1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,000 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist sermon archives. 2 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:09,100 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty, Baptist 3 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:13,100 Church in Eastern Massachusetts. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:17,500 or contact us at my Liberty, Baptist dot org or just look us 5 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,800 up on Facebook. And now, we hope that this 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,200 message from God's word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:28,900 I was at Shaw's today, and I needed to grab something on the 8 00:00:28,900 --> 00:00:33,600 way here in the morning. And I saw a worker who was 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,400 outside and he had a vest on, but the same time, he had a 10 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,500 t-shirt that was, I guess provided to him by Shaw's. 11 00:00:41,500 --> 00:00:45,400 And the T-shirt said this, on the back, it said, ask me how to 12 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:50,400 save, ask me, how to say. And I have a, my mind works in 13 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,000 very odd ways, and I just really wanted to walk up to him and 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,600 say, How do I save? How do I save? 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,300 And I know what the answer was. Because I saw his face, it would 16 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:03,600 have been this either. I don't know what you're talking 17 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,800 about or probably get lost. One of the two was probably what 18 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,800 he was going to ask, but they asked me how to say that. 19 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,500 That's what it said on the back. And I thought I'm not going to 20 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:16,100 ask you how to say because I just looked at your countenance. 21 00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:19,800 I looked at the way that he was, and I thought, wow, I don't 22 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,000 think a conversation with him other than, being able to say, 23 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:24,900 do you know, Jesus Christ your savior. 24 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:27,400 Your was really the only conversation that he needed at 25 00:01:27,408 --> 00:01:29,500 that very moment. And listen, I don't know what he 26 00:01:29,508 --> 00:01:30,800 was going through at that moment. 27 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:32,500 I don't know. I mean, look, he was getting 28 00:01:32,500 --> 00:01:35,100 carts outside, you just didn't seem to have a lot of Joy, but 29 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:38,100 just the idea he was asking people, the shirt. 30 00:01:38,100 --> 00:01:40,700 It was at least, hey, talk to me. 31 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:43,900 I want to tell you about this and there was obviously, from 32 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:46,700 just the countenance that was not a conversation that he 33 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:49,600 wanted to have. Well actually see a connection 34 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:54,300 here in Revelation chapter number 2 because in Revelation 35 00:01:54,300 --> 00:01:56,800 chapter number 2 Revelation chapter number 3, we're talking 36 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:02,000 about the things that are the churches that were open alive 37 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,200 and present. During the time of John the 38 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,100 Revelator, having this Revelation from God, on the Isle 39 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:11,600 of Patmos. And the first one is the church 40 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,600 at Ephesus, it's familiar to us because we have a whole epistle 41 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:46,500 that is about Chapter 2 beginning in verse 42 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:50,200 number one, where it says, this unto the angel of the Church of 43 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,700 Ephesus, write these things saith. 44 00:02:52,700 --> 00:02:56,400 He that holdeth the Seven Stars in his right hand, who walketh 45 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,300 in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks that we found out 46 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:02,400 in chapter one, a couple weeks ago, that's Jesus Christ. 47 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:06,100 So he is the one who upholds the churches verse 2. 48 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,500 I Know, Thy works and thy Labour, and thy patience. 49 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,500 And how thou canst? Not bear them, which are evil. 50 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,700 And now, it's tried them, which say they are Apostles. 51 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,400 Fossils and are not and Hast found them. 52 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,600 Liars, and has born and has patience, and for my name's sake 53 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,900 Hast, laboured and Hast not fainted. 54 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:26,600 Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou Hast 55 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,500 left thy, First Love, remember, therefore, from whence Thou Art 56 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:34,200 fallen and repent and do the first works or else. 57 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,300 I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick, 58 00:03:37,300 --> 00:03:40,300 out of his place except thou repent. 59 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,400 But this thou Hast that, thou hatest the Deeds of the 60 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,300 Nicolaitans, which I Also hate he that hath an ear. 61 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,400 Let him hear what the spirit says, unto the churches to him, 62 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,600 that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which 63 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,000 is in the midst of the paradise of God. 64 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,800 So before we get into what's going on in Ephesus, we really 65 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,900 need to consider the seven churches in general, that we're 66 00:04:04,900 --> 00:04:07,400 going to find in Revelation Chapter 2, Revelation chapter 67 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,300 number 3, because these seven churches are going to be what 68 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:14,100 we're going to cover in the seven messages that are 69 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:18,100 upcoming. Church a city, a sermon and it's 70 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:21,600 important for us to understand this section that goes over the 71 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,000 things which are and I think Revelation chapter number 2 in 72 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,700 Revelation. Chapter number 3 are important 73 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,200 because it shows us that God not only cared about the message but 74 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,100 he also cared about the people who were going to hear the 75 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:36,200 message. Because remember Revelation was 76 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,000 written to these seven churches. And so it's not just that he 77 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,000 cares about the message itself. He cares about the people who 78 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,700 hear the message and that still True today. 79 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:51,100 And these are seven literal churches that were in several or 80 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:55,400 seven literal cities in Asia Minor, which is what we would 81 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,100 call turkey today. They represent a variety of 82 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:03,000 peoples of economies and of situations. 83 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,800 Each of these places historically were quite 84 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,300 different from one another. They was not a lot of 85 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,700 similarities between these seven churches and it's kind of the 86 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:14,100 same way with churches in general today. 87 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:17,100 Even like-minded churches that are preaching, right? 88 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:20,000 And they're doing right. You know, our church has a very 89 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,200 different feel than Lighthouse Baptist Church in Holbrook, and 90 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,300 if you were to go to Lifeline Baptist Church in Haverhill, 91 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,400 you'd find, it's a little bit different there as well. 92 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:33,000 Now, same God, Same Spirit, but it's just a little bit different 93 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,700 because, you know, we have different places, Easton's a 94 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:37,900 much different place than Holbrook, and overlooks, a much 95 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:41,600 different place than Haverhill. And so, because of that, there 96 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,200 are some differences and it's the same with these churches, 97 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,100 same God, God, the same word of God, but there are some 98 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:49,600 differences. And we're going to explore some 99 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:54,500 of that in Chapter 2 and chapter number 3 and the structure of 100 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:58,000 the letter or the, the message to each church. 101 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,400 And remember, it really to each pastor of each church is the 102 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:02,900 same. There's a little bit of 103 00:06:02,900 --> 00:06:05,700 deviation depending on the church, but it's basically the 104 00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:09,700 same no matter what, Jesus always gives a commendation to 105 00:06:09,700 --> 00:06:12,700 the church. He always gives a complaint to 106 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:15,200 the church and then he gives him a charge. 107 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,500 Basically says this, here's what's going. 108 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:20,900 Well, here's what's not going well and this is what you need 109 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:22,400 to fix. Now, there's a little bit of 110 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,100 deviation. Like I said, depending on the 111 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:26,700 church at times. But basically, this is what 112 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:29,200 you're going to see with each church, and it's the outline. 113 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,300 We're going to use seven times in a row over the next seven 114 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:34,700 messages, a commendation, what's right? 115 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,600 A complaint, what's wrong and then the charge, how to make it 116 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,700 right? So, knowing all that and 117 00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:46,200 understanding all that, we understand there with brings us 118 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,400 to Ephesus tonight. And this is where we are in our 119 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:54,000 text looking at the church. That is in Ephesus, and I will 120 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,800 say it would be really interesting and it would be 121 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:02,800 really Interesting in a way to be able to go through each City 122 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:08,400 and do a deep historical dive on what Ephesus was like and what 123 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,200 kind of City it was and to go through because there's so much 124 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,100 historical information on Ephesus and on Smyrna and on 125 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:19,200 thyatira laodicea and the rest. However that's not what we're 126 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,700 going to do during the series. Now I'm going to give you enough 127 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:25,900 background about each City to be able to give us some context 128 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:28,000 about what Jesus is saying to the church. 129 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:33,700 However, These are lessons that are college, you know, Seminary 130 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:37,700 type lectures about what Ephesus was like or what Philadelphia 131 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:39,500 was like. That's really not what we're 132 00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:41,600 trying to get across. We're trying to get across 133 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,000 something that's less academic and something that's more 134 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,900 heartfelt. That's really what preaching is, 135 00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:48,500 isn't it goes right to the heart? 136 00:07:48,500 --> 00:07:51,300 It we're going to teach you what was going on in those cities. 137 00:07:51,300 --> 00:07:54,400 But really, we want you to understand that what was going 138 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:58,500 on, those cities could really help us understand better. 139 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,800 ER What's Happening Here in our text because the text is what's 140 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,800 most important. Listen, if you understand about 141 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:08,000 Ephesus or not in the future as a city historically, that's not 142 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,600 the end of the world. But what I do want you to 143 00:08:09,608 --> 00:08:13,100 understand is what's here in Revelation, Chapter 2 verses 1 144 00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:15,300 through 7 tonight. That is my most important goal. 145 00:08:15,500 --> 00:08:17,900 And while the other can help us, give a little bit of color and 146 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:22,600 understanding to what it is. This the word of God must what 147 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,500 shine through now. What do we know about the church 148 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:27,200 at Ephesus? I just mentioned a few moments 149 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:31,600 ago, its first men, In the book of Acts in Acts chapter 19 in 150 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,000 Acts chapter 20, Paul went to Ephesus on the third missionary 151 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,700 journey. Now, on the third missionary 152 00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:41,500 journey, it ended up that he was there in Ephesus for three and a 153 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:44,500 half years. It was really the place that he 154 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:47,300 stayed the longest, as far as we can tell upon any of his 155 00:08:47,300 --> 00:08:49,600 missionary Journeys. He was there during the third 156 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,900 missionary journey at the beginning, and it was one of his 157 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:53,800 final stops. At the end of the third 158 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,700 missionary journey in Acts chapter 20, when he gives that 159 00:08:56,900 --> 00:09:00,600 really heart-wrenching. Well to the elders the pastor's 160 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,600 that were there at the church of Ephesus because he knows he's 161 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,400 going to Jerusalem and he knows that there's going to be 162 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,200 difficulties that are waiting in there in Jerusalem and he knows 163 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,900 he's never going to see these people at Ephesus again this 164 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:14,500 side of heaven. And so we have this glimpse of 165 00:09:14,500 --> 00:09:17,700 Ephesus in Acts chapter 19 Acts chapter 20. 166 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,900 We also get some understanding about Ephesus from the book of 167 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:24,500 Ephesians because the book of Ephesians was written to the 168 00:09:24,500 --> 00:09:28,900 people of Ephesus by Paul. So while we're not going, Polly 169 00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:32,400 into the background of Ephesus. There are some things that would 170 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,800 be helpful to you, understand. First of all, it was a very 171 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,300 prestigious City. It was a prestigious City. 172 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:40,300 It was considered the Jewel of the Eastern, Roman Empire 173 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:44,700 meeting in the Asian quarters of the Roman Empire. 174 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,900 It was called the first and greatest Metropolis of Asia, 175 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:53,100 it's great Harbor, brought a Cosmopolitan atmosphere to the 176 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:57,100 city as it became a gateway to the east, it's great, Harbor 177 00:09:57,100 --> 00:10:01,000 allowed ships to come in and bring goods and it's roads 178 00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:04,800 branched out many times from Ephesus to the East and so 179 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:07,800 Merchants would be able to bring things from the East to Ephesus 180 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,900 where they would get imported to Europe and vice versa. 181 00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:15,500 So, in many ways it was a very prestigious City more so really 182 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:19,400 than any of the other seven churches cities that will follow 183 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:23,900 or the six that will follow it was a very political City for 184 00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:27,600 its service to the Empire. It was considered to be a quote 185 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,700 unquote free. Now that means this that they 186 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:35,300 were able even though they were under the Roman government to 187 00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:39,000 have some level of self autonomy, they were able to 188 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,700 govern themselves. In fact, the Roman army was not 189 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:47,800 garrisoned with in Ephesus because they were a free City, 190 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,800 there's an important point because in Acts chapter 19, you 191 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,100 remember, they had this great gathering together because 192 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:55,900 everyone was upset that Paul was preaching and people getting 193 00:10:55,900 --> 00:10:58,800 saved and they thought that people weren't going to worship 194 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,500 the god. It is Diana anymore and they 195 00:11:00,500 --> 00:11:03,600 thought their economy was going to Crater because of that. 196 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:09,100 And they gathered together and in this great Arena and they 197 00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:13,100 said, great is Diana of the Ephesians great is the Diana of 198 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:15,300 the Ephesians over and over and over again. 199 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:18,800 They said this and it was unlawful assembly and and the 200 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,200 city manager, if you will came in and said this, listen, our 201 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,800 status is going to be called into question if we don't 202 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,800 disperse and what they were talking about is their status as 203 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,700 a Re City because they were such an important city. 204 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:37,400 They had this wonderful status as a political free City, but 205 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,300 they were prestigious, they were political, but here's probably 206 00:11:41,300 --> 00:11:43,600 what's most important. They were Pagan. 207 00:11:44,300 --> 00:11:48,600 They were a pagan City. Its pagan worship was well 208 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,500 document. I just talked about Diana. 209 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,800 A lot of times if you do study on the city of Ephesus, you'll 210 00:11:54,800 --> 00:12:00,700 also read of Artemis. Artemis is the Greek name is 211 00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:04,800 synonymous with Diana. The the Roman name for the 212 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,200 goddess of fertility? She was everything in Ephesus. 213 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:13,300 Her Temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 214 00:12:13,300 --> 00:12:18,000 So you can imagine how much of life in Ephesus gathered around. 215 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,800 In fact, they had a whole month of holidays, just to celebrate 216 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,400 the fertility goddess of Artemis or Diana. 217 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,900 It Was Written of Is greek temple or this Roman Temple 218 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:37,500 rather to Diana to Artemis consider this antipater of sidon 219 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:40,200 wrote this. I have set eyes on the wall of 220 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,300 lofty babbling on which is a road for chariots and the statue 221 00:12:44,300 --> 00:12:48,200 of Zeus by the healthiest and the Hanging Gardens and the 222 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,500 Colossus of the sun and the huge labor of the high pyramids and 223 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:56,400 the vast Tomb of the mausolus. But when I saw the house of 224 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:01,100 Artemis, that mounted to the clouds, Those other Marvels lost 225 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:05,500 their brilliancy and I said low apart from Olympus. 226 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,700 The Sun never looked on anything so Grand, I don't know about 227 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:10,500 you. But when I think of the 228 00:13:10,500 --> 00:13:13,800 pyramids, I think of something that's pretty great, when you 229 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,100 consider the labor, that it would have taken the expertise 230 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:20,600 that would have taken to be able to complete its construction. 231 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:24,400 And here is antipater, the one who compiled the list of the 232 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:25,900 Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 233 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:30,200 And he said this, I mean the pyramids are great. 8, but the 234 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:34,600 temple, to Artemis, the temple to Diana is unparalleled other 235 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,000 than Mount Olympus and grease. That's an amazing thing. 236 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,600 And so when we understand that, this was a very Pagan city that 237 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,700 was overflowing with false worship. 238 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:48,300 Here's why this is important, and I want to get this tonight 239 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,900 in the midst of all. This a church was born. 240 00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:57,800 In the midst of all. This a church thrived and that's 241 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,600 a helpful to me tonight to remember that because we live in 242 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:06,400 a pretty Pagan world today. I mean, we live in a pretty 243 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,800 difficult situation today for it. 244 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,600 I mean, my mind's about to explode, some of the things that 245 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,200 I look at and see an effect, I wish I didn't see it but you 246 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:16,300 kind of have to see it because you have to know what's going 247 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:18,200 on. I just saw it today. 248 00:14:18,700 --> 00:14:22,500 The that Lego came out with 26 letters. 249 00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:27,700 Learn the PCS of the lgbtq movement from Lego. 250 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,800 Targeted at children to teach them about words, like 251 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,400 transitioning and queer and non-binary. 252 00:14:36,900 --> 00:14:39,700 And I see things like that. And I'll be honestly, there's a 253 00:14:39,700 --> 00:14:43,600 part of me that says How do churches grow anymore? 254 00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,100 Who's going to, listen to The Gospel anymore? 255 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:50,500 And listen, that's just one example of about 100 that I 256 00:14:50,500 --> 00:14:52,900 could give you that. Do I need to give you an example 257 00:14:52,900 --> 00:14:55,100 because you live in the same environment that I do. 258 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,500 But here's what I know in an environment, very similar and 259 00:14:58,500 --> 00:15:01,900 Ephesus, a church was planted in environment. 260 00:15:01,900 --> 00:15:05,300 Very similar in Ephesus, a church grew and a church 261 00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:07,800 flourished and it still can happen today. 262 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:14,200 Because To a lost and Dying World. 263 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,400 So, under all these conditions, here's the church at Ephesus, 264 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:20,700 and they get a letter from God, encouraging them. 265 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:25,000 And this pastor this Angel, it says, of the Church of Ephesus 266 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,800 encouraging them to move ahead. So, let's look at these three 267 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,900 things quickly tonight. The first is this, the 268 00:15:29,900 --> 00:15:33,200 Commendation number one, the commendation. 269 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:38,100 Look at verse number to look at the good things. 270 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,900 Jesus Christ has to say about this pastor in this church. 271 00:15:42,900 --> 00:15:46,400 I Know Thy works and thy Labour. What is that saying they were 272 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,500 doing something? There's a lot of churches that 273 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:54,100 are like the old preacher used to say, they're not Standing on 274 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:55,300 the Promises. They're just sitting on the 275 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:59,300 premises, they're not really doing a whole lot, and it says, 276 00:15:59,300 --> 00:16:03,200 this, they are having work, and they're having labor. 277 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:05,200 So that's a commendation right there. 278 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,400 I Know, Thy patience. Wow. 279 00:16:09,300 --> 00:16:11,800 How many of us can say we have patients from the Lord, you 280 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,500 know, you know, where patience comes from trials and testing. 281 00:16:15,500 --> 00:16:18,800 James chapter one, how many of us want to have Patience. 282 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:20,100 We want it. We want it. 283 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:23,200 Now, the problem is that we don't always have it as we 284 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:27,100 should, but they had patients and that thou canst not bear 285 00:16:27,100 --> 00:16:31,700 them, which are evil, and not to get deep into that phrase and 286 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:34,500 the wording there, they kept now canst not bear them. 287 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:37,400 The idea of this. I think, when we think of that, 288 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,100 it's almost like, oh, I can't even bear it. 289 00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:42,200 Oh, I can't even stand it. I can't put up with evil, but 290 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,700 that's not really what it's saying. 291 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:47,000 And I think that's important because verse number 3 uses the 292 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,300 same word, And it gives a better understanding the context to 293 00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:53,500 Bear something, is to carry it to Bear. 294 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:56,400 Something means to lift it and to take it. 295 00:16:56,500 --> 00:16:58,100 And so what are they doing? Thou canst. 296 00:16:58,100 --> 00:17:01,000 Not bear them, which are evil. What are they not doing? 297 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:06,800 They are not picking up carrying dispersing evil, they lived evil 298 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,000 ever. They had an evil everywhere 299 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,700 around them. They couldn't get away from it. 300 00:17:10,700 --> 00:17:12,500 You couldn't get away from it by living in Ephesus. 301 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:15,500 Do you feel like that today? We can't get away from the evil. 302 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:17,800 You go to the grocery store. There's evil you go. 303 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:19,800 Walmart. There's evil inside because 304 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:24,000 Walmart although anyway, right, we we met you at Walmart, so 305 00:17:24,008 --> 00:17:26,500 that's good. Alright, so yeah, that's it. 306 00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:28,099 That's the best story I've ever heard from Walmart. 307 00:17:28,099 --> 00:17:30,200 When were there we met? Jamie at Walmart. 308 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:31,700 So see, good things can happen at Walmart. 309 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:34,800 Otherwise Evil. All right, but listen, anywhere 310 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,200 you turn on the television, there's evil turn on the radio. 311 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,400 There's evil your phone evil. It's everywhere, you can't get 312 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,100 away from it, but here's what they said, you're not carrying 313 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:46,000 it with you, you're not taking it along. 314 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,600 You're not, it's not a barn. Kalon the whole of your life. 315 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:52,800 And I think that's the way evil can be sometimes. 316 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,300 That's why we need things like Revival. 317 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,300 That's why we need to just confess our sins before the 318 00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:59,800 Lord. It's scraping that evil off the 319 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,900 Barnacle, the whole of our life. And so you're not bearing that 320 00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:05,600 work that they didn't put up with these things. 321 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,500 That's a blessing now has tried them which say they are Apostles 322 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:12,200 and are not and Hast found them Liars. 323 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,200 So there were some they came to the Church of Ephesus and said 324 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,000 this, we're just like poll Now he deals with this in Ephesians 325 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,600 and really Paul dealt with this pretty much anywhere. 326 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:27,700 He went As he left, other people would swoop in and say, you 327 00:18:27,700 --> 00:18:30,300 don't really listen to Paul. We are the enlightened ones. 328 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,000 Listen that happened after the first missionary journey. 329 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,000 That's why they had to go to Jerusalem. 330 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,600 And the church Council took place there. 331 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,700 And so the Ephesians had these false teachers come in who said 332 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:45,100 they were Apostles and they said this. 333 00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:47,700 All right, you're an apostle. Let's talk to you a little bit 334 00:18:47,700 --> 00:18:50,400 about the word, but let's talk to you a little bit about the 335 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,000 things that are right. And they tried them, that didn't 336 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,100 mean they put them on trial. But they took their words and 337 00:18:57,100 --> 00:18:59,000 they proved them, they saved them. 338 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,700 That's the really, the definition of the word meaning 339 00:19:01,700 --> 00:19:06,300 to see if it was truthful or not and it goes back to the Book of 340 00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:09,400 Daniel, where it was said of belt to shazzer thou Hast been 341 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,600 weighed in the balances and found wanting. 342 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:14,700 They found that these false Apostles came in and you know 343 00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:16,000 what they did with the false Apostles. 344 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,200 When they came in they checked him out. 345 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:20,500 They check their Doctrine out and you know what they said you 346 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:22,000 can't stay here. You got to go. 347 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,200 By the way, those false teachers are still out there today, those 348 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,700 false teachers still have a desire even to come into smaller 349 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:32,200 Ministries in a smaller churches and to teach false Doctrine, 350 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:33,700 they take people off to the side. 351 00:19:33,700 --> 00:19:36,600 They invite people to private home Bible studies and they try 352 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,900 to teach their false Doctrine into pedal, these different 353 00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:39,900 things. I'm not saying there's anything 354 00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:43,500 wrong with a home Bible study, not in the least what I'm saying 355 00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:46,900 is what they often try to do is to separate people from the 356 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:49,400 flock and then once they're separated, that's when they 357 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,500 attack. And they said, we don't put up 358 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:53,900 with this, we don't want You know what God says this, I 359 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:57,400 commend you for that. I commend you for checking the 360 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,300 doctrine of those who come in. By the way. 361 00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:03,500 This isn't really what the text is saying is probably not 362 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:06,600 something good to say before you say something in the Pulpit but 363 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,900 I think the application is true. You need to check what I'm 364 00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:12,800 saying. It's important there have been 365 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:14,800 times and Seasons. I've had someone within the last 366 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:16,200 month. That's come up to me and said 367 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:17,700 pastor. You've said this before church, 368 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:20,600 I've heard you say it twice. Can you explain to me why it is? 369 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:22,900 Because it doesn't sound right to me. 370 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,500 And you know what I had to do some study, you know what I 371 00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:29,700 found out? I was not correct and the person 372 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:31,900 I think that was talking to me or the person that was talking 373 00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:34,800 to me is correct. And so I'm going to address that 374 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,300 within the next couple of weeks because it's something that I 375 00:20:37,300 --> 00:20:39,500 said that was wrong. And someone said this, I'm 376 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:43,800 weighing this in the balance and it just doesn't make sense cut. 377 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,700 When this person came up to me, they were a little bit nervous. 378 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:50,600 They didn't want to sell it and they came with a good spirit. 379 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,200 They didn't come Um, in Anger, they didn't come in, it came to 380 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,100 good spirit. I said, listen, don't be nervous 381 00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:56,900 because in the end I want to be, right? 382 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,700 I don't want to be right because it's me I want to be right 383 00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:02,300 because of what the Lord says. If I'm saying something wrong, I 384 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:04,400 want to know. So I can say it the right way 385 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:07,100 because I want you to know, when you come to Liberty Baptist 386 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,600 Church that I'm doing my dead level best to say, what the Lord 387 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,500 says, that's a blessing. This is what they did. 388 00:21:12,500 --> 00:21:14,700 They were true bereans in that sense. 389 00:21:15,300 --> 00:21:17,500 Look at verse number 3 and has borne. 390 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:21,900 There's that word again and has born now that phrase By itself, 391 00:21:21,900 --> 00:21:24,900 may seem kind of on you have born now. 392 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:29,300 Remember although we look at this as Jesus Christ, talking to 393 00:21:29,700 --> 00:21:32,200 the church has specifically talking to the pastor of the 394 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:33,800 church is the angels of the churches. 395 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,900 He's saying this, you Pastor have born. 396 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,600 Now the definition that word born to bear or to carry What is 397 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,400 something that a pastor is supposed to do? 398 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,900 To bear or carry the burdens of others. 399 00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:52,100 Now. Am I the chief burden Bearer? 400 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:56,700 I'm not just like, I'm not the chief Shepherd, come The Under 401 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:59,700 Shepherd, I'm the under burden Bearer, but it is true that 402 00:21:59,700 --> 00:22:02,800 there are burdens that sometimes I have to carry as a pastor. 403 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,600 And I must do it in a way that's honoring and pleasing to the 404 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,900 Lord, their repair request. Some of you have that no one 405 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:10,300 else in the church knows, but me. 406 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:12,900 And that can be a burden at times. 407 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,800 But you know what? God says, if you bear that 408 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,900 properly, I'll bless you for it. I commend you for it. 409 00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:22,100 And by the way, there are times you have to do that as well. 410 00:22:22,100 --> 00:22:24,400 Maybe for something in your family or situation you're going 411 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,100 through, God will bless you for that. 412 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,700 You has born and I think this Bears it out the next and has 413 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:32,100 patience. What I love about that is that 414 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,600 this is mentioned twice, it was mentioned in the previous verses 415 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,600 mentioned in verse. Number 3, has board as patient 416 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,900 for my sake, namesake has labored And not fainted. 417 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:46,000 There it is again, laboured and not fainted, there's many who 418 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,900 labor and then they stop. Listen. 419 00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:51,300 If we could tell you about all the people who labor even at 420 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:55,200 Liberty Baptist Church and I and I'm not casting any kind of 421 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,500 remark on just anyone who's left here because people have left 422 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:01,000 for lots of different reasons. But there are some who just got 423 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,800 really excited and then after a while in the, in the work of the 424 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:08,200 Lord, they just got tired. They got weary and they quit 425 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:09,800 some, don't go to church anymore. 426 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,700 Some so some have just decided that it's not worth it to serve 427 00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:16,000 the Lord. What a Sad thing that is, listen 428 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:18,700 every day, we've got to decide for ourselves. 429 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:21,900 I'm going to labor again for the Lord today and not faint. 430 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,900 How do we not faint? Well, here's how we do it by not 431 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:29,700 drawing Upon Our Own Strength. If I labor for the Lord in My 432 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:32,900 Own Strength, I will faint. But if I labor for the Lord in 433 00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:35,200 the strength that the Lord has given me, I will always have 434 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,600 power. it's so it says you have labored and not faint it, and 435 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:42,300 then go down to verse number 6, where it says this, but this 436 00:23:42,300 --> 00:23:46,900 thou Hast that, thou hatest the Deeds of the Nicolaitans, which 437 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:54,200 I also hate, but that was hey, When I get through this tonight, 438 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:59,500 all right, but this thou Hast that thou hatest the Deeds of 439 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:01,400 the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 440 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,100 There's a commendation. God says, here's something I 441 00:24:04,100 --> 00:24:07,400 hate and you hate it too, that's good. 442 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:11,600 Now that might sound kind of odd to us today, but can I remind 443 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:16,000 you that God hates sin. Sometimes we just need a 444 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,200 reminder that God hates sin. What should we do? 445 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,000 He hates him. We should hate sin. 446 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,100 It says Thou hatest the Deeds of the Nicolaitans. 447 00:24:27,100 --> 00:24:28,600 I do find it. Interesting here that doesn't 448 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,300 say that they hate and they collations they the Deeds of the 449 00:24:31,300 --> 00:24:32,900 Nicolaitans. I think there is an important 450 00:24:32,900 --> 00:24:35,300 distinction to make why? Because they were to love them 451 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:38,100 with the love of Christ, in the sense that they are Desiring 452 00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:41,400 them to be saved but he looks at the Deeds of the Nicolaitans and 453 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,200 said, I hate what they do. I want no part of what they do. 454 00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:48,900 Now here's the question. Who are the new collections? 455 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:54,100 Who are they? Well, I've got some bad news for 456 00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:56,500 you tonight. I don't know. 457 00:24:57,900 --> 00:24:58,800 You hear that every once in a while. 458 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,400 The Book of Revelation, I don't know, I would rather just tell 459 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,300 you, I don't know, there's a lot of conjecture on who the nickel 460 00:25:05,300 --> 00:25:07,700 ations are, but the nickel Asians are gonna be mentioned 461 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:11,300 again, here in chapter number three or later in chapter number 462 00:25:11,300 --> 00:25:14,700 two, rather talking about pergamus, but I don't know 463 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:17,900 exactly who they are. Here's what I do. 464 00:25:17,900 --> 00:25:22,300 Know, the nickel ations if you were to break down the etymology 465 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:24,800 of that word, what does it mean? The word Nick? 466 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:29,600 A 0 in Greek means to conquer. And The word layoffs, in Greek 467 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:34,100 means the people. So it's very likely that the 468 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:39,000 nickel ations were a group of people that wanted to conquer 469 00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:45,200 other people within the church. Now, let's put a few connections 470 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,300 here, together, third, John verses, 9, and 10. 471 00:25:48,300 --> 00:25:50,500 Say this, I wrote Under the church. 472 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:55,100 But diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them? 473 00:25:55,100 --> 00:25:57,900 Receiveth us? Not wherefore if I Come. 474 00:25:57,900 --> 00:26:00,900 I will remember his deeds which he doeth prating against us, 475 00:26:00,900 --> 00:26:03,700 with malicious words and not content therewith. 476 00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:07,200 Neither doth he himself received the Brethren and forbiddeth them 477 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,500 that wood and cast. It them out of the church. 478 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,000 In third, John John is dealing with this man died atrophies, 479 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:21,300 who has decided that he is going to take the authority in the 480 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:25,800 church over John, and he has taken it and not just taking the 481 00:26:25,808 --> 00:26:29,700 authority over John, but he has assumed an authority. 482 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:32,200 That was not given to him over the people. 483 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,200 So if I was to make an assumption here, and this is the 484 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,300 best that I can tell you here tonight and I think, there are 485 00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:39,800 others who also would believe this as well. 486 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:44,700 The nickel ations very well Could be the very beginning, the 487 00:26:44,700 --> 00:26:48,000 seeds, if you will, of the division between the clergy and 488 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:52,800 the laity, the idea that there were different classes within 489 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,900 the church. Listen, I'm a pastor but I'm 490 00:26:55,900 --> 00:26:58,000 still one of the people, the church just like you. 491 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:02,200 I am not of a different class than the rest of you. 492 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:06,000 It's why I hate the term motive. I don't like being called 493 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,300 reverend because the psalm say, holy and Reverend is his name, 494 00:27:09,900 --> 00:27:13,900 and I'm not to be revered and Someone says it to me, I don't 495 00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:16,800 correct them. I don't give them a, you know, a 496 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:21,000 real argument about why, but I am like you are I have been 497 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,500 given Authority by the Lord to lead this church, but at the 498 00:27:23,500 --> 00:27:27,600 same time, I am not in a different class of people than 499 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,600 you are. Well, it's starting around 90, 500 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:35,200 100 AD between diotrephes. And now the Nick Elations, it 501 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:38,700 very well, could be that there is this class of clergy from 502 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:42,400 laity, which will end up being over the next 200 years. 503 00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:44,500 Sore. So the doctrine of what is 504 00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:48,400 called, Priestly assumption. The doctrine of. 505 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,400 Now, there is a priesthood that is exerting itself over the 506 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,700 people. Now, there are people. 507 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,500 You don't confess to God, you have no right to do that. 508 00:27:57,500 --> 00:27:59,200 You have to go to the priest to confess. 509 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,200 Do you see where it starts? It starts from maybe a nickel 510 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:06,000 ation or nickel ation Spirit. Conquering the people and it's 511 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,000 that Spirit from three hundred or so, a d that will continue on 512 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,800 for some time in grow and fester. 513 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,700 And I believe this is a stark warning to avoid that. 514 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:19,400 And what? Is God say what does Jesus 515 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,400 Christ? Say to the Ephesians, you saw 516 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,000 that and you routed it out. You saw it. 517 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,400 And you realized we want no part of it. 518 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:29,100 By the way, that's still true today. 519 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:31,800 That's still true today. Some of you came from a 520 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,800 religious tradition that was similar to that, whether it was 521 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,500 the Catholic Church itself or Catholic Light Church, a 522 00:28:37,500 --> 00:28:39,800 Protestant church like a Lutheran Church like I did, we 523 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:43,600 came from a place where sins were confessed to another man. 524 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:50,300 But listen, I have to confess my sins to God, you don't want to 525 00:28:50,308 --> 00:28:55,800 confess to me, but we see that the Ephesians say, no, we're not 526 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,900 having any part of this. In fact, we hate this and it's a 527 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:01,900 reminder, it maybe this is where we'll stop tonight because well, 528 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:04,900 I'm not going to rush through it for the sake of rushing through. 529 00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:09,600 There's just so much here. We need to love what God loves 530 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:11,300 and hate. What God hates. 531 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,600 And I'm afraid far too many times is Believers. 532 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:18,400 It's the opposite. There's things that God cannot 533 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,500 abide and we can't get enough of And I wonder if those things 534 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:28,100 that makes God heartbreak that are shown on television that we 535 00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:32,200 end up ingesting ourselves, what that does to the heart of God. 536 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,200 Those things that end up being downloaded on computers, or on 537 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:42,100 two phones. That breaks God's heart things 538 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:46,100 that he hates because he knows what it does to his people. 539 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,800 And he knows that it draws people who are not saved even 540 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,300 farther from him, but we ingest it. 541 00:29:52,300 --> 00:29:55,200 By the download we ingested by the GB. 542 00:29:55,900 --> 00:29:57,600 What does that do to the heart of God? 543 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:01,500 But here's a church that was commended, this is a doctrine 544 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:04,100 that God hated and they hated it too. 545 00:30:04,500 --> 00:30:06,400 They worked. They labored. 546 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,300 They were patient. There was a lot of good things 547 00:30:09,300 --> 00:30:12,100 at the church of Ephesus did there was something that they 548 00:30:12,100 --> 00:30:14,000 didn't do as well. That has to do with that guy. 549 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:16,600 With Shaw's that we'll talk about next week, I'll have to 550 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:17,900 leave. You hanging wondering what the 551 00:30:17,900 --> 00:30:19,800 application is. I'll see if I can find him and 552 00:30:19,808 --> 00:30:21,900 talk to him about the Lord between now and next week. 553 00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:25,900 But the meantime let's be like the church at Ephesus and love 554 00:30:25,900 --> 00:30:28,400 what God loves and hate what God hates. 555 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,500 Let's make sure that when we see those doctrines, those things, 556 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:35,900 those fallacies that are being taught to our children, to 557 00:30:35,900 --> 00:30:38,600 ourselves that we say, we don't want any part of that. 558 00:30:38,900 --> 00:30:41,500 Oh, but shouldn't you be open-minded when it comes to 559 00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:43,000 sin? I'm pretty close minded. 560 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,800 When it comes to saying I'm just as closed-minded as can be and 561 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,900 when I'm open-minded to sin, it gets me into a lot of trouble 562 00:30:50,900 --> 00:30:56,300 and it can cause me to end up leading other people into wrong 563 00:30:56,300 --> 00:30:59,200 directions as well. So let's be Ephesians in the 564 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,800 sense that they had wonderful discernment. 565 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:06,100 They worked. They didn't bear evil. 566 00:31:06,100 --> 00:31:09,300 They wouldn't carry it around with them and they didn't want 567 00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:12,100 to disseminate to other people. They just wanted it away from 568 00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:13,800 them so that they could do them in. 569 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:17,900 Mystery of the work of the Lord. Thank you for listening to this 570 00:31:17,900 --> 00:31:20,500 sermon from the pulpit of Liberty Baptist Church. 571 00:31:20,700 --> 00:31:24,000 If this message was a blessing to you or if there's any way we 572 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,800 can serve you, please let us know by contacting us at info. 573 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:32,100 At my Liberty Baptist dot org. Or you can visit us this Sunday 574 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:35,000 at eight hundred Washington Street and East and 575 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:39,100 Massachusetts may the Lord bless you as you grow in his word. 576 00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:19,200 Thank you for listening to this sermon from the pulpit of 577 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:22,100 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 578 00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:25,500 to you or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 579 00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:30,400 know by contacting us at info. At my Liberty Baptist dot org. 580 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,600 Or you can visit us this Sunday at eight hundred Washington 581 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,300 Street and East and Massachusetts may the Lord bless 582 00:31:37,300 --> 00:31:39,100 you as you grow in his word.