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

2
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,839
good morning friends this is pastor

3
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,599
david packer from international baptist

4
00:00:13,839 --> 00:00:16,879
church in stuttgart germany

5
00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:19,039
i'm here in the church building this

6
00:00:16,879 --> 00:00:21,038
time you can see the seats behind me

7
00:00:19,039 --> 00:00:22,800
we're able to start meeting again so

8
00:00:21,039 --> 00:00:25,118
many of our members are coming back to

9
00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,118
meet we have to maintain social distance

10
00:00:25,118 --> 00:00:29,039
so our auditorium that

11
00:00:27,118 --> 00:00:31,920
is made to seat several hundred people

12
00:00:29,039 --> 00:00:33,120
we have to limit it only to about 125

13
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:36,160
people

14
00:00:33,119 --> 00:00:38,399
but we have two services 9 30 and 11 30.

15
00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:40,959
but many are still preferring to see

16
00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:42,640
these videos so i'm continuing to record

17
00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,960
these today

18
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,878
we're looking at the church in pergamum

19
00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,679
uh and it's in your bible in revelation

20
00:00:46,878 --> 00:00:49,359
2.

21
00:00:47,679 --> 00:00:51,920
while you're finding that text let me

22
00:00:49,359 --> 00:00:52,719
say a big huge thank you to jeremy

23
00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,600
fairbrass

24
00:00:52,719 --> 00:00:57,359
jeremy has been tireless and and very

25
00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,600
helpful in putting together

26
00:00:57,359 --> 00:01:01,039
these videos uh he's the one that puts

27
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,800
in the title in the scripture and

28
00:01:01,039 --> 00:01:03,280
everything and i just want if you know

29
00:01:02,799 --> 00:01:05,198
jeremy

30
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,359
say thank you to him he would appreciate

31
00:01:05,198 --> 00:01:08,478
it but we deeply appreciate all the work

32
00:01:07,359 --> 00:01:10,560
he has done

33
00:01:08,478 --> 00:01:12,159
so that we can record these messages for

34
00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:15,680
you and i pray that god would

35
00:01:12,159 --> 00:01:17,600
bless you in this through this message

36
00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,280
now we mentioned the last two weeks we

37
00:01:17,599 --> 00:01:21,359
are in the seven letters of seven

38
00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:23,920
churches in chapters two and three

39
00:01:21,359 --> 00:01:26,319
of revelation uh it's seven churches

40
00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,840
this is symbolic of all the churches

41
00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,839
during the church age

42
00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,600
and each of these churches were real

43
00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:34,640
churches but they are dealing with

44
00:01:31,599 --> 00:01:38,000
specific issues that every church

45
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,478
in every age is is tempted to deal with

46
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,759
or

47
00:01:38,478 --> 00:01:44,000
or is drawn into this these issues

48
00:01:41,759 --> 00:01:46,319
the church at ephesus the first one we

49
00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:48,159
looked at was the loveless church

50
00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,758
they were doctrinally pure but they lost

51
00:01:48,159 --> 00:01:51,600
their love for christ

52
00:01:49,759 --> 00:01:54,239
last week we looked at the persecuted

53
00:01:51,599 --> 00:01:56,078
church the church at smyrna

54
00:01:54,239 --> 00:01:57,438
they were the church that had endured

55
00:01:56,078 --> 00:01:59,599
persecution

56
00:01:57,438 --> 00:02:00,718
and uh and there nothing negative was

57
00:01:59,599 --> 00:02:02,959
said about that church

58
00:02:00,718 --> 00:02:04,399
they were the long-suffering church but

59
00:02:02,959 --> 00:02:07,438
today we're looking

60
00:02:04,399 --> 00:02:08,959
at the liberal church of pergamum at the

61
00:02:07,438 --> 00:02:12,639
time of the sermon is christian

62
00:02:08,959 --> 00:02:15,598
faith in a liberal age and the liberal

63
00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:17,598
age in which we live both corrupts our

64
00:02:15,598 --> 00:02:20,079
faith in the word of god our dependence

65
00:02:17,598 --> 00:02:22,399
on it or it compromises us

66
00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,200
doctrinally in our teachings and our

67
00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,480
beliefs

68
00:02:23,199 --> 00:02:28,560
but also compromises us morally next

69
00:02:26,479 --> 00:02:30,560
week we look at the church at

70
00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,640
the tira we'll talk about how you

71
00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,400
pronounce that next week

72
00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,759
but we look at that church and then

73
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,959
we're going to look more

74
00:02:35,759 --> 00:02:41,519
in the issue of moral compromise

75
00:02:38,959 --> 00:02:43,039
but today we're looking at pergamum now

76
00:02:41,519 --> 00:02:46,000
the passage starts this way

77
00:02:43,039 --> 00:02:46,719
in revelation 2 12 it says this and to

78
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,280
the angel

79
00:02:46,719 --> 00:02:50,400
of the church at pergamum write these

80
00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,120
things say he

81
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,400
who has the sharp two-edged sword

82
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,719
because that's a reference

83
00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,560
to the word of god and that's how christ

84
00:02:56,719 --> 00:03:00,800
introduces himself so we know this

85
00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:04,080
section is really about the moral

86
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,920
compromise of the church uh well

87
00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,680
excuse me the doctrinal compromise of

88
00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,839
the church uh pergamum

89
00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,599
represents the doctrinally compromised

90
00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,719
church it is the church that's mixed the

91
00:03:11,598 --> 00:03:15,119
world's ideas

92
00:03:12,719 --> 00:03:17,120
with the word of god and anytime we mix

93
00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,080
the mixed god's truths with the

94
00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,519
standards or the

95
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,319
ideas of the world it is the truth that

96
00:03:21,519 --> 00:03:26,000
will suffer

97
00:03:22,318 --> 00:03:27,839
the truth will suffer there's a twofold

98
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:31,039
command to all christians

99
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,759
to uphold the word of god and also to

100
00:03:31,039 --> 00:03:34,719
not

101
00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:36,719
not add to it so we uphold it but we do

102
00:03:34,719 --> 00:03:38,479
not add to we should not go beyond that

103
00:03:36,719 --> 00:03:40,560
which was written let me give you

104
00:03:38,479 --> 00:03:43,679
a couple of passages first of all

105
00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:46,719
proverbs chapter 30 verses 5 and 6

106
00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:48,239
says every word of god proves true he is

107
00:03:46,719 --> 00:03:51,120
a shield to those who take

108
00:03:48,239 --> 00:03:52,319
refuge in him do not add to his words

109
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,640
lest he rebuke you

110
00:03:52,318 --> 00:03:56,158
and you be found a liar and then in

111
00:03:54,639 --> 00:03:59,199
first corinthians 4

112
00:03:56,158 --> 00:04:01,759
verse 6 it says this do not go beyond

113
00:03:59,199 --> 00:04:02,719
what is written so we do not detract

114
00:04:01,759 --> 00:04:04,959
from the word of god

115
00:04:02,719 --> 00:04:07,120
we do not add to the word of god rather

116
00:04:04,959 --> 00:04:10,400
we take it as it is as god's

117
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:12,319
message to us historically

118
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,000
these churches can be seen as

119
00:04:12,318 --> 00:04:14,399
representing different stages or

120
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,918
different

121
00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,879
eras of church history and if we see it

122
00:04:17,918 --> 00:04:22,079
that way then

123
00:04:18,879 --> 00:04:25,279
the church at pergamum represents this

124
00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:28,639
this era from about 313

125
00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:31,679
a.d to 600 a.d uh

126
00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:34,079
and this is the time after constantine

127
00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,959
legalized christianity the church at

128
00:04:34,079 --> 00:04:38,240
smyrna

129
00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:40,799
was a a symbolic of the period leading

130
00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,560
up to 313 when the roman

131
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,160
government it's several times ten

132
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,478
different times they were imperial

133
00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:50,160
edicts to persecute the church so

134
00:04:46,478 --> 00:04:52,719
uh the roman empire was uh opposed to

135
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,680
christianity until constantine the first

136
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,639
christian

137
00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,560
emperor and he legalized it later on uh

138
00:04:56,639 --> 00:05:02,079
it was made to be the state

139
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:05,519
church we'll talk about that also but it

140
00:05:02,079 --> 00:05:08,478
represents uh the the problem of

141
00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:09,120
compromising the truth you know we we

142
00:05:08,478 --> 00:05:11,680
weep

143
00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:14,160
for the church at smyrna we weep for the

144
00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:17,360
church that endured persecution for

145
00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:20,080
uh some um three almost three centuries

146
00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:22,000
and the pain that they went through and

147
00:05:20,079 --> 00:05:24,079
all of the issues related to that

148
00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000
it's it breaks your heart to read the

149
00:05:24,079 --> 00:05:28,639
stories of martyrdom

150
00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,720
and the persecution and even to this day

151
00:05:28,639 --> 00:05:31,918
the church experiences persecution

152
00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,840
around the world

153
00:05:31,918 --> 00:05:34,959
and it does break your heart well when

154
00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:38,719
we get to

155
00:05:34,959 --> 00:05:41,839
this era of the pergamum era

156
00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:44,080
it uh we are we are encouraged that at

157
00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:46,879
least the church is no longer

158
00:05:44,079 --> 00:05:47,439
no longer experiencing persecution it's

159
00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:50,079
legal

160
00:05:47,439 --> 00:05:50,959
it's okay to be a christian but our

161
00:05:50,079 --> 00:05:53,038
heart breaks

162
00:05:50,959 --> 00:05:55,599
afresh because of what type of

163
00:05:53,038 --> 00:05:58,240
christians they became

164
00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,800
several things began to be mixed in the

165
00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,680
christian

166
00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,800
faith during this era for example as the

167
00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,199
church spread

168
00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,960
pagan temples became christian churches

169
00:06:05,199 --> 00:06:08,240
well that wasn't necessarily bad i mean

170
00:06:06,959 --> 00:06:10,159
church buildings

171
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,918
pagan temples be used for christians

172
00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,319
that sounds good but the problem was

173
00:06:11,918 --> 00:06:16,478
this

174
00:06:12,319 --> 00:06:18,879
often pagan rites r-i-t-e-s

175
00:06:16,478 --> 00:06:20,000
and ceremonies became adopted by

176
00:06:18,879 --> 00:06:22,240
christianity

177
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,600
for example a pagan midwinter solstice

178
00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:26,160
celebration became

179
00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:28,080
christmas the bible doesn't tell us when

180
00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,759
jesus was born we have an idea it

181
00:06:28,079 --> 00:06:31,839
probably wasn't in

182
00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:33,199
at the end of december the way we we

183
00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:36,079
celebrate christmas

184
00:06:33,199 --> 00:06:36,800
uh and and they was adopted into the

185
00:06:36,079 --> 00:06:40,079
church well

186
00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,079
let me say a word about this that um

187
00:06:40,079 --> 00:06:44,318
that's not necessarily a bad thing to do

188
00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:47,279
to take a pagan celebration

189
00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:48,319
and christianize it uh and to bring it

190
00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,638
into the

191
00:06:48,319 --> 00:06:52,800
the faith because people were used to

192
00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:54,478
celebrating something at that time and

193
00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,000
many times missionaries have done this

194
00:06:54,478 --> 00:06:58,478
they found things that were

195
00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,399
they were important uh to the culture

196
00:06:58,478 --> 00:07:01,680
and they came and evangelized the people

197
00:07:00,399 --> 00:07:02,159
and they knew they needed to do

198
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,319
something

199
00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,439
or the people when these seasons and

200
00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:07,919
these uh

201
00:07:05,439 --> 00:07:08,639
these holidays came around sometimes

202
00:07:07,918 --> 00:07:10,879
unholy

203
00:07:08,639 --> 00:07:12,720
days came around that the people be

204
00:07:10,879 --> 00:07:14,879
drawn back to an old faith

205
00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,000
so they created something that's not a

206
00:07:14,879 --> 00:07:18,240
bad thing to do and so

207
00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,038
christmas is not necessarily an evil

208
00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,240
thing but it

209
00:07:19,038 --> 00:07:24,639
serves as a symbol of how

210
00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,360
the pure doctrine of the new testament

211
00:07:24,639 --> 00:07:29,519
can be

212
00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:32,080
mixed with pagan and unchristian ideas

213
00:07:29,519 --> 00:07:33,439
so this is one of the problems that the

214
00:07:32,079 --> 00:07:35,918
churches began to meet in

215
00:07:33,439 --> 00:07:36,639
pagan temples or formerly pagan temples

216
00:07:35,918 --> 00:07:39,439
and they

217
00:07:36,639 --> 00:07:41,439
became a bit pagan themselves uh

218
00:07:39,439 --> 00:07:43,360
children began to be christened

219
00:07:41,439 --> 00:07:44,560
at birth in the new testament we see

220
00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,240
nothing about that

221
00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,399
everyone in the new testament who was

222
00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:50,960
baptized believed first and then they

223
00:07:48,399 --> 00:07:54,079
were baptized but then they began to

224
00:07:50,959 --> 00:07:55,198
not baptize uh by immersion but began to

225
00:07:54,079 --> 00:07:57,199
christen or to

226
00:07:55,199 --> 00:07:58,639
so usually it was by immersion also they

227
00:07:57,199 --> 00:08:00,319
would do it but still it was

228
00:07:58,639 --> 00:08:02,160
something done for children at birth not

229
00:08:00,319 --> 00:08:05,120
following faith but before

230
00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,319
faith the eucharist or the lord's supper

231
00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,598
or communion meal

232
00:08:06,319 --> 00:08:11,840
it began to replace the sermon

233
00:08:09,598 --> 00:08:12,878
previously people heard the gospel

234
00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:15,439
preached and they

235
00:08:12,879 --> 00:08:16,400
put their faith and trust in christ but

236
00:08:15,439 --> 00:08:19,839
then they began

237
00:08:16,399 --> 00:08:22,159
to use the eucharist or began to use

238
00:08:19,839 --> 00:08:23,598
the lord's supper and in the second

239
00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,560
thing is the priest

240
00:08:23,598 --> 00:08:28,478
replaced the pastor teacher the pastor

241
00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:31,360
teacher as a physician mentioned in

242
00:08:28,478 --> 00:08:32,000
ephesians 4 11 but the but the pagan

243
00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,200
priest

244
00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:37,679
began to replace the christian pastor

245
00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,640
so you had rather than the gospel you

246
00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:41,199
had the eucharist

247
00:08:38,639 --> 00:08:42,639
rather than the pastor who was a teacher

248
00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:46,160
you had the priests who

249
00:08:42,639 --> 00:08:48,799
organized a ceremony in some places uh

250
00:08:46,159 --> 00:08:50,480
pagan priests formerly pagan priests

251
00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:53,199
became christians and became

252
00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,920
priests or became pastors but quite

253
00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,480
often

254
00:08:53,919 --> 00:08:58,399
someone who ran a pagan temple because

255
00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,399
it was legal then to be a

256
00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:02,320
a christian and sometimes even illegal

257
00:09:00,399 --> 00:09:03,278
to be a pagan they just came into the

258
00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,480
church

259
00:09:03,278 --> 00:09:08,080
uh and without not being converted so

260
00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,720
the church began to be

261
00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,920
tempted with power and prestige they

262
00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:15,360
began to be

263
00:09:11,919 --> 00:09:17,838
to go after that lust of respectability

264
00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,680
rather than seeking to please god and

265
00:09:17,839 --> 00:09:22,480
the church became very

266
00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,519
perverted very perverted well this is

267
00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,720
the

268
00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:29,440
the pergamum era and

269
00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,080
this is what goes on in our lives today

270
00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,200
it is

271
00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:34,399
tough it is tough in today's world to be

272
00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,920
a biblical

273
00:09:34,399 --> 00:09:37,278
christian so we're looking at three

274
00:09:35,919 --> 00:09:38,958
things first of all how christ

275
00:09:37,278 --> 00:09:40,480
introduces himself secondly

276
00:09:38,958 --> 00:09:42,639
what does he say about the church how

277
00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:44,080
does he evaluate or assess the church

278
00:09:42,639 --> 00:09:46,159
and thirdly what is

279
00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:48,080
how can we become overcomers in our

280
00:09:46,159 --> 00:09:48,799
faith first of all how christ identified

281
00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,560
himself

282
00:09:48,799 --> 00:09:52,159
we already read the scripture he said i

283
00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:54,639
am the one who holds a sharp

284
00:09:52,159 --> 00:09:55,759
two-edged sword and that's a reference

285
00:09:54,639 --> 00:09:58,319
to the word of god

286
00:09:55,759 --> 00:09:59,360
now by two edges we could say it it cuts

287
00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,519
both ways

288
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:04,240
the word of god brings conviction of our

289
00:10:01,519 --> 00:10:05,200
sin but also brings assurance of our

290
00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,839
salvation

291
00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:09,040
it is bad news that we are sinners and

292
00:10:07,839 --> 00:10:10,959
and and we are

293
00:10:09,039 --> 00:10:12,879
we are under the judgment of god and

294
00:10:10,958 --> 00:10:15,199
we'll face separation of god for all

295
00:10:12,879 --> 00:10:17,600
eternity and hell without faith in him

296
00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,440
without salvation but it cuts the other

297
00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,360
way that when we trust in him

298
00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,279
through the word we are assured of our

299
00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:26,399
salvation we are comforted

300
00:10:23,278 --> 00:10:27,360
uh we are given the grace gifts of the

301
00:10:26,399 --> 00:10:29,120
spirit and

302
00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:32,159
and god blesses us and all these things

303
00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:34,639
we learn through the word of god

304
00:10:32,159 --> 00:10:36,639
but it's important to realize how

305
00:10:34,639 --> 00:10:37,360
essential the word of god is to the

306
00:10:36,639 --> 00:10:40,319
church

307
00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:42,480
this is nothing that is just something

308
00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:45,360
we've added on or we can throw out

309
00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,480
brother christ identified himself as the

310
00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,600
one who

311
00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,399
has the sharp two-edged sword and that's

312
00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,560
his word

313
00:10:50,399 --> 00:10:54,159
that's who our lord is our lord is the

314
00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:57,919
one who inspired

315
00:10:54,159 --> 00:10:59,679
the word of god now what is the bible

316
00:10:57,919 --> 00:11:01,519
now we identified the bibles the old and

317
00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,879
new testament today's world that's been

318
00:11:01,519 --> 00:11:04,560
well established but

319
00:11:02,879 --> 00:11:06,799
where did it come from well let me just

320
00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,479
give you a few passages that's helpful

321
00:11:06,799 --> 00:11:10,000
to look at if you have a bible you may

322
00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,039
want to flip back in some of these

323
00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,879
passages but

324
00:11:11,039 --> 00:11:18,159
let's look here in in john chapter 5

325
00:11:14,879 --> 00:11:20,399
uh verse 39 he said this jesus said you

326
00:11:18,159 --> 00:11:21,439
diligently search the scriptures because

327
00:11:20,399 --> 00:11:24,240
you think

328
00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:27,200
that by them you possess eternal life

329
00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:30,200
these are the scriptures that testify

330
00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,360
about me so christ said there is a

331
00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:34,240
christ-centered

332
00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,680
unity in the old testament he was

333
00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,440
speaking about the old testament because

334
00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,000
the new testament had not been written

335
00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,279
yet

336
00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:43,919
but the old testament points to christ

337
00:11:41,278 --> 00:11:45,120
if you're looking at the end of luke's

338
00:11:43,919 --> 00:11:48,479
gospel you see

339
00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:51,039
jesus teaching the disciples about

340
00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,839
his word about what they were to to

341
00:11:51,039 --> 00:11:53,919
expect

342
00:11:51,839 --> 00:11:55,600
and when the apostles initially went out

343
00:11:53,919 --> 00:11:57,919
they used the old testament

344
00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,800
and jesus explained what parts of the

345
00:11:57,919 --> 00:12:00,958
old testament or

346
00:11:58,799 --> 00:12:02,159
part of the writings would be used in

347
00:12:00,958 --> 00:12:05,759
verse 44

348
00:12:02,159 --> 00:12:07,360
this is luke 24 verse 44. he said this

349
00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:08,159
this is what i told you while i was

350
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,159
still with you

351
00:12:08,159 --> 00:12:11,679
everything must be fulfilled that is

352
00:12:10,159 --> 00:12:13,919
written about me

353
00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,879
in the law of moses the prophets and the

354
00:12:13,919 --> 00:12:17,599
psalms

355
00:12:14,879 --> 00:12:19,200
now we organize our our old testament

356
00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,079
differently today but that was the

357
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,480
organization

358
00:12:20,078 --> 00:12:23,120
of the old testament for the jewish

359
00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:26,560
community

360
00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:28,799
three parts uh the the first five books

361
00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,319
and then there was the prophets and then

362
00:12:28,799 --> 00:12:32,078
the the psalms was the

363
00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,839
first book into the third section often

364
00:12:32,078 --> 00:12:37,278
called the writings also

365
00:12:33,839 --> 00:12:40,399
but he's basically describing our old

366
00:12:37,278 --> 00:12:42,240
testament he says this is the is the

367
00:12:40,399 --> 00:12:43,519
scripture that's inspired of god it's

368
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,480
going to testify

369
00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:47,039
about me what about the new testament

370
00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,278
how did

371
00:12:47,039 --> 00:12:50,879
that come about how did we get the new

372
00:12:49,278 --> 00:12:52,879
testament well the new testament came

373
00:12:50,879 --> 00:12:55,120
through the apostles teaching

374
00:12:52,879 --> 00:12:57,039
that was what the apostles did they they

375
00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,600
taught the word of god and the early

376
00:12:57,039 --> 00:12:59,519
church

377
00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,680
listened to the apostles and they wanted

378
00:12:59,519 --> 00:13:04,078
to know what the apostles

379
00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:06,559
taught and the new testament books that

380
00:13:04,078 --> 00:13:07,519
we have in our bible 27 books in the new

381
00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,278
testament

382
00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:10,959
we understand these really as

383
00:13:09,278 --> 00:13:13,600
representing the

384
00:13:10,958 --> 00:13:14,159
teachings of the apostles now how did

385
00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,240
that

386
00:13:14,159 --> 00:13:17,759
work out well actually it worked out

387
00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:20,079
very informally

388
00:13:17,759 --> 00:13:21,360
but by the holy spirit's conviction to

389
00:13:20,078 --> 00:13:23,278
the early church

390
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,639
it was centuries later before they made

391
00:13:23,278 --> 00:13:26,958
a specific list

392
00:13:24,639 --> 00:13:28,560
leading up in the early early early

393
00:13:26,958 --> 00:13:30,559
christian centuries or through those

394
00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:32,559
early centuries we find that different

395
00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:35,518
church fathers made listing of some of

396
00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:38,638
these books we call them or letters

397
00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:40,720
of the gospels and some they rejected as

398
00:13:38,639 --> 00:13:41,839
not being really inspired of god or even

399
00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,959
some even

400
00:13:41,839 --> 00:13:47,279
falsely attributed to an apostle but the

401
00:13:44,958 --> 00:13:49,599
church began to be convicted

402
00:13:47,278 --> 00:13:50,399
by the spirit is what was the word of

403
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,879
god and

404
00:13:50,399 --> 00:13:54,958
so the new testament we have today is

405
00:13:52,879 --> 00:13:56,958
that list of books that the early

406
00:13:54,958 --> 00:13:58,399
church said this is the word of god

407
00:13:56,958 --> 00:14:01,439
that's been handed down

408
00:13:58,399 --> 00:14:02,639
and meticulously copied now it's

409
00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,399
important the church

410
00:14:02,639 --> 00:14:06,799
maintain his commitment to the word of

411
00:14:04,399 --> 00:14:07,440
god because that's where the power of

412
00:14:06,799 --> 00:14:09,759
christ

413
00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,560
comes in our life this is what jesus

414
00:14:09,759 --> 00:14:14,000
said

415
00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,958
in john chapter 8 verse 31 and 32 he

416
00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:18,078
said this

417
00:14:14,958 --> 00:14:20,559
if you hold to my teaching

418
00:14:18,078 --> 00:14:21,198
notice that if you hold to my teaching

419
00:14:20,559 --> 00:14:24,239
you are

420
00:14:21,198 --> 00:14:26,639
really my disciples we can't be a

421
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:29,278
disciple of christ without holding

422
00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:31,759
to his teaching and that word christian

423
00:14:29,278 --> 00:14:32,720
comes from jesus of nazareth the christ

424
00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:35,759
of god the

425
00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,879
messiah of god so it says if you hold to

426
00:14:35,759 --> 00:14:40,078
my teaching

427
00:14:36,879 --> 00:14:41,198
you are really my disciples then you

428
00:14:40,078 --> 00:14:43,679
will know the truth

429
00:14:41,198 --> 00:14:45,439
and the truth will set you free it's the

430
00:14:43,679 --> 00:14:47,278
truth about jesus and the word of god

431
00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,000
that sets us free from enslavement to

432
00:14:47,278 --> 00:14:49,759
sin

433
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,278
well this is a sharp two-edged sword

434
00:14:49,759 --> 00:14:52,159
that comes out of his mouth that speaks

435
00:14:51,278 --> 00:14:54,879
with authority

436
00:14:52,159 --> 00:14:57,600
convicting us of sin convincing us of

437
00:14:54,879 --> 00:15:00,240
grace and assuring us of our salvation

438
00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:02,720
building us up spiritually freeing us

439
00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,159
freeing us from a life of sin

440
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,160
a christian should spend time in the

441
00:15:04,159 --> 00:15:06,799
word of god every day it brings us to

442
00:15:06,159 --> 00:15:09,679
life

443
00:15:06,799 --> 00:15:10,479
but yet many times the church has turned

444
00:15:09,679 --> 00:15:12,159
away

445
00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,600
from the word of god or sometimes

446
00:15:12,159 --> 00:15:14,639
christians have turned away from the

447
00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,240
word of god

448
00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:18,799
there are two ways this is done

449
00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,198
sometimes it's done overtly by simply

450
00:15:18,799 --> 00:15:21,759
saying

451
00:15:19,198 --> 00:15:23,439
we don't believe this section and and

452
00:15:21,759 --> 00:15:24,000
just shutting our hearts and our minds

453
00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,199
to it

454
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:31,120
but often it's done uh privately and

455
00:15:27,198 --> 00:15:33,519
secretly by simply not going to the word

456
00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:35,759
often people say oh we believe the word

457
00:15:33,519 --> 00:15:38,320
of god we just don't read it you know

458
00:15:35,759 --> 00:15:39,360
we believe it we're just not into

459
00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:43,040
reading it and

460
00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:45,519
taking time old pastor here's my

461
00:15:43,039 --> 00:15:47,120
uh my bible this is my bible head for

462
00:15:45,519 --> 00:15:49,120
years i've preached it from years you

463
00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:51,198
can see how marked up it is

464
00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,799
and the pages are fairly dirty along in

465
00:15:51,198 --> 00:15:53,439
the side that's kind of had my finger in

466
00:15:52,799 --> 00:15:55,519
it so many

467
00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,560
different times through the years an old

468
00:15:55,519 --> 00:15:58,799
pastor said

469
00:15:56,559 --> 00:16:00,559
you know you see a dirty bible you're

470
00:15:58,799 --> 00:16:03,359
going to find a clean christian

471
00:16:00,559 --> 00:16:04,799
but you see a clean bible probably going

472
00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:07,919
to find a dirty christian

473
00:16:04,799 --> 00:16:09,120
so take your bible mark it up memorize

474
00:16:07,919 --> 00:16:11,360
scripture

475
00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,879
make it precious to you this is god's

476
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,519
message to you this is the word of

477
00:16:12,879 --> 00:16:15,679
christ

478
00:16:13,519 --> 00:16:16,799
liberate you and free you from

479
00:16:15,679 --> 00:16:19,278
enslavement to sin

480
00:16:16,799 --> 00:16:21,278
and bring you into a new and wonderful

481
00:16:19,278 --> 00:16:22,799
life in the spirit the freedom of the

482
00:16:21,278 --> 00:16:23,600
spirit and the freedom of the word of

483
00:16:22,799 --> 00:16:27,198
god

484
00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:29,680
now the second thing how christ is

485
00:16:27,198 --> 00:16:30,719
evaluated or assessed the church here's

486
00:16:29,679 --> 00:16:33,198
what he says

487
00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,160
he says this he says verse 13 i know

488
00:16:33,198 --> 00:16:37,039
where you live

489
00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:38,078
where satan has his throne yet remain

490
00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:40,159
true to my name

491
00:16:38,078 --> 00:16:42,000
you did not renounce your faith in me

492
00:16:40,159 --> 00:16:43,919
even in the days of antipas

493
00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,919
my faithful witness it was put to death

494
00:16:43,919 --> 00:16:47,838
in your city where satan lives

495
00:16:45,919 --> 00:16:49,120
now let me sum that up very quickly

496
00:16:47,839 --> 00:16:52,399
simply to say

497
00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,519
that he says i know you're living in a

498
00:16:52,399 --> 00:16:57,278
difficult place

499
00:16:53,519 --> 00:17:00,399
i know you have held on to my name

500
00:16:57,278 --> 00:17:02,559
you have identified with me jesus of

501
00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:05,439
nazareth the christ of god

502
00:17:02,559 --> 00:17:06,399
and you are living in a difficult place

503
00:17:05,439 --> 00:17:08,640
well

504
00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,240
it's good to remember this that god

505
00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,480
knows where we are

506
00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,000
and and he is going to judge us and

507
00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:16,318
evaluate us

508
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,318
with that knowledge he's going to

509
00:17:16,318 --> 00:17:20,639
consider that christian who has faced

510
00:17:18,318 --> 00:17:22,720
very difficult trials because of the

511
00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:24,160
place he has lived because what he has

512
00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,318
personally endured

513
00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:28,079
he's going to evaluate that christian

514
00:17:26,318 --> 00:17:29,678
much differently than he would

515
00:17:28,078 --> 00:17:31,519
someone who's had every break in the

516
00:17:29,679 --> 00:17:34,640
book has had every spiritual

517
00:17:31,519 --> 00:17:37,839
break in the book god is a just

518
00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:39,759
judge and he is also going to give us

519
00:17:37,839 --> 00:17:41,759
the help we need so he commends the

520
00:17:39,759 --> 00:17:42,480
churches i know you're in a difficult

521
00:17:41,759 --> 00:17:44,960
place

522
00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,440
but here's what he says in verse 14

523
00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,919
nevertheless i have a few things against

524
00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,759
you

525
00:17:47,919 --> 00:17:51,120
just because we're in a difficult place

526
00:17:49,759 --> 00:17:54,400
does not excuse

527
00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:57,918
our sin we still have an obligation even

528
00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:59,519
in difficult places to live the truth

529
00:17:57,919 --> 00:18:01,600
and to believe the truth

530
00:17:59,519 --> 00:18:03,359
is i have a few things against you you

531
00:18:01,599 --> 00:18:05,279
have people there who hold to the

532
00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,279
teaching of balaam who taught balak to

533
00:18:05,279 --> 00:18:09,119
entice the israelites to sin by eating

534
00:18:07,279 --> 00:18:11,440
food sacrificed to idols

535
00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:13,359
and by committing sexual immorality

536
00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,120
likewise you have those who hold to the

537
00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,599
teaching of the licked laitans

538
00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:20,000
repent therefore otherwise i will soon

539
00:18:17,599 --> 00:18:22,000
come to you i will fight against them

540
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,599
with the sword of my mouth now notice

541
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,160
the weapon that he says will bring

542
00:18:23,599 --> 00:18:26,798
victory

543
00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,519
is the word of god that's the sword of

544
00:18:26,798 --> 00:18:28,798
his mouth

545
00:18:27,519 --> 00:18:31,679
but let's break this down a little bit

546
00:18:28,798 --> 00:18:35,599
what's he referring to uh first of all

547
00:18:31,679 --> 00:18:37,840
he he says that satan is set up there

548
00:18:35,599 --> 00:18:40,319
powerfully where they are and he is

549
00:18:37,839 --> 00:18:42,159
going to oppose them he is going to try

550
00:18:40,319 --> 00:18:45,678
and trick them

551
00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:48,558
and he had convinced them to compromise

552
00:18:45,679 --> 00:18:50,000
the truth now satan seems to have two

553
00:18:48,558 --> 00:18:53,519
main tactics

554
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,919
and he has a very strong demonic

555
00:18:53,519 --> 00:18:56,720
organization that is under a demonic

556
00:18:55,919 --> 00:18:59,120
kingdom

557
00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,558
if you will that's underneath his

558
00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:04,000
command

559
00:19:00,558 --> 00:19:05,440
and in some places he presents himself

560
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:08,558
to have more power

561
00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,519
than he really has in other places he is

562
00:19:08,558 --> 00:19:11,359
more subtle

563
00:19:09,519 --> 00:19:12,960
and convinces his people that he doesn't

564
00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:16,719
exist at all

565
00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:17,038
and those are two ways that satan seeks

566
00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:21,279
to

567
00:19:17,038 --> 00:19:24,160
intimidate and to tempt and to destroy

568
00:19:21,279 --> 00:19:24,558
our faith and our christian testimony

569
00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,519
well

570
00:19:24,558 --> 00:19:28,960
he says you have been tempted and satan

571
00:19:27,519 --> 00:19:32,079
is a deceiver

572
00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:34,240
he paints the truth as he colors it with

573
00:19:32,079 --> 00:19:36,079
half truth he puts some ideas

574
00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,599
in he says okay well you can believe

575
00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:38,558
this but also you should believe this

576
00:19:37,599 --> 00:19:40,399
also

577
00:19:38,558 --> 00:19:42,319
you should insert this insert that and

578
00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:45,600
that's one of the ways he tempts us

579
00:19:42,319 --> 00:19:48,558
and deceives us now he mentions uh three

580
00:19:45,599 --> 00:19:50,798
areas of compromise and verse 14

581
00:19:48,558 --> 00:19:53,038
that is revelation 2 14. he says first

582
00:19:50,798 --> 00:19:53,839
of all you eat things sacrificed to

583
00:19:53,038 --> 00:19:57,200
idols

584
00:19:53,839 --> 00:20:01,519
and that's a reference to adopting pagan

585
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:04,319
beliefs one of the ideas of pagan

586
00:20:01,519 --> 00:20:05,119
pagan theology or pagan eye pagan

587
00:20:04,319 --> 00:20:08,158
doctrinal

588
00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:10,158
ideas or concepts is the idea that

589
00:20:08,159 --> 00:20:12,080
physical things will do you some

590
00:20:10,159 --> 00:20:14,880
spiritual good

591
00:20:12,079 --> 00:20:18,000
it's a superstitious idea that this

592
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:20,400
thing i hold or this ritual i do

593
00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,400
will actually do me some spiritual good

594
00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:25,038
and this is a deception

595
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,519
jesus said that the the flesh counts for

596
00:20:25,038 --> 00:20:27,839
nothing

597
00:20:25,519 --> 00:20:29,759
that we have a spiritual world in which

598
00:20:27,839 --> 00:20:30,558
we live in him and the truth comes into

599
00:20:29,759 --> 00:20:32,879
our lives

600
00:20:30,558 --> 00:20:34,720
we believe in him we receive the spirit

601
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,280
but he's saying that you had they had

602
00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,279
compromised the scripture they had

603
00:20:37,279 --> 00:20:40,158
compromised their beliefs they brought

604
00:20:39,279 --> 00:20:43,519
in

605
00:20:40,159 --> 00:20:43,919
non-christian ideas and they they put

606
00:20:43,519 --> 00:20:46,960
them

607
00:20:43,919 --> 00:20:49,038
into the fabric of their faith secondly

608
00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,640
it said that they had committed sexual

609
00:20:49,038 --> 00:20:51,519
immorality and that's a reference to

610
00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,799
adopted

611
00:20:51,519 --> 00:20:58,480
adopting pagan morality or pagan

612
00:20:54,798 --> 00:21:01,200
immorality uh especially in the area

613
00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:02,640
of sexual habits and they just went

614
00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,120
along with what the world

615
00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,480
said and thoroughly they had tolerated

616
00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,319
those who had

617
00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,759
held to the doctor of the nicolaitans we

618
00:21:08,319 --> 00:21:11,119
looked at the nicolaitans

619
00:21:09,759 --> 00:21:13,359
the last couple of weeks actually

620
00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:16,239
nicolaitan literally means

621
00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,798
people controllers and you see when they

622
00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,480
lost

623
00:21:16,798 --> 00:21:19,839
the gospel when they put aside the

624
00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,720
gospel

625
00:21:19,839 --> 00:21:23,599
and they began to compromise teaching

626
00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,319
and preaching

627
00:21:23,599 --> 00:21:28,719
and they began to insert rituals and say

628
00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:32,079
the ritual will save you and neglected

629
00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:35,279
faith and and the pastor

630
00:21:32,079 --> 00:21:37,199
was neglected the priest came forth when

631
00:21:35,279 --> 00:21:39,359
those things happened

632
00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,240
they had to find some way to control

633
00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,319
people

634
00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:44,240
so they brought out this whole idea

635
00:21:42,319 --> 00:21:47,279
rather than letting the truth of god

636
00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,480
and the spirit of god change people and

637
00:21:47,279 --> 00:21:50,879
build them up and

638
00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,919
free them and by the power of god

639
00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,320
control them

640
00:21:51,919 --> 00:21:56,159
in the sense of giving him life and a

641
00:21:54,319 --> 00:21:58,720
new a new nature

642
00:21:56,159 --> 00:22:00,640
they began to make threats if you don't

643
00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,798
do this you'll go to hell

644
00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,400
or you go to stay long in purgatory and

645
00:22:02,798 --> 00:22:06,879
began to create a whole

646
00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:08,720
made-up theology that was simply meant

647
00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:10,799
to control people

648
00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,000
the pastor was replaced by the priest

649
00:22:10,798 --> 00:22:13,918
the pastor preached the

650
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,000
truth and freed people the priest said

651
00:22:13,919 --> 00:22:18,000
no no you've got to come to me

652
00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,279
you can't pray to seek to jesus you have

653
00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,000
to come to me and i'll

654
00:22:19,279 --> 00:22:23,759
i'll pray for you and so all this system

655
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,519
the people controllers

656
00:22:23,759 --> 00:22:28,000
was what happened to the church in these

657
00:22:25,519 --> 00:22:30,319
years and at the end of this period it

658
00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:32,240
was a very different church that we see

659
00:22:30,319 --> 00:22:34,639
in the new testament doctrinal

660
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:37,359
compromise led to moral

661
00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,240
compromise now what was the solution

662
00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,719
repentance

663
00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,720
yes that's the solution the solution is

664
00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,880
not to say well let's see if we can find

665
00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:48,079
some way to maintain this compromise

666
00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:50,240
no jesus said you need to repent and if

667
00:22:48,079 --> 00:22:50,720
you we have neglected the word of god or

668
00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:52,839
if

669
00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:55,200
you have started to become a

670
00:22:52,839 --> 00:22:58,079
superstitious christian

671
00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,840
and you put more credit into little

672
00:22:58,079 --> 00:23:02,639
amulets or a necklace

673
00:22:59,839 --> 00:23:05,119
or a saint christopher that you may wear

674
00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:08,000
that you think is blessed by a priest or

675
00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,359
a statue of mary that's been blessed by

676
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:13,279
a priest in your home

677
00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:14,240
if you put more power and trust in these

678
00:23:13,279 --> 00:23:16,480
things

679
00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:18,159
or crucifix that you wear around your

680
00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,880
neck you think it's going to ward off

681
00:23:18,159 --> 00:23:20,960
the

682
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,480
demons or the vampires of whatever if

683
00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:25,200
you put more

684
00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,400
trust in that than christ then you're

685
00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,558
deceived

686
00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:30,480
several years ago i was on a plane

687
00:23:28,558 --> 00:23:31,678
coming from davao city philippines to

688
00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:34,000
manila

689
00:23:31,679 --> 00:23:35,120
and i i got on the plane and i remember

690
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,279
i had a very bad

691
00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,279
head cold and so i i didn't really feel

692
00:23:37,279 --> 00:23:41,278
like sharing the faith but i was going

693
00:23:39,279 --> 00:23:41,678
to share usually with my seat mate if i

694
00:23:41,278 --> 00:23:43,679
could

695
00:23:41,679 --> 00:23:45,840
get in the word about christ but it was

696
00:23:43,679 --> 00:23:48,559
a young lady sat down next to me and

697
00:23:45,839 --> 00:23:50,158
just as the plane began to taxi down the

698
00:23:48,558 --> 00:23:52,399
runway she got her

699
00:23:50,159 --> 00:23:53,440
bible and held it in her lap and i

700
00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,519
thought oh well

701
00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:57,360
she's got a bible she must be a believer

702
00:23:55,519 --> 00:24:00,000
and so i thought well i don't have to

703
00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:02,158
get my germs over on her by sharing my

704
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,119
faith so i just let her be and she let

705
00:24:02,159 --> 00:24:04,960
me be

706
00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:06,399
and she held on her bible tightly the

707
00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,360
whole trip it was about a two-hour

708
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,480
flight

709
00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:12,000
and as we landed in manila then she put

710
00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:13,919
her bible away

711
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,240
and what she was really doing is using

712
00:24:13,919 --> 00:24:18,400
the bible as some type of safety

713
00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:20,159
that maybe it would keep the plane up

714
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,000
and she wasn't reading it

715
00:24:20,159 --> 00:24:23,600
unfortunately she was just holding on to

716
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,519
it and

717
00:24:23,599 --> 00:24:27,519
that's where some people are they think

718
00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:29,599
my bible's going to bring me luck no the

719
00:24:27,519 --> 00:24:30,400
bible is to be used when you open it up

720
00:24:29,599 --> 00:24:32,639
and read it

721
00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,679
and let god change your heart your life

722
00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,240
that's just one

723
00:24:33,679 --> 00:24:37,120
of the ways we are compromised it

724
00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,558
mentions this

725
00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:43,519
this curious old testament character

726
00:24:40,558 --> 00:24:44,480
um balaam and you can read in the old

727
00:24:43,519 --> 00:24:47,599
testament about

728
00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:50,079
balaam but it simply depicts

729
00:24:47,599 --> 00:24:51,439
him as the one who influenced the king

730
00:24:50,079 --> 00:24:54,240
balak to

731
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:56,640
to to convince the the the nation of

732
00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:58,000
israel to intermarry with the moabite

733
00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,559
people and the other

734
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:03,119
the other canaanite people and that

735
00:25:00,558 --> 00:25:03,440
really led to moral compromise as well

736
00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,239
as

737
00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:07,120
doctrinal compromise and we have to

738
00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:09,919
realize

739
00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,798
christ calls us to be different from the

740
00:25:09,919 --> 00:25:13,360
world

741
00:25:10,798 --> 00:25:14,000
we're not to seek to please the world or

742
00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,879
we're not to

743
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:19,759
seek to be popular with the world or for

744
00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:23,200
the world to say you're doing a good job

745
00:25:19,759 --> 00:25:25,599
our only goal should be to please christ

746
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,558
with our life with our testimony with

747
00:25:25,599 --> 00:25:29,519
our church

748
00:25:26,558 --> 00:25:31,119
now if we will be friendly to the world

749
00:25:29,519 --> 00:25:33,200
and we will reach out and love to the

750
00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,719
world but we should expect the world to

751
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,798
recognize that

752
00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,159
but our goal is not to please them our

753
00:25:36,798 --> 00:25:40,720
goal is to please christ

754
00:25:38,159 --> 00:25:41,200
and and as we please him we're going to

755
00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,600
love

756
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,120
a world and and reach out to them in his

757
00:25:43,599 --> 00:25:47,359
name but we can never

758
00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:49,359
compromise with the world we can never

759
00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:51,678
mix the world's beliefs

760
00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,558
with christian beliefs so how do we

761
00:25:51,679 --> 00:25:55,120
overcome

762
00:25:52,558 --> 00:25:56,639
the promise the one who overcomes is the

763
00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:59,038
one who repents

764
00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,679
and goes back to the word of god and

765
00:25:59,038 --> 00:26:02,720
doesn't get

766
00:25:59,679 --> 00:26:05,200
caught up in all the superstitions or

767
00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:06,480
the false teachings but is able to weed

768
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:08,558
those things out

769
00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,720
and get rid of them and come back to the

770
00:26:08,558 --> 00:26:11,839
word of god not to go beyond the word of

771
00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,558
god

772
00:26:11,839 --> 00:26:16,399
but to come back and be faithful to the

773
00:26:14,558 --> 00:26:17,119
word of god the word of god is what

774
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,440
we're to

775
00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,879
to trust and what we are to believe or

776
00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:23,038
they promised that they would

777
00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,000
have the hidden manna and that simply

778
00:26:23,038 --> 00:26:27,278
means true

779
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:29,519
spiritual nourishment of the soul

780
00:26:27,278 --> 00:26:30,720
that is christ is going to feed us with

781
00:26:29,519 --> 00:26:33,839
his truth

782
00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:35,200
he's going to free us from our chains in

783
00:26:33,839 --> 00:26:37,599
the world he's going to really

784
00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,720
change us it's the it's hidden from an

785
00:26:37,599 --> 00:26:40,158
unbelieving world

786
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,319
it's although it's there in black and

787
00:26:40,159 --> 00:26:44,159
white the truth is hidden from them

788
00:26:42,319 --> 00:26:46,480
because of their lack of faith

789
00:26:44,159 --> 00:26:47,360
when we read the bible we read it very

790
00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,079
differently

791
00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:50,719
because we see it as god's message to us

792
00:26:50,079 --> 00:26:53,359
it has

793
00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:55,120
effect on our life a powerful effect on

794
00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,839
our life because we embrace it with

795
00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,678
faith

796
00:26:55,839 --> 00:26:59,519
now it speaks about a white stump the

797
00:26:57,679 --> 00:27:02,080
new name written on it and here's

798
00:26:59,519 --> 00:27:03,839
uh one one symbol in the book of

799
00:27:02,079 --> 00:27:04,240
revelation that scholars say we think

800
00:27:03,839 --> 00:27:06,879
we've

801
00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,519
lost what that means but but probably

802
00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,080
the most

803
00:27:07,519 --> 00:27:12,400
likely meaning of that was simply it was

804
00:27:10,079 --> 00:27:14,720
used as a ticket to get into

805
00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:17,360
a show get into some type of like a

806
00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:19,519
drama or maybe a sporting event

807
00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:20,639
and that's the probably the best idea

808
00:27:19,519 --> 00:27:22,480
but it means

809
00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,399
entrance if that's the case it means

810
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:27,038
entrance into eternity

811
00:27:24,398 --> 00:27:27,918
in christ means coming in to god's

812
00:27:27,038 --> 00:27:30,158
kingdom

813
00:27:27,919 --> 00:27:32,080
but what a wonderful promise that is and

814
00:27:30,159 --> 00:27:34,960
then it says a new name which

815
00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:36,558
no one knows except him who receives it

816
00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,679
that's a reference to the assurance of

817
00:27:36,558 --> 00:27:39,678
salvation

818
00:27:37,679 --> 00:27:42,320
it's the new nature we have in christ

819
00:27:39,679 --> 00:27:44,559
the new name is being a child of god

820
00:27:42,319 --> 00:27:46,558
and god's spirit bears witness with our

821
00:27:44,558 --> 00:27:48,319
spirit through the word

822
00:27:46,558 --> 00:27:49,918
but bears witness with our spirit that

823
00:27:48,319 --> 00:27:52,639
we are the children of god

824
00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:54,000
well that's a wonderful testimony about

825
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,919
what god can do

826
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:58,398
but are you hungry for the word of god

827
00:27:55,919 --> 00:28:01,520
you have so many ideas around you today

828
00:27:58,398 --> 00:28:03,918
we do have so many ideas and we have

829
00:28:01,519 --> 00:28:05,679
so many forms of entertainment so many

830
00:28:03,919 --> 00:28:09,360
books to read

831
00:28:05,679 --> 00:28:12,960
but our hearts really long for the pure

832
00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:16,079
word of god 1942 the

833
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:19,278
german army was cut off

834
00:28:16,079 --> 00:28:22,079
in stalingrad uh in that terrible

835
00:28:19,278 --> 00:28:22,640
battle for stalingrad which they lost

836
00:28:22,079 --> 00:28:24,960
and

837
00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:27,200
you know the story historically hitler

838
00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:29,519
refused to pull back

839
00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,880
and he left the troops there and they

840
00:28:29,519 --> 00:28:33,759
were surrounded

841
00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,720
and cut off and eventually they were

842
00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:37,359
defeated

843
00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:39,038
and taking taken prisoner well they were

844
00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:42,479
still communicating

845
00:28:39,038 --> 00:28:42,960
with the with the the government back in

846
00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,798
the

847
00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:47,759
military headquarters back in germany

848
00:28:44,798 --> 00:28:50,960
and one of the last requests they made

849
00:28:47,759 --> 00:28:53,519
is please send more bibles

850
00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,240
our soldiers are dying and they had mein

851
00:28:53,519 --> 00:28:57,440
kampf

852
00:28:54,240 --> 00:29:00,240
they had hitler's hitler's bible

853
00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,840
hitler's writing my struggle but what

854
00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:04,079
their hearts longed for

855
00:29:01,839 --> 00:29:05,199
was the word of god when it came time to

856
00:29:04,079 --> 00:29:07,599
die they said

857
00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:09,519
we need something with more power than

858
00:29:07,599 --> 00:29:11,278
this we need the word of god

859
00:29:09,519 --> 00:29:13,519
so they did they brought more bibles for

860
00:29:11,278 --> 00:29:16,240
the soldiers to take and read

861
00:29:13,519 --> 00:29:18,079
in those final days of defeat well it's

862
00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:20,000
not just a book to die by

863
00:29:18,079 --> 00:29:21,199
it's also book to live by and that's

864
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,278
what we're to have

865
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,240
so in your life have you committed to

866
00:29:23,278 --> 00:29:25,519
the word of god

867
00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,519
that's how you become a christian by

868
00:29:25,519 --> 00:29:29,359
reading the gospel and believing

869
00:29:27,519 --> 00:29:31,200
believing in christ turning from your

870
00:29:29,359 --> 00:29:32,798
sin and turning to trust in him

871
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,640
it's also how we grow as a christian

872
00:29:32,798 --> 00:29:37,278
that's how he sets us free that's how

873
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:38,399
also he unites christians together to

874
00:29:37,278 --> 00:29:42,000
take the word of god

875
00:29:38,398 --> 00:29:45,119
seriously and read it study it share it

876
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:46,000
live it memorize it meditate on it hold

877
00:29:45,119 --> 00:29:48,158
on to it

878
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,599
let's pray father god we thank you for

879
00:29:48,159 --> 00:29:51,600
your grace and your love

880
00:29:49,599 --> 00:29:53,599
we are nothing without you but through

881
00:29:51,599 --> 00:29:55,839
you we can do all things

882
00:29:53,599 --> 00:29:57,439
we thank you for your word that

883
00:29:55,839 --> 00:30:00,000
liberates us from sin

884
00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:02,558
that opens our eyes to understand the

885
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,398
wonderful salvation you're given to us

886
00:30:02,558 --> 00:30:06,240
we pray lord that you would strengthen

887
00:30:04,398 --> 00:30:08,319
our faith in you

888
00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,759
mature us and or i pray for

889
00:30:08,319 --> 00:30:10,720
international baptist church and

890
00:30:09,759 --> 00:30:13,278
stuttgart

891
00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,839
i pray lord that as long as this church

892
00:30:13,278 --> 00:30:16,480
exists

893
00:30:13,839 --> 00:30:18,879
until you return that as long as this

894
00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:21,679
church exists that it would remain true

895
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:22,480
to your word that we would have a strong

896
00:30:21,679 --> 00:30:26,320
commitment

897
00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:28,640
to teach preach and to live

898
00:30:26,319 --> 00:30:29,599
your word we thank you lord for your

899
00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,600
grace to us

900
00:30:29,599 --> 00:30:32,639
i pray for everyone who's studying this

901
00:30:31,599 --> 00:30:34,959
who's studying this

902
00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:36,320
series and who's listening this video

903
00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:39,038
that you would bless them

904
00:30:36,319 --> 00:30:43,278
in your name we pray amen thank you

905
00:30:39,038 --> 00:30:43,278
friend may god bless you today