Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.
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Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - A Challenge To Faithfulness | April 27, 2025
- ...
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- Tony evans: i'm here to tell you: make jesus lord.
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- That does not always mean he will deliver you from,
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- But it does mean he'll join you in.
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- And if he joins you in, there's victory even in the fire
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- Because when god comes through for you,
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- You will discover that greater is he that's in you--
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- In the fire-- than he that's in the world.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Tony: god has a major problem with part-time christians
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- Who don't wanna be full-time saints,
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- Who want to identify when it comes to a blessing,
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- But not when it comes to a struggle,
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- Who want the benefits of heaven, but not the trouble
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- That heaven brings on earth.
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- John the apostle writes to this second church,
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- The church at smyrna.
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- Smyrna is located 35 miles north of our previous church, ephesus.
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- And it is a seaport town, very well off,
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- Somewhat prestigious, but there was trouble in smyrna.
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- Verse 8, jesus says to the pastor,
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- The angel of the church,
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- The one who's going to deliver the message,
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- He says, "the first and the last,
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- The one who was dead and alive says this.
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- So i'm going to give the message,
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- But jesus is doing the talking.
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- So if you get mad at what i'm getting ready to say,
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- Talk to jesus.
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- Leave me alone."
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- Because he just told him to say what he was saying.
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- He identifies himself before he gets into
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- The core of his message
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- As the one who is the first and the last.
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- Now, that may not mean much to you until you understand
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- Where that phrase comes from.
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- Because in isaiah chapter 41, verse 4;
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- And isaiah chapter 44, verse 6;
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- And in isaiah chapter 48, verses 12 and 13,
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- Where you see the phrase "the first and the last,"
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- That phrase is used of almighty god.
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- In fact, in isaiah 48:12 and 13 he says,
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- "i am the first and the last,
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- The god who created heavens and earth."
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- So when jesus christ declares himself
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- In revelation 2, verse 8, to be the first and the last,
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- He's declaring himself to be god.
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- So he picks this old testament designation of god
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- And applies it to himself.
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- Now, we know he's applying it to himself because he says,
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- "i was dead and now i'm alive."
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- Well, god the father didn't die; god the son died.
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- So in that little phrase,
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- Jesus speaks of both his deity and his humanity.
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- He's the first and the last, he's god, but he died.
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- So he's man.
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- In fact, that is, as we've often said,
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- The uniqueness of jesus christ.
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- The baby in the manger made his mother.
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- The baby in the stable made the animals
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- That surrounded him there.
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- The same one who got thirsty could walk on water.
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- Same one who got hungry could turn sardines and crackers
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- Into a moby dick sandwich.
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- The same one who died could rise from the dead
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- Because he is both the first and the last--god.
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- And he's the one who died-- man--but who's now alive.
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- We explained last time that he now sits
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- As the risen, ascended christ.
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- So you must learn to look at and relate to him now
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- In his current status as the one in charge.
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- It is to this person that we read the phrase--
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- He says, "i know your tribulation.
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- I know your trouble.
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- I know what you're going through.
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- I know you're hurting right now."
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- One of the things you need to understand is
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- Jesus never goes, "oops," about what's happening to you.
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- Jesus never says, "oh, i'm so sorry.
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- That one caught me by surprise."
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- He says, "i am fully aware that you're going through it
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- Because i'm god,
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- But i'm also fully aware of what it feels like
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- 'cause i'm man.
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- If you feel like you're dying,
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- I know what that feels like 'cause i died.
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- I've been through all of the categories of trouble
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- That any human being has been through as man
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- Even though i am simultaneously deity.
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- I know your trouble."
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- If you're hurting today, he's aware of it.
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- If you're crying today, he's aware of it.
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- If your world has been shaken today,
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- He's aware of it not only because he's omniscient--god,
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- But because he's human--man.
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- And so he's got that dual reality of identification
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- While transcending time and being involved in time.
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- He says, "i know you got trouble."
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- Now, let me give you the first category of trouble
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- These believers was face-- were facing.
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- This is smyrna.
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- Smyrna was well-known for something.
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- The mountains around smyrna look like a crown,
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- A crown that a king would wear.
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- They were shaped that way.
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- Many of the buildings in smyrna were built to reflect
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- This mountain look of a crown.
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- The reason why that is a big deal,
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- If you lived in smyrna, is because as a roman colony,
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- They worshiped caesar as lord.
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- You had to recognize caesar as god.
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- Well, these christians had another declaration:
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- Jesus is lord.
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- That created a conflict with the roman government.
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- So they were going through the pressure and oppression
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- Of not yielding to the governmental authority
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- When it claimed the rights of deity.
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- While everybody else was saying, "caesar is lord,"
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- They were declaring, "no, jesus is lord.
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- While we will recognize government
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- And respect government, we won't bow to government
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- Because jesus, and not caesar, is lord."
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- That created a problem
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- Because once you rejected caesar,
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- You were now an enemy of the state.
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- And as a result of that,
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- There was confiscation of property.
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- It says, "you are having trouble, and you are poor."
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- Well, what they were facing
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- In their declaration that jesus is lord
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- Was an impoverishment economically,
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- The loss of something financially
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- Because of their commitment to the risen, ascended christ
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- And their unwillingness to compromise their declaration
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- In front of rome-- that "you are not our god;
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- Jesus is our god."
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- So they were spiritually rich.
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- That's why he says in the next phrase,
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- "you are rich."
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- "you are rich because of your decision
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- To be committed to me
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- Even though it's costing you a price tag."
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- So let me say this as we get going here:
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- If it's never cost you anything to follow jesus christ as lord,
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- It is because you are not following
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- Jesus christ as lord.
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- Paul told timothy, "all those who live godly in christ jesus
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- Will suffer persecution.
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- So if you're never suffering rejection,
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- If you're never suffering defeat,
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- If you're never suffering loss,
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- It is because you're not godly enough
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- For you to suffer any of that
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- Because he says there are absolutely no exceptions.
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- All those, they don't suffer the same thing.
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- They don't suffer the same amount of things,
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- But there is a loss to following christ.
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- I would love to come to you today and tell you,
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- "follow christ and it's going to be roses 24/7."
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- He says, "you are in trouble, and i know you're in trouble
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- Because you've taken a public stand
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- For the first and the last, who was dead."
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- He not talking about "you believe in god,"
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- Being very generic,
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- So nobody knows who you talking about.
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- He's talking about the recognition
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- Of jesus christ as lord
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- In the face of a rejecting government.
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- And let me explain this real clear:
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- We are getting to the place in america
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- Where if you publicly declare jesus christ is lord--
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- Not the democrats, not the republicans,
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- Not the congress, not the white house--
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- Jesus christ is lord, and it is he that will make
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- The final decisions for the church,
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- Not the government, we have set ourself up
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- For an attack that has already begun.
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- We're living in a day when there's little respect
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- For our faith,
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- When religious freedom is in jeopardy,
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- And regardless of which party you're for--
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- That's not my point.
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- My point is it ought to be clear
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- And there ought to be no mistakes about it
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- That our ultimate allegiance is not to washington.
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- It's to the king of kings and the lord of lords.
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- Says, "i know the trouble you're facing.
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- I know that you're on delicate territory now
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- When you do not declare that caesar is lord,
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- When you do not declare--"
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- In fact, unfortunately many christians--
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- And certainly the secular political world--
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- Don't even really understand what's happening right now.
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- 2 chronicles chapter 15, verses 3 to 6, it says,
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- "in those days there was no true god,
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- No teaching priests, no law.
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- There was no peace to him who went in, peace to he--
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- To him who came out.
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- City rose up against city,
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- And nation rose up against nation."
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- And then it says,
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- "for god troubled them with every kind of distress."
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- Now, if god is your problem, only god is your solution.
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- If god is your problem, i don't care who you select
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- 'cause we got losers on both sides.
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- I don't care who you elect.
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- In fact, the only reason we got these two options
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- Is because god has placed the whole thing under judgment,
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- Because god's saying,
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- "okay, you gonna put me out the pasture,
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- Kick me out your schools, kick me out your courts,
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- Kick me out-- you just going to kick me out?
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- Well, i'm gonna let you see what your country looks like
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- When i go."
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- He says, "i know your trouble.
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- I know when you don't compromise at work,
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- You might not get that promotion,
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- I know when you don't compromise with your friends,
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- You might not get that recognition.
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- But that's the piece of your commitment
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- You need to know about
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- So that you're not shocked when it happens,
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- So that you don't know where that came from."
- 00:14:13.905 --> 00:14:18.643
- Says, "i know your trouble, and i know there is a price tag
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- To full commitment to me."
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- There are a number of reasons that god allows suffering.
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- Let me review this with you.
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- One reason that god allows suffering--
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- Because he knows what's going on.
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- He says, "i know."
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- Say--let me say something.
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- Nothing happens to you that doesn't pass through
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- His fingers first, okay?
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- It's called sovereignty.
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- Nothing--in order for it to get to you,
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- It's gotta go through him,
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- Which means it has to have permission.
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- Now, i'm not talking about suffering
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- Because of you doing evil.
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- That's one kind of suffering.
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- I'm talking about when you trying to live for god,
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- When you trying to proclaim christ,
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- When you try-- and it's still going south.
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- It had to pass through his fingers first, okay?
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- One reason he does it is to humble us--
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- 2 corinthians 12, verse 7-- to humble us.
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- In other words, he wants to deal with something
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- In our character that we either actually or potentially
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- Are headed toward.
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- Another reason he lets us
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- When we're seeking to live for him
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- Is to use us.
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- 2 corinthians chapter 1, verse 4,
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- Paul says "in our affliction--" we going through stuff.
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- We trying to serve god, love god, please god,
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- Walk with god,
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- And we are underneath affliction, suffering.
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- He says god met us in our affliction--watch this--
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- So that we would now be able to comfort others
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- Who are in the same affliction.
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- So god lets you go through stuff
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- Even though you're trying to please him
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- And are publicly associated with him
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- 'cause he has somebody else down the line
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- Who's gonna be going through what you are now going through.
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- And he doesn't just want you to quote bible verses;
- 00:16:17.695 --> 00:16:20.898
- He doesn't just want to say, "i'm going to pray for you";
- 00:16:20.898 --> 00:16:23.734
- He wants you to feel what they feel
- 00:16:23.734 --> 00:16:26.170
- And emote where they emote,
- 00:16:26.170 --> 00:16:27.872
- And--because you've been where they've been.
- 00:16:27.872 --> 00:16:31.809
- And he wants to use you experientially.
- 00:16:31.809 --> 00:16:34.478
- Isn't it irritating?
- 00:16:34.478 --> 00:16:35.813
- Somebody trying to help you
- 00:16:35.813 --> 00:16:37.148
- That don't know what you talking about
- 00:16:37.148 --> 00:16:39.717
- 'cause they've never been there?
- 00:16:39.717 --> 00:16:42.987
- He says, "i want to use the comfort i give you
- 00:16:42.987 --> 00:16:45.990
- In what i allowed you to go through."
- 00:16:45.990 --> 00:16:48.492
- He does it for another reason: to grow us.
- 00:16:48.492 --> 00:16:52.063
- James chapter 1, verses 2 to 4, says the testings of your faith
- 00:16:52.063 --> 00:16:58.135
- Is to develop you.
- 00:16:58.135 --> 00:17:00.004
- He wants to take you to another level.
- 00:17:00.004 --> 00:17:03.074
- So there is purpose in the pain
- 00:17:03.074 --> 00:17:06.110
- If you're seeking to live for him publicly.
- 00:17:06.110 --> 00:17:10.948
- Oh, here's one:
- 00:17:10.948 --> 00:17:14.151
- To deepen his reality in your life.
- 00:17:14.151 --> 00:17:18.622
- Now, watch this.
- 00:17:18.622 --> 00:17:19.957
- It's called in philippians 3:10 the fellowship of his suffering.
- 00:17:19.957 --> 00:17:24.829
- Fellowship means increased intimacy.
- 00:17:24.829 --> 00:17:28.732
- God knows if it's only blessing,
- 00:17:28.732 --> 00:17:31.669
- He ain't gonna get your undivided attention.
- 00:17:31.669 --> 00:17:34.238
- If it's only blessing, you may not pick up the phone.
- 00:17:34.238 --> 00:17:37.541
- If it's only blessing, you may not get desperate enough.
- 00:17:37.541 --> 00:17:41.345
- So he brings you to the fellowship of his suffering.
- 00:17:41.345 --> 00:17:45.749
- He lets you feel what it feels like to be him
- 00:17:45.749 --> 00:17:49.620
- When he was going through what you're going through
- 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:52.790
- 'cause he knows you going to snuggle up a little closer.
- 00:17:52.790 --> 00:17:55.893
- You going to spend a little bit more time
- 00:17:55.893 --> 00:17:57.528
- In prayer.
- 00:17:57.528 --> 00:17:58.863
- You going to meet him longer in the word
- 00:17:58.863 --> 00:18:01.198
- When it's hurting bad enough that you need him.
- 00:18:01.198 --> 00:18:06.403
- And so he does that to deepen the intimacy with his people.
- 00:18:06.403 --> 00:18:10.975
- But he says, "it's even worse than that.
- 00:18:10.975 --> 00:18:13.777
- I know," verse 9, "the blasphemy of those
- 00:18:13.777 --> 00:18:17.348
- Who say they are jews and are not
- 00:18:17.348 --> 00:18:19.483
- But are a synagogue of satan."
- 00:18:19.483 --> 00:18:22.386
- Oh, wait a minute.
- 00:18:22.386 --> 00:18:24.121
- He started with the secular world.
- 00:18:24.121 --> 00:18:26.390
- Now he says you get in trouble from the religious world.
- 00:18:26.390 --> 00:18:30.694
- Synagogue, that's a place of worship.
- 00:18:30.694 --> 00:18:34.031
- These were the jews who rejected christ
- 00:18:34.031 --> 00:18:37.835
- Who were now persecuting the christians.
- 00:18:37.835 --> 00:18:40.538
- These are church folk who reject you
- 00:18:40.538 --> 00:18:44.775
- Because you've taken your stand for jesus christ.
- 00:18:44.775 --> 00:18:47.244
- 'cause--just 'cause they in church don't mean they right.
- 00:18:47.244 --> 00:18:52.950
- Just 'cause they in church,
- 00:18:52.950 --> 00:18:54.285
- Carrying a bible under their arm--
- 00:18:54.285 --> 00:18:55.986
- 'cause these jews were carrying the old testament--
- 00:18:55.986 --> 00:18:58.222
- Just 'cause they carrying a bible under their arm
- 00:18:58.222 --> 00:19:00.558
- Doesn't mean they committed.
- 00:19:00.558 --> 00:19:03.494
- Just 'cause they saying, "amen, hallelujah, praise the lord,"
- 00:19:03.494 --> 00:19:06.564
- Standing up, sitting down, clapping their hands,
- 00:19:06.564 --> 00:19:09.133
- That don't mean a thing if jesus is not lord.
- 00:19:09.133 --> 00:19:13.737
- In fact, he said, "you got a church full of devils."
- 00:19:13.737 --> 00:19:20.778
- There is resistance from the synagogue of sa--
- 00:19:20.778 --> 00:19:24.315
- The religious folk were against them.
- 00:19:24.315 --> 00:19:26.750
- Because--i want to tell you now--
- 00:19:26.750 --> 00:19:28.485
- If you take your stand for jesus christ,
- 00:19:28.485 --> 00:19:31.455
- Church folk will say, "you a fanatic."
- 00:19:31.455 --> 00:19:34.992
- Church folk will say, "you being too serious about this.
- 00:19:34.992 --> 00:19:39.530
- Church folk will start calling you "rev."
- 00:19:39.530 --> 00:19:42.933
- Church folk will tell you,
- 00:19:42.933 --> 00:19:44.435
- "i don't need to hear that bible no more."
- 00:19:44.435 --> 00:19:47.938
- Church folk will do that and become your persecutors
- 00:19:47.938 --> 00:19:53.978
- Because you're taking your stand for god.
- 00:19:53.978 --> 00:19:56.780
- Goes on to say-- oh, i like this--
- 00:19:56.780 --> 00:20:01.051
- "do not fear," mm, 'cause you can get scared
- 00:20:01.051 --> 00:20:10.327
- When you're hurting because of your faith.
- 00:20:10.327 --> 00:20:14.064
- "are they gonna accept me? are they gonna like me?
- 00:20:14.064 --> 00:20:15.933
- Are they gonna befriend me? are they gonna work with me?
- 00:20:15.933 --> 00:20:19.036
- Are they gonna, are they gonna,
- 00:20:19.036 --> 00:20:20.371
- Are they gonna, are they gonna--"
- 00:20:20.371 --> 00:20:22.273
- I'm talking about appropriately but clearly
- 00:20:22.273 --> 00:20:24.174
- Representing the faith.
- 00:20:24.174 --> 00:20:25.509
- He says, "do not fear."
- 00:20:25.509 --> 00:20:27.177
- Now, why did he tell them, "do not fear"?
- 00:20:27.177 --> 00:20:28.512
- 'cause he said, "getting ready to get worse."
- 00:20:28.512 --> 00:20:31.515
- Ooh, see, see? i lost my "amens" right there.
- 00:20:31.515 --> 00:20:34.018
- "it's getting ready to get worse."
- 00:20:34.018 --> 00:20:36.153
- He says, "do not fear what you are about to suffer."
- 00:20:36.153 --> 00:20:40.924
- And he already told 'em, "you're suffering."
- 00:20:40.924 --> 00:20:42.726
- He says, "well, something else coming."
- 00:20:42.726 --> 00:20:45.396
- He says, "behold, the devil is about to cast some of you
- 00:20:45.396 --> 00:20:49.466
- In prison so that you will be tested
- 00:20:49.466 --> 00:21:00.077
- And you will have tribulation for ten days."
- 00:21:00.144 --> 00:21:04.114
- He said, "so some of y'all are going to jail."
- 00:21:04.114 --> 00:21:06.550
- In fact, some of you here may feel like you're in jail--
- 00:21:06.550 --> 00:21:09.687
- A circumstance you can't get out of,
- 00:21:09.687 --> 00:21:11.021
- A suffering you can't get away from--
- 00:21:11.021 --> 00:21:13.190
- And you feel like "i am in prison."
- 00:21:13.190 --> 00:21:15.659
- He said, "it's going to get worse."
- 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:17.328
- And then he tells you, "but don't fear."
- 00:21:17.328 --> 00:21:21.498
- He says, "don't be afraid
- 00:21:21.498 --> 00:21:24.768
- Because you will undergo some trouble for ten days."
- 00:21:24.768 --> 00:21:30.708
- If god says, "in ten days it's going to be over,"
- 00:21:30.708 --> 00:21:35.379
- You want to make sure you done
- 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:40.317
- 'cause you don't want to see it extended any longer
- 00:21:40.317 --> 00:21:42.653
- Than what his clock called for.
- 00:21:42.653 --> 00:21:46.557
- See, sometimes we going through stuff
- 00:21:46.557 --> 00:21:49.259
- 'cause we ain't done.
- 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:51.161
- No, we still not confessing christ,
- 00:21:51.161 --> 00:21:53.263
- We're still not living for christ,
- 00:21:53.263 --> 00:21:55.065
- But we want to say, "get me out of here."
- 00:21:55.065 --> 00:21:56.767
- Well, god said, "well, the bell rung,
- 00:21:56.767 --> 00:21:58.235
- But you ain't ready.
- 00:21:58.235 --> 00:22:00.204
- You raw all on the inside. you ain't done."
- 00:22:00.204 --> 00:22:05.275
- God says, "i control the clock.
- 00:22:05.275 --> 00:22:06.844
- That's why you don't have to be afraid.
- 00:22:06.844 --> 00:22:08.178
- I got this clock, and satan is on a leash.
- 00:22:08.178 --> 00:22:14.451
- And i didn't given him ten days to do his stuff
- 00:22:14.451 --> 00:22:16.920
- For me to do in you what i want you to do,
- 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:19.156
- But at ten days i'm jerking that sucker back."
- 00:22:19.156 --> 00:22:23.327
- See, here's the deal:
- 00:22:23.327 --> 00:22:24.895
- If you going to go through down times, suffering times,
- 00:22:24.895 --> 00:22:28.632
- Tribulation times, for following christ,
- 00:22:28.632 --> 00:22:31.135
- The key thing you going to need to know
- 00:22:31.135 --> 00:22:32.970
- Is he's there.
- 00:22:32.970 --> 00:22:34.705
- See, that's the key thing.
- 00:22:34.705 --> 00:22:36.673
- Even if the circumstance hasn't changed,
- 00:22:36.673 --> 00:22:39.610
- You need to know he in the vicinity.
- 00:22:39.610 --> 00:22:42.246
- You need to know that mr. rogers is in the neighborhood.
- 00:22:42.246 --> 00:22:44.681
- You need to know that god is right there,
- 00:22:44.681 --> 00:22:48.318
- Where you're going through it.
- 00:22:48.318 --> 00:22:49.987
- "so what do you want? what do you want from me, lord?"
- 00:22:49.987 --> 00:22:52.089
- Here he tells you at the end of verse 10,
- 00:22:52.089 --> 00:22:54.291
- "i want you to be faithful unto death."
- 00:22:54.291 --> 00:22:57.728
- That's the message.
- 00:22:57.728 --> 00:22:59.062
- "i want you, if you going to be an overcomer,
- 00:22:59.062 --> 00:23:02.332
- To be faithful until the end.
- 00:23:02.332 --> 00:23:07.304
- Until this life is over,
- 00:23:07.304 --> 00:23:11.375
- I want you to go all the way for me.
- 00:23:11.375 --> 00:23:14.344
- And if you do, i will give you,"
- 00:23:14.344 --> 00:23:16.713
- Verse 10 says, "the crown of life.
- 00:23:16.713 --> 00:23:20.517
- I will give you a crown, a crown."
- 00:23:20.517 --> 00:23:24.254
- Now, if you wear a crown, you are in a privileged position.
- 00:23:24.254 --> 00:23:28.025
- "i'm gonna give you the recognition.
- 00:23:28.025 --> 00:23:34.498
- I'm gonna give you the notoriety
- 00:23:34.498 --> 00:23:38.469
- That it looks like you gave up
- 00:23:38.469 --> 00:23:40.437
- Because of your commitment to me.
- 00:23:40.437 --> 00:23:42.539
- I'm going to give you the crown of life."
- 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.508
- And he closes by saying, "he who has an ear,
- 00:23:44.508 --> 00:23:47.177
- Let him hear"--okay,
- 00:23:47.177 --> 00:23:49.012
- Everybody who's paying attention this morning--
- 00:23:49.012 --> 00:23:51.782
- "what the spirit says to the churches."
- 00:23:51.782 --> 00:23:53.784
- And then he speaks to you as an individual:
- 00:23:53.784 --> 00:23:55.853
- "he who overcomes will not be hurt
- 00:23:55.853 --> 00:24:00.791
- By the second death."
- 00:24:00.791 --> 00:24:02.659
- Now, the reason why that's a curious phrase
- 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:04.895
- Is that the second death refers to hell.
- 00:24:04.895 --> 00:24:08.232
- Bible says hell is cast into the lake of fire,
- 00:24:08.232 --> 00:24:10.234
- And that is the second death.
- 00:24:10.234 --> 00:24:12.202
- So that's hell.
- 00:24:12.202 --> 00:24:13.837
- But wait a minute. he's talking to christians here.
- 00:24:13.837 --> 00:24:16.006
- These are believers who are suffering.
- 00:24:16.006 --> 00:24:18.175
- So they not going to hell; they going to heaven.
- 00:24:18.175 --> 00:24:21.445
- So why would he tell believers,
- 00:24:21.445 --> 00:24:23.113
- "if you are an overcomer, not just a christian,
- 00:24:23.113 --> 00:24:26.316
- But you overcome the temptation of not being faithful
- 00:24:26.316 --> 00:24:29.019
- In the midst of tribulation,
- 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.888
- You will not be hurt by something
- 00:24:30.888 --> 00:24:32.356
- That has absolutely nothing to do with you
- 00:24:32.356 --> 00:24:34.625
- Because the second death is hell,
- 00:24:34.625 --> 00:24:35.959
- And that's not where you going"?
- 00:24:35.959 --> 00:24:37.327
- So it's an irrelevant topic.
- 00:24:37.327 --> 00:24:39.730
- Or let me say it another way:
- 00:24:39.730 --> 00:24:43.267
- Don't let folk--second death-- who are going to hell
- 00:24:43.267 --> 00:24:49.439
- Keep you from getting your reward.
- 00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:54.011
- "don't let folk who not on their way to heaven
- 00:24:54.011 --> 00:24:57.681
- Keep you from getting all that heaven has for you
- 00:24:57.681 --> 00:25:00.817
- 'cause you are more committed to them
- 00:25:00.817 --> 00:25:03.053
- Who can do nothing for you ultimately
- 00:25:03.053 --> 00:25:05.455
- Than you are committed to me."
- 00:25:05.455 --> 00:25:07.357
- Don't let the second death-- hell-bound folk--
- 00:25:07.357 --> 00:25:11.094
- Keep you from maximizing heaven's opportunity.
- 00:25:11.094 --> 00:25:16.400
- Don't quit.
- 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.834
- And if we are not developing those kinds of christians
- 00:25:17.834 --> 00:25:20.237
- As a church, we've failed
- 00:25:20.237 --> 00:25:22.873
- Because our job isn't to have "church."
- 00:25:22.873 --> 00:25:25.709
- Our job is to create disciples who are not ashamed
- 00:25:25.709 --> 00:25:28.478
- To say jesus christ is lord.
- 00:25:28.478 --> 00:25:31.448
- We're in a political-correct environment now.
- 00:25:31.448 --> 00:25:34.017
- "well, you can't bring up this,
- 00:25:34.017 --> 00:25:35.352
- And you can't bring up that."
- 00:25:35.352 --> 00:25:36.687
- Of course, you can cuss like a sailor if you want.
- 00:25:36.687 --> 00:25:39.489
- You can be insulting to the faith if you want.
- 00:25:39.489 --> 00:25:42.159
- But bring up jesus, and you in trouble.
- 00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:45.395
- Well, i'm just going to have to be in trouble
- 00:25:45.395 --> 00:25:46.730
- 'cause i'm bringing up jesus.
- 00:25:46.730 --> 00:25:52.102
- Like paul, i am not ashamed of the gospel.
- 00:25:52.102 --> 00:25:54.771
- It is the power of god unto salvation
- 00:25:54.771 --> 00:25:57.874
- To everyone who believes.
- 00:25:57.874 --> 00:25:59.977
- You do it lovingly, you do it appropriately,
- 00:25:59.977 --> 00:26:01.945
- You do it wisely, but you do it clearly.
- 00:26:01.945 --> 00:26:07.284
- So you don't quit.
- 00:26:07.284 --> 00:26:08.652
- If you're going through a tough time
- 00:26:08.652 --> 00:26:09.987
- And you're living for christ,
- 00:26:09.987 --> 00:26:11.421
- If you're not living for christ, that's a whole different story.
- 00:26:11.421 --> 00:26:13.557
- That's getting right.
- 00:26:13.557 --> 00:26:15.292
- But if you have made the decision
- 00:26:15.292 --> 00:26:16.827
- "i have decided to follow jesus.
- 00:26:16.827 --> 00:26:19.029
- No turning back. no turning back,"
- 00:26:19.029 --> 00:26:21.999
- You've made it known.
- 00:26:21.999 --> 00:26:24.001
- Everybody understands that that's who you are.
- 00:26:24.001 --> 00:26:28.105
- If you were accused of being a christian at work,
- 00:26:28.105 --> 00:26:29.906
- There would be enough evidence to convict you
- 00:26:29.906 --> 00:26:33.243
- 'cause you come through that way,
- 00:26:33.243 --> 00:26:34.911
- You live that way, you make your decisions that way
- 00:26:34.911 --> 00:26:37.748
- Because that's who you are,
- 00:26:37.748 --> 00:26:39.449
- And that's your normal modus operandi.
- 00:26:39.449 --> 00:26:42.419
- None of us is perfect,
- 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:44.187
- But that's your normal modus operandi.
- 00:26:44.187 --> 00:26:49.159
- Now, you keep going.
- 00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:50.661
- God's got the clock. he knows how many days.
- 00:26:50.661 --> 00:26:53.497
- He's got a purpose in the pain. you keep going.
- 00:26:53.497 --> 00:26:57.000
- ♪♪♪
- 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:01.138
- ♪♪♪
- 00:27:01.138 --> 00:27:20.424
- ♪ that's right. hey! ♪
- 00:27:11.081 --> 00:27:23.760
- ♪♪♪
- 00:27:23.760 --> 00:27:23.760