WEBVTT

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 Oh, thanks once again for inviting me to come and be with you this morning.

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 I've heard many great things about Brunsford Evangelical from John, from Graham, and for those who come here.

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 And it's a real joy, and I mean that sincerely, to actually be with you, worshipping God with you this morning.

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 Now, if you've got a Bible, why don't you grab one of these Bibles there?

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 Why don't you turn to Revelation 3?

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 Revelation 3, chapter 7. We're going to read this in a minute or so.

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 But before we do that, I'm sure it has not escaped your attention that right now, Edinburgh is part of the largest arts festival in the world.

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 We have the Edinburgh Fringe on our doorstep right now.

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 You cannot walk down the Royal Mile without getting flyers thrust in your face,

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 and people inviting you to come see improvised sketch comedy, and all sorts of stuff like that.

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 But as you walk down the Royal Mile, it's also very hard to escape your attention the kind of society that we today live in.

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 It's not very hard, when looking at the shows that are on the offer, to see just what this society praises,

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 what this society seeks, what this society desires, what this society affirms.

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 I don't know if this year I'm more aware of it or not, but the posters I've seen up in the Royal Mile and elsewhere in Edinburgh,

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 and the obscenities on these posters seem to have increased over the years.

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 You see, when you look at what the popular shows are at the Fringe today,

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 we become all too aware of the godless society in now which we live.

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 I've seen a few shows on the Fringe, and I can count, I think I've seen two shows

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 that have not included either swearing, nudity, or blasphemy.

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 It's very hard to find a good show that doesn't contain these three things.

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 But as we've seen these shows, as we've seen the different plays on the Fringe,

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 another thing struck me.

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 It's that everyone is desperate to try and find some answers.

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 People are desperate to find out what it is to be human.

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 What is this life really all about?

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 And people are trying to find the answers in the wrong places.

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 I went to see a play this week at the Traverse Theatre,

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 and it was dealing with issues of loneliness,

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 and humans seeking to find some form of connection with other people.

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 But yet they're chasing after that connection completely in the wrong places.

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 And this play offered absolutely no answers.

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 Because, you see, our godless society doesn't have the answers to the big questions

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 that we are seeking to find out.

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 Now, we might think, oh, that's great.

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 As a church, that's fantastic, because we now have the opportunity

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 to step in there and offer the answers we believe we find in Jesus Christ.

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 Great opportunity, and you're absolutely right.

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 We do have lots of opportunities to make Christ known in Edinburgh.

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 The more secular our society becomes,

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 the more opportunity the church has to point people to Christ.

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 But here's my question.

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 As a church,

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 do we not feel

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 like we're just not making that much of an impact upon our city?

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 We have 500,000 people on our doorstep.

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 I know that Charlotte Chapel, last year,

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 we saw about six people come to faith

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 for the whole year.

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 Praise the Lord for every one of these souls

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 that went from death to life,

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 but we want to see more, do we not?

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 We've got half a million people there

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 who are completely lost at this moment.

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 Do we not get tired?

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 People looking at you a bit weird

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 because you believe all this God stuff.

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 Do you not feel tired that people judge you

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 and look at you with disgust

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 because you believe in biblical marriage?

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 Do we not get tired feeling like our voices are not being heard,

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 or when they are heard,

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 they're mocked and ridiculed?

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 Do we not get tired that because

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 we're a church that holds to the Bible's teaching,

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 we're seen to be,

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 at best, irrelevant to society,

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 or at worst, a dangerous threat?

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 Does it not feel like sometimes

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 it's just easier to pack this all in?

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 To stop telling people about Christ

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 just to have that easy, quiet life?

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 I'm tempted by that.

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 And I'm sure many of us today

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 are also tempted by that.

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 Does it not feel like we are just too weak?

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 Too weak to make Christ known in Edinburgh and beyond.

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 So what should we do about this?

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 How should a Bible-centred church

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 in the 21st century Edinburgh

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 respond to our increasingly godless society?

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 What does God have to say about all this?

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 Well, to find out,

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 we're going to look at an ancient letter

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 to an ancient church

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 written in an ancient book.

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 Because we believe that this ancient book,

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 the Bible,

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 is God's living word.

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 That it's just as relevant to us today

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 in 21st century Edinburgh

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 as it was to those in the 1st century.

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 And because what we're experiencing today

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 is not all that different

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 to what the church has experienced

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 over the past 2,000 years.

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 Now, as has already been healthily said

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 throughout this series,

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 the key to the letters in the churches

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 in Revelation

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 is not to pick out which church

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 we are most like,

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 but it's to see

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 what Jesus commends about these churches

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 and what he condemns about these churches,

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 put that together,

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 and we get a bigger picture

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 of what Jesus thinks

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 is a healthy, faithful church.

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 Because after all,

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 the opinion that matters most about church

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 is the head of the church,

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 Jesus Christ.

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 So that mind,

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 go to Revelations 3, verse 7.

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 Before we get to it,

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 I am going to come to this, by the way.

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 But I want to give you

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 a little bit more context first

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 before we come to this, okay?

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 Now this,

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 we've now reached in our series,

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 The Letter to Philadelphia.

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 Now a few things to say

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 about Philadelphia

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 before we read this letter.

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 First of all,

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 Philadelphia is not found

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 in the U.S. of A.

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 and it's not the hometown

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 of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,

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 nor is it a letter

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 written to a cream cheese factory.

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 Philadelphia is actually found

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 in Asia Minor,

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 what we now know today

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 as Turkey.

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 And you can still visit it today.

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 It's got a different name now.

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 It's called Alasihur,

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 I think.

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 Alasihur.

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 Something like that.

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 But you can still visit that

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 on the west coast of Turkey.

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 Now the surrounding area,

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 very fertile,

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 it was renowned for its grapes,

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 for its winemaking,

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 but it was also a city

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 that was known

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 for its pagan festivals.

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 The people of Philadelphia

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 were very much

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 into worshipping gods.

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 They worshipped the gods of Olympus

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 as well as their own local gods.

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 In fact,

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 the nickname for Philadelphia

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 was Little Athens

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 because of their many

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 worships of gods.

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 Now it's to the church

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 of Philadelphia

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 that's written a letter.

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 This letter is written

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 that the Philadelphian church

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 is the youngest

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 of our seven churches

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 and it's perhaps

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 the weakest

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 of our seven churches.

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 If you had a line-up

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 of all seven churches

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 of Philadelphia,

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 all the church of Revelation,

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 sorry,

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 Philadelphia would be

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 the last to get picked.

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 You know,

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 you'd have the more established

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 Ephesian church,

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 probably the team captain

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 with its great work ethic,

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 it doesn't get weary.

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 Then you've got Pergamum

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 with the vice-captain

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 because she has

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 a faithful witness.

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 And then you get down the line,

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 at the end of the line,

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 there's no one left to be picked

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 and you have little old Philadelphia,

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 the youngest and the weakest,

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 who are not really

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 all that much to look at.

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 Other churches

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 are more like the Royal Marines,

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 Philadelphia is more like

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 Dad's army.

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 Here is a small church

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 that's struggling

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 to make an impact

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 in a city.

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 A church that faced

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 great opposition

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 from the local people

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 as well as the local Jews.

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 This was a church

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 that was denied entry

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 into the local synagogue

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 by the Jews.

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 This was a church

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 lacking in strength,

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 a church that was all

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 to wear of its own weakness

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 and insecurity,

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 and a church

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 that needs to be strengthened.

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 So with that in mind,

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 let's finally read

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 Revelations chapter 3,

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 verse 7.

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 To the angel of the church

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 in Philadelphia write,

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 These are the words of him

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 who is holy and true,

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 who holds the key of David.

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 What he opens,

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 no one can shut,

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 and what he shuts,

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 no one can open.

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 I know your deeds.

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 See, I have placed before you

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 an open door

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 that no one can shut.

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 I know that you have

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 little strength,

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 yet you have kept my word,

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 and have not denied my name.

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 I will make those

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 who are of the synagogue of Satan,

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 who claim to be Jews,

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 though they are not,

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 but are liars,

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 I will make them come

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 and fall down at your feet

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 and acknowledge

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 that I have loved you.

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 Since you have kept

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 my command to endure

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 patiently,

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 I will also keep you

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 from the hour of trial

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 that is going to come

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 upon the whole world

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 to test those

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 who live on the earth.

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 I am coming soon.

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 Hold on to what you have

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 so that no one

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 will take your crown.

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 Him who overcomes,

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 I will make a pillar

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 in the temple of my God.

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 Never again will he leave it.

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 I will write on him

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 the name of my God

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 and the name of the city

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 of my God,

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 the new Jerusalem,

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 which is coming down

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 out of heaven

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 from my God.

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 And I will also write on him

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 my new name.

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 He who has an ear,

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 let him hear

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 what the Spirit says

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 to the churches.

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 This is God's Word.

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 What a letter we have here.

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 What a wonderful letter

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 filled with encouragement

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 and wonderful promises

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 for this weak

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 yet faithful

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 little church.

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 See, unlike the other

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 letters we've seen,

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 this letter

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 does not contain

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 one single rebuke.

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 There's only two letters

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 that don't have a rebuke.

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 The other being

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 Sismarina

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 and this one here.

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 Not a single rebuke.

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 See,

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 to this church

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 Jesus says,

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 yes,

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 you are weak

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 but you are a faithful church

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 and I love you

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 and I will keep you.

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 So what was it

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 about Philadelphia

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 that made them

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 so faithful?

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 What is it about them

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 that we can learn

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 from them today?

00:10:00.839 --> 00:10:00.939
 Well,

00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:01.699
 the first thing

00:10:01.699 --> 00:10:02.939
 and perhaps the biggest thing

00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:03.679
 that we can learn

00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.279
 is that they have

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.199
 a small view

00:10:06.199 --> 00:10:06.759
 of themselves

00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:08.339
 and a big view

00:10:08.339 --> 00:10:10.039
 of who Christ is.

00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:11.579
 a small view

00:10:11.579 --> 00:10:12.019
 of themselves

00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:12.959
 and a big view

00:10:12.959 --> 00:10:14.120
 of who the risen

00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:14.860
 Lord Savior

00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:16.219
 Jesus Christ is.

00:10:17.079 --> 00:10:17.919
 They, like Jesus,

00:10:18.099 --> 00:10:18.939
 knew they were weak.

00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:21.099
 They knew they were struggling

00:10:21.099 --> 00:10:22.679
 in the face of persecution,

00:10:23.339 --> 00:10:23.699
 suffering,

00:10:23.939 --> 00:10:24.679
 and discrimination.

00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:26.579
 But they also knew

00:10:26.579 --> 00:10:27.599
 who Jesus was.

00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:28.980
 They knew

00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:30.559
 that he was worth it

00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:31.719
 to stay faithful to him.

00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:33.279
 That is why

00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.179
 there's nothing but praise

00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:34.899
 and affirmation

00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:36.139
 towards this weak

00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:37.099
 yet faithful

00:10:37.099 --> 00:10:37.899
 little church.

00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:38.919
 You see,

00:10:38.959 --> 00:10:39.639
 I think the reason,

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:40.899
 or one of the reasons

00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:42.579
 why we get so easily tired

00:10:42.579 --> 00:10:43.319
 when it comes to

00:10:43.319 --> 00:10:44.279
 reaching Edinburgh

00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:45.100
 for the gospel

00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:47.120
 is because we're trying

00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.120
 to do things on our own.

00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:49.939
 It's because we're trying

00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.419
 to do things

00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:51.360
 by our own efforts

00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:52.059
 and we've forgotten

00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:53.019
 just who it is

00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:53.699
 that we serve.

00:10:55.319 --> 00:10:56.179
 We've lost sight

00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:57.659
 of just how big he is.

00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.779
 We serve the almighty God.

00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:03.159
 We serve the almighty God

00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:03.779
 who's the creator

00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:04.939
 of all things.

00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:07.279
 We serve the risen

00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:08.100
 Lord Jesus Christ

00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:09.039
 who died on a cross

00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.600
 to take the punishment

00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.459
 for our sins

00:11:10.459 --> 00:11:11.360
 and yet rose,

00:11:11.459 --> 00:11:12.059
 three days later,

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:12.959
 rose back to life.

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.360
 We serve the living God

00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:16.319
 who defeated death itself.

00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:18.220
 Yet too often

00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:20.220
 we try and do things

00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:21.019
 by our own esteem.

00:11:22.179 --> 00:11:23.220
 Too often we depend

00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.519
 and rely upon ourselves

00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:25.799
 than lean upon

00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:26.819
 the almighty God

00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:27.959
 who can do all things.

00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:30.339
 But when we think

00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:30.620
 like that,

00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.639
 we fall into the trap

00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:32.659
 of thinking too much

00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:33.199
 of ourselves

00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:34.480
 and too little

00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.279
 of God.

00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.720
 we forget

00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.819
 what Paul says

00:11:37.819 --> 00:11:38.759
 in Corinthians.

00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:41.759
 Think of what you were

00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.539
 when you were called.

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:43.939
 Not many of you

00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:44.399
 were wise

00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.220
 by human standards.

00:11:45.819 --> 00:11:46.740
 Not many influential.

00:11:47.459 --> 00:11:48.179
 Not many of you

00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:49.000
 were of noble birth

00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.799
 but God chose

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.500
 the foolish things

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:50.939
 of the world

00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:52.339
 to shame the wise.

00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.159
 God chose

00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:53.899
 the weak things

00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:54.379
 of the world

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.740
 to shame the strong.

00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:56.899
 God chose

00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.559
 the lowly things

00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:58.059
 of this world

00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:59.459
 and the despised things

00:11:59.459 --> 00:12:00.120
 and the things

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.659
 that are not

00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.419
 to nullify

00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:02.459
 the things that are

00:12:02.459 --> 00:12:03.959
 so that no one

00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:05.120
 may boast before him.

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.060
 God has not chosen

00:12:08.060 --> 00:12:08.560
 the strongest.

00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.600
 God has not chosen

00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:11.120
 the coolest

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.700
 or the most influential.

00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.620
 No, God has chosen

00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.120
 the weak,

00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:16.379
 the foolish,

00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:17.560
 those who lack

00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:18.780
 any kind of influence.

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.360
 God has called

00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.019
 the low so that

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:21.860
 no one may boast

00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.940
 except in the Lord.

00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:23.860
 Brothers and sisters,

00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:24.519
 we are weak.

00:12:25.300 --> 00:12:26.080
 We are foolish.

00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:27.460
 We do not hold

00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:28.200
 much influence.

00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.240
 No wonder we get tired

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:30.820
 when we try to do

00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:31.720
 things by ourselves.

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.200
 No wonder we struggle

00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:33.920
 to make an impact

00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:34.540
 on our city

00:12:34.540 --> 00:12:35.340
 for we have such

00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:35.980
 a warped view

00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.379
 of ourselves

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.300
 and such a low view

00:12:37.300 --> 00:12:37.940
 of who the God

00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:38.640
 is that we serve.

00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:41.180
 And I think

00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:41.879
 it's very deliberate

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:43.400
 that each

00:12:43.400 --> 00:12:44.640
 of these seven letters

00:12:44.640 --> 00:12:45.560
 all begin

00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.720
 with describing

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.520
 the awesome

00:12:47.520 --> 00:12:48.220
 attributes

00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.540
 of Jesus Christ.

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:50.820
 If you need

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.400
 a bigger picture

00:12:51.400 --> 00:12:52.120
 of who Christ is,

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.120
 then come with me

00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:53.800
 to verse seven.

00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:55.600
 Look with me

00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.080
 at the title

00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:56.800
 Jesus has given.

00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:58.280
 These are the words

00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.259
 of him who is

00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.560
 holy and true.

00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:03.139
 A more literal

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.939
 translation would be

00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:04.759
 the holy one,

00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:05.639
 the true one.

00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.219
 See the term holy

00:13:07.219 --> 00:13:08.859
 used frequently

00:13:08.859 --> 00:13:09.539
 throughout the Bible

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.500
 and it's a title

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.079
 for God.

00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:11.879
 It's the title

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.599
 of divinity.

00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:13.979
 In other words,

00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:14.939
 the risen Jesus

00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:16.119
 is being described

00:13:16.119 --> 00:13:17.019
 as divine.

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.399
 The true one,

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.239
 less common,

00:13:19.839 --> 00:13:20.519
 but it means

00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.799
 that Jesus is genuine.

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:23.199
 His word is reliable,

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.259
 which is quite crucial

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.879
 for this church

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.279
 to hear

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.659
 considering the opposition

00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:28.139
 they face

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:28.799
 from local Jews

00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.719
 who will deny

00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:30.959
 who Jesus Christ is.

00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:33.019
 Hear Jesus saying,

00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:34.679
 I am the risen Messiah

00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:35.419
 and my word

00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.099
 is reliable.

00:13:36.479 --> 00:13:37.419
 I am the holy one

00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:38.339
 and I am

00:13:38.339 --> 00:13:39.519
 the true one.

00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.179
 Let's keep going

00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:41.639
 to verse seven.

00:13:41.719 --> 00:13:42.359
 What else do we see

00:13:42.359 --> 00:13:42.839
 about Jesus?

00:13:43.959 --> 00:13:44.779
 Who holds

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.879
 the key of David.

00:13:46.619 --> 00:13:47.559
 What he opens,

00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:48.639
 no one can shut.

00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:49.719
 What he shuts,

00:13:50.079 --> 00:13:51.019
 no one can open.

00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.199
 Jesus is holding

00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:53.919
 the key of David.

00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:54.559
 Now if you want

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.019
 a background

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.839
 on the key of David,

00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:56.759
 I'd encourage you

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.519
 to go and check out

00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.319
 Isaiah 22.

00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.419
 We don't have time

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.259
 this morning to go there,

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:00.899
 but do do that

00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:01.860
 as homework later on.

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.620
 But the key of David

00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:05.240
 opens the way

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:05.879
 or the door

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.419
 to the heavenly kingdom.

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.279
 And whoever holds

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:09.819
 this key

00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:11.019
 has the authority

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:12.720
 to either let people in

00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.600
 or to deny them entry.

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:17.819
 You heard of the phrase

00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:18.700
 the key to the city.

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.100
 Edinburgh's got

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.080
 two giant keys

00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.519
 to the city

00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.179
 that are given

00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:22.700
 to the queen

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.580
 every time she comes

00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:24.179
 up to stay.

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.539
 Whoever holds

00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:26.000
 this key

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.200
 has the authority

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.940
 to back in the day

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.240
 used to be

00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.120
 to literally open

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.360
 the door to the wall

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.140
 to let people

00:14:32.140 --> 00:14:32.720
 come in and out

00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:33.120
 of the city.

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.180
 Whoever holds

00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:34.600
 the key

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.740
 has authority

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:36.280
 to let people

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:37.280
 in or out

00:14:37.280 --> 00:14:37.980
 of the city.

00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:39.320
 Now obviously

00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:40.500
 our keys to Edinburgh

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.480
 are absolutely huge.

00:14:41.640 --> 00:14:42.340
 They're more symbolic.

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.379
 There's not a giant

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:43.960
 lock somewhere

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.840
 that these keys open.

00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.259
 But it symbolises

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.740
 when they're given

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.259
 to the queen

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.540
 that as monarch

00:14:48.540 --> 00:14:49.360
 she has absolute

00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.180
 royal authority

00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:50.879
 over the city

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.220
 of Edinburgh.

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:52.720
 She does then

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.240
 actually hand them

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:53.940
 back to Edinburgh

00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:54.700
 again trusting

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.300
 in their care.

00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:56.679
 But it's the same idea

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:58.319
 here in Revelation.

00:14:59.359 --> 00:15:00.039
 Jesus is holding

00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:00.799
 the key of David

00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.719
 as symbolic

00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:02.379
 of the fact

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.559
 that the risen Jesus

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.779
 the king of kings

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:06.399
 has absolute authority

00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.679
 over who enters

00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.539
 the heavenly kingdom.

00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:10.199
 And his authority

00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:11.879
 cannot be overruled.

00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:13.559
 What he opens

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.259
 no one can shut.

00:15:14.359 --> 00:15:14.799
 What he shut

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.579
 no one can open.

00:15:16.479 --> 00:15:17.359
 Jesus possesses

00:15:17.359 --> 00:15:18.199
 undisputed

00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:19.339
 royal authority.

00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:20.799
 This is who we serve.

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.059
 The risen Lord Jesus

00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:23.759
 the holy one

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.439
 the true one

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.240
 the keeper

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.480
 of the key of David.

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.200
 The Philadelphians

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.700
 knew this

00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.659
 and we need

00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:30.220
 to know this too.

00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.659
 So what does a church

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.340
 as a low view

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.759
 of itself

00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.440
 and a high view

00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:34.980
 of Christ

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:35.799
 look like?

00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.600
 Well I believe

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.220
 we've got an example

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.680
 here in this letter.

00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:41.720
 Jesus says

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.220
 to this church

00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.460
 I know your deeds

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.659
 I know that

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.539
 verse 8

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.840
 you have kept

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.259
 my words.

00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:49.659
 Here we see

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.980
 the first characteristics

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:52.580
 of a faithful church

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.220
 that thinks

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:53.940
 low of itself

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.740
 but yet

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.100
 high

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.040
 of God.

00:15:57.380 --> 00:15:58.380
 Unlike other churches

00:15:58.380 --> 00:15:59.220
 mentioned Revelation

00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:00.560
 this little church

00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:01.820
 had not been led

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.120
 astray

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.560
 by heretical teaching.

00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.120
 They had not

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.860
 fallen into the trap

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.620
 of compromising

00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.040
 the word

00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:08.280
 by adding extras

00:16:08.280 --> 00:16:09.260
 or removing parts

00:16:09.260 --> 00:16:09.700
 from it.

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.200
 They had not

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.120
 turned God's word

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.240
 into a picking mix

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:15.040
 but instead

00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:15.980
 they remained faithful

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.680
 and they remained

00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:17.680
 true to the words.

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.800
 Sadly in Edinburgh

00:16:19.800 --> 00:16:21.060
 you do not have to

00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:21.540
 look long

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.399
 to see a church

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.259
 that's turned

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.620
 the Bible

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.759
 into a picking mix.

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:26.759
 You do not have

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.279
 to look long

00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.019
 to see a church

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.399
 in Edinburgh

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.120
 that's watered

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.719
 in the gospel

00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:30.459
 so that they

00:16:30.459 --> 00:16:30.860
 can appear

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:32.259
 relevant to society.

00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.379
 So they speak

00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.339
 a lot about God

00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:35.799
 being a God

00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.219
 of love

00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:36.740
 but don't speak

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.419
 much of the

00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:38.139
 judgment

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.579
 and the sin

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.819
 and hell.

00:16:42.099 --> 00:16:42.919
 They completely

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.199
 ignore these realities

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.639
 because they want

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.500
 to be more palatable

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:48.019
 to society.

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:49.639
 But rather

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.139
 ironically

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.799
 by ignoring

00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.360
 such things

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:51.720
 they're also

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.220
 denying that

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.659
 God is

00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.000
 a God

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.399
 of love.

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.360
 And tragically

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.779
 you do not

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.100
 have to look

00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.519
 long at these

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:56.799
 churches

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.139
 to see

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.759
 their numbers

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.319
 dwindle.

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:00.559
 You see

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:00.980
 if we want

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.460
 to be relevant

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.019
 to society

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.419
 if we want

00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:02.720
 to draw

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.179
 people to

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:03.519
 Christ

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:03.960
 we don't

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.460
 do that

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.559
 by watering

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:05.839
 down

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.420
 God's word.

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.319
 We don't

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:07.799
 do that

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.240
 by turning

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.579
 it into

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.379
 a picking mix.

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.200
 No we do

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.740
 that by being

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:13.000
 counter-cultural.

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.059
 We do that

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.920
 by holding fast

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.299
 of what the

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.019
 Bible teaches.

00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:17.759
 We do that

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.079
 by staying

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.079
 faithful and

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.539
 true to

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.039
 God's word

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.539
 the Bible.

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:21.639
 We do that

00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.099
 by keeping

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.759
 God's word.

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.039
 And we do

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.939
 that by having

00:17:24.939 --> 00:17:25.819
 a big picture

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.399
 of who Christ

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.859
 is and not

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.379
 being afraid

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.139
 to be seen

00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:30.220
 as bigots.

00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.399
 Not being

00:17:31.399 --> 00:17:32.579
 afraid to be

00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.119
 persecuted,

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.039
 to be discriminated

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.019
 against because

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:36.019
 we hold to

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.639
 the Bible's

00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:36.960
 teaching.

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.419
 The church

00:17:38.419 --> 00:17:38.939
 of Philadelphia

00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:39.619
 knew this.

00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:40.539
 We need to

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.039
 know this too.

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.759
 Second

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.439
 characteristic of

00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:43.740
 a faithful

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.139
 church,

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.139
 Jesus says to

00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:45.399
 his church,

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:45.779
 I know your

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.240
 deeds, I know

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.579
 that.

00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:47.359
 Verse 8,

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:47.859
 you have

00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.599
 not denied

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.419
 my name.

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.839
 In the face

00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.519
 of persecution,

00:17:52.699 --> 00:17:52.919
 in the face

00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:53.439
 of suffering

00:17:53.439 --> 00:17:54.339
 and discrimination,

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.219
 this weak

00:17:55.219 --> 00:17:56.119
 church never

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.899
 denied the

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.299
 name of

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:57.799
 Christ.

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.439
 They must

00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:00.619
 have been

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.379
 under such

00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:01.939
 pressure,

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:02.919
 such temptation,

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.859
 especially from

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.399
 the Jews,

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.659
 to deny that

00:18:05.659 --> 00:18:06.439
 Jesus is the

00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:06.899
 Christ,

00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:07.779
 that he is

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.159
 the risen

00:18:08.159 --> 00:18:08.659
 Lord,

00:18:08.979 --> 00:18:09.599
 that he is

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.039
 the Son

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.619
 of God.

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.500
 But yet not

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.599
 once did

00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.000
 they deny

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.519
 his name.

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:16.700
 So you

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:16.940
 think there

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.339
 are perhaps

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.140
 three ways

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:18.599
 in which we

00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:19.160
 today can

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.579
 deny the

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:19.839
 name of

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.160
 Christ.

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:21.900
 First of

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:22.119
 all, we

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.480
 can deny

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:22.859
 who Jesus

00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.579
 is, that

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.480
 he is the

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:25.720
 Son of

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.920
 God, that

00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:27.259
 he is the

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.920
 promised Messiah,

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.500
 that he was

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:28.920
 without sin,

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.299
 that he did

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:29.779
 die on a

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.140
 cross for

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.579
 our sins,

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.039
 that he

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.599
 did raise

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:31.960
 to life

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.460
 three days

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.200
 later, that

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.599
 he is the

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.000
 saviour of

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.319
 the world,

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:34.859
 that he is

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:36.140
 the only way

00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:36.779
 to salvation.

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.740
 I am the

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.460
 way, the

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.279
 truth, the

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:39.640
 life.

00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:42.820
 In a

00:18:42.820 --> 00:18:44.640
 society where

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.620
 absolute truth

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.080
 must be

00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:46.540
 rejected,

00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:47.759
 uncertainty

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.200
 seen as

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.740
 arrogance,

00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:49.740
 these are

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:52.340
 counter-cultural

00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:52.920
 claims.

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.740
 But a

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.280
 faithful follower

00:18:55.280 --> 00:18:55.840
 of Christ, a

00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:56.580
 faithful church,

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.759
 will hold to

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.100
 all these

00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:58.520
 claims.

00:18:59.340 --> 00:18:59.780
 To deny

00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.140
 any of

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.100
 them is

00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:01.620
 deny who

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.160
 Jesus is

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.580
 and therefore

00:19:02.580 --> 00:19:03.180
 deny his

00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.480
 name.

00:19:05.540 --> 00:19:05.759
 I think

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.140
 the second

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.380
 way that

00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:07.580
 we can

00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:08.120
 perhaps deny

00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:08.420
 Jesus'

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.880
 name is

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.100
 to

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:09.899
 not

00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.339
 acknowledge

00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:10.659
 Jesus

00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.019
 before

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.500
 others.

00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:13.599
 Ashamed

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:13.919
 of who

00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:14.839
 he is,

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.579
 ashamed to

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.059
 tell others

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.699
 about Christ.

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.639
 So maybe

00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:18.959
 we do

00:19:18.959 --> 00:19:19.699
 confess in

00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.139
 our hearts

00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:20.480
 that Jesus

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:20.980
 is Lord,

00:19:21.719 --> 00:19:22.279
 but we

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.779
 still deny

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.019
 him by

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.459
 not telling

00:19:23.459 --> 00:19:24.019
 other people

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.519
 about him.

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.019
 Now,

00:19:25.679 --> 00:19:26.879
 I'm speaking

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.339
 as much to

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:27.899
 myself here,

00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:28.339
 we're all

00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:28.859
 slow to

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:29.299
 admit our

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:29.639
 faith to

00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:29.819
 others,

00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.199
 we are.

00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:31.659
 We live

00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:31.859
 in a

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.299
 culture that

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:32.799
 is increasingly

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.480
 hostile to

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.059
 Christianity.

00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:35.039
 We're

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.519
 painted as

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:35.819
 ignorant

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:36.439
 people who

00:19:36.439 --> 00:19:37.079
 believe in

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.539
 harmful,

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:37.980
 bigoted

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.859
 fairy tales.

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.279
 And that

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.539
 can lead

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:40.759
 us to

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:40.980
 shrink

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.399
 back.

00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:42.799
 But by

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.379
 doing so,

00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:44.559
 we make

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.240
 Jesus look

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.779
 small.

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.500
 We make

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:47.799
 him look

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.139
 like he

00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:48.439
 is not

00:19:48.439 --> 00:19:49.179
 worth living

00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:49.659
 our lives

00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:50.059
 for him.

00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:51.500
 And by

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.899
 doing so,

00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:52.339
 we deny

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:52.740
 who Jesus

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.519
 is and

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:53.879
 what he

00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:54.179
 has done

00:19:54.179 --> 00:19:54.719
 for us.

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:54.839
 Jesus.

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:58.980
 Jesus has

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.400
 absolute

00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:00.100
 authority over

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.620
 who passes

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:00.980
 through the

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.240
 door of

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.600
 salvation.

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.279
 And if

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.480
 when we

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.779
 get to

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.000
 heaven,

00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:05.259
 Jesus

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.559
 says,

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:05.720
 you're

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:05.980
 not with

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.140
 me,

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.380
 you're

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:06.539
 not

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:06.759
 getting

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:06.940
 in.

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.160
 There are

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.700
 many people

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.480
 outside our

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:12.160
 doors who

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.539
 do not know

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.799
 Jesus, who

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.339
 are not going

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:14.740
 to get in

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.140
 right now.

00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.039
 And yet,

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:17.460
 we shrink

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.500
 back and

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.460
 tell them of

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:19.940
 who Christ

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.600
 is, of the

00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:21.180
 salvation that

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.620
 can be found

00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:21.900
 in him

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.259
 alone.

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.920
 By doing

00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.200
 so, we

00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.640
 deny his

00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:24.859
 name.

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.559
 We have a

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:26.980
 lower opinion

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.220
 of who

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.759
 Christ is

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.299
 and a

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.720
 bigger opinion

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:28.980
 of who

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.440
 we, who

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.180
 man is.

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.379
 Again, it

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:32.759
 must be so

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.200
 tempting for

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.900
 the Philadelphians

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.660
 to just keep

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.180
 quiet about

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.559
 who Jesus

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.480
 was, keep

00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:36.900
 their mouths

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:37.339
 shut.

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:38.700
 But they

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:38.980
 didn't.

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:39.960
 Why?

00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.000
 Because they

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.559
 had a big

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.019
 view of who

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.640
 Christ was

00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.420
 and a small

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.140
 view of who

00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:44.940
 they were.

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.299
 But perhaps

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.559
 the most

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.200
 easily and

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.640
 subtle way

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.059
 that we can

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.480
 deny who

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.019
 Jesus is

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.240
 is through

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.900
 hypocrisy.

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.680
 We may

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.059
 shout from

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.660
 the rooftops

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:55.980
 Jesus

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.000
 Lord, but

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.460
 our messy

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.299
 lives can

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:58.779
 drown out

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.440
 our words.

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.599
 See, my

00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.099
 question for

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.799
 you is, what

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.120
 does your

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:05.740
 life say?

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.539
 What does

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.180
 your life say

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.700
 of who you

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.059
 follow?

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:11.900
 See, many

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.539
 people profess

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.079
 to know God

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:13.759
 but deny him

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.039
 with their

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.799
 works, Titus

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.440
 1, 16.

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.039
 See, faith

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.599
 in Jesus will

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.099
 always change

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:18.380
 the way we

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:18.660
 live.

00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:19.960
 So if our

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.620
 lives look

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.039
 like nothing

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.680
 has changed,

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.700
 then maybe

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.079
 something is

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.420
 not quite

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.720
 right.

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:26.700
 See, your

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.120
 words may

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.440
 acknowledge

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.059
 Jesus but

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.420
 do your

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.299
 works deny

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.579
 him?

00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:30.920
 Are you

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.500
 loving others?

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.259
 Are you

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.759
 obeying him?

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.099
 Are you

00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.660
 bearing fruit?

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.000
 Are you

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.559
 sacrificially

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.240
 giving yourself

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.500
 and your

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.120
 resources to

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:36.440
 others?

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.180
 Are you

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.940
 seeking to

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.640
 keep God's

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.000
 words?

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.279
 Are you

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.759
 seeking to

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.180
 not deny

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.680
 his name?

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.700
 Philadelphia

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.960
 kept Jesus'

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.259
 name, did

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.799
 not deny it.

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:46.960
 Why?

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.420
 Because they had

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:47.900
 a big view

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.359
 of who Christ

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.180
 was and a

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.779
 small view of

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.079
 who they

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.339
 were.

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.119
 And Jesus

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.799
 promises to

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.220
 this church

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.899
 in verse 9

00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:54.480
 vindication

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.019
 before their

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.440
 foes.

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.660
 This is very

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.059
 interesting because

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.480
 in Isaiah

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.399
 60, 14 it

00:21:59.399 --> 00:21:59.940
 says this,

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:00.819
 the children

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.079
 of your

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.599
 oppressors

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:01.899
 will come

00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:03.299
 bowing before

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.619
 you.

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.379
 All who

00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:04.960
 despise you

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.299
 will bow

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:05.599
 down at

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.059
 your feet.

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:06.680
 And the

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.200
 very people

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.819
 who thought

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.740
 that they

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:08.960
 would be

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.379
 standing there

00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:09.660
 with people

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.119
 bowing before

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:10.819
 them was the

00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.339
 Jews in

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.759
 Philadelphia.

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.259
 They thought

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.899
 these Christians,

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.879
 these Gentiles,

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:15.720
 will one day

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.180
 come before

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.759
 them and bow

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.299
 before them

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.240
 in fulfillment of

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.759
 this prophecy

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.220
 in Isaiah

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.640
 60.

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.400
 But Jesus

00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:20.640
 says,

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.279
 no, no, no,

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.620
 no, no.

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.500
 No.

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.240
 The

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.900
 Philadelphian

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.680
 church are

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:24.980
 the ones

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.120
 who are

00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.299
 going to be

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.819
 standing there

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.359
 and the

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.259
 Jews, the

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.900
 synagogue of

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.519
 Satan, the

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.259
 liars, will

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.839
 come down

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.420
 and bow

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.920
 before you

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.259
 and they

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.819
 will see

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.720
 that I

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.839
 love you.

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.220
 Now when

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.940
 I was studying

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.420
 this passage

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.880
 this week,

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:37.599
 I was annotating

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.759
 my script,

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.980
 I printed out

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.319
 the passage,

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.079
 annotated it,

00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:42.759
 and I simply

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.180
 wrote the one

00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.460
 word,

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:44.960
 whoa,

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.660
 next to

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.079
 verse 9.

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.440
 Whoa.

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.920
 These people

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.099
 who are

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.480
 oppressed in

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:50.579
 the

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.079
 Philadelphian

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.539
 church,

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.140
 who are

00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.480
 barring them

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:52.700
 for the

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:52.920
 synagogue,

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.359
 will one

00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:53.759
 day come

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.160
 and bow

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.400
 at their

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.319
 feet and

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:55.559
 see that

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:55.680
 no,

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.460
 Jesus loves

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:56.900
 them.

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.339
 Whoa.

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.440
 I thought

00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.940
 it's amazing.

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.019
 How long

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.319
 for that

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.920
 vindication,

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.500
 how I

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.319
 long to

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.160
 see those

00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.120
 who oppress

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.259
 us,

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.620
 call us

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:05.980
 bigots,

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.500
 those who

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.500
 discriminate

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.059
 against us

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.480
 come bow

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:08.700
 at my

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.099
 feet.

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.380
 Then I

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:10.579
 suddenly

00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.120
 realized,

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.120
 I'm making

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:13.559
 much of

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.400
 myself here

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.460
 and little

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.039
 of Christ.

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.920
 If I'm

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.440
 longing for

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.019
 myself to

00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.259
 be seen

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:19.839
 as right,

00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:20.980
 then I

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.339
 have forgotten

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:21.680
 who I

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.099
 serve.

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:23.839
 And the

00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.119
 more I

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:24.539
 studied this

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:24.859
 passage,

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.319
 the more I

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:25.559
 thought,

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:25.980
 whoa,

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.619
 look at who

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.440
 Christ is,

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:29.599
 the holy

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:29.859
 one,

00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.359
 the true

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:30.579
 one,

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.000
 the keeper

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.279
 of the

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.539
 key of

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:31.659
 David,

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.019
 the one

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.220
 who is

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.420
 going to

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:32.779
 take these

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.319
 enemies to

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:33.460
 bow

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:33.659
 to their

00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:33.839
 feet,

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.420
 the one

00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:34.940
 who loves

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.440
 me.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:36.960
 Whoa.

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:39.079
 The

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:39.720
 Savior loves

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.019
 me.

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.619
 Whoa,

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.159
 I get

00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:42.839
 to serve

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.459
 him.

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.059
 That will

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.539
 be a

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.199
 glorious day

00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:47.579
 when Christ

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.059
 comes again

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.279
 and when

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.619
 that does

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:48.979
 happen.

00:23:49.739 --> 00:23:50.259
 Brothers and

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.439
 sisters,

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:50.879
 we are not

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.119
 going to be

00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:51.419
 looking at

00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:51.899
 enemies bent

00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.299
 before feet,

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:52.579
 we are

00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:52.819
 going to be

00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.119
 looking at

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.599
 Jesus and

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:53.779
 says,

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.419
 I love

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:54.719
 you.

00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:57.779
 We're

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:57.899
 going to

00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:58.239
 have this

00:23:58.239 --> 00:23:58.779
 big,

00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:01.059
 real picture

00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.419
 of who

00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:01.839
 Christ is.

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:02.139
 We are

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.399
 going to

00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:02.919
 see him

00:24:02.919 --> 00:24:03.759
 face to

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.239
 face.

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:05.179
 Whoa.

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.019
 Third

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.159
 characteristic of

00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:10.519
 a faithful

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:10.839
 church,

00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:11.059
 I think,

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.299
 it's low

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.740
 of itself

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.500
 but much

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.079
 of Christ.

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:13.940
 Verse 10.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.259
 Jesus says,

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.480
 I know

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.960
 your deeds,

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:16.839
 I know

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.919
 that you

00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.679
 have endured

00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:19.779
 patiently.

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.299
 You have

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.659
 endured

00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.099
 patiently.

00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:24.379
 The

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:24.940
 Philadelphian

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.460
 church knew

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:25.659
 about

00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:26.119
 suffering.

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.119
 They knew

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.480
 what it

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.399
 was like

00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:28.679
 to be

00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:29.319
 ostracized

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:29.599
 by your

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.019
 community,

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:30.559
 to be

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:30.919
 opposed

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.299
 by your

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.599
 neighbors.

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.059
 They knew

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.879
 this and

00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:33.319
 yet they

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.240
 still endured

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.119
 patiently

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.079
 through this.

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.240
 Again,

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.659
 it must

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:37.819
 have been

00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.700
 so tempting

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.039
 for them

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.419
 to pack

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:39.679
 it all

00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:39.859
 in.

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:41.099
 It must

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.259
 have been

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.039
 so tempting

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.519
 for them

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.459
 to deny

00:24:43.459 --> 00:24:43.899
 Christ's

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.000
 name,

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.379
 to not

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:44.759
 keep his

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.039
 word,

00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:45.899
 and to

00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.759
 just forget

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.199
 all about

00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:47.439
 it.

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:48.679
 But they

00:24:48.679 --> 00:24:49.159
 endured.

00:24:49.979 --> 00:24:50.559
 And they

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:50.839
 endured

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.299
 patiently.

00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:51.679
 Why?

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.379
 Because they

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.839
 had a big

00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.199
 view of

00:24:53.199 --> 00:24:53.439
 who it

00:24:53.439 --> 00:24:53.799
 was they

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.099
 served.

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.439
 They

00:24:54.439 --> 00:24:54.919
 had a big

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.399
 view of

00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:56.079
 who Christ

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.679
 is.

00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.719
 Brothers and

00:24:59.719 --> 00:24:59.919
 sisters,

00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:00.419
 we have many

00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.219
 opportunities to

00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:01.899
 witness to our

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.459
 non-Christian

00:25:02.459 --> 00:25:03.159
 society out

00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:03.279
 there.

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:05.500
 But when

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:05.799
 we do,

00:25:05.899 --> 00:25:06.180
 we will

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.379
 face

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:06.920
 persecution,

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.359
 we will

00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:07.559
 face

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.000
 discrimination,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.460
 there's

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:08.759
 no two

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.139
 ways about

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.379
 it.

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.180
 But we

00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:11.619
 are called

00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.339
 to endure

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.940
 patiently.

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.660
 And we

00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.000
 can do

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.579
 that knowing

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:15.960
 who it

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.359
 is that we

00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:16.779
 serve.

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.139
 Jesus

00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:18.519
 Christ,

00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:18.960
 the Holy

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.160
 One,

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.500
 the True

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:19.639
 One,

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.000
 the Keeper

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.180
 of the

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:20.460
 Key of

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:20.619
 David,

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:20.960
 the One

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.319
 who will

00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.000
 keep us

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.059
 through these

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.440
 sufferings,

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:23.920
 through these

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.259
 times of

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.639
 trials,

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:25.680
 through these

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.019
 times of

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.480
 persecution.

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:26.879
 That is

00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.139
 what's going

00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:27.399
 to make

00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.079
 us endure

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:28.500
 patiently.

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.379
 Not relying

00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:29.960
 upon ourselves,

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:30.460
 but relying

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.779
 leaning upon the

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.559
 Almighty God

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:32.940
 whom we

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.179
 serve.

00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.319
 Philadelphian

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.740
 church knew

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.059
 this.

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.460
 They kept

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.000
 God's word.

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:38.799
 They did not

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.440
 deny Christ's

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:39.519
 name.

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:39.980
 They endured

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.399
 patiently.

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:40.720
 Why?

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.139
 Because they

00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:41.599
 had a big

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.000
 view of who

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.980
 God was and

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.480
 a low view

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:43.940
 of who they

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.179
 were.

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.119
 And because

00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:46.779
 the Philadelphian

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.279
 church was so

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.759
 faithful to

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.220
 Christ,

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.679
 Christ would

00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:50.059
 show his

00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.720
 faithfulness to

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:50.940
 them.

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.539
 Read with me

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.619
 in verse 10.

00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:53.119
 Let's read this

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:53.440
 together.

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:53.879
 Verse 10.

00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:55.200
 Since you have

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.940
 kept my command

00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.539
 to endure

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.000
 patiently,

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.059
 I will also

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.179
 keep you from

00:25:59.179 --> 00:25:59.759
 the hour of

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.799
 trial that is

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.419
 going to come

00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:01.799
 upon the

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.359
 whole world

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.519
 to test those

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.539
 who live on

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.159
 the earth.

00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.259
 Jesus will

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.719
 show his

00:26:06.719 --> 00:26:07.419
 faithfulness to

00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:08.659
 his people by

00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.359
 protecting them,

00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:09.959
 by keeping

00:26:09.959 --> 00:26:10.919
 them through

00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:11.519
 the hour of

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.059
 trial that

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.579
 will one day

00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:12.919
 come.

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.879
 We read about

00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.419
 this hour of

00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.000
 trial in

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.099
 Mark 13 to

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.039
 2 Thessalonians

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.979
 2, but we

00:26:18.979 --> 00:26:19.819
 also read it in

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.859
 Daniel 12,

00:26:20.959 --> 00:26:21.679
 verse 1 to 9.

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.099
 I believe you've

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.719
 just been through a

00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.240
 season, Daniel,

00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.219
 so I thought we'd go

00:26:24.219 --> 00:26:24.379
 here.

00:26:24.479 --> 00:26:25.079
 Daniel 12,

00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.839
 verses 1 to 2,

00:26:25.879 --> 00:26:26.479
 which says this,

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.380
 there will be a

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.200
 time of distress.

00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.279
 Such does not

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.940
 happen from the

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.420
 beginning of

00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.120
 nations until

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:31.480
 then.

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.839
 But at that

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.339
 time your

00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:33.720
 people,

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:34.940
 everyone whose

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.620
 name is found

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.180
 written in the

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.779
 book, will be

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.220
 delivered.

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:39.900
 Multitudes

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.400
 asleep in the

00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:40.920
 dust of the

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.259
 earth will

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.579
 awake, some to

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.500
 everlasting life,

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.220
 others to shame

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.299
 and everlasting

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.200
 contempt.

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.420
 There is going to

00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.940
 be a terrible

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.299
 time.

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.599
 There is going to

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.079
 be a terrible

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.220
 time of great

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.900
 testing.

00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:55.340
 But Christ

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:56.380
 will keep and

00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.200
 protect those who

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.780
 are faithful to

00:26:57.780 --> 00:26:58.920
 him through the

00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.180
 hour of trial.

00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.160
 Now maybe this

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.840
 morning you're with

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.340
 us and you

00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:05.420
 perhaps aren't a

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.640
 Christian.

00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:08.040
 Maybe you're not a

00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.860
 believer or follower

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.540
 of Christ and we

00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:10.200
 are so glad you're

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:10.380
 here.

00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:11.100
 We really are.

00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.200
 We're delighted you

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.920
 have come with us to

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.820
 worship with us, to

00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.500
 be in church with us

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:14.920
 this morning.

00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:16.040
 But can I just say

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:16.460
 this to you?

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.200
 Have you thought

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.000
 about what happens

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.420
 after death?

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.720
 Where are you

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.380
 trying to find your

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.059
 answers right now

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.460
 to the big

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.240
 questions in life?

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.380
 And are you

00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:27.819
 trying to find the

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.120
 answers in the

00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.460
 right place?

00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.319
 Are they satisfying

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.240
 you, these answers?

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:31.940
 Or is there

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.500
 something missing?

00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.279
 Is there something

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.319
 just not quite right

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.720
 with you?

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.960
 Well can I encourage

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.420
 you to come and

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.059
 study who Jesus

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.740
 Christ is?

00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.559
 To come see who

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.339
 the Bible says he

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.100
 is, see who we

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:45.019
 say he is, and

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:47.160
 explore further what

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.120
 Jesus is offering to

00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.500
 us.

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.400
 Salvation.

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.519
 Eternal satisfaction.

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.379
 Eternal peace.

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.220
 Because this time is

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.039
 coming, this hour of

00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.759
 trial is coming.

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.139
 And if you're not

00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.539
 found in Christ, when

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.240
 it comes to the final

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:06.740
 judgment day, Jesus is

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.500
 not going to say to

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.359
 you, I know you.

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.859
 And Jesus is not going

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.680
 to let you into the

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.279
 heavenly kingdom.

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:15.940
 Rather, face eternal

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.000
 shame and everlasting

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.460
 contempt.

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.539
 Speak to the person

00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.220
 who brought you, speak

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.240
 to me, I'm kicking

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.519
 about.

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.200
 I'd be happy to talk

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.579
 to you more about

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:23.819
 that.

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.779
 But let's go finally

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:27.039
 to the fourth

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.440
 characteristic of what

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.339
 a faithful church

00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.400
 looks like.

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.100
 That has a low view

00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:31.960
 of itself and a high

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.480
 view of Christ.

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.240
 Jesus says to this

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.079
 church, I'm coming

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:36.880
 soon, so hold on to

00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:38.259
 what you have.

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.259
 Verse 11.

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.460
 Hold on to what you

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.360
 have and you will be

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:42.759
 victorious.

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.960
 Hold on to your

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.299
 faith.

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.680
 Hold on to my word.

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.680
 Keep obeying my

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.079
 commands.

00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.720
 Keep going.

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.579
 Continue to remain

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.720
 faithful and one

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.639
 day you will take

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.539
 the victor's crown.

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.699
 But that's not

00:28:52.699 --> 00:28:53.000
 all.

00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:54.960
 That's not all.

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.939
 That's amazing in

00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.659
 itself, isn't it?

00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.740
 But it keeps getting

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.179
 better.

00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.539
 Because what is in

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.179
 store for the one

00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:00.639
 who takes the

00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.220
 victor's crown?

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.740
 Well, we keep

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.460
 reading into verse

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.839
 12.

00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:05.279
 We see guaranteed

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.460
 entry into the

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.399
 messianic kingdom.

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.619
 Guaranteed entry

00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.759
 into the kingdom of

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.619
 God, the new

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.000
 creation.

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.439
 Even if the synagogue

00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:13.240
 door was slammed

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.000
 shut in the face of

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.579
 the Philadelphian

00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.619
 church, they could be

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.819
 assured that the

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.599
 door to the kingdom

00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.419
 of heaven remains

00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.539
 wide open for them

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.219
 to just walk

00:29:20.219 --> 00:29:21.799
 through because they

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.459
 have remained

00:29:22.459 --> 00:29:22.939
 faithful.

00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:25.099
 Because remember

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.719
 who holds the key

00:29:25.719 --> 00:29:26.159
 to the door?

00:29:26.939 --> 00:29:27.619
 Jesus Christ.

00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:29.099
 Who has the power

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.859
 and authority to

00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.519
 open what he wants

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.339
 to open, shut what

00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:32.019
 he wants to shut.

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.339
 There is the Lord

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.079
 Jesus Christ who

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.240
 loves them and will

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.699
 keep them.

00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:37.599
 But it goes even

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.159
 further than that.

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.859
 Come with me to

00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.259
 verse 12.

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.019
 Let's read verse 12

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.379
 together.

00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:43.539
 Him who overcomes,

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.639
 I will make a pillar

00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.619
 in the temple of my

00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:46.019
 God.

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.579
 Never again will

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.700
 they leave it.

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.039
 Here we see,

00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:50.779
 read of Christ's

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.379
 promise to this

00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:52.680
 church that this

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:54.799
 once weak band of

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.379
 faithful people who

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.039
 are barred from

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.119
 entering the synagogue,

00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.099
 barred from the

00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:01.619
 temporary temple on

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:03.319
 earth, will one day

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.139
 become a strong

00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:04.819
 pillar in the

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.879
 eternal heavenly

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:07.019
 kingdom of the

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.819
 living God.

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.160
 That's amazing.

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.339
 We sang Cornerstone

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.420
 this morning.

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.660
 That's the anthem

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.759
 for this church I

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.120
 think.

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.640
 Christ alone,

00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.360
 Cornerstone,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.140
 weak made strong in

00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:21.060
 the Saviour's love.

00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.060
 Through all he is

00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:23.740
 Lord, Lord of all.

00:30:23.800 --> 00:30:24.320
 That is the anthem

00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:24.900
 of the Philadelphian

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.779
 church, weak made

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.180
 strong.

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:26.980
 Now of course,

00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:27.640
 they're not actually

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.320
 going to become a

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.160
 physical pillar.

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.900
 That's not much of an

00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.480
 incentive for us,

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:31.759
 isn't it?

00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:32.720
 Stay faithful when you

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.160
 become like that

00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:33.680
 pillar over there.

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.140
 It's not much

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.700
 least, is it?

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.560
 But no, it's

00:30:35.560 --> 00:30:36.480
 symbolic here, okay?

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.380
 It's symbolic.

00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.519
 It's symbolic of

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.180
 something permanent,

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.560
 something strong.

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.000
 Okay?

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.740
 Now we do read

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.539
 later in Revelation,

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.480
 there isn't actually

00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.119
 going to be a

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.079
 physical temple in

00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:47.619
 the new creation.

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.220
 The whole city is

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.639
 going to be the

00:30:49.639 --> 00:30:50.319
 temple because that's

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.940
 where God is going

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.460
 to dwell with his

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:51.720
 people.

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.639
 But these images

00:30:53.639 --> 00:30:54.440
 emphasize the point

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.799
 that those who

00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.659
 are victorious,

00:30:56.179 --> 00:30:56.980
 those who hold on

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.759
 to what they have,

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:59.200
 will dwell with God

00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.639
 permanently in the

00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.720
 new city of God.

00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:05.599
 This pillar is a

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.240
 symbol of something

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.919
 that's strong,

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.279
 solid, heavy,

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:08.819
 permanent.

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.839
 Not like a peg of a

00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.079
 tent that's temporary

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.960
 that can easily be

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.659
 picked up again.

00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:13.919
 This is strong,

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:15.059
 permanent structure.

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.779
 This is an assurance

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.919
 of their security in

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.299
 Christ.

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.460
 That those who are

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.720
 victorious will come

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.500
 into the presence of

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.579
 God and dwell with

00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.099
 him there.

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.779
 And they will never

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:26.200
 leave his presence.

00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.659
 This once weak yet

00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:30.220
 faithful, this once

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.539
 persecuted, suffering,

00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:32.599
 discriminated against

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:34.279
 church, that the

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.460
 last to get picked,

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.799
 the dad's army of the

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.599
 followers of Christ,

00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.639
 will one day dwell

00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:39.359
 with their God

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:39.819
 forever.

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.919
 What a glorious

00:31:41.919 --> 00:31:42.859
 picture we have here.

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.359
 And just in case we

00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:46.199
 haven't quite got this

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.899
 theme of assurance

00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:48.339
 and security, keep

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.199
 reading in verse 12

00:31:49.199 --> 00:31:51.980
 where he says,

00:31:52.219 --> 00:31:52.939
 I will write on them

00:31:52.939 --> 00:31:53.899
 the name of my God,

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.059
 the name of the city

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.939
 of my God, the new

00:31:55.939 --> 00:31:57.139
 Jerusalem, which is

00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.019
 coming down out of

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.939
 heaven from my God,

00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:00.059
 and I'll also write

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:02.099
 on him my new name.

00:32:02.199 --> 00:32:03.439
 Three names, three

00:32:03.439 --> 00:32:04.319
 seals of assurance,

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.119
 that those who are

00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.500
 victorious belong to God

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.740
 and are citizens of

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.480
 this new city, this

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.720
 new Jerusalem.

00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:12.279
 Here we have the

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.079
 faithful, victorious

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.279
 Christian who's able

00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.579
 to say, I belong to

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.299
 the God Almighty.

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:18.240
 I am a citizen of the

00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.960
 city of God and I am a

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.420
 follower of Jesus Christ

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:22.519
 and I have his name on

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.019
 my back.

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:25.160
 Three names, thrice

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.500
 sealed.

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.819
 That is what awaits

00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:28.720
 this faithful yet weak

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.440
 church.

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:32.880
 So maybe we feel like

00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:33.980
 we're not making a dent

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.539
 on our city.

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.000
 Maybe we are struggling.

00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:38.500
 Maybe we're weak.

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.660
 But remember that God

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.299
 has not chosen the

00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.279
 strongest, the wisest,

00:32:42.340 --> 00:32:42.980
 the coolest, or the

00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.400
 influential.

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.059
 God has chosen the

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:46.400
 weak, the foolish,

00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.539
 those who lack

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.100
 influence.

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.500
 God has called the low

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.600
 so that no one may boast

00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.600
 except in the Lord.

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.500
 And God has called us

00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.299
 to remain faithful,

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:56.620
 weak, yet faithful.

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:58.639
 What does that look

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:58.879
 like?

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.819
 We keep God's word.

00:33:01.739 --> 00:33:02.519
 We do not deny

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.159
 Christ's name.

00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.919
 We endure patiently

00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:06.859
 and we hold on to

00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:07.679
 what we have because

00:33:07.679 --> 00:33:08.919
 we know that he is

00:33:08.919 --> 00:33:09.459
 worth it.

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.179
 And like I said at

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:11.859
 the beginning, we live

00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.379
 in an increasingly

00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.299
 God-less society.

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.979
 This means we have

00:33:14.979 --> 00:33:16.219
 increasing opportunities

00:33:16.219 --> 00:33:17.199
 to make Christ known

00:33:17.199 --> 00:33:17.719
 to the people of

00:33:17.719 --> 00:33:17.959
 Edinburgh.

00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:18.939
 Brothers and

00:33:18.939 --> 00:33:19.619
 sisters, the door of

00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:20.579
 opportunity is wide

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.359
 open for us.

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.679
 The less Christian

00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:24.599
 society's morals and

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:25.879
 morals become, the more

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.599
 we will stand out.

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:28.039
 as we seek to live

00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.299
 holy and pure lives.

00:33:30.239 --> 00:33:30.759
 The more people

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.459
 search for answers

00:33:31.459 --> 00:33:32.399
 in the wrong places,

00:33:32.959 --> 00:33:33.799
 the more chances we

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.479
 have to point people

00:33:34.479 --> 00:33:35.919
 to Christ and whom

00:33:35.919 --> 00:33:36.479
 we find true

00:33:36.479 --> 00:33:37.639
 satisfaction, true

00:33:37.639 --> 00:33:38.979
 peace, true salvation.

00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:40.679
 But as we do so,

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.819
 remember who we serve,

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.339
 the holy one,

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.599
 the true one,

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.899
 the keeper of the

00:33:46.899 --> 00:33:47.500
 key of David,

00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.459
 he yields absolute

00:33:48.459 --> 00:33:49.259
 power and authority,

00:33:49.679 --> 00:33:50.419
 the king of kings,

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.279
 the lord of lords.

00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:52.899
 Jesus Christ loves

00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:53.399
 his people,

00:33:54.199 --> 00:33:55.519
 who will make those

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.259
 who persecute us,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.920
 fall down before

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.420
 his people.

00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:58.500
 Jesus Christ will

00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.059
 keep his people

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.819
 from the hour of

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.859
 trial, who will

00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:01.700
 make his people a

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.240
 pillar in the

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.019
 temple of God.

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.180
 Jesus Christ who

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.960
 will seal his

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.759
 people's identity

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.019
 and citizenship in

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.619
 the new Jerusalem.

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:09.039
 That is a Jesus

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.159
 Christ who we serve.

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.460
 That is who we're

00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.039
 disciples of.

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:12.980
 That is who we

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.900
 should have the big

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:15.059
 picture of who

00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:16.480
 Jesus Christ is.

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:19.699
 Jesus says to his

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.519
 disciples in Matthew

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:20.980
 28,

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:22.780
 all authority in

00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.380
 heaven and on

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:23.880
 earth has been

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.400
 given to me,

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:26.019
 therefore go and

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.860
 make disciples of

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.539
 all nations,

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.039
 baptizing them in

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.380
 the name of the

00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.199
 Father and of the

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:30.760
 Son and of the

00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.280
 Holy Spirit,

00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:32.699
 teaching them to be

00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.519
 everything I have

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.119
 commanded you,

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:35.900
 and surely I am

00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:37.679
 with you always to

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.699
 the very end of the

00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.099
 age.

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.440
 Whoever has

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.840
 ears, let them

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.980
 hear what the

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:45.000
 Spirit says to the

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.300
 churches.

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.659
 Let's pray together.

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.179
 Let's pray.

00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.960
 Our mighty

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.800
 heavenly Father,

00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.500
 Father, what an

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.639
 awesome picture of

00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:00.420
 Christ we read in

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:00.880
 Revelation.

00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.099
 What an awesome

00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.960
 picture we see of

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.860
 him as the holy

00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:06.340
 one, the true one,

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.320
 the one whose

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.639
 absolute authority,

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.599
 the one whose

00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.639
 authority cannot be

00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.400
 overruled.

00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.619
 Father, we pray

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.539
 that as we study

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:15.059
 the revelation,

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.500
 that as we look at

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.480
 just who Jesus is,

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.420
 we will be more,

00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:19.980
 we have more desire

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:21.019
 to lean upon him,

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:23.219
 to not lean upon

00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:24.079
 our own efforts as

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:24.739
 we seek to go and

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:25.460
 make disciples of all

00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.860
 nations, but to

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.960
 rather to trust in

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:29.000
 him who has

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.860
 absolute authority,

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.199
 to trust in our

00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:31.980
 Lord and Saviour,

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.759
 Jesus Christ.

00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:34.519
 Father, forgive us

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.079
 for the times when

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.679
 we do make this

00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.239
 about us.

00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.559
 Forgive us for the

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.159
 times when we do

00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.199
 make a big view of

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.400
 ourselves, but a low

00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:41.219
 view of you, who you

00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:41.420
 are.

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.340
 And Father, we do

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:43.000
 pray that through the

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.480
 preaching of your

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.940
 word, Lord, that you

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:45.719
 would help us to have

00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:46.699
 a bigger view of who

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:48.079
 you are and a lower

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:49.260
 view of who we are,

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:51.119
 so that we can be a

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:53.159
 faithful church who

00:35:53.159 --> 00:35:54.179
 goes out there, makes

00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:55.360
 Christ known, and

00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.539
 glorifies you with our

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.719
 ministry and with our

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.099
 lives.

00:35:58.760 --> 00:35:59.300
 Lord, we need your

00:35:59.300 --> 00:36:00.139
 help for this, and we

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.679
 pray that you give it

00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.059
 to us.

00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.579
 In Christ's precious

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:02.920
 name.

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:03.820
 Amen.

00:36:03.820 --> 00:36:03.880
 Amen.

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.820
 Amen.

00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:04.840
 Amen.

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:04.880
 Amen.

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:04.940
 Amen.

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:04.960
 Amen.

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:04.980
 Amen.

00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.059
 Amen.

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.119
 Amen.

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:05.380
 Amen.

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.880
 Amen.

00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:06.940
 Amen.

00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.059
 Amen.

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.119
 Amen.

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.179
 Amen.

00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:09.000
 Amen.

00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:09.119
 Amen.

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.179
 Amen.

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:12.980
 Amen.