WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.620
 Ah, good. Thank you. I will, uh, is the volume okay for you? Good, good. Appreciate everybody

00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:20.359
 showing up on a pretty hot night, but I trust it was a worthwhile time as we worship the Lord and

00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:28.500
 as we go into his word together. Our passage tonight is Revelation 2, verses 8 through 11,

00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:37.539
 nestled in between the passages that were read earlier this evening, page 1029 in your few Bibles.

00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:45.060
 I'd encourage you to look at it and keep it open before you. We'll be referring to the text back and

00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:53.400
 forth, and I think it'll be helpful to keep your focus on the scriptures there. This is the second

00:00:53.399 --> 00:01:00.759
 of the letters of the Apostle John to the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:10.980
 Verse 8, and to the angel of the church in Smyrna write the words of the first and the last who died

00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:21.459
 and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich, and the slander of those

00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:29.159
 who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about

00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:37.319
 to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,

00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:47.379
 and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown

00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:56.759
 of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers

00:01:56.759 --> 00:02:09.400
 will not be hurt by the second death. Hope. I think this passage is about hope. One of my father's

00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:17.219
 friends used to say, you can live for 40 days without food, four days without water, four

00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:26.479
 minutes without oxygen, and four seconds without hope. Well, I'm not sure that's true, but it does make

00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:36.819
 a good way to start the sermon. But we all need hope. Tonight, I want to explore with you seven reasons

00:02:36.819 --> 00:02:46.879
 which I find in this passage which give us solid foundation to have a hope, especially if we're

00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:56.460
 facing difficult times. Let's just pray, shall we? Fathers, we're here tonight. Our minds have been

00:02:56.460 --> 00:03:04.859
 busy with many things. Our bodies are kind of hot and somewhat uncomfortable. But Father, I pray that

00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:14.259
 you would clear our minds, cool our bodies, and allow us to hear your voice this evening. Father,

00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:22.859
 I pray that it not be my voice that we hear, but the word of the Spirit, taking your word and applying it to

00:03:22.859 --> 00:03:32.280
 our individual lives. So be our teacher this evening, we pray. In our Lord Jesus' name, amen.

00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:41.919
 Now, this brief letter is addressed to the church in Smyrna. Well, first we need to ask, what do we know about

00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:49.399
 that city? Well, we know it was 35 miles north of Ephesus in Turkey, and it was right on the Aegean

00:03:49.399 --> 00:03:58.599
 coast. It was the main seat of emperor worship for that whole area. And on the coast is a coastal city,

00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:06.119
 and a large city. It was probably about 200,000 population. It was a beautiful place.

00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:15.620
 And there was a lot of anti-Christian movement there in Smyrna. But we really don't know much

00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:22.879
 else about the city. What do we know about the church that this letter addresses? Well, here again,

00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:29.680
 we don't know very much. It's not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. So all that we know is really

00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:38.120
 what we pick up in the context of the letter that we've read. We can observe that of the seven churches

00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:45.019
 addressed in these letters, Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only two that weren't criticized.

00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:50.540
 They were apparently doing things well.

00:04:50.540 --> 00:05:00.600
 Well, the church, it seems, is in some way in conflict with those who identified themselves

00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:08.860
 with the Jewish community. And there was a lot of bitter strife going on between those who were Jews

00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:14.240
 in the synagogue and the Christians. The Jews apparently were slandering the Christians, presumably,

00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:21.800
 to get them in trouble with the Roman authorities. And in light of that, the church was entering a time

00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:29.500
 of suffering. For some, it would mean imprisonment. And for some, it would mean death. So even though

00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:38.920
 the church seemed to be doing well in many ways, it was facing a time of great suffering. And they needed

00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:47.379
 encouragement. And that is what I believe John is giving to them in this letter. So we want to look at seven

00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:55.580
 different reasons, I find, to be encouraged and have hope, even in the face of oncoming suffering.

00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:02.500
 Reason one, did you notice, who is this letter addressed to? It's interesting, isn't it?

00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:13.740
 To the angel of the church of Smyrna. Now, angel means messenger or sent one. Now, we really don't know

00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:22.800
 whether this meant human leadership or whether it meant supernatural powers that were over the church,

00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:31.920
 in other words, angels. We do know that they were in God's hand. And if you'll recall what we read

00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:40.220
 in Revelation chapter 1, where Jesus is standing amidst the lampstands, which are symbols of his

00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:48.600
 churches, he's holding seven stars in his hands. And it says, those are the angels of the seven churches.

00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:58.200
 So we do know that whether the leadership spoken here is human or supernatural, they were being held

00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:05.560
 in God's hands. And you know, that's a great reason to be encouraged, isn't it? To realize that God,

00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:11.500
 the Lord Jesus, is holding the leadership of his church in his hands.

00:07:14.899 --> 00:07:22.000
 Second reason for hope that I find here, you'll notice the letter contains the words of he

00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:30.319
 who is the first and the last. You may notice as we go through these letters each week,

00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:37.779
 that each of the seven letters singles out one of the characteristics of Jesus as he's presented to

00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:46.319
 us in chapter 1. So here he is spoken of as the first and the last who died and is alive forevermore.

00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:54.719
 Obviously, the apostle John felt that these particular characteristics of Jesus were very relevant to

00:07:54.719 --> 00:08:01.939
 the church in Smyrna. So we need to explore why. What does it mean that he's the first and the last?

00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:08.899
 Elsewhere in the book of Revelation, we read that he is the alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet,

00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:16.699
 and the omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet. He goes from the beginning to the end.

00:08:18.419 --> 00:08:30.319
 Now, it's hard for our human minds to grasp, but God does not move through time the way we do.

00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:41.159
 For me, this moment is now, and now it's now. And what I said five seconds ago will never be repeated.

00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:57.100
 I am moving down a timeline, and I am stuck in time. God, however, is not moving through time the way we do.

00:08:57.100 --> 00:09:04.899
 Now, let's think of that in a few other passages. Remember in the book of Exodus, where God appeared to Moses

00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:18.940
 in a burning bush? Moses said, well, who do I tell people you are? And God says, I am who I am.

00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:26.820
 Present tense. I am the one who exists simply because I exist, and I exist in the present tense.

00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:35.200
 Or one of my favorite psalms is Psalm 90. And Psalm 90, the second verse, says,

00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:43.180
 from everlasting to everlasting, from time eternally past to time eternally future,

00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:48.139
 you are, present tense, God.

00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:54.899
 Isaiah says it in such a wonderful way. If you look at the King James Version,

00:09:55.819 --> 00:10:05.759
 he speaks of the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity. Most of us have no trouble thinking of God

00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:16.720
 present geographically in all places at one time. But God inhabits eternity. If we think of the timeline

00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:25.240
 that we are moving through from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. You are the first,

00:10:25.660 --> 00:10:33.399
 you are the last, you are the alpha, you are the omega. And Jesus captured it so clearly

00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:51.240
 where he says, before Abraham was, I am. Before Abraham was, I am. So Jesus is the first and the last.

00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:58.899
 Now, I've thought about this for years. My little brain still doesn't grasp it all.

00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:08.860
 But I think it's true. And the implication of this is that even while I am stuck in time,

00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:17.919
 even while I am moving from moment to moment, God sees the end result.

00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:31.279
 The one who inhabits eternity looks at the end process. Now, I find that great reason for hope,

00:11:31.439 --> 00:11:34.819
 because God knows the end.

00:11:37.819 --> 00:11:44.799
 Our third reason for hope is that he is the one who died and was raised again from the dead.

00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:53.099
 All of the difficulties we go through in life, I think, when we stop and think about it,

00:11:53.539 --> 00:12:03.159
 are really trumped by the fact that Jesus died and rose again. It makes our problems seem pretty

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:10.359
 insignificant and gives us great reason for hope. Now, over the years, it's been my job

00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:19.659
 to deliver a lot of bad news to patients. I'm a physician who practices geriatrics. And end-of-life

00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:27.879
 care is kind of where I spend my time. And people tend to come to the end of life, at the end of life.

00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:36.060
 And we geriatricians sign a lot of death certificates and see a lot of people die.

00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:43.919
 And many times we have to tell them their life's coming to an end, that they're soon going to die.

00:12:45.219 --> 00:12:52.619
 And I have had the privilege over many years of taking care of a lot of people of deep faith.

00:12:53.459 --> 00:12:57.500
 In my particular practice, probably 70% of my patients were believers.

00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:08.860
 And honestly, it made such a difference in almost every case when you told someone who was a believer

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:14.179
 who believed that Jesus died and rose again, that they were going to die,

00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:17.480
 and someone who did not have that foundation for hope.

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:25.100
 So there is hope in knowing that Jesus died and rose again.

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.759
 Recall what Paul says in Romans 8,

00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:34.639
 He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all,

00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:41.460
 how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:45.980
 If our hope is that Jesus died and rose again,

00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:54.100
 we can have confidence that God will continue to pour his goodness into our lives.

00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:56.920
 And in that, we have hope.

00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:04.519
 The fourth reason I think we have hope is, recall, you'll see in our passage,

00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:07.680
 he knows our tribulation.

00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:12.779
 Jesus knows what we are facing at this moment.

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:17.199
 Now, it's hardly a big tribulation, but it's hot in here.

00:14:18.239 --> 00:14:19.759
 Jesus knows it's hot in here.

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.839
 He feels with us.

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:27.579
 And he knows whatever our tribulations are.

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:32.779
 He is not an uncaring, distant God.

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:37.779
 He knows that even while we may have many spiritual blessings,

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:40.480
 John said, and yet you are rich,

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:44.259
 some of us really live in poverty.

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:47.139
 And Jesus knows that.

00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:49.720
 Our poverty does not escape him.

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:58.419
 He also knows the other struggles that we face in this world

00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:01.919
 where we face much opposition.

00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:05.879
 So we've had four reasons for hope,

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.919
 which are grounded in this letter.

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:11.779
 First, God sent one to lead the church,

00:15:12.339 --> 00:15:14.519
 who he holds in his right hand.

00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.979
 He is the first and the last.

00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:18.419
 He's the beginning and the end.

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.779
 He's the one who died and is alive again.

00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:27.539
 And he is well aware of what's going on in our lives.

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:32.319
 Solid reasons for hope.

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:37.220
 Now, we have to ask,

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:42.199
 is that hope enough when we're facing really tough times,

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:48.159
 when we know that suffering, imprisonment, and death may be coming?

00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:53.740
 And that's where John moves in the next section of this letter.

00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:02.159
 I think we will see that even though suffering will come,

00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:07.519
 God is in control and has placed a limit on it.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.379
 When we see difficulties coming,

00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:15.759
 and the people in the Church of Smyrna saw difficulties coming,

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.679
 one question we have to ask is,

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.580
 who is responsible for the suffering that's coming?

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.819
 A legitimate question.

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.860
 Before we get into that answer, though,

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.860
 I would like to observe that first,

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.399
 who is not responsible?

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.899
 There's no hint in this letter at all

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:39.759
 that the Church of Smyrna had done anything

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.580
 to merit their suffering.

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:45.139
 The suffering we're talking about in this passage

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:48.400
 is not a punishment for their sin.

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.520
 They are not responsible.

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:51.960
 So who is?

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.540
 Well, I'd like to show you

00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:59.700
 that there are three different responsible parties

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.660
 to their suffering.

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:04.660
 And this is true, I think,

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:08.440
 in many cases of suffering today.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:10.279
 On one level,

00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:13.100
 it would come because of the slander

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:14.640
 brought against the Christians,

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.080
 presumably to the Roman authorities,

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.360
 by, as it said,

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:22.259
 certain Jews who are not Jews.

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.640
 Now, what does that mean?

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.740
 I'm not sure that's totally clear.

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:30.039
 But I tend to agree with the Apostle Paul

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.759
 where in Romans 9,

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:35.140
 he talks about a true Jewish person

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:37.900
 is a child of Abraham by faith,

00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.780
 not by genetics.

00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:44.960
 There were evidently people

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:47.440
 in the synagogue at Smyrna

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.600
 who were working against the Christians

00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:53.440
 who were Jewish by physical descent,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:56.840
 but they were not children of Abraham by faith.

00:17:57.320 --> 00:17:58.380
 Therefore, John says,

00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.780
 they're not really true Jews.

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:07.639
 These were the ones who you could say,

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.759
 yeah, those guys,

00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.359
 they're responsible for the suffering that's to come.

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:14.839
 But I think there's another level here

00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:16.940
 which the passage makes very clear,

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.660
 and that is,

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:23.539
 they were motivated and driven by Satan himself.

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:27.559
 The suffering that was coming

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:31.019
 was an act of Satan to do that.

00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:34.500
 Now, we know that Satan is active and powerful.

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:37.480
 We read in 1 Peter 5,

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:40.220
 be sober-minded, be watchful.

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.099
 Your adversary, the devil,

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.299
 prowls around like a roaring lion,

00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.259
 seeking someone to devour.

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.779
 Satan is powerful.

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.240
 He's clever.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:54.680
 He has great ability to destroy Christians.

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.900
 But the second thing we need to keep in mind

00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:01.039
 is Satan has been defeated.

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.940
 In his death,

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.259
 Jesus assured that Satan would never succeed.

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.960
 He was doomed.

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.359
 So in Hebrews 2, we read

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.779
 that through death,

00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:15.460
 he might destroy the one who has the power of death,

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.240
 that is, the devil.

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:20.480
 Now, am I talking out of both sides of my mouth here?

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:22.099
 Well, maybe I am.

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:25.259
 But I think there's good reason for it.

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:28.000
 How can we say that Satan is defeated

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.140
 and yet at the same time

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:32.039
 talk about him having so much power?

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.700
 A little hard to explain.

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.960
 But over the years,

00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:39.259
 I've come to realize

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:42.019
 that the best analogy I can come up with

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.319
 is back in World War II.

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:46.960
 I think every historian of World War II,

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:50.779
 would say that Hitler was defeated and doomed

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:54.920
 as soon as the Allies landed at Normandy at D-Day.

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:59.279
 The end of the story was told.

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:03.019
 But it took another whole year

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:05.620
 of hard fighting,

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:08.759
 marching through the fields of the lowlands,

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:10.579
 through France and into Germany,

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:14.339
 before Hitler would finally surrender.

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.879
 He was doomed at D-Day.

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:20.679
 He was finally defeated a year later.

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.399
 And perhaps that's a little bit of analogy

00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:25.519
 of how Satan is today.

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.879
 He was doomed at the cross,

00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:31.159
 but his final defeat is yet to come.

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.619
 And in the meantime,

00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:35.460
 we are still waging that war.

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:40.200
 So there's two levels of responsibility.

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:43.920
 One, the Jews who were slandering the Christians.

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:47.440
 Two, Satan who was working through them.

00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:49.620
 But there's a third level here

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:51.500
 that I think we have to realize.

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.400
 And that is,

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:55.180
 who controls Satan?

00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:59.900
 And I would propose that we see in this text

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:02.360
 that it is God that controls Satan.

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:06.860
 And God is ultimately in control.

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.480
 But why do I say that?

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:11.100
 First, note how it talks of

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:13.420
 this suffering is a test.

00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.620
 Tests come from God.

00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:18.980
 God wants to test his people,

00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:20.560
 not to make us fail,

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:23.019
 but primarily to show us

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:25.720
 that by his grace we will succeed.

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:29.039
 First Peter 4 says,

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.639
 Beloved, do not be surprised

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.660
 at the fiery trial

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.740
 when it comes upon you

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.619
 to test you

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:35.440
 as though something strange

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.440
 were happening to you.

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.480
 But rejoice insofar

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.099
 as you share Christ's suffering

00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:42.359
 that you may also rejoice

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.759
 and be glad

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:46.180
 when his glory is revealed.

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:49.119
 The second reason I see

00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:51.200
 Satan is controlled by God

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.900
 is where it says

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.100
 that the suffering

00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:55.480
 will be strictly limited

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:57.080
 to ten days.

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:59.620
 Satan does not have

00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:01.320
 unlimited authority.

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.900
 Now we see that oftentimes

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.600
 through scripture.

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.500
 Remember the book of Job.

00:22:07.060 --> 00:22:09.420
 God allowed Satan to test Job

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:11.740
 but put very strict restrictions

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:13.840
 on how much he could do.

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:18.420
 Last winter you were studying

00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.580
 through the book of Samuel

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:21.659
 in the service.

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.159
 Do you remember how

00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:24.879
 it spoke of Saul

00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:26.439
 being afflicted

00:22:26.439 --> 00:22:29.139
 by an unholy spirit

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:30.579
 sent by the Lord?

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:33.199
 Very interesting.

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.720
 How many of you can think of

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.359
 any time

00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:40.299
 when Jesus was on earth

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:42.240
 and was commanding

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.199
 demonic presence

00:22:44.199 --> 00:22:46.179
 to exercising

00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:47.259
 a demonic presence

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.920
 from someone

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.400
 from someone who's possessed

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.000
 by a demon?

00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.539
 Do you ever remember

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.940
 the demon saying,

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:52.940
 no sir,

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.920
 I don't think I will leave now sir,

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.460
 thank you.

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.720
 I think I'll just stay here.

00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:58.500
 No.

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.920
 Jesus had full control

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.420
 over those demonic presences.

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.099
 In the book of 1 Corinthians,

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.920
 Paul tells them

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.220
 to deal with a man

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.519
 who's been living in sin

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.879
 and says,

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.079
 deliver this man

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.079
 over to Satan

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:16.119
 for the destruction

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.960
 of the flesh

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.180
 so that his spirit

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.539
 may be saved.

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.639
 He's giving Satan

00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.559
 the job

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.319
 to eventually end up

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.319
 in this man's salvation.

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.059
 Or Paul spoke

00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:32.619
 of his thorn in the flesh

00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:34.059
 as a quote,

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.799
 messenger of Satan.

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.379
 And what was the result

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.339
 of that messenger

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.099
 of Satan?

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:43.500
 that he would

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:47.619
 grow in his own

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:49.099
 dependence on God,

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.740
 recognize his weakness,

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.939
 and that his strength

00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:53.259
 was actually in his weakness.

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:56.179
 So in all of these examples,

00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.419
 I think we see

00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:59.319
 God using Satan

00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.399
 to accomplish

00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.559
 his ultimate purpose.

00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:05.159
 So we have great courage

00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.500
 from 1 John

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.240
 when it says,

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.939
 he who is in you

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.120
 is greater

00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:11.299
 than he

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.360
 who is in the world.

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.900
 And God

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:15.460
 equips his people

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:17.320
 with the ability

00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:18.600
 to counter

00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:19.840
 the efforts

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:20.360
 of Satan.

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.779
 So our fifth reason

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.400
 for hope

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.519
 is God

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.220
 is ultimately

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.059
 in control.

00:24:26.820 --> 00:24:27.120
 Satan

00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:27.960
 does not

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:29.380
 have absolute sway.

00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.860
 Now we move

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:34.019
 outside of this passage

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.600
 into its larger context

00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:36.920
 for our next two reasons

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.519
 for hope.

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:40.519
 But I had them read,

00:24:40.800 --> 00:24:41.120
 Kelly,

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.580
 read Revelation 1

00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.660
 to remember

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:46.320
 that beautiful picture

00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:47.200
 of Jesus

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.200
 standing among

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.120
 his church,

00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:51.820
 the lampstands,

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.620
 holding the angel

00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:54.279
 of the church,

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.960
 the stars in his hand,

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.840
 and this beautiful,

00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:58.860
 powerful,

00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:00.940
 loving Savior

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:03.380
 is where the church

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.280
 begins.

00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.400
 Great reason

00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:06.960
 for hope.

00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:09.180
 And where is the church

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.620
 going?

00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.780
 Revelation 4,

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.120
 Revelation 5,

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.820
 where the believers

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.960
 from all the ages

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.720
 are gathered around

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.380
 the throne

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:19.880
 worshipping

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:21.320
 God

00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:23.080
 and the Lord Jesus.

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.420
 That's where we're going.

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:26.980
 Now,

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.480
 it's fascinating

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.340
 that between

00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.619
 where we start

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:32.699
 and where we end

00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:34.859
 are these seven churches

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:38.220
 not always presenting

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.980
 a very encouraging picture.

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.899
 Some of them

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:42.980
 beset by Satan,

00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.419
 some of them

00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:44.879
 suffering,

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.399
 some of them

00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.859
 losing their first love,

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.059
 some of them

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.139
 growing cold.

00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:52.259
 Not a real

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.279
 nice picture.

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.980
 But when you see

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.159
 where it comes from,

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.220
 where you see

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.960
 where the church

00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.560
 is going,

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.840
 there's great reason

00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:03.259
 for hope.

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.600
 So,

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.680
 I think we have

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.380
 seven reasons

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.620
 in this passage

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.400
 for hope,

00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.900
 even as we face

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.580
 the difficulties

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.200
 in life.

00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.100
 God specifically

00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:14.040
 sends his leaders

00:26:14.040 --> 00:26:15.300
 to be over his church.

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.259
 Jesus is the first

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.019
 and the last.

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.940
 He sees the end result.

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.779
 Jesus died

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.820
 and rose again.

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.380
 Jesus knows

00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.019
 our struggles

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.640
 in life.

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.900
 Satan,

00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:27.759
 though our enemy,

00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.400
 is limited

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.720
 and controlled

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.380
 by God.

00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:31.500
 Jesus,

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.780
 in all his glory,

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.520
 stands among

00:26:33.520 --> 00:26:34.100
 his churches

00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:35.800
 and the destiny

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.480
 of the church

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.940
 will be fulfilled

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:39.240
 as we stand

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.680
 around his throne

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.259
 in glory.

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.420
 So,

00:26:42.520 --> 00:26:43.140
 in light of these

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:44.000
 seven reasons

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.800
 for hope,

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.960
 how should we respond?

00:26:47.820 --> 00:26:48.460
 John gives us

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.240
 two ways.

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.480
 First,

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.620
 be faithful,

00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:53.000
 press on

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.060
 to the end.

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.700
 be faithful

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.019
 unto death.

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.659
 And second,

00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.700
 he who has an ear,

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.220
 let him hear.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.399
 We are to listen

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:05.139
 to what the Spirit

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:06.019
 of God says.

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.299
 We are to be

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.839
 in the Scriptures.

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.819
 We are to be

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.659
 in the public

00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:10.859
 preaching of the Word.

00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:12.359
 We are to be

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.019
 enmeshed

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.740
 in the Word of God,

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.940
 listening to it

00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:17.339
 and obeying it.

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.619
 That is our response

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.839
 to hope.

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:23.279
 How does God respond?

00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.399
 Well,

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:24.919
 we are given

00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:25.699
 two ways.

00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.799
 First,

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.899
 he gives

00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:29.240
 the crown of life

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.439
 to those

00:27:30.439 --> 00:27:31.199
 who persevere.

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.839
 And second,

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.319
 he protects us

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.559
 from the second death,

00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.799
 which is

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.000
 eternal separation

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.819
 from God,

00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:40.159
 his love

00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:41.159
 and goodness.

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.220
 Remind us

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.959
 that there are

00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.819
 two options,

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.299
 eternal life

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.240
 in God's presence

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:49.279
 or eternal death

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.640
 of separation

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.620
 from him.

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.400
 Fifteen hundred

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.440
 years earlier,

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.980
 Moses wrote,

00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.400
 I call heaven

00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:57.779
 and earth

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.359
 to witness

00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.420
 against you today

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.539
 that I have

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.799
 set before you

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:03.700
 life and death,

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.440
 blessing and curse.

00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:07.900
 Therefore,

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.400
 choose life.

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.920
 Jesus,

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.240
 the one who stands

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.319
 among his churches,

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.740
 the one who died

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:17.039
 and rose again,

00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.059
 the one who is

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:18.640
 in control

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.539
 of all things

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.359
 of this life,

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.940
 even the really

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.240
 difficult things,

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:25.720
 offers eternal life.

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.500
 If we reject

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.420
 his offer,

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.779
 the default

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.599
 will be

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:32.099
 the second death.

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.579
 It's a choice

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:35.059
 we all must make.

00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.500
 And when we have

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.539
 choose life,

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.400
 we have every reason

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.599
 for hope.

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:43.000
 Let's pray.

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.099
 Amen.

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:46.519
 Father,

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:48.079
 as we look

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.879
 at our lives,

00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:50.619
 we struggle

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.459
 at times.

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.259
 Father,

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.519
 Satan is active

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.480
 in our lives.

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.519
 The difficulties

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.539
 of this world

00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:00.879
 can be overwhelming

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.819
 at times.

00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.659
 But Lord,

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.639
 we are grateful

00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:06.159
 that you give us

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:07.019
 great reason

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.639
 for hope.

00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:10.539
 Father,

00:29:10.719 --> 00:29:11.139
 I pray

00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:11.740
 that we would

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.120
 each be encouraged.

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.820
 For those of us

00:29:14.820 --> 00:29:15.800
 who have chosen

00:29:15.800 --> 00:29:16.420
 life,

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.140
 listen to your word

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.940
 and obey it.

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.240
 Father,

00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:21.120
 we have the hope

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:22.200
 of eternal future.

00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:24.040
 Father,

00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.920
 for those who have

00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.680
 never really

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.780
 come to that point

00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:28.000
 and have never

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.980
 really chosen

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.100
 to follow you,

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.900
 they have the hope

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:33.140
 that we share

00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:34.440
 if they would only

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.420
 make that choice.

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:37.380
 So we thank you

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.840
 for the hope

00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.600
 that we have

00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.899
 and pray that

00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.379
 we would be

00:29:41.379 --> 00:29:42.279
 faithful to it.

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:44.119
 We pray this

00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:45.039
 for our own good

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.779
 and for your glory.

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:47.959
 Amen.

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.960
 the three months ago now.