1 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,400 Of all the churches that Jesus addressed in the Book of 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:13,360 Revelation, what we are about to read and study together at this 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:21,680 time is the longest letter. Simply put, Jesus Christ has 4 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:26,800 more to say to this assembly than any other, and that should 5 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,240 prompt us to carefully consider what was taking place in 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,760 Thyatira that demanded such an extended message. 7 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,600 If there was one word to summarize what was taking place 8 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:47,160 that caused the Lord Jesus to offer this detailed 9 00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:51,760 confrontation, it is this toleration. 10 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,920 Toleration, and I say that because that is the very word we 11 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:03,560 will see, at least in the ESV, that serves as a turning point 12 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:08,800 in the scathing report. And I want us to consider what 13 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,840 toleration means, having a proper definition before we 14 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:19,760 explore this letter. To tolerate involves any idea or 15 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:27,000 activity or person that is allowed or accepted when in fact 16 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,560 it is disapproved of. It is something that is 17 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,480 disagreed upon, and in this case you had an entire, well at least 18 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:42,360 a majority of the church that was tolerating something, More 19 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:47,680 specifically tolerating someone that Christ himself did not 20 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,160 approve of. And the reality of the matter 21 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,560 is, there are many behaviors that are taking place in the 22 00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,480 church at large that Christ expects His people to lovingly 23 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:06,640 confront, but that is not always true. 24 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,200 If there is a main take away from this letter, it is that 25 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,000 tolerance is a recurring temptation for the church in 26 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,760 every age, and it is something that the individual Christian 27 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:25,600 and the church as a whole must be ready to resist for the sake 28 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,360 of Christ honor. There is that and many other 29 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,520 things that we are going to learn as we now begin to read in 30 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,520 Revelation chapter 2, starting in verse 18. 31 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,680 Again, this is the longest letter, but we're going to read 32 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:46,160 it in one sitting even now before we dissect it. 33 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:52,160 Revelation 2, verse 18. And to the Angel, the church in 34 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,600 Thyatira, right, The words of the Son of God, who has eyes 35 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,040 like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 36 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:08,040 I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient 37 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,840 endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 38 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:17,440 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman 39 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:22,920 Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and 40 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:27,560 seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat 41 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,280 food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but 42 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,000 she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 43 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,120 Behold, I will throw her onto a sick bed, and those who commit 44 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,000 adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless 45 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,960 they repent of her works. And I will strike her children 46 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,280 dead. And all the churches will know 47 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,640 that I am he who searches mind and heart. 48 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,040 And I will give to each of you according to your works. 49 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,080 But to the rest of you and thy Tyra, who do not hold this 50 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,360 teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things 51 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,680 of Satan, to you I say, do not lay on you any other burden, 52 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,160 only hold fast what you have until I come, the one who 53 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,680 conquers and who keeps my works until the end. 54 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,000 To him I will give authority over the nations, and he will 55 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,519 rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in 56 00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:23,760 pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my 57 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,360 father, and I will give him the morning star. 58 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:33,160 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the 59 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,440 churches. Father, we ask that you give us 60 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,400 ears to hear. We pray that you would destroy 61 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,960 all distraction, any obstacle in our hearts and our minds that 62 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,000 would interfere with what You want to say. 63 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,960 We believe that you have a word for this church and we want to 64 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:55,240 hear it with clarity and precision and power. 65 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,000 In Jesus name we ask these things. 66 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:02,240 Amen. It's clear from the introduction 67 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,600 alone that this letter is not going to be an encouraging 1. 68 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,200 What we see here just from the beginning that this is a serious 69 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,720 warning. And how do we know that? 70 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,320 Because the characteristics that Christ chooses to apply to 71 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:24,160 himself, the ones that He highlights, are associated with 72 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,880 judgement. You can almost translate the 73 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:29,880 first verse in the following way. 74 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:35,040 Before I say anything else to you, O people of Thyatira, my 75 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:40,360 people, I want to remind you of my authority. 76 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:45,320 That's why he says I am the Son of God. 77 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,040 And why that's important to say from the outset is because he 78 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:54,080 wants to inform this people that it doesn't matter who is saying 79 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,920 what in your church. It doesn't matter how many of 80 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,920 you approve of what is being taught in my church. 81 00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:05,400 I am the one in charge of my church. 82 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,560 I'm the one that determines who does what and what is said. 83 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,760 I am the Son of God. Here's my authority. 84 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,480 And from his authority now he reacquaints them with his 85 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,960 abilities. What does he say? 86 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,160 He describes himself as the one who has eyes like a flame of 87 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,920 fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 88 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:35,080 Just in case you would reject my authority, let me tell you the 89 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:40,200 consequences of such a thing. My perception is perfect. 90 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:48,080 My discernment and my assessment is something that will warrant 91 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,320 judgment, because I am never wrong. 92 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:57,320 I see everything, I know everything, and I want to let 93 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,920 you know that if you deny my authority, you will have to face 94 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,800 my discipline. My eyes are like a flame of 95 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,960 fire, and my feet are ready to go to work and to trample on all 96 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:12,320 disobedience. Now, this is something for us to 97 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,880 consider because Jesus Christ is holy. 98 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,240 You're going to read some things and you're going to study some 99 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,280 things with me that may sound like it's Old Testament. 100 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,120 Now this is New Testament. This is the newest of the New 101 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,280 Testament. You can't get any more new than 102 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:32,880 this. We're the last book of the New 103 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,720 Testament. So you have some people who say, 104 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:38,240 you know, I'm more comfortable with the God of the New 105 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:39,520 Testament, the God of the Old Testament. 106 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,440 Let me shock you. He's the same God. 107 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,760 You can't make that distinction. And people who talk like that, 108 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,720 I'm afraid, have not read or studied the Book of Revelation. 109 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,320 But before Christ underscores any error in this church, He 110 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,960 wants to, He wants to point out some of the attributes that he 111 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:58,640 admires. And that's in one verse. 112 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,360 Here in verse 19. What does he say? 113 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,880 Well, there are 4 distinct characteristics that he 114 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,680 mentions. The first thing apart from the 115 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:12,200 general works is their love. I see your love. 116 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,920 More than that, I see your faith and even beyond that, I see your 117 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,760 service. I see your patient endurance. 118 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,000 I mean, if you heard about a church that was loving, that had 119 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,280 faith, that was serving, that was enduring patiently, you 120 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:33,320 would say give that church an A. Christ has a different grading 121 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,080 system. I don't think it's necessary for 122 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:38,480 us to look at these things separately. 123 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,880 What I do want to mention is the last part of this comment. 124 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:46,480 Notice what he says and that your latter works exceed the 125 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,600 first. So it's not so much that this 126 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,680 church was possessing these wonderful attitudes and these 127 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:55,320 actions. What Christ says is that they 128 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,360 were growing and excelling in them. 129 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,200 That over time I see that you're maturing in these areas, that is 130 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,520 becoming more fruitful and fragrant in your assembly. 131 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,200 I love this. I, I, I praise this, I commend 132 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,320 this. And here's what moved me about 133 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,640 this. It shows you an eye, the type of 134 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:18,040 growth that Jesus Christ celebrates in his church. 135 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,720 You know, you talk to ministers today and they love to speak 136 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,240 about numerical growth. We have more people attending 137 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,840 our services. Well, that could be good. 138 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,120 It could also be bad. And then you have others who 139 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,360 take pride in the increased giving. 140 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,880 Every member's meeting, you know, the ones that you have, 141 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:41,960 maybe once or twice a year, we'll look at our report. 142 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,960 We're having more people give, and that also can be a good 143 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,320 thing. But do you know what Christ 144 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:54,320 primarily praises the incremental transformation of 145 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,680 his people. That's the kind of growth that 146 00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:01,800 Jesus Christ celebrates. It's not so much the size of the 147 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,600 congregation, it's the quality of its members. 148 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:08,560 And so he looks at, he doesn't mention how many are there. 149 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:11,920 He doesn't mention anything. The thing that he highlights is 150 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:16,880 you individually are growing in your love, your faith, your 151 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:18,240 service, and your patient endurance. 152 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,800 Here's that applies to US. Number one, does our 153 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,320 understanding of success in ministry align with the Lord's? 154 00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:30,120 Do we celebrate what he celebrates? 155 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,800 Do we focus our investments on what Christ wants us to focus 156 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,600 on? Again, for many people, it's 157 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,480 let's fill as many seats as possible. 158 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,840 Our concern should be who's sitting in those seats and what 159 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:47,000 are they becoming and what do their lives look like once they 160 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,800 finish warming those seats for an hour and a half on a Sunday? 161 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,640 This is what the Lord is inviting us to, which invites 162 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:59,440 us, I think. Let's say, for example, every 163 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,560 church anniversary we celebrate in November, do we not? 164 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,880 I was reflecting a thought. We should be able to look back 165 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,520 and say that people at Maranatha Bible Church are more loving 166 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,520 than they were last year. We have more people serving than 167 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:18,360 ever before. Look what's happening to the 168 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,000 members at MVC. They are able, with greater 169 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:26,320 wisdom and greater patience, handle internal and external 170 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:31,560 conflicts, patient endurance. And I pray that that would be 171 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:35,720 the trajectory of this church. We will not decrease in our 172 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,080 affection, that we will not weaken in our acts of service, 173 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:44,120 but increase as time goes on. Unfortunately, that's all the 174 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,480 good Jesus had to say for this church for the rest of this 175 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,600 letter. Now he is going to bring up a 176 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,720 serious concern. There is going to be an issue 177 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,480 that he is going to target without reservation. 178 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:01,560 His main issues with a woman, her name is Jezebel. 179 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,120 Or is it? It's very unlikely that this 180 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,640 woman's name in this church was actually Jezebel because of the 181 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,760 history of that name, because of the scandal associated with that 182 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,080 name. It would be like anybody naming 183 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,520 their son Judas. Very unlikely. 184 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,880 So what we have here is a symbolic label that Christ 185 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,720 places on this individual because like Jezebel in the Old 186 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:33,880 Testament, this prophetess was an agent of Satan and Satan was 187 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,640 using her in this assembly to lure the people of God away from 188 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,720 the truth. And so she has Jezebel like 189 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,760 qualities. You can imagine the shock on her 190 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:48,360 face when this letter was read and she heard Jezebel and the 191 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:49,560 rest of the church for that matter. 192 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:55,480 There are three problems that the Lord highlights about this 193 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,080 woman. Let's look at them again. 194 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:02,800 The 1st is here in verse 20. Who calls herself a prophetess? 195 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,120 You have to read carefully. The issue here is not the 196 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,720 practice of prophecy itself. We see examples of even woman 197 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:14,240 prophets in the New Testament. Rather this individual is a self 198 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,800 appointed prophet. It's as though Christ is saying 199 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,760 I I did not Commission this woman. 200 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:24,960 She does not have my endorsement. 201 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:31,200 She's a self-proclaimed messenger, and this woman had 202 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,920 the boldness to walk into this church, build trust and fellow 203 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,760 members and telling them, did you know that I'm a prophetess? 204 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,040 I hear from God all the time, regularly actually. 205 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,560 In fact, I have such a close and unique relationship with the 206 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:52,640 Lord that I have been given access to unique insight and 207 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:59,080 revelation. And Jesus says she calls herself 208 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,240 that. She's not one of mine. 209 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:08,840 Church. Be careful of people who call 210 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:13,240 themselves prophets, especially online. 211 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,200 Can I tell you something? A person whom the Lord truly 212 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,120 uses doesn't need to advertise themselves. 213 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,440 They don't. God is really using somebody 214 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,960 speaking through somebody. One, it's going to align with 215 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,000 His Word, and two, you will, if you have even a hint of 216 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,480 discernment, recognize this individual is a real thing. 217 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,920 This person is a faithful messenger of God's Word. 218 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,000 So be careful. More and more are we seeing 219 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:46,720 people freely calling themselves different things, including 220 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:51,520 prophets and prophetesses, when in fact they hire themselves. 221 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,640 They're not of Christ, even though they speak in His name. 222 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,760 The second thing that is a troubling feature is how this 223 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:06,160 woman was teaching. Look again at verse 20. 224 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,240 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman 225 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,440 Jezebel, who one, calls herself a prophetess, and two, is 226 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,040 teaching. Again, read carefully. 227 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,920 The problem highlighted here is not what she is teaching. 228 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:21,640 That's going to be brought up next. 229 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,960 The point of contention is who is teaching? 230 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,160 You see, the church in Thyatira was violating the clear biblical 231 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,400 instruction and mandate that women are not to serve as 232 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,080 preachers or teachers in the General Assembly of the church. 233 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:44,000 It cannot be any more plain than the words of the Apostle Paul in 234 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,600 First Timothy 212 when he says, I do not permit a woman to teach 235 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,240 or to exercise authority over a man. 236 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,040 Rather she is to remain quiet. That doesn't mean that when she 237 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,680 comes to church she's supposed to be mute. 238 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,440 It means that in the context of preaching and teaching the 239 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:04,200 worship time of the church, she is not to do what men alone are 240 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,520 called to do, and that is to instruct the people of God with 241 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:13,160 the Word of God. It's very possible that this is 242 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:16,920 the first time that some of you heard me quote this verse or 243 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,960 heard this was quoted at all in such a plain manner. 244 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,800 And so I'm aware that there can be thoughts and questions 245 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,360 emerging even now as I'm talking in your heart. 246 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,800 Well, let me direct you to a one hour message that we have on our 247 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,600 YouTube channel that speaks about in great detail what God 248 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:41,920 says about woman assuming the role of elder, pastor and 249 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,040 teaching the General Assembly in the church. 250 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,960 And I'm sure it will be helpful. And perhaps in the near future 251 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:49,640 we may have to even revisit that. 252 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,960 But see, this is what we can understand at this point. 253 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,840 It is completely appropriate for both men and women in informal 254 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,440 Bible studies and settings to be able to share insights and to be 255 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:05,440 able to express questions. The Bible even encourages women 256 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,839 to teach younger women how to be good and how to be faithful and 257 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:13,119 to disciple children. But when it comes to the church 258 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:17,960 gathering for corporate worship, Scripture clearly and undeniably 259 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,760 reserves the role of teaching for men. 260 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:27,920 And this is yet another example for us of how this series and 261 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,760 revelation is so applicable. Can I ask you something? 262 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,600 Are there fewer churches today promoting women to teach 263 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,560 congregations and pursue the role of pastor or more? 264 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,440 The reality is more and more are embracing this trend. 265 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,920 Mark my words. You listen carefully then, 266 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:52,280 unless the Lord comes and baptizes the wider church in the 267 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:56,800 fear of God again, to position the church, especially leaders, 268 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,920 to obey God in everything that he says, not what you like, what 269 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,400 He says, whether your flesh is comfortable with it or not. 270 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:08,120 Unless the Lord does that in this age, we are going to see a 271 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:13,640 greater attack on this mandate. And if you're a part of a church 272 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:17,360 like this one that honors and bows its knee to the authority 273 00:18:17,360 --> 00:18:20,280 of God's Word, even in what he says for men and women in their 274 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:24,600 distinct roles in the church, prepare to be criticized. 275 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,160 Prepare to be slandered by who? The world. 276 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:33,320 I'm not concerned by the world. No, no even churches and 277 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:39,080 ministries that willfully dismiss this command. 278 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,320 But here's what we're learning. Why are we going through these 279 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,960 series, this series in the the seven churches in the Book of 280 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:49,520 Revelation? Because we want to know what 281 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,960 kind of church Christ wants and the church that Christ praises. 282 00:18:53,960 --> 00:19:00,240 I'm not motivated one iota to be a ministry that popular 283 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,760 evangelicalism approves of. I'm not concerned about that. 284 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:09,280 I will stand before Jesus Christ, not before the popular 285 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,560 pastor Christ. And I want to stand before. 286 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,360 I'm faithful. And I hope you do as well. 287 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,440 Unfortunately, this church tolerated a woman who was 288 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,600 teaching with authority in the assembly. 289 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,760 But that's not the only thing. If teaching as a woman wasn't 290 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,200 disobedient enough, she aggravates her offense by what 291 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,840 she was teaching. Look here at the last part of 292 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,400 verse 20. Not just teaching, but seducing 293 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,520 My servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food 294 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:48,520 sacrificed to idols. This Jezebel, through her 295 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:53,280 teaching, was comforting and persuading other members, my 296 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,840 servants, Jesus says, to sin comfortably. 297 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:02,280 You know, some wonder, how was a woman able to climb and have 298 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:03,920 such influence in this congregation? 299 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,800 And there are some, though it's not explicitly clear, that that 300 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,280 believe that this woman was in fact one of the wives of the 301 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:13,160 elders, because the Greek word for a woman there is 302 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:17,080 interchangeable between woman as a gender and wife. 303 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,000 But that's not plain. Either way, what we want to 304 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:22,960 focus on is the essence of her doctrine. 305 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,040 What she was spewing out was that certain sins were 306 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:30,160 permissible, that you can engage and you can indulge in certain 307 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,400 ideas, this promotion, this illusion of freedom under the 308 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,360 guise of grace. And there's something about her 309 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:40,640 teaching, I believe, that I think makes it so compelling. 310 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,960 Scroll down to verse 24. Notice what the Lord says to 311 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,400 this remnant in the same church and we'll look at that in in a 312 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,320 moment here. But verse 24 says, But to the 313 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,640 rest of you and Thyatira who do not hold this teaching, who have 314 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,200 not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I 315 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,720 say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 316 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,880 Now the ESP has an interesting rendering of this verse in other 317 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,840 word for word translations like you know, the King James and the 318 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,640 new King James, the Lord is the one who identifies this teaching 319 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,840 as the deep things of Satan. So here in the ESP says what 320 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,320 others might call the deep things of Satan and those other 321 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:17,720 ones. Maybe you have it in your hand. 322 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,560 It's it's the Lord who's saying this is the deep things of 323 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:25,320 Satan. Either way, what Christ is 324 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,440 describing here can mean one of two things, or even really both. 325 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,720 First, whatever this woman was was conveying and communicating 326 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,520 was deeply disturbing and perverse. 327 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:46,080 But I can also mean this, that she was captivating an audience 328 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:52,320 because she claimed that she had deeper insights into spiritual 329 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:58,800 things. And this is something for us to 330 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,800 understand as well, because it's not about deeper things in the 331 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,600 Word of God. We should all long for that. 332 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,560 What I'm referring to is the unraveling of extra biblical 333 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:11,840 ideas on the basis of supposed prophetic authority. 334 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:15,280 So it could have been something like, let me tell you some of 335 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,040 the secrets to the spiritual realm. 336 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:24,720 Let me unpack for you basic baseless ideas of spiritual 337 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:32,240 dimensions and practices in the Scriptures that are, in fact not 338 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,560 in the Scriptures. Twisting truths, twisting 339 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:41,640 illustrations, twisting stories. In fact, maybe not even in the 340 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,240 Scriptures at all. Completely silent in the Bible. 341 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,480 Let me tell you some things that you don't know. 342 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,840 Let me exegete my personal visions and my dreams and my 343 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:52,960 encounters. They can't be validated. 344 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,400 Just take my word for it. I'm, I'm persuasive in my 345 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,440 speech, am I not? Don't, don't I look godly. 346 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,080 So let me tell you some things that I've experienced that are 347 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:08,080 applicable to you. Deep things, not deep things in 348 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,760 the Bible, deep things from your own experience, from your own 349 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,880 mind. You know, over the years as a 350 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,560 Christian, I've, I've been approached by people who have 351 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:20,560 invited me to listen to so and so because they're deep, OK. 352 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:22,600 And when I listen, I find out, yeah, they're deep. 353 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,840 They're in deep trouble because they're not saying anything 354 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,400 that's biblical. I'll never forget the time after 355 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,120 a few months, maybe close to a year of walking with the Lord, I 356 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:35,040 had somebody, we went to this conference and somebody 357 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,240 approached me. We got to know them a little 358 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,840 bit. He handed me a USB stick with 359 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:41,520 the series of teachings from this guy. 360 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,720 I don't even remember who the man was, but it was a series on 361 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,920 miracles, but unique miracles, miracles that you didn't think 362 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,480 you had access to. And there was more than one 363 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,120 sermon on how Christians have the ability on demand to 364 00:23:55,120 --> 00:24:03,400 teleport, teleportation. And this man plucked a couple of 365 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:05,600 examples of how the Lord has done this. 366 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,120 But no, no, it wasn't how the Lord can do it. 367 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:11,240 It's how you can do it. And here's the most shocking 368 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,480 part, listening to this in the car with a friend. 369 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,360 And the worst part is you had people in the live audience 370 00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:22,040 recorded, wow, literally saying wow, wow, wow. 371 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:26,200 What do you think this man got the confidence to speak in this 372 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:27,320 way? Think it was from the Bible? 373 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,400 No, no, no, no. It was 45 minutes of let me tell 374 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:34,960 you how it happened to me, how I went from here to here, how I 375 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,560 went from this country to this country, how I elevate into 376 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,840 heavenly realms and dimensions. You know you can do that too if 377 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,800 you have enough faith, deep things. 378 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,000 And this church was tolerating it. 379 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:53,840 I want you to be careful because ideas like this are gaining more 380 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,320 and more popularity. Thousands and hundreds of 381 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,520 thousands of views. I even just yesterday, last 382 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,320 night, I thought, let me just look this stuff up and I looked 383 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,120 it up and there hundreds of thousands of views. 384 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,200 I could barely stomach what was being said. 385 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:11,600 And they would pan into the audience and people, wow, they 386 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:14,760 don't know their Bibles. There's no way. 387 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,440 And you had a church here who loved this teaching. 388 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,560 Christ did not. And we see here his 389 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,320 righteousness, his zeal. You know, listen. 390 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,360 As much as love is important, faithfulness is important, 391 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,960 service is important, patient endurance is important. 392 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:33,800 You know what we learn from this? 393 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,720 Teaching is important to Jesus. It may not be important to you, 394 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,280 but it's important to the Lord Jesus Christ. 395 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,440 And he wants the church to partner with his heart. 396 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:50,000 And so he demonstrates his zeal for pure truth. 397 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:56,160 But listen, His passion for holiness is beautifully followed 398 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,560 by His incredible grace in the following verse. 399 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,280 So we look at verse 20. Now look at verse 21. 400 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:06,880 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her 401 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,640 sexual immorality. You know what this means? 402 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,480 This is not the first time that this woman was confronted for 403 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:17,960 her error. I gave her time to repent, 404 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:24,080 implying she was confronted before, perhaps by faithful 405 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,880 Christians in the congregation, maybe directly by the conviction 406 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,560 of the Holy Spirit. We aren't sure what is certain, 407 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,880 though this is not the first time the Lord is dealing with 408 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:37,480 her. Relish in the brilliance and the 409 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,480 beauty, the astounding patience of Jesus Christ. 410 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,280 He doesn't just give us opportunities to repent. 411 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:51,120 He gives you time to repent when it's not your initial response 412 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:58,200 to His invitation. Look how steadfast He is and 413 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:04,320 calm He is. I gave her time and you and I 414 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,680 have to understand that. When we look out and see false 415 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:11,040 teachers today receiving millions, even billions of 416 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:15,200 donations packing stadiums, I've thought this, Lord, why aren't 417 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,560 you stopping them? Why are they growing in their 418 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,560 reach and in their influence? And I learned something from 419 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,920 this letter. He's giving them time to repent. 420 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,400 He's giving the time to repent. And it could very well be before 421 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,080 there is a public scandal with somebody who is not truly a 422 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,560 messenger of God. They were private convictions, 423 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,080 confrontations, the Lord dealing with them in their hearts, 424 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,520 allowing people to come into their lives and speak into their 425 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:45,280 lives. And unfortunately, do many do 426 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:49,320 what this woman did with every opportunity received, she 427 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:53,560 refused to repent. Have you ever wondered, just in 428 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,000 a general sense, why do people refuse to repent? 429 00:27:56,360 --> 00:27:59,080 I mean, if the gospel is preached faithfully, if it's 430 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:03,200 really given as good news, why do people swat it away? 431 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:08,040 Why do they deny it? I believe in many cases for the 432 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,640 same reason this woman did. They love their sin. 433 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,280 Notice again verse 21, I gave her time to repent, but she 434 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,760 refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 435 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:22,600 The reason why she didn't want to turn to the Lord is because 436 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,200 she didn't want to give up her lusts. 437 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:26,840 And here's something to consider. 438 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,280 It's very possible that her influence in this church 439 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:33,760 provided personal opportunities to indulge in her lusts. 440 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,080 Did you know that what are the marks of a false teacher is that 441 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:47,840 they are ravishedly driven by sexual impulses, and they'll use 442 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,200 the persuasiveness, their personality, they'll use their 443 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:57,720 leadership abilities to satiate those sexual desires. 444 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,320 Here's a mark of a false teacher according to Peter and second 445 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:07,200 Peter 2:14, They have eyes full of the adultery. 446 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:10,440 This is in the context of false teachers. 447 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,040 And what does he say? They have eyes full. 448 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:20,600 They're leaking in their desire, in their pursuit of other people 449 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,120 to gratify their flesh, their predators. 450 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,600 And not just that, he says they have eyes full of adultery, 451 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:33,080 insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. 452 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,760 They have hearts trained and greed accursed children. 453 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:40,240 Who do false teachers attract? Unsteady souls. 454 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,640 You know what is 1 sure way of being an unsteady soul? 455 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:47,760 Not being filled with the word of God, being tossed this way 456 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:49,680 and that way. The newest thing the the the 457 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,680 more handsome preacher, the more beautiful, the more deep. 458 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,440 That's how people are are taken captive. 459 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:58,080 How do these false teachers thrive? 460 00:29:58,080 --> 00:29:59,800 How is it that they're so successful because they have so 461 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,720 many customers. If you didn't have the 462 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,640 customers, you wouldn't have the platform. 463 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,480 I was listening to an interview the other day of somebody who 464 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:14,880 went out into Mexico and spoke with one of the cartels, and the 465 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:18,080 cartel admittedly said most of our consumers are in the United 466 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:19,720 States. If we didn't have consumers, we 467 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,560 would be out of business. How true it is. 468 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:29,720 Even with false teachers, it's people wanting this and those 469 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:35,400 who are naive, those who are unsteady are frequently taken 470 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,840 captive. And this woman could very well 471 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,160 have been partnering sexually with people that she was 472 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:46,360 teaching. And as patient as the Lord is, 473 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,480 there is a limitation to it. And for this Jezebel, there were 474 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:53,400 no more chances left. So the only thing she can expect 475 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,240 from now on his judgement. And this is what we read next in 476 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:00,000 verse 22. Behold, I will throw her onto a 477 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,920 sick bed. And those who commit adultery 478 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:05,840 with her I will throw into great tribulation unless they repent 479 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,200 of her works, and I will strike her children dead. 480 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:13,160 A lot of these statements may not be surprising to us, but 481 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:15,280 there is something in this passage that I think would make 482 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:17,680 many professing Christians uncomfortable. 483 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,120 I alluded to it earlier. Jesus Christ, even the New 484 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:24,760 Testament, makes His glory and His reality known. 485 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:28,080 Yes in His goodness, Yes in His grace. 486 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:29,960 Yes in His forgiveness. Yes in his healing power. 487 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:33,880 But can Ioffer you another dimension by real time 488 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:40,240 manifestations of judgement? Are we in Exodus or are we in 489 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,200 the New Testament? We're in the Book of Revelation 490 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:49,920 and Jesus Christ says that He will make Himself known to the 491 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:51,680 wider church. What does he say? 492 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,000 How is He going to make all the churches know that He is the one 493 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:56,400 who searches mind and heart? Pause. 494 00:31:56,520 --> 00:32:00,600 He searches mind and heart. That is an attribute that solely 495 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,560 and exclusively belongs to Yahweh in the Old Testament. 496 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:07,920 Many, many Old Testament passages say the Lord who 497 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:10,040 searches mind and heart. What is Christ claiming here? 498 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:14,840 I'm God, but what is one of the ways that He shows Himself to be 499 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:19,600 the living God to His people? Well, in this case, by striking 500 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:24,960 a false prophet with a sickness, by altering the lives of those 501 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:29,920 who work with her, and by ending the lives of her children. 502 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:32,160 Some debate. Is this her actual children or 503 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,040 spiritual children? Either way, it's not good. 504 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:39,280 So this is something for us to understand. 505 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:42,520 Yes, the God of the New Testament, from time to time, He 506 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:46,560 affirms His Holiness, He affirms His power, He affirms his 507 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:47,680 presence. By doing what? 508 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:54,440 Shaking a church that tolerates sin in such an undeniable way 509 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:58,000 that other churches would realize and be reminded of the 510 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:04,200 holiness of Jesus Christ, is that it? 511 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,680 No, Christ has a message not just for Jezebel and her 512 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:12,040 disciples. Look here at verse 24. 513 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:15,880 But to the rest of you and thy Tyra, do not hold this teaching 514 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:18,960 who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan. 515 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,360 To you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 516 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:28,480 Isn't it shocking you had real Christians in this church? 517 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:30,840 You know what I thought? Why are you still at that 518 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:34,080 church? I'll tell you why. 519 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,120 Because they didn't have many options in that time. 520 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,440 And that day they didn't have the luxury of picking up and 521 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,160 saying we're going to the church down the street. 522 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,280 There are many obstacles to that and again, very limited options. 523 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:48,760 So they had no other choice. This was their church in 524 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:50,640 Thyatira. This is where they went. 525 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,640 This is where they could, to the best of their ability, obey what 526 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,720 Jesus said and what the word of God says and not to forsake the 527 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:00,920 assembling of the Saints. And so the Lord now turns his 528 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,800 attention to these Christians who are enduring this. 529 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,120 You can imagine the debates over fellowship. 530 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:08,400 You can imagine the confrontation. 531 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,080 You can imagine the atmosphere in that place. 532 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:14,600 And he tells this remnant in this church, I want to encourage 533 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,440 you. I do not lay on you any other 534 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,760 burden. Only hold fast what you have 535 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:26,360 until I come. I got to tell you, it was like a 536 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:30,280 splash of cold water on my face when I meditated on this 537 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:34,719 passage. It should move you to the core 538 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,520 because this is something about the leadership of Jesus Christ 539 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,760 towards the faithful. I'm sure you're aware of 540 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,199 Christians who really want to please God, like they really 541 00:34:44,199 --> 00:34:48,880 want to honor God, but they have no rest in that pursuit. 542 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:50,920 In fact, they're always burdened. 543 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,719 They they always scrutinize their sanctification. 544 00:34:56,320 --> 00:35:00,000 They're running on fumes. They're always thinking, what 545 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,200 else can I do, what more can I do in order to make God proud? 546 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:05,000 That's how they live. They're miserable. 547 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:11,520 And though Jesus is very much concerned about our growth, we 548 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:13,200 just heard about it. I see that your works are 549 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:15,160 excelling. Your latter works are excelling 550 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,160 more than your former. Yes, He wants us to grow in 551 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:19,720 these things. It is possible to walk in such a 552 00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:21,240 manner. Listen to this. 553 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:26,400 It is possible to so Orient your life that Christ will look at 554 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,200 you and all He has to say is just keep going. 555 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:33,080 Just keep going. Yes. 556 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:34,960 Are the times where you'll be convicted because of your 557 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,800 limited fellowship of the Lord? Yes, yes. 558 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,600 Will you hear a message from time to time that will ask of 559 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:43,080 you more faithfulness and service to ministry? 560 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,120 Sure. But you know what? 561 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:49,560 The Lord is not interested in piling on you unrealistic duties 562 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,800 and demands. His commandments are not 563 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:58,360 burdensome and so it's possible to so again, align yourself to 564 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,880 the truth of God's word and your life, your convictions, your 565 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:05,560 priorities where all Christ can say keep going. 566 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,440 You're right in the center of my will and all I asked you to do 567 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,760 is remain there. Isn't that refreshing that 568 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:19,800 refreshed me and understanding the mercy and the beauty of 569 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:23,480 Jesus shepherding should empower you should give you life. 570 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:26,760 He's not there looking. Oh, you're doing all that I'm 571 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:27,640 asking. You know what, let me try. 572 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:29,400 You know there are people like let me let me find something 573 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:31,000 else for you to do because I just don't want you to be there. 574 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:34,760 No, no, no, he's not like that. Keep going. 575 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:40,720 Keep doing what you're doing as much as his grace is something 576 00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:42,640 that should energize as there's something else. 577 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:48,760 Look at the end of verse 25. Only hold fast what you have 578 00:36:49,720 --> 00:36:54,840 until I come, until I come. What is the Lord doing here? 579 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:59,200 He is placing before these faithful believers the reality 580 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:02,680 of His second coming in order for them to be more faithful, to 581 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:05,440 remain faithful, to remain steadfast. 582 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:10,720 In other words, Jesus Christ uses the truth of His return to 583 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:18,920 keep His people ready, robust, remaining, abiding, 584 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:24,520 withstanding. How much do you think about 585 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:31,000 Jesus coming back? If we want to be a healthy 586 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,160 church, from what I learned here, I think we should talk 587 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,720 about it a lot. I think it should be in our 588 00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:38,120 conversation. I think we should say it 589 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:40,640 frequently. You know the Lord is coming 590 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:42,800 back. It puts everything into 591 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:45,160 perspective. It lightens the load. 592 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,280 It helps you to endure even when there is problems in your 593 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,640 church. Oh, this isn't the end of it. 594 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:53,960 Thank God this is in heaven. As heavenly as these meetings 595 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:57,120 can be, this is not heaven. Christ is coming back. 596 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:00,200 Christ is coming back. And listen, we've been studying 597 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,560 churches, have we not? And we as a church want to be 598 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:04,040 the church Christ wants us to be. 599 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:06,520 But let's be realistic because the Bible is realistic. 600 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:11,040 What does Jesus say earlier? He says that I will give to you. 601 00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:13,440 Look at the end of verse 23. I will give to each of you 602 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:17,400 according to your works. So as much as he's evaluating 603 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:21,000 the church at large, every single one of us will have a 604 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:23,760 personal report card. Listen. 605 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:27,400 Which is relieving for many of us, I hope, especially for 606 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:28,920 leaders. Because leaders can only say so 607 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:30,480 much. They can only counsel so much. 608 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,080 They they can only put on events to formulate fellowship. 609 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,280 There's only so much that a leader can do. 610 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,480 In the end, we all have to take personal responsibility. 611 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:41,640 Oh, you went to Maranatha Bible Church? 612 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:42,360 Yeah. OK. 613 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,920 Well, I'm going to judge the pastors, But what did you do 614 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:48,920 with all the sermons you heard? And what did you do with the 615 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:52,200 opportunities ever given to you? So none of us can hide behind 616 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:55,960 Daniel Ben or Mark Griffin or whatever church you might be 617 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:57,160 representing here as you're visiting. 618 00:38:57,720 --> 00:38:59,280 And we can't hide behind anybody else either. 619 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:00,640 We can't point to the congregation. 620 00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:05,760 Now, I as much as I'm evaluating the church, I'm going to give to 621 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:09,080 each of you according to your works. 622 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,320 Now what does the Lord do? We're wrapping things up. 623 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:20,760 He's not finished motivating the remnant. 624 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:25,240 He even wants to motivate those who are enjoying this false 625 00:39:25,240 --> 00:39:31,960 teaching. Verse 26, He says the one who 626 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:34,800 conquers and who keeps my works until the end. 627 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,520 To him I will give authority over the nation's prize, number 628 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:44,400 one prize #2 verse 27. And He will rule them with a rod 629 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:48,880 of iron, as when earth and pots are broken in pieces, even as I 630 00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:52,400 myself have received authority from the My Father prize #3 631 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:54,680 verse 28. And I will give him the morning 632 00:39:54,680 --> 00:39:56,960 star. Let's break these down. 633 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:02,160 The first two I get. I think most of us would 634 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:05,040 understand. The only way these rewards make 635 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:07,640 sense is if you believe in a literal millennial reign of 636 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:11,600 Christ. Or else what does it mean that 637 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,360 He will give authority over nations to us? 638 00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:16,480 What nations? What are we talking about now? 639 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:19,480 No, not now. What about ruling them with a 640 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:22,520 wrought iron? Now, is this symbolic? 641 00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:25,560 Is this allegorical? If you're honest with your 642 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:27,600 interpretation of the Scriptures, this is literal. 643 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,320 And it can only fit in one segment of redemptive history, 644 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:33,120 when Jesus Christ returns to rule and reign from Jerusalem. 645 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:37,520 And what we learn here is based on our faithfulness, we'll 646 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,480 determine the extent of our reward, our governing rewards. 647 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:43,520 Christians are going to have some interesting things to do in 648 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,640 the millennial reign, and here's what we learned from this. 649 00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:50,360 If you're faithful with my word, if you're faithful with your 650 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:54,040 judgments based on my word, if you're able to discern between 651 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:57,160 right and wrong and even confront wrong, then I'm willing 652 00:40:57,160 --> 00:41:02,360 to promote you in my Kingdom to execute judgment, to make 653 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,440 decisions. And so you're going to have some 654 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:08,160 who are going to do what they are going to have authority over 655 00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:11,480 certain regions, and some we're going to share in Christ 656 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:14,400 authority to execute judgment in the millennial reign. 657 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:17,640 It's the last one that perhaps is the most mysterious. 658 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:21,200 What does it mean by saying I will give him the morning star? 659 00:41:21,240 --> 00:41:25,160 That's interesting. And all these ideas you can 660 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:28,720 imagine the speculations if you just honor the context. 661 00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:31,600 I think you have your answer. Does this idea of bright morning 662 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:33,240 star appear in the Book of Revelation? 663 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:35,360 Yes. Turn to in Revelation 22. 664 00:41:35,560 --> 00:41:36,760 There's where you get your answer. 665 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:49,680 Revelation 22, verse 16, I, Jesus, have sent my Angel to 666 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,440 testify to you about these things for the churches. 667 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:56,000 I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning 668 00:41:56,080 --> 00:42:00,040 star. So what is Jesus saying back in 669 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:02,480 Revelation 2? I'm going to give you myself. 670 00:42:04,520 --> 00:42:09,840 I'm going to give you access to a fellowship with me that will 671 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:15,320 be rich, that will be real, that will be unique because you pay 672 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:17,880 the price of staying true to my word. 673 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:22,080 You did not tolerate compromise in your life or in the church. 674 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:25,800 And here's how we can translate this to our context. 675 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:28,640 You might even be sitting here today, and I'm closing in a 676 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,160 moment here. You might be sitting here today 677 00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:35,320 and you have been branded as legalistic, not because you're 678 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:38,920 legalistic and somebody saying, hey, you're putting more into 679 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:40,320 the Scriptures that needs to be there. 680 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:48,480 No, because you love the Bible from family, from friends, from 681 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,920 even other ministers who think you're too rigid with the Word 682 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:55,440 of God, when in fact it's clear the Bible says this about men 683 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:59,000 and this about women. You might be in doing even loss 684 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,400 of fellowship and partnership and ministry because of what you 685 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:04,040 believe in. Because you will not tolerate 686 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:05,720 compromise no matter how it looks. 687 00:43:06,120 --> 00:43:09,960 Here's what Christ says to you. You will secure a friendship 688 00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:14,080 with me. You will win a friendship with 689 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:16,360 me. And how appropriate is this 690 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,480 message for us, especially with our cultural climate? 691 00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:23,000 As someone once said, today, compromising tolerance is seen 692 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:27,600 as a virtue. The more tolerant you are, the 693 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:32,480 more up to date you are with society and with philosophy and 694 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:37,840 with ideology. In fact, the same individual 695 00:43:37,840 --> 00:43:41,320 followed it with this disagreement with evil and 696 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:44,120 ideologies and beliefs and behaviors that are sinful. 697 00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:47,680 Disagreement now is generally understood as phobia. 698 00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:56,840 You're homophobic, you're transphobic, you're 699 00:43:56,840 --> 00:44:01,480 Islamophobic. If you disagree with it, then 700 00:44:01,520 --> 00:44:06,560 you're labeled as crazy or you have an irrational fear. 701 00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:12,400 So what does Jesus say? Label them how you want to label 702 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:14,000 them. I'm going to give them the 703 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:16,160 bright morning star. I'm going to give them myself. 704 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:21,440 You may not have that promotion. You may not get more invitations 705 00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:23,560 to preach at certain places, but you'll have me. 706 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:30,560 Isn't that the greatest reward? Well, how are we going to answer 707 00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:31,640 people? Say, what did you hear from 708 00:44:31,640 --> 00:44:35,480 Mother's Day at church? I heard about Jezebel. 709 00:44:38,080 --> 00:44:43,000 Let me end it in this way. I find it so heartwarming that 710 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:45,640 Thyatira is not only mentioned in this context. 711 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:48,880 There is only one other place in all of the Bible where we find 712 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:51,240 the name Thyatira. Who knows it? 713 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:54,400 It's in Acts 16. Let's turn there. 714 00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:59,400 And this is where we'll end. Yes, we've been looking at 715 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:01,920 Jezebel, but I want to bring to your attention another, another 716 00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:06,080 woman from Thyatira. And this is when Paul and his 717 00:45:06,080 --> 00:45:10,240 missionary team were in Phillip High, and they met a woman named 718 00:45:10,240 --> 00:45:14,440 Lydia. Acts 1613. 719 00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:17,080 Let's read together as we wrap things up. 720 00:45:17,080 --> 00:45:18,640 I may say that a couple more times. 721 00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:22,960 And on the Sabbath day, we went outside. 722 00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:26,240 This is Acts 1613. We went outside the gate to the 723 00:45:26,240 --> 00:45:29,920 Riverside, where we suppose there was a place of prayer, and 724 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:33,960 we sat down and spoke to the woman who had come together. 725 00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:38,680 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of 726 00:45:38,680 --> 00:45:44,720 Thyatira, a seller of purple goods who was a worshipper of 727 00:45:44,720 --> 00:45:47,080 God. The Lord opened her heart to pay 728 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:49,480 attention to what was said by Paul. 729 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:53,080 Let's pause here. So Paul's in Philippi, and what 730 00:45:53,080 --> 00:45:54,920 was Paul's strategy whenever he went to a city? 731 00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:57,920 Where's the nearest synagogue where the Jews? 732 00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:01,960 Apparently there weren't many Jews in Philippi because on the 733 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:03,760 Sabbath they had to meet by the Riverside. 734 00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:07,040 There was no synagogue. And so Paul hears about this. 735 00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:08,000 So he goes. There he goes. 736 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:11,840 I hope we can find some Jews. And when he arrives with his 737 00:46:11,840 --> 00:46:15,400 team, they encounter a band of women. 738 00:46:15,800 --> 00:46:18,280 And we learned one of their names, Lijia, and she is a 739 00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:20,040 businesswoman. Fact. 740 00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:23,760 This is a little hint that showcases the historical 741 00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:26,680 accuracy of the Bible. She was a seller of purple 742 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:31,880 goods. Thy Tara manufactured dyes and 743 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:34,760 purple was the color of royalty. It was very expensive. 744 00:46:34,760 --> 00:46:37,880 So she wasn't just in business. She she was in luxurious 745 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:40,640 business. She was up there. 746 00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:44,160 And here's what moves me about Lydia. 747 00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:47,000 And this is for all of us here, both men and women who are 748 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:50,840 ambitious, who are entrepreneurs, who want to make 749 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:52,920 a living and to be successful at it. 750 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:55,360 Notice that her business did not corrupt her worship. 751 00:46:57,200 --> 00:47:00,360 Notice that her endeavors, notice that her plans, notice 752 00:47:00,360 --> 00:47:04,200 that her job did not take her away from adoring God. 753 00:47:06,600 --> 00:47:09,800 So she's here in Philippi and she goes, we got to worship God. 754 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:13,120 It's a Sabbath. So she believed in the God of 755 00:47:13,120 --> 00:47:14,480 Israel. She didn't encounter the truth 756 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:18,520 of Christ yet, but she is she's a seeker and she wants to honor 757 00:47:18,520 --> 00:47:21,160 the Lord. And so she she hears about a 758 00:47:21,160 --> 00:47:22,880 prayer meeting and she says, you know what, we're going to go to 759 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:25,400 this prayer meeting. It's amazing how God blesses 760 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:28,000 obedience, even if your obedience is limited because of 761 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:31,840 limited revelation. So she comes in and she makes 762 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:34,680 her way there. And we learned that Paul meets 763 00:47:34,680 --> 00:47:36,200 her. The Lord does a work on her 764 00:47:36,200 --> 00:47:39,280 heart, opens it so that she can hear what Paul has to say. 765 00:47:39,480 --> 00:47:41,480 And notice what happens here at verse 15. 766 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:48,440 And after she was baptized and her household as well, so we 767 00:47:48,440 --> 00:47:51,320 don't know the exact chronology here, but she's with these band 768 00:47:51,320 --> 00:47:52,560 of women. They meet Paul and his 769 00:47:52,560 --> 00:47:54,240 missionary team. They hear the gospel. 770 00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:56,320 And guess what? She couldn't keep it to herself. 771 00:47:58,040 --> 00:48:01,800 She goes home and tells people about Jesus and they come to 772 00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:03,960 Christ. Now they get baptized. 773 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:07,560 And it doesn't end there. She urged us, saying, if you 774 00:48:07,560 --> 00:48:12,040 have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and 775 00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:14,880 stay. And she prevailed upon us. 776 00:48:16,720 --> 00:48:20,280 So she showed fruit of true salvation that she wanted to 777 00:48:20,280 --> 00:48:23,240 serve and the way that she can serve with the opportunity 778 00:48:23,240 --> 00:48:25,360 before was to host this missionary team. 779 00:48:26,520 --> 00:48:29,120 She says please, please, please let me be hospitable to you. 780 00:48:31,040 --> 00:48:34,640 What a contrast to Jezebel from Thyatira. 781 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:40,640 What humility, what grace, what priorities, what devotion to the 782 00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:43,400 Lord. And though it may be true that 783 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:46,840 there are Jezebel's roaming in our churches and they're 784 00:48:46,840 --> 00:48:53,400 multiplying, and with that there is the tolerance of Jezebel that 785 00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:58,000 is multiplying, there are Lydias in churches as well. 786 00:48:59,520 --> 00:49:02,400 And I stepping back this morning, going over some of 787 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:05,680 these things, prepared to preach today, was thanking God that 788 00:49:05,680 --> 00:49:07,760 this church is filled with Lydias. 789 00:49:09,360 --> 00:49:11,320 May the Lord protect you as you serve him and honor and with 790 00:49:11,320 --> 00:49:14,800 your life. And May God reproduce Lydias for 791 00:49:14,800 --> 00:49:16,840 his glory. Let's pray. 792 00:49:33,490 --> 00:49:39,970 We've heard your voice today, Lord, and we want to be a church 793 00:49:42,090 --> 00:49:44,610 that accepts the right things and rejects that which you 794 00:49:44,610 --> 00:49:49,170 reject. Protect us from compromise. 795 00:49:49,970 --> 00:49:52,650 We even ask, oh God, that this church would not be a mixed 796 00:49:52,650 --> 00:49:57,080 breed, some who follow you and some who follow strange 797 00:49:57,080 --> 00:50:01,320 teachings, some who pursue holiness and others who don't 798 00:50:01,320 --> 00:50:05,360 care about it. Lord, may we be as a unit, as a 799 00:50:05,360 --> 00:50:11,640 family, one in the same. So even now, Lord, wash over us 800 00:50:11,640 --> 00:50:16,720 these truths with such force that we would all leave here 801 00:50:16,720 --> 00:50:21,360 with a oneness of mind and affection and ambition to be an 802 00:50:21,360 --> 00:50:25,840 uncompromising church in our lives personally and as an 803 00:50:25,840 --> 00:50:29,400 assembly. Protect this pulpit in Jesus 804 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:31,680 name. Protect our ears. 805 00:50:32,040 --> 00:50:35,800 Help us have discernment when people put things into our hands 806 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:39,440 or send us links. Help us more than anything else, 807 00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,760 devour this word so that we can create that shield in our 808 00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:48,320 hearts. We we know, Lord, we're reminded 809 00:50:48,320 --> 00:50:50,680 how much truth matters to you, because it's your truth. 810 00:50:50,720 --> 00:50:53,040 It's your voice, it's your word, it's your instruction. 811 00:50:53,040 --> 00:50:54,440 We want to honor every part of it. 812 00:50:55,320 --> 00:50:59,320 And even Lord, if there's one person here who might have been 813 00:50:59,320 --> 00:51:04,720 disturbed by what was said, may they have enough integrity to at 814 00:51:04,720 --> 00:51:07,920 least look at the Bible and see what the Bible has to say. 815 00:51:08,280 --> 00:51:13,040 May all personal or human interpretation or opinions be 816 00:51:13,040 --> 00:51:16,520 crushed under the weight of your authority and may we know true 817 00:51:16,520 --> 00:51:19,280 freedom as we abide by your word. 818 00:51:19,440 --> 00:51:21,480 We give you thanks for speaking to our hearts. 819 00:51:21,480 --> 00:51:24,320 Again. In Jesus name we pray, Amen, 820 00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:28,360 Amen, Amen. Church, let's stand, let's give 821 00:51:28,360 --> 00:51:31,640 Jesus Christ all the glory for speaking to our hearts through 822 00:51:31,640 --> 00:51:32,280 this book.