James Barnett
Series: Revelation
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 31st August 2014
Passage: Revelation 3:1-6
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 What matters most in life is what other people think of me.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 What do you think of this statement?
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 What matters most in life is what other people think of me.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:14 Do you think this way?
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 Maybe unintentionally sometimes?
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 I want to have a really good reputation.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 I want other people to think of me highly.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 That's how I'll get a pay increase.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 That's how I'll get that promotion.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 That's how I'll get that girl to notice me.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 I'll have a great reputation.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 I'll make myself look better to the boss.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:36 I'll get to work really early.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:37 I'll leave late.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:41 I might try and dress up for the girl and for the boss maybe.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 Do you ever think this way?
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 How about this statement?
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 What matters most in life is what God thinks of me.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 This one is a bit scarier.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 What matters most in life is what God thinks of me.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:05 Who here could say that they are concerned about what God thinks about them all the time?
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 Not me.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 I want to be able to say this.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:12 I wish this was true.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 But it's not.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 And it's scary because God sees everything.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 It's not like I can just do a couple of nice things.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Look pretty good on the outside.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 Wear some fashionable clothes.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 And God's going to think all of a sudden that I'm a good guy.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:33 What is your reputation before God?
00:01:33 --> 00:01:39 Today we're continuing in our series in the book of Revelation.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 And we're looking at Jesus' letter to the city and to the church of Sardis.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 And Jesus knows all about this city's reputation.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 And he has some hard words for them.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 So we're going to see what Jesus says to Sardis
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 before we see what Jesus has to say to us.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:01 So please have your Bibles open at Revelation chapter 3 verse 1.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 To the angel of the church in Sardis write,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:12 These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 I know your deeds.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 You have a reputation of being alive.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 But you are dead.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 The church in Sardis had a reputation.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 They looked alive.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:28 There were outward signs of vigor and spirituality.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 People would have exclaimed,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 Oh, this church, they're so healthy.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 They're so vibrant.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 They're so alive.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 There's so much happening.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 They would have looked like paradise to some of the other churches.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:45 To the other churches in the area who were facing persecution,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 Sardis would have been like a holiday destination of a church.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 They're so vibrant.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:52 They're growing.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 Their preaching is so entertaining and short.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Their whole church service doesn't even go for an hour.
00:02:58 --> 00:02:58 Praise Jesus.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:04 The other churches we've heard about in Revelation,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 Well, they're doing it tough.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 You can imagine them saying,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 I wish I was at that church in Sardis.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 I wish I lived in that city so I wasn't faced with the persecution,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 with the poverty, with the starvation and fear of death that I'm facing.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:25 Because there's something unique about this city.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 This church in Sardis.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 There is no persecution mentioned.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 In all of these letters to the different cities,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:39 there's persecution mentioned in all of them except here in Sardis.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 The church at Ephesus was struggling with evil people.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 In Smyrna, there was tribulation and poverty.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:49 In Pergamum, Jesus says that Satan has power over this place.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 And in Thyatira, we saw last week,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 they're faced with the sexual immorality of Jezebel.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 And to each of these cities, even though there's persecution,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 Jesus has something positive to say.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 But when we get to Sardis, it's a different story.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 Jesus has nothing positive to say about this city.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 Instead, Jesus says,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 I know your works.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 You have the reputation of being alive.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 But you are dead.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 You are a dead church.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 You have it easy.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 There's no persecution from outside.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 To all the world, you look like a healthy, vibrant church.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 But really, you are a husk of a church.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 Once alive, but now dead.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 This reputation that this church has,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 it's just all fake.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 It's just all lies.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 Because the problem is,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 there's a gap between their reputation and reality.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 Sardis has a very different reputation with God.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 Have a look at the second part of verse 2 with me.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 For I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 The church is obviously busy,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 doing all kinds of works,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 probably very good works,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 feeding the poor,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 going to church every day,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 reading the Bible.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 But before God,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 their works were not complete.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 They were just going through the motions.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 Their works are not the result of obedience and repentance.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 From the outside,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 they looked like they were doing what churches do,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 following God.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 But to God,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:37 they were fake.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 Just going through the motions.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 Jesus says in verse 4,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 that there are still a few
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 who hadn't let death overtake them.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 There are still a few who were following Jesus.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 And they're described as not having soiled their clothes.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 It's a really graphic image.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 You know,
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 I've got two little children.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 I can tell you what soiled clothes look like.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 It's very graphic.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:05 These people have not let defilement come in.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 The implication for the rest of the church is,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 defilement sin has crept in.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 They have soiled their clothes with it.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 And it's made a mess of their lives.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 The sin of the other cities was obvious.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 They were worshipping other gods.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 They were sexually immoral.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 But here,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 the sin of Sardis was more subtle.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:28 It was hidden.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 And the problem is that the church had gotten lazy.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 They'd been convinced that their busyness
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 was a sign that they were healthy.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 They had a reputation that they were alive.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 And they were convinced by their own reputation.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:49 It seems that they hadn't checked their heart before God.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 They hadn't asked the question,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 are we just turning up to church on Sunday?
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 Or are we being passionate about Jesus,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 wanting to do His will,
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 and to love and serve Him?
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 Or are we just going through the motions?
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 We would probably call these people nominal Christians.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 People who just turn up on Sunday.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 Maybe they give money.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 Maybe they go along to Bible study.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 Maybe they even get involved in things like
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 supper and going out afterwards.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 Maybe they read the Bible.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 Maybe they help out when they need it.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 They know the right words to say.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 They know what it looks like to be a Christian.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 They look right.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:28 They sound right.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 They smell right.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:34 But they don't live out that obedience to Jesus.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 There's a gap between the head and the heart.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 It's a thing that happens on Sundays
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 and they don't love Jesus.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 There is no heart connection.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 This behavior,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 it's really hypocrisy.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 Saying one thing and doing another.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 The church in Sardis,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 they thought,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 look, I'm going through the motions.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 I'm doing these things
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 and therefore God must live.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 If I tick these boxes,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 I'm all right with God.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:08 This church had forgotten what they had heard.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 They had turned away and forgotten about Jesus.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 These are hard words to hear.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 Everything you've been doing as a church has been a waste.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 You think you've been loving God,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:26 but you as a church are dead.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 This is damning.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 And it's probably the hardest words
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 that Jesus has to say to any of these cities.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 But Jesus doesn't leave them there in this position.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 He gives them some words.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 He gives them some things to wake up.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:43 And the first of them,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 have a look in verse 2 again.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 He says,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 wake up.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 Or more literally,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 it's watch out.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 Watch out.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 Now, if you came from Sardis,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 these words,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 watch out,
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 would have a very special meaning for you.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 Let me just give you a brief picture
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 of Sardis' history.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 The city of Sardis
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 actually had a wonderful reputation.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 At one point,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 they were one of the most powerful cities.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 The city,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 the majority of the city,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 was located on top of a mountain,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 Mount Tmolus.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 And it had these massive walls.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 Walls that were over 1 feet high.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 If you don't know the measurement feet,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 that means it's really big walls.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 And this city,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 they just had the reputation
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 that you don't mess with Sardis.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 You can't get through these walls.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 So armies didn't come against them
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 because they had this reputation
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 of being totally impenetrable.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 But twice in its history,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 first by Cyrus in the 6th century
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 and then by Antiochus the Great
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 in the 3rd century,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 they overtook this city.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 Not by sending a massive army
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 against these walls,
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 but by sending a few men
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 to climb up over the wall
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 when no one was looking
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 to open the gates
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 to let the army in.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 The failure of the city of Sardis
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 was that they didn't watch out.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 They didn't have people watching the walls
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 for that subtle hidden attack
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 from their enemy.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 They thought they were invincible.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 They believed their own reputation.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 So when Jesus says to the church in Sardis,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 watch out,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 it's a reminder
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 of what had happened to this city.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 Watch out for sin
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 that has crept into your lives,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 which has climbed over the walls
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 of your defences
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 when you weren't looking
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 and has rotted you out
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 like a worm
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 in a piece of fruit.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 Don't be lazy.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 Watch out.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 Don't think all is well.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 Don't think your Christian faith
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 won't be tested.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 So Sardis needs to watch out
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 because they've become complacent.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 The second thing that Jesus says
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 is to strengthen what remains,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 again in verse 2.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 Strengthen what remains.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 There are still some
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 in the city
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 and in the church of Sardis
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 who are following Jesus.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 And the command is that
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 they are to strengthen
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 what remains.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 Exhort the others in the church
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 to watchfulness.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 A strong church
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 will care for each brother and sister.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 If you're a committed Christian,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 you can't just worry about yourself.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 That's the Western individualistic lie
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 that we live in.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 But you're to encourage,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 to rebuke,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 to love your brothers and sisters.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 When you see your brother or sister sinning,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 tell them to stop.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Make sure that the church
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 doesn't get infested
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 with hollowed out Christians.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 People who come along to church
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 and confess his name
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 with their mouths,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 but throughout the week
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 they just worship themselves.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 Worshiping other gods
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 or worshiping themselves
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 with their time and money.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 The Christians
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 in the city of Sardis
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 should have been
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 watching out for themselves
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and for their brothers and sisters
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 to encourage
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 what remained.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 And the third imperative
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 that Jesus gives
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 to fix this church,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 he says it in verse 3,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Remember.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 Remember what you have received
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 and heard.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 Remember the gospel.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 That's what they had heard.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 The good news
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 that Jesus died and rose.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 And what did they receive?
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 Well, they'd receive forgiveness,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 new life,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 the promise of resurrection
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 with Jesus
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 and the presence
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 of the Holy Spirit
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 dwelling within.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 Don't forget this.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 Coe, where are you?
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 Brother, for you today,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 don't forget today.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 Don't forget today's date.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 It's the 31st of August, 2014.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 Have that tattooed
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 on the back of your hand,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 maybe the back of your eyelid.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 So when you close your eyes,
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 you're reminded of today.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 Because today is the day
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 you have heard the gospel.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 Today is the day
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 where you stood right here
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 and were baptized
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 and you said,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 I'm going to follow Jesus.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 Today is the day
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 that I am going to turn away
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 from my sin
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 and I'm going to turn to Jesus
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 and follow Him.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 In years to come,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 when it gets difficult,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 following Jesus is hard.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 Remember the gospel
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 you have heard today.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 For those of us
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 who have been Christians
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 for a while,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 remember that time
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 when you first
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 took ownership of God.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 Whether it was
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 five years ago,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 10, 20, 50,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 I don't care what it is.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 Remember when you first
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 heard the gospel.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 This shouldn't make us
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 feel guilty,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 but it's a reminder
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 of what God
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 has been doing
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 in us,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 for us.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 And could it be
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 that for this church
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 and for us
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 that they should remember
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 the passion
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 and faithfulness
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 which they had
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 initially accepted
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 the gospel?
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 When they were first
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 on fire for Jesus,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 when they gave away
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 their possessions
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 when it hurt,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 when they loved Jesus
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 even in the face
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 of opposition,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 the way that they lived
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 until sin
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 crept over their walls
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 and hollowed them out
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 from the inside.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 Instead,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 turn away from the world,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 live a life transformed
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 by Jesus,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 not one
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 worshipping idols.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 Instead,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 again,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 the next thing Jesus says
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 is to obey the gospel,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 obey it
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 and repent.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 Jesus calls on
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 this dead church
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 to turn away
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 from their life of sin,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 their false worship,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 their routine of church
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 which is not really church.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 Renew their worship
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 of Jesus.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 I think this is
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 one of the hardest parts
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 of being a Christian,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 consistently considering
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 your heart
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and your actions
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 before God
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 through His Spirit.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 our desires
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 quickly and easily
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 get defiled
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 by sin
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 which creeps
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 into our lives
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 like an attack
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 over the wall
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 of Sardis.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 We're bombarded
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 by sexualized images
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 in media,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 on billboards
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 and so that step
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to looking at pornography
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 is so much smaller
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 and easier.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 we get into
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 dangerous patterns
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 where sin
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 creeps in
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 and we don't
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 consider God.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Our heart
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and our desires
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 get perverted
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 and it happens
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 subtly.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 Let me share
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 something that
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 happened to me
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 earlier in the year.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 I don't mind
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 a drink of alcohol
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 occasionally
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 as long as you're
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 over 18.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 You know,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 a glass of wine
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 or a beer
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 on occasions.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 I don't think
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 there's necessarily
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 anything wrong
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 with these things
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 but I suppose
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 it depends
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 on the person.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 But what happened
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 for me
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 was a difficult
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 thing.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 I'm sure
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 many of you,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 well not many of you,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 I'm sure some of you
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 have had real struggles
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 in the big scheme
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 of things.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 Mine is quite small
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 but what happened
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 for me is that
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Alyssa has been
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 studying the diploma
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 in Bible and ministry
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 through,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 well college,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 on a Wednesday night
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 and so Alyssa
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 would go out
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 on a Wednesday night,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 I would put Isaac
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 to bed and I would
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 have these glorious
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 two hours where I
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 could watch whatever
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 I want on TV.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 I could relax,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 I didn't have to
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 watch MasterChef or
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 whatever Alyssa
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 usually watches.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 And so I would
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 relax and I'd have
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 a drink.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 It could be a glass
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 of wine,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 a beer and
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 you know,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 maybe just one
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 or two.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 It wasn't that
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 many a week.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 You know,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 I might have one
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 on a night.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 I wasn't getting
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 drunk.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 I didn't become
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 an alcoholic.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 But what happened
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 was I began to
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 tie relaxing
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 with having a
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 drink.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 And so when I
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 wanted to relax
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 on the weekend,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 well I'd have a
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 drink.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 And I noticed
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 all of a sudden
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 that I was heading
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 down a dangerous
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 path.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 I noticed
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 that if I
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 continued in
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 the pattern
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 I was setting,
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 it would get
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 dangerous for me.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 So I took
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 a month off
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 alcohol.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 I just wanted
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 to kill
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 this relationship
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 I had with
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 relaxation.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 I didn't
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 become an
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 alcoholic and
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 I'm not
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 necessarily saying
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 there's anything
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 wrong with it.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 But for me,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 at this point,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 I noticed it
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 was becoming
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 a dangerous
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 habit.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 Because our
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 desires quickly
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 and easily get
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 defiled by sin.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 It creeps into
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 our lives like
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 an attack over
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 the wall when
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 we're not
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 watching.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 We need to
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 continually obey
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 God, to
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 repent, to
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 turn away from
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 our sin.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 For those who
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 do repent,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 Jesus calls them
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 conquerors.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 Have a look at
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 verse 5 with
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 me.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 The one who
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 conquers will
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 be clothed
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 thus in
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 white garments
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 and I will
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 never blot his
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 name out of
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 the book of
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 life.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 I will confess
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 his name before
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 my father and
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 before his
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 angels.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 Clothed in
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 white,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 purified,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 there is no
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 more sin
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 attached to
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 them.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 Written in
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 the book of
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 life.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 I'm not sure
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 if there is a
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 literal book
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 that God
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 writes in.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 I don't think
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 it really
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 matters.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 but what is
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 important here
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 is the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 assurance that
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 Jesus gives.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 It is
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 worthwhile
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 turning aside
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 from the
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 world and
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 following Jesus
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 because we
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 can have
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 assurance that
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 we will have
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 new life with
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 him.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 Jesus will
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 tell his
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 father about
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 us.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 We will have
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 the absolute
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 best reputation.
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 We will be
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 given white
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 garments we
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 don't deserve,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 a reputation
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 we don't
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 deserve,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 because it
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 will be
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 Christ's
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 reputation.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 And that
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 is the
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 one which
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 God will
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 see.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 So there
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 is some
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 hope for
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 this church
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 of Sardis.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 While they
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 are dead,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 if they
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 repent and
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 turn back
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 to Jesus,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 there is
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 hope.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 But if
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 they don't,
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 there is
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 judgment
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 coming for
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 them.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 Have a look
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 again at
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 verse 3
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 with me.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 Jesus
00:19:31 --> 00:19:45 says he
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 will come
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 to
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 Sardis
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 in
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 judgment,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 just like
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 judgment
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and the
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 attacks that
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 came against
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 the city
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 of Sardis.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 They came
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 unexpectedly,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 secretly in
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 the night,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 scaling over
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 the wall,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 and Jesus
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 says he
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 will come
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 unexpectedly.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 If they
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 don't repent
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 and turn
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 back to
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 him,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 he will
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 come in
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 judgment.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 So the
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 question I
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 asked at
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the start,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 let me ask
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 that question
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 again,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 what is
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 your reputation
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 before God?
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 If Jesus
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 was writing
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 a letter to
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 this city
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 and to
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 this church
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 and to
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 you
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 specifically,
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 what would
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 he say?
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 would he
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 say,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 I know
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 your deeds.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 You look
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 alive,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 but you
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 are dead.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 I have
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 found you
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 wanting in
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 the sight
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 of God.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 You are
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 just going
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 through the
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 motions.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 You are
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 going to
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 church when
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 you feel
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 like it.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 You
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 consider
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 once a
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 month
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 regular.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 How can
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 you hear
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 my words
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 and follow
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 me if
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 you're not
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 being encouraged
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 with your
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 brothers and
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 sisters to
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 do that?
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 How can
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 you help
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 love and
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 build others
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 up in the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 church if
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 you're not
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 even there?
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 Would
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 Jesus say,
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 I love
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 you and
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 I want
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 you to
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 know what
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 I do
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 for you and
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 what I
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 will do
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 for you.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 I want
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 you to
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 know how
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 much pain
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 I went
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 through on
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 the cross.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 But you
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 do not
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 remember what
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 you have
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 heard.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 You have
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 blocked the
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 gospel from
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 going to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 your ears
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 because you
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 have heard
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 it all
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 before and
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 you think
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 you know
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 it.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 Would
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 Jesus say
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 you have
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 become a
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 hollowed out
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 husk of
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 a Christian?
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 See the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 problem is
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 we're prideful.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 We sin and
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 say that
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 everything is
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 okay.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 Have you
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 heard of the
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 miracle of
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 the car park,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 the church
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 car park?
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 This is the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 miracle where
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 as a family
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 you're in the
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 car on the
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 way to church
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 and you're
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 having a
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 massive argument.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 It could be
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 about anything.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 The colour
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 of the
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 sheets,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 whatever it
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 is.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 You're
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 having this
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 massive
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 argument.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 As soon as
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 you get to
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 church,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 you're putting
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 your happy
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 faces.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 Everything's
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 fine.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 We're
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 Christians.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 We're
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 wonderful
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 people.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 We're
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 always fine.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 You go
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 to church,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 you pretend
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 everything is
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 fine and
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 normal in
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 your house,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 you get
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 back in
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 the car and
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 as soon as
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 you're out on
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 the street,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 that argument
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 starts again.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 It's just
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 pride.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 It's the
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 sin of
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 Sardis.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 We think
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 we've got
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 everything
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 together.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 We think
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 that
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 everything's
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 fine.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 We don't
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 want to be
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 honest and
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 reveal our
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 sin to
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 other people.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 That would
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 just be too
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 humiliating.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 We think
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 we're alive,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 but really
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 we're in
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 trouble of
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 being dead
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 because we
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 won't confront
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 our own
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 sin.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 Repent
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 of your
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 sin.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 You don't
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 have to
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 pretend
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 everything is
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 alright,
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 especially when
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 you come to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 church.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 If you can't
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 be honest
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 with the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 people at
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 church who
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 go through
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 the same
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 thing and
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 love you,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 how are
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 you going
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 to do
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 it in
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 the rest
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 of the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 world?
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 If you
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 want to
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 confess,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 you can
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 come up
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 the front
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 after church
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 and pray
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 with us.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 Because
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Jesus doesn't
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 want a
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 church who
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 appears healthy
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 on the
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 outside,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 but he
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 wants honest
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 people who
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 through his
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 love and
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 grace consider
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 their actions,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 consider their
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 hearts and
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 repent.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 sin.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 They turn
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 away from
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 their sin.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 They don't
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 just look
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 healthy on
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 the outside
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 but are
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 fakes,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 but are
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 honest before
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 God.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 Let me be
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 completely honest
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 with you.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 Removing
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 sin and
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 turning to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 God, it's
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 hard.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 It hurts.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 It hurts to
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 cut sin out
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 of our lives.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 Let me tell
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 you another
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 story from my
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 life a little
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 bit more
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 recently.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 I'm sorry if
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 this feels like
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 I'm confessing
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 all my sin to
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 you and I
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 just have
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 this urge
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 to tell you.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 I hope you
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 can take
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 something from
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 the pain I've
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 gone through
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 and not go
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 through that
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 same pain
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 yourself.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 Our household
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 is a smacking
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 household.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 That's for
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 Isaac, our
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 two and a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 half year old,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 not for
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 Tamara, the
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 four week
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 old.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 She's perfect,
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 she can't do
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 anything wrong,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 so I'm sure
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 that will
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 change.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 I'm not sure
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 what you think
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 of this.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 If it's really
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 an issue for
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 you, we can
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 talk about it
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 later.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 But we
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 think with
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 Isaac that
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 it helps
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 him to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 understand the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 seriousness of
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 some of the
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 things he does.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 So if he's
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 trying to put
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 his fingers
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 into a fan,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 we say,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 Isaac, don't
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 do that.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 If he tries
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 it again, we
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 say, Isaac,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 don't do that.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 That will hurt
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 you.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 You'll lose a
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 finger.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 There'll be blood
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 everywhere.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 If you do it
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 again, we're
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 going to smack
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 you.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 If he does it
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 again, we smack
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 him.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 It had been
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 working well,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 but until
00:24:41 --> 00:24:44 recently, when
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 parenting Isaac,
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 I had let
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 sin creep in.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 Sin had
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 climbed in
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 over the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 walls and
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 attacked the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 way I
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 disciplined him.
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 Instead of
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 smacking Isaac
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 out of love,
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 I began to
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 do it out of
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 frustration and
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 anger.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 Things had
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 gotten more
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 difficult just
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 before we had
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 Tamara.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 That's not an
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 excuse.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 It's just
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 things had
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 tried my
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 patience
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 continually and
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 I was not
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 up to it.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 Isaac was
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 still often
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 warned and
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 he still often
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 needed to be
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 smacked, but
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 I began to
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 let my
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 frustration and
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 anger show
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 when I
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 disciplined
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 him.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 I was
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 confronted with
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 my sin before
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 God and I
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 thought, how
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 can I deal
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 with my
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 little son?
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 How can I
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 deal with him
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 in anger when
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 my God, my
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 father in
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 heaven who
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 loves me, sent
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 his son to
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 die for me?
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 How can I do
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 that to this
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 little boy?
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 So I decided I
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 couldn't do it
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 anymore.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 I'm taking a
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 time off
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 smacking.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 It's much
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 more labor
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 intensive.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 I told
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 Alyssa this.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 She had no
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 idea what had
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 been going on
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 inside me.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 My sin was
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 hidden even
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 from my wife,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 but not from
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 my God.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 let's not
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 be a church
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 who pretends
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 everything is
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 fine, resting
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 on our
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 reputation that
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 we have.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 Yeah, we're a
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 church that's
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 alive.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 Let's not
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 rest on that.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Let's consider
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 our hearts and
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 do the painful
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 work through
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 God's grace and
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 through his
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 spirit of
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 cutting sin
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 out.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 Watch out
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 for sin
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 creeping into
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 your life.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 watch out
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 for your
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 brother and
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 sister.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 If you
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 can't see
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 any sin in
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 your brother
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 or sister's
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 life, ask
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 them what
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 they're struggling
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 with.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 What kind
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 of reputation
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 will you have
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 before God?
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 Will Jesus
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 say, you have
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 just gone
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 through the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 motions, you
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 have not
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 loved me?
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 Will he say
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 that we are a
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 dead church?
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 Or will he say,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 well done,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 good and
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 faithful servants?
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 God's grace.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 Let's pray that
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 we would allow
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 God's grace to
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 continue to work
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 in us so that
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 we can be more
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 like him each
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 day.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 Let's pray.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 Heavenly
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Father, we
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 thank you for
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 your word.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 We thank you
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 for the
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 warning to
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 Sardis and
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 the warning
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 to us.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 Help us not
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 be complacent in
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 our sin.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 Help us
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 consider our
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 hearts.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 love you
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 and turn
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 aside from
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 everything that
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 gets in the
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 way.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 Through your
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 son's name we
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 pray.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 Amen.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 Amen.