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[Music]

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good morning friends this is pastor

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david packer from international baptist

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church in stuttgart germany

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and we've been going through the seven

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letters to seven churches today we're

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looking at the church

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in sardis this is the church that sought

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to live

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by its reputation as you mentioned

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throughout this series

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these seven letters to seven churches

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give us

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a profound view of the challenges that

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every church and every christian will

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face

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during the church age the church age

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began at pentecost

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and will continue until christ returns

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so these seven churches were now in the

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fifth one and this is our texas

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revelation three verses one through six

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so you may want to get your bible and

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and follow along with me let me just

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give a review

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this number seven is the number of

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completeness and wholeness

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and we're going to see it used in our

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text also for the spirit of god

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so these seven churches are understood

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to to represent

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seven different challenges seven

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different needs that every

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church will have in ephesus the first

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one

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they were the loveless church their

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doctrine was correct but they were

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loveless they lost their love for christ

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and then in smyrna it was the church

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that was persecuted

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and christians will experience

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persecution throughout the church age

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now nothing negative was said about the

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church in smyrna they were

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long-suffering and faithful then the

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church in pergamum

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was the liberal church they had

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compromised their doctrine

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then the church and the terra was the

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church that was a libertine or that was

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lacks in moral areas they had they had

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compromised

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christian morality and now they've come

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to the church

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at sardis so you follow me in your

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bibles this is what

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starts out we'll read our passage as we

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go through the uh the sermon says

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to the angel of the church in sardis

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write these are the words of him who

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holds the seven

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spirits of god and the seven stars i

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know your deeds

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you have a reputation of being alive but

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you are dead

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now as we mentioned uh throughout this

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series

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that one of the ways that these seven

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letters can be

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understood and whether this was the

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original intention or not is another

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matter but

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certainly they serve as an illustration

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of these different problems but let's

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understand these

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as seven eras of western christianity

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so the sardis era is the church of the

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reformation

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the reformation usually is dated in 1517

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that was when martin luther placed on

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the

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door of the church in wittenberg the 95

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theses

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and that's certainly a starting point of

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the reformation

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so this church would be from 17 1517

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until around 1800 and it was a church

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that had that spark of life in the

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reformation

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but had drifted into a spiritual

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deadness so this is a church that needed

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to be refreshed

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the american patriot and uh and one of

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the

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fathers founding fathers of america

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thomas jefferson he said this about

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liberty he said the tree of liberty must

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be refreshed from time to time

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with the blood of patriots and tyrants

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and that is true that every generation

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of people that live in a land of liberty

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uh of democracy that they every

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generation has

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something they need to do to protect

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those freedoms they enjoy

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uh but the church this is even more true

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that

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every generation of christians every

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generation of church members

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needs to depend upon the life of the

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spirit

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they can never simply drift over into

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legalism or just a perfunctory bland

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dead religion like the church

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at sardis now the church of artists are

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the people that though they had received

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a great heritage and we don't know all

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the history of the church but every

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church that ever existed

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started because someone loved the lord

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heard the gospel made sacrifices

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to help that church get started rather

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than

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building on those sacrifices they're the

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ones that sat back and said aren't we

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lucky

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we've been given so much and we don't

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need to do anything we can just sit back

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and enjoy

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all the sacrifices our parents made and

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anytime that's said

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that that's a real danger to any church

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that's a danger

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to the church continuing but more to the

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point it's not what god

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ever intended in fact jesus said to whom

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much

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is given much shall be required

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if we have received a heritage if we

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have received things from the previous

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generations

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the people who raised us or maybe those

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just a little bit older that helped us

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if we have received all of these things

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we cannot take that and say

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aren't we lucky we don't have to do very

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much no

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they may have done harder work than we

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have or maybe not but maybe they have

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but we need to take that and build on it

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by the power of god

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by the strength of god we need to have

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his life

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in us every generation needs that now a

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great

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illustration of this is the life of

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moses

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moses uh that great leader who led the

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nation of israel out of egyptian

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uh enslavement uh out of egyptian

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bondage into

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the freedom of god as people he didn't

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get into the promised land but he led

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them up to the jordan river

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but that great leader he after he had

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received the law

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and had received these deep teachings of

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morality and

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and many specific laws and uh

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political law ceremonial laws

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sacrificial laws

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uh all these great teachings and in

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those teachings

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there was this teaching of the

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tabernacle of course later the

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tabernacle was replaced by the temple

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but having a place to worship was part

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of this uh

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this teaching that he had received after

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he received all those things

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he had a crisis in his life and in

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chapter

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33 of exodus it gives us this record

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uh moses cries out to god and he knows

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that

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having the law is not enough he needs

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something else so he cries out to god

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and makes three

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requests several years ago this passage

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was brought to my attention through

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listening to a a message by gordon

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mcdonald just a few of us were

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privileged to sit down

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and let him teach us that we were

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meeting in sherlock in switzerland the

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gordon mcdonald

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the pastor and author he mentioned

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these were he considered these the

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greater curiosities

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three questions that that moses wanted

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to know and every christian needs to

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know

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he first of all said god give me your

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presence

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your law is not enough i need your

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presence

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and then the second was god teach me

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your ways i need to know what's written

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in between the laws and these rules

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you've given us

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i need to know your ways and then the

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final one will show me

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your glory and he said i need to live

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with the reality of god's grace and

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god's power

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in my life by his spirit and god

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answered those prayers from moses

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and god gave him his presence and showed

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him his ways and even revealed some of

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his glory to moses

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but every generation needs to have the

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presence of the lord

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in their life when moses his time ended

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and joshua took the people into the

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promised land

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it was a the promise of god to joshua he

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said

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as i was with moses so i will be

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with you i will never leave you or

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forsake you

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and every generation of christians needs

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to have that message

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just as god was with our fathers and our

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forefathers just as god was with those

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who went before us

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so will he be with us and to whom much

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is given

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much is required jesus told us without

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me you can do nothing

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and we need to learn to depend upon

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christ at all time

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so we're looking at three things this

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morning first of all we're looking

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at how christ introduced himself how he

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described himself secondly his

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his assessment or evaluation of the

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church and thirdly how to overcome

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all these letters have these three parts

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the first one is this how he introduces

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himself

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or how he describes himself he says this

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um

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he said these are the words of him who

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holds the seven

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spirits of god and the seven stars now

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uh that phrase seven spirits of god

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this is apocalyptic language meaning

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uses symbols and

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numerology to communicate biblical truth

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well the seven spirits of god does not

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mean that god has seven different

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spirits rather seven

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is the number of completeness and he's

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describing that the spirit of god will

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give you all you need

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the spirit of god will empower you and

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strengthen you and encourage you and

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enable you

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and you need to realize i'm the one who

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gives the spirit

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fully to people who trusted me and

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believe in me

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the spirit takes the word of god and

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makes it come alive in our life

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he reproduces the character of christ in

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our life he will guide us and empower us

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he gives us strength and authority for

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witness and for ministry

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and every generation of christians is

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privileged to live in the reality of the

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spirit

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so his spirit is with he says i'm the

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one who holds the spirit i'm the one who

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gives the spirit

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when you put your faith in me you

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receive me by my

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spirit and my spirit will enable you to

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00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:52,720
do all that you need to do

289
00:09:49,519 --> 00:09:55,440
but again those words from john 15 5

290
00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,160
without me you can do nothing those

291
00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,000
words are

292
00:09:56,159 --> 00:10:00,240
part of this description that with him

293
00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,399
we can do all things but without him

294
00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:04,079
we can do nothing so it's a reminder

295
00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:06,159
that we need to depend upon

296
00:10:04,078 --> 00:10:07,439
him and then he said this also he said

297
00:10:06,159 --> 00:10:10,480
also hold

298
00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:12,800
the seven stars now in this passage from

299
00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,800
chapter one and uh we have this

300
00:10:12,799 --> 00:10:17,439
explanation of what the stars mean

301
00:10:14,799 --> 00:10:17,838
they are actually the preachers the the

302
00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,839
uh

303
00:10:17,839 --> 00:10:21,760
angels is called at these churches the

304
00:10:19,839 --> 00:10:23,760
word angel means the messenger

305
00:10:21,759 --> 00:10:25,600
and that word does not mean a heavenly

306
00:10:23,759 --> 00:10:28,240
angel but it means the

307
00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:30,240
the one who had preached the message and

308
00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:33,360
it's a stark reminder that all

309
00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,560
of us who feel called to ministry who

310
00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,200
have had the title

311
00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,319
pastor or our elder or whatever title

312
00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,959
you have the ones who

313
00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,879
teach we need to make sure that god does

314
00:10:40,958 --> 00:10:44,239
hold us in his hands and we're depending

315
00:10:42,879 --> 00:10:46,639
on his spirit

316
00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,399
to empower us and strengthen us well

317
00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:49,278
here's a church that really needed to

318
00:10:48,399 --> 00:10:52,399
come back

319
00:10:49,278 --> 00:10:53,360
and listen to god and know that god is

320
00:10:52,399 --> 00:10:56,639
speaking to them

321
00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,399
and their time and and and with his

322
00:10:56,639 --> 00:11:00,159
power with his authority

323
00:10:58,399 --> 00:11:02,320
now personally one of the things i like

324
00:11:00,159 --> 00:11:04,639
to do is read the sermons

325
00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,640
from the past of great men and sometimes

326
00:11:04,639 --> 00:11:08,159
great women also who are great preachers

327
00:11:06,639 --> 00:11:10,958
share the word of god

328
00:11:08,159 --> 00:11:12,399
these are encouraging to me but god

329
00:11:10,958 --> 00:11:15,119
never depended on

330
00:11:12,399 --> 00:11:16,159
that that never expect excuse me that

331
00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,519
any christian

332
00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:20,639
should depend upon sermons of the past

333
00:11:19,519 --> 00:11:23,039
to give them

334
00:11:20,639 --> 00:11:24,399
all the spiritual strength and guidance

335
00:11:23,039 --> 00:11:26,639
they need today

336
00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:28,159
every generation needs to have preachers

337
00:11:26,639 --> 00:11:31,360
who have preached biblical

338
00:11:28,159 --> 00:11:33,199
and relevant sermons to their day

339
00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,039
and their age that's why god will

340
00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,600
continue to call

341
00:11:35,039 --> 00:11:38,159
people into the preaching ministry to

342
00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,600
share

343
00:11:38,159 --> 00:11:42,559
the truth of god now the most precious

344
00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,000
heritage

345
00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:49,278
any generation can ever receive

346
00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:52,320
from god is his word in the gospel but

347
00:11:49,278 --> 00:11:54,399
part of that gospel is to know that god

348
00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:57,278
will be with us just as we read earlier

349
00:11:54,399 --> 00:11:59,039
he says to joshua as i was with moses so

350
00:11:57,278 --> 00:12:01,120
i will be with you

351
00:11:59,039 --> 00:12:02,240
and we need every generation needs to

352
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,959
understand that

353
00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,680
that god will be with us and we must

354
00:12:04,958 --> 00:12:08,559
learn

355
00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:10,479
to depend on him if we don't depend upon

356
00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,958
him we will not enjoy history

357
00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,839
if we do we'll find that he is able to

358
00:12:12,958 --> 00:12:16,078
do all

359
00:12:13,839 --> 00:12:18,160
that we need to do now the second thing

360
00:12:16,078 --> 00:12:19,199
is how he evaluated the church you read

361
00:12:18,159 --> 00:12:20,879
the next

362
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,360
passage we already saw this section he

363
00:12:20,879 --> 00:12:25,519
says you you have a reputation

364
00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,440
but you're not you're not an example of

365
00:12:25,519 --> 00:12:29,519
the reputation you're contrary to the

366
00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,480
reputation your reputation is to be

367
00:12:29,519 --> 00:12:32,480
alive and

368
00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:34,079
somewhere in that church's history they

369
00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:37,039
had had a vibrant

370
00:12:34,078 --> 00:12:38,078
living faith and a living witness but at

371
00:12:37,039 --> 00:12:40,159
this point

372
00:12:38,078 --> 00:12:42,159
they just had the reputation all they

373
00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:46,078
had so he tells them he says

374
00:12:42,159 --> 00:12:49,278
wake up wake up you need to come

375
00:12:46,078 --> 00:12:51,039
uh be aware of your situation so one of

376
00:12:49,278 --> 00:12:52,000
the problems is they had simply been

377
00:12:51,039 --> 00:12:54,159
asleep at the wheel

378
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,480
in their christian walk they had not

379
00:12:54,159 --> 00:12:58,719
paid attention to what was going on

380
00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:00,240
and it says this strengthen what remains

381
00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:03,200
and is about to die

382
00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,799
i have not found your deeds complete and

383
00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,800
the sight of my god

384
00:13:04,799 --> 00:13:08,559
that means even though they had a

385
00:13:06,799 --> 00:13:10,479
reputation they were not even

386
00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,359
maintaining the things that they had

387
00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,600
received

388
00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:15,839
they were not just not growing anymore

389
00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:18,320
but they were not even maintaining

390
00:13:15,839 --> 00:13:20,320
uh their faith they were not maintaining

391
00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:22,079
the church programs or the

392
00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,680
uh the things of the church maybe they

393
00:13:22,078 --> 00:13:26,078
were not maintaining the building they

394
00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:28,159
had had maybe they were not maintaining

395
00:13:26,078 --> 00:13:29,439
uh the giving that they needed to be

396
00:13:28,159 --> 00:13:32,719
doing but some

397
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:35,920
but many in many places in many ways uh

398
00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:38,240
they were falling into this uh let's

399
00:13:35,919 --> 00:13:39,679
just be lazy and forget it and not worry

400
00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:42,320
about these things

401
00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:44,000
and soon that church was going to die

402
00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:47,278
that did not wake up

403
00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:50,399
strengthen what remains and complete

404
00:13:47,278 --> 00:13:52,000
the plan that god has for them now

405
00:13:50,399 --> 00:13:53,600
uh currently i'm going through a book in

406
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,320
my devotional life i have it right here

407
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:58,159
my desk uh it's my watchman knee it's a

408
00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,519
you tell it's been used quite a bit i've

409
00:13:58,159 --> 00:14:01,679
had it for uh

410
00:13:59,519 --> 00:14:03,519
goodness almost i've had for 40 years i

411
00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,239
think but it's been one of these books

412
00:14:03,519 --> 00:14:06,720
that i read

413
00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:08,000
periodically from time to time and uh he

414
00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:11,199
talks about the

415
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:14,000
uh how christ expects us to live uh

416
00:14:11,198 --> 00:14:14,639
live a different type of life from the

417
00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,679
world

418
00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:19,839
and in this book it to me it it's it

419
00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,439
seemed to me that was very relevant for

420
00:14:19,839 --> 00:14:24,000
the topic that we're

421
00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,199
dealing with today all of the all that

422
00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,720
we do in the christian life

423
00:14:25,198 --> 00:14:28,958
all that we do in life for that matter

424
00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,480
it will fall into one of two categories

425
00:14:28,958 --> 00:14:33,518
either it is an action

426
00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:35,920
or it is a reaction and christians

427
00:14:33,519 --> 00:14:36,799
need to react as christ wants us to just

428
00:14:35,919 --> 00:14:39,679
as we need to

429
00:14:36,799 --> 00:14:41,359
act as christ wants us to a watchmene

430
00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:42,559
makes this point he says there's three

431
00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:46,000
levels that we

432
00:14:42,559 --> 00:14:49,759
react on but one is the level of reason

433
00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:52,320
as someone offends us we ask that person

434
00:14:49,759 --> 00:14:53,439
why did you do that or we may reason

435
00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:56,160
with that person

436
00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:58,720
the second is on the level of social

437
00:14:56,159 --> 00:15:01,120
manners or social behavior

438
00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:03,120
are just the the ideas of doing things

439
00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:05,440
that look good and that is

440
00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,198
that we'll respond if someone offends us

441
00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,720
we'll respond and say i will be

442
00:15:07,198 --> 00:15:11,278
patient and not react but the third

443
00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,079
level

444
00:15:11,278 --> 00:15:16,639
is the transcendent one that christ

445
00:15:14,078 --> 00:15:20,000
taught about in the sermon on the mount

446
00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:22,079
and that is i will bless my enemy

447
00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:24,480
not just i'll be patient with them or

448
00:15:22,078 --> 00:15:27,679
i'll reason with them but i will bless

449
00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:29,680
my enemy i will go the second mile

450
00:15:27,679 --> 00:15:31,278
not just be patient with the first smile

451
00:15:29,679 --> 00:15:33,599
i'll go beyond that

452
00:15:31,278 --> 00:15:34,958
i will give not just my shirt but even

453
00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,360
my coat

454
00:15:34,958 --> 00:15:38,239
and this describes a new attitude of the

455
00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,159
christian

456
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,680
that we are more than conquerors in all

457
00:15:40,159 --> 00:15:44,159
situations in christ

458
00:15:41,679 --> 00:15:46,719
and and we can now rise above these

459
00:15:44,159 --> 00:15:48,719
things we don't need to just react but

460
00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:51,440
many times we feel like we have done our

461
00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:53,440
duty if we are merely patient

462
00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,639
or if if we think about something and

463
00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:57,040
don't react we think

464
00:15:54,639 --> 00:15:59,039
well that's all that's required but but

465
00:15:57,039 --> 00:16:01,838
the gospel actually teaches something

466
00:15:59,039 --> 00:16:04,799
different that we need to go beyond this

467
00:16:01,839 --> 00:16:05,279
and not just to not react not just to be

468
00:16:04,799 --> 00:16:08,479
patient

469
00:16:05,278 --> 00:16:11,360
but to transcend by the power of god

470
00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,920
over those challenging situations we

471
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,919
face

472
00:16:11,919 --> 00:16:15,278
now that's on reaction if we look at

473
00:16:13,919 --> 00:16:16,799
action

474
00:16:15,278 --> 00:16:18,639
we'd say that's going to be also on

475
00:16:16,799 --> 00:16:20,399
three levels

476
00:16:18,639 --> 00:16:21,680
do we just do those things that are

477
00:16:20,399 --> 00:16:23,759
reasonable to do

478
00:16:21,679 --> 00:16:25,039
is that all we do well we should start

479
00:16:23,759 --> 00:16:26,560
there certainly we should do those

480
00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:27,838
things that are reasonable to do in the

481
00:16:26,559 --> 00:16:29,518
christian faith

482
00:16:27,839 --> 00:16:31,199
maintaining a building is one of those

483
00:16:29,519 --> 00:16:33,120
things

484
00:16:31,198 --> 00:16:35,599
reading the bible daily that's that's

485
00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,000
reasonable but do we also do those

486
00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,440
things

487
00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:41,198
that are expected of us socially uh

488
00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:43,440
what does the world expect the church to

489
00:16:41,198 --> 00:16:44,879
do what do christians expect the church

490
00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,639
to do what do christians

491
00:16:44,879 --> 00:16:48,000
expect us to be and of course we're

492
00:16:46,639 --> 00:16:50,720
going to support

493
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:53,519
good works and do those things and those

494
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:56,160
are things that are expected of us but

495
00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:58,078
but then the third question is do we do

496
00:16:56,159 --> 00:17:00,559
the things of god

497
00:16:58,078 --> 00:17:02,719
are we focus on the things of god in the

498
00:17:00,559 --> 00:17:04,159
great commission to take the gospel and

499
00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,160
all the world to love

500
00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:08,319
those who are vulnerable and help those

501
00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:11,199
who are who are hurting

502
00:17:08,318 --> 00:17:12,240
and to care about about those who no one

503
00:17:11,199 --> 00:17:15,600
cares for

504
00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:18,000
as well as uh to teach the word of god

505
00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:19,838
and counsel and heal and all these all

506
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,558
of these principles we find in god's

507
00:17:19,838 --> 00:17:23,198
word

508
00:17:20,558 --> 00:17:25,359
look on our reaction and our action

509
00:17:23,199 --> 00:17:25,919
we're to rise above the circumstance and

510
00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:29,038
not just

511
00:17:25,919 --> 00:17:29,840
do the minimal of saying we have been

512
00:17:29,038 --> 00:17:32,160
reasonable

513
00:17:29,839 --> 00:17:34,798
and we have been patient but to rise

514
00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:37,038
above that to say we have transcended

515
00:17:34,798 --> 00:17:38,480
and we are doing the things that god

516
00:17:37,038 --> 00:17:40,480
calls us to do

517
00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,880
well read on in our text that says this

518
00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:44,558
he says remember therefore what you have

519
00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:48,400
received and heard

520
00:17:44,558 --> 00:17:50,240
obey it and repent and that's another

521
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,240
neglect they had had they had stopped

522
00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,000
paying attention they stopped reading

523
00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,640
the word of god and perhaps their

524
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:59,440
worship services had drifted into

525
00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:00,880
a perfunctory style of worship there in

526
00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,679
sardis

527
00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,880
but they had forgotten what god had

528
00:18:03,679 --> 00:18:07,280
given to them

529
00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:09,360
and he says if you do not wake up i will

530
00:18:07,279 --> 00:18:11,119
come like a thief and you will not know

531
00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,279
at what time i will come to you

532
00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:15,439
that's reference to the second coming of

533
00:18:13,279 --> 00:18:17,279
christ and they had ceased to look

534
00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,400
forward to the second coming of christ

535
00:18:17,279 --> 00:18:20,798
they become very

536
00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,640
worldly christians and uh were more

537
00:18:20,798 --> 00:18:23,200
concerned about what they could get out

538
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,960
of it

539
00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:26,720
than what they could give let me tell

540
00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:30,160
you a story about a church

541
00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:32,000
in philippines and because this goes out

542
00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,679
uh to around the world and perhaps

543
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,798
someone in the philippines would

544
00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:38,960
would um uh would hear the

545
00:18:36,798 --> 00:18:40,960
story i i will not mention the the

546
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:44,160
church it was in the place we serve

547
00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:47,360
and we were in uh in davao de norte

548
00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:50,558
in the philippines we lived in tagum

549
00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:52,479
and in the 1980s as missionaries

550
00:18:50,558 --> 00:18:55,119
but we had a church in that association

551
00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,558
that had had a good history they had

552
00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:57,678
received a building and they had

553
00:18:56,558 --> 00:18:59,359
received

554
00:18:57,679 --> 00:19:01,120
the faith of those who'd gone before

555
00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,199
them and had vested in them

556
00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,719
and then they had an american pastor

557
00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,160
come out and preach

558
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,600
at that church well these were poor

559
00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:10,000
people they had a building and that was

560
00:19:07,599 --> 00:19:11,678
all they had they lived very simply and

561
00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,000
the pastor was there with them

562
00:19:11,679 --> 00:19:15,679
for a week and he went back home to his

563
00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,038
church and said we need to help these

564
00:19:15,679 --> 00:19:19,679
poor people so

565
00:19:17,038 --> 00:19:21,440
his church agreed to send them money

566
00:19:19,679 --> 00:19:23,280
every month well they sent them

567
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,120
did not seem like a much much by

568
00:19:23,279 --> 00:19:26,480
american standards it was a hundred and

569
00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:28,959
fifty dollars

570
00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:31,200
every month uh but that was more money

571
00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:34,319
than that little church had seen

572
00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:36,319
in forever and they received this money

573
00:19:34,319 --> 00:19:38,000
they didn't know what to do with it but

574
00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:39,359
uh then they they said well this is

575
00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,720
great you know and

576
00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,558
what happened is then they began

577
00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,558
thinking this is wonderful

578
00:19:42,558 --> 00:19:46,720
we don't need to give any more ourselves

579
00:19:44,558 --> 00:19:48,798
we can just let this rich american

580
00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,079
uh take care of us so they stopped

581
00:19:48,798 --> 00:19:53,119
giving uh

582
00:19:50,079 --> 00:19:54,159
and after a few months uh they just

583
00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,719
started giving this

584
00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,960
check to their pastor he had to go to

585
00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:01,038
the bank and get it cashed and

586
00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,000
and that was enough for him to live on

587
00:20:01,038 --> 00:20:04,400
and and

588
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,599
so the church would gather but did not

589
00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,640
give anything

590
00:20:05,599 --> 00:20:09,119
after several years that pastor finally

591
00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,360
said

592
00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:13,119
well we are now not going to give any

593
00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,719
more we're going to end it in a couple

594
00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:15,439
of months and so they did they stopped

595
00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,240
giving

596
00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,840
and the church almost died they didn't

597
00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,759
know what to do they went to some of the

598
00:20:19,839 --> 00:20:22,798
other churches in our association asked

599
00:20:21,759 --> 00:20:24,000
them to help them

600
00:20:22,798 --> 00:20:26,558
and these were all churches they had

601
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,240
been paying their way pastors that

602
00:20:26,558 --> 00:20:29,839
had taught their people to give and

603
00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,759
people that had loved the lord and

604
00:20:29,839 --> 00:20:33,439
although they were poor they sacrificed

605
00:20:31,759 --> 00:20:36,640
and support their pastors

606
00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,840
and those churches they said look you're

607
00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,600
you're you're not you're getting

608
00:20:37,839 --> 00:20:40,798
sympathy will they say it but you could

609
00:20:39,599 --> 00:20:42,480
tell they're they're not going to give

610
00:20:40,798 --> 00:20:45,279
sympathy from them they said you

611
00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,960
you've gotten lazy you have become like

612
00:20:45,279 --> 00:20:48,399
the church of sardis you're living by

613
00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,240
your reputation

614
00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,679
and someone's been paying all your bills

615
00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,599
and you have become weak

616
00:20:51,679 --> 00:20:56,159
in your faith and that church almost

617
00:20:53,599 --> 00:20:56,639
died finally it came back and the people

618
00:20:56,159 --> 00:20:59,840
began

619
00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:01,679
giving and serving again but it is more

620
00:20:59,839 --> 00:21:04,639
blessed to give than to receive

621
00:21:01,679 --> 00:21:04,960
this is something that we need to grasp

622
00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,440
and

623
00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:09,120
this was a church that had uh it's a

624
00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:12,159
typical of churches that simply

625
00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:15,359
look on their past and they forget

626
00:21:12,159 --> 00:21:18,559
about where they have come from now

627
00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,678
how to overcome how to overcome it says

628
00:21:18,558 --> 00:21:22,558
this in verse 4

629
00:21:19,679 --> 00:21:24,320
yet you have a few people in sardis who

630
00:21:22,558 --> 00:21:26,480
have not soiled their clothes

631
00:21:24,319 --> 00:21:28,079
they will walk with me dressed in white

632
00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,159
for they are worthy

633
00:21:28,079 --> 00:21:32,319
he who overcomes will be like them be

634
00:21:30,159 --> 00:21:34,159
dressed in white i will never blot out

635
00:21:32,319 --> 00:21:36,319
his name from the book of life

636
00:21:34,159 --> 00:21:37,840
but will acknowledge his name before my

637
00:21:36,319 --> 00:21:39,678
father and his angels

638
00:21:37,839 --> 00:21:41,599
he who has an ear let him hear what the

639
00:21:39,679 --> 00:21:44,880
spirit says to the churches

640
00:21:41,599 --> 00:21:48,000
and there is giving a solution now

641
00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:49,520
it says first of all walk with me they

642
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,679
walk with me he says

643
00:21:49,519 --> 00:21:52,798
they have not sold the clothes they will

644
00:21:51,679 --> 00:21:54,640
walk with me

645
00:21:52,798 --> 00:21:56,720
and this describes a renewed

646
00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:59,120
relationship with christ

647
00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:01,038
not just to know how churches should

648
00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:03,038
operate not just to know

649
00:22:01,038 --> 00:22:05,279
the programs or the the way they

650
00:22:03,038 --> 00:22:08,400
function uh but to be renewed

651
00:22:05,279 --> 00:22:10,558
in their spirit and to gain a

652
00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:12,320
deeper understanding of their

653
00:22:10,558 --> 00:22:14,399
relationship with christ

654
00:22:12,319 --> 00:22:16,240
and then he says they will be dressed in

655
00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:19,600
white and that's the description

656
00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:21,519
of christ revealing himself to them

657
00:22:19,599 --> 00:22:23,279
uh through through a clean conscience

658
00:22:21,519 --> 00:22:24,319
through the spirit able to speak to

659
00:22:23,279 --> 00:22:25,918
their heart

660
00:22:24,319 --> 00:22:28,480
where they understand their sins are

661
00:22:25,919 --> 00:22:31,038
forgiven for they now live in the power

662
00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,839
and the joy of the spirit there will be

663
00:22:31,038 --> 00:22:35,440
some

664
00:22:31,839 --> 00:22:39,119
like that and they will they will enjoy

665
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:41,440
this reality of joy this reality

666
00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,359
of the spirit living inside them see the

667
00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,519
christian life is not just a life of

668
00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:48,399
being blessed by the faith of others

669
00:22:45,519 --> 00:22:50,319
it is also of life of learning to stand

670
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,960
in the strength of god

671
00:22:50,319 --> 00:22:54,240
and to go forward on the mission god has

672
00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:57,759
for his church

673
00:22:54,240 --> 00:23:01,120
faith is always required faith in god

674
00:22:57,759 --> 00:23:02,558
and reliance upon god is everything for

675
00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:05,599
the future of the church

676
00:23:02,558 --> 00:23:07,359
martin luther said this god our father

677
00:23:05,599 --> 00:23:10,079
has made all things depend

678
00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,558
on faith so that whoever has faith will

679
00:23:10,079 --> 00:23:12,480
have

680
00:23:10,558 --> 00:23:14,480
everything and whoever does not have

681
00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,798
faith will have nothing

682
00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,919
and that was that church they had lost

683
00:23:16,798 --> 00:23:19,839
their faith and they

684
00:23:17,919 --> 00:23:22,559
lost everything they're on the verge of

685
00:23:19,839 --> 00:23:24,959
ceasing to exist

686
00:23:22,558 --> 00:23:26,000
well if we look at the history of the

687
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,079
reformation

688
00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,119
we can see that it happened in a time

689
00:23:28,079 --> 00:23:32,240
when

690
00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:34,798
life in the in the west was changing

691
00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:36,798
western europe life was changing very

692
00:23:34,798 --> 00:23:39,759
quickly for example in 300

693
00:23:36,798 --> 00:23:41,918
eyeglasses were invented up until that

694
00:23:39,759 --> 00:23:44,640
time by the time you were 40 years old

695
00:23:41,919 --> 00:23:44,960
you you were blind and couldn't do very

696
00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,038
much

697
00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:49,200
work or certainly couldn't read very

698
00:23:47,038 --> 00:23:52,240
well and couldn't do technical work

699
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,679
but 1300 in italy eyeglasses were

700
00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,240
invented and different

701
00:23:53,679 --> 00:23:57,038
graduations different levels of of

702
00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,200
eyewear

703
00:23:57,038 --> 00:24:00,158
were invented and suddenly people could

704
00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,159
continue

705
00:24:00,159 --> 00:24:04,320
to work and your best workers would

706
00:24:02,159 --> 00:24:05,039
continue to work that was a time of

707
00:24:04,319 --> 00:24:07,599
empowerment

708
00:24:05,038 --> 00:24:09,440
1440 the printing press was invented

709
00:24:07,599 --> 00:24:12,000
1500 the spring

710
00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,120
driven clock was invented so martin

711
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,480
luther's world was

712
00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:20,000
changing when he went into the

713
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:23,759
monastery and uh to be a monk in in uh

714
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:26,640
1505 he had hardly ever seen a bible

715
00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:28,079
he he had hardly ever held one and he's

716
00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:31,799
certainly never seen one

717
00:24:28,079 --> 00:24:35,038
in german but uh in

718
00:24:31,798 --> 00:24:35,679
1534 he had finished the translation of

719
00:24:35,038 --> 00:24:39,278
the bible

720
00:24:35,679 --> 00:24:39,919
in german and in 1539 the great bible in

721
00:24:39,278 --> 00:24:43,038
english

722
00:24:39,919 --> 00:24:44,320
was translated and what this meant is uh

723
00:24:43,038 --> 00:24:47,119
with the printing press and the

724
00:24:44,319 --> 00:24:47,918
duplication of writing materials this

725
00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:51,359
meant that

726
00:24:47,919 --> 00:24:54,080
every man now had uh or not

727
00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,879
every man but many men better way to say

728
00:24:54,079 --> 00:24:58,158
that

729
00:24:54,880 --> 00:25:00,000
were now enabled and empowered to read

730
00:24:58,159 --> 00:25:01,760
and said that they could become their

731
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,640
own theologian they did not have to

732
00:25:01,759 --> 00:25:04,798
depend

733
00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:06,640
upon what the priest said was in the

734
00:25:04,798 --> 00:25:12,319
bible they could now read it

735
00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:16,159
in their own language but by 1670

736
00:25:12,319 --> 00:25:19,519
a deadness and a formality had come upon

737
00:25:16,159 --> 00:25:21,600
the uh the churches of the reformation

738
00:25:19,519 --> 00:25:23,918
uh rather than preaching the love of

739
00:25:21,599 --> 00:25:25,278
christ and a changed heart in life they

740
00:25:23,919 --> 00:25:27,840
began

741
00:25:25,278 --> 00:25:29,038
having great debates and preaching down

742
00:25:27,839 --> 00:25:32,240
upon those

743
00:25:29,038 --> 00:25:36,000
who were opposed to them and

744
00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:39,359
philip schbeener in 1675

745
00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:43,519
wrote this book this translated pious

746
00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:46,319
desires and it was revolutionary

747
00:25:43,519 --> 00:25:48,079
the pietistic movement began and there

748
00:25:46,319 --> 00:25:49,759
are several things that they did but

749
00:25:48,079 --> 00:25:52,798
they wanted to revive

750
00:25:49,759 --> 00:25:54,480
a simple faith a simple faith in god

751
00:25:52,798 --> 00:25:57,278
they wanted lay people

752
00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:59,919
to be able to have the word of god and

753
00:25:57,278 --> 00:26:02,480
read it together and discuss it together

754
00:25:59,919 --> 00:26:04,480
and they wanted uh the pulpit to preach

755
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,240
devotional sermons that helped people

756
00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:08,640
know how to love christ

757
00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:10,000
and not just doctrinal sermons that made

758
00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:13,200
fun of the roman catholic

759
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:16,400
church they wanted a new

760
00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:19,840
life and a deep spiritual inner

761
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:21,519
life of personal faith and a walk with

762
00:26:19,839 --> 00:26:23,759
god's spirit well the first great

763
00:26:21,519 --> 00:26:26,240
awakening happened in america

764
00:26:23,759 --> 00:26:27,038
from this movement this piotistic

765
00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,798
movement

766
00:26:27,038 --> 00:26:34,079
around 1700 to 1750 was his first

767
00:26:30,798 --> 00:26:37,200
great awakening and it put aside

768
00:26:34,079 --> 00:26:40,960
ritual and ceremony and it embraced a

769
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:42,240
personal faith and god changed hearts

770
00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,840
and lives and the very thing he's

771
00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:46,079
describing here

772
00:26:43,839 --> 00:26:48,079
those few that had not sold the robes

773
00:26:46,079 --> 00:26:50,639
those that really wanted a real life

774
00:26:48,079 --> 00:26:52,480
they didn't receive it and that changed

775
00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,320
the church it gets us prepared for the

776
00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,679
next stage of the philadelphia church to

777
00:26:54,319 --> 00:26:59,038
philadelphia era

778
00:26:55,679 --> 00:27:01,120
of world missions but this is a

779
00:26:59,038 --> 00:27:02,480
tremendous message to us it's one of

780
00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:04,558
these messages we

781
00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,640
really need to take to heart so let me

782
00:27:04,558 --> 00:27:09,678
ask you my christian friend

783
00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:12,080
are you living by your reputation

784
00:27:09,679 --> 00:27:13,120
are you just floating on by because you

785
00:27:12,079 --> 00:27:15,278
had a good parents

786
00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,879
a good mother maybe came from a

787
00:27:15,278 --> 00:27:18,960
christian nation

788
00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,080
and you think well aren't i blessed i've

789
00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:23,759
received all of these

790
00:27:20,079 --> 00:27:26,639
things uh and i am now blessed

791
00:27:23,759 --> 00:27:27,519
by all these hard work that went on

792
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,840
before me

793
00:27:27,519 --> 00:27:30,639
well friend um you're not blessed by

794
00:27:29,839 --> 00:27:32,798
that alone

795
00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,559
and that hard work that went on before

796
00:27:32,798 --> 00:27:35,359
in the name of christ should have led

797
00:27:34,558 --> 00:27:37,678
you

798
00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:39,839
to understand that christ wants to be

799
00:27:37,679 --> 00:27:40,720
real to you he wants to show you his

800
00:27:39,839 --> 00:27:43,839
presence

801
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:45,600
teach you his ways show you his glory he

802
00:27:43,839 --> 00:27:46,158
wants to minister in your heart in your

803
00:27:45,599 --> 00:27:49,439
life

804
00:27:46,159 --> 00:27:52,320
and god has a race for you to run

805
00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:53,038
in this day in this age you and i cannot

806
00:27:52,319 --> 00:27:55,759
sit back

807
00:27:53,038 --> 00:27:58,079
and simply say well the others did the

808
00:27:55,759 --> 00:28:00,558
hard work and now i can just

809
00:27:58,079 --> 00:28:01,678
bask in the sun and not do anything no

810
00:28:00,558 --> 00:28:04,398
no friend

811
00:28:01,679 --> 00:28:05,919
every generation every christian is

812
00:28:04,398 --> 00:28:08,558
called to know christ

813
00:28:05,919 --> 00:28:09,520
and to share him and to serve him

814
00:28:08,558 --> 00:28:11,918
there's something

815
00:28:09,519 --> 00:28:12,960
that we need to do in this generation

816
00:28:11,919 --> 00:28:15,919
that if we do not

817
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:17,600
do it for christ it will not get done

818
00:28:15,919 --> 00:28:18,159
and maybe that scribes your church

819
00:28:17,599 --> 00:28:20,079
sometimes

820
00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:21,520
churches would say oh we can't do this

821
00:28:20,079 --> 00:28:23,038
because you know we

822
00:28:21,519 --> 00:28:24,798
we need these three sources of that

823
00:28:23,038 --> 00:28:27,359
resources but friend

824
00:28:24,798 --> 00:28:28,798
every church has the greatest resource

825
00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:31,038
in god himself

826
00:28:28,798 --> 00:28:33,038
and we can trust the lord when jesus

827
00:28:31,038 --> 00:28:34,960
said i'm the one who holds the seven

828
00:28:33,038 --> 00:28:36,720
spirits of god he was describing the

829
00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,880
spirit in terms of

830
00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,000
him who enables us to do all things and

831
00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,559
he says if you have

832
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,240
me you have all you need and we can

833
00:28:42,558 --> 00:28:47,519
trust him and we should

834
00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:50,798
always courageously and boldly go

835
00:28:47,519 --> 00:28:51,599
forward in faith in his name so if we

836
00:28:50,798 --> 00:28:53,839
are

837
00:28:51,599 --> 00:28:56,079
dead if we're living by a reputation

838
00:28:53,839 --> 00:28:57,359
it's time to repent and say lord let me

839
00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:59,119
know you today

840
00:28:57,359 --> 00:29:00,959
and i want you to be real to my heart in

841
00:28:59,119 --> 00:29:02,158
my life well i pray this message would

842
00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,319
encourage you

843
00:29:02,159 --> 00:29:05,278
and i pray that you and your church

844
00:29:04,319 --> 00:29:08,079
would be

845
00:29:05,278 --> 00:29:08,720
obedient to christ and say lord we want

846
00:29:08,079 --> 00:29:11,278
to be

847
00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,000
your people today and fulfill the

848
00:29:11,278 --> 00:29:14,640
mission you have

849
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,240
for us let's pray father god we thank

850
00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,919
you for your grace and your love and

851
00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:20,399
lord we thank you

852
00:29:17,919 --> 00:29:22,159
just for the reality of your spirit

853
00:29:20,398 --> 00:29:25,439
every christian during this christian

854
00:29:22,159 --> 00:29:28,320
christian during this church age and and

855
00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,038
every church can experience you in their

856
00:29:28,319 --> 00:29:31,519
life

857
00:29:29,038 --> 00:29:33,759
every every believer in you can

858
00:29:31,519 --> 00:29:35,599
experience a new life by the spirit so

859
00:29:33,759 --> 00:29:36,079
lord we pray that you would speak to our

860
00:29:35,599 --> 00:29:38,879
hearts

861
00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:40,158
open our minds understand your word open

862
00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:43,200
our hearts to believe

863
00:29:40,159 --> 00:29:45,200
and open us up to love you with all of

864
00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,000
our heart and to receive your life

865
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,720
within us

866
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,159
let us walk with you and keep our

867
00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:52,079
consciences clean

868
00:29:50,159 --> 00:29:53,520
confessing our sins up to date and

869
00:29:52,079 --> 00:29:54,398
receiving your grace and your

870
00:29:53,519 --> 00:29:56,240
forgiveness

871
00:29:54,398 --> 00:29:58,239
and lord we pray that you would empower

872
00:29:56,240 --> 00:30:01,120
us to serve you

873
00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:02,759
and we pray this in jesus name amen

874
00:30:01,119 --> 00:30:05,759
thank you i pray that god will bless you

875
00:30:02,759 --> 00:30:05,759
today