Revelation
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 24th August 2014
Passage: Revelation 2:18-29
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 If there is a wicked witch in the Bible, her name is Jezebel.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 And we just read of her demise and when she died,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:13 I think you can hear the cheer and the clap go up throughout the scriptures,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 rejoicing at the death of this evil woman.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 The clash between her evil empire and the kingdom of God
00:00:21 --> 00:00:25 is one of the gripping and colossal stories in the Old Testament.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:25 Isn't it?
00:00:28 --> 00:00:34 When we read what we called the children's picture Bible to my kids,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 as young kids, so 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, we raised them on this Bible.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 I think it's out there, it's the Action Bible
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 and it's got quite a lot of detail from the Old Testament in it
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 and you learn the names of kings and queens as you go along.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 You're not trying to teach them all that sort of stuff, but they just pick it up.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:55 And my kids would ask for the Jezebel story over and over again
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 because her end comes so violently, she goes out the windows,
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 the dog eats her up and there's nothing left on the ground hardly.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 And they thought it was fantastic.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 Ding dong, the witch is dead.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 Now she first gets a mention in 1 Kings 16.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 I hope you hear what Steve said last week.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 He said about bogs in our hands and flicking through and following where we are.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:23 Go to 1 Kings 16 and 17 and keep up with me, I'll bounce around.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:30 She's first mentioned there because Ahab, the king of Israel, marries her.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 And you go, so what?
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 Well, verse 31 of chapter 16 tells us the so what.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:44 the son of Nebat,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:50 he took for his wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 the king of the Sidonians,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 and he went and served Baal and worshipped him.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 She captured his heart.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 He deserted his God,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 even more than he'd already been deserting his God.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:09 And Jezebel is actually an escalation in the sin of God's people
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 because she brings the fertility gods,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 Baal and Baal's female consort,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:16 Ashtaroth.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 They go together, Baal and Ashtaroth.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 They have sex together to bring fertility.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 He brings the worship of these gods to their marriage and to the nation.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 Gods that had been thrown out by the Lord
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 when his people conquered the land,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 they're worshipped again.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 They bring them back.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 God threw them out and they bring them back.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:47 And so it's as though ideas from the outside threaten God's people.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:56 People are beginning to tolerate again what God was completely intolerant of.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:01 Now the word tolerance is going to pop up a few times tonight
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 and I think we think of tolerant as a really good word
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 and it is a good and it's a respectful word
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 in terms of how we conduct relationships with one another.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 But I just want to say at the outset tonight
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 that when we talk about tolerance here,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 I want you to see very clearly
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 that there are certain things
00:03:22 --> 00:03:26 that God is completely intolerant of
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 and for him in some circumstances
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 tolerance is not a virtue.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 And what you've got here is sex
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 and false worship going together,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 hand in hand.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 Ahab takes this sexy bride Jezebel,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 she brings sexy worship to Israel
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 by bringing her fertility gods with her.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 You want to break a drought?
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 Stop the famine.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 Make it rain.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 We'll have sex with the temple prostitutes.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 That's the sort of religion
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 that she has just brought back into Israel.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 When you go down the path of idolatry,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:10 it is always a path which takes you further away from the Lord.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 It doesn't take you towards him.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 It takes you away from him.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 The king and his bride,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 as they take on these new gods,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 they're effectively turning their back on the Lord
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 and walking away from him.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 And they make this, it's ridiculous,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 but they make this huge investment
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 in gods that aren't really even gods.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 They participate in the very carnal pleasures
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 that go with them.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 That's the nature of idolatry.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 You think something, you're in it for good.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 You're in it for what you think is something better
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 and God is displaced from his rightful place
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 and he is no longer seen as gloriously special
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 and he becomes one option amongst many
00:04:50 --> 00:04:54 that we worship and he will not tolerate it.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:59 So God provokes this enormous confrontation
00:04:59 --> 00:05:03 here in the Old Testament in 1 Kings chapter 18.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 Calls his prophet Elijah onto the stage
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 and he says,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 to Elijah,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 go therefore and gather all of Israel to me at Mount Carmel,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 the 450 prophets of Baal,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 the 400 prophets of Asherah
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 who eat at Jezebel's table,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:26 bring them all.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 And it's really interesting
00:05:29 --> 00:05:33 because Elijah doesn't confront Jezebel directly,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 he's got nothing to say to her,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 but he speaks to God's people
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 who are in great danger
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 from being harmed by her teaching
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 and he lets rip.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 Chapter 18, verse 21.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 Elijah came near to all the people
00:05:47 --> 00:05:47 and he said,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 how long will you go limping
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 between two different opinions?
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 If the Lord is God, follow him.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 And if Baal is God, follow him.
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 And I heard a sermon once
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 where the preacher finished like that
00:06:00 --> 00:06:00 and he said,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 if Baal is God, follow him and go to hell.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Well, that's how he finished his sermon.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 But it's full on confrontation
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 and he follows it up
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 by putting his life on the line
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 with this contest at Mount Carmel.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 He does something that could get him killed.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 Let's see who the real God is.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 850 of you guys,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 do a sacrifice,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 call out to Baal,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 see if he can do anything.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 I'll pray to the Lord,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 the one who answers with fire,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 he's real.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 And the prophets,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 they go,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:38 prophets of Baal,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 they go first,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 they dance,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 they prance all day
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 and Elijah's just sitting there
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 with his hat on in the shade
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 while these guys are getting
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 tighter and tighter
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and calling out to their God
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 and he's sitting on the sidelines
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 and he's mocking them
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 and he said,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:50 maybe he's on the loo,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:51 maybe he hasn't heard.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 Maybe you need to dance harder,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 call louder,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 do more,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 get his attention,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 he's asleep,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 wake him up.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:03 And they finish the day
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 exhausted and collapsed
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 in a heap
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 and nothing's happened.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 And Elijah steps forward
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 and he prays
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 a really simple prayer to God
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 after soaking the altar
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 in all sorts of water
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 and the Lord answers with fire
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 and consumes the light
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 and Elijah then goes
00:07:22 --> 00:07:27 and has 850 of Jezebel's prophets
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 slaughtered.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 Kills a lot of them.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 Huge faith,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 an emphatic victory
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 and if you've been reading around
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 what's been going on,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 you go,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 yes,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 there is only one true God
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 and we had better follow him.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 Next day,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 Jezebel's in a rage.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 I'm going to get you Elijah
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 by the end of the day
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 if I'm just going to get you
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 and he hears what she says
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 and guess what he does?
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 He runs for his life
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 in crippling fear and depression.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 She's going to get me.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 He's human.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 Probably very empty.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 But God is God
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 and he just proved it
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 and Jezebel's religion
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 has just been exposed
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 as a complete
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 and utter fraud.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 Faith.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 There are 850 empty seats
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 at her dinner table.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 The prophets are dead.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 She's not dead.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 She still has influence.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:34 Her bitter cruelty
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 to God's people
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 is seen in 1 Kings 21.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 A bloke called Naboth
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 had a field
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 next to Ahab's palace
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 and Ahab,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 the king,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 offers to buy it
00:08:48 --> 00:08:53 and Naboth replies,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 the Lord forbid
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 that I should give you
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 the inheritance
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 of my fathers.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 He loves the Lord.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 He loves what the Lord
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 has given him.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 It's part of the Lord's
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 gracious gift of salvation
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 of having been brought
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 into the promised land
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 and receiving the inheritance.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 But for Ahab,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 it's business.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 He just put the real estate
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 leaflet in his letterbox
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 with an offer.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 I like your place,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 I'd like to buy it
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 and I'll pay you
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 what it's worth.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 Locker ground,
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 fair price.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 But for Naboth,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 it's much more than that.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 This is cash for faith.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 The Lord forbid
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 that I do such a thing.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 I won't trade my future
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 for a handful of cash.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Naboth doesn't care
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 how good the property market is
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 and the prices are
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 and how they're going up
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 and up and up.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 He won't cash in,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 he won't be bought.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 And Ahab,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 the king,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 he doesn't understand,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 he just goes home
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 sulking.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 I'm the king.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 I made a fair offer.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 Life for him's business.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 He's got power,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 he's king,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 he's generous enough
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 but he can't seal the deal.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 He doesn't get what he wants.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 He's frustrated
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 by Naboth's stubborn faith.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 He's a religious nutter.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Fancy letting religion
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 get in the way of life.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 That's the Ahab attitude.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 You know,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 it's alright to have faith
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 as long as it doesn't interfere
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 in the practical realities of life.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 You know,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 a young person can do
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 year 13.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 It's a great thing
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 for them to do.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 There's lots of parents
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 that will be happy
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 for their kids
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 to do year 13.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 You know,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 it's safe,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 it's not sex and drugs
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 and rock and roll
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 and a gap year.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 You know,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:55 but don't you dare
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 not go to uni.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 Don't you dare
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 go and do any more
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 theological training
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 or go overseas
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 and serve on some mission.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 Don't you dare do that.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 Or if you're working,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 you know,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 your boss tolerates
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 your faith at work,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 even commends you.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 Oh, yeah,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 Christian,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 good value,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 all that sort of stuff,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 but then you refuse
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 to fudge the book
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 or do something
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 that's illegal
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 that gets in the way
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 of the business plans.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 You won't write
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 the report
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 in the way
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 that she wants
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 because it distorts
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 the truth.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:33 Well,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 Jezebel takes care
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 of Abraham's depression.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Go to bed, honey.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 Cheer up.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 I'll get you
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 your field.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 And she goes
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 to the elders
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 and the leaders
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 of the city
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and easily corrupts them.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 They should have
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 thrown her out the window
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 then and there.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 If they'd done that,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 that would have solved
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 a lot of problems.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 But they get a couple
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 of liars
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 to come to court
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 and tell the court
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 that Naboth
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 has spoken against God
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 and he's spoken
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 against the king.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 It's a malicious lie.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 It's the complete
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 opposite of the truth.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 It's exactly
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 the same thing
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 that was said
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 to Jesus
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 at his trial
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 before he was executed.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 And so Naboth
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 is stoned to death.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 He loses his life
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 for no other reason
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 than faithfulness
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 to the Lord.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 He refuses
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 to be compromised
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 and Ahab,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 the king,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 gets his field.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 Jezebel never
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 was one of God's people.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 Ahab is,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 but he is clueless
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 about what it means
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 to be in a real relationship
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 with Yahweh.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 He's in the family,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 she's outside the family,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 but both of them
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 are deals
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 as far as understanding faith.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 They have no regard
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 for the Lord's power
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and his authority.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 God to them
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 is nothing.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 You can be at church
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 and not know Jesus.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 And being at church
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 does not mean
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 that you treasure Jesus.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 Might be that you're here
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 finding out about Jesus,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 that's a good thing
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 and that's a good reason
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 to be here.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:16 Jezebel
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 exercises
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 a corrupting influence
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 over God's people.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 She's godless.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 She doesn't believe
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 in the Lord.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 She'd rather have
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 her own gods.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 She still has no fear
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 of the Lord
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 despite Elijah's
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 huge victory
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 over her prophet.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 She won't acknowledge
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 what's happened.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 The nobles
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 and elders
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 of the city
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 should never have lied
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 and carried out
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 the execution
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 of a righteous man.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 They were enticed
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 into doing evil.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 They allowed themselves
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 to be enticed
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 into doing evil.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 And you can probably imagine
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 it's very tough
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 living in a scenario
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 where wicked people
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 bring ideas
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 and actions
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 that harm
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 the people of God.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 That pressure us
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 to do what is wrong.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 To be in a church
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 where the ways
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 of the world
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 are impacting
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 the congregation
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 and its leadership.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 where ideas
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 from outside
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 threaten God's people.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 Went to the Oxygen
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 conference the other week
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 with a couple
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 of thousand pastors.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 It was a great time
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 of refreshment
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and Don Carson
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 who's a great Bible teacher
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 spoke to us
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 on leadership
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 and one of the things
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 he said
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 which was
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 such a wonderful thing
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 for me to hear
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 was he said
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 that when we're
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 choosing leaders
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 we want people
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 with character
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 before we want
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 people with capability.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 We want people
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 with character
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 before we want
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 people with capability.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 We want capability
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 but it doesn't matter
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 how capable
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 and how honoured
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 you are
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 in the workplace
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 or in your school
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 or in your place
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 of endeavour
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 whatever it is
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 if you do not
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 have Christian character
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 to go with it
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 you have no place
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 as a leader
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 in God's church.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 Ideas
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 from the outside
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 can do
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 huge harm
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 to the people
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of God.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 And you get
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 to this point
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 in the message
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 and you think
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 is this an Old Testament
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 sermon
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 or is this a New Testament
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 sermon?
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 And so I want to turn
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 to Revelation
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 chapter 2
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 because something
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 verse 19
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 something pretty nasty
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 is impacting
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 the church
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 at Thyatira
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 and the Lord
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Jesus says
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 I know your works
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 your love
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 and faith
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and service
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 and patient endurance
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 and that your latter works
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 exceed the first
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 but I have this
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 against you
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 that you tolerate
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 that woman Jezebel
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 who calls herself
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 a prophetess
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 and is teaching
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 and seducing
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 my servants
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 to practice
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 sexual immorality
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 and eat food
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 sacrificed to idols.
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 they get a huge
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 trap
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 I know your works
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 I know your faith
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 your love
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 your service
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 your patient endurance
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 and that the latter
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 exceeds the first
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 you're a great
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 loving church
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 what a great thing
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 to hear about
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 our own church
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in terms of this
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 commendation
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 for the Lord Jesus
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 to say things
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 about 5pm
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 your love
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 your faith
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 your steadfastness
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 your standing firm
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 even when really
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 difficult things
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 are going on
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 around about you
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 these guys
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 are not like
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 the church in Ephesus
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 that have lost
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 their first love
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 they are continuing
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 to grow in their
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 fruitfulness
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 or it appears so
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 and their latter works
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 are even more fruitful
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 than their initial ones
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 and so you scratch
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 your head and say
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 but what's wrong
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 well they're not as
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 healthy as they appear
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 and they get this
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 very weighty warning
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 from Jesus himself
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 I have this against you
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 that you tolerate
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 that woman Jezebel
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 who calls herself
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 a prophetess
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 and is teaching
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and seducing
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 my servants
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 to practice
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 sexual immorality
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 and to eat food
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 sacrificed to idols
00:17:00 --> 00:17:03 now Jezebel
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 is an outsider
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 who is impacting
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 some of God's people
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 she's having
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 an impact
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 on the insiders
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 she's teaching
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 and seducing
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 my servants
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and the wider church
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 is putting up
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 with her
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 in a way
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 that they really
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 shouldn't be
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 putting up with her
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 there is a time
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and a place
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 for naming
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 evil amongst us
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 Paul did it
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 when he rebuked
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 the Corinthian church
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 in 1 Corinthians
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 chapter 5
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 he says
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 it is actually
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 reported
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 that there is
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 sexual immorality
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 among you
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 and of a kind
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 that is not
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 tolerated
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 even among pagans
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 he rebukes
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 insiders
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 he rebukes us
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 and he says
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 wake up
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 and it's really
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 interesting
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 he doesn't go
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 on a moral
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 crusade
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 against the
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 rotten state
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 of the world
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 and all the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 terrible things
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 that people
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 do out there
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 he strongly
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 rebukes the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 church
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 for what
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 they are
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 putting up
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 with
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 what they
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 tolerate
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 in here
00:17:54 --> 00:17:58 did it in a
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 different way
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 in Galatians
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 chapter 1
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 he said
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 I'm astonished
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 that you are
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 so quickly
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 deserting him
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 who called you
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 in the grace
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 of Christ
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 and are
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 turning to
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 a different
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 gospel
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 and not
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 that there
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 is another
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 one
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 but there
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 are some
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 who trouble
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 you and
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 want to
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 distort the
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 gospel of
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 Christ
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 but even
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 if we
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 or an
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 angel from
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 heaven
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 should
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 preach to
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 you a
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 gospel
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 contrary
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 to the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 one we
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 preach to
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 you
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 let him
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 be accursed
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 a pox
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 on false
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 gospels
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 that's
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 what he's
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 saying
00:18:27 --> 00:18:30 and I
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 am even
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 more astonished
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 that you
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 so quickly
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 listen to
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 them
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 what is
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 it with
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 you guys
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 that you
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 put up
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 with this
00:18:38 --> 00:18:42 stuff
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 that's
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 what I
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 wrote
00:18:44 --> 00:18:49 Jezebel's
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 a loaded
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 nickname
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 she's
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 somebody
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 who is
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 known in
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 the city
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 she's a
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 real person
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 she has
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 a view
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 of herself
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 she sees
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 herself as
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 a prophetess
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 she sees
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 herself as
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 bringing
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 teaching
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 and a
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 word that
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 is from
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 god
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 himself
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 and
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 tragically
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 the outcome
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 of her
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 teaching
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 is to
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 lead
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 god's
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 people
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 into
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 two
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 activities
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 that
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 are
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 expressly
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 forbidden
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 us
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 sexual
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 immorality
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 and
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 participation
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 in the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 worship
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 of other
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 deities
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 are never
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 alright
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 for christian
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 believers
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 we draw
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 the line
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 somewhere
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 and this
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 is where
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 the line
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 is drawn
00:19:26 --> 00:19:30 i had
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 a church
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 warden
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 once
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 a leader
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 who said
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 that he
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 felt like
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 we get
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 too hung
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 up on
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 sexual
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 teaching
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 and he
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 got under
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 my skin
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 and his
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 view was
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 that sexual
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 immorality
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 goes on
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 in the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 world
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 all the
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 time
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 and we
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 ought to
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 get over
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 it
00:19:41 --> 00:19:44 and at
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 that level
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 well he's
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 right
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 it does
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 that is
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 how the
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 world is
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 don't expect
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 any better
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 of the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 world
00:19:49 --> 00:19:53 but it's
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 never okay
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 in the
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 church
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 in any
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 form
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 adultery
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 homosexual
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 practice
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 feeding on
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 pornography
00:20:04 --> 00:20:07 sleeping
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 around with
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 men or
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 women outside
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 of marriage
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 and this
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 is not
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 just
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 you know
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 this is
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 not
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 hypocritical
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 nitpicking
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 or hypocritical
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 moralists
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 with one
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 another
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 we know
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 that Jesus
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 knows
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 what's in
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 our hearts
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 and not
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 just what
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 goes on
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 in outward
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 action
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 so Jesus
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 is talking
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 more than
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 just about
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 outward
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 action
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 he's talking
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 about what
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 our hearts
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 are like
00:20:30 --> 00:20:33 but it's
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 not the
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 unforgivable
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 sin
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 but it does
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 need to be
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 repented of
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 and at
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 its heart
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 sexual
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 immorality
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 porneia
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 is the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 word in
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 the scriptures
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 is a
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 powerful form
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 of idolatry
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 that drives
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 Jesus and
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 his love
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 from our
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 hearts
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 it reduces
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Jesus
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 it takes
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 us away
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 from him
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 it impacts
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 how we
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 treasure him
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 together
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 but there
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 is a way
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 back
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 and the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 only way
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 back from
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 it is to
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 give God
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 his rightful
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 place again
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 to repent
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 and to
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 seek his
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 joy
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 and his
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 filling
00:21:11 --> 00:21:14 it's not
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 unforgivable
00:21:14 --> 00:21:18 we don't
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 tell the
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 world
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 how to
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 live
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 but God
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 tells us
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 how to
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 live a
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 joyous
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 and full
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 life
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 as his
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 redeemed
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 people
00:21:28 --> 00:21:34 Steve's
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 been calling
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 the different
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 cities
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 I forget
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 it was
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 Canberra
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 last week
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 and Sydney
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 one week
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 I've lost
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 track now
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 but
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Thyatira
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 was a
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 Wollongong
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 or a
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 Geelong
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 type of
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 city
00:21:47 --> 00:21:50 working
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 class
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 lots of
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 industry
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 and we
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 don't know
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 heaps about
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 the city
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 or its
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 circumstances
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 it's buried
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 under a
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 modern city
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 these days
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 so there's
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 even very
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 little
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 archaeology
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 because you
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 can't get
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 to it
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 through the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 current city
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 that's there
00:22:06 --> 00:22:09 Lydia was a
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 trader in
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 purple
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 that was a
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 very important
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 colour for
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 regal and
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 royal robes
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 and she gets
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 a mention
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 in Acts
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 chapter 16
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 she came
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 from Thyatira
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 seems like
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 the people
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 who worked
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 in Thyatira
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 were workers
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 in bronze
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 they knew
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 how brilliantly
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 shiny
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 molten
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 bronze
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 was
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 and bronze
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 mirrors
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 that could
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 be created
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 by the
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 tradecraft
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 of the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 area
00:22:32 --> 00:22:35 to do
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 business
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 in a city
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 like that
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 you'd need
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 to belong
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 to a
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 craft guild
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 it was the
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 ancient
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 equivalent
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 of a
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 union
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 a trade
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 union
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 and I
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 guess
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 no card
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 no work
00:22:45 --> 00:22:48 nothing wrong
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 with that
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 except that
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 membership
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 would sometimes
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 mean going
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 to the union
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 Christmas parties
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 eating food
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 which had been
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 sacrificed
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 and offered
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 to the local
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 sun god
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 with his image
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 made of bronze
00:23:01 --> 00:23:04 demonstrating
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 your commitment
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 to the cause
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 with the cultic
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 prostitutes
00:23:08 --> 00:23:11 and so
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 immediately
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 there are
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 several dilemmas
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 if you're in
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Christ
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 have a Christian
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 friend
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 he went to
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 an industry
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 conference
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 like that
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 in Sydney
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 what would
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 you do
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 when your
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 roommate
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 brought back
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 to your
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 room
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 your roommate
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 for the
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 conference
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 brought back
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 to your
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 room
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 one of the
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 conference
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 provided
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 and paid
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 for
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 prostitutes
00:23:36 --> 00:23:42 the ancient
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 world isn't
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 so ancient
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46 and to
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 participate
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 or not
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 could have
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 a huge
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 effect
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 economically
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 how I'm
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 seen by
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 my peers
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 whether I'm
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 going to
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 rat them
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 out
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 am I
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 trustworthy
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 I'm not
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 corrupted by
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 this sort
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 of behaviour
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 you're in
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 or you are
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 out
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 do you
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 bow to
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 the local
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 deity
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 and you
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 know we
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 know as
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 Christians
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 that we
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 can rationalise
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 any other
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 god away
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 because we
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 know that
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 none of
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 them are
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 real
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 we know
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 that there
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 is only
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 one real
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 god
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 so every
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 other god
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 is a
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 nonsense
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 at one
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 level
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 these so
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 called
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 gods
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 aren't
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 really
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 gods
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 at all
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 but you
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 want business
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 to go
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 well
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 we have
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 people in
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 our church
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 family
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 we've had
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 people in
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 our church
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 family who
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 came to
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 Australia
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 from Penang
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 in Malaysia
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 and they
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 made a new
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 life here
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 because as
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 Christians
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 and as
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 Chinese
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 they can
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 only rise
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 to a
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 middle level
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 in Malaysian
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 society
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 and to
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 go higher
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 to be
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 more successful
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 they would
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 need to
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 convert to
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 Islam
00:24:45 --> 00:24:48 do you
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 rationalise
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 it away
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 and do
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 you say
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 if you're
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 feeling the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 pressure of
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 Islam
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 do you
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 say things
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 like well
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 we all
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 believe in
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 one god
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 don't we
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 or
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Islam
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 and Jesus
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 both believe
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 that Jesus
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 is a prophet
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 which is
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 true
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 but we
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 make
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 compromises
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 which deny
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 the uniqueness
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 of Christ
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 and so
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 we reduce
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Jesus to
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 something
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 that he
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 is not
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 we've
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 been
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 looking a
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 number of
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 times in
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 this series
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 to our
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 northern
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 Iraq
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 and talking
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 about
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Christians
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 in northern
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Iraq
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 and the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 mark of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 Nazarene
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 lives on
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 the line
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 and livelihoods
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 and everything
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 you own and
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 possess on the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 line over
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 a confession
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 of Jesus
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 Christ
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 crucified
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 and risen
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 again
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 lose your
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 life
00:25:36 --> 00:25:39 or convert
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 to Islam
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 and pay
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 the tax
00:25:41 --> 00:25:45 say something
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 that would
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 get me
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 killed in
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 many places
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 it's a
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 nonsense
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 it's an
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 invention
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 of one
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 man's
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 mind
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 written
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 six
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 centuries
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 after
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 Jesus
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 it is
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 a
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 nonsense
00:25:57 --> 00:26:03 when you
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 move to
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 a position
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 of
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 toleration
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 you
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 minimize
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 the
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Lord
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 you
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 make
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 him
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 less
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 in our
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 society
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 we have
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 huge
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 pressure
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 that comes
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 from a
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 secular
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 world's
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 value
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 highest
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 value
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 of
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 toleration
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 I think
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 the
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 Newcastle
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 Herald
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 you probably
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 wouldn't
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 read it
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 but
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 it's
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 done
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 award winning
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 journalism
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 exposing the
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 appalling
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 sexual abuse
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 of children
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 in the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 Newcastle
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 area
00:26:30 --> 00:26:33 and the
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 journalism
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 and the
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 journalism
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 which
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 led to the
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 world's
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 sexual abuse
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 and that
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 paper has
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 done the
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 whole of
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 Australia
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 an enormous
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 favour in
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 bringing those
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 issues out into
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 the fore and
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 making us
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 consider the
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 evil stuff
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 that's been
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 going on
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 even in
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 churches
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 they've done
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 wonderful work
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 really wonderful
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 work
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 something to be
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 proud of
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 but that
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 same paper
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 has also
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 run stories
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 for years
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 against the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 Anglican
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 Church's
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 intolerance
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 of
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 homosexual
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 clergy
00:27:06 --> 00:27:09 practising
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 homosexual
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 clergy
00:27:10 --> 00:27:13 and through
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 their campaign
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 the paper's
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 campaign
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 they have
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 made it
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 very hard
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 for the
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 Christians
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 in that
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 church
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 to drive
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 a very
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 small
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 number
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 of
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 immoral
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 men
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 from
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 positions
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 of
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 trust
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 and
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 leadership
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 within
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 church
00:27:28 --> 00:27:32 see
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 being
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 in
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Christ
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 automatically
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 brings
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 us
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 into
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 conflict
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 with
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 the
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 world
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 Jesus
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 says
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 to us
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 if the
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 world
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 hates
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 you
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 bear
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 in
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 mind
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 that
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 it
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 hated
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 me
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 first
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 John
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 15
00:27:42 --> 00:27:45 Revelation
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 chapter 2
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 verse 20
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 I have
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 this against
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 you
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 that you
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 tolerate
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 that woman
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 Jezebel
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 who calls
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 herself a
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 prophetess
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 and is
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 teaching
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 and seducing
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 my
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 servants
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 to
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 practice
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 sexual
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 immorality
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 and to
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 eat
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 food
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 sacrificed
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 to
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 idols
00:27:59 --> 00:28:03 the
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 antidote
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 to the
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 power
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 of
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 idolatry
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 is a
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 true
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 picture
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 of
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 God
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 himself
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 and
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 it's
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 here
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 in
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 this
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 passage
00:28:08 --> 00:28:38
00:28:38 --> 00:29:08
00:29:08 --> 00:29:38
00:29:38 --> 00:30:08
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 God
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 God
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 and
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 verse
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 23
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 this
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 nothing
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 less
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 than
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 God
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 Jesus
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 himself
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 will
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 strike
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 her
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 children
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 dead
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 and all
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 churches
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 will
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 know
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 that I
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 am
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 he
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 who
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 searches
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 mind
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 and
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 heart
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 God
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 will
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 unashamedly
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 judge
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 he
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 he is
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 to be
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 feared
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 by those
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 who
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 reject
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 him
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 Jezebel
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 is
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 doomed
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 and because
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 she refuses
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 to repent
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 and those
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 who have
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 followed her
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 evil are
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 implored to
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 repent
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 or they
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 are dead
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 too
00:30:35 --> 00:30:39 but it's
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 not just
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 judgment
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 because when
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 you read
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 this really
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 carefully
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 you see
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 it's
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 full of
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 grace
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 Jezebel
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 could have
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 repented
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 but she
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 chose not
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 to
00:30:50 --> 00:30:53 her
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 followers
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 haven't been
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 judged yet
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 they're offered
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 a way to
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 safety
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 they still
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 have opportunity
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 to repent
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 to turn
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 back to
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 Christ
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 and to
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 ask for
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 mercy
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 and forgiveness
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 the mercy
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 of God
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 is strongly
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 on view
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 here
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 if we're
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 struggling
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 in any
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 of these
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 ways
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 that we've
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 talked about
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 already
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 it's just
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 saying to
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 us repent
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 come back
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 turn around
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 admit failure
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 throw yourself
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 on the safety
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 of Christ
00:31:16 --> 00:31:19 there's hope
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 full of hope
00:31:20 --> 00:31:23 full of hope
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 in the face
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 of great evil
00:31:24 --> 00:31:27 in verse 23
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 Jesus says
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 I am he
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 the big picture
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 of Jesus
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 I am he
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 who searches
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 hearts
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 and minds
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 his eyes
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 see and
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 penetrate
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 everything
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 including
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 deeply
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 inside us
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 and he
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 isn't
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 filled
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 by outward
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 appearance
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 he knows
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 our hearts
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 and minds
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 there's no
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 deceiving him
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 we are
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 totally exposed
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 before him
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 and he has
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 acted with
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 extraordinary
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 love to
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 redeem us
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 despite us
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 he knows
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 what we're
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 like and he
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 still loves us
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 and has acted
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 to preserve us
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 amazing
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 he's a
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 wonderful
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 lord
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 and his
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 feet
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 aren't
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 like clay
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 fragile
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 like yours
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 and mine
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 they're
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 burnished
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 bronze
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 in this
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 passage
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 he's
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 powerful
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 he's
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 more
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 brilliant
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 than any
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 bronze
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 the workers
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 in Thyatira
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 have ever
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 worked with
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 he's strong
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 and he's
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 powerful
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 and he's
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 brilliantly
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 glorious
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 and so
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 John uses
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 pictures
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 that are
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 deeply
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 encouraging
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 to anybody
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 who's doing
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 it tough
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 in the world
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 which is
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 urging them
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 to compromise
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 a world
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 which is
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 intolerant
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 of true
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 faith in
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 Jesus
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 the Jesus
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 we worship
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 is mightier
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 than anyone
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 in the
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 commercial
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 world
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 with any
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 power
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 they bring
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 to bear
00:32:32 --> 00:32:35 he's
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 stronger
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 than the
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 toughest
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 person
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 who gives
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 you grief
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 at school
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 who shames
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 you at
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 university
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 you know
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 when we
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 we can
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 feel very
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 isolated
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 and very
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 fearful
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 under the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 pressure of
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 evil
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 vastly
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 outnumbered
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 nobody
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 believes
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 what we
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 do
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 or is
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 doing it
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 as tough
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 as I am
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 that's how
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 we feel
00:32:56 --> 00:32:58 and Elijah
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 the next
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 day after
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 this magnificent
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 victory
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 on Mount
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 Carmel
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 against
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 Jezebel's
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 prophets
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 after standing
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 strong and
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 staring down
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 evil
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 he runs
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 away the
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 next day
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 and he says
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 to God
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 I'm the only
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 one
00:33:10 --> 00:33:13 and God
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 said
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 actually
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 I've got
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 7 people
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 who haven't
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 bowed their
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 knee to
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 bale yet
00:33:18 --> 00:33:20 you're not
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 alone
00:33:20 --> 00:33:25 I have
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 many people
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 standing firm
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 and you see
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 that here
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 in Thyatira
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 so these
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 words of
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 warning are
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 not to the
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 whole church
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 there's a
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 bunch of
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 people here
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 who
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 verse 24
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 to the
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 rest of
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 you
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 a whole
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 bunch of
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 them haven't
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 caved in
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 under pressure
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 the rest of
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 you in
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 Thyatira
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 who do
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 not hold
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 this teaching
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 who have
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 not learned
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 what some
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 call the
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 deep things
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 of Satan
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 I say to
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 you I do
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 not lay on
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 you any
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 other burden
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52 hold fast
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 what you have
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 until I come
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 they aren't
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 called to
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 repent like
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 some people
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 in other
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 churches
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 they're called
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 to stand
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 firm
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 hang on
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 keep on
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 keeping on
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 don't compromise
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 what you know
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 to be true
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 don't tolerate
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 evil
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 don't yield
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 to sexual
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 immorality
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 don't bring
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 the values
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 of the world
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 into church
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 don't make
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 compromises
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 to protect
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 your job
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 or to secure
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 a future
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 advancement
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 in your
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 career
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 seek your
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 security
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 in Christ
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 not in
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 idols
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 and Jesus
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 makes the
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 most glorious
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 promises
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 we won't
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 miss out
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 we might
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 feel weak
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 we might
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 feel powerless
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 people might
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 think we're
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 insignificant
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 right now
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 in the face
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 of great
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 evil
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 but we
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 have a
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 guaranteed
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 future
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 with extraordinary
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 privilege
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 verse 26
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 the one who
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 conquers
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 and keeps
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 my works
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 until the
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 end
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 to him
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 I will
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 give
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 authority
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 over the
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 nations
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 and he
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 will rule
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 them with
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 a rod
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 of iron
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 as when
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 earthland
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 pots are
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 broken
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 to pieces
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 even as
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 I myself
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 have received
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 authority
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 from my
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 father
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 and I
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 will give
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 him the
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 morning star
00:34:54 --> 00:34:56 quote
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 psalm 2
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 it's full
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 of old
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 testament
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 this passage
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 great song
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 of God's
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 kingship
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 over all
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 the nations
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 the song
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 that looks
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 ahead into
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 the future
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 the son
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 of God
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 that God
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 would raise
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 up to
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 rule the
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 nations
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 the one
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 who would
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 receive
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 universal
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 authority
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 and power
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 and right
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 here in
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 revelation
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 2 he
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 tells
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 believers
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 that we
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 will share
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 in his
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 rule
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 and in
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 his
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 authority
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 and I
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 read that
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 and I
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 just cannot
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 get my
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 head around
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 it that
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 God would
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 share such
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 rule and
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 authority
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 with me
00:35:26 --> 00:35:29 we will
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 be authorised
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 by God
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 himself
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 to exercise
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 his good
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 rule
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 over
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 nations
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 one
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 important
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 job
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 that's
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 an
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 important
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 job
00:35:37 --> 00:35:41 God
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 will
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 entrust
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 us
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 to rule
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 for good
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 for him
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 take us
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 back to the
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 very beginning
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 of the
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 Bible
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 in
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 Genesis
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 2
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 and we
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 won't get
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 it wrong
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 next time
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 with Genesis
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 3
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 pretty amazing
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 promise
00:35:52 --> 00:35:55 but you
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 know there's
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 an even
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 better promise
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 here
00:35:57 --> 00:36:00 I will
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 give him
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 the
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 morning
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 star
00:36:02 --> 00:36:05 it's a
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 picture
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 of a
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 king
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 that's
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 promised
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 in
00:36:07 --> 00:36:07 Numbers
00:36:07 --> 00:36:07 24
00:36:07 --> 00:36:10 and this
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 king gets
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 a mention
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 again in
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 the last
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 couple of
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 sentences
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 of the
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 whole of
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 the Bible
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 at the
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 end of
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 Revelation
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 chapter 22
00:36:18 --> 00:36:20 verse 16
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 I Jesus
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 have sent
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 my angel
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 to testify
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 to you
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 about these
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 things for
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 the churches
00:36:26 --> 00:36:28 I am the
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 root and
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 the descendant
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 of David
00:36:30 --> 00:36:32 the bright
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 morning
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 star
00:36:33 --> 00:36:37 I will
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 give him
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 the morning
00:36:39 --> 00:36:39 star
00:36:39 --> 00:36:42 I will
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 give him
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 Jesus
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 the one
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 who overcomes
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 I will
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 give him
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 Jesus
00:36:46 --> 00:36:50 said this
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 morning
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 to somebody
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 who's not a
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 believer
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 this is
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 foolishness
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 I reckon
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 only an
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 insider can
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 understand
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 this
00:36:55 --> 00:37:00 what could
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 be better
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 than power
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 and influence
00:37:02 --> 00:37:06 what could
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 be better
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 than being
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 loved and
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 respected
00:37:08 --> 00:37:11 what could
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 be better
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 than being
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 a mover
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 and a
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 shaker
00:37:14 --> 00:37:17 what could
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 be better
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 than being
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 independently
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 wealthy
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 what could
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 be better
00:37:20 --> 00:37:22 than having
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 a revered
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 name
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 or coming
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 from an
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 esteemed
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 family
00:37:26 --> 00:37:28 what could
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 be better
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 than a
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 strong moral
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 code
00:37:31 --> 00:37:33 what could
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 be better
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 than finding
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 Mr or
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 Miss
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 right
00:37:36 --> 00:37:39 what could
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 be better
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 than having
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 the right
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 look
00:37:41 --> 00:37:44 tells us
00:37:44 --> 00:37:46 Jesus
00:37:46 --> 00:37:48 Jesus
00:37:48 --> 00:37:50 far higher
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 than all
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 the other
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 idols and
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 gods of
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 this world
00:37:53 --> 00:37:56 the one
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 to whom
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 every knee
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 will bow
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 and every
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 tongue
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 confess
00:37:59 --> 00:38:01 to know
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 Jesus
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 to be
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 known by
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 Jesus
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 to be
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 safe in
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 the presence
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 of Jesus
00:38:08 --> 00:38:11 I will
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 give him
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 Jesus
00:38:12 --> 00:38:14 and he
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 could well
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 have written
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 and he
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 didn't write
00:38:16 --> 00:38:18 but Jesus
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 is indeed
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 our greatest
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 treasure
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 thou
00:38:21 --> 00:38:23 know
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 every
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 way
00:38:24 --> 00:38:26 to
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 him
00:38:26 --> 00:38:31 he
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 and
00:38:31 --> 00:38:40 he
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 but