Revelation
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th August 2014
Passage: Revelation 2:12-17
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 When we first became parents, Natalie and I were determined to be good parents.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 We'd worked out in advance of having kids.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 But it didn't take us long to realise that we were far better parents without kids than with kids.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 It's just a whole lot easier, I think, to think about and actually do it.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 There were a few things that we decided we weren't going to bend on.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:28 Sugar intake and TV time were the two things that we, amongst other things, were going to draw a line on.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 We were pretty strict with both.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:35 Poor little Izzy, for some time, thought that milk arrowroot was the best biscuit in the world.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 That's because that's what I consistently told her, it was the best biscuit in the world,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 until her little fingers wrapped for the first time around a Tim Tam.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 And she discovered that I was lying.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 I remember the first time that chocolate actually touched her lips.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:53 I forget how old she was.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 I don't think she was, she wouldn't have been a year old, I don't think.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:01 But we were on a ferry between Townsville and Magnetic Island.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:08 We were travelling with some friends and one of the lady had a, she was eating a Magnum ice cream.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 Sitting, and she had Izzy on one lap, she's eating his Magnum ice cream.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:19 And without even thinking about it, she ripped off a whole chunk of the chocolate and shoved it in her mouth.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 And her eyes just lit up.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 And the world changed.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 It was all Technicolor and fireworks and fairies.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:36 And she just immediately, having tasted the chocolate, she just immediately grabbed the other hand and went,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 with the chocolate, with the ice cream and took a mouthful of it.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 But for me in that moment, I was like, oh, compromise.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:49 You know, and yet from that moment, how easy, it was all spoiled by that moment,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 so how easy it is from that moment to compromise from one thing to the next thing to the next thing.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 And now we go on holidays and I hear myself saying things like, it's holidays.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 Eat an ice cream every day if you like.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 How quickly it was that I bent.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 And that's to say nothing about TV.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:11 When your kids have been sick for a week, mum becomes a waitress and the TV's the nurse.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 I mean, which is what's been happening for the last 10 days.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:21 Our kids have just been, you know, one Peter Rabbit thing and Bob the Builder and all this other stuff that they watch.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 One thing, Saddle Club, one after another after another.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:30 And one of the things that I used to think was a real shame was I'd drive past people,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:34 I'd take them on the highway and they'd see the TVs glowing in the back of the car.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 And I remember thinking, oh, I'd never do that.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:43 I've now worn out three sets of those dual screen TV things in the back of my car.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 I'm looking for the fourth one already.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 Compromise, I think, is one thing when it's sugar and TV.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 It's another thing when it comes to sin and Jesus.
00:02:54 --> 00:03:02 After 20 years of ministry, I cannot count the number of people who I know in all sorts of various ways
00:03:02 --> 00:03:06 who have compromised with Jesus and walked away from faith in him.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 I actually think, for me personally, it's one of the hardest things about ministry
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 is people making those decisions which ultimately see them walking away from Jesus.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 Some of those people were more committed than me.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 They were better taught.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 They were further down the track, being Christians a lot longer.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 People who were fervent for Christ.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 Some were kids in youth groups.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 Some were youth group leaders.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 Some were students with me at Moore College.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:38 Some of them were high-profile pastors and preachers.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 It's very sad when it happens.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:49 I remember specifically where I was when one of my best friends phoned me up
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 and in the course of the conversation said to me,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 Steve, I'm just not convinced it's true anymore.
00:03:55 --> 00:04:01 I remember pleading with another young lady
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 not to marry a certain non-Christian guy
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 they married and she is now finished with Jesus
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 none of these people
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 all circumstances are different
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 but one of the things which is interesting
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 is that none of them sought counsel earlier
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 in making their decisions
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 none of them shared their conflicts and their struggles of their hearts
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 now let me say
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 Jesus might not be finished with them
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 but for the moment
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 they are finished with Jesus
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 and as Jesus addresses this church at Pergamon
00:04:36 --> 00:04:40 the believers there seem to be flirting with false teaching
00:04:40 --> 00:04:44 they are not openly embracing immorality
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 and idolatry
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 but what they haven't done
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 is they haven't closed the door on it
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 they are leaving the door open to it
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 Jesus begins with a strong commendation of this church at Pergamon
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 and this commendation is made even stronger
00:05:02 --> 00:05:07 because Jesus knows that they are living in a fairly bad neighbourhood
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 verse 13
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 I know where you live
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 where Satan has his throne
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 that's Pergamon
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 now so if Ephesus
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 we have looked at Ephesus and Smyrna so far
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 so if Ephesus is the sort of like business
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 you know
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 place of
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 of Asia Minor
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 sort of like your Sydney of Asia Minor
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Smyrna was more like the Melbourne
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 cultural trendy kind of place
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 of Asia Minor
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 Pergamon was its Canberra
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 poor Pergamon
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 okay
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 so you've got the picture right
00:05:40 --> 00:05:40 okay
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 it was the seat of government
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 in Asia Minor
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 and as such
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 it was the first place
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 to have a temple
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 which was authorised
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 as a place of worship
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 for the emperor
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 and so Pergamon
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 was the most important city
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 in Asia Minor
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 as far as the Roman imperial cult
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 was concerned
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 so Roman pagan idolatry
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 quickly gained acceptance
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 it amalgamated with a bunch of other
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 religious practices of Pergamon
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 so there was a nice
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 official
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 approved
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 blend
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 of
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 religious practices
00:06:21 --> 00:06:21 and ideas
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 and thoughts
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 that's
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 where Pergamon was
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 that's the neighbourhood
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 but in spite of the bad influence
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 of the neighbourhood
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 Jesus says in verse 13
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 yet you remain true to my name
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 you did not renounce your faith in me
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 even in the days of Antipas
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 my faithful witness
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 who was put to death
00:06:40 --> 00:06:40 in your city
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 where Satan lives
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 so in spite of their
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 proximity
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 to Satan's throne
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 they remain true
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 to the name of Jesus
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 that means what
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 they were actually living
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 for the glory
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 of Jesus
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 we can see here
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 that Jesus name
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 his glory
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 matters a lot
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 to him
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 by the way that he mentions it
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 to these churches
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 not just this one
00:07:08 --> 00:07:08 to the other churches
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 so in chapter 2 verse 3
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 you have persevered
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 and have endured hardship
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 for my name
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 verse 13
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 you remain true
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 to my name
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 verse 8
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 of chapter 3
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 you have kept my word
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 and have not denied my name
00:07:23 --> 00:07:23 verse 12
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 of chapter 3
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 I will write on him
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 the name of my God
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 and my own new name
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 Jesus cares
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 about his name
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 that is
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 he cares about
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 his reputation
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 I remember
00:07:38 --> 00:07:38 going to a restaurant
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 with a member
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 of my extended family
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 when I was a teenager
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 and as we
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 sat down
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 we had this sort of
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 big table booked
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 and we sat down
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 and my grandfather
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 the patriarch
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 of the family
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 said to us all
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 at the table
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 now
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 listen up
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 I'm well known
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 in this place
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 now the implication
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 was that we had
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 to behave ourselves
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 and not do anything
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 that would actually
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 embarrass him
00:08:04 --> 00:08:04 in any way
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 which as a teenager
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 you're kind of tempted to
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 once he says it
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 and he was concerned
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 for his reputation
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 we took it
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 as a bit of a joke
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 and as him
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 big noting himself
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 which is what he tended
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 to do
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 but all these years later
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 I mean we took a number
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 of years later
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 like 30 odd years later
00:08:22 --> 00:08:22 now
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 it's still a joke
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 in the family
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 so
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 as my brothers
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 and my parents
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 and the extended families
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 went out to a restaurant
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 last year sometime
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 as we walked in the restaurant
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 dad turned around
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 and said
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 now boys
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 don't forget
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 I'm well known
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 in this place
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 so behave yourselves
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 and I think he'd had
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 a coffee there
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 once before
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 or something like that
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 and dad was up here
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 visiting recently
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 and he came to church
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 with me on Sunday morning
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and I said to him
00:08:51 --> 00:08:51 now dad remember
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 I'm well known
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 in this place
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 behave yourself
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 now I suspect
00:08:58 --> 00:08:58 that most parents
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 know that feeling
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 that in some ways
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 my kids
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 are a reflection
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 on me
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 in some ways
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 and here we see
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 Jesus is saying
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 I care about my name
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 I care about my reputation
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 and this church
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 at Pergamum
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 had held fast
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 to the name of Jesus
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 and by doing that
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 by holding fast
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 to the name of Jesus
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 even to the point of death
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 as in the case
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 of Antipas
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 they were declaring
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 to the city of Pergamum
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 that Jesus
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 is better than life
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 it's what we looked at
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 last week
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 they held up well
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 in this satanic
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 stronghold
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 in which they lived
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 but their faithfulness
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 to Jesus name
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 was under threat
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 see it there
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 in verse 14
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 nevertheless
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 I have a few things
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 against you
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 you have put up
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 you have people there
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 who hold to the teaching
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 of Balaam
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 who taught Balak
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 to entice the Israelites
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 to sin
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 by eating food
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 sacrificed to idols
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 and by committing
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 sexual immorality
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 likewise
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 you also have
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 those who hold
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 to the teaching
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 of the Nicolaitans
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 now this is a bit
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 of a tricky bit
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 but this point here
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 is the heart
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 of the issue
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 for this church
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 at Pergamum
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 in the Old Testament
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 there's this strange
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 prophet
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 named Balaam
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 and there's another man
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 with a similar
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 sounding name
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 called Balak
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 now Balaam
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 was a prophet
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 for hire
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 and Balak
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 was the king
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 of Moab
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 and in Numbers
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 22 to 24
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 we read
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 that Balak
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 offered Balaam
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 money
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 to prophesy
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 a curse
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 upon God's people
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 Israel
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 you see
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 Balak was worried
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 because he had seen
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 how numerous
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 the people of Israel
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 were
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 they'd come out
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 of Egypt
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 and they were just
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 growing in prominence
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 and everywhere they went
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 they just succeeded
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 and he was kind of worried
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 they're going to move
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 into Moab
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 they're going to destroy
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 his kingdom
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 depose him as a king
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 and take over the place
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 and so he pays
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 Balaam
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 to curse God's people
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 to send them off
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 but every time
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 Balaam tried to
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 prophesy
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 against God's people
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 blessing came out
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 rather than cursing
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 it's fairly comical
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 actually
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 he'd stand up
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 and go
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 okay okay
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 I'll do it this time
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 and speak
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 and blessing comes out
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 rather than curses
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and Balaam
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 desperately wanted
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 to get paid
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 he was a
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 prophet for hire
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 and Balak's
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 pulling his hair out
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 because he wants
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 these people cursed
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 he couldn't get God
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 to curse his people
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 and so he came up
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 with another plan
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 it's there in
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 chapter 25
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 verses 1 to 3
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 the men began
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 to indulge
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 in sexual immorality
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 with Moabite women
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 who invited them
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 to the sacrifices
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 to their gods
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 the people ate
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and they bowed down
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 before these gods
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and so Israel
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 joined in worshipping
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 the Baal of Peor
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 and the Lord's
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 anger burned
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 against them
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 see what happened
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 the Israelite men
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 were seduced
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 into idolatrous worship
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 which back in those days
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 was nothing short
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 of mass orgies
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 and if you flick
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 over to
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 Numbers 31
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 verses 15
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 to 16
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 it mentions
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 these Moabite women
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 again
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 it says
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 these were the ones
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 who followed
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 Balaam's advice
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 and were the means
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 of turning
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 the Israelites
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 away
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 from the Lord
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 in what happened
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 at Peor
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 so that a plague
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 struck
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 the Lord's people
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 this whole plan
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 was Balaam's idea
00:12:35 --> 00:12:39 and the plan
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 worked a treat
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 he could not
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 get
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 God
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 to abandon
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 his people
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 so what he did
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 was he came up
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 with a scheme
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 where God's people
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 abandoned God
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 and so God
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 cursed his people
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 for their
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 compromise
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 and their rebellion
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 it seems here
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 are similar things
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 happening at Pergamon
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 the people at Pergamon
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 are offered
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 one of two choices
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 persecution
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 like Antipas
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 who will
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 who remains
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 steadfast
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 in the name
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 of Jesus
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 or
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 seduction
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 a giving away
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 a giving up
00:13:18 --> 00:13:22 this church
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 had stood firm
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 in the time
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 at Antipas
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 but now
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 there's a threat
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 of compromise
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 not all of them
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 there's a group
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 there
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 who are
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 threatening
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 to compromise
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 they're being
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 seduced
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 by the city
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 by its culture
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 and Jesus
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 now says
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 this church
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 at Pergamon
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 you've got
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 some people
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 in your midst
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 the Nicolaitans
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 who are teaching
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 the same sort of thing
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 that Balaam taught
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 they're trying
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 to encourage
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 Christians
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 to compromise
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 don't take it
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 so seriously
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 it doesn't matter
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 that much
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 these Nicolaitans
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 were at Ephesus
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 and it's quite
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 possible
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 that they're
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 at Thyatira
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 the church
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 for next week
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 their leader
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 is possibly
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 the woman
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 that John
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 calls
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 Jezebel
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 in chapter 2
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 verse 20
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 who calls
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 herself
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 a prophetess
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 but we see
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 in chapter 2
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 verse 6
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 that Jesus
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 was pleased
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 with the
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 Ephesians
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 because they
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 rejected the
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 Nicolaitans
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 it says
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 but you had
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 this in your
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 favour
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 you hate
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 the practices
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 of the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 Nicolaitans
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 which I
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 also
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 hate
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 but Pergamon
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 they left
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 the door
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 open to
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 it
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 and what
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 was almost
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 certainly
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 taught
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 was syncretism
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 a combination
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 of religions
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 a combining
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 a coming
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 together
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 a tolerance
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 of ideas
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 that led
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 to a tolerance
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 of all sorts
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 of different
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 expressions
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and lifestyles
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 it was a
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 drawing together
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 ultimately
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 it was a
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 lessening
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 of sin
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 what the
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 Bible
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 calls
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 sin
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and a
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 minimisation
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 of the
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 importance
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 of Jesus
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 in a word
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 what these
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 people were
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 doing
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 was compromising
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 the Roman
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 imperial cult
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 included
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 worship
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 of the
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 emperor
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 and of
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 the gods
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 that would
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 be
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 inescapably
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 idolatrous
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 nothing short
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 of just
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 pure
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 idolatry
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and there
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 is no
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 shortage
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 of evidence
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 that as
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 they participate
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 in their
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 idolatry
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 everything
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 just descended
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 into
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 drunkard
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 orgies
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 and the
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 teaching
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 of the
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Nicolaitans
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 probably
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 validated
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 a certain
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 level of
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 participation
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 in this
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 kind of
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 civic
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 life
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 the
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 celebrations
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 of the
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 city
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 of
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 Pergamum
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 which
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 would
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 have
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 been
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 idolatrous
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 and
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 immoral
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 it was
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 causing
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 the
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 teaching
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 was
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 opening
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 the
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 door
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 for
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 God's
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 people
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 to
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 compromise
00:15:50 --> 00:15:55 the
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 1924
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 summer
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 Olympics
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 were hosted
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 by the
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 city
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 of Paris
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 Eric
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 Little
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 was a
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 devout
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 Christian
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 who refused
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to run
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 his heat
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 in the
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 100 metre
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 race
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 because it
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 was held
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 on a
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 Sunday
00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 it was
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 his best
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 event
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 the schedule
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 had been
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 published
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 several months
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 in advance
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 his decision
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 was made
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 several months
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 in advance
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 that he
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 would not
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 compromise
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 his conscience
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 and his
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 principles
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and run
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 on a
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Sunday
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 and he
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 came under
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 enormous amount
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 of pressure
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 he's running
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 for his
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 country
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 so
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 enormous
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 amount
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 of pressure
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 for him
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 to
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 it doesn't
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 matter
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 that much
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 compromise
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 just a bit
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 I mean
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 the Olympics
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 only come
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 around once
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 in four
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 years
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 go to
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 church
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 next
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 Sunday
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 his decision
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 was final
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 he trained
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 instead
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 for what
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 is now
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 the 400
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 metre
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 race
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 it wasn't
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 his best
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 race
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 in fact
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 far from
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 it
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 he was
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 fairly
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 mediocre
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 at it
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 and when
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 the day
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 Olympic
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 400 metre
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 race
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 came
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 Liddell
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 went to
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 the starting
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 blocks
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and as
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 he went
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 there
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 one of
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 the
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 American
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 Olympic
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 team
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 masseurs
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 came to
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 him
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 and gave
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 him
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 a piece
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 of paper
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and on
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 that piece
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 of paper
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 was written
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 1 Samuel
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 2
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 verse 30
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 those who
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 honour me
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 I will
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 honour
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 and that
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 inspired him
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 to run
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 and to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 run
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 hard
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 you see
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 he was
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 prepared to
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 give away
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 a certain
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 Olympic medal
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 he was
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 the favourite
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 for the
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 100 metre
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 gold medal
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 he was
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 prepared to
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 give up
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 an Olympic
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 medal
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 but he was
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 not prepared
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 to give up
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 on his
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 conscience
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 he was
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 not prepared
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 to compromise
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 and to sell
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 out on
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 Jesus
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 and for him
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 that was a
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 drawing of
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 the line
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 as it
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 turns out
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 he ran
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 hard
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 and he
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 won
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 the
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 gold
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 medal
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 for the
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 400
00:17:56 --> 00:17:59 those who
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 honour
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 me
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 I will
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 honour
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 and Jesus
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 says to this
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 church at
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 Pergamum
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 I know
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 where you
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 live
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 I know
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 you're in
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 Satan's
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 domain
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 I know
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 where you
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 live
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 I know
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 where I've
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 put you
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 the same
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 evil one
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 here at
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 Pergamum
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 is the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 ruler of
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 the kingdom
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 of the
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 air
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 he tried
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 to tempt
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 Jesus
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 into
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 compromising
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 in Matthew
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 chapter 4
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 he used
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 Peter to
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 try and
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 dissuade
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 Jesus
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 from going
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 to the
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 cross
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 and Jesus
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 turns to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 his best
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 mate
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 and calls
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 him by
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 his worst
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 enemy
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 and says
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 get behind
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 me
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Satan
00:18:38 --> 00:18:41 this evil
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 one
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 masquerades
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 as an
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 angel of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 light
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 forget all
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 images of
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 horns and
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 tails and
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 fire and
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 all sorts of
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 stuff like
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 that
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 he is
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 a fast
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 talking
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 clean cut
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 charming
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 logical
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 morally
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 bankrupt
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 con man
00:19:00 --> 00:19:03 he is
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 the ruler
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 of the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 kingdom
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 of the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 air
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 and he's
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 at work
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 in the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 world
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 now
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 and his
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 desire
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 if he
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 cannot
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 destroy
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 you
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 front up
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 his
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 desire
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 will be
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 to seduce
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 you
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 until you
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 compromise
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 until you
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 compromise
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 until you
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 compromise
00:19:17 --> 00:19:22 and Jesus
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 knows
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 where you
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 live
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 he knows
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 the pressure
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 that you
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 are under
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 when you
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 are confessing
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 him at
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 work
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 he knows
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 the pressure
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 on the
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 sporting field
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 or university
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 at home
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 he knows
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 it can mean
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 loss and it
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 can mean
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 hardship and it
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 can mean
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 laughter and it
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 can mean
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 rejection
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 exclusion
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 he knows
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 the pressure
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 to sleep
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 in on
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Sunday
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 instead
00:19:51 --> 00:19:54 I'm
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 deeply
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 encouraged
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 by
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 friends
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 of mine
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 who made
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 a decision
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 early in
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 their marriage
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 and even
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 when they
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 had kids
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 is that
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 we'll be
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 at church
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 every Sunday
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 we are
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 physically
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 able to
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 be
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 regardless
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 and I
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 said
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 why did
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 you make
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 that call
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 they said
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 we do
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 not trust
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 ourselves
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 we open
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 the door
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 just a
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 moment
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 particularly
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 for our
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 kids
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 just open
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 the door
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 for a
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 moment
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 and make
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 one excuse
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 we open
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 up the
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 floodgates
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 to make
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 all kinds
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 of excuses
00:20:28 --> 00:20:32 Christians
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 in the
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 end
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 are people
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 who do
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 say no
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 there are
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 things that
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 we won't
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 believe
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 and there
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 are things
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 that we
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 won't do
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 and especially
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 we say no
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 if it means
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 saying no
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 to Jesus
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and frankly
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 that is
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 hard
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 in our
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 culture
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53 it is so
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 ironic
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 how a
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 soft
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 centered
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 tolerant
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 progressive
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 open and
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 permissive
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 society
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 can be
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 curiously
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 hard
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 on those
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 who refuse
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 to go
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 along
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 with them
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 they can
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 be curiously
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 hard and
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 intolerant
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 of those
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 who say
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 no
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 who won't
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 join
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 with them
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 and Jesus
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 says I
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 know where
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 I have
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 placed you
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 I
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 understand
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 but take
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 note
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 Jesus takes
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 compromise
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 very seriously
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 verse 16
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 he calls his
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 church to
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 repent
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 he calls
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 them to
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 turn their
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 back
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 on compromise
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 otherwise
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 he says
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 I will
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 come
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 to you
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 and will
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 fight
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 against them
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 with the
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 sword of
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 my mouth
00:21:39 --> 00:21:43 the option
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 is either
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 be judged
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 by the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 world
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 or be
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 judged
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 by Jesus
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 there is
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 no possibility
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 of laying
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 low
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 keeping your
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 head down
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 ducking
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 for cover
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 hoping the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 trouble sort
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 of passes
00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 God has
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 just as God
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 struck down
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 those who
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 compromised
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 in numbers
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 25
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 those who
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 sin
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 so Jesus
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 threatens to
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 come and
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 fight against
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 those holding
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 to the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 teaching
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 Nicolaitans
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 he will
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 fight
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 against
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 them
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 with the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 sword
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 of his
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 mouth
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 is what
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 it says
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 which is
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 what is
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 announced
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 there at
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 the beginning
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 of this
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 section
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 in verse
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 12
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 these are
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 the words
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 of him
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 who has
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 the sharp
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 double-edged
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 sword
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 we read
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 in chapter
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 19
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 verse 15
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 that when
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 Jesus returns
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 in glory
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 from his
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 mouth
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 it says
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 comes a
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 sharp sword
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 which to
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 strike down
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 nations
00:22:35 --> 00:22:38 rather than
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 I think
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 imagining
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 that Jesus
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 has this
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 sort of
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 sword
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 shaped
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 tongue
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 we should
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 see here
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 that what
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 he means
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 is that
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 Jesus
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 in the end
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 will speak
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 decisive words
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 of judgment
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 his words
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 will be
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 final
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 his judgment
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 is final
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 and in
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 Ephesians
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 chapter 6
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 where Paul
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 is encouraging
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 Christians to
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 stand firm
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 stay strong
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 with Jesus
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 and to stay
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 strong with
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 Jesus against
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 all the attacks
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 of the evil
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 one
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 he encourages
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 Christians to
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 take on the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 armor of
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 God
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 and in
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 verse 17
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 of Ephesians
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 6
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 it says
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 the sword
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 of the
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 spirit
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 is the
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 word of
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 God
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 and in
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 Hebrews
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 chapter 4
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 the word
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 of God
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 is a
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 living
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 and active
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 sharper
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 than any
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 double-edged
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 sword
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 it judges
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 the thoughts
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 and the
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 attitudes
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 of the
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 heart
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 ultimately
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 everything
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 will be
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 judged
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 according
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 to its
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 alignment
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 with
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 the
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 word
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 of
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 God
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 with
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 Jesus
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 word
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 and so
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 we're
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 called
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 here to
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 listen to
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 word
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 of
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 God
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 and
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 judge
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 everything
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 in
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 accordance
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 with
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 it
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 because
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 ultimately
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 everything
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 will be
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 judged
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 by
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 it
00:23:53 --> 00:23:56 means
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 you judge
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 all
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 teaching
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 all
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 instruction
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 by
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 the
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 word
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 of
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 God
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 not
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 by the
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 word
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 of
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Pergamum
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 not
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 what the
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 culture
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 is saying
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 what does
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 the word
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 of
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 God
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 say
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 that
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 is my
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 guide
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 that
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 is my
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 rule
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 that's
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 what
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 I
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 obey
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 let me
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 say that
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 every
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 person
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 that I
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 have seen
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 compromise
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 with sin
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 and eventually
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 walk away
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 from Jesus
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 has cut
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 themselves off
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 from listening
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 to the
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 word of
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 God
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 they only
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 listen to
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 teaching
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 that affirms
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 their view
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 they pull
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 back from
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 Bible reading
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 and from
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 Bible study
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 and from
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 other Christians
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 particularly
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 who challenge
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 them
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 they surround
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 themselves
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 with
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 people
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 who will
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 not
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 bring
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 scriptures
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 to bear
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 on their
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 lives
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 they pull
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 away
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 from
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 church
00:24:39 --> 00:24:45 they reject
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 the word
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 of God
00:24:46 --> 00:24:51 now there is a promise here to those who overcome
00:24:51 --> 00:24:55 it's for those who repent and turn away from compromise
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 in verse 16
00:24:56 --> 00:25:00 he will come and fight with those who compromise and tarnish the name of Jesus
00:25:00 --> 00:25:05 but in verse 17 he will come and give manna and a white stone with a new name
00:25:05 --> 00:25:08 written on it known only to him who receives it
00:25:08 --> 00:25:38 now it's sort of difficult to know exactly what that means or both those things mean except to say it's it means good it's good stuff manna is that strange bread in that God gave to the people of Israel as they went in the wilderness he miraculously fed them day in day out and Jesus had in that that picture of God's miraculous provision of his people in the old testament when he said I am the bread of life
00:25:38 --> 00:25:41 all who come to me will never grow hungry
00:25:41 --> 00:25:48 and Jesus also said that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God
00:25:48 --> 00:25:54 and the word that brings judgment here is also the word that brings life forever
00:25:54 --> 00:26:06 and Jesus promises to be our feed to feed us for all of eternity to give us nourishing life and sustenance for all of eternity
00:26:06 --> 00:26:12 now the white stone with a name written on it is a little bit more confusing
00:26:12 --> 00:26:18 it was what they used to do to get access into the stadium
00:26:18 --> 00:26:21 we call it ticker tech nowadays
00:26:21 --> 00:26:24 they called it white stoner tech
00:26:24 --> 00:26:29 what they used to do is you get a white stone get your name on it that gave you entry into the stadium
00:26:29 --> 00:26:35 and what Jesus promised here is basically
00:26:35 --> 00:26:42 those who remain faithful to Jesus name will each be given a white stone by Jesus
00:26:42 --> 00:26:45 with a new name written on it
00:26:45 --> 00:26:52 and it will guarantee you access into his presence forever
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 that's the promise
00:26:54 --> 00:26:58 because God honours those who honour him
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 one final challenge from this letter
00:27:01 --> 00:27:05 what is interesting in this text is it flows from plural to singular
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 singular to plural all the way through
00:27:07 --> 00:27:10 and
00:27:10 --> 00:27:13 only some of the people in this church
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 at Pergamum
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20 but the letter comes to the whole church
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the whole church
00:27:21 --> 00:27:24 and Jesus says I will come to you and deal with them
00:27:24 --> 00:27:28 and it points to the way that as members of the church
00:27:28 --> 00:27:31 we are both individually responsible for ourselves
00:27:31 --> 00:27:35 and corporate responsibility for other members of the body
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 the whole church is being judged guilty
00:27:37 --> 00:27:39 because they aren't doing anything to discipline
00:27:39 --> 00:27:42 those who are holding to the teaching of Nicolaitans
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 which threatens to unravel the whole thing
00:27:44 --> 00:27:48 they are failing to rebuke their brothers and sisters
00:27:48 --> 00:27:52 and repentance here is to take the form of the church
00:27:52 --> 00:27:55 pursuing a process of discipline
00:27:55 --> 00:27:58 with those who are holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 and this process of discipline
00:28:00 --> 00:28:04 is motivated by a desire to keep Jesus
00:28:04 --> 00:28:07 from coming and fighting against them
00:28:07 --> 00:28:09 to keep Jesus from coming and judging them
00:28:09 --> 00:28:15 here the minority are compromising
00:28:15 --> 00:28:18 and the majority aren't doing anything about it
00:28:18 --> 00:28:23 and the call to this church at Pergamum
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 is dare to discipline
00:28:25 --> 00:28:28 because compromise kills
00:28:28 --> 00:28:31 and so it's not just good enough for me
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 and it's not just good enough for you
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 to hold to the Bible's truth
00:28:34 --> 00:28:38 we must watch out for each other's lives
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 you must watch out for me
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 and I must watch out for you
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 you must watch out for each other
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 do you love Jesus?
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 do you love the honour of his name
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 and your brothers and sisters
00:28:51 --> 00:28:54 enough to speak the truth to them?
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 to nip it in the bud early
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 when things start to arise
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 and say my brother, my sister
00:28:59 --> 00:29:03 you are in a dangerous place right now
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 so much is at stake for you
00:29:05 --> 00:29:08 now I suspect there are those amongst us
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 who have never done that
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 and may have been
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 potentially been Christians for years
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 never in love
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 pulled up another Christian brother and sister
00:29:15 --> 00:29:18 and actually raised
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 privately with them
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 raised an issue
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 of wrong understanding
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 wrong thinking
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 or wrong living
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 maybe we're being fed
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 by our culture too much
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 we go
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 all that stuff's private
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 you know
00:29:28 --> 00:29:30 you can't tell me how to live
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 it's my own business
00:29:31 --> 00:29:34 I think the Bible calls us to it
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 maybe we think
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 it's the pastor's job to do it
00:29:37 --> 00:29:40 it's my job to do it
00:29:40 --> 00:29:45 it's interesting
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 when I first came here
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 I had two
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 people separately
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 pull me aside
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and ask me
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 what I was going to do
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 with so and so over there
00:29:52 --> 00:29:54 another person
00:29:54 --> 00:29:58 and I asked both of them
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 who had known the person
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 for decades
00:30:01 --> 00:30:04 what have you done so far?
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 nothing
00:30:05 --> 00:30:08 nothing's been done
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 and I've been here for months
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 and you expect me to
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 if something was done
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 decades ago
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 we might not have the same issue
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 we've got right now
00:30:17 --> 00:30:22 let me say that I am
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 incredibly grateful
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 to the people
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 in my life
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 who have spoken
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 who have had the courage
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 to speak words of truth
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 to me
00:30:30 --> 00:30:34 someone in love
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 pulled me aside
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 for my questionable
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 humour
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 in fact right now
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 I'd say it's not
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 questionable at all
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 they were right
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 I was wrong
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 I'm glad they said it
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 someone in love
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 pulled me up
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 this is just a few examples
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 keep going really
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 pulled me up for
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 demeaning a young person
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 once
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 putting them down
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 inappropriately
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 with my humour
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 and they were right
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 I had a potential
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 to crush someone
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 who I ought not
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 have been doing that to
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 someone asked me
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 once
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 whether I
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 whether I thought
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 I was spending
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 too much time
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 with a person
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 of the opposite sex
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 particular person
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 they thought I was
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 I'm really glad
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 that they spoke to me
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 I'm grateful
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 because frankly
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 my heart will do
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 all sorts of back flips
00:31:17 --> 00:31:19 and gymnastic contortions
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 to justify itself
00:31:21 --> 00:31:23 it will just do that
00:31:23 --> 00:31:26 I need to add here
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 I don't want to be spoken to
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 by people who are angry
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 people who have got
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 agendas to drive
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 people who are whingers
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 I don't need people
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 to rebuke me
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 who really enjoy rebuking
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 I want people to come to me
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 with tears
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 with their heart
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 being ripped out
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 in love for me
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 love for Christ
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 and the glory of his name
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 but I need them
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 to do it anyway
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 I need them to do that
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 for the promise
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 for those who overcome
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54 is so important
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 that we need
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 a church culture
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 where we allow others
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 to open the Bible
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 and speak to us
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 and where we will
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 actually speak to them
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 as well
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 where we have the courage
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 to speak to others
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 because frankly
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 I want to be
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 an overcomer
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 I want to get that
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 white stone
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 whatever it is
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 I just know it's good
00:32:13 --> 00:32:16 our core values
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 of humble authenticity
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 and treasuring Jesus
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 reflects
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 the sort of culture
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 we need
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 at St Paul's
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 a culture
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 where we
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 communicate
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 with honesty
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 authenticity
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 transparency
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 with vulnerability
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 of our imperfections
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 a culture
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 where we will
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 covenant together
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 make a commitment
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 together
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 to watch over
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 each other's lives
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 with vigilance
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 and accountability
00:32:36 --> 00:32:39 we need
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 to help each other
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 to become
00:32:41 --> 00:32:43 overcomers
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 and sometimes
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 helping each other
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 become overcomers
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 means
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 a difficult conversation
00:32:48 --> 00:32:51 may we have the
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 humility
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 to own it
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 and accept it
00:32:53 --> 00:32:55 and hear it
00:32:55 --> 00:32:58 my brothers and
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 sisters
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 do you have
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 ears
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 to hear what
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 the spirit
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 says
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 to this church
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 St Paul's
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 Amen