Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.
#Testimony
#Faith
#Prayer
#Challenges
#Religion
#Sickness
#Health
#SpiritualFoundation
#WordofGod
#Success
#Authority
#Dr.TonyEvans
#TonyEvans
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - The Authenticity of an Overcomer | June 1, 2025
- ...
- 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.053
- Tony evans: don't just be religious.
- 00:00:01.486 --> 00:00:02.854
- Don't just act the part. be all-in.
- 00:00:02.954 --> 00:00:05.590
- Be hot. be cold.
- 00:00:05.690 --> 00:00:05.991
- That doesn't mean we're perfect, but it means we repent
- 00:00:07.059 --> 00:00:09.327
- When god reveals our imperfection
- 00:00:09.327 --> 00:00:11.096
- So that we can get back on the road.
- 00:00:11.096 --> 00:00:13.031
- And when you do and jesus shows up,
- 00:00:13.031 --> 00:00:15.100
- He enables us to become overcomers
- 00:00:15.100 --> 00:00:17.736
- Of the things we have to overcome
- 00:00:17.736 --> 00:00:19.604
- Because he's dining at the table with us
- 00:00:19.604 --> 00:00:22.340
- When the devil shows up.
- 00:00:22.340 --> 00:00:24.009
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:24.009 --> 00:00:31.049
- Tony: our final church to the final body of saints
- 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:40.692
- Is laodicea bible fellowship.
- 00:00:40.692 --> 00:00:47.199
- Laodicea was a wealthy city known for three things.
- 00:00:47.199 --> 00:00:55.173
- Some 45 miles southeast of philadelphia,
- 00:00:55.173 --> 00:00:58.677
- Our last city and last church,
- 00:00:58.677 --> 00:01:03.115
- Laodicea was known for its finance industry,
- 00:01:03.115 --> 00:01:06.918
- Its banking industry.
- 00:01:06.918 --> 00:01:09.421
- It would be akin to our common-day wall street.
- 00:01:09.421 --> 00:01:13.325
- It was a very wealthy place
- 00:01:13.325 --> 00:01:14.893
- To live, work, and raise a family.
- 00:01:14.893 --> 00:01:19.030
- It was also known for its fashion industry.
- 00:01:19.030 --> 00:01:23.435
- In new york, you would call it the fashion district,
- 00:01:23.435 --> 00:01:27.339
- Where they made fancy clothes
- 00:01:27.339 --> 00:01:30.442
- That would go out to the retailers
- 00:01:30.442 --> 00:01:32.210
- To sell to the general public.
- 00:01:32.210 --> 00:01:35.914
- Not only was it a financial district
- 00:01:35.914 --> 00:01:39.985
- And a fashion district,
- 00:01:39.985 --> 00:01:42.554
- But the city of laodicea was a pharmaceutical district.
- 00:01:42.554 --> 00:01:48.026
- It was known for its medical industry,
- 00:01:48.026 --> 00:01:51.830
- Particularly when it came to eye diseases.
- 00:01:51.830 --> 00:01:57.502
- It was specializing in this salve for the eyes
- 00:01:57.502 --> 00:02:01.273
- To improve the sight of those struggling with seeing.
- 00:02:01.273 --> 00:02:06.945
- That is why you will see these three areas--
- 00:02:06.945 --> 00:02:09.581
- Finance, fashion, and pharmaceuticals--
- 00:02:09.581 --> 00:02:14.586
- Referred to in revelation chapter 3,
- 00:02:14.586 --> 00:02:18.690
- Verses 14 to the end of the chapter.
- 00:02:18.690 --> 00:02:22.961
- Jesus, as he does in each one of these churches,
- 00:02:22.961 --> 00:02:26.498
- Introduces himself as he wants you to see him now,
- 00:02:26.498 --> 00:02:32.370
- And he says in verse 14,
- 00:02:32.370 --> 00:02:34.105
- "to the angel of the church at laodicea write:
- 00:02:34.105 --> 00:02:38.543
- 'the amen, the faithful and the true witness,
- 00:02:38.543 --> 00:02:43.181
- The beginning of the creation of god
- 00:02:43.181 --> 00:02:45.684
- Says this.'"
- 00:02:45.684 --> 00:02:47.719
- So, before he gets into what he wants to say,
- 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:49.955
- He wants you to know who's doing the talking.
- 00:02:49.955 --> 00:02:52.090
- So, i'm gonna give you the testimony--
- 00:02:52.090 --> 00:02:55.060
- A witness is a testimony--
- 00:02:55.060 --> 00:02:57.462
- And whatever i tell you is gonna be the truth,
- 00:02:57.462 --> 00:03:01.499
- The whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
- 00:03:01.499 --> 00:03:04.402
- So help you god.
- 00:03:04.402 --> 00:03:06.104
- And you'll see in a moment why he defines himself this way.
- 00:03:06.104 --> 00:03:09.574
- He says, "i am the beginning of the creation of god."
- 00:03:09.574 --> 00:03:14.112
- Now, if you're the beginning of the creation,
- 00:03:14.112 --> 00:03:15.947
- That means you existed before the creation
- 00:03:15.947 --> 00:03:18.016
- That you began.
- 00:03:18.016 --> 00:03:19.918
- So, jesus christ declares himself to be the precreation,
- 00:03:19.918 --> 00:03:24.856
- Existing prior to creation--
- 00:03:24.856 --> 00:03:26.825
- That is, because he has always existed
- 00:03:26.825 --> 00:03:29.127
- As the second member of the triune godhead--
- 00:03:29.127 --> 00:03:32.697
- And the one who's responsible for how history operates.
- 00:03:32.697 --> 00:03:37.669
- So, what he's saying before he ever gets into
- 00:03:37.669 --> 00:03:39.871
- What he is saying is "pay close attention
- 00:03:39.871 --> 00:03:43.942
- 'cause i know what i'm talking about.
- 00:03:43.942 --> 00:03:46.378
- I am the amen.
- 00:03:46.378 --> 00:03:47.746
- I am the final testimony and witness.
- 00:03:47.746 --> 00:03:50.415
- And i am the one who existed prior to you even being here."
- 00:03:50.415 --> 00:03:57.122
- Having established himself to the church at laodicea,
- 00:03:57.122 --> 00:04:03.228
- He now makes his complaint, his condemnation.
- 00:04:03.228 --> 00:04:10.402
- He says in verse 15, "i know your deeds:
- 00:04:10.402 --> 00:04:15.206
- That you are neither hot nor cold.
- 00:04:15.206 --> 00:04:19.110
- I wish you were hot or cold.
- 00:04:19.110 --> 00:04:22.847
- So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold,
- 00:04:22.847 --> 00:04:28.620
- I will spit you out of my mouth."
- 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:33.792
- He addresses the problem at laodicea bible fellowship
- 00:04:33.792 --> 00:04:38.930
- Of lukewarmness.
- 00:04:38.930 --> 00:04:41.566
- You are lukewarm.
- 00:04:41.566 --> 00:04:45.036
- Jesus writes this church through its pastor, and he says,
- 00:04:45.036 --> 00:04:49.808
- "you tell them: i know about them.
- 00:04:49.808 --> 00:04:52.844
- They are lukewarm."
- 00:04:52.844 --> 00:04:56.414
- In other words, they are unacceptable.
- 00:04:56.414 --> 00:05:01.252
- He says, "their lukewarmness"--
- 00:05:01.252 --> 00:05:03.722
- That is, their stagnant spiritual state,
- 00:05:03.722 --> 00:05:10.195
- Their in-between christian commitment,
- 00:05:10.195 --> 00:05:15.500
- Their mixture that has made them unusable, unspiritual--
- 00:05:15.500 --> 00:05:25.176
- "is unacceptable."
- 00:05:25.176 --> 00:05:27.946
- How unacceptable is it, jesus?
- 00:05:27.946 --> 00:05:31.149
- "i want to spew them out of my mouth."
- 00:05:31.149 --> 00:05:35.787
- The phrase "to spew out of the mouth" means to vomit.
- 00:05:35.787 --> 00:05:41.226
- Jesus says of laodicea bible fellowship,
- 00:05:41.226 --> 00:05:44.429
- "y'all make me sick.
- 00:05:44.429 --> 00:05:47.766
- I wanna... i wanna throw up.
- 00:05:47.766 --> 00:05:53.071
- When y'all come to church, it makes me wanna vomit."
- 00:05:53.071 --> 00:05:58.309
- And jesus says, "this is the amen talking.
- 00:05:58.309 --> 00:06:02.447
- This is the one who not gonna tell you
- 00:06:02.447 --> 00:06:04.149
- What you wanna hear.
- 00:06:04.149 --> 00:06:05.517
- I'm gonna tell you like it really is.
- 00:06:05.517 --> 00:06:08.553
- This is the one with the final witness
- 00:06:08.553 --> 00:06:11.189
- Making the declaration.
- 00:06:11.189 --> 00:06:13.658
- Because you're neither hot nor cold,
- 00:06:13.658 --> 00:06:17.862
- I can't do anything with you.
- 00:06:17.862 --> 00:06:20.765
- Your spiritual condition
- 00:06:20.765 --> 00:06:22.534
- Reflects your geographical location.
- 00:06:22.534 --> 00:06:26.404
- It is lukewarmness. it is stagnant.
- 00:06:26.404 --> 00:06:32.010
- And i can't do anything with you."
- 00:06:32.010 --> 00:06:35.380
- So, it's possible to be a church that makes jesus sick.
- 00:06:35.380 --> 00:06:41.986
- What was it exactly about the laodicea bible fellowship
- 00:06:41.986 --> 00:06:48.460
- That made jesus sick?
- 00:06:48.460 --> 00:06:51.830
- Here's what jesus says was the problem: verse 17,
- 00:06:51.830 --> 00:06:57.135
- "because you say, 'i am rich, and have become wealthy,
- 00:06:57.135 --> 00:07:03.575
- And have need of nothing,'"
- 00:07:03.575 --> 00:07:09.013
- He says, "i have a problem with how you view yourself.
- 00:07:09.013 --> 00:07:14.285
- You say, 'i am rich. i am self-sufficient.
- 00:07:14.285 --> 00:07:21.226
- I got it going on.
- 00:07:21.226 --> 00:07:24.395
- Got my job, got my money, got my car, got my house,
- 00:07:24.395 --> 00:07:27.198
- Got my clothes.
- 00:07:27.198 --> 00:07:29.868
- So, my going to church is part of my style.
- 00:07:29.868 --> 00:07:34.873
- I go to laodicea bible fellowship
- 00:07:34.873 --> 00:07:36.941
- 'cause that's what all christians do,
- 00:07:36.941 --> 00:07:39.777
- But i don't go there 'cause i need jesus.
- 00:07:39.777 --> 00:07:43.281
- I go there to fulfill my religious obligation.'
- 00:07:43.281 --> 00:07:48.286
- You've become so successful in your financial district,
- 00:07:48.286 --> 00:07:52.957
- Your fashion district, your pharmaceutical district
- 00:07:52.957 --> 00:07:57.228
- That you don't really need me.
- 00:07:57.228 --> 00:07:59.330
- You just placating me. you don't need me.
- 00:07:59.330 --> 00:08:03.468
- You just using me. you don't need me.
- 00:08:03.468 --> 00:08:07.438
- You just acting and giving the impression
- 00:08:07.438 --> 00:08:11.943
- That you are close to me, and y'all make me sick."
- 00:08:11.943 --> 00:08:17.415
- He says to the laodicea bible fellowship
- 00:08:17.415 --> 00:08:21.719
- That "you have allowed"-- watch this now--
- 00:08:21.719 --> 00:08:25.056
- "the definition of success in the world
- 00:08:25.056 --> 00:08:30.295
- To give you the definition of success in the church.
- 00:08:30.295 --> 00:08:35.066
- You think 'cause you got money in your wallet,
- 00:08:35.066 --> 00:08:38.269
- You think because you buy the nicer clothes,
- 00:08:38.269 --> 00:08:41.506
- Drive the nicer cars, have the nicer job,
- 00:08:41.506 --> 00:08:45.710
- That somehow god has blessed you.
- 00:08:45.710 --> 00:08:49.047
- You've done fallen into this false theology
- 00:08:49.047 --> 00:08:52.483
- That 'if i got stuff, i must be blessed,'
- 00:08:52.483 --> 00:08:57.822
- When actually you and your stuff have made me sick,
- 00:08:57.822 --> 00:09:03.061
- And you make me want to throw up and spew you out of my mouth
- 00:09:03.061 --> 00:09:11.869
- Because you have brought the world into the church
- 00:09:11.869 --> 00:09:16.574
- Instead of letting the church define who you are
- 00:09:16.574 --> 00:09:21.245
- And how you function in the world."
- 00:09:21.245 --> 00:09:25.283
- What he's saying is "you've allowed the world
- 00:09:25.283 --> 00:09:28.820
- To tell you whether you're successful.
- 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:31.389
- You've allowed society
- 00:09:31.389 --> 00:09:33.391
- To tell you whether you're successful,
- 00:09:33.391 --> 00:09:35.827
- But i'm the amen,
- 00:09:35.827 --> 00:09:37.729
- And i'm gonna tell you like it 'tis
- 00:09:37.729 --> 00:09:40.031
- And like it is.
- 00:09:40.031 --> 00:09:41.966
- Y'all make me wanna throw up."
- 00:09:41.966 --> 00:09:47.271
- Don't get mad at the preacher. i'm just quoting the verse.
- 00:09:47.271 --> 00:09:50.375
- Jesus says, "you make me want to spit you out of my mouth."
- 00:09:50.375 --> 00:09:59.117
- They were measuring the spiritual by the physical.
- 00:09:59.117 --> 00:10:04.989
- Let me say that again.
- 00:10:04.989 --> 00:10:06.491
- They were measuring the spiritual
- 00:10:06.491 --> 00:10:09.060
- By how things look in the physical.
- 00:10:09.060 --> 00:10:11.963
- "i am wealthy. i got this going on.
- 00:10:11.963 --> 00:10:15.266
- So, i must be blessed."
- 00:10:15.266 --> 00:10:19.437
- And jesus says to the church, "you are an abysmal failure."
- 00:10:19.437 --> 00:10:28.846
- He says, "let me tell you what you really are."
- 00:10:28.846 --> 00:10:36.921
- Second half of verse 17, "you do not know you are wretched
- 00:10:36.921 --> 00:10:44.762
- And miserable and poor and blind and naked."
- 00:10:44.762 --> 00:10:55.039
- Don't get mad at the preacher. i'm just quoting the verse.
- 00:10:55.106 --> 00:10:59.310
- Jesus says, "let me tell you about yourself.
- 00:10:59.310 --> 00:11:03.815
- Let me tell you about yourself.
- 00:11:03.815 --> 00:11:07.952
- You're wretched, and everybody else may think you're nice,
- 00:11:07.952 --> 00:11:13.491
- But i know you.
- 00:11:13.491 --> 00:11:16.060
- You're wretched.
- 00:11:16.060 --> 00:11:18.196
- Not only are you wretched, but i don't care
- 00:11:18.196 --> 00:11:22.133
- What your bank account looks like.
- 00:11:22.133 --> 00:11:23.701
- You're poor."
- 00:11:23.701 --> 00:11:26.571
- He says, "i don't care
- 00:11:26.571 --> 00:11:28.673
- Where you buy your couture clothes.
- 00:11:28.673 --> 00:11:30.942
- You're naked."
- 00:11:30.942 --> 00:11:33.044
- So, you see, he's quoting the district:
- 00:11:33.044 --> 00:11:34.979
- Finance, fashion, pharmaceuticals.
- 00:11:34.979 --> 00:11:38.015
- "'cause i don't think
- 00:11:38.015 --> 00:11:39.650
- What you can think you can see with your expensive glasses on.
- 00:11:39.650 --> 00:11:44.021
- You're blind."
- 00:11:44.021 --> 00:11:48.926
- He says, "none of what you think about you is real.
- 00:11:48.926 --> 00:11:56.033
- You're living in a dream world
- 00:11:56.033 --> 00:11:58.836
- Because i see what's really going on,
- 00:11:58.836 --> 00:12:02.774
- And what's really going on is
- 00:12:02.774 --> 00:12:05.910
- You don't know how messed up you are."
- 00:12:05.910 --> 00:12:08.679
- See, it's bad to be blind.
- 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:12.049
- It's worse to be blind and not know you blind.
- 00:12:12.049 --> 00:12:15.653
- It's bad to be naked,
- 00:12:15.653 --> 00:12:17.455
- But it's worse to be naked and not know you undressed.
- 00:12:17.455 --> 00:12:22.960
- It's bad to be poor, but he says,
- 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:26.798
- "you don't know how poor you are."
- 00:12:26.798 --> 00:12:29.467
- It's bad to be messed up
- 00:12:29.467 --> 00:12:31.068
- And you don't know how messed up you are.
- 00:12:31.068 --> 00:12:33.704
- That's how messed up you are.
- 00:12:33.704 --> 00:12:35.506
- "you're so messed up,
- 00:12:35.506 --> 00:12:36.841
- You don't know how messed up you are."
- 00:12:36.841 --> 00:12:39.710
- That's what he says.
- 00:12:39.710 --> 00:12:43.381
- "and what's got you messed up is that you've allowed the physical
- 00:12:43.381 --> 00:12:50.855
- To erase the spiritual.
- 00:12:50.855 --> 00:12:54.325
- And so because you don't see things from my perspective,
- 00:12:54.325 --> 00:12:57.528
- You don't see things correctly.
- 00:12:57.528 --> 00:13:00.064
- And you done let what other folk telling you,
- 00:13:00.064 --> 00:13:03.301
- 'ooh, you something, ooh, you successful,
- 00:13:03.301 --> 00:13:05.703
- Oh, you accomplished, oh, you--'
- 00:13:05.703 --> 00:13:07.705
- And you believing them, and they are not the amen.
- 00:13:07.705 --> 00:13:11.042
- They are not the faithful witness,
- 00:13:11.042 --> 00:13:13.177
- And them folk lying to you."
- 00:13:13.177 --> 00:13:17.048
- The worst thing in the world is to believe folk in your ears
- 00:13:17.048 --> 00:13:20.818
- Who are lying to you and not telling you the truth.
- 00:13:20.818 --> 00:13:23.421
- God says, "i don't play those games.
- 00:13:23.421 --> 00:13:26.190
- I'mma tell you what i see, and what i see is not good.
- 00:13:26.190 --> 00:13:32.096
- I see you playing church as lukewarm christians.
- 00:13:32.096 --> 00:13:38.002
- Oh, you coming to church.
- 00:13:38.002 --> 00:13:39.337
- You're part of laodiceal bible fellowship,
- 00:13:39.337 --> 00:13:42.473
- But you playing games with this thing.
- 00:13:42.473 --> 00:13:45.176
- You're not committed to me. you're not dedicated to me.
- 00:13:45.176 --> 00:13:49.380
- What you're doing is coming to showtime at the church.
- 00:13:49.380 --> 00:13:55.386
- You come for the performance of the choir,
- 00:13:55.386 --> 00:13:57.688
- The performance of the preacher,
- 00:13:57.688 --> 00:13:59.423
- You come for the performance of the environment.
- 00:13:59.423 --> 00:14:03.160
- But when it comes to your commitment?
- 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:05.763
- You trying to satisfy the public.
- 00:14:05.763 --> 00:14:08.232
- You're trying to satisfy the success of wall street
- 00:14:08.232 --> 00:14:11.235
- And every place out there because you got it going on
- 00:14:11.235 --> 00:14:15.506
- In laodicea.
- 00:14:15.506 --> 00:14:18.542
- But i'm gonna give you the amen, the 'so be it,' the final word,
- 00:14:18.542 --> 00:14:22.680
- The conclusion.
- 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:24.415
- And what i say is the bottom line."
- 00:14:24.415 --> 00:14:30.488
- He says, "you don't see. y'all make me wanna vomit."
- 00:14:30.488 --> 00:14:39.563
- "what do you want me to do, lord?
- 00:14:39.563 --> 00:14:40.898
- What do you want me to do?"
- 00:14:40.898 --> 00:14:42.633
- "i'll tell you what i want you to do,"
- 00:14:42.633 --> 00:14:44.001
- Verse 18.
- 00:14:44.001 --> 00:14:45.336
- "i advise you--"
- 00:14:45.336 --> 00:14:48.072
- So he's just gonna give you some advice, me some advice.
- 00:14:48.072 --> 00:14:51.475
- "i advise you to buy from me gold,"
- 00:14:51.475 --> 00:14:55.780
- 'cause it's a financial district,
- 00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:57.581
- "refined by fire so that you may become rich,"
- 00:14:57.581 --> 00:15:01.052
- 'cause you're not rich.
- 00:15:01.052 --> 00:15:02.386
- You think you're rich, but you're not.
- 00:15:02.386 --> 00:15:04.255
- "and white garments," 'cause it's a fashion district
- 00:15:04.255 --> 00:15:06.924
- "so that you may clothe yourself
- 00:15:06.924 --> 00:15:09.393
- And that the shame of your nakedness
- 00:15:09.393 --> 00:15:11.662
- Will not be revealed.
- 00:15:11.662 --> 00:15:13.965
- And i saith," 'cause it's a pharmaceutical district,
- 00:15:13.965 --> 00:15:17.468
- "to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- 00:15:17.468 --> 00:15:21.505
- So, guess what i wanna do? i wanna make you truly rich.
- 00:15:21.505 --> 00:15:25.343
- I wanna give you real clothes,
- 00:15:25.343 --> 00:15:27.812
- And i wanna open your eyes so that you can see.
- 00:15:27.812 --> 00:15:30.614
- But the only way you get any of that is from me.
- 00:15:30.614 --> 00:15:34.385
- Buy from me.
- 00:15:34.385 --> 00:15:36.687
- In other words, i'm the only one
- 00:15:36.687 --> 00:15:39.590
- Who can give you what you really need
- 00:15:39.590 --> 00:15:41.625
- To be what you're supposed to be.
- 00:15:41.625 --> 00:15:43.661
- All that other stuff is fake."
- 00:15:43.661 --> 00:15:48.632
- See, our world has so duped us, and we all are facing this--
- 00:15:48.632 --> 00:15:54.171
- I face it; you face it-- because it dupes us.
- 00:15:54.171 --> 00:16:00.945
- So, we wind up buying things we don't need
- 00:16:00.945 --> 00:16:03.848
- With money that we don't have to impress people we don't know.
- 00:16:03.848 --> 00:16:06.851
- We just--we get duped, you know?
- 00:16:06.851 --> 00:16:10.454
- And our world is duping us, and jesus says,
- 00:16:10.454 --> 00:16:12.523
- "no, i ain't gonna dupe you.
- 00:16:12.523 --> 00:16:14.392
- No, i want you to become truly rich,
- 00:16:14.392 --> 00:16:16.260
- Which means you're spiritually rich.
- 00:16:16.260 --> 00:16:18.029
- I want you to become truly clothed,
- 00:16:18.029 --> 00:16:19.463
- Which means you're spiritually attired.
- 00:16:19.463 --> 00:16:21.465
- I want you to become truly sightful.
- 00:16:21.465 --> 00:16:23.501
- So, i'm gonna remove the blindness
- 00:16:23.501 --> 00:16:25.903
- So you see things as they really are,
- 00:16:25.903 --> 00:16:28.239
- But i'm the only one who can do that
- 00:16:28.239 --> 00:16:30.875
- 'cause i'm not gonna lie to you.
- 00:16:30.875 --> 00:16:33.544
- I'm not gonna trick you,
- 00:16:33.544 --> 00:16:34.879
- Nor am i gonna be impressed by you."
- 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:42.119
- That's what the saints in laodicea didn't want.
- 00:16:42.119 --> 00:16:47.425
- That's why they didn't know.
- 00:16:47.425 --> 00:16:49.126
- They didn't want the spiritual perspective.
- 00:16:49.126 --> 00:16:51.529
- They wanted people to make them feel good
- 00:16:51.529 --> 00:16:53.197
- About where they are based on the world's perspective.
- 00:16:53.197 --> 00:16:58.169
- And that's not what the church
- 00:16:58.169 --> 00:16:59.503
- Is supposed to be, not the church of jesus christ.
- 00:16:59.503 --> 00:17:03.307
- The church of jesus christ lives on the truth,
- 00:17:03.307 --> 00:17:06.410
- And it lives on the reality of the son of god,
- 00:17:06.410 --> 00:17:09.680
- And it lives on the proclamation of the spiritual.
- 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:13.350
- And unless the spiritual is put out front of the physical
- 00:17:13.350 --> 00:17:17.254
- And not the physical put out front of the spiritual,
- 00:17:17.254 --> 00:17:20.357
- You and i will live in deception individually,
- 00:17:20.357 --> 00:17:23.594
- And we will live in deception as a church,
- 00:17:23.594 --> 00:17:26.063
- And we will carry on services while jesus wants to vomit.
- 00:17:26.063 --> 00:17:31.669
- Unless the spiritual is out front
- 00:17:31.669 --> 00:17:34.338
- And that becomes the standard and the gauge
- 00:17:34.338 --> 00:17:37.141
- For every area of life, then jesus says,
- 00:17:37.141 --> 00:17:41.645
- "i can't do anything with you
- 00:17:41.645 --> 00:17:44.014
- Because you're living based on a facade, based on a lie."
- 00:17:44.014 --> 00:17:48.819
- A goldsmith was purifying gold one day,
- 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:50.754
- And somebody had getting the dross out.
- 00:17:50.754 --> 00:17:52.890
- Somebody asked him, "how do you know
- 00:17:52.890 --> 00:17:54.758
- When the gold has been purified?"
- 00:17:54.758 --> 00:17:56.894
- Goldsmith says, "when i can see my reflection in it."
- 00:17:56.894 --> 00:17:59.997
- And until jesus sees himself in us,
- 00:17:59.997 --> 00:18:03.267
- We still dealing with all kind of alloys,
- 00:18:03.267 --> 00:18:06.170
- Mixtures, that is contaminating what god really wants us to be.
- 00:18:06.170 --> 00:18:16.647
- That's why you need to, i need to, we need to be close
- 00:18:20.784 --> 00:18:25.556
- To folk who are gonna give us jesus's perspective,
- 00:18:25.556 --> 00:18:29.360
- Even if they don't have your money, your car,
- 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:31.896
- Your house, and your clothes.
- 00:18:31.896 --> 00:18:36.133
- So, jesus says, "i got some advice
- 00:18:36.133 --> 00:18:40.304
- For folk who put the physical in front of the spiritual:
- 00:18:40.304 --> 00:18:43.908
- Buy from me. you gotta get on my page.
- 00:18:43.908 --> 00:18:47.811
- You gotta start with me,
- 00:18:47.811 --> 00:18:49.880
- Not with what they saying out there,
- 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:51.215
- Not what the television is saying,
- 00:18:51.215 --> 00:18:53.117
- Not what the media is saying, not what the pundits are saying.
- 00:18:53.117 --> 00:18:55.686
- You start with me
- 00:18:55.686 --> 00:18:59.890
- Because i wanna be the standard by which you operate.
- 00:18:59.890 --> 00:19:04.195
- Therefore, i advise you to deal with me."
- 00:19:04.195 --> 00:19:11.769
- Verse 19, "those whom i love--"
- 00:19:11.769 --> 00:19:15.706
- If you're a child of god, he loves you.
- 00:19:15.706 --> 00:19:17.041
- "those who i love, i reprove and discipline.
- 00:19:17.041 --> 00:19:20.945
- Therefore, be zealous and repent."
- 00:19:20.945 --> 00:19:24.682
- "i'm gonna create some situations
- 00:19:24.682 --> 00:19:26.350
- In your life.
- 00:19:26.350 --> 00:19:28.819
- It's called discipline.
- 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:31.088
- I'm going to bring some corrective measures
- 00:19:31.088 --> 00:19:33.791
- Into your world.
- 00:19:33.791 --> 00:19:35.626
- I'm gonna bring some discipline into your life
- 00:19:35.626 --> 00:19:40.097
- To let you know that all that stuff
- 00:19:40.097 --> 00:19:44.201
- That the world applauds
- 00:19:44.201 --> 00:19:45.636
- And makes you feel wrong about yourself with
- 00:19:45.636 --> 00:19:48.872
- Can't solve your problem
- 00:19:48.872 --> 00:19:51.909
- Until i can get your undivided attention.
- 00:19:51.909 --> 00:19:54.712
- Now, i'm not trying to be mean-- 'cause i love you--
- 00:19:54.712 --> 00:19:57.915
- But i am trying to correct some things
- 00:19:57.915 --> 00:20:00.017
- That need to be corrected
- 00:20:00.017 --> 00:20:01.885
- So i don't have to spew you out of my mouth."
- 00:20:01.885 --> 00:20:08.559
- The spiritual, being able to see things
- 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:10.594
- From god's perspective first.
- 00:20:10.594 --> 00:20:14.565
- "seek ye first the kingdom of god
- 00:20:14.565 --> 00:20:16.500
- And his righteousness."
- 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.435
- When the spiritual is put ahead of the physical,
- 00:20:18.435 --> 00:20:20.838
- Then the physical is in its rightful place, or you--
- 00:20:20.838 --> 00:20:25.309
- We will be all out of sync.
- 00:20:25.309 --> 00:20:29.079
- So, what do we do?
- 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:31.615
- Okay. watch this now.
- 00:20:31.615 --> 00:20:32.983
- Verse 20, "behold, i stand at the door and knock.
- 00:20:32.983 --> 00:20:40.024
- ...
- 00:20:43.227 --> 00:20:46.497
- Behold, i stand at the door and knock."
- 00:20:46.497 --> 00:20:49.867
- Somebody need to hear that.
- 00:20:49.867 --> 00:20:51.902
- "behold, i stand at the door and knock."
- 00:20:51.902 --> 00:20:55.873
- He's at the door of laodicea bible fellowship.
- 00:20:55.873 --> 00:21:01.545
- He's knocking. what does that mean?
- 00:21:01.545 --> 00:21:04.648
- They're having church, and he's not even there.
- 00:21:04.648 --> 00:21:10.521
- They singing and praising
- 00:21:10.521 --> 00:21:12.489
- And waving their hand in the air like you just don't care.
- 00:21:12.489 --> 00:21:15.459
- They jumping over pews.
- 00:21:15.459 --> 00:21:16.827
- They shouting, "hallelujah. ain't god good?
- 00:21:16.827 --> 00:21:19.997
- He's so high, you can't get over.
- 00:21:19.997 --> 00:21:21.865
- He's so low, you can't get under.
- 00:21:21.865 --> 00:21:23.600
- He's so wide, you can't get around him.
- 00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:24.935
- Ain't god good?
- 00:21:24.935 --> 00:21:26.303
- Yeah, all the time, god is good."
- 00:21:26.303 --> 00:21:27.938
- They having a good time.
- 00:21:27.938 --> 00:21:29.573
- Jesus is outside knocking. "can i come in?"
- 00:21:29.573 --> 00:21:36.613
- So, just 'cause you having church
- 00:21:36.613 --> 00:21:38.048
- Don't mean jesus is in the sanctuary.
- 00:21:38.048 --> 00:21:42.619
- And what keeps him out of the sanctuary
- 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:45.422
- Is lukewarmness,
- 00:21:45.422 --> 00:21:48.926
- Christians who are not all-in, who just want a little religion
- 00:21:48.926 --> 00:21:55.199
- To make them feel like they've done something
- 00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:59.036
- But do not want jesus christ to rule in their lives,
- 00:21:59.036 --> 00:22:03.340
- Govern their direction, their decisions,
- 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:05.876
- Who do not prioritize the spiritual.
- 00:22:05.876 --> 00:22:08.479
- And jesus is saying, "can i come to church too?"
- 00:22:08.479 --> 00:22:13.050
- "behold, i stand at the door and i knock."
- 00:22:13.050 --> 00:22:17.454
- He goes on in verse 20.
- 00:22:17.454 --> 00:22:19.189
- He says, "if anyone hears my voice and opens the door--
- 00:22:19.189 --> 00:22:27.231
- Is there anybody that can hear the door?
- 00:22:29.533 --> 00:22:32.035
- Anybody hear the door knocking? because i'm knocking."
- 00:22:32.035 --> 00:22:36.073
- The problem is nobody listening.
- 00:22:36.073 --> 00:22:37.741
- They too busy shouting. they too busy praising.
- 00:22:37.741 --> 00:22:39.777
- They too busy getting their praise on.
- 00:22:39.777 --> 00:22:41.678
- They--"i'm knocking and nobody's hearing.
- 00:22:41.678 --> 00:22:45.549
- If anyone does hear--"
- 00:22:45.549 --> 00:22:47.117
- Now he comes from the church corporate
- 00:22:47.117 --> 00:22:48.919
- To the individuals in the sanctuary
- 00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:51.789
- 'cause even though the sermon and the message
- 00:22:51.789 --> 00:22:54.057
- Is for everybody,
- 00:22:54.057 --> 00:22:55.426
- Jesus knows everybody not gonna hear.
- 00:22:55.426 --> 00:22:59.797
- So, the question is how do you know if you heard?
- 00:22:59.797 --> 00:23:03.467
- How do you know if you are hearing
- 00:23:03.467 --> 00:23:05.335
- The knocking on the door?
- 00:23:05.335 --> 00:23:07.504
- Here's how you know you're hearing
- 00:23:07.504 --> 00:23:09.473
- The knocking on the door:
- 00:23:09.473 --> 00:23:10.874
- God is convicting you of your blindness.
- 00:23:10.874 --> 00:23:14.445
- You feel convicted that "yes, that's me
- 00:23:14.445 --> 00:23:18.515
- Standing in the need of prayer,"
- 00:23:18.515 --> 00:23:20.250
- That you feel this tug of god on your heart.
- 00:23:20.250 --> 00:23:22.886
- "you know you playing games with me.
- 00:23:22.886 --> 00:23:25.389
- You know you just going through the religious motions.
- 00:23:25.389 --> 00:23:28.258
- You know that there's not a full commitment to me."
- 00:23:28.258 --> 00:23:31.061
- And he starts tugging you,
- 00:23:31.061 --> 00:23:32.729
- And you start to feel uncomfortable.
- 00:23:32.729 --> 00:23:34.798
- You're squee-- you're squirming in your seat
- 00:23:34.798 --> 00:23:36.533
- Although you're not moving.
- 00:23:36.533 --> 00:23:38.068
- It's just all on the inside,
- 00:23:38.068 --> 00:23:39.937
- And you know god is talking to you.
- 00:23:39.937 --> 00:23:41.672
- That means you're hearing a knock,
- 00:23:41.672 --> 00:23:45.242
- And he's calling your name.
- 00:23:45.242 --> 00:23:47.578
- And he says, "if you will invite me in,
- 00:23:47.578 --> 00:23:49.813
- I will come in and dine with him or her."
- 00:23:49.813 --> 00:23:56.553
- In other words, he's inviting you
- 00:23:56.553 --> 00:23:57.921
- Into a deeper experiential reality of him in your life
- 00:23:57.921 --> 00:24:04.962
- So that you don't have to fake spirituality,
- 00:24:04.962 --> 00:24:08.799
- Fake commitment, fake loving the lord,
- 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:12.269
- Fake loving his word.
- 00:24:12.269 --> 00:24:13.871
- You won't have to fake that anymore
- 00:24:13.871 --> 00:24:15.539
- 'cause you and jesus just had dinner together.
- 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:18.342
- It's the real deal. it's the real intimacy.
- 00:24:18.342 --> 00:24:21.712
- It is about me and you and us
- 00:24:21.712 --> 00:24:24.948
- Experiencing intimacy with jesus christ
- 00:24:24.948 --> 00:24:28.185
- At a deeper level,
- 00:24:28.185 --> 00:24:29.520
- And all that other stuff is extra.
- 00:24:29.520 --> 00:24:32.890
- Nothing wrong with it, but it's extra.
- 00:24:32.890 --> 00:24:34.691
- It ain't the definition of who we are.
- 00:24:34.691 --> 00:24:37.494
- Praise god for it, but that's not who we are.
- 00:24:37.494 --> 00:24:40.297
- Thank god for it, but that's not what we're here for.
- 00:24:40.297 --> 00:24:43.367
- We're here to know him, love him, and serve him.
- 00:24:43.367 --> 00:24:46.336
- Everything else is a facilitating process for that.
- 00:24:46.336 --> 00:24:51.608
- But even if we don't get it,
- 00:24:51.608 --> 00:24:53.176
- Even if something downturns and we lose it,
- 00:24:53.176 --> 00:24:55.612
- It doesn't change who we are 'cause it was never about it.
- 00:24:55.612 --> 00:25:01.051
- It was about dining with the savior.
- 00:25:01.051 --> 00:25:07.357
- And then he goes on and he closes.
- 00:25:07.357 --> 00:25:12.496
- He says, "to him who overcomes--"
- 00:25:12.496 --> 00:25:14.798
- There's that word.
- 00:25:14.798 --> 00:25:17.834
- "to him who overcomes,
- 00:25:17.834 --> 00:25:19.169
- I will grant him to sit down with me on my throne
- 00:25:19.169 --> 00:25:22.039
- As i also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne."
- 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:27.711
- The lukewarm christian
- 00:25:27.711 --> 00:25:29.046
- Is the one who won't make a decision.
- 00:25:29.046 --> 00:25:31.248
- He says, "be hot or cold, but don't be stuck.
- 00:25:31.248 --> 00:25:35.953
- Don't just be churchified. don't just be religious.
- 00:25:35.953 --> 00:25:42.125
- Don't just act the part. don't just play christianity.
- 00:25:42.125 --> 00:25:48.465
- Just make a decision. be all-in.
- 00:25:48.465 --> 00:25:53.370
- Be hot. be cold."
- 00:25:53.370 --> 00:25:54.705
- That doesn't mean we're perfect, but it means we repent
- 00:25:54.705 --> 00:25:57.107
- When god reveals our imperfection
- 00:25:57.107 --> 00:25:59.042
- So that we can get back on the road.
- 00:25:59.042 --> 00:26:03.146
- And when you do and jesus shows up,
- 00:26:03.146 --> 00:26:05.782
- He enables us to become overcomers
- 00:26:05.782 --> 00:26:08.318
- Of the things we have to overcome
- 00:26:08.318 --> 00:26:11.955
- Because he's dining at the table with us
- 00:26:11.955 --> 00:26:14.725
- When the devil shows up.
- 00:26:14.725 --> 00:26:17.728
- And when you do, he says, "you will sit with me."
- 00:26:17.728 --> 00:26:20.297
- So, i challenge each one of us, including me,
- 00:26:20.297 --> 00:26:23.133
- But us collectively as a church to be all-in,
- 00:26:23.133 --> 00:26:27.104
- All-in at putting the spiritual ahead of the physical
- 00:26:27.104 --> 00:26:30.874
- So that we are not a wretched church,
- 00:26:30.874 --> 00:26:33.276
- A poor church, a blind church, and a naked church,
- 00:26:33.276 --> 00:26:37.414
- But a church who eats with jesus christ individually.
- 00:26:37.414 --> 00:26:42.152
- ...
- 00:26:42.152 --> 00:26:44.354
- Did you hear that?
- 00:26:44.354 --> 00:26:46.056
- Wait a minute.
- 00:26:46.056 --> 00:26:48.058
- Listen, listen...
- 00:26:48.058 --> 00:26:53.163
- Oh, yeah. that's jesus knocking.
- 00:26:53.163 --> 00:26:57.167
- ♪♪♪
- 00:26:57.167 --> 00:26:57.167