> 00:37:55.100 I am the bread of life. 00:37:56.520 --> 00:37:59.940 I laid my life down so you could have this way in here. 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.640 So that you would be invited to the great banquet. 00:38:03.040 --> 00:38:04.580 Do not, do not snack. 00:38:06.340 --> 00:38:07.760 Not because I hate snacks. 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:10.340 I created the snacks. 00:38:10.540 --> 00:38:13.540 The pleasure that you get from eating those things comes from me. 00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:19.860 What you don't realize is that you will be so much more satisfied when you eat those snacks. 00:38:20.360 --> 00:38:23.220 I mean, I used to work in McDonald's, so I feel as though I'm entitled to say this. 00:38:24.680 --> 00:38:27.360 I mean, my joke is always, I worked in McDonald's and now I work in KFC. 00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:29.960 No, dad jokes. 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:30.540 Yeah. 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:31.960 Thank you, everyone. 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:32.679 I'm here all week. 00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:37.940 I used to work in McDonald's, so I still love McDonald's. 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:41.139 Though now my doctor's report tells me that I shouldn't eat as much McDonald's. 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:47.259 But you eat McDonald's and that first 10 minutes is so satisfying. 00:38:48.180 --> 00:38:51.340 But do you realize you just get hungry so quickly afterwards when you eat McDonald's? 00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:55.220 And you just get so thirsty because that's when you drink more Coca-Cola or milk tea in my case. 00:38:55.700 --> 00:38:56.720 And it just keeps going. 00:38:58.660 --> 00:39:01.720 So, then now I kind of want McDonald's for lunch. 00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:05.180 But anyway, that's what he's saying. 00:39:06.260 --> 00:39:09.940 You're so busy snacking on these things that in that one moment it's satisfying. 00:39:10.040 --> 00:39:11.880 But you know in two minutes time it's not good. 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.380 You'll never be satisfied by this. 00:39:15.060 --> 00:39:15.880 Come to the banquet. 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:17.260 There is surf and turf. 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:20.099 There are nine rounds of all this kind of food. 00:39:20.180 --> 00:39:21.400 And you will be truly satisfied. 00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:23.180 And it is never ending. 00:39:24.700 --> 00:39:25.579 Don't ruin it. 00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:27.700 You're fighting so hard. 00:39:28.260 --> 00:39:29.420 You're fighting so hard. 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:33.980 Don't let the other stuff creep in through the back door. 00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.180 That's what he's saying. 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.900 Don't compromise. 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.500 Don't settle. 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:41.800 He offers freedom from slavery. 00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.380 Do you recognize that? 00:39:43.900 --> 00:39:44.740 Do you believe that? 00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:51.879 Do you believe that this God that we worship, that we serve, that we've come to see and meet can give you that? 00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:54.200 I hope so. 00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:56.660 I hope I do. 00:39:57.099 --> 00:39:59.140 And it's a reminder every day that I need to do that. 00:40:00.640 --> 00:40:03.360 I'm going to invite the worship team up now. 00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:05.500 And if you're new to church, this is something that we do. 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:07.059 I don't want you to listen. 00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:09.480 I don't want you to listen and be filled with this. 00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:13.300 Oh, that's kind of good or kind of boring and I'm a little bit sleepy or a little bit hungry. 00:40:14.920 --> 00:40:17.260 I want you to respond. 00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:21.840 I invite you to go, actually, God, I heard your message. 00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:23.840 Was that for me? 00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:25.960 Which part of it was for me? 00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:28.740 What do I have to surrender? 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:30.840 What did I let through the back door? 00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:40.900 What thought, what mind am I holding when I'm doing certain things, when I'm chasing certain things? 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:43.220 What of the city have I let into my church? 00:40:43.800 --> 00:40:45.680 What of the world have I let into my own life? 00:40:45.679 --> 00:40:50.539 I think it's a valid message for us as followers of Christ. 00:40:51.839 --> 00:40:53.359 Let's not let that Trojan horse in. 00:40:54.339 --> 00:40:57.859 And let's respond and let us humble ourselves before him. 00:40:58.899 --> 00:41:00.079 I'll tell you one last thing, though. 00:41:00.799 --> 00:41:07.659 If you're holding something that you know that you've compromised on and you're like, man, this one hurts. 00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:10.000 This is warm in here. 00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:14.179 If you're that, I only want to tell you one thing. 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:18.879 But Jesus is a God and King of truth. 00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:20.440 He hates slavery. 00:41:20.879 --> 00:41:22.599 But he's also filled with grace and mercy. 00:41:23.799 --> 00:41:28.599 In the book of Hebrews, it says, let us approach his throne with confidence. 00:41:30.139 --> 00:41:31.079 With confidence. 00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:35.839 This throne, this Jesus that we see that introduces himself here, who's far and above. 00:41:37.139 --> 00:41:42.399 This throne he's on, we can approach knowing that grace and mercy awaits us. 00:41:43.059 --> 00:41:43.779 You know what that means? 00:41:43.780 --> 00:41:46.080 Grace and mercy are Christian-y kind of words. 00:41:46.560 --> 00:41:48.900 Grace and mercy simply means you can come as you are. 00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:52.040 You can come as you are. 00:41:53.540 --> 00:41:55.560 You don't deserve it and that's completely okay. 00:41:55.740 --> 00:41:56.920 That is the point. 00:41:58.860 --> 00:41:59.620 So would you come? 00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:04.900 And would you ask him to take what you've held on to? 00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:07.780 That snack that you've held on to for so long. 00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:09.579 And give it to him. 00:42:10.300 --> 00:42:11.940 And let him give you some hidden manna. 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:16.639 And the white stone that will give you the access and intimacy that you truly need. 00:42:17.660 --> 00:42:18.320 Can I pray for you? 00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:21.240 Lord, as we respond. 00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:28.379 Holy Spirit, I know that you can speak far, far, far better than anything that I can say. 00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:35.240 So we give this space for you now just to speak to each of us. 00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:38.300 We know that you walk among us. 00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:42.019 We don't take that for granted. 00:42:42.160 --> 00:42:43.760 We don't treat that lightly in any way. 00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:53.580 And that profound tension of being filled with fear of you. 00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:55.360 Reverent awe of you. 00:42:55.860 --> 00:42:59.280 And also just knowing that you scoop down to our level. 00:43:02.820 --> 00:43:04.820 And you approach us with grace and mercy. 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:10.960 This may be something that we'll never truly understand. 00:43:11.120 --> 00:43:12.360 But we lean into it this morning.