1
00:00:00,410 --> 00:00:08,669
[Music]

2
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,280
good morning friends this is pastor

3
00:00:11,599 --> 00:00:15,599
david packard from international baptist

4
00:00:13,279 --> 00:00:18,320
church in stuttgart germany

5
00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:19,439
this will be my last message as senior

6
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,519
pastor of the church

7
00:00:19,439 --> 00:00:22,879
my wife and i we have served here for 11

8
00:00:21,519 --> 00:00:25,358
and a half years

9
00:00:22,879 --> 00:00:27,278
we have been blessed to be pastor and

10
00:00:25,359 --> 00:00:29,519
wife of this church so thank you

11
00:00:27,278 --> 00:00:31,679
i'll write later especially my my

12
00:00:29,518 --> 00:00:33,679
heartfelt gratitude and love for the

13
00:00:31,678 --> 00:00:34,799
church and for the people but thank you

14
00:00:33,679 --> 00:00:36,479
so much

15
00:00:34,799 --> 00:00:38,399
for these eleven and a half years we're

16
00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,718
looking forward to pastor keith

17
00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:41,840
lottigan and his wife corrine and their

18
00:00:40,719 --> 00:00:43,840
three children

19
00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,480
uh coming here in the next few weeks to

20
00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:49,920
serve uh he'll be the new senior pastor

21
00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:52,959
and uh this is a great moment the church

22
00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:55,359
a younger man uh ready to come uh

23
00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,359
and he'll be a good pastor every time i

24
00:00:55,359 --> 00:01:00,640
speak with pastor lottigan

25
00:00:57,359 --> 00:01:03,280
i feel better about him

26
00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,920
and love you and appreciate him more but

27
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,478
let me say

28
00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,840
what lana and i are going to do in the

29
00:01:06,478 --> 00:01:09,760
near future

30
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,680
we have many churches to visit in the

31
00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,960
next few months and weeks

32
00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,600
so we will be doing that in the next few

33
00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,438
weeks

34
00:01:15,599 --> 00:01:19,280
we have some churches that are without

35
00:01:17,438 --> 00:01:21,118
pastors and our fellowship the

36
00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,719
international baptist convention and

37
00:01:21,118 --> 00:01:24,079
we'll be helping them

38
00:01:22,719 --> 00:01:26,400
we also have churches that have

39
00:01:24,079 --> 00:01:28,079
contributed to the anti-human

40
00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,799
trafficking ministry that

41
00:01:28,079 --> 00:01:31,840
that we founded kainos and my wife is

42
00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:33,680
the director of

43
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,280
so we'll be speaking and visiting on

44
00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:38,400
behalf of kainos uh

45
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:40,960
many churches but in our future home

46
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,960
ibc stuttgart is our church home this is

47
00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,839
our church family it's our spiritual

48
00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,879
family

49
00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:48,159
so uh we spoke with pastor lotion and we

50
00:01:46,879 --> 00:01:50,959
do plan to remain

51
00:01:48,159 --> 00:01:52,719
in the church and fellowship with the

52
00:01:50,959 --> 00:01:55,280
with the body of christ

53
00:01:52,719 --> 00:01:57,118
over the next few years as long as god

54
00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:00,560
still has us in germany

55
00:01:57,118 --> 00:02:03,359
and and we uh we love the church i will

56
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,000
say this as a former senior pastor as a

57
00:02:03,359 --> 00:02:06,560
future

58
00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,719
former senior pastor i will not take

59
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,159
part in any church decisions or any

60
00:02:08,719 --> 00:02:12,560
church leadership

61
00:02:10,159 --> 00:02:13,439
whatsoever i will pray for everyone i

62
00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,199
will love them

63
00:02:13,439 --> 00:02:17,039
they can always ask for my advice and

64
00:02:15,199 --> 00:02:20,079
i'll be glad to give it

65
00:02:17,039 --> 00:02:22,719
but i will not try to

66
00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:25,520
influence the church any more than being

67
00:02:22,719 --> 00:02:28,400
a regular member and simply voting

68
00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:30,159
as members are able to do and also uh

69
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,120
participating in the life of the church

70
00:02:30,159 --> 00:02:34,159
so

71
00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,599
we will continue with ibc stuttgart now

72
00:02:34,159 --> 00:02:37,598
what we'll be doing let me share a

73
00:02:35,598 --> 00:02:39,679
little bit more about that uh some

74
00:02:37,598 --> 00:02:40,079
specific things first of all my wife and

75
00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,400
i

76
00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,000
uh she is the director of the ministry

77
00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,840
that we founded several years ago

78
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,800
kindness an anti-human trafficking

79
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,400
ministry

80
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,239
and many in our church aware of this if

81
00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,159
you're interested on on learning more

82
00:02:50,239 --> 00:02:55,840
about it is kainos that's k

83
00:02:52,159 --> 00:02:59,359
a i n o s dash e v

84
00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:02,319
dot com and that's the website and uh

85
00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,040
i'll be working along with her uh over

86
00:03:02,318 --> 00:03:05,679
the next few

87
00:03:03,039 --> 00:03:07,598
months and years uh taking up some

88
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,439
issues that are very important for men

89
00:03:07,598 --> 00:03:11,439
to be engaged in

90
00:03:09,439 --> 00:03:13,039
so i'm looking forward to assisting her

91
00:03:11,439 --> 00:03:16,239
in that ministry

92
00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:18,799
and also i have been requested to teach

93
00:03:16,239 --> 00:03:19,920
at a seminary that i used to teach at uh

94
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,519
when we were missionaries in the

95
00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,119
philippines this is southern baptist

96
00:03:21,519 --> 00:03:26,719
school of theology

97
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:28,640
in manila so uh i will do it from here

98
00:03:26,719 --> 00:03:29,919
during this lockdown and i think i can

99
00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,199
do much of it online

100
00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,878
and i'll make some visits to the

101
00:03:31,199 --> 00:03:34,000
philippines from time to time but we'll

102
00:03:32,878 --> 00:03:35,598
remain

103
00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,199
living here and be doing that long

104
00:03:35,598 --> 00:03:39,598
distance right now during this

105
00:03:37,199 --> 00:03:41,598
coronavirus lockdown it's very easy to

106
00:03:39,598 --> 00:03:43,598
do these things long distance

107
00:03:41,598 --> 00:03:44,719
also there are a couple of churches that

108
00:03:43,598 --> 00:03:46,878
have already spoken to

109
00:03:44,719 --> 00:03:48,639
in the international baptist convention

110
00:03:46,878 --> 00:03:50,639
that do not have pastors

111
00:03:48,639 --> 00:03:52,958
and have asked me if i can fill in for a

112
00:03:50,639 --> 00:03:55,518
few months for them and so we'll be

113
00:03:52,959 --> 00:03:56,080
doing that as well and unfortunately uh

114
00:03:55,519 --> 00:03:58,239
or

115
00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:00,080
for me i guess fortunately that

116
00:03:58,239 --> 00:04:02,000
fortunately we're around to do this

117
00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,920
but there's always pastors that have to

118
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,878
move on for different reasons

119
00:04:03,919 --> 00:04:09,039
and so we'll be um we'll be available to

120
00:04:06,878 --> 00:04:11,438
help and encourage people

121
00:04:09,039 --> 00:04:12,479
so this is our future we look forward to

122
00:04:11,438 --> 00:04:15,120
sharing it

123
00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:16,719
with you and i pray that you would yeah

124
00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,840
you would um

125
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,799
pray for us as we go forward now this is

126
00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,198
my last

127
00:04:20,798 --> 00:04:24,560
message uh as the pastor so it's very

128
00:04:23,199 --> 00:04:26,639
special but really i'm just going to

129
00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:29,040
preach a basic message

130
00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:30,478
about the church in laodicea so i've

131
00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,000
been going through these seven letters

132
00:04:30,478 --> 00:04:33,519
or seven churches and i've mentioned

133
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,279
throughout this series

134
00:04:33,519 --> 00:04:37,599
the number seven is symbolic it

135
00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:39,599
symbolizes uh seven types of churches

136
00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,400
that exist during the church age each of

137
00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,520
these letters

138
00:04:40,399 --> 00:04:46,239
is is meaningful to us it also

139
00:04:43,519 --> 00:04:47,839
presents i believe a panoramic view of

140
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,199
western church history

141
00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,758
and when we come to the church at

142
00:04:49,199 --> 00:04:54,560
laodicea this is the church

143
00:04:51,759 --> 00:04:55,120
that stopped listening to the voice of

144
00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,120
christ

145
00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,959
it was a church that actually locked

146
00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:01,680
jesus out of the church

147
00:04:58,959 --> 00:05:02,000
this is that passage in scripture where

148
00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,400
we

149
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,680
read the words of christ behold i stand

150
00:05:04,399 --> 00:05:07,839
at the door and knock

151
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,840
if anyone hears my voice and opens the

152
00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,478
door i will come into him and sup with

153
00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,959
him

154
00:05:10,478 --> 00:05:14,240
and he with me now that already has a

155
00:05:12,959 --> 00:05:16,560
two-fold imagery

156
00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,478
we often speak about it uh jesus

157
00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:21,680
knocking at the door of your heart

158
00:05:18,478 --> 00:05:22,159
and he is doing that uh for if you've

159
00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,918
never

160
00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,680
trusted in christ he is knocking at the

161
00:05:23,918 --> 00:05:26,560
door of your heart wanting you to open

162
00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,478
the door

163
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,839
so he could come in but it's also a

164
00:05:28,478 --> 00:05:31,680
description of the church

165
00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,439
the church had locked jesus out and he

166
00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,360
was knocking at the door well how can

167
00:05:33,439 --> 00:05:36,879
christ come back into a church it's

168
00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,120
through those individuals

169
00:05:36,879 --> 00:05:39,918
who listen and hear his voice and open

170
00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,280
the door

171
00:05:39,918 --> 00:05:46,719
well the church at laodicea is a

172
00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:50,478
picture of many many churches today

173
00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:53,520
they had forgotten the voice of christ

174
00:05:50,478 --> 00:05:56,639
voices are important to us we remember

175
00:05:53,519 --> 00:05:58,639
many voices uh our entire life my

176
00:05:56,639 --> 00:05:59,519
mother's voice my father's voice they

177
00:05:58,639 --> 00:06:02,319
still echo

178
00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:03,599
in my head even though they passed on

179
00:06:02,319 --> 00:06:05,520
for many years and

180
00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,840
and my brothers also one of them still

181
00:06:05,519 --> 00:06:10,719
alive the other ones in heaven

182
00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,519
but their voices also echo in my mind

183
00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,639
constantly

184
00:06:11,519 --> 00:06:15,359
i never get away from hearing their

185
00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:17,280
voices

186
00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,840
my home pastor i grew up in first

187
00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,879
baptist church of dallas texas and dr w

188
00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:24,000
a crystal

189
00:06:20,879 --> 00:06:27,038
his voice also echoes in my mind

190
00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:29,600
i can still hear him to this day

191
00:06:27,038 --> 00:06:31,680
usually these voices echo in our minds

192
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,000
because they're people that are dear to

193
00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,400
us

194
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,319
and mean something to us unfortunately

195
00:06:34,399 --> 00:06:37,839
not always sometimes some very negative

196
00:06:36,319 --> 00:06:39,919
voices echo in our mind

197
00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:42,318
i'm blessed that the voices that echo in

198
00:06:39,918 --> 00:06:45,599
my mind are positive voices

199
00:06:42,319 --> 00:06:47,199
but the the voice of christ ought to be

200
00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:50,080
one of those voices also

201
00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:50,800
that we love to hear and we love to hear

202
00:06:50,079 --> 00:06:53,120
him now

203
00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,800
what does christ sound like what does

204
00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,038
christ sound like

205
00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,000
well he doesn't sound like the world's

206
00:06:57,038 --> 00:07:01,360
agenda

207
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:04,560
the word laodicea actually means

208
00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:06,879
the rights of the people and this is the

209
00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:09,280
attitude of the day

210
00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:10,560
people even christians or so-called

211
00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:13,519
christians even

212
00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:15,280
so-called church leaders and churches

213
00:07:13,519 --> 00:07:16,000
they're not always concerned about the

214
00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:18,159
will of christ

215
00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,399
at all they are concerned more about

216
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,080
their rights and not about the right of

217
00:07:20,399 --> 00:07:24,879
christ to be the lord

218
00:07:22,079 --> 00:07:25,279
over his church he is regime through his

219
00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:27,839
own

220
00:07:25,279 --> 00:07:29,359
through his own blood it says this ii

221
00:07:27,839 --> 00:07:31,359
timothy chapter 4

222
00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,639
verse 3 it says for the time is coming

223
00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:36,000
when people will not

224
00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:38,639
endure sound teaching but having itching

225
00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,399
ears they will accumulate for themselves

226
00:07:38,639 --> 00:07:42,240
teachers to suit their own

227
00:07:40,399 --> 00:07:43,918
passions and that's what's going on

228
00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,319
today people are not looking for

229
00:07:43,918 --> 00:07:48,478
revelation or the will of god or

230
00:07:46,319 --> 00:07:49,680
or even certainly not the conviction of

231
00:07:48,478 --> 00:07:51,598
their sins they're looking for

232
00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,800
affirmation that they haven't sinned at

233
00:07:51,598 --> 00:07:54,399
all they want to

234
00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,960
hear something that's interesting to

235
00:07:54,399 --> 00:07:58,560
them and that that tickles their ears or

236
00:07:56,959 --> 00:08:01,439
itches their scratches their itching

237
00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,199
ears and that's the imagery of scripture

238
00:08:01,439 --> 00:08:05,759
and unfortunately that's what's

239
00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:07,439
happening today in many many christians

240
00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:10,319
and many many churches

241
00:08:07,439 --> 00:08:12,240
well we need to hear the voice of christ

242
00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:15,360
now i realize there's potential

243
00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,800
for abuse in this i've seen people abuse

244
00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,240
this concept where

245
00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,840
they went around telling people that

246
00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,800
christ told them everything and if you

247
00:08:19,839 --> 00:08:22,719
listen it really

248
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,960
wasn't christ at all telling these

249
00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,919
things uh and sometimes

250
00:08:24,959 --> 00:08:29,758
they use this excuse just to be rude and

251
00:08:27,918 --> 00:08:30,639
said god told me to tell you this and

252
00:08:29,759 --> 00:08:33,038
god told me

253
00:08:30,639 --> 00:08:34,879
yeah i i live in the real world too i

254
00:08:33,038 --> 00:08:37,120
know when we hear those people

255
00:08:34,879 --> 00:08:38,240
sometimes we cringe and say what's wrong

256
00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,080
with this guy

257
00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,918
now but what does the voice of christ

258
00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,038
sound like well the voice of christ

259
00:08:41,918 --> 00:08:45,439
sounds like scripture

260
00:08:43,038 --> 00:08:46,879
because his spirit is the one who

261
00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,800
inspired

262
00:08:46,879 --> 00:08:51,120
the scripture when we speak about the

263
00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:52,159
spirit of christ or the holy spirit or

264
00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,679
christ

265
00:08:52,159 --> 00:08:55,278
all of those concepts really is

266
00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:58,559
referring to the same person

267
00:08:55,278 --> 00:09:00,559
jesus christ leads us through the holy

268
00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:02,879
spirit and he speaks to us and the

269
00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,359
spirit can be called the holy spirit

270
00:09:02,879 --> 00:09:06,399
he can be called christ himself and

271
00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,959
that's what we see in

272
00:09:06,399 --> 00:09:11,120
in romans 8 you go back in romans 8 and

273
00:09:08,958 --> 00:09:12,879
see the number of phrases used to

274
00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:15,278
describe the spirit of god

275
00:09:12,879 --> 00:09:17,200
it's it's it's called all those things

276
00:09:15,278 --> 00:09:19,120
he has called all those things

277
00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,440
he is called the spirit of him who

278
00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:24,639
raised jesus from the dead he is called

279
00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:26,000
christ so christ speaks to us by his

280
00:09:24,639 --> 00:09:28,799
spirit he affirms

281
00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:31,278
the word he he bears witness with our

282
00:09:28,799 --> 00:09:34,159
spirits that we are the children of god

283
00:09:31,278 --> 00:09:36,080
he leads us into the truth he opens up

284
00:09:34,159 --> 00:09:37,679
our minds to understand the scripture

285
00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,000
when we read the scripture

286
00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:42,079
it becomes personal because the voice of

287
00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,958
christ takes that scripture and applies

288
00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,040
it to our life

289
00:09:42,958 --> 00:09:47,359
he convicts us of sin and he also

290
00:09:45,039 --> 00:09:50,799
assures us that his forgiveness

291
00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:53,039
in john 16 it says that the spirit will

292
00:09:50,799 --> 00:09:55,359
take that belongs to christ and

293
00:09:53,039 --> 00:09:56,559
show it to us and make it known to us

294
00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,800
and he

295
00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,000
reveals the character and the heart of

296
00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:01,759
christ and

297
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,200
sometimes he just opens our minds that

298
00:10:01,759 --> 00:10:05,600
we can receive more of the love of

299
00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,640
christ and this is what the spirit of

300
00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,360
christ does

301
00:10:06,639 --> 00:10:10,639
so when a church stops hearing the voice

302
00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,120
of christ

303
00:10:10,639 --> 00:10:14,799
they have lost the greatest thing in the

304
00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:18,159
christian life that is the

305
00:10:14,799 --> 00:10:20,159
the intimate personal experience of a

306
00:10:18,159 --> 00:10:22,559
renewed faith and renewed

307
00:10:20,159 --> 00:10:23,199
life christ has come that we may have

308
00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,319
true

309
00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,759
and meaningful life life full of joy and

310
00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,320
love and peace

311
00:10:27,759 --> 00:10:31,759
and he brings that to us by his spirit

312
00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,760
and through his word

313
00:10:31,759 --> 00:10:35,360
well let's look at this passage as we've

314
00:10:33,759 --> 00:10:37,120
done with the other passages we're going

315
00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,800
to look and see

316
00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,799
first of all how christ described

317
00:10:38,799 --> 00:10:41,439
himself secondly how he evaluated the

318
00:10:40,799 --> 00:10:44,159
church

319
00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,120
and thirdly how to overcome here's how

320
00:10:44,159 --> 00:10:47,199
he is

321
00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,720
here's how he described himself to the

322
00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:52,079
angel of the church

323
00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:52,480
in laodicea write these are the words of

324
00:10:52,078 --> 00:10:55,759
the

325
00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:58,959
amen the faithful and true witness

326
00:10:55,759 --> 00:11:00,240
the ruler or the beginning of god's

327
00:10:58,958 --> 00:11:03,119
creation

328
00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,919
now jesus introduced himself in in these

329
00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,679
powerful

330
00:11:03,919 --> 00:11:10,319
words powerful imagery the word amen

331
00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,919
meant that jesus is the one who affirms

332
00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:15,040
all that god the father

333
00:11:11,919 --> 00:11:17,919
said that god the father and christ

334
00:11:15,039 --> 00:11:19,838
the son are and and god the holy spirit

335
00:11:17,919 --> 00:11:20,879
the great three in one they are all

336
00:11:19,839 --> 00:11:23,440
eternal

337
00:11:20,879 --> 00:11:24,799
uh and they have existed from all

338
00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:28,000
eternity

339
00:11:24,799 --> 00:11:31,120
and they exist in oneness and unity

340
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,320
and and when the god the father has a

341
00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:35,440
desire has an

342
00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:37,120
insight as a decision as as something he

343
00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,320
wants to communicate

344
00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:43,839
uh god the son christ the son is

345
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:46,240
faithful to communicate that

346
00:11:43,839 --> 00:11:48,160
and the spirit of christ also is

347
00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,799
faithful to communicate that and

348
00:11:48,159 --> 00:11:51,600
by saying the amen it meant that christ

349
00:11:50,799 --> 00:11:55,039
is the one who

350
00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:56,639
echoes in our ears the voice of the

351
00:11:55,039 --> 00:11:59,360
father that he hears

352
00:11:56,639 --> 00:12:00,159
so he is the one who affirms the source

353
00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,240
of all

354
00:12:00,159 --> 00:12:03,439
certainty and truth the one who affirms

355
00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,360
the will of god

356
00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:07,360
for us and also he is the faithful and

357
00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,959
true witness a similar idea it means

358
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,120
that he is reliable

359
00:12:08,958 --> 00:12:13,199
he is faithful he is reliable he's

360
00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,799
always going to be giving a witness

361
00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,879
and when a church stops hearing the

362
00:12:14,799 --> 00:12:18,639
voice of christ it's not because christ

363
00:12:16,879 --> 00:12:21,039
stops speaking to them

364
00:12:18,639 --> 00:12:22,720
he continues to speak but they have

365
00:12:21,039 --> 00:12:24,319
stopped hearing they've stopped their

366
00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:27,440
ears from listening

367
00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:29,120
to him and they need to listen the last

368
00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,320
thing he said and repent and come back

369
00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:34,240
to him but he is

370
00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:37,440
the reliable and the unerring witness

371
00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:40,639
now the word witness also affirms uh

372
00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:43,760
emphasizes christ's pre-existence

373
00:12:40,639 --> 00:12:46,320
jesus spoke to nicodemus in john 3 we

374
00:12:43,759 --> 00:12:50,319
have that conversation nicodemus was a

375
00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:52,639
pharisee a a religious leader a teacher

376
00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,399
of the law a teacher to the people a

377
00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:57,200
respectable leader among the jewish

378
00:12:54,399 --> 00:13:00,240
people and he came to jesus at night

379
00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:03,440
and and jesus said this truly truly i

380
00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:05,200
say to you we speak of what we

381
00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:07,839
know and bear witness of what we have

382
00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:11,200
seen but you do not receive

383
00:13:07,839 --> 00:13:13,760
our testimony then he said this

384
00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:16,160
no one has ascended into heaven except

385
00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:19,360
he who descended from heaven the son of

386
00:13:16,159 --> 00:13:22,319
man so describing that he is

387
00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:24,560
a witness to the truth of god and what

388
00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:26,000
stronger affirmation can we have to the

389
00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,638
teachings of christ

390
00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,919
than that now in today's world

391
00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:32,720
increasingly

392
00:13:29,919 --> 00:13:33,599
uh people are looking at jesus as merely

393
00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,240
a

394
00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:38,159
teacher merely a moral teacher and we've

395
00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,278
had many moral teachers through the

396
00:13:38,159 --> 00:13:41,360
through the centuries through the

397
00:13:39,278 --> 00:13:43,759
millennium but

398
00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,800
this affirmation is that christ is not

399
00:13:43,759 --> 00:13:47,600
merely another

400
00:13:44,799 --> 00:13:49,198
moral teacher rather he is the witness

401
00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,440
to that which is true

402
00:13:49,198 --> 00:13:53,599
he's not merely echoing or sharing his

403
00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,600
own thoughts

404
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,120
two or three steps removed from the

405
00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:00,399
source rather you say

406
00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:03,600
everything i share is exactly

407
00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:04,799
true to the source i'm the one who is

408
00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,120
the faithful

409
00:14:04,799 --> 00:14:08,639
who is this true witness and i'm the one

410
00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:11,519
who will always

411
00:14:08,639 --> 00:14:12,159
bear witness to this world about what is

412
00:14:11,519 --> 00:14:14,959
true

413
00:14:12,159 --> 00:14:16,240
christ never changes his message he's

414
00:14:14,958 --> 00:14:18,399
always true to it

415
00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,519
and that describes him as the as the

416
00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:22,078
author or the

417
00:14:19,519 --> 00:14:23,839
the um the ruler of creation at the

418
00:14:22,078 --> 00:14:26,239
beginning of her creation

419
00:14:23,839 --> 00:14:28,560
and he's simply saying that he is lord

420
00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:30,799
over all that is made

421
00:14:28,559 --> 00:14:32,559
he was the element that by through which

422
00:14:30,799 --> 00:14:34,879
it was made he was the agency through

423
00:14:32,559 --> 00:14:38,078
which it was made

424
00:14:34,879 --> 00:14:40,240
and he rules over it again a powerful

425
00:14:38,078 --> 00:14:42,239
image of what he does in life because he

426
00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,519
creates life where there is none

427
00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,198
and here the church has stopped

428
00:14:43,519 --> 00:14:47,039
listening to him who always bears

429
00:14:45,198 --> 00:14:48,000
witness to the truth who always is going

430
00:14:47,039 --> 00:14:50,480
to be the

431
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:52,399
the exact statement of god the father

432
00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,079
and also the one who brings life well

433
00:14:52,399 --> 00:14:54,958
they had stopped listening to him so

434
00:14:54,078 --> 00:14:58,078
they stopped

435
00:14:54,958 --> 00:14:58,958
having his life work in them well we

436
00:14:58,078 --> 00:15:00,879
need to listen

437
00:14:58,958 --> 00:15:03,198
we have many other voices in this world

438
00:15:00,879 --> 00:15:06,000
we have many other things that

439
00:15:03,198 --> 00:15:08,078
demand our attention scream at us but we

440
00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,440
need to listen to god we need to turn

441
00:15:08,078 --> 00:15:12,479
off the television

442
00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:15,839
uh turn off the music we hear and stop

443
00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:18,560
and listen to god read his word commune

444
00:15:15,839 --> 00:15:20,560
with his spirit and listen to him

445
00:15:18,559 --> 00:15:22,879
now here's how you value the church he

446
00:15:20,559 --> 00:15:25,039
said in verse 15

447
00:15:22,879 --> 00:15:26,240
i know your deeds that you are neither

448
00:15:25,039 --> 00:15:28,399
cold nor hot

449
00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,519
i wish you were either one or the other

450
00:15:28,399 --> 00:15:32,720
so because you are

451
00:15:29,519 --> 00:15:33,839
lukewarm neither hot nor cold i'm about

452
00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,320
to spit you

453
00:15:33,839 --> 00:15:37,040
out of my mouth let me say a word about

454
00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:38,320
that

455
00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:40,879
there have been two ways that's

456
00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:43,120
understood most of all the devotional

457
00:15:40,879 --> 00:15:44,480
scholars of the past they've understood

458
00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,639
that that code

459
00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,480
represents a cold heart towards god and

460
00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:51,919
uh and hot would represent

461
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:54,240
a a warm heart towards god but really

462
00:15:51,919 --> 00:15:55,838
uh and so he said i wish you were either

463
00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,839
cold or hot and otherwise

464
00:15:55,839 --> 00:15:59,920
saying i hate the this middle ground you

465
00:15:57,839 --> 00:16:01,040
should be either completely for me or

466
00:15:59,919 --> 00:16:03,120
completely

467
00:16:01,039 --> 00:16:05,120
uh against me but actually i think

468
00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,799
there's been recent studies that

469
00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:09,839
revealed some archaeological

470
00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:11,838
uh factors about laodicea leon see it

471
00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:13,440
was a nice place it was an affluent

472
00:16:11,839 --> 00:16:14,480
place to live we're going to see that as

473
00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,519
well and just

474
00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,320
the next verse but it had a problem with

475
00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:19,919
water

476
00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,519
and it's describing their faith like you

477
00:16:19,919 --> 00:16:22,240
would say about the the water of the

478
00:16:21,519 --> 00:16:25,039
city

479
00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:26,399
some of the cities in that area they had

480
00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:29,519
access to cool

481
00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:30,078
refreshing uh mountain streams and they

482
00:16:29,519 --> 00:16:33,120
would

483
00:16:30,078 --> 00:16:34,399
they would make you feel cool on a on a

484
00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:37,440
hot day

485
00:16:34,399 --> 00:16:39,839
and other of those places had water

486
00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,279
uh they came from mineral springs and it

487
00:16:39,839 --> 00:16:44,399
would have therapeutic

488
00:16:41,278 --> 00:16:47,360
value but laodicea had neither of those

489
00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:48,958
and so uh it had this lukewarm water

490
00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,720
that just was not that pleasant but it

491
00:16:48,958 --> 00:16:51,198
describes their faith in that way it

492
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,240
says

493
00:16:51,198 --> 00:16:57,599
your faith neither offers the

494
00:16:54,240 --> 00:17:00,560
the refreshing coolness of the love of

495
00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:04,000
god nor does it offer the therapeutic

496
00:17:00,559 --> 00:17:05,918
uh therapeutic help of teaching the

497
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,078
truth your christianity he doesn't

498
00:17:05,919 --> 00:17:10,160
help people either and basically he said

499
00:17:08,078 --> 00:17:11,119
they had ceased to rejoice with those

500
00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,199
who rejoiced

501
00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,958
and they had ceased to weep with those

502
00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:18,000
who who wept and they

503
00:17:14,959 --> 00:17:20,000
just were focused on themselves and and

504
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,480
uh he says your your faith is

505
00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,078
unremarkable it says i will spew you out

506
00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,599
of my mouth that was not a statement

507
00:17:24,078 --> 00:17:27,438
they would lose for salvation because

508
00:17:25,599 --> 00:17:29,839
there's no imagery in scripture that

509
00:17:27,439 --> 00:17:31,200
christ holds us in his mouth the imagery

510
00:17:29,839 --> 00:17:32,798
he holds us in his hand

511
00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,640
and he says no one can pluck you out of

512
00:17:32,798 --> 00:17:36,879
my hand he says then

513
00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,480
in john 10 but but here there's no

514
00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,320
imagery of him holding

515
00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,000
the christians or the his followers in

516
00:17:40,319 --> 00:17:44,558
his mouth he's simply saying

517
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,000
as god said in the old testament as well

518
00:17:44,558 --> 00:17:49,200
your hypocrisy and your

519
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,519
coldness your your your blase and this

520
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:53,200
just

521
00:17:49,519 --> 00:17:56,319
makes me sick now we see that

522
00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:59,440
isaiah says something very similar uh

523
00:17:56,319 --> 00:18:01,918
he said this in isaiah 1 11.

524
00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,519
he said i have had enough of burnt

525
00:18:01,919 --> 00:18:06,240
offerings and rams

526
00:18:03,519 --> 00:18:09,279
of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts i

527
00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:11,759
do not delight in the blood of bulls or

528
00:18:09,279 --> 00:18:13,599
lambs or goats what's describing is that

529
00:18:11,759 --> 00:18:16,079
people in isaiah's day

530
00:18:13,599 --> 00:18:18,319
they were going through the motions of

531
00:18:16,079 --> 00:18:19,279
the sacrificial system but their hearts

532
00:18:18,319 --> 00:18:21,519
weren't in it

533
00:18:19,279 --> 00:18:22,798
and god said your sacrifices make me

534
00:18:21,519 --> 00:18:25,359
sick

535
00:18:22,798 --> 00:18:27,599
they nauseate me and much the same ideas

536
00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,000
crisis preventing is presenting to the

537
00:18:27,599 --> 00:18:30,719
people

538
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,679
that they were they were it was just a

539
00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,679
sham and

540
00:18:31,679 --> 00:18:34,798
and their christianity was weak on the

541
00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:37,840
whole their faith

542
00:18:34,798 --> 00:18:39,679
was cold not lukewarm it was cold

543
00:18:37,839 --> 00:18:42,000
but they did not offer anything

544
00:18:39,679 --> 00:18:45,280
refreshing nor anything

545
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,079
uh healing and beneficial and then he

546
00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:49,519
says this

547
00:18:46,079 --> 00:18:51,599
uh in verse 17 you say i am rich

548
00:18:49,519 --> 00:18:53,440
i have acquired wealth and do not need a

549
00:18:51,599 --> 00:18:54,319
thing but you do not realize that you

550
00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,519
are wretched

551
00:18:54,319 --> 00:19:00,319
pitiful poor blind and naked

552
00:18:57,519 --> 00:19:01,038
now that's a reference to the economy as

553
00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:03,599
well

554
00:19:01,038 --> 00:19:05,279
they had a textile industry they made

555
00:19:03,599 --> 00:19:07,359
certain clothes and certain materials

556
00:19:05,279 --> 00:19:08,399
also they had an eye sound they produced

557
00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:11,119
that was used

558
00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,080
to heal eye disease and he uses those

559
00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,719
imagery to say

560
00:19:12,079 --> 00:19:16,639
you think you're wealthy you're not uh

561
00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,558
you you have nothing of real value you

562
00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,240
have some gold and silver and other

563
00:19:18,558 --> 00:19:24,000
things but that's not really of

564
00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:26,400
eternal value and and you are really uh

565
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:29,038
dressed in rags of self-righteousness

566
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:31,280
and self-absorption self-focused

567
00:19:29,038 --> 00:19:32,400
just the self-focus and selfishness in

568
00:19:31,279 --> 00:19:35,359
your hearts

569
00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,919
uh and uh you're blind you can't see the

570
00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:39,038
truth

571
00:19:35,919 --> 00:19:41,840
you're blind to spiritual realities

572
00:19:39,038 --> 00:19:42,798
so it's a description of someone some

573
00:19:41,839 --> 00:19:46,000
ones

574
00:19:42,798 --> 00:19:48,400
who are just spiritually bankrupt

575
00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,079
um several years ago i was in a

576
00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:53,440
conversation with someone

577
00:19:50,079 --> 00:19:55,119
uh and um it was a businessman and uh

578
00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,120
we were sharing the conversation with

579
00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,879
someone who was um

580
00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,399
his colleague and both sharing witness

581
00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,840
of christ in his life and

582
00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,519
the colleague asked him he says how's

583
00:20:01,839 --> 00:20:04,319
your how's your business going he's all

584
00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:06,558
we're doing well

585
00:20:04,319 --> 00:20:08,319
we're doing up and down you know we've

586
00:20:06,558 --> 00:20:09,918
had some good days bad days but we're

587
00:20:08,319 --> 00:20:11,200
born in the hall we're doing quite well

588
00:20:09,919 --> 00:20:13,919
and then he asked him

589
00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,480
how is your spiritual life uh and the

590
00:20:13,919 --> 00:20:18,000
guy said

591
00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:19,919
my spiritual life is terrible

592
00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,679
and it was an honest statement that when

593
00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:24,640
everything was going well

594
00:20:21,679 --> 00:20:25,759
in one area the most important things

595
00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:29,280
were going

596
00:20:25,759 --> 00:20:31,200
poorly uh well this was that church they

597
00:20:29,279 --> 00:20:33,119
but they they were willing to admit it

598
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,519
they said what does it matter this other

599
00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,719
stuff

600
00:20:33,519 --> 00:20:39,279
as long as we're wealthy as long as

601
00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,558
we're we have this world's goods as long

602
00:20:39,279 --> 00:20:43,759
as we're comfortable

603
00:20:40,558 --> 00:20:45,759
we are fine and jesus said no no no

604
00:20:43,759 --> 00:20:49,200
you're not you are wretched

605
00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:51,440
pitiful poor and you are naked

606
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,240
blind and naked you do not have the

607
00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:55,279
truth

608
00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:57,120
so it takes courage to admit that it

609
00:20:55,279 --> 00:20:59,119
takes courage to say yeah i'm not the

610
00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,399
man i want to be and let me ask you just

611
00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:02,399
right now you

612
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,159
you need to think in your heart are you

613
00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,240
the person spiritually

614
00:21:04,159 --> 00:21:08,080
that god wants you to be now the good

615
00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,640
news is god does bring life

616
00:21:08,079 --> 00:21:11,439
let's look at the remedy that he gives

617
00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:14,000
to this uh

618
00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,798
this church and to us as well he says

619
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,319
this

620
00:21:14,798 --> 00:21:18,960
he said verse 18 i counsel you to buy

621
00:21:18,319 --> 00:21:20,798
from me

622
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,319
gold refined in the fire so you can

623
00:21:20,798 --> 00:21:25,918
become rich and

624
00:21:22,319 --> 00:21:28,240
white clothes to wear so you can cover

625
00:21:25,919 --> 00:21:30,559
your shameful nakedness and staff

626
00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,400
to put on your eyes so you can see those

627
00:21:30,558 --> 00:21:35,119
whom i love and discipline

628
00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,759
uh those those who i i love i rebuke and

629
00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:39,119
discipline

630
00:21:35,759 --> 00:21:40,960
so be earnest and repent now this is a

631
00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:43,119
statement that's really a

632
00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,000
a statement of redemption the statement

633
00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,639
of love

634
00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:48,880
uh and he he says to them he says you

635
00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:51,919
need to have gold tried in the fire and

636
00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:54,320
and that means to to grasp hold of

637
00:21:51,919 --> 00:21:56,320
the the wisdom and the grace and the

638
00:21:54,319 --> 00:21:59,200
mercy of christ

639
00:21:56,319 --> 00:22:00,079
and not to just focus on themselves

640
00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:03,440
alone but

641
00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:06,158
but turn from pride and in repentance uh

642
00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,120
come daily to christ get the real

643
00:22:06,159 --> 00:22:10,320
perspective of

644
00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:13,759
life it says your perspective is just

645
00:22:10,319 --> 00:22:16,240
poor it's nothing you're you're wretched

646
00:22:13,759 --> 00:22:17,359
you think you see the world in a certain

647
00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:20,000
way but

648
00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,879
but your focus is merely on a physical

649
00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,200
reality not

650
00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:25,039
a spiritual one and anyone no matter how

651
00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:28,720
much of this world's wealth he has

652
00:22:25,038 --> 00:22:30,000
anyone who has a does not have a

653
00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,679
spiritual

654
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,440
death to him the spiritual life that

655
00:22:31,679 --> 00:22:36,000
christ brings that person is

656
00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:38,000
is poor he is impoverished so he says

657
00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,919
you need gold that's really been tried

658
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,038
in the fire that will last through every

659
00:22:39,919 --> 00:22:43,360
situation in life

660
00:22:41,038 --> 00:22:44,720
then it says white garments now that's a

661
00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,119
reference to the

662
00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:49,360
the forgiveness of sins the the

663
00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:51,279
cleanseness the clint the cleansing we

664
00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:54,319
receive through christ

665
00:22:51,279 --> 00:22:56,960
and it says this in philippians 3 9 paul

666
00:22:54,319 --> 00:22:57,519
describing what his ambitions are he

667
00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,640
says

668
00:22:57,519 --> 00:23:02,480
he wants to be found in him in christ

669
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:04,159
not having a righteousness of my own

670
00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,720
that comes from the law but that which

671
00:23:04,159 --> 00:23:06,960
is through

672
00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,159
faith in christ the righteousness that

673
00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,360
comes from god

674
00:23:08,159 --> 00:23:13,520
on the basis of faith in a man said that

675
00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,038
you're you think you've overcome your

676
00:23:13,519 --> 00:23:17,200
sin because you're wealthy

677
00:23:15,038 --> 00:23:19,119
and i've met people like that they think

678
00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,798
the only moral obligation they ever had

679
00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:22,399
was to become wealthy and support their

680
00:23:20,798 --> 00:23:23,519
family and to do well well they they

681
00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,280
mean well

682
00:23:23,519 --> 00:23:27,519
but they don't realize that that that is

683
00:23:25,279 --> 00:23:28,240
a as a relative thing that's really not

684
00:23:27,519 --> 00:23:30,079
all that mean

685
00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,759
meaningful the whole scheme of things if

686
00:23:30,079 --> 00:23:32,639
they can't understand the spiritual

687
00:23:31,759 --> 00:23:34,319
dimension

688
00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,000
and they cannot understand the greater

689
00:23:34,319 --> 00:23:39,200
obligation to pass on the faith

690
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:42,558
to their children that's a very weak

691
00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:44,798
very weak thing so he says

692
00:23:42,558 --> 00:23:46,240
you need to have white garments it

693
00:23:44,798 --> 00:23:49,119
covers your sins

694
00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:51,278
and you can have true life then it says

695
00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,719
anoint your eyes with eye sap and that's

696
00:23:51,278 --> 00:23:54,960
a reference to the in

697
00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,558
uh inspired and enlightened instruction

698
00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,200
of the lord through his word and by his

699
00:23:56,558 --> 00:24:00,240
spirit

700
00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:02,960
uh psalm 119 105 says this

701
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:04,000
your word is a lamp unto my feet and

702
00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,798
alighted to my

703
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,519
path and notice that double uh meaning

704
00:24:06,798 --> 00:24:10,400
in that that

705
00:24:07,519 --> 00:24:12,639
a a lamp unto my feet that is it shows

706
00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,320
me the immediate steps i take

707
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:16,320
and enlightened to my path that that

708
00:24:14,319 --> 00:24:18,879
means the long distance the long-term

709
00:24:16,319 --> 00:24:21,119
considerations also he guides us and

710
00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:23,039
where we're going we may not have a

711
00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,599
concrete idea where we're going to end

712
00:24:23,038 --> 00:24:25,519
up

713
00:24:23,599 --> 00:24:27,599
but we know the purpose and the goal of

714
00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:29,359
our life i never realized i'd retire in

715
00:24:27,599 --> 00:24:30,079
stuttgart germany someone asked me where

716
00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,839
i'm going

717
00:24:30,079 --> 00:24:34,319
where i'll be serving if i retire would

718
00:24:31,839 --> 00:24:36,319
not have guessed it'd be stewart germany

719
00:24:34,319 --> 00:24:38,000
but god knew that but the thing is but

720
00:24:36,319 --> 00:24:40,079
my goal was to honor

721
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,200
god with my life honor christ my life

722
00:24:40,079 --> 00:24:43,839
and he led me

723
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,240
bit by bit so his word shows us the next

724
00:24:43,839 --> 00:24:48,399
step to take in our journey in

725
00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,359
in to christ's likeness and also the

726
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,880
ultimate

727
00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:56,158
uh goal of his of him for our life

728
00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:59,278
now and it says this it says the one who

729
00:24:56,159 --> 00:25:00,880
overcomes the one who overcomes in verse

730
00:24:59,278 --> 00:25:01,359
21 let me go back to verse 20 in a

731
00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,120
minute

732
00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:05,038
to him who overcomes i will give the

733
00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:07,038
right to sit with me on my throne just

734
00:25:05,038 --> 00:25:08,558
as iowa came and sat down with my father

735
00:25:07,038 --> 00:25:11,200
and his son this is another

736
00:25:08,558 --> 00:25:13,599
statement that says in ephesians chapter

737
00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:13,919
2 verses 4 and 6 that we will reign with

738
00:25:13,599 --> 00:25:16,879
them

739
00:25:13,919 --> 00:25:18,720
says this but god who is rich in mercy

740
00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,278
because this great love with which he

741
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,440
loved us

742
00:25:19,278 --> 00:25:23,359
even when we were dead in trespasses

743
00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:26,240
tres trespasses

744
00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:28,719
made us alive together with christ by

745
00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,880
grace you have been saved and raised us

746
00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:32,079
up together and made us sit together in

747
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,200
the heavenly places

748
00:25:32,079 --> 00:25:35,918
in christ jesus so we are realtors with

749
00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,960
them

750
00:25:35,919 --> 00:25:41,759
now let me stop and look at this verse

751
00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:44,558
here i am i sat at the door knock if

752
00:25:41,759 --> 00:25:47,359
anyone hears my voice and open the door

753
00:25:44,558 --> 00:25:48,399
i will come in and eat with him and he

754
00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:51,278
with me

755
00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:53,038
um what a great picture of christ wanted

756
00:25:51,278 --> 00:25:54,960
to come back into a church

757
00:25:53,038 --> 00:25:57,119
you know no matter what goes on in the

758
00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,319
church if the gospel is still being

759
00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:01,599
preached

760
00:25:58,319 --> 00:26:05,119
if even the creeds are being read

761
00:26:01,599 --> 00:26:08,000
god can use that and he can

762
00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:09,439
he can take his spirit and take that

763
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:12,319
witness

764
00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:14,400
and and speak to our hearts sometimes in

765
00:26:12,319 --> 00:26:16,079
today's world even the pastor is not a

766
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,200
believer and the church leaders are not

767
00:26:16,079 --> 00:26:19,678
true believers

768
00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,640
or maybe they're compromised believers

769
00:26:19,679 --> 00:26:23,278
and maybe there

770
00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:25,840
is their teaching do not even have the

771
00:26:23,278 --> 00:26:28,558
fullness of the spirit in their life but

772
00:26:25,839 --> 00:26:30,639
but if they are reading the word of god

773
00:26:28,558 --> 00:26:33,759
there's always that possibility that

774
00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:36,960
someone out there someone out there

775
00:26:33,759 --> 00:26:40,319
is listening to god and they hear christ

776
00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:43,038
knocking they hear christ knocking

777
00:26:40,319 --> 00:26:44,158
at their heart door and they say i want

778
00:26:43,038 --> 00:26:47,278
to believe

779
00:26:44,159 --> 00:26:50,159
never discount how important you are

780
00:26:47,278 --> 00:26:51,759
in the church because if you are

781
00:26:50,159 --> 00:26:54,960
listening to christ

782
00:26:51,759 --> 00:26:58,400
if you are listening for his voice

783
00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:59,038
god can use you to change an entire

784
00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,440
church

785
00:26:59,038 --> 00:27:03,119
and this is this is the imagery christ

786
00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,798
is on the outside of the church how can

787
00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,558
he come in

788
00:27:04,798 --> 00:27:08,558
the teacher and the pastors and the

789
00:27:06,558 --> 00:27:10,240
leaders and the administration

790
00:27:08,558 --> 00:27:12,960
they're not with christ they're really

791
00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:15,919
not they're going through the motions

792
00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:17,440
but someone sitting out there someone

793
00:27:15,919 --> 00:27:19,600
sitting out there

794
00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:21,038
listens to them read something from

795
00:27:19,599 --> 00:27:24,398
scripture and

796
00:27:21,038 --> 00:27:27,359
god uses that to awaken their heart

797
00:27:24,398 --> 00:27:29,199
and they hear the voice of christ and

798
00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:31,839
they open the door it's just amazing

799
00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:33,600
what god can do in any church

800
00:27:31,839 --> 00:27:36,000
we don't need to count a church out

801
00:27:33,599 --> 00:27:37,759
because god can revive any church also

802
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,200
seek revive any christians as long as

803
00:27:37,759 --> 00:27:40,640
we're still living there's still hope

804
00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,600
there's still opportunity

805
00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:46,000
no matter how long your faith has been

806
00:27:43,599 --> 00:27:48,240
dormant he can revive it

807
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,278
when i first got married i served in

808
00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,960
them

809
00:27:49,278 --> 00:27:52,880
and as youth minister and first baptist

810
00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,440
church of course i counted texas great

811
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:54,880
church

812
00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,880
loved the people still loved the people

813
00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:59,520
were still uh in in

814
00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,480
contact with some and uh it was a great

815
00:27:59,519 --> 00:28:03,599
church we

816
00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:06,319
we enjoyed the time among uh my duties

817
00:28:03,599 --> 00:28:08,240
i was also uh teaching the preaching the

818
00:28:06,319 --> 00:28:10,398
children's sermon so the

819
00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,519
uh but being the youth minister i also

820
00:28:10,398 --> 00:28:13,038
preached uh two

821
00:28:11,519 --> 00:28:14,480
the children came on the bus we had a

822
00:28:13,038 --> 00:28:16,240
bus ministry of that church they had

823
00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,839
about 40 to 50 children that would be

824
00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:20,640
there meet in the chapel

825
00:28:17,839 --> 00:28:21,038
and eat sunday one sunday morning i woke

826
00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:24,240
up

827
00:28:21,038 --> 00:28:26,798
and i remember in my home getting ready

828
00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:29,120
i just did not want to go to church i

829
00:28:26,798 --> 00:28:30,240
already didn't and i just thought lord i

830
00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:32,479
don't want to go to church

831
00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,839
i just wish i would go anyplace else

832
00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:36,880
that sunday

833
00:28:33,839 --> 00:28:38,959
my attitude was not right well

834
00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,640
if i wasn't on the church staff maybe i

835
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,319
would have taught myself out of it but i

836
00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,399
didn't have much choice because

837
00:28:42,319 --> 00:28:46,720
that was when i was working so whether i

838
00:28:44,398 --> 00:28:48,798
felt like it or not i had a job to do

839
00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:49,759
i had to go to church but while i was in

840
00:28:48,798 --> 00:28:53,839
the house

841
00:28:49,759 --> 00:28:55,119
the lord brought to my mind psalm 122

842
00:28:53,839 --> 00:28:57,119
verse 1.

843
00:28:55,119 --> 00:28:58,239
you probably know it i was glad when

844
00:28:57,119 --> 00:29:01,199
they said unto me

845
00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:02,880
let us go into the house of the lord and

846
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:06,240
i felt so convicted not

847
00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:07,600
wanting to go and so i i i confessed it

848
00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:10,839
to the lord i was okay lord

849
00:29:07,599 --> 00:29:12,719
i'm going i'm going uh forgive me i'm

850
00:29:10,839 --> 00:29:15,038
going um

851
00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,839
and uh that sunday uh when i was

852
00:29:15,038 --> 00:29:18,000
teaching

853
00:29:15,839 --> 00:29:19,119
the children and those kids they were

854
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,200
some pretty rough kids

855
00:29:19,119 --> 00:29:22,319
they were not always very cooperative i

856
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:25,440
mean it could be

857
00:29:22,319 --> 00:29:27,038
pretty wild and teaching these crazy bus

858
00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,200
children that came parents weren't

859
00:29:27,038 --> 00:29:29,839
anywhere some of the parents were not

860
00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:31,440
even

861
00:29:29,839 --> 00:29:32,959
hardly involved in their lives at all

862
00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:36,480
you can imagine

863
00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:37,360
where those kids kids came from but as i

864
00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,919
was

865
00:29:37,359 --> 00:29:41,839
teaching that sunday when it came down

866
00:29:39,919 --> 00:29:44,000
to the end of the service and

867
00:29:41,839 --> 00:29:45,678
i talked to them about receiving christ

868
00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:48,558
that sunday we had six

869
00:29:45,679 --> 00:29:49,679
children pray to receive christ i still

870
00:29:48,558 --> 00:29:52,798
remember that sunday

871
00:29:49,679 --> 00:29:55,840
how what amazing thing happened that day

872
00:29:52,798 --> 00:29:58,000
that that sunday of all sundays they

873
00:29:55,839 --> 00:30:00,079
heard christ knocking at their

874
00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,440
hearts door now this was not a church

875
00:30:00,079 --> 00:30:03,599
that had locked christ out

876
00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:04,880
first baptist church of course scandal

877
00:30:03,599 --> 00:30:08,719
finest churches in all

878
00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:10,880
all of texas and it was uh it was a good

879
00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,839
church and they wanted christ to be in

880
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:14,080
but uh

881
00:30:11,839 --> 00:30:15,359
but still you have to have to have

882
00:30:14,079 --> 00:30:18,000
people that listen

883
00:30:15,359 --> 00:30:18,719
and respond and so those six of those

884
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,919
children

885
00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:22,880
open up their hearts and and ask christ

886
00:30:21,919 --> 00:30:25,360
come in

887
00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:27,679
and save them that sunday and it was a

888
00:30:25,359 --> 00:30:28,798
great sunday i was surprised as we got

889
00:30:27,679 --> 00:30:32,159
through and they all ran

890
00:30:28,798 --> 00:30:35,359
out to the bus buses to go home i

891
00:30:32,159 --> 00:30:38,000
i i was going through the

892
00:30:35,359 --> 00:30:39,199
the chapel picking up different things

893
00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:41,038
and i saw

894
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,720
i did not know this was the memory verse

895
00:30:41,038 --> 00:30:43,839
that day but i saw what one of the

896
00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,440
children had

897
00:30:43,839 --> 00:30:47,519
drawn in sunday school and it was just

898
00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:49,840
on a regular piece of paper

899
00:30:47,519 --> 00:30:51,440
there was a picture of a church and

900
00:30:49,839 --> 00:30:53,119
underneath it was the scripture verse

901
00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,720
the child had colored it it was black

902
00:30:53,119 --> 00:30:55,918
and white the childhood colored it in

903
00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:58,000
sunday school

904
00:30:55,919 --> 00:30:59,200
but the verse underneath it was psalm

905
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:03,278
122 1.

906
00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:06,080
i was glad when it said unto me let's go

907
00:31:03,278 --> 00:31:08,000
into the house of the lord anytime we

908
00:31:06,079 --> 00:31:10,158
come together and read the word of god

909
00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,319
and there's a potential

910
00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:13,760
for someone to open up their hearts say

911
00:31:12,319 --> 00:31:16,879
lord come in

912
00:31:13,759 --> 00:31:18,879
i want you to to dwell in me and to eat

913
00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:21,760
with me and me to eat with you that's

914
00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:24,159
meat and joy your fellowship your wisdom

915
00:31:21,759 --> 00:31:24,720
your insight into my life your guidance

916
00:31:24,159 --> 00:31:28,159
your

917
00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:31,440
assurance uh your salvation

918
00:31:28,159 --> 00:31:33,200
anytime someone has that that faith just

919
00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:35,919
the faith to take the first step

920
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:37,200
god can do can do great things and

921
00:31:35,919 --> 00:31:39,679
that's his ways

922
00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:40,798
into churches and that's his way back

923
00:31:39,679 --> 00:31:43,679
into churches

924
00:31:40,798 --> 00:31:45,278
so friend how about your life have you

925
00:31:43,679 --> 00:31:47,038
opened up your heart to christ it's one

926
00:31:45,278 --> 00:31:49,038
of my prayers for our church

927
00:31:47,038 --> 00:31:50,640
ibc stuttgart that this church would

928
00:31:49,038 --> 00:31:52,558
always be hungry

929
00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:55,440
to hear the voice of christ but always

930
00:31:52,558 --> 00:31:57,119
be open for christ to affirm his word

931
00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:59,600
to speak to our hearts and draw us

932
00:31:57,119 --> 00:32:01,678
closer to him and also draw draws closer

933
00:31:59,599 --> 00:32:03,519
to one another

934
00:32:01,679 --> 00:32:05,360
let's pray father we thank you for your

935
00:32:03,519 --> 00:32:06,558
grace and your love lord we thank you

936
00:32:05,359 --> 00:32:08,879
that you

937
00:32:06,558 --> 00:32:10,639
do not merely save us from our sin but

938
00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:13,120
lord you come to indwell us

939
00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,679
to love us and lord the life of the

940
00:32:13,119 --> 00:32:16,000
christian

941
00:32:13,679 --> 00:32:17,840
is one of joy of fulfillment lord we

942
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,640
pray that you have blessed us

943
00:32:17,839 --> 00:32:22,798
uh in this time of uh of closing the

944
00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:25,679
sermon the jew blessed us

945
00:32:22,798 --> 00:32:26,480
simply with hearing you knocking on our

946
00:32:25,679 --> 00:32:28,000
hearts door

947
00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,519
that we would say lord i want you to

948
00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:30,880
come in i pray that

949
00:32:29,519 --> 00:32:33,120
those who are listening to sermon that

950
00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,480
have never trusted you i pray that today

951
00:32:33,119 --> 00:32:36,798
they would open up their hearts

952
00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,480
and trust in you and lord i pray that

953
00:32:36,798 --> 00:32:41,519
those of us who have trust in you

954
00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:42,159
that we would continue listening to your

955
00:32:41,519 --> 00:32:44,798
voice

956
00:32:42,159 --> 00:32:45,760
so lord we pray all this in jesus name

957
00:32:44,798 --> 00:32:50,960
and for our sake

958
00:32:45,759 --> 00:32:50,960
amen thank you may god bless you