Sermon Transcript
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Sun, Mar 17, 2024 10AMM • 58:24SUMMARY KEYWORDSJesus, church, god, revelation, work, hear, suffering, read, false teachers, bible, remember, word, talks, love, reward, marriage, baptism, message, prophecy, commitment
Good morning. Welcome. If you're new here among us, my name is Gene I serve here at C3 church as your pastor. And if you are not new here among us, you know, Tony gave a great message last week, so I want to thank him for that. But if you are new, maybe you have a question. If you're not new, you've pondered this question. The question is this. Can I be a Christian? Without going to church? Can I be a Christian without a church? Short answer? Yes. Yes, you can. But it is something like being a student who won't go to school. The soldier won't join the army, a salesman with no customers and author without readers.
I know what that's like.
A tuba player without a band or an orchestra, because who wants to hear a tuba solo? There's got to go you're all tuba players now because you're not laughing. Yet still, there are those who say they insist. I can be a Christian without the church. So a good friend of mine shared this article Babylon V. I like satire. Everything's funny to me. So I'll share this with you. This came up. I don't need church. Right? I studied the Bible for myself, said someone who never read the Bible. Indeed, as we're learning here. The context for the majority of the New Testament is
church.
It's about church, right? So these letters we're reading, they're written to the churches, right, or people who are in charge of the churches, we looked at Jude, what happened, he wanted to write about all kinds of nice things, but he had to address the false teachers who were worming their way into the church. So today, we are going to look at Revelation. And the way revelation starts is by addressing the churches imagine that, right? So really important. So this is exciting. For me, as a pastor, this is probably one of the most difficult messages I've ever had to put together. And it's not because revelation is for engineer, I don't read it or anything like that. It's how people perceive it talks about false teachers, right? There's more false teachings on the book of Revelation than any other book of the Bible. I mean, basically, like 99% of them out there are just wrong. Right? So it's exciting because it gets to reveal things to Revelation, right. So it reveals some things you might not know. So really exciting. It is indeed the most misunderstood and misinterpreted book of the Bible. And the most mispronounced it is probably shun revelations. He made that mistake. Don't worry, just don't make it again. Alright, so ellipses, so it's the Apocalypse of John and we'll see it really should be the apocalypse of Jesus. So something that's hidden Calypso, you ever hear that name Calypso, it comes from the Greek hidden, OPPO Colucci say from the hidden basically like revealing the hidden revelation. So that's what it's about. So it's not some kind of secret code book, it's actually revealing things to you. And so the readers of that time, would have understood a lot that we kind of make a mystery of, and so we'll get there. But what we're going to do, basically, Revelation is part letters, part prophecy. And you could break it into three parts. So a lot of different ways of interpreting that. And I just don't like the just the labels and this or on that, or I believe that stop. They didn't do that in the early church. And this phraseology existed, none of this theology existed, it just they would read it for what it was. And so when you're looking at it, rightly, you're looking at the first three chapters being letters to the churches, right. So for open up, worship in heaven, that kind of thing. But the middle section of the book of Revelation is prophecy about things that are going to happen in a near Earth time, right, so still farther away than then, but near Earth time, mostly about Rome, then you get to the end, and that is about the future time. So that's really the way it breaks down into three parts. But we're going to do two parts. So I want you to see these things as a whole is a larger picture. And that's the key. And I'm not going to kind of hammer this down, because a lot of people aren't new here today, and you've heard this 1000 times. But the way we read the Bible is like reading one line of a book in random order, and never finish it. Yet we say we know what it's about, right? It doesn't work that way. And so you have to look at something like revelation as a whole. You have to just see it like you're sitting down watching a movie, right? So I'll break this part for you and then we'll get into the prophecy stuff. Next week. We're going to have to do that next week. Unless You guys want to be here for like four hours? We're good. Anybody? Still not laughing Okay tuba players who don't like going to church. So that wasn't funny either, man. Don't be scared. It's just revelation. Right? It's good. All right, so we're going to pay attention to some things you'll hear and here's why like larger sections of Scripture, it's the way it's supposed to be done. You're going to start to like, oh, okay, see things, sevens. sevens are really big number of completion, based on kind of that Sabbath week. So you're seeing that at the beginning of the Bible, right? The creation account, and you're seeing at the end of the Bible, lots of sevens really important here, a big theme, suffering and endurance, look for those words, like suffering and endurance. Alright, so and imagery. I'm going to help you with this. But if you just read Revelation by yourself, and you had not both read and understood all of the Old Testament prophets, you're going to be lost, like, it's really going to be hard to understand. So you really have to read the prophets and have an appreciation for that. And I'll bring up Jesus, you have to kind of especially have read Matthew 2425. If to understand this kind of stuff, and how it all works, I'll help you with it. But if you're doing your own reading, really important to just, like, read the prophets understand what's going on here. A lot of imagery and other set of words, you're going to look for, like a, it's like this. It's like that. So imagine getting a prophecy right. So God gives me this prophecy and all sudden, I'm looking into heaven, right? This is a copy, right? It just a shadow of the things that haven't like, my mind would be blown. You know, I don't even know. So how would I describe it to you guys? Like what was kind of like this, right? Or like that. And so that's why you're going to later especially, you're going to hear different like emerald stones and different stuff like that, you know, imagine having a prophecy about 2000 years from now, right? They're going to have modes of transportation and different stuff. So we're going to have to go, it's kind of like an airplane, or you know, so there's like animals, it's like this, or it's like that. So pay attention to like, up is not literal. This is not literal. There's a lot of symbolism in here. I will help you as much as I can with that, and then we can ask more questions at the Bible study. So let's hop right in here, the letters of the churches. So first, Revelation, one, one. This is a revelation from or of, if you're new here, my brackets are usually Greek, when the Greek is a little more literal, over there, I'll put it in there of Jesus Christ. So notice this is a revelation of Jesus Christ, not a Revelation of John, as it's traditionally titled, which God gave him to show his servants, the events that must soon or quickly take place, I think quickly is better, right? Because when is that? I don't know. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ. God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and He blesses all who listens to its message, and obey what it says for the time is near that's where it gets good. Alright, so again, revelation of Jesus, right? So it is him being revealed uncovered, if I didn't say this, right, Calypso. Hidden ellipses hidden. So this is on hiding something. So that's what Jesus is doing for us here. It's not a mystery. He's just unraveling this for us. So here's the cool thing, right? I guess. I'm blessed.
The reads it too.
So we're supposed to here we looked at this in the series, right? What did they do? They would read this to the church. That's what we're doing here. Right. And again, you're blessed to if you obey, right, so that's another key here. Revelation one for this letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia, Asia Minor, Grace and peace to you from the one who is who always was and who is still to come from the seven fold spirit of the seven spirits so that seven again, before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, he is a faithful witness to all these things, the first arrived from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world, all glory to Him who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us a kingdom of priests, for God, his father, all glory and power to him, forever and ever. Amen. And amen. So this is a really great opening, isn't it? Because it tells us who Jesus is what he did for us. It's like a little gospel, prayer in their grace and peace, right? So if you've been with us for a while, you know the series we're going through the books of the Bible, it's kind of the way Paul opens his letters, grace and peace setting the tone, and priesthood. Remember, First Peter, so we're kind of a priesthood and he's addressing us to the church, because remember, Well, God bless this one who listens to this reads it to the church. So that's you. So then I'll go into another kind of little gospel poem type of thing. Look, he comes on the clouds of heaven, everyone will see him, even those who pierced him. So once again, what did he do? All the nations of the world will mourn for him? Yes, amen. And then Jesus comes in. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning in the end, says the Lord God. I am the one who is who always was and who is still to come the almighty You want reframing what was just said? Yes, you're right, John, like, this is me. Very clear here. Jesus is God. So this is the setup, right? So we're very clear about this and it's repeated. That's important. Alright, so revelation one nine, I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and God's kingdom in the patient endurance to which Jesus called us to catch those words. I was exiled to the island of Patmos, for preaching the word of God, and for my testimony about Jesus. It was the Lord's day and I was worshiping in the spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, Ryan evoke everything you see and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and the CM, when I turn to see who is speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands. With someone like the Son of Man, he was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest, his head and hair were white, like wool. So here we go with the likes, and white as snow and his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace. And his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves, he held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was like the sun and all his brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet is very dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, Don't be afraid. I'm the first in the last, I'm the living one, I died. But look, I'm alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death in the grave. Write down what you have seen, both the things that are happening, now happening and the things that will happen. This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw on my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. So a lot to unpack here, but just quickly, a partner in suffering. We've heard that before, like Philippians, right? Your partners in Jesus's suffering, right. So the Lord's day, traditionally, the first day of the week, Sunday is the Lord's day he's worshiping even though he's by himself, or we don't know. Maybe he's exiled on Patmos. He's got friends with him. We don't know. Here, but did you catch it? I heard this is another interesting thing. It'll come up next week. I heard that I saw, so he'll hear things. And then he'll see things you got to pay very close attention here. Like, of course, Son of man, he referred to you this refers to himself as the Son of Man, Daniel seven. So this is going right back to what was said. And he comes on the clouds of heaven, right? So that's Daniel seven. He's saying, I'm god, this is the way even the high council understood it. It's one of the things that got Jesus killed. He said this, they know he's saying he's got. So here's an example here where the prophecies explained to us a lot of time just like that, if we just keep reading, it'll kind of just tell you what it is. Right? So interpret itself. For us. The sword, we'll talk about the two edged sword in a minute. So after like the next section or two, well, I'll tell you about that. Yeah, that's going to be important. So now remember, emphasis, right? So Ephesians, Paul's letter there. And remember x 19. Remember the riot and Ephesus, Revelation to one, write this letter to the angel, the church and Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands. And all the things you do. I've seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people, you have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles, but are not. You have discovered they are liars, you have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did it first. Look, our volume fallen, turn back to Me and do the works. You did it first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from his place among the churches. But this is in your favor. You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans are Nikola Tesla's, just as I do, anyone with yours here must LISTEN to the Spirit understand what he's saying to the churches, to everyone who is victorious, I will give the fruit from the tree of life and the paradise of God. So we see this again, false teachers just keeps coming up, right? Again and again, especially as we get closer to the end of the Bible a lot. Alright, so again, expose that you don't tolerate them. And we're not supposed to. In the church. We're not supposed to tolerate that. In fact, we're supposed to expose them. And we see that actually in Ephesians, you see that in Ephesians? Right? So don't partner up with the bad deeds, even expose them. I'll talk about the Nicolaitans and the Nicolaitans. Just a little bit later, I'll explain them to theme patiently suffering. But here's the problem. And this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did it first. Look how far you fallen. Turn Back to Me and do the works. You did it first. So how do we show love? What does he say? Works? By doing stuff, right? So what we do is more about what we believe than anything we could possibly say it's that we're saved by works right Ephesians Again, look at that letter to aid. We're saved by grace through faith right and whom Jesus Christ, but keep reading, we're created a new and Christ Jesus. So that we can do good works prepared beforehand for us. So important understand, so rewards now we're going to start getting into rewards there's going to be in general except with one, and then there's going to be an issue like a problem and reward a problem and the reward, the reward here, there's a beautiful one fruit from the tree of life. So now the whole Bible is all coming together. Because you remember the problem with Adam and Eve, right? What did they eat from the tree? Like with the of knowledge of good and evil, so they got that knowledge of good and evil. But then God does something really cool because he's like, look, the human beings have become like, us. Trinity, right? So knowing both good and evil, what if they reach out take from the tree of the fruit of life and eat it? So they'll live forever? So what's the reward? Eternal life, right? So now we get to eat that fruit light. So that's the imagery that's going on here. Another thing to look for I mentioned Trinity really quick. It's just interesting. This is another reason why you got to kind of read the whole thing, who is giving the prophecy to John? Well, Jesus, right. But we what does it say to listen to LISTEN to the Spirit. And he's talking about the Father. So if you read this carefully, you see a picture of the Trinity here. It's really cool. Same way. So, so one essence, three persons, that's the right way to think of it. Revelation two, eight, right, this letter to the angel, the church and snared up. This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who is dead, but it's not alive. I know about yourself reading and your poverty, poverty, excuse me, but you are rich. I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say there are Jews, but they're not because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don't be afraid of what you're about to suffer, the devil will throw some of you into prison attached to suffer for 10 days. But if you remain faithful, even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Anyone have ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying and the church's preference victorious will not be harmed by the second death. So click very clear here suffering are we reading that again? You're going to experience suffering for Jesus. Big theme, though, remain fit, this will come up a lot more next week remain faithful, even when facing death. Right? Then what do you get reward what crown of life really cool. Also, really importantly, there is no second death. So that's your main reward here. Second Death, we're going to read about it. No bueno. Or it's not a good thing.
You don't want the second. So no second, continue revelations to 12 write this letter to the angel of the church and Pergamum This is the message from the one with the sharp two edged sword. I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You have refused to deny me even when NTFS my faithful witness was martyred among you there and Satan city, a few complaints against you, you tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that a Balaam, who showed Bailey kind of trip up the people of Israel, He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some nickel Asians that are they are again among you, who follow the same teaching, repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Anyone with the ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give some of the manner there's been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. So here's that two edged sword again, and I'll explain that. So you might have heard this right and it's out of context completely. Hebrews four like the word of God is alive and I have live and active sharper than any two edged sword, right? That's where you stop. It divides narrow, right? So and then it automatically talks about him. Him the Word of God, is that him? There? So it's really interesting. So if they say it's about the Bible, wrong, it's about judgment and read the next sentence says if so, can the Word of God be the Bible? Yes, it says it even in here. Absolutely. But it can also be Jesus and we must know when that is. So Hebrews formula like it context is judgment that that double edged sword what like someone, a priest, preparing a sacrifice would cook with a very sharp and expose bones and marrow as what it says, right? It's going to judge you, it's going to cut you up and do a little heart surgery on you. You can't hide and so nothing can be hidden from him is like the next sentence in Hebrews four. It can be hidden, right? Nothing creation can be hidden from So here's what's going to happen. Here's that function of that sword. He's coming to judge. That's the function. So here we see what's going on here. And if you put those two together, you're rightly thinking about what that is. Don't deny Jesus again. Even in suffering comes up. Nicolaitans – sexual sin that's the problem here. idol worship just to keep things very simple. We saw Balam before right so in numbers 24 He comes up. We saw him Second Peter, the false teachings Jude, he comes up so remember his donkey talks to him. So what's the reward, manna in heaven and a new name, it's going to make all things new. And he's going to sustain us in him. Revelation to 18. Write this letter to the angel, the church and Thyatira, this is a message from the Son of God whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze. I know all the things you do. I've seen your love, your faith, their service, and your patient endurance, and I can see your constant improvement, all these things. But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman that Jezebel calls herself a prophet to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and eat food sacrifice, startles are offered to idols, I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her morality, therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering. And those are committed adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds, I will strike her children dead than all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person to see it right there with a double edged sword. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching deeper truths, as they call them. depths of Satan, actually, I will ask nothing more of you, except that you hold tightly to what you have until icon to all those of Victoria's who obey me to the very end to them, I will give authority over all the nations, they will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They'll have the same authority I received from my father. And we'll also give them the Morningstar. Anyone with ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying to the churches. So false teachers again, right? What's the big deal? They can lead us astray? It's a very big deal. false teaching is a huge so anyone who's kind of like dismissive of it. No, no, no, no, no, we're not to tolerate that it can lead you astray in your faith. So not good. And so I've talked about this in the past, but it's true, you know, so why don't you hear about this in the big churches and all the other things? Well, it's kind of an unspoken agreement, like,
I will call you out if you don't call me out. But that's not what the Bible says. The Bible says,
if I'm not calling people out, I'm not doing my job. That's what the Bible says. So you got to deal with it. People are like codependent, they care what people think of them. If you're going to preach the Word. You kind of can't like you got to get over that. And that's what we're called to do. So don't tolerate these teachings. So here's again, that function of that sword. Do you see it? Dividing, judging, knowing what's in you? Reward really cool one. We'll see it later authority over all the nation. So you'll see this like white robes, Whitestone type of thing. So those who are beheaded in the tribulation, will get there. were beheaded. They get to rise up with Jesus first and reign with him. 1000 years having authority over everyone. So getting beheaded in the Bible is kind of a good thing.
Nobody's like Yes, right. Okay.
But it's supposed to be cool. Anyway, Christ, the Morningstar. Alright, so this is really interesting, because it actually ties Balaam right in there. Because when he gives, I think it's his fourth prophecy. I'm like, Oracle or prophecy. When he gives his fourth one, he talks about a star will come from Jacob. That's Jesus. So he's prophesying about you. So Jesus is the Morningstar. And we're going to see this later, and Revelation two, so it's really neat. I'm trying, I'm just trying to like, lay down the Easter eggs for you guys. But it all really does come together when you know the word. Revelation three, one, write this letter to the angel, the church in Sardis. This is a message from the one who has a seven fold Spirit of God and the seven stars, and all the things that you do, and you have a reputation for being alive, but you're dead. Wake up, strengthen what little remains for even when his left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first, hold, do it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to suddenly as unexpected as a thief. Yet, there are some of the church and startups who have not soiled their clothes with evil, they walk with me and white fur, they're worthy. All of our victorious will be clothed with white. I will never erase their names from the book of life, but I will announce them before my Father and His angels that their mind anyone with ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying the churches so here's the price a problem again, I know the things you do and that you have a reputation for being alive but you're dead wake up strengthen what little remains for even what is left is almost and here's the instinct by find that your actions do not meet the requirements is it your words we don't hear a lot in mainstream Evangelical Church. Right your actions. They mean something we got has requirements. Yeah, he created you a new in Christ Jesus not feel so that you could do nothing. Right so that you could get out there and be right where he wants you to be in Christ. Wake up. So reward Again, so I told you about being closed, the beheaded ones are going to get closed and white. So this is kind of like, just looking into that, you'll see that name. So the reward names won't be erased from the book of life, we're going to look at the book of life later to importance, right? So that's, we want to be in the booklet. So here's maybe the only church doing well, Revelation three, seven, write this letter to the angel, the church in Philadelphia, this is the message from the one who is holy and true. The one who has the key of David, well, he opens, no one can close. And when he closes, no one can open, I know the things you do. And I've opened the door for you that no one can close, you have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan, synagogue, those liars who say they're Jews, but they're not, it's coming down at your feet, they will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I'll protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong in this world. And coming soon, hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crowns as a crown again, all our victorious will become pillars in the temple of my God, and they'll never have to leave it at all. All right, on them the name of my God, and it will be citizens in the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. Now also run on them my new name, anyone with yours to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying to the churches. Okay? So they're doing good, why? Because you obey this is getting redundant, right? So it's important, right? My command to persevere, right? Don't deny me obey me. You're not denying me again, we're seeing these kind of actions, right? So like, we looked at this, and First John, like the paradox, right? What you do says more about what you believe, than anything. You're saying. Let's so lots of rewards here, that new name, again, Heller in the temple, and you won't have to leave it right. So we looked at this a little bit. And second Peter, we're going to see in Revelation, there's a new heavens and new earth, Peter says that, and we're going to get to a new Jerusalem. So that's what this is saying you're going to be in that holy new city when he kind of just melts the earth away. Alright, so again, I just want you to understand this too, in case you're not picking up the steam. Did you notice something? The rewards? Where are they? Not here? They're not here. Right? So heavenly things, right? Laodicea? Really, Revelation 314 write this letter to the angel, the church and Laodicea This is the message from the one who is the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of God's new creation. I know all the things that you do that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one of the other. But since you're like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth and vomit you out. You say I'm rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing. And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind or naked. Did you catch that? Right? I have everything I need. I'm rich. Here Jesus is like, no need much. So I advise you to buy gold from me. A gold has been purified by fire, then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me. You see them coming in here again. So you'll not be ashamed by your nakedness and ointment for your eyes such you'll be able to see I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look, I stand at the door knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we'll share a meal together or like a fellowship meal together. Those who are victorious will sit on my throne just as I was victorious and sat on my SAT with My Father on His throne. Anyone with ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit to understand what he's saying the church is so what's the problem? Here is an interesting one, right? Luke war, indifference, complacency. So if you remember the initiation of Jesus's parable, the parable of the Sower you will remember what is the seed is the Word of God right? So guys sowing it right? So when sowing the seed and lands on rocks what happens Satan takes it away right? lands on Rocky ish soil. What happens comes up gets burned up what's the implication? I think we know or then some of the see the word lands on like, like nice thorn bushes, right? So around like these weeds and thorns. The thorns choke out the word. The word can't produce fruit. And Jesus identifies them as what the worries about this life and wealth like things of this world. So the things of this world can choke out the word they can make you complacent. They can make you indifference like so. That's the warning here. Careful. purified by fire refined by trials. There's those white robes again. Did you see that? Correct and discipline everyone I love Hebrews 12 says that God disciplines us, right because we're legitimate children. And what kind of father doesn't discipline his child? That's an illegitimate child. That's what Hebrews 12 says you don't want to be an illegitimate, you get disciplined discipline. So really interesting. There's some language here and there's the thief in the night thing too. I forgot to mention that but kind Have like I told you in Matthew 24 and 25. When you get to Matthew 25 at the top there, you read the parable of the fullest bridesmaids right there. Five forget to bring the oil and the other five have the oil. So they come back and knock on the door. So whoever knocks right, I will answer the door, if you were prepared like the five wise bridesmaids, right? So what do you get to do? He opens the door and you have a fellowship meal on the throne with Jesus, this is awesome, right? So we're on the throne, we have a fellowship meal, we're invited to this great banquet. So this is where we're going to close with this part of Revelation. This is what the letters to the seven churches are all about. From here, we're going to see next week, we're going to go into the prophecy and visions and stuff like that. And I'm still figuring out how I'm going to condense that into one message. So we'll get there, right. So here's the first part, Jesus's response to the churches. So like Philadelphia is doing okay. But aside from that, it's kind of the same basic idea weaving through here. It begs the question
is the honeymoon over?
Think about its emphasis. Why don't you love me? As you did it first. So we can see, like the common denominator, they all started good. Like it started with something. And then like, Ah, no, you know, why didn't you love me for like your message, you're taking me for granted, you're messing up. So smarter, wake up, you are alive. But now you're almost dead. So you see this theme here. So Christian marriage is a picture of Christ in His Church. We've seen this in the Bible, we saw it in Ephesians. Right. So for husbands this mean, loves your wives means love your wives as Christ loved the church, says that they're in Ephesians. Five, he gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean washed by the cleansing of God's Word. So if we compare this to our relationship with God, but then look at it, like, as we would have marriage, which the Bible often does, we can put it into some just really tangible and practical light, we can kind of give it a little bit of a near application, something closer to us that we can understand, grab on to, and then look at how this pertains to Jesus. So in a marriage, so Pergamum, what what's the what's the issue there? Well, they're suffering bad times. They're suffering hardships, and this is drawing them away from Jesus. They're like, oh, forget this, you know, I don't want to deal with it. Well, so think about it in a marriage. There's, there's dating. Gonna get in so much trouble if I'm not really careful here. And then there's reality. And there are two different things husband's just be quiet. laughs later. Alright, so there are two different things. So you start dating, and you go through the dating phase. And, you know, it's like everything, sunshine and rainbows. And did we expect it to be that way? All the time? Yeah, right. I, well, maybe not you. But I was stupid. And I just, it's all sunshine, right? There's no problem. This is great. And you got the future ahead of you. Especially if you're younger, like I was when we were dating. This is awesome, right? It's just great. And everything's new, and everything's wonderful. And so sunshine and rainbows, but then all the sudden things happen. You start talking about money, right? Maybe you get a house, then you have a mortgage, who works, you both work, who makes more money, and then all of a sudden is not sunshine and rainbows. And then maybe you have a kid now, that's tough. It's a difficult job. You have a child, it's really tough. That is not in sorry, to my daughter, but you are not always sunshine and rainbows. So especially in the diaper, it was no look nothing like sunshine rainbows to me. It's difficult, right? It's tough. We're suffering through this. Right? Then, you know, arguments that you might not have had before these things cost, you know, cause arguments, but the house isn't that big thing, small things to cars, and all kinds of just piles up and it's not the same. Then as you get older, what happens? Well, you start breaking down a little right, that's what the body does. You start having some health issues.
And you're like, oh, man,
we didn't have that problem that like what's going on here. Some people may be tempted to leave but here's the thing.
You said in sickness and in health. Diet. Tyra.
Is there a Jezebel? Who comes in in that timeframe? All right, so maybe someone younger maybe someone with no health problems yet?
Maybe it's new for now.
Is that person there? Maybe the grass looks greener, right? I don't know. Maybe those difficulties won't occur this time. Alright. Let us see are we coasting are comfortable have some of these things caused us to become complacent right like we're in this routine? Maybe we did okay with the house. We got through the arguments everything's Like, but you know, it's just that said, we're just going to complete it. You just go to work, you do your nine to five high by the end, we just kind of run through the routine and we're not dating anymore, right? We're not like hanging out or it's just going through the rhythm, are we complacent?
Are things too convenient?
Have we lost our appreciation for the person?
Of course, they're just there. Of course they're
there. We don't need to appreciate them. Have we taken them for granted? Is the relationship shallow? Or has it become shallow, which makes it very possible for the Jezebel to come into our lives and have an effect on
us or marriage?
Or the church. It's kind of interesting. I'm not going to split hairs here. So the church has been called by some, the bride of Christ. If we're being technical, that's not accurate. So Jerusalem is the bride of Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ. So if you're being very technical, but still, even if it's called the body of Christ, it is what the body of Christ the Bride of Christ, that is something that we're supposed to treat, like a bride, we're supposed to care for the church, right? So really, really important. And very interesting. We've talked about this in the past. I'll go over it really quick, but it's a good reminder. Matthew 25 Again, so what happens you know, after you get the parables of the women with the oil, the bridesmaids with oil, you know, the talents, all that stuff? Well, he goes into the sheep and the goats. So if you remember what I was saying, maybe a few weeks ago, very important, like, you know, hey, you know the sheep and the goats. So the Son of Man is going to come like the Daniel seven thing, Jesus on the throne. And he's going to divide like a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, sheep, right side, goats a left, shift. He's going to say like, Hey, you know, good job. When I was hungry and fed me when I was thirsty. You gave me something to drink. When I was naked, he gave me colorful clothing. When I was in prison. He visited me sick, he visited me, right? Like, when did we see like that Jesus? Well, when you did it to the lease of these things, important word, my brethren. You did it to me. Good for you. You're going to inherit the kingdom, God's prepared for you. When you did it to who? To my brethren, who's Jesus's brother, you the church, churches in the building, is where we do church, but it's not church. Churches, you. You are the body of Christ, and we're supposed to care for here, Jesus giving a very stern warning because he goes to the goats. When did we see You didn't care for me when I was hungry? You didn't care if I was thirsty, you didn't clothe me at Envision? Not then. Where did they go? To eternal punishment? Gone?
Can do actions mean something? Jesus says they do. But here's the thing.
That what you did to my brother's? Who's you guys, the church, we are called to commit to, and to care for Christ's Body, the Church. So if the church is like Christ, bride or body, we begin with a similar type of commitment, ceremony. Baptism, sow begins that this is supposed to be done through the church. And it's very interesting. I changed the way we did it, after a while because I started looking at the word of God really, really like, you know, knowing the word Well, it took me a few years, like just read it again and again and again and get kind of like know what's in there. And I saw that, like the church, mainstream church isn't baptizing people, the way they should be baptized in the full context of God's word? Yes, you can point to like the Ethiopian eunuch or something like that. I know, read it, you know, but still, he was read the scriptures and it was explained to him. But if you look at the whole thing, and you see the way Jesus interacted with people, he gives a lot of warnings before people are baptized, it's really important to understand this. A lot of warnings not nice about it either. I started noticing like when I compared like, what the Word of God says and how Christians are supposed to be prepared and how we're supposed to be on the word and all this other stuff and also, traditionally the way people got baptized in the church if you go all the way back to early writings and things like that. I would compare the way the church baptizes people today, like a Vegas wedding. That's the way we do it. Right? Might as well do it in the drive thru. And I baptize young people too. So it's just like that. But no questions right no commitment nothing. Right like we're going to get married right honeymoons never going to be over like this is great, but that's how baptism works right? You know, you get the T shirts let's do it a waterpark never trained. You know, like, it's almost like you okay, but the barely have the gospel articulated to them.
So Vegas baptism
doesn't make any sense. Because what does Jesus do? And this is really important to understand, and the why change that I was like, no, no, no, no, no. This is a covenant, right? This is a commitment. This is a marriage to Jesus. And so if you've seen me do a baptism, you see, it sounds like I'm marrying the person of Jesus, I kinda am. That's what I'm doing. I do I do. I there's a whole list of things. Traditionally, they're in the church. They're all biblical, that you must affirm. And part of it is are you going to continue with and they used to say, the apostles teaching because it comes from x? What are the four things on the outside of the law? Are you going to continue in the teaching of the Word of the fellowship, the breaking of the bread in the prayer? They asked that in the early church, why? Because it's in the Bible, when you see the formation of the church, those are the four things they're doing, and you should be doing them. And so if you don't go, I will. I'm like, sorry, get out of the pool, right? I'm not going to dunk you. Because you are not going to have a support structure. And you're again, you're like a student who says, I'm not going to school. I'm not giving you a good grade. You know, I'm a soldier, but I don't want to join an army. Great, you know, good luck with that. But this is not going to work for you. And there's no warnings. What does Jesus say? Hey, Jesus, I want to follow you but let me let me bury my dad first. Let the dead bury the dead. Hey, Jesus, I want to follow you okay, you're going to be homeless, right? Foxes have the dens the birds have their nests, but the Son of Man. No place the rest of said, Cool. Good luck with that. I want to follow you. Anyone who wants to follow me. You must deny yourself pick up your cross, then you can follow me. Don't be selfish. Don't consider yourself over anybody else. Right? What do we read? Look out for others interest, not your own Philippians do that. Don't be so selfish and narcissistic. Pick up your cross, which means you're probably going to have to suffer and die for me. Then you can follow me. Do we hear any of that in the baptism? Like imagine I always want to like spoil a baptism by doing it real right. You know, it's like visit some other churches baptism run and hop in the pool to waterpark, right? Like and jump in and just be gone. What can I do this one? Right. Okay, so listen, Jesus says you're you might get crucified for this good with that. There's no sound anything like that? Because they didn't warn you. Oh, you see what I mean? There are way too many Vegas baptisms. Here's the thing. Jesus wants you to understand that you need a very serious commitment. There's no bait and switch here. Like, here it is. This is what it's like getting married without marriage counseling. You know what I mean? Like, we would go through this from doing marriage counseling with people like, Okay, this is what's going to happen, you know, this is what you're going to hit, how are you going to deal with it? None of that. So what's going to happen? I see it all the time, we saw people just falling away like crazy. Like, this doesn't work. We have to honor that. So if we're honoring that emphasis, it starts with a question. Why don't you love me as you did it first?
And what happened?
Wake up, returned to me. If the commitment isn't serious, though, what might you say? Return to what? Burma suffering and bad times again, like a marriage, you'd be thinking we'd be all sunshine and rainbows. Jesus warned us against that again. And are we reading Revelation, you just There you go. You read three chapters of the Bible. What does he say a lot. You're suffering? What does he say? Hey, you know what? It's all good. Like you shouldn't be I'll talk to the devil about that. We'll try to just stop that suffering.
It's to test and refine you.
That's what he says his workouts going to be hard. When you come out on the other end, you'll get the reward.
That's what he says. Right? So think about it. Again, in baptism, you should be asked the sickness and health question.
If we're taking this serious, like a marriage, like, you stay with Jesus and sickness and health, right, you're going to deny Him
alone, or we lied to by false teachers.
This is why the false teachers are so bad. You're not given any of these warnings. And so of course, you're going to get baptized, everything's going to be great. And the next day what you know, like somebody dies or you get in a car accident, something bad happens and you're like, this didn't work.
But you weren't
warned? Like if they did it like Jesus did it. You would have gone Oh, yeah. So that's going to happen. That's cool. I got Jesus
right out of your
diet. Tyra. Is there a Jezebel in our faith lives right. So this is these false teachers. They're like Jezebel interrupting your faith life. You know how many times like there's so many bad things we did the deliverance ministry thing, and I just had someone come back to me be like thank you for like liberating me from that. false teachings can lead us stray they can hold you under this yoke. It's terrible. What they can do to you. It's the half gospel. Yes, we're going to be blessed, especially if we listen and obey. God blesses us here in this world, so that we can be a blessing. That's the point. But the other half of it is this, if not more, if I'm being honest with you, reading you the Word of God, what were the blessings like, in the future, we're not supposed to fix our eyes on things here. So you fall away. But if you've been told, right, that's what this is all about. It's all going to be good. You can do whatever you want, whatever it is, you're going to fall away. And that's why it's so bad.
We can't be short sighted.
there to see, are we in a shallow relationship with Jesus as a result? While these false teachings do that Satan loves it, because they keep you in this very shallow relationships with Jesus were just about stuff. Just about the urgency of the immediate meeting that need shallow. Let's think about right if we're being short sighted, what are we shallow? Deep, wants to go deep. That's difficult, right? Got to learn how to tread water and swim stuff. No, I just want to stay in the kiddie pool. And that's where most Christians are going kiddie pool.
Shallow. But
what is Jesus want? Hot or cold? They want a deep relationship with you. And I want this lukewarm stuff. Complacency is the phase coming commitment. It's a long game. It's not a short sighted game. It's a long game just like marriages. Right? So some keys to keeping the love alive, right? So just think about this. First and foremost. Remember why you got in the relationship in the first place? Whether it's a marriage speaking to married people else, why don't you fall in love with this person? And for the most beautiful things? I'm going to try not to cry because there's just so beautiful. I remember this, like, years ago, I had to be, oh, gosh, 20 years ago, I don't know what it was, like 1520 years ago, just coming in my mind. This guy just sprang into my mind. There was an older couple, sitting at this really nice restaurant, were going to, like 70 something years old, just a much older than us. And the man said, like, when I look in your eyes, I see the same person.
Beautiful. I was like, I want to be like that. Not old, but
I ruined good moments. If you notice how beautiful I like. And it is it's true. I still look at my wife. I'm like, Man, I see that kid that I that I fell in love with years ago. Like remembering that like, okay, so you love Jesus. Now, this is the bad thing about false teachers, right? Because they present the wrong Jesus to us. We don't know Jesus. So we fell in love with a different counterfeit Jesus, you got to fall in love with the Jesus that disciplines us, right? The Jesus that gives us warning. He's gotten snarky sometimes. Like, just that's the way God is. And that's okay. Right? Remember, why did you fall in love with him? Well, there are a lot of reasons, right? So why did you choose to make this promise to this person?
Well, the one who sacrificed himself for us. And that's really an interesting thing.
We must remember that commitment. So think about it, like this world take commitments, like a bad thing, a bad word, right? It's like saying repent, right? It's a commit. I don't want to do that. There's so many choices. You know, I don't want to commit to anything. Like a bad word. But remember when that was like a good thing? You remember when you could like shake hands with somebody look in their eyes, and then you know that that's going to happen, that commit to things like they do things where they finished projects and stuff. Now, it's like, oh, squirrel, you know, it's like, because why tick tock and whatever it is, like, as fast as do takes too long. It takes too long. Can't do that. We're short sighted, like literally and figuratively. It's just unbelievable.
The world. It's full
lies, broken promises, but the word is not. Right. And it talks about things like bless you. Things like commitment, right? Being really committed to things. It's a good quality, especially to people, especially to Jesus, another key and said, sacrifice, it's remembering that sacrifice. So like, let's just root zoom it in and bring it to like tangible things. I think about my relationship with my wife. And I just think about how we got together. We were very, very young. We were both, you know, like out of our homes at a very young age. And so, you know, we had to work really hard to get like a first apartment, where it's just crazy, really bad place, you know, but got our first apartment, but we worked like I think she worked three jobs and went to college and you hear people complain, like I couldn't go to work as it goes. It was unbelievable. Like, I don't know when we slept. I have no idea. I was starting my business talking about author before I was like writing My first books, like I can just remember, like, you know, working all day, you know, and then go in there she is. And I would fall asleep or like my computer, like writing my book. And I wake up and there's the book again. Oh, go again. You know, just That's it. Maybe you slept for hours, six hours. But here's the thing, especially as we got older, like, we did that for each other, you sacrifice things like so. It was time for her to go get her master's degree, and she had to travel a long way. Yes, okay, I'm going to watch you know, the baby. I'm going to do that. And then she's going to get a job as health insurance, like just, you know, practical things we didn't have a lot. And so can you get the insurance? I watched the kid. Listen, guys, we don't want to watch the kid. Right? But you do it? Do it, you know? And then I remember everything she did? Did she really want to commute, you know, two hours to go get her master's degree college at that age and work full time and watch the baby when I was like, you know, she came home if I'm like, there's, you know, so like, she did that to probably way more than me. So I remember that. Right? Think about having a child. I can't imagine that happening to my body. Right? You know, so, you know, it's the nine months. It's terrible. You know, the game was me. And it just, that's got to hurt. You know, it's like, I remember one word, a few. Epidural. Epidural. Right? So that was very important, anyway, and if you've had a kid, you know about that, if he went through it without it. You're crazy. Because like, I was like, the craziest thing. But I remember I think about that, like, I'm not sure if I would have had a kid for you. I don't think so. I don't know. No, no. And I'm not trying again. No, it was a girl. That's what you get. We're done. Right? So maybe she didn't do that. But. But the sacrifice, man, that's crazy. So remember that. Remember that? Jezebel hasn't done any of that for you. nor is she proven? Nor does she you know that she will? Will she stick it out and sing? I've been sick. I'm a baby when I get sick because I don't get sick. So I get sick, sick and dying. Right? So but I remember she took care of me when I was a real pain in the neck. So different body parts than what she said maybe. Right? But she don't want me. There are things I'm not going to talk about her things because you know, whatever. But just me like,
I'm not easy. Remember that? I'm like, that sacrifice. Now let's look at Jesus.
All of those things pale in comparison to what he's done for us. Is there anyone better to be in love with? Nope. That's the way a good marriage is. I love Jesus more than ever love her.
That's what allows me to really love her. That's the key. Because, well, God, God
did not regard a quality, right? We've got something have you taken advantage of Jesus came he humbled himself, he died for us. He carried our sins in died the death that we deserve. I don't think that there's any such thing as a good person. None of us are. Don't be under that illusion or let anyone tell you otherwise. There's no such thing as a good person. except
Jesus. That's it. Right? He paid
the he did what we deserve, died in excruciating death on a cross. And for being honest, would we?
Whoa, look at that question next week. But wow. Remembering that sacrifice. So we make a commitment to him as he's committed to us.
That's how it is in relationship. It begins with our personal relationship with him. So like our marriage or whatever, that's a picture of that relationship. But it begins there in that committed, faithful, loving relationship with our Lord. That's everything. And it extends to his body. The church again, when I said, it's the context for most of the New Testament. It's important. And so that's why we devote our things you can get the outside walls right next to it for you, so devoted to God's word, clearly, we're devoted to God's word, I'm doing my best to each other, to fellowship, the breaking the bread to be told about that if the search, breaking the bread, the prayers important when we listen to God, and listen to God. And so, those are some practical things we can do to keep the relationship with Jesus working both the personal right, the practical, and here, both the spiritual and the practical, where they come together and they meet in church. That will help us through the good times the bad times, the sickness, the health. We're here for each other, as well. His body. And in doing so we must keep our eyes on the long term commitment. So it's all over the Bible. Colossians three comes to mind, right? We focus on heavenly things, not earthly things. But Hebrews 12. And we can go back there, right? So how do we do this? Right? We fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and champion of our faith. Paul said, In Philippians, three beautiful, I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past, and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize. Right? So for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us. So we saw the prizes today. Let's encourage them, I want to leave you with today. Just beautiful things, fruit from the tree of life. We have eternal life. If we endure in Jesus, and we stay faithful to him, no second death. No people like oh, we shouldn't be preached on fire and brimstone? I don't know the Bible does. are we suggesting that we leave something out. But we don't have to fear that.
If we're in Jesus, that's beautiful.
A new name, making all things new, it doesn't matter what's happened, you hear the scars you're wearing, it's all going to be gone. Read it. No more tears, no crying, no pain, no suffering. Just joy in Jesus, that's a
beautiful authority over the nation's a justice you're looking for here. Don't worry about it.
It'll be taken care of it'll be a just and righteous place that we go to. Without any of these problems. They won't exist. We'll be closed and white matter what we suffer what we have to go through the price that we pay for following Jesus
will enter in
that will be a part of that fellowship meal with Jesus the great feast, and we'll be with him on the throne of God.
What could be better? Priceless, priceless.
As this morning, I want to pray for you and just leave you with that encouragement. Or thank you for this time for this church for everyone who came in to hear Your word and honor your word. And I just, I just thank you for just giving me the opportunity, the honor and the privilege of overseeing a faithful flock. Those who have devoted themselves to you Jesus to your word that come here for the truth and I just pray I pray that that you can just be vehicles with your grace and mercy, your love, light shine to the city around us all that we encounter.
All that we encounter.
So that we can let more people know about you. prizes that await us in your heavenly kingdom.
I ask these things in Jesus's name. Amen.
Good morning. Welcome. If you're new here among us, my name is Gene I serve here at C3 church as your pastor. And if you are not new here among us, you know, Tony gave a great message last week, so I want to thank him for that. But if you are new, maybe you have a question. If you're not new, you've pondered this question. The question is this. Can I be a Christian? Without going to church? Can I be a Christian without a church? Short answer? Yes. Yes, you can. But it is something like being a student who won't go to school. The soldier won't join the army, a salesman with no customers and author without readers.
I know what that's like.
A tuba player without a band or an orchestra, because who wants to hear a tuba solo? There's got to go you're all tuba players now because you're not laughing. Yet still, there are those who say they insist. I can be a Christian without the church. So a good friend of mine shared this article Babylon V. I like satire. Everything's funny to me. So I'll share this with you. This came up. I don't need church. Right? I studied the Bible for myself, said someone who never read the Bible. Indeed, as we're learning here. The context for the majority of the New Testament is
church.
It's about church, right? So these letters we're reading, they're written to the churches, right, or people who are in charge of the churches, we looked at Jude, what happened, he wanted to write about all kinds of nice things, but he had to address the false teachers who were worming their way into the church. So today, we are going to look at Revelation. And the way revelation starts is by addressing the churches imagine that, right? So really important. So this is exciting. For me, as a pastor, this is probably one of the most difficult messages I've ever had to put together. And it's not because revelation is for engineer, I don't read it or anything like that. It's how people perceive it talks about false teachers, right? There's more false teachings on the book of Revelation than any other book of the Bible. I mean, basically, like 99% of them out there are just wrong. Right? So it's exciting because it gets to reveal things to Revelation, right. So it reveals some things you might not know. So really exciting. It is indeed the most misunderstood and misinterpreted book of the Bible. And the most mispronounced it is probably shun revelations. He made that mistake. Don't worry, just don't make it again. Alright, so ellipses, so it's the Apocalypse of John and we'll see it really should be the apocalypse of Jesus. So something that's hidden Calypso, you ever hear that name Calypso, it comes from the Greek hidden, OPPO Colucci say from the hidden basically like revealing the hidden revelation. So that's what it's about. So it's not some kind of secret code book, it's actually revealing things to you. And so the readers of that time, would have understood a lot that we kind of make a mystery of, and so we'll get there. But what we're going to do, basically, Revelation is part letters, part prophecy. And you could break it into three parts. So a lot of different ways of interpreting that. And I just don't like the just the labels and this or on that, or I believe that stop. They didn't do that in the early church. And this phraseology existed, none of this theology existed, it just they would read it for what it was. And so when you're looking at it, rightly, you're looking at the first three chapters being letters to the churches, right. So for open up, worship in heaven, that kind of thing. But the middle section of the book of Revelation is prophecy about things that are going to happen in a near Earth time, right, so still farther away than then, but near Earth time, mostly about Rome, then you get to the end, and that is about the future time. So that's really the way it breaks down into three parts. But we're going to do two parts. So I want you to see these things as a whole is a larger picture. And that's the key. And I'm not going to kind of hammer this down, because a lot of people aren't new here today, and you've heard this 1000 times. But the way we read the Bible is like reading one line of a book in random order, and never finish it. Yet we say we know what it's about, right? It doesn't work that way. And so you have to look at something like revelation as a whole. You have to just see it like you're sitting down watching a movie, right? So I'll break this part for you and then we'll get into the prophecy stuff. Next week. We're going to have to do that next week. Unless You guys want to be here for like four hours? We're good. Anybody? Still not laughing Okay tuba players who don't like going to church. So that wasn't funny either, man. Don't be scared. It's just revelation. Right? It's good. All right, so we're going to pay attention to some things you'll hear and here's why like larger sections of Scripture, it's the way it's supposed to be done. You're going to start to like, oh, okay, see things, sevens. sevens are really big number of completion, based on kind of that Sabbath week. So you're seeing that at the beginning of the Bible, right? The creation account, and you're seeing at the end of the Bible, lots of sevens really important here, a big theme, suffering and endurance, look for those words, like suffering and endurance. Alright, so and imagery. I'm going to help you with this. But if you just read Revelation by yourself, and you had not both read and understood all of the Old Testament prophets, you're going to be lost, like, it's really going to be hard to understand. So you really have to read the prophets and have an appreciation for that. And I'll bring up Jesus, you have to kind of especially have read Matthew 2425. If to understand this kind of stuff, and how it all works, I'll help you with it. But if you're doing your own reading, really important to just, like, read the prophets understand what's going on here. A lot of imagery and other set of words, you're going to look for, like a, it's like this. It's like that. So imagine getting a prophecy right. So God gives me this prophecy and all sudden, I'm looking into heaven, right? This is a copy, right? It just a shadow of the things that haven't like, my mind would be blown. You know, I don't even know. So how would I describe it to you guys? Like what was kind of like this, right? Or like that. And so that's why you're going to later especially, you're going to hear different like emerald stones and different stuff like that, you know, imagine having a prophecy about 2000 years from now, right? They're going to have modes of transportation and different stuff. So we're going to have to go, it's kind of like an airplane, or you know, so there's like animals, it's like this, or it's like that. So pay attention to like, up is not literal. This is not literal. There's a lot of symbolism in here. I will help you as much as I can with that, and then we can ask more questions at the Bible study. So let's hop right in here, the letters of the churches. So first, Revelation, one, one. This is a revelation from or of, if you're new here, my brackets are usually Greek, when the Greek is a little more literal, over there, I'll put it in there of Jesus Christ. So notice this is a revelation of Jesus Christ, not a Revelation of John, as it's traditionally titled, which God gave him to show his servants, the events that must soon or quickly take place, I think quickly is better, right? Because when is that? I don't know. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ. God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and He blesses all who listens to its message, and obey what it says for the time is near that's where it gets good. Alright, so again, revelation of Jesus, right? So it is him being revealed uncovered, if I didn't say this, right, Calypso. Hidden ellipses hidden. So this is on hiding something. So that's what Jesus is doing for us here. It's not a mystery. He's just unraveling this for us. So here's the cool thing, right? I guess. I'm blessed.
The reads it too.
So we're supposed to here we looked at this in the series, right? What did they do? They would read this to the church. That's what we're doing here. Right. And again, you're blessed to if you obey, right, so that's another key here. Revelation one for this letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia, Asia Minor, Grace and peace to you from the one who is who always was and who is still to come from the seven fold spirit of the seven spirits so that seven again, before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, he is a faithful witness to all these things, the first arrived from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world, all glory to Him who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us a kingdom of priests, for God, his father, all glory and power to him, forever and ever. Amen. And amen. So this is a really great opening, isn't it? Because it tells us who Jesus is what he did for us. It's like a little gospel, prayer in their grace and peace, right? So if you've been with us for a while, you know the series we're going through the books of the Bible, it's kind of the way Paul opens his letters, grace and peace setting the tone, and priesthood. Remember, First Peter, so we're kind of a priesthood and he's addressing us to the church, because remember, Well, God bless this one who listens to this reads it to the church. So that's you. So then I'll go into another kind of little gospel poem type of thing. Look, he comes on the clouds of heaven, everyone will see him, even those who pierced him. So once again, what did he do? All the nations of the world will mourn for him? Yes, amen. And then Jesus comes in. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning in the end, says the Lord God. I am the one who is who always was and who is still to come the almighty You want reframing what was just said? Yes, you're right, John, like, this is me. Very clear here. Jesus is God. So this is the setup, right? So we're very clear about this and it's repeated. That's important. Alright, so revelation one nine, I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and God's kingdom in the patient endurance to which Jesus called us to catch those words. I was exiled to the island of Patmos, for preaching the word of God, and for my testimony about Jesus. It was the Lord's day and I was worshiping in the spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, Ryan evoke everything you see and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and the CM, when I turn to see who is speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands. With someone like the Son of Man, he was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest, his head and hair were white, like wool. So here we go with the likes, and white as snow and his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace. And his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves, he held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was like the sun and all his brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet is very dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, Don't be afraid. I'm the first in the last, I'm the living one, I died. But look, I'm alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death in the grave. Write down what you have seen, both the things that are happening, now happening and the things that will happen. This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw on my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. So a lot to unpack here, but just quickly, a partner in suffering. We've heard that before, like Philippians, right? Your partners in Jesus's suffering, right. So the Lord's day, traditionally, the first day of the week, Sunday is the Lord's day he's worshiping even though he's by himself, or we don't know. Maybe he's exiled on Patmos. He's got friends with him. We don't know. Here, but did you catch it? I heard this is another interesting thing. It'll come up next week. I heard that I saw, so he'll hear things. And then he'll see things you got to pay very close attention here. Like, of course, Son of man, he referred to you this refers to himself as the Son of Man, Daniel seven. So this is going right back to what was said. And he comes on the clouds of heaven, right? So that's Daniel seven. He's saying, I'm god, this is the way even the high council understood it. It's one of the things that got Jesus killed. He said this, they know he's saying he's got. So here's an example here where the prophecies explained to us a lot of time just like that, if we just keep reading, it'll kind of just tell you what it is. Right? So interpret itself. For us. The sword, we'll talk about the two edged sword in a minute. So after like the next section or two, well, I'll tell you about that. Yeah, that's going to be important. So now remember, emphasis, right? So Ephesians, Paul's letter there. And remember x 19. Remember the riot and Ephesus, Revelation to one, write this letter to the angel, the church and Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands. And all the things you do. I've seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people, you have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles, but are not. You have discovered they are liars, you have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did it first. Look, our volume fallen, turn back to Me and do the works. You did it first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from his place among the churches. But this is in your favor. You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans are Nikola Tesla's, just as I do, anyone with yours here must LISTEN to the Spirit understand what he's saying to the churches, to everyone who is victorious, I will give the fruit from the tree of life and the paradise of God. So we see this again, false teachers just keeps coming up, right? Again and again, especially as we get closer to the end of the Bible a lot. Alright, so again, expose that you don't tolerate them. And we're not supposed to. In the church. We're not supposed to tolerate that. In fact, we're supposed to expose them. And we see that actually in Ephesians, you see that in Ephesians? Right? So don't partner up with the bad deeds, even expose them. I'll talk about the Nicolaitans and the Nicolaitans. Just a little bit later, I'll explain them to theme patiently suffering. But here's the problem. And this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did it first. Look how far you fallen. Turn Back to Me and do the works. You did it first. So how do we show love? What does he say? Works? By doing stuff, right? So what we do is more about what we believe than anything we could possibly say it's that we're saved by works right Ephesians Again, look at that letter to aid. We're saved by grace through faith right and whom Jesus Christ, but keep reading, we're created a new and Christ Jesus. So that we can do good works prepared beforehand for us. So important understand, so rewards now we're going to start getting into rewards there's going to be in general except with one, and then there's going to be an issue like a problem and reward a problem and the reward, the reward here, there's a beautiful one fruit from the tree of life. So now the whole Bible is all coming together. Because you remember the problem with Adam and Eve, right? What did they eat from the tree? Like with the of knowledge of good and evil, so they got that knowledge of good and evil. But then God does something really cool because he's like, look, the human beings have become like, us. Trinity, right? So knowing both good and evil, what if they reach out take from the tree of the fruit of life and eat it? So they'll live forever? So what's the reward? Eternal life, right? So now we get to eat that fruit light. So that's the imagery that's going on here. Another thing to look for I mentioned Trinity really quick. It's just interesting. This is another reason why you got to kind of read the whole thing, who is giving the prophecy to John? Well, Jesus, right. But we what does it say to listen to LISTEN to the Spirit. And he's talking about the Father. So if you read this carefully, you see a picture of the Trinity here. It's really cool. Same way. So, so one essence, three persons, that's the right way to think of it. Revelation two, eight, right, this letter to the angel, the church and snared up. This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who is dead, but it's not alive. I know about yourself reading and your poverty, poverty, excuse me, but you are rich. I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say there are Jews, but they're not because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don't be afraid of what you're about to suffer, the devil will throw some of you into prison attached to suffer for 10 days. But if you remain faithful, even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Anyone have ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying and the church's preference victorious will not be harmed by the second death. So click very clear here suffering are we reading that again? You're going to experience suffering for Jesus. Big theme, though, remain fit, this will come up a lot more next week remain faithful, even when facing death. Right? Then what do you get reward what crown of life really cool. Also, really importantly, there is no second death. So that's your main reward here. Second Death, we're going to read about it. No bueno. Or it's not a good thing.
You don't want the second. So no second, continue revelations to 12 write this letter to the angel of the church and Pergamum This is the message from the one with the sharp two edged sword. I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You have refused to deny me even when NTFS my faithful witness was martyred among you there and Satan city, a few complaints against you, you tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that a Balaam, who showed Bailey kind of trip up the people of Israel, He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some nickel Asians that are they are again among you, who follow the same teaching, repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Anyone with the ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give some of the manner there's been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. So here's that two edged sword again, and I'll explain that. So you might have heard this right and it's out of context completely. Hebrews four like the word of God is alive and I have live and active sharper than any two edged sword, right? That's where you stop. It divides narrow, right? So and then it automatically talks about him. Him the Word of God, is that him? There? So it's really interesting. So if they say it's about the Bible, wrong, it's about judgment and read the next sentence says if so, can the Word of God be the Bible? Yes, it says it even in here. Absolutely. But it can also be Jesus and we must know when that is. So Hebrews formula like it context is judgment that that double edged sword what like someone, a priest, preparing a sacrifice would cook with a very sharp and expose bones and marrow as what it says, right? It's going to judge you, it's going to cut you up and do a little heart surgery on you. You can't hide and so nothing can be hidden from him is like the next sentence in Hebrews four. It can be hidden, right? Nothing creation can be hidden from So here's what's going to happen. Here's that function of that sword. He's coming to judge. That's the function. So here we see what's going on here. And if you put those two together, you're rightly thinking about what that is. Don't deny Jesus again. Even in suffering comes up. Nicolaitans – sexual sin that's the problem here. idol worship just to keep things very simple. We saw Balam before right so in numbers 24 He comes up. We saw him Second Peter, the false teachings Jude, he comes up so remember his donkey talks to him. So what's the reward, manna in heaven and a new name, it's going to make all things new. And he's going to sustain us in him. Revelation to 18. Write this letter to the angel, the church and Thyatira, this is a message from the Son of God whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze. I know all the things you do. I've seen your love, your faith, their service, and your patient endurance, and I can see your constant improvement, all these things. But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman that Jezebel calls herself a prophet to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and eat food sacrifice, startles are offered to idols, I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her morality, therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering. And those are committed adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds, I will strike her children dead than all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person to see it right there with a double edged sword. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching deeper truths, as they call them. depths of Satan, actually, I will ask nothing more of you, except that you hold tightly to what you have until icon to all those of Victoria's who obey me to the very end to them, I will give authority over all the nations, they will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They'll have the same authority I received from my father. And we'll also give them the Morningstar. Anyone with ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying to the churches. So false teachers again, right? What's the big deal? They can lead us astray? It's a very big deal. false teaching is a huge so anyone who's kind of like dismissive of it. No, no, no, no, no, we're not to tolerate that it can lead you astray in your faith. So not good. And so I've talked about this in the past, but it's true, you know, so why don't you hear about this in the big churches and all the other things? Well, it's kind of an unspoken agreement, like,
I will call you out if you don't call me out. But that's not what the Bible says. The Bible says,
if I'm not calling people out, I'm not doing my job. That's what the Bible says. So you got to deal with it. People are like codependent, they care what people think of them. If you're going to preach the Word. You kind of can't like you got to get over that. And that's what we're called to do. So don't tolerate these teachings. So here's again, that function of that sword. Do you see it? Dividing, judging, knowing what's in you? Reward really cool one. We'll see it later authority over all the nation. So you'll see this like white robes, Whitestone type of thing. So those who are beheaded in the tribulation, will get there. were beheaded. They get to rise up with Jesus first and reign with him. 1000 years having authority over everyone. So getting beheaded in the Bible is kind of a good thing.
Nobody's like Yes, right. Okay.
But it's supposed to be cool. Anyway, Christ, the Morningstar. Alright, so this is really interesting, because it actually ties Balaam right in there. Because when he gives, I think it's his fourth prophecy. I'm like, Oracle or prophecy. When he gives his fourth one, he talks about a star will come from Jacob. That's Jesus. So he's prophesying about you. So Jesus is the Morningstar. And we're going to see this later, and Revelation two, so it's really neat. I'm trying, I'm just trying to like, lay down the Easter eggs for you guys. But it all really does come together when you know the word. Revelation three, one, write this letter to the angel, the church in Sardis. This is a message from the one who has a seven fold Spirit of God and the seven stars, and all the things that you do, and you have a reputation for being alive, but you're dead. Wake up, strengthen what little remains for even when his left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first, hold, do it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to suddenly as unexpected as a thief. Yet, there are some of the church and startups who have not soiled their clothes with evil, they walk with me and white fur, they're worthy. All of our victorious will be clothed with white. I will never erase their names from the book of life, but I will announce them before my Father and His angels that their mind anyone with ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying the churches so here's the price a problem again, I know the things you do and that you have a reputation for being alive but you're dead wake up strengthen what little remains for even what is left is almost and here's the instinct by find that your actions do not meet the requirements is it your words we don't hear a lot in mainstream Evangelical Church. Right your actions. They mean something we got has requirements. Yeah, he created you a new in Christ Jesus not feel so that you could do nothing. Right so that you could get out there and be right where he wants you to be in Christ. Wake up. So reward Again, so I told you about being closed, the beheaded ones are going to get closed and white. So this is kind of like, just looking into that, you'll see that name. So the reward names won't be erased from the book of life, we're going to look at the book of life later to importance, right? So that's, we want to be in the booklet. So here's maybe the only church doing well, Revelation three, seven, write this letter to the angel, the church in Philadelphia, this is the message from the one who is holy and true. The one who has the key of David, well, he opens, no one can close. And when he closes, no one can open, I know the things you do. And I've opened the door for you that no one can close, you have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan, synagogue, those liars who say they're Jews, but they're not, it's coming down at your feet, they will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I'll protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong in this world. And coming soon, hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crowns as a crown again, all our victorious will become pillars in the temple of my God, and they'll never have to leave it at all. All right, on them the name of my God, and it will be citizens in the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. Now also run on them my new name, anyone with yours to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what he's saying to the churches. Okay? So they're doing good, why? Because you obey this is getting redundant, right? So it's important, right? My command to persevere, right? Don't deny me obey me. You're not denying me again, we're seeing these kind of actions, right? So like, we looked at this, and First John, like the paradox, right? What you do says more about what you believe, than anything. You're saying. Let's so lots of rewards here, that new name, again, Heller in the temple, and you won't have to leave it right. So we looked at this a little bit. And second Peter, we're going to see in Revelation, there's a new heavens and new earth, Peter says that, and we're going to get to a new Jerusalem. So that's what this is saying you're going to be in that holy new city when he kind of just melts the earth away. Alright, so again, I just want you to understand this too, in case you're not picking up the steam. Did you notice something? The rewards? Where are they? Not here? They're not here. Right? So heavenly things, right? Laodicea? Really, Revelation 314 write this letter to the angel, the church and Laodicea This is the message from the one who is the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of God's new creation. I know all the things that you do that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one of the other. But since you're like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth and vomit you out. You say I'm rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing. And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind or naked. Did you catch that? Right? I have everything I need. I'm rich. Here Jesus is like, no need much. So I advise you to buy gold from me. A gold has been purified by fire, then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me. You see them coming in here again. So you'll not be ashamed by your nakedness and ointment for your eyes such you'll be able to see I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look, I stand at the door knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we'll share a meal together or like a fellowship meal together. Those who are victorious will sit on my throne just as I was victorious and sat on my SAT with My Father on His throne. Anyone with ears to hear must LISTEN to the Spirit to understand what he's saying the church is so what's the problem? Here is an interesting one, right? Luke war, indifference, complacency. So if you remember the initiation of Jesus's parable, the parable of the Sower you will remember what is the seed is the Word of God right? So guys sowing it right? So when sowing the seed and lands on rocks what happens Satan takes it away right? lands on Rocky ish soil. What happens comes up gets burned up what's the implication? I think we know or then some of the see the word lands on like, like nice thorn bushes, right? So around like these weeds and thorns. The thorns choke out the word. The word can't produce fruit. And Jesus identifies them as what the worries about this life and wealth like things of this world. So the things of this world can choke out the word they can make you complacent. They can make you indifference like so. That's the warning here. Careful. purified by fire refined by trials. There's those white robes again. Did you see that? Correct and discipline everyone I love Hebrews 12 says that God disciplines us, right because we're legitimate children. And what kind of father doesn't discipline his child? That's an illegitimate child. That's what Hebrews 12 says you don't want to be an illegitimate, you get disciplined discipline. So really interesting. There's some language here and there's the thief in the night thing too. I forgot to mention that but kind Have like I told you in Matthew 24 and 25. When you get to Matthew 25 at the top there, you read the parable of the fullest bridesmaids right there. Five forget to bring the oil and the other five have the oil. So they come back and knock on the door. So whoever knocks right, I will answer the door, if you were prepared like the five wise bridesmaids, right? So what do you get to do? He opens the door and you have a fellowship meal on the throne with Jesus, this is awesome, right? So we're on the throne, we have a fellowship meal, we're invited to this great banquet. So this is where we're going to close with this part of Revelation. This is what the letters to the seven churches are all about. From here, we're going to see next week, we're going to go into the prophecy and visions and stuff like that. And I'm still figuring out how I'm going to condense that into one message. So we'll get there, right. So here's the first part, Jesus's response to the churches. So like Philadelphia is doing okay. But aside from that, it's kind of the same basic idea weaving through here. It begs the question
is the honeymoon over?
Think about its emphasis. Why don't you love me? As you did it first. So we can see, like the common denominator, they all started good. Like it started with something. And then like, Ah, no, you know, why didn't you love me for like your message, you're taking me for granted, you're messing up. So smarter, wake up, you are alive. But now you're almost dead. So you see this theme here. So Christian marriage is a picture of Christ in His Church. We've seen this in the Bible, we saw it in Ephesians. Right. So for husbands this mean, loves your wives means love your wives as Christ loved the church, says that they're in Ephesians. Five, he gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean washed by the cleansing of God's Word. So if we compare this to our relationship with God, but then look at it, like, as we would have marriage, which the Bible often does, we can put it into some just really tangible and practical light, we can kind of give it a little bit of a near application, something closer to us that we can understand, grab on to, and then look at how this pertains to Jesus. So in a marriage, so Pergamum, what what's the what's the issue there? Well, they're suffering bad times. They're suffering hardships, and this is drawing them away from Jesus. They're like, oh, forget this, you know, I don't want to deal with it. Well, so think about it in a marriage. There's, there's dating. Gonna get in so much trouble if I'm not really careful here. And then there's reality. And there are two different things husband's just be quiet. laughs later. Alright, so there are two different things. So you start dating, and you go through the dating phase. And, you know, it's like everything, sunshine and rainbows. And did we expect it to be that way? All the time? Yeah, right. I, well, maybe not you. But I was stupid. And I just, it's all sunshine, right? There's no problem. This is great. And you got the future ahead of you. Especially if you're younger, like I was when we were dating. This is awesome, right? It's just great. And everything's new, and everything's wonderful. And so sunshine and rainbows, but then all the sudden things happen. You start talking about money, right? Maybe you get a house, then you have a mortgage, who works, you both work, who makes more money, and then all of a sudden is not sunshine and rainbows. And then maybe you have a kid now, that's tough. It's a difficult job. You have a child, it's really tough. That is not in sorry, to my daughter, but you are not always sunshine and rainbows. So especially in the diaper, it was no look nothing like sunshine rainbows to me. It's difficult, right? It's tough. We're suffering through this. Right? Then, you know, arguments that you might not have had before these things cost, you know, cause arguments, but the house isn't that big thing, small things to cars, and all kinds of just piles up and it's not the same. Then as you get older, what happens? Well, you start breaking down a little right, that's what the body does. You start having some health issues.
And you're like, oh, man,
we didn't have that problem that like what's going on here. Some people may be tempted to leave but here's the thing.
You said in sickness and in health. Diet. Tyra.
Is there a Jezebel? Who comes in in that timeframe? All right, so maybe someone younger maybe someone with no health problems yet?
Maybe it's new for now.
Is that person there? Maybe the grass looks greener, right? I don't know. Maybe those difficulties won't occur this time. Alright. Let us see are we coasting are comfortable have some of these things caused us to become complacent right like we're in this routine? Maybe we did okay with the house. We got through the arguments everything's Like, but you know, it's just that said, we're just going to complete it. You just go to work, you do your nine to five high by the end, we just kind of run through the routine and we're not dating anymore, right? We're not like hanging out or it's just going through the rhythm, are we complacent?
Are things too convenient?
Have we lost our appreciation for the person?
Of course, they're just there. Of course they're
there. We don't need to appreciate them. Have we taken them for granted? Is the relationship shallow? Or has it become shallow, which makes it very possible for the Jezebel to come into our lives and have an effect on
us or marriage?
Or the church. It's kind of interesting. I'm not going to split hairs here. So the church has been called by some, the bride of Christ. If we're being technical, that's not accurate. So Jerusalem is the bride of Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ. So if you're being very technical, but still, even if it's called the body of Christ, it is what the body of Christ the Bride of Christ, that is something that we're supposed to treat, like a bride, we're supposed to care for the church, right? So really, really important. And very interesting. We've talked about this in the past. I'll go over it really quick, but it's a good reminder. Matthew 25 Again, so what happens you know, after you get the parables of the women with the oil, the bridesmaids with oil, you know, the talents, all that stuff? Well, he goes into the sheep and the goats. So if you remember what I was saying, maybe a few weeks ago, very important, like, you know, hey, you know the sheep and the goats. So the Son of Man is going to come like the Daniel seven thing, Jesus on the throne. And he's going to divide like a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, sheep, right side, goats a left, shift. He's going to say like, Hey, you know, good job. When I was hungry and fed me when I was thirsty. You gave me something to drink. When I was naked, he gave me colorful clothing. When I was in prison. He visited me sick, he visited me, right? Like, when did we see like that Jesus? Well, when you did it to the lease of these things, important word, my brethren. You did it to me. Good for you. You're going to inherit the kingdom, God's prepared for you. When you did it to who? To my brethren, who's Jesus's brother, you the church, churches in the building, is where we do church, but it's not church. Churches, you. You are the body of Christ, and we're supposed to care for here, Jesus giving a very stern warning because he goes to the goats. When did we see You didn't care for me when I was hungry? You didn't care if I was thirsty, you didn't clothe me at Envision? Not then. Where did they go? To eternal punishment? Gone?
Can do actions mean something? Jesus says they do. But here's the thing.
That what you did to my brother's? Who's you guys, the church, we are called to commit to, and to care for Christ's Body, the Church. So if the church is like Christ, bride or body, we begin with a similar type of commitment, ceremony. Baptism, sow begins that this is supposed to be done through the church. And it's very interesting. I changed the way we did it, after a while because I started looking at the word of God really, really like, you know, knowing the word Well, it took me a few years, like just read it again and again and again and get kind of like know what's in there. And I saw that, like the church, mainstream church isn't baptizing people, the way they should be baptized in the full context of God's word? Yes, you can point to like the Ethiopian eunuch or something like that. I know, read it, you know, but still, he was read the scriptures and it was explained to him. But if you look at the whole thing, and you see the way Jesus interacted with people, he gives a lot of warnings before people are baptized, it's really important to understand this. A lot of warnings not nice about it either. I started noticing like when I compared like, what the Word of God says and how Christians are supposed to be prepared and how we're supposed to be on the word and all this other stuff and also, traditionally the way people got baptized in the church if you go all the way back to early writings and things like that. I would compare the way the church baptizes people today, like a Vegas wedding. That's the way we do it. Right? Might as well do it in the drive thru. And I baptize young people too. So it's just like that. But no questions right no commitment nothing. Right like we're going to get married right honeymoons never going to be over like this is great, but that's how baptism works right? You know, you get the T shirts let's do it a waterpark never trained. You know, like, it's almost like you okay, but the barely have the gospel articulated to them.
So Vegas baptism
doesn't make any sense. Because what does Jesus do? And this is really important to understand, and the why change that I was like, no, no, no, no, no. This is a covenant, right? This is a commitment. This is a marriage to Jesus. And so if you've seen me do a baptism, you see, it sounds like I'm marrying the person of Jesus, I kinda am. That's what I'm doing. I do I do. I there's a whole list of things. Traditionally, they're in the church. They're all biblical, that you must affirm. And part of it is are you going to continue with and they used to say, the apostles teaching because it comes from x? What are the four things on the outside of the law? Are you going to continue in the teaching of the Word of the fellowship, the breaking of the bread in the prayer? They asked that in the early church, why? Because it's in the Bible, when you see the formation of the church, those are the four things they're doing, and you should be doing them. And so if you don't go, I will. I'm like, sorry, get out of the pool, right? I'm not going to dunk you. Because you are not going to have a support structure. And you're again, you're like a student who says, I'm not going to school. I'm not giving you a good grade. You know, I'm a soldier, but I don't want to join an army. Great, you know, good luck with that. But this is not going to work for you. And there's no warnings. What does Jesus say? Hey, Jesus, I want to follow you but let me let me bury my dad first. Let the dead bury the dead. Hey, Jesus, I want to follow you okay, you're going to be homeless, right? Foxes have the dens the birds have their nests, but the Son of Man. No place the rest of said, Cool. Good luck with that. I want to follow you. Anyone who wants to follow me. You must deny yourself pick up your cross, then you can follow me. Don't be selfish. Don't consider yourself over anybody else. Right? What do we read? Look out for others interest, not your own Philippians do that. Don't be so selfish and narcissistic. Pick up your cross, which means you're probably going to have to suffer and die for me. Then you can follow me. Do we hear any of that in the baptism? Like imagine I always want to like spoil a baptism by doing it real right. You know, it's like visit some other churches baptism run and hop in the pool to waterpark, right? Like and jump in and just be gone. What can I do this one? Right. Okay, so listen, Jesus says you're you might get crucified for this good with that. There's no sound anything like that? Because they didn't warn you. Oh, you see what I mean? There are way too many Vegas baptisms. Here's the thing. Jesus wants you to understand that you need a very serious commitment. There's no bait and switch here. Like, here it is. This is what it's like getting married without marriage counseling. You know what I mean? Like, we would go through this from doing marriage counseling with people like, Okay, this is what's going to happen, you know, this is what you're going to hit, how are you going to deal with it? None of that. So what's going to happen? I see it all the time, we saw people just falling away like crazy. Like, this doesn't work. We have to honor that. So if we're honoring that emphasis, it starts with a question. Why don't you love me as you did it first?
And what happened?
Wake up, returned to me. If the commitment isn't serious, though, what might you say? Return to what? Burma suffering and bad times again, like a marriage, you'd be thinking we'd be all sunshine and rainbows. Jesus warned us against that again. And are we reading Revelation, you just There you go. You read three chapters of the Bible. What does he say a lot. You're suffering? What does he say? Hey, you know what? It's all good. Like you shouldn't be I'll talk to the devil about that. We'll try to just stop that suffering.
It's to test and refine you.
That's what he says his workouts going to be hard. When you come out on the other end, you'll get the reward.
That's what he says. Right? So think about it. Again, in baptism, you should be asked the sickness and health question.
If we're taking this serious, like a marriage, like, you stay with Jesus and sickness and health, right, you're going to deny Him
alone, or we lied to by false teachers.
This is why the false teachers are so bad. You're not given any of these warnings. And so of course, you're going to get baptized, everything's going to be great. And the next day what you know, like somebody dies or you get in a car accident, something bad happens and you're like, this didn't work.
But you weren't
warned? Like if they did it like Jesus did it. You would have gone Oh, yeah. So that's going to happen. That's cool. I got Jesus
right out of your
diet. Tyra. Is there a Jezebel in our faith lives right. So this is these false teachers. They're like Jezebel interrupting your faith life. You know how many times like there's so many bad things we did the deliverance ministry thing, and I just had someone come back to me be like thank you for like liberating me from that. false teachings can lead us stray they can hold you under this yoke. It's terrible. What they can do to you. It's the half gospel. Yes, we're going to be blessed, especially if we listen and obey. God blesses us here in this world, so that we can be a blessing. That's the point. But the other half of it is this, if not more, if I'm being honest with you, reading you the Word of God, what were the blessings like, in the future, we're not supposed to fix our eyes on things here. So you fall away. But if you've been told, right, that's what this is all about. It's all going to be good. You can do whatever you want, whatever it is, you're going to fall away. And that's why it's so bad.
We can't be short sighted.
there to see, are we in a shallow relationship with Jesus as a result? While these false teachings do that Satan loves it, because they keep you in this very shallow relationships with Jesus were just about stuff. Just about the urgency of the immediate meeting that need shallow. Let's think about right if we're being short sighted, what are we shallow? Deep, wants to go deep. That's difficult, right? Got to learn how to tread water and swim stuff. No, I just want to stay in the kiddie pool. And that's where most Christians are going kiddie pool.
Shallow. But
what is Jesus want? Hot or cold? They want a deep relationship with you. And I want this lukewarm stuff. Complacency is the phase coming commitment. It's a long game. It's not a short sighted game. It's a long game just like marriages. Right? So some keys to keeping the love alive, right? So just think about this. First and foremost. Remember why you got in the relationship in the first place? Whether it's a marriage speaking to married people else, why don't you fall in love with this person? And for the most beautiful things? I'm going to try not to cry because there's just so beautiful. I remember this, like, years ago, I had to be, oh, gosh, 20 years ago, I don't know what it was, like 1520 years ago, just coming in my mind. This guy just sprang into my mind. There was an older couple, sitting at this really nice restaurant, were going to, like 70 something years old, just a much older than us. And the man said, like, when I look in your eyes, I see the same person.
Beautiful. I was like, I want to be like that. Not old, but
I ruined good moments. If you notice how beautiful I like. And it is it's true. I still look at my wife. I'm like, Man, I see that kid that I that I fell in love with years ago. Like remembering that like, okay, so you love Jesus. Now, this is the bad thing about false teachers, right? Because they present the wrong Jesus to us. We don't know Jesus. So we fell in love with a different counterfeit Jesus, you got to fall in love with the Jesus that disciplines us, right? The Jesus that gives us warning. He's gotten snarky sometimes. Like, just that's the way God is. And that's okay. Right? Remember, why did you fall in love with him? Well, there are a lot of reasons, right? So why did you choose to make this promise to this person?
Well, the one who sacrificed himself for us. And that's really an interesting thing.
We must remember that commitment. So think about it, like this world take commitments, like a bad thing, a bad word, right? It's like saying repent, right? It's a commit. I don't want to do that. There's so many choices. You know, I don't want to commit to anything. Like a bad word. But remember when that was like a good thing? You remember when you could like shake hands with somebody look in their eyes, and then you know that that's going to happen, that commit to things like they do things where they finished projects and stuff. Now, it's like, oh, squirrel, you know, it's like, because why tick tock and whatever it is, like, as fast as do takes too long. It takes too long. Can't do that. We're short sighted, like literally and figuratively. It's just unbelievable.
The world. It's full
lies, broken promises, but the word is not. Right. And it talks about things like bless you. Things like commitment, right? Being really committed to things. It's a good quality, especially to people, especially to Jesus, another key and said, sacrifice, it's remembering that sacrifice. So like, let's just root zoom it in and bring it to like tangible things. I think about my relationship with my wife. And I just think about how we got together. We were very, very young. We were both, you know, like out of our homes at a very young age. And so, you know, we had to work really hard to get like a first apartment, where it's just crazy, really bad place, you know, but got our first apartment, but we worked like I think she worked three jobs and went to college and you hear people complain, like I couldn't go to work as it goes. It was unbelievable. Like, I don't know when we slept. I have no idea. I was starting my business talking about author before I was like writing My first books, like I can just remember, like, you know, working all day, you know, and then go in there she is. And I would fall asleep or like my computer, like writing my book. And I wake up and there's the book again. Oh, go again. You know, just That's it. Maybe you slept for hours, six hours. But here's the thing, especially as we got older, like, we did that for each other, you sacrifice things like so. It was time for her to go get her master's degree, and she had to travel a long way. Yes, okay, I'm going to watch you know, the baby. I'm going to do that. And then she's going to get a job as health insurance, like just, you know, practical things we didn't have a lot. And so can you get the insurance? I watched the kid. Listen, guys, we don't want to watch the kid. Right? But you do it? Do it, you know? And then I remember everything she did? Did she really want to commute, you know, two hours to go get her master's degree college at that age and work full time and watch the baby when I was like, you know, she came home if I'm like, there's, you know, so like, she did that to probably way more than me. So I remember that. Right? Think about having a child. I can't imagine that happening to my body. Right? You know, so, you know, it's the nine months. It's terrible. You know, the game was me. And it just, that's got to hurt. You know, it's like, I remember one word, a few. Epidural. Epidural. Right? So that was very important, anyway, and if you've had a kid, you know about that, if he went through it without it. You're crazy. Because like, I was like, the craziest thing. But I remember I think about that, like, I'm not sure if I would have had a kid for you. I don't think so. I don't know. No, no. And I'm not trying again. No, it was a girl. That's what you get. We're done. Right? So maybe she didn't do that. But. But the sacrifice, man, that's crazy. So remember that. Remember that? Jezebel hasn't done any of that for you. nor is she proven? Nor does she you know that she will? Will she stick it out and sing? I've been sick. I'm a baby when I get sick because I don't get sick. So I get sick, sick and dying. Right? So but I remember she took care of me when I was a real pain in the neck. So different body parts than what she said maybe. Right? But she don't want me. There are things I'm not going to talk about her things because you know, whatever. But just me like,
I'm not easy. Remember that? I'm like, that sacrifice. Now let's look at Jesus.
All of those things pale in comparison to what he's done for us. Is there anyone better to be in love with? Nope. That's the way a good marriage is. I love Jesus more than ever love her.
That's what allows me to really love her. That's the key. Because, well, God, God
did not regard a quality, right? We've got something have you taken advantage of Jesus came he humbled himself, he died for us. He carried our sins in died the death that we deserve. I don't think that there's any such thing as a good person. None of us are. Don't be under that illusion or let anyone tell you otherwise. There's no such thing as a good person. except
Jesus. That's it. Right? He paid
the he did what we deserve, died in excruciating death on a cross. And for being honest, would we?
Whoa, look at that question next week. But wow. Remembering that sacrifice. So we make a commitment to him as he's committed to us.
That's how it is in relationship. It begins with our personal relationship with him. So like our marriage or whatever, that's a picture of that relationship. But it begins there in that committed, faithful, loving relationship with our Lord. That's everything. And it extends to his body. The church again, when I said, it's the context for most of the New Testament. It's important. And so that's why we devote our things you can get the outside walls right next to it for you, so devoted to God's word, clearly, we're devoted to God's word, I'm doing my best to each other, to fellowship, the breaking the bread to be told about that if the search, breaking the bread, the prayers important when we listen to God, and listen to God. And so, those are some practical things we can do to keep the relationship with Jesus working both the personal right, the practical, and here, both the spiritual and the practical, where they come together and they meet in church. That will help us through the good times the bad times, the sickness, the health. We're here for each other, as well. His body. And in doing so we must keep our eyes on the long term commitment. So it's all over the Bible. Colossians three comes to mind, right? We focus on heavenly things, not earthly things. But Hebrews 12. And we can go back there, right? So how do we do this? Right? We fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and champion of our faith. Paul said, In Philippians, three beautiful, I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past, and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize. Right? So for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us. So we saw the prizes today. Let's encourage them, I want to leave you with today. Just beautiful things, fruit from the tree of life. We have eternal life. If we endure in Jesus, and we stay faithful to him, no second death. No people like oh, we shouldn't be preached on fire and brimstone? I don't know the Bible does. are we suggesting that we leave something out. But we don't have to fear that.
If we're in Jesus, that's beautiful.
A new name, making all things new, it doesn't matter what's happened, you hear the scars you're wearing, it's all going to be gone. Read it. No more tears, no crying, no pain, no suffering. Just joy in Jesus, that's a
beautiful authority over the nation's a justice you're looking for here. Don't worry about it.
It'll be taken care of it'll be a just and righteous place that we go to. Without any of these problems. They won't exist. We'll be closed and white matter what we suffer what we have to go through the price that we pay for following Jesus
will enter in
that will be a part of that fellowship meal with Jesus the great feast, and we'll be with him on the throne of God.
What could be better? Priceless, priceless.
As this morning, I want to pray for you and just leave you with that encouragement. Or thank you for this time for this church for everyone who came in to hear Your word and honor your word. And I just, I just thank you for just giving me the opportunity, the honor and the privilege of overseeing a faithful flock. Those who have devoted themselves to you Jesus to your word that come here for the truth and I just pray I pray that that you can just be vehicles with your grace and mercy, your love, light shine to the city around us all that we encounter.
All that we encounter.
So that we can let more people know about you. prizes that await us in your heavenly kingdom.
I ask these things in Jesus's name. Amen.