1 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,480 Book of Revelation, chapter one. We finish chapter 1 tonight, 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:15,880 chapter 2 on Sunday we start with the first seven first 3 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,520 letter to the seven churches, the Church of Ephesus. 4 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:26,000 Tonight we're going to do 2 verses Revelation one verse 19. 5 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,800 The Book of Revelation is one of the few books, if not the book 6 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,680 in the Bible, that actually tells you how to divide it. 7 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,280 It says write the things which you have seen. 8 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,720 Yeah, this is what Jesus is saying to John. 9 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,600 Remember, he's on the island of Patmos. 10 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,680 He's in his 90s. All the other disciples are 11 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,000 dead. John alone is alive. 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,520 He's the last living of the 12. Jesus appears to him give it 13 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,880 gives him this vision, the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,880 It's not revelations plural. It's the revelation, the 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,880 apocalypse or apocalypse. So the unveiling, taking the 16 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,600 mystery, a way of who Jesus is the Book of Revelation. 17 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,760 We often get caught up with being all the all the symbols 18 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,920 and you know what's going to happen and that's that's fine. 19 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,120 But remember the theme and the narrative of the book is for you 20 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:27,360 and I to see Jesus in all his glory and wonder. 21 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,080 It's the revelation of Jesus Christ. 22 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,800 And so in chapter 1, John described last Sunday the 23 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,640 description of Jesus. Write the things which you have 24 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,680 seen. Who did he see heard a voice 25 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,320 turned around there as Jesus and he describes Jesus in all his 26 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:47,840 glory. Chapter 1 and then Jesus says 27 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,600 and the things which are now that's the church age. 28 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:56,000 That's chapter 2 and chapter 3, the things which are. 29 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,200 And so we're going to look at those, the seven letters, the 30 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,760 seven churches and the church age is still going on now and 31 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:07,320 then the things which will take place after this, after the 32 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:11,039 things of chapter 2 and 3. And that is the things that are 33 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:18,200 yet to fall upon our world. The rapture of the church, the 34 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,440 tribulation period beginning seven years, the millennial, 35 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,200 sorry, the second coming of Jesus Christ, Chapter 19, 36 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,560 judgement, the great white throne judgement, the thousand 37 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,720 year reign. And at the thousand year end of 38 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,760 the thousand year reign or just before that, Satan is loose for 39 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,280 a period, people rebel against turn and there's a final 40 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:45,400 judgement. And then Hades and death are 41 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,880 cast into the lake of fire for good along with Satan and all 42 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,360 his cohorts. So that's the division of the 43 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,520 book. Chapter 1 things you've seen 44 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,200 chapter 2 and three, the Church age things that which are 45 00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:03,400 chapter 4 on the things which are are coming. 46 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,080 Verse 20, the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my 47 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,720 right hand. We don't have to work out the 48 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,520 symbolism because here it tells us what they are. 49 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,160 And the seven golden lampstands, remember we saw that Jesus was 50 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,960 in the midst of them. The seven stars, the the angels, 51 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,800 that word is also messengers. It can be some Bible 52 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,960 commentators say the pastors of the seven churches to those who 53 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,840 are over the seven churches to the messengers of the seven 54 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,080 churches. And the seven lamp stands which 55 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,520 you saw are what are the seven churches? 56 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,080 So we don't have to go, oh, what is this and what is that? 57 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,720 It tells us. Now, if I was to ask you to 58 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:50,000 explain to me what is the church, which is the title of 59 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,880 tonight's sermon, how would you go about that? 60 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:59,000 Someone said comes up to you, Joe Blow, and says what is the 61 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,720 church? How would you answer that 62 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,520 question? Most of us would talk about the 63 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,360 church you attend. Oh, well, it's the church across 64 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,600 the road. I go there and this is what we 65 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,320 do. These are the things that 66 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,800 happened there. You know, we worship and we have 67 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,320 fellowship and there's these programmes that are carried out. 68 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,120 Yep. But a more important question 69 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,560 would be to ask what does Jesus think about the church? 70 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:35,280 What is the church to him? Because chapter 2 and three, you 71 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:38,800 and I get to see what Jesus says the church is. 72 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:46,160 The Book of Revelation answers this exact question in great 73 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,160 detail. Jesus gives us his description, 74 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:56,560 most important, more important of what he thinks about his 75 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,920 church. In chapters 2 to three, we have 76 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:05,880 7 letters, 7 churches, each dictated by Jesus himself. 77 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,840 He gives himself the title, the title of who he is and the sort 78 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:12,800 of letter that's coming to them, what he's about to say. 79 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,480 He speaks about himself in these 7 letters. 80 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,720 We learn the following. We learn what Jesus wants his 81 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,280 church to look like. And I'm not talking like about 82 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:29,680 the the physical facade. We also see and learn what he 83 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,480 wants his church to do. And that's what we're going to 84 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,040 look at tonight, what he wants his church to do. 85 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,360 That's a very important question. 86 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,520 Why are we here? Why do we go to church? 87 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,800 What's it about? But on the flip side and the 88 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:46,560 seven letters, we also learn what Jesus doesn't want his 89 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,920 church to look like. And he admonishes, So I like 90 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,560 this. Look what this is you're doing 91 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,360 this, you're allowing that. What's the go? 92 00:05:55,360 --> 00:06:01,880 And he speaks very straight. And then in the seven letters, 93 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,160 he tells us what he does, not what he does not want his church 94 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,720 to do. So why did Jesus pick these 95 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,720 seven churches? That's a good question. 96 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:17,400 Glad you asked at this time because there were many churches 97 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:22,160 in Asia, Asia here in the in our context is Turkey and that the 98 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:28,840 locale. Why did he not choose the church 99 00:06:28,840 --> 00:06:31,320 in Rome? Why didn't he speak say to the 100 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,520 Church of Rome, I write this Church of Rome was a great 101 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,040 church. We have the book of Romans or 102 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,840 why didn't he mention well to the Church of Philippi? 103 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:42,200 I want to tell you this, We have the book of Philippians. 104 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:47,520 That's a great church or the model church, 1st and 2nd 105 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,920 Thessalonians, the beginning of chapter 1. 106 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,240 The Church of Thessalonians was, was the model church for all the 107 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:59,520 other churches to look at and to admire and to be like, or even 108 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:05,920 Antioch, the most important church at that time or even at 109 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,280 the end, the Church of Jerusalem. 110 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,280 Why don't you say it now to the Church of Jerusalem? 111 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,760 I want to tell you this good question. 112 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:20,680 The answer is that Jesus chose these seven churches because 113 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:26,400 they represent the others and thus he speaks to all churches. 114 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:31,240 He writes the seven, but the letters go to all because these 115 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,880 letters were to be read out in every church and they covered 116 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:44,600 all bases. Also, they were written to the 117 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:49,520 actual church, to the church at Ephesus, to the Church of Sardis 118 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,480 and Smyrna. They were actually written to 119 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,800 the actual church, but there was a a depth and an overlay to 120 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,720 these letters. Secondly, by picking these seven 121 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,960 churches and listing them in order, Jesus gives us a 122 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,520 panoramic view of church history. 123 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,560 I I recommend that you find a good book and read church 124 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,360 history. You can get plenty of 125 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,400 paperbacks, 5 or $6 from Kurong or second hand stores and read 126 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:23,320 church history because you'll see the seven letters fit into 127 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,080 all the church history, starting with the early church that 128 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:31,240 Pentecost and ending with the final Church of the last days, 129 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:37,120 which is what Laodicea. Thirdly, Jesus picked these 130 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,000 seven churches so as to also give instruction, as I said 131 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:46,040 previously, to all the churches throughout history. 132 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,480 And at the end of every letter, Jesus says what words he who has 133 00:08:52,480 --> 00:09:00,760 an ear, let him or her hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 134 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,800 In other words, as you read this and you listen to this, you 135 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,640 listen up to what I'm saying to all these churches. 136 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,440 That means that Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour, today, 2025, 137 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:19,440 needs to hear what Jesus instructs these seven churches 138 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,920 about. We need to listen what is the 139 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,960 Holy Spirit saying in these letters to us? 140 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:31,760 And also because we make up the church as individual believers. 141 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:36,000 He who has an ear, you and I ought to listen as I go through 142 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,520 and go. Is that me? 143 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:42,400 Am I like people in that church? Am I like people in this church? 144 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,720 I know everyone wants to be in the Church of Philadelphia. 145 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,600 No one wants to be in the Church of Smyrna because everyone gets 146 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,480 killed. No, I said, well, I'm not the 147 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:57,840 Church of Laodicea, are we? We've got to question ourselves. 148 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,800 So there's a, a message in in it for all of us. 149 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:09,680 There is a message to each of us in every one of these 7 letters. 150 00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:15,160 Lastly, fourthly, these 7 letters and these seven 151 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:19,160 churches, what they do beautifully, if you read church 152 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:24,320 history, they describe the spiritual condition of the 153 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:29,080 church through the ages, how it went up and down through the 154 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:34,240 dark ages from Jesus viewpoint, not their own. 155 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,320 Because the Church of Laodicea thought they were really right 156 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,560 on weren't they? Modern church? 157 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,120 Jesus said I have a different view of you. 158 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,200 What is God's view of me? What is God's view of Calvary 159 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,200 Chapel, Secret Harbour right now we find ourselves in the period 160 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,640 in church history where the missionary church that is the 161 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:02,920 Church of Philadelphia covered that is is is morphing and you 162 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,320 and I see that now in today's modern churches. 163 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,600 You just see it in some of the advertisements of certain 164 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,440 churches and and the names they give to certain churches. 165 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:18,280 I mean really out there, because the Church of Philadelphia that 166 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:23,200 went out into the world and and proclaimed the gospel, there's 167 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,680 now morphing into the apostate church where things are being 168 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:28,440 said in church and done in church. 169 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:31,600 You can go to church and not have the Bible open. 170 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,800 You sing songs in church and they don't say anything about 171 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,440 Jesus Christ. They've changed the way they do 172 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,280 things. They do sing things weird in 173 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,160 church. Laodicea. 174 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:46,800 So the question again is what is the church? 175 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,040 How would you answer that? If you asked that question 176 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,840 again, if one of your relatives said I'm thinking of 177 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:57,160 Christianity, but I want to know what is the church, how do you 178 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,880 answer that? What would be your response? 179 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,600 Again, most people would say, well, it's a, it's an 180 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:10,200 organisation housed in a building that offers activities 181 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,280 to facilitate worship and fellowship. 182 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:18,520 Now I can go to Optus and there's worship there, there's 183 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,520 fellowship there, but it's not a church. 184 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:29,640 Most church attendees today and, and it's and we can see it 185 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,520 because there's a noticeable falling away. 186 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,960 Paul warned us that this there there would be a falling away 187 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:42,200 from the faith as we in these last days because most church 188 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,560 attendees, and I just say, I always put that word attendees, 189 00:12:45,560 --> 00:12:50,480 because you can go to church and not be a Christian today. 190 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,520 I feel that the church is necessary and we need to have 191 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:59,400 it, but it's an option. It's optional, it's important, 192 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,600 but it's not a deal breaker when it comes to living a Christian 193 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,920 life. And and then they'll back it up 194 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:12,080 theologically. They'll say, well, after all, we 195 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,320 now have direct access to God, don't we? 196 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:18,600 Through the blood of Jesus Christ, absolutely vile is torn 197 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,120 into so we can survive without the church. 198 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:29,320 Yeah, it sounds plausible. And many people are part of what 199 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,040 they call the invisible. I'm a believer, but yeah, I 200 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,560 don't go to church. It's that term. 201 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:37,400 The Catholics use it a lot seems to be a lot more use now if 202 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,120 you've been reading the letters to the editor, most people in 203 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,200 the West Australian, there's there's a thing about 204 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,720 Catholicism at the moment and so many go well, I'm a lapsed 205 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:48,920 Catholic. I don't know how you can be a 206 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,840 lapster. Am I am I am IA lapse husband. 207 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,040 I'm a lapsed father or I'm a lapse mother. 208 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,760 I don't know how that works, but they had this term. 209 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:58,840 They're quite comfortable with it. 210 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:04,200 It means I, I'm kind of, I'm in the gang, but I don't go to the, 211 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,240 you know, don't go to the meetings. 212 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:15,800 You know. Well, God's view is different to 213 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:20,760 that of such comments. And the answers can't be what 214 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,360 you think, what I think, what we think collectively. 215 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:25,320 The answers are always in the Bible. 216 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:29,840 What does the Bible say? From the biblical perspective? 217 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,960 The church is not somewhere you go. 218 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,640 You're going to forget Ecclesia, the cordial ones. 219 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:43,120 No, no, no, hold with me. It is something into which God 220 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,840 has placed you. If you are a Christian, if you 221 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,440 have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are 222 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:55,760 part of the church whether you like it or not. 223 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,200 And today there are many splendour groups go out while 224 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,840 now the church is broken. You know, we have our own 225 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,720 special little group. We gather together. 226 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,600 We, you know, we're, we're close. 227 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:06,880 We're really close. Actually, you can't come to our 228 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:07,920 group. We're really spiritual. 229 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,040 But if you go into a church, you know it's broken. 230 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,120 You can come to our group because we're, we have it all 231 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,680 together, because we know the church is not, not good. 232 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:23,280 Well, you are part of the church whether you like it or not. 233 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:30,160 Church for believers is not optional. 234 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,320 It's mandatory. I'll explain. 235 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:42,320 God created the church, not man. Group of priests didn't get 236 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,920 together, you know, You know, us getting together like this, we 237 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:48,720 should, we should get a club. Yeah. 238 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:50,440 I've heard a Greek word called ecclesia. 239 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,720 That's too hard. Let's call it church. 240 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,120 Let's get together and we can, we can have a band and we can do 241 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,240 this and let's do this and one of you guys can get up front. 242 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,240 No, it wasn't. Man didn't do that. 243 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:10,400 God created the church. Matthew 16, verse 18 in Caesarea 244 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,280 Philippi, where we go when we go to Israel way to the north, 245 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:20,640 Lebanon to there, Syria over there and there the water comes 246 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,520 down and it flows from Mount Hermon under the mountains and 247 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,160 down into the Jordan all the way down. 248 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,760 It's the north northern part. It's where Dan, the tribe of Dan 249 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,480 went to establish where they were going to live there. 250 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:39,760 Jesus asked who do people say that I am something you're John 251 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,520 the Baptist, come back something you're Elijah. 252 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,200 But who do you say that I am? Peter comes in, you're the 253 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,920 Christ, you're the Son of God. Jesus said flesh and blood has 254 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:59,280 not revealed that to you. Song by Jonah and Jesus says I, 255 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:06,040 I want you to hear these words. We'll build whose church, my 256 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:15,000 church, I will build my church. It's his church, it's his 257 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:25,680 church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 258 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:31,680 Jesus is saying that his mission is going to be carried out not 259 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,040 by individuals and this is where we get it wrong. 260 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,400 Well, I'm into this is my ministry and I'm going off here 261 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,360 and I'm doing my ministry. Oh, good on you. 262 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,440 But that's not, you know, when we get to heaven, we stand there 263 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:48,000 that hey, wouldn't stubble. Maybe your ministry is like you 264 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,320 did that. Well, I never asked you to do 265 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,280 that. Actually, I wanted you over here 266 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:57,800 in my church. Jesus is saying that his mission 267 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:03,760 is going to be carried out not by individuals who have no 268 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,640 connection with one another because how many one anothers 269 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,640 are in the Bible? How can we show the world by the 270 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:14,840 love we have for one another? If I'm a Lone Ranger, can't do 271 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:22,880 it, but Christ's mission is going to be done, carried out by 272 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:27,960 people bound together in the living Organism created by 273 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,200 Christ on the day of Pentecost called and it's called the 274 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,440 church. On the day of Pentecost there 275 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,040 was a rushing wind. Remember tongues of fire 276 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,960 appeared upon the disciples. They began speaking in unknown 277 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:48,600 tongues and the and they were proclaiming and praising God and 278 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,800 the power of God fell upon them. The Holy Spirit fell upon them. 279 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:57,240 Just says Jesus promised wait here in Jerusalem when I go, the 280 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,560 promise of the Father will come. This was it. 281 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:05,640 Peter says this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. 282 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,520 It fell upon the holy. The Holy Spirit fell upon the 283 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:14,720 disciples and empowered them to worship and praise God. 284 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:21,360 From that moment the Bible tells us clearly the disciples, what 285 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:23,480 did they do? They all went off and did their 286 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:30,520 own thing. No, it says they continued to 287 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:37,520 study the Bible to pray and eat together and meet the needs of 288 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,520 others. Then further on in Acts chapter 289 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:47,840 2 verse 47, and hear what the Bible says, what the church was 290 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:53,920 doing from that time, praising God, having favour with all the 291 00:19:53,920 --> 00:20:05,360 people and then it says this and the Lord added to the what 292 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:12,560 church because that's where he works, He added to the church 293 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,920 daily. Those who were being saved. 294 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,480 Now what happened? Did he as they got saved. 295 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,760 OK, you or you people, I really get into the church. 296 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:28,840 That didn't happen the moment you were saved, Jesus said now 297 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,200 you're part of the church. It was automatic. 298 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,160 You didn't have a choice. It occurred. 299 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,240 Notice we've got out of those who are being saved. 300 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,880 As I said, the church, the point. 301 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,840 What is that? Those who are being saved didn't 302 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:48,520 have a choice. Well, I don't know if I want to 303 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:52,080 join the church or not. It's not choice. 304 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:59,680 They were saved and the Lord simultaneously placed them into 305 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:05,120 His church, His church. The very same thing happened to 306 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:09,880 you and I when you and I were saved. 1 Corinthians 12 verse 12 307 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:15,600 says for as the body is 1 and that's the church and has many 308 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,040 members, sorry, the physical body. 309 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,240 Paul's talking about the physical body then he now he's 310 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,040 using that as a comparison to the church. 311 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,440 We all are. But all the members of that one 312 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:33,200 body being many are one body. So also is Christ for by 1 313 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,080 Spirit, that's the Holy Spirit we were all baptised into one 314 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,400 body. That's not water baptism. 315 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,120 That means the moment you were saved you are immersed, you are 316 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:47,840 put into the Church of Jesus Christ because he then he goes 317 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,720 on to say with a Jew or Greek slave or free and have all been 318 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:57,880 made to drink into one spirit. For in fact of the body is not 319 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:06,000 one member, but many the church. So what then is the purpose of 320 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,280 the church? That's a good question. 321 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,520 Glad you asked that one. Why are we here? 322 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,000 Let me give you a couple of points. 323 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:20,760 One, the church is where you will be refined and edified to. 324 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:26,160 Timothy 316 says all Scripture is given by inspiration of God 325 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:32,920 and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 326 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,720 instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be 327 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:44,120 complete, mature, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 328 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,080 It means when we gather together and you know you don't get on 329 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:52,960 with everybody in church, you never will. 330 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,760 That's part of the reason God says, I know I'm putting you, 331 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,000 you're a cranky person and I'm putting you next to that other 332 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,400 cranky person. You know why? 333 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,640 Because both of you need to rob the edges off. 334 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:12,560 And as we come together, we learn to love one another as 335 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:16,240 Christ loves the church. And that's why he puts us 336 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,600 together. If we had our way, we would have 337 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,720 no one but just me in church your way. 338 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:32,320 And so when you sharpen a knife, you put it on the stone, and 339 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,080 then you put it on a finer stone. 340 00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:37,880 And then the final thing you do, you put it on a steel, and the 341 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:44,840 steel hones the edge. It speaks of in Proverbs of iron 342 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,520 sharpening iron. Did you know that the church 343 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,640 full of cranky people, people you don't get on with, makes you 344 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:57,200 more like Christ as you go there and you work with these people? 345 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,360 Oh, there she is again, Here he comes again. 346 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:14,280 Oh, no, God's saying yes, you need her, you need him Rubbing 347 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:18,320 off the edges, sharpening. And it says we are thoroughly 348 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:22,560 equipped for every good work. You are equipped to go, man, I'm 349 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,240 a fine person. I'm going to sit home and be a 350 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,200 very fine person until Jesus comes. 351 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,320 Man, I'm holy. I'm sitting home until Jesus 352 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,160 comes. No, you are thoroughly equipped 353 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,080 for every good work. That means you're saved to do 354 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:40,920 something in the church for the rest of the body of Christ. 355 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,360 So second point, you are fed and equipped and covered 356 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:48,440 spiritually. That's an important thing. 357 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,160 Now you are the body. Paul says 1 Corinthians 12 verse 358 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:57,880 27 members individually, yes, and God has appointed these in 359 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,640 the church. First apostles, second prophets, 360 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,560 the teachers. After that, miracles and gifts 361 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,480 of healing helps administrations, varieties of 362 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,360 tongues. Are all apostles? 363 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:10,200 No. Are all prophets No. 364 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:11,560 Are all teachers? No. 365 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,600 Are all workers of miracles? No. 366 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:15,640 Do all have gifts of healings? No. 367 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:17,200 Do all speak with tongues? No. 368 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:18,640 Do all interpret? No. 369 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:26,120 Ephesians 411 says he himself gave some to be apostles, some 370 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:28,840 prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. 371 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:32,080 What for? For the equipping of the Saints. 372 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,280 Why? For the work of the ministry, 373 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,440 for the edifying of the body of Christ. 374 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,480 Part of that is you. When you come, you edify 375 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:48,280 everybody else. That's amazing till we all come 376 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,120 to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God 377 00:25:51,120 --> 00:25:54,360 to a perfect man, to the measure of the statue of the fullness of 378 00:25:54,360 --> 00:25:57,480 Christ. That we should no longer be 379 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,200 children tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of 380 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,920 doctrine by the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness of 381 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,280 deceitful plotting. So the role of those pastors and 382 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:12,000 teachers, especially those in the church, junior church, 383 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:16,240 Sunday school teachers, is to ensure that what you're being 384 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,720 taught is the word of God. There's this covering over you. 385 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,840 You should be able to go to a church where there's a covering 386 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,000 which says you're not going to get any mumbo jumbo here. 387 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,640 You're going to get the word of God taught and it's going to 388 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,680 upset you sometimes because it's going to say things that don't 389 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,560 agree with you, don't agree with your culture, don't agree with 390 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:36,960 how you're behaving at the moment. 391 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:41,520 God's going to speak to us, but we're to grow up. 392 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,760 We should no longer be children tossed to and fro, carried about 393 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,560 with every wind of doctrine. There's people that do church 394 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,400 hopping and they go around and around and around and around, 395 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,160 following the next sniff that's coming down the line. 396 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:01,760 But we need to be speaking truth and love. 397 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,480 Paul says that we may grow up in all things unto him who is the 398 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:09,480 head, Christ, from whom? The whole body, the church, 399 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:14,640 joined and knit together by what every joint supplies. 400 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,880 You have a gift, you have something that you supply, and 401 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,240 without your gift we're short of something. 402 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:25,440 We're missing something. The body is, according to the 403 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:31,040 effect of working, by which every part does its share. 404 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:38,000 It causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself and love. 405 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:41,760 How important are we and individuals in the church? 406 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:48,200 We need one another. Thirdly, the church is the 407 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:53,320 outlet for your spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 verse four. 408 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,680 There are diversities of gifts with the same Spirit. 409 00:27:57,120 --> 00:27:59,920 There are differences of ministries with the same Lord. 410 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,400 There are diversities of activities, but it is the same 411 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,640 God who works All in all, but the manifestation or the 412 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:12,840 revealing of the Spirit capital S is given to each one for the 413 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:16,120 profit of all. Well, man, I'm a really good 414 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:17,960 singer, so you know, that's what I'm going to do. 415 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:23,080 No, no, it's for everybody else to be blessed to receive the 416 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:26,920 blessing of God. What you do is as you operate in 417 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,480 your gift, and that's what you need to pray about and seek the 418 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:30,680 Lord. What is my gift? 419 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:36,000 And as you serve and live in that gift, you bring blessing to 420 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:50,570 everybody else. Lastly, you are assured of God's 421 00:28:50,570 --> 00:28:55,730 presence in the church we LED. Read that on Sunday, Revelation 422 00:28:55,730 --> 00:28:58,170 113. And in the midst of the seven 423 00:28:58,170 --> 00:29:03,210 lampstands, one like the Son of man, Jesus is where you know, 424 00:29:03,210 --> 00:29:07,250 Jesus goes to church all the time, never misses His service, 425 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,720 Clove with garment down to the feet, good about the chest with 426 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:14,960 a golden band. Matthew 1820. 427 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:22,840 We're two or three are gathered together in my name. 428 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,440 I am there in the midst of them. I want you to know, and we're 429 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:33,880 not aware of this, but we need to be think about that each time 430 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,840 we gather. Jesus Christ is here. 431 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:40,760 That's amazing. Each time we gather. 432 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,120 Oh, who's that church tonight? Oh, the Lord God Almighty. 433 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,680 What'd you say? Oh, yeah, He's always there. 434 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:51,920 Who was that church? Creator of heaven and earth. 435 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:57,000 Wow. But the most important reason 436 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:01,400 Jesus created the church is that it is to be the vehicle he has 437 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,400 chosen to carry out his mission on the earth. 438 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,160 Remember, a few years back, everyone had to have a mission 439 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:09,440 statement if you're in the public service at all. 440 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:10,960 Oh, what's their mission statement? 441 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:12,200 We got to work through it. What's their vision? 442 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,760 What's their mission statement? What's their statement? 443 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:15,680 You know, what are we going to say? 444 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,760 Who we are, what we do. And church has got into the 445 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,080 whole, well, we need to find out what, what is this church's 446 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,520 mission statement? No, you don't. 447 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,480 We have the mission statement. It's in the Bible, Matthew 2818. 448 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,840 Jesus came and spoke to them, saying all authority has been 449 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:34,240 given to me in heaven and on earth. 450 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:39,680 Here it is. Go therefore and make disciples 451 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,160 of all the nations. So first thing, go second thing, 452 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,400 make disciples of all the nations. 453 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,360 Third thing, baptising them in the name of the Father of the 454 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:53,160 Son of the Holy Spirit. Fourth thing, teaching them to 455 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,880 observe all things that I've commanded you and lo, I'm with 456 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,840 you always, even to the end of the age. 457 00:30:57,880 --> 00:30:59,240 Amen. You want to know what we're 458 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:00,760 supposed to do? That's what we're supposed to 459 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:02,360 do. That's what we're supposed to 460 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:03,880 do. Can't make it up. 461 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:05,520 We don't. Well, we, we're church. 462 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:06,600 We're into this. No, you're not. 463 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,520 Well, that's, that's good, because that's not God's church. 464 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:12,400 Jesus Christ tells us what we're to do. 465 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:14,400 It's his church. He's in charge. 466 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,440 We're going to obey the orders. This is the Great Commission. 467 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,240 The ministry of Jesus is not finished. 468 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,040 It is still being carried out today by His church. 469 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:27,920 The book of Acts is the account of how the ministry of the 470 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:31,600 church continued through his disciples and the churches they 471 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,440 established. The book of Acts is the only 472 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,480 book in the Bible has no ending. Why? 473 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,760 It's still being written, you and I, Can you imagine this in 474 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,280 heaven they're writing down. They haven't finished the book 475 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,800 of Acts. Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour I 476 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,120 hope gets a mention in the book of Acts. 477 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,920 The Barna Research Group surveyed people about how they 478 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:57,920 were looking for a church and at the top of the list it's got to 479 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,080 have good children's programmes. That was the top. 480 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:05,440 Can't find that anywhere in here. 481 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,320 I can't find that anywhere in here. 482 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:13,880 That was the number one thing. According to our Kent Hughes, 483 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:20,040 great Bible commentator, that is the now consumer mentality of 484 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:25,920 the church attendees filling out an ecclesiastical shopping list 485 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:28,760 that what's in it for me thinking people ring me and go, 486 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,120 so tell me about your church. I don't I don't have a church 487 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:34,720 tell me about well, what do you believe? 488 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:36,520 I don't believe anything. I just believe what the Bible 489 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,680 says. And I can tell right away There, 490 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:43,200 they've got the shopping list there, Ecclesiastical shopping 491 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,480 list. Sometimes when people come in, 492 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:48,000 I've often thought, well, I'm thinking about come to church. 493 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,880 Well, maybe I should go. Well, I'm thinking about maybe I 494 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:54,920 need to find find out about who you are, what you believe, what 495 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,000 you're about. Maybe you won't fit here. 496 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,120 You, Keith, you can't do that. Yes, I can. 497 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:04,000 Because it works, doesn't it? You know someone. 498 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:06,600 You don't just let any Tom, Dick and Harry come into your into 499 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,600 your home and. Oh, yeah, here's Joe boy. 500 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,000 He's sitting at the table. Who's that black? 501 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:16,880 I don't know it's the what's in it for me. 502 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:23,920 Thinking second in the list were specific ministries and support 503 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:25,400 groups. Does it have a Cricket Club? 504 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,280 Surf club? Does it have a quilting club? 505 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,040 I play bocce bocce. I'm looking for a church bocce 506 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:34,240 league. Is this church? 507 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:40,040 Got one after that was community and fellowship followed by it's 508 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,000 got to have good music. I'm into the Blues church. 509 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:45,640 Is this a Blues church? Oh well, I can't come in here. 510 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,040 This is this is actually on the list. 511 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:57,120 Thankfully Bible teaching didn't make it at #10 #10. 512 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:04,120 But what was not on the list at all was a church that would 513 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:06,000 carry out the mission of Jesus to the world. 514 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,080 I'm looking for a church that will carry out the mission of 515 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,080 Jesus to the world. Wasn't wasn't mentioned. 516 00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:17,320 There was very little interest in finding a church that would 517 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,480 use people's gifts, resources, and talents to reach the World 518 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:25,239 for Christ. How far apart are we from how 519 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:27,840 Jesus sees the church? We're miles apart. 520 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:31,920 What is Jesus mission for the church? 521 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:39,080 There is no searching or having to pray and seek God as to oh 522 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:41,679 God, what do you want us to do? It's in the book. 523 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:47,000 Everything we do here at Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour, then 524 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:52,120 therefore must have its foundation and drive based on 525 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:56,760 the Great Commission. Go therefore make disciples of 526 00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:00,400 all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, of 527 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,800 the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all 528 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:06,320 things that I've commanded you. That's discipling. 529 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,920 We're to go out, we're to reach people, we're to bring them to 530 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:11,480 church. Be like Andrew. 531 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:13,720 Hey, you're going to come. I met the Messiah, you got to 532 00:35:13,720 --> 00:35:17,600 come meet him. We are not just seeking 533 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:23,480 converts, we are looking for disciples, people who will grow 534 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:26,760 in the things of God for us to minister and help them to grow. 535 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:33,320 This is our mission, these are our orders. 536 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:36,480 This is what the Church is here for.