Tony Evans - A Challenge To Greater Convictions

May 4, 2025 | S25:E18

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 Greater Convictions | May 4, 2025
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  • Tony evans: god's word, a sharp two-edged sword,
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  • Is there to cut on your behalf
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  • And against that which is against you.
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  • But god's word will not cut
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  • When it's been dulled by compromise.
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  • You might get acceptance from the culture,
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  • But what you won't get is a two-edged sword for you.
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  • Word of god is not open for negotiation--
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  • Not when god has spoken clearly on a subject.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Tony: let me tell you a little bit about pergamum.
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  • Pergamum was a city some 45 miles north of ephesus
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  • And then smyrna,
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  • The two churches we've already seen.
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  • A very wealthy city
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  • But a city controlled by the devil.
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  • Jesus starts and he speaks the first and the last,
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  • Which he said about himself in smyrna,
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  • Now says in verse 12,
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  • "the one who has the sharp two-edged sword
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  • Says this."
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  • "the one who has the sharp two-edged sword
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  • Says this."
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  • "the one who has the sharp two-edged sword
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  • Says this."
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  • So jesus christ is talking, but he describes himself
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  • As the possessor of the two-edged sword.
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  • This is not the first time we've seen that phrase.
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  • Chapter 1, verse 16, of revelation,
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  • "in his right hand he held the seven stars
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  • And out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword."
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  • In chapter 19 of revelation, verse 15,
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  • "from his mouth came a sharp sword."
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  • Verse 21, "and the rest were killed with the sword
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  • Which came from his mouth."
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  • It says out of the lord jesus christ's mouth
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  • Comes a very sharp two-edged sword.
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  • The sword has two edges. both sides are sharp.
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  • That can cut you going and coming.
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  • It's sharp for blessings and it's sharp for judgment.
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  • It's sharp for help, but it's sharp for correction.
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  • It's sharp for your benefit,
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  • But it's also sharp to deal with you
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  • If you need to be dealt with.
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  • They didn't have guns and pistols and bullets
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  • Back then.
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  • They had swords.
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  • That sword was used for protection.
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  • It was also used for advancing against an enemy,
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  • And to possess the sword
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  • Was a phrase of having the authority.
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  • In romans chapter 13 it says that the the king
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  • Does not wield the sword in vain.
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  • That speaks of his authority to judge.
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  • So when you read about jesus having the sword,
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  • He is speaking about the authority.
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  • Matthew 28, verses 19 and 20,
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  • Jesus says, "all authority belongs to me in heaven
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  • And on earth."
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  • Translation, "i'm in charge now."
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  • So when jesus says, "a sword is coming out of my mouth,"
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  • He is laying claim to authority from heaven to history,
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  • From eternity to time, from heaven to earth.
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  • So jesus christ sits as the risen lord ascended
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  • On the right hand of the father,
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  • Speaking to his people, the church, at pergamum,
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  • And he says, "i'm in charge here.
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  • And i have a sword."
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  • Where is the sword? "it's coming out of my mouth."
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  • Now, the problem today is that we--and by we i mean any--
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  • Even many christians have lost faith in the power of the sword
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  • That comes out of jesus's mouth.
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  • We have lost faith in the power of the word.
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  • Oh, we respect it because we'll carry it
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  • Under our arms or punch it in on our device.
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  • We pay homage to it while simultaneously ripping it
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  • From its authority.
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  • Jesus says, "when my mouth speaks my word, it's sharp,"
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  • And anything sharp will cut you.
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  • So if you're uncut by the word of god,
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  • You're not using what's coming out of his mouth.
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  • If you can go day after day,
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  • Week after week, month after month,
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  • Year after year, and not be cut,
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  • Then what he's doing and what you're doing
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  • Can't be the same thing because he says,
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  • "what's coming out of my mouth is sharp."
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  • But because today christians in particular--
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  • And certainly the society at large--
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  • Has lost confidence in god's word,
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  • They are going to every other word.
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  • They may sprinkle a little bible on it to make it sound good,
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  • But they're going to every other word,
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  • And they're wondering why the word is not working
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  • Because the word that works
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  • Must be the word coming out of his mouth,
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  • Not the word coming out of your mouth.
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  • But, see, what we have today are folk changing books
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  • Or dumbing down the book to please other books,
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  • Dulling the sword from being able to cut anything.
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  • He says, "the sword from my mouth is sharp,
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  • And if you're uncut,
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  • It can't be coming from my mouth."
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  • You follow the logic?
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  • If you are unaffected, unchanged,
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  • Because the way you know you're affected
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  • Is you're changing.
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  • So if there's no change, you've not been affected,
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  • No matter how much you enjoy the word you heard.
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  • Because if you cut, you bleed, okay?
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  • He says to the church at pergamum,
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  • "the sword that comes out of my mouth, my word,
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  • Is sharp."
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  • It cuts. it has authority.
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  • Having said that, he now commends them in verse 14,
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  • "i know where you dwell.
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  • I know where you live. i know where you have church.
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  • I know the community you're in."
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  • He says that to pergamum bible fellowship.
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  • "i know where you dwell-- where satan's throne is.
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  • And you hold fast my name and did not deny my faith,
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  • Even in the days of antipas, my witness, my faithful one
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  • Who was killed among you-- where satan dwells."
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  • Pergamum was the washington d.c. of satanism.
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  • He says, "where the throne of satan is."
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  • The throne of satan, he says, is in pergamum.
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  • So the devil's headquarters--
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  • Because a throne is where you rule from--
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  • So the devil's headquarters was in pergamum.
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  • In pergamum was pergamum bible fellowship--
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  • Was the church there.
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  • And it was sitting right in the midst of hell
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  • Because satan was owning the location.
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  • When they walked through those doors
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  • Of wherever they met,
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  • They were walking into hell's territory
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  • Because satan was running the show.
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  • And he compliments them and he says,
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  • "but you have kept my name and you kept it so much
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  • It cost one of your members--"
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  • Or could even been the pastor of the church,
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  • Doesn't say who it was.
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  • "but one of your members was killed because he
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  • Would not compromise my name."
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  • He compliments them that, in hell,
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  • They still held on to their christian faith.
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  • The temptation will be to all of us, at varying levels,
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  • To dumb down a commitment to christ
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  • Because of the influence of satan or his surrogates.
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  • And so he writes this church, telling them,
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  • "i recognize what you're going through
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  • And that you're seeking to be christian
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  • In a realm of caesar worship, of zeus worship,"
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  • Because they had temples to all these false gods
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  • As well as the government-- caesar, caesar worship.
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  • We talked about that last time.
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  • If god is not the government or giving the guidelines
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  • For the government, men who would like to be god will.
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  • Governments that leave god out
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  • Seek to become god over the people.
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  • That's a whole discussion time will not allow us to get into.
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  • But he compliments them and he says,
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  • "you're doing this where satan dwells.
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  • You're living in a hostile environment."
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  • But now he comes to verse 14.
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  • He says, "but i have a few things against you."
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  • "okay, now i like--
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  • I like the fact that you're still claiming me.
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  • You're claiming my name.
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  • You're claiming christianity in a hostile environment.
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  • But i have a problem.
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  • Because you have there
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  • Some who hold the teachings of balaam,
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  • Who kept teaching balaam to put a stumbling block
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  • Before the sons of israel,
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  • To eat things sacrificed to idols,
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  • And to commit acts of immorality."
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  • He says, "here's my problem:
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  • While you still claim me, you compromise.
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  • You still will say, 'i'm a christian,'
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  • But you will tolerate compromise."
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  • So the issue with this church is a lack of conviction.
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  • You will compromise like balaam.
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  • Now, the story of balaam is found
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  • In numbers chapters 22 to chapters 25.
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  • So let me summarize the story of balaam.
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  • Balaam is a prophet. israel is on the march.
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  • Balak--not balaam--balak, who's the king of moab,
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  • He's a little scared
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  • Because israel's gotten so large and so powerful
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  • He's got to do something.
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  • So he contacts balaam. balak contacts balaam.
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  • Balak says, "balaam, i want you to curse god's people,
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  • And we're gonna give you some change to do it.
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  • We're gonna give profit for the prophet.
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  • We will pay you to curse god's people."
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  • Balaam consults with god, and god tells him,
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  • "you can't curse my people; they're my people."
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  • Balaam--balak ups the price.
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  • "we'll pay you a little more if you will curse god's people."
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  • Balaam gets on a donkey.
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  • Balaam is riding this donkey to meet with balak.
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  • On the way, the angel of the lord stands
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  • In front of the donkey.
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  • So the donkey starts backing up.
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  • The donkey--balaam hits the donkey, says, "giddy up,"
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  • Because balaam doesn't see the angel of the lord.
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  • He just sees the donkey backing up--wham!
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  • It says the donkey sees the angel of the lord again
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  • And moves over to the side.
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  • Balaam wham, whacks it, "get going!"
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  • The donkey gets going again, sees the angel of the lord,
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  • Then falls down, okay?
  • 00:12:58.961 --> 00:13:02.164
  • Balaam whacks it for a third time.
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  • This time the donkey is tired of getting hit.
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  • So according to numbers chapter 22,
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  • The donkey looks back at balaam
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  • And says, "why you keep hitting me?"
  • 00:13:21.016 --> 00:13:26.188
  • So we got a talking donkey, all right?
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  • It gets even worse because balaam talks back
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  • To the donkey.
  • 00:13:35.064 --> 00:13:40.936
  • So the donkey's talking to balaam,
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  • And balaam is talking to the donkey.
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  • And he says, "you gotta, you gotta, you gotta--
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  • Why you not taking me where i need to go?"
  • 00:13:50.546 --> 00:13:52.348
  • Then all of a sudden, the angel of the lord
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  • Appears to balaam, says, "god was behind this."
  • 00:13:54.750 --> 00:13:59.788
  • Balaam can't curse the people of god.
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  • God keeps blocking the curse.
  • 00:14:01.824 --> 00:14:05.794
  • So balaam tells balak,
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  • "i'm not gonna be able to curse 'em.
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  • I know you offered me a lot of money,
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  • But god's blocking this thing.
  • 00:14:12.434 --> 00:14:14.904
  • So if you want to get 'em,
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  • Here's how you got to get israel:
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  • Make them compromise."
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  • Says, "intermix them with your women,
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  • Get them to marry.
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  • They will adopt your gods.
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  • If you would just get them to compromise,
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  • Then god will curse them for you."
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  • Ooh, so much theology there.
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  • I can't curse them because they're god's people,
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  • But god's character can't stand compromise.
  • 00:14:48.604 --> 00:14:52.641
  • So if we can get them to compromise--
  • 00:14:52.641 --> 00:14:55.811
  • Because god's character won't accept compromise,
  • 00:14:55.811 --> 00:14:59.381
  • God himself will do for you
  • 00:14:59.381 --> 00:15:01.951
  • What you're asking me to do that i can't do.
  • 00:15:01.951 --> 00:15:05.120
  • God will interject because god won't accept compromise.
  • 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:11.660
  • And so that's exactly what balak did.
  • 00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:14.964
  • He got them to inter-marry, interconnect.
  • 00:15:14.964 --> 00:15:18.834
  • He calls it immorality leading to idolatry,
  • 00:15:18.834 --> 00:15:22.638
  • Which brought god's judgment on israel.
  • 00:15:22.638 --> 00:15:27.643
  • So that god was no longer operating
  • 00:15:27.643 --> 00:15:29.912
  • For the people.
  • 00:15:29.912 --> 00:15:32.181
  • "what's that got to do with you and me,
  • 00:15:32.181 --> 00:15:33.515
  • And why is he telling that to them?"
  • 00:15:33.515 --> 00:15:35.084
  • Guess what he's telling them?
  • 00:15:35.084 --> 00:15:37.286
  • Compromise will keep god's word
  • 00:15:37.286 --> 00:15:40.489
  • From cutting anything in your life.
  • 00:15:40.489 --> 00:15:44.293
  • God's word, a sharp two-edged sword,
  • 00:15:44.293 --> 00:15:47.830
  • Is there to cut, to cut on your behalf
  • 00:15:47.830 --> 00:15:51.333
  • And against that which is against you.
  • 00:15:51.333 --> 00:15:53.502
  • But god's word will not cut when it's been dulled
  • 00:15:53.502 --> 00:15:57.573
  • By compromise.
  • 00:15:57.573 --> 00:16:00.309
  • So you can worship all day, say "i love jesus all day."
  • 00:16:00.309 --> 00:16:04.313
  • But when you compromise biblical values,
  • 00:16:04.313 --> 00:16:07.483
  • When you compromise biblical truth
  • 00:16:07.483 --> 00:16:09.985
  • In order to be popular in the culture,
  • 00:16:09.985 --> 00:16:12.588
  • You might get acceptance from the culture,
  • 00:16:12.588 --> 00:16:15.124
  • But what you won't get is a two-edged sword for you
  • 00:16:15.124 --> 00:16:19.661
  • Because you will have dulled the sword
  • 00:16:19.661 --> 00:16:24.066
  • As it was meant to do--
  • 00:16:24.066 --> 00:16:26.335
  • So many christians wonder why god is not moving.
  • 00:16:26.335 --> 00:16:30.139
  • Because of compromise.
  • 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:33.642
  • You compromise spiritual value, you compromise with other gods,
  • 00:16:33.642 --> 00:16:37.012
  • You compromise-- we compromise with lifestyle,
  • 00:16:37.012 --> 00:16:39.448
  • We compromise in so many ways.
  • 00:16:39.448 --> 00:16:41.216
  • Well, you need to understand:
  • 00:16:41.216 --> 00:16:42.785
  • Once you do that, the god who is for you
  • 00:16:42.785 --> 00:16:45.421
  • Can no longer be for you.
  • 00:16:45.421 --> 00:16:51.193
  • The god of the bible does not accept compromise
  • 00:16:51.193 --> 00:16:54.863
  • On biblical principle-- not preferences--principle.
  • 00:16:54.863 --> 00:17:01.637
  • He says, "and you've got this going on in your church,"
  • 00:17:01.637 --> 00:17:04.206
  • And he comes to the next verse, and he says who they are.
  • 00:17:04.206 --> 00:17:07.443
  • He says in verse 15,
  • 00:17:07.443 --> 00:17:11.847
  • "so you also have some who in the same way
  • 00:17:11.847 --> 00:17:16.151
  • Hold the teachings of the nicolaitans."
  • 00:17:16.151 --> 00:17:19.955
  • The nicolaitans were doing the teachings of balaam.
  • 00:17:19.955 --> 00:17:23.792
  • So here's the problem: they tolerated compromise.
  • 00:17:23.792 --> 00:17:31.200
  • He says, "you have some in your midst
  • 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.268
  • Who are teaching this and you're not saying anything."
  • 00:17:33.268 --> 00:17:37.339
  • So wait a minute.
  • 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:39.208
  • Even if you are not compromising but you tolerate compromising--
  • 00:17:39.208 --> 00:17:45.814
  • You tolerate the nicolaitans.
  • 00:17:45.814 --> 00:17:49.017
  • That is infecting the church by saying,
  • 00:17:49.017 --> 00:17:53.789
  • "it's okay to compromise your standards,
  • 00:17:53.789 --> 00:17:56.758
  • Compromise your morals, compromise your your deities.
  • 00:17:56.758 --> 00:18:01.063
  • You can compromise, and god understands."
  • 00:18:01.063 --> 00:18:06.368
  • Let me say it another way: they misunderstood grace.
  • 00:18:06.368 --> 00:18:13.242
  • One of the greatest words--
  • 00:18:13.242 --> 00:18:15.043
  • The greatest word-- in the christian language
  • 00:18:15.043 --> 00:18:17.446
  • Is "grace."
  • 00:18:17.446 --> 00:18:19.047
  • It means unmerited favor.
  • 00:18:19.047 --> 00:18:22.351
  • But they did not use grace properly.
  • 00:18:22.351 --> 00:18:26.088
  • They were using it like romans chapter 6, verse 1:
  • 00:18:26.088 --> 00:18:28.757
  • "shall we sin that grace may abound?"
  • 00:18:28.757 --> 00:18:30.893
  • Let's put it another way:
  • 00:18:30.893 --> 00:18:32.427
  • "shall we sin just because we know god will forgive me?"
  • 00:18:32.427 --> 00:18:34.863
  • And you've heard people say that: "oh, god?
  • 00:18:34.863 --> 00:18:36.865
  • God will forgive me."
  • 00:18:36.865 --> 00:18:38.634
  • So they were using grace as an excuse to sin.
  • 00:18:38.634 --> 00:18:43.505
  • That is both a misunderstanding and misuse of the greatest word
  • 00:18:43.505 --> 00:18:47.576
  • In the christian language.
  • 00:18:47.576 --> 00:18:49.011
  • Here's how you know you are using grace properly.
  • 00:18:49.011 --> 00:18:53.048
  • You are using grace properly not when it frees you to sin
  • 00:18:53.048 --> 00:18:57.019
  • But when it is so powerful it's freeing you from sin.
  • 00:18:57.019 --> 00:19:02.658
  • Shall we sin that grace may abound?
  • 00:19:02.658 --> 00:19:04.793
  • He says, "god forbid."
  • 00:19:04.793 --> 00:19:09.131
  • He says at the end of titus chapter 2,
  • 00:19:09.131 --> 00:19:11.500
  • "grace teaches us to deny ungodliness,"
  • 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:16.371
  • Not be comfortable in it.
  • 00:19:16.371 --> 00:19:19.775
  • That's called having the grace of god in vain.
  • 00:19:19.775 --> 00:19:24.079
  • The grace of god is designed to free us from compromise,
  • 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:28.283
  • Not make us comfortable in compromise.
  • 00:19:28.283 --> 00:19:32.120
  • That means it's either not understood
  • 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:34.723
  • Or it's not applied.
  • 00:19:34.723 --> 00:19:36.058
  • But the idea is this great word is a powerful word for victory.
  • 00:19:36.058 --> 00:19:41.163
  • But for nicolaitans-- were letting folk off the hook,
  • 00:19:41.163 --> 00:19:46.168
  • Making them feel comfortable in their compromise.
  • 00:19:46.168 --> 00:19:49.238
  • No, your job is not to make yourself
  • 00:19:49.238 --> 00:19:54.443
  • Or people in your circle of influence
  • 00:19:54.443 --> 00:19:56.778
  • Feel comfortable in their compromise
  • 00:19:56.778 --> 00:19:59.681
  • Because their compromise could be messing you up.
  • 00:19:59.681 --> 00:20:03.885
  • You are not supposed to judge preferences,
  • 00:20:03.885 --> 00:20:08.390
  • But you are to judge principles.
  • 00:20:08.390 --> 00:20:12.227
  • This is god's house.
  • 00:20:12.227 --> 00:20:14.263
  • He doesn't want foreign ideas being communicated in the house.
  • 00:20:14.263 --> 00:20:19.801
  • One of the major--
  • 00:20:19.801 --> 00:20:21.570
  • See, a lot of folks don't understand church.
  • 00:20:21.570 --> 00:20:23.772
  • The job of the church is not to bring
  • 00:20:23.772 --> 00:20:25.807
  • The world's ideas into the church.
  • 00:20:25.807 --> 00:20:28.410
  • That's not the job of the church.
  • 00:20:28.410 --> 00:20:33.181
  • The job of the church is to bring god's word
  • 00:20:33.181 --> 00:20:36.985
  • To its members,
  • 00:20:36.985 --> 00:20:38.620
  • Whether or not it agrees with the word out there.
  • 00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:42.958
  • A lot of folk only want church
  • 00:20:42.958 --> 00:20:45.727
  • To be made spiritually comfortable,
  • 00:20:45.727 --> 00:20:49.564
  • Not to be spiritually corrected.
  • 00:20:49.564 --> 00:20:52.367
  • And unless you come to be corrected--
  • 00:20:52.367 --> 00:20:56.338
  • As well as inspired-- you have misunderstood.
  • 00:20:56.338 --> 00:21:00.375
  • And so what we wind up doing is going to dull church.
  • 00:21:00.375 --> 00:21:05.480
  • There's no sword because nobody getting cut.
  • 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:08.483
  • Because he says, "the sword out of my mouth is cutting."
  • 00:21:08.483 --> 00:21:14.089
  • Refusal to compromise can cost you money.
  • 00:21:14.089 --> 00:21:18.160
  • Refusal to compromise can cost you relationships.
  • 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:21.430
  • Refusal to compromise can cost you position.
  • 00:21:21.430 --> 00:21:24.266
  • Refusal to compromise can cost you notoriety.
  • 00:21:24.266 --> 00:21:27.169
  • And so i don't want to stand up here
  • 00:21:27.169 --> 00:21:29.771
  • And tell you that if you don't compromise,
  • 00:21:29.771 --> 00:21:34.276
  • It's all gonna work out right then and there,
  • 00:21:34.276 --> 00:21:36.712
  • And there will be no price.
  • 00:21:36.712 --> 00:21:38.046
  • It cost antipas his life.
  • 00:21:38.046 --> 00:21:42.851
  • But if you want to see the two-edged sword,
  • 00:21:42.851 --> 00:21:47.456
  • You don't just want to have church.
  • 00:21:47.456 --> 00:21:48.924
  • You don't just want to be, you know, be--
  • 00:21:48.924 --> 00:21:51.193
  • Sing songs and clap your hands.
  • 00:21:51.193 --> 00:21:53.328
  • You want the sword and not dulled.
  • 00:21:53.328 --> 00:21:58.767
  • Then he says it can't be with compromise.
  • 00:21:58.767 --> 00:22:01.503
  • So he says to them, "i have this against you."
  • 00:22:01.503 --> 00:22:06.875
  • And it's such a big issue-- compromise is.
  • 00:22:06.875 --> 00:22:11.980
  • It's such a whopping issue.
  • 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.682
  • He says, "therefore repent or else i am coming to you
  • 00:22:13.682 --> 00:22:19.354
  • Quickly, and i will make war with them
  • 00:22:19.354 --> 00:22:21.957
  • With the word of my mouth."
  • 00:22:21.957 --> 00:22:25.127
  • And he's talking to his church. "i will make war with them."
  • 00:22:25.127 --> 00:22:29.931
  • Who's the "them"?
  • 00:22:29.931 --> 00:22:31.366
  • The nicolaitans who were teaching
  • 00:22:31.366 --> 00:22:32.701
  • The false doctrine.
  • 00:22:32.701 --> 00:22:34.269
  • So if you care about them, you better go talk to them.
  • 00:22:34.269 --> 00:22:41.676
  • You see, you may not be the one compromising.
  • 00:22:41.676 --> 00:22:43.645
  • You just may be tolerating them.
  • 00:22:43.645 --> 00:22:48.483
  • He says, "well, if you care about them,
  • 00:22:48.483 --> 00:22:51.453
  • Before i get to them, you better get to them.
  • 00:22:51.453 --> 00:22:56.024
  • Because when i get to them, it's not going to be pretty
  • 00:22:56.024 --> 00:22:59.027
  • Because they're messing up a bunch of other folk."
  • 00:22:59.027 --> 00:23:04.800
  • He says, "i want you to repent.
  • 00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:07.002
  • Repent of your compromise,
  • 00:23:07.002 --> 00:23:08.804
  • And repent of tolerating the compromise of others
  • 00:23:08.804 --> 00:23:13.308
  • Who are influencing others to compromise."
  • 00:23:13.308 --> 00:23:18.780
  • Repent, turn away, deal with it in the family of god.
  • 00:23:18.780 --> 00:23:25.887
  • And then he comes to the great verse, verse 17.
  • 00:23:25.887 --> 00:23:30.959
  • "he who has an ear,
  • 00:23:30.959 --> 00:23:32.427
  • Let him hear what the spirit says
  • 00:23:32.427 --> 00:23:35.497
  • To the churches.
  • 00:23:35.497 --> 00:23:37.966
  • To him who overcomes,
  • 00:23:37.966 --> 00:23:40.235
  • To him i will give some of the hidden manna,
  • 00:23:40.235 --> 00:23:43.505
  • And i will give him a white stone
  • 00:23:43.505 --> 00:23:45.240
  • And a new name written on the stone
  • 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:48.243
  • Which no one knows but he who receives it."
  • 00:23:48.243 --> 00:23:54.249
  • Okay, he that hath an ear, let him hear.
  • 00:23:54.249 --> 00:23:57.052
  • Because just because you can--
  • 00:23:57.052 --> 00:23:58.820
  • You have an ear doesn't mean you hear.
  • 00:23:58.820 --> 00:24:02.657
  • We've all talked to people who can repeat what you said,
  • 00:24:02.657 --> 00:24:05.093
  • But you know they weren't paying attention.
  • 00:24:05.093 --> 00:24:07.896
  • So that means "pay attention. this is big."
  • 00:24:07.896 --> 00:24:11.266
  • "he that hath an ear--"
  • 00:24:11.266 --> 00:24:12.901
  • So now while he's talking to the churches,
  • 00:24:12.901 --> 00:24:15.337
  • He says, "i'm speaking to every individual."
  • 00:24:15.337 --> 00:24:17.038
  • So now it's self-examination.
  • 00:24:17.038 --> 00:24:20.976
  • "to the one who overcomes--" that's our word "nikao," "nike."
  • 00:24:20.976 --> 00:24:26.715
  • Overcomes what?
  • 00:24:26.715 --> 00:24:28.183
  • Overcomes the temptation to compromise
  • 00:24:28.183 --> 00:24:29.818
  • Or to tolerate compromising.
  • 00:24:29.818 --> 00:24:32.020
  • "to the one who overcomes,
  • 00:24:32.020 --> 00:24:33.421
  • To the one who operates by divine conviction,
  • 00:24:33.421 --> 00:24:39.427
  • Particularly among believers--"
  • 00:24:39.427 --> 00:24:41.096
  • Because he's talking to what was happening
  • 00:24:41.096 --> 00:24:42.430
  • In the church.
  • 00:24:42.430 --> 00:24:43.865
  • You can't control what non-believers do.
  • 00:24:43.865 --> 00:24:46.268
  • But in the family of god, to care for one another
  • 00:24:46.268 --> 00:24:49.137
  • Means that we need to correct, help, challenge one another
  • 00:24:49.137 --> 00:24:52.407
  • When we are compromising on biblical principles.
  • 00:24:52.407 --> 00:24:58.213
  • "to the one who overcomes, here's what i'm going to do.
  • 00:24:58.213 --> 00:25:02.884
  • I'm going to give him, first, hidden manna."
  • 00:25:02.884 --> 00:25:07.188
  • Hidden manna, okay.
  • 00:25:07.188 --> 00:25:11.593
  • Remember, some things god does, some things god does--
  • 00:25:11.593 --> 00:25:14.696
  • Some of it is in time,
  • 00:25:14.696 --> 00:25:16.798
  • And some of it is in eternity, okay?
  • 00:25:16.798 --> 00:25:19.434
  • We don't get it all now.
  • 00:25:19.434 --> 00:25:20.769
  • We get some of it now, some of it later, okay?
  • 00:25:20.769 --> 00:25:23.638
  • "but if you overcome,
  • 00:25:23.638 --> 00:25:25.273
  • What i will give you is hidden manna."
  • 00:25:25.273 --> 00:25:27.208
  • He says, "and then i'm gonna give the one who overcomes--
  • 00:25:27.208 --> 00:25:31.713
  • I'm gonna give him a white stone."
  • 00:25:31.713 --> 00:25:33.782
  • That's what he says in verse 17.
  • 00:25:33.782 --> 00:25:35.183
  • "i'm gonna give him a white-- gonna give him hidden manna.
  • 00:25:35.183 --> 00:25:37.218
  • Then i'm gonna give him a white stone."
  • 00:25:37.218 --> 00:25:38.820
  • And how special you are will determine
  • 00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:42.824
  • Some of what you get now and some of your rewards then
  • 00:25:42.824 --> 00:25:46.161
  • Predicated on how you view your commitment of compromising.
  • 00:25:46.161 --> 00:25:52.767
  • "so you carry my name-- i like that--
  • 00:25:52.767 --> 00:25:55.670
  • But you compromise and tolerate compromising."
  • 00:25:55.670 --> 00:26:00.442
  • Now, none of us is perfect,
  • 00:26:00.442 --> 00:26:01.810
  • But he's talking about a toleration of it,
  • 00:26:01.810 --> 00:26:05.413
  • Rather than a resistance to it.
  • 00:26:05.413 --> 00:26:07.482
  • One day the king of kings and lord of lords
  • 00:26:07.482 --> 00:26:10.919
  • Is gonna step forward.
  • 00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:13.655
  • And when he steps forward, all of the believers will be
  • 00:26:13.655 --> 00:26:17.058
  • Around the throne.
  • 00:26:17.058 --> 00:26:18.994
  • But don't you want to be one of the folk?
  • 00:26:18.994 --> 00:26:21.896
  • You know, "oh, billy, i see you over there, billy.
  • 00:26:21.896 --> 00:26:26.001
  • You walked with me during your life.
  • 00:26:26.001 --> 00:26:27.435
  • Ruth, i see you over there, ruth.
  • 00:26:27.435 --> 00:26:29.971
  • You were a faithful servant of mine.
  • 00:26:29.971 --> 00:26:32.207
  • Betty, i see you over there, betty.
  • 00:26:32.207 --> 00:26:34.676
  • Girl, you hung in there for me.
  • 00:26:34.676 --> 00:26:37.212
  • Daniel, i see you over there, daniel.
  • 00:26:37.212 --> 00:26:40.181
  • I thank you for hanging in there with me."
  • 00:26:40.181 --> 00:26:43.184
  • All of us will be a part of the crowd
  • 00:26:43.184 --> 00:26:45.654
  • Who know jesus christ,
  • 00:26:45.654 --> 00:26:47.122
  • But only some will get their names called
  • 00:26:47.122 --> 00:26:49.858
  • Because they refuse to compromise
  • 00:26:49.858 --> 00:26:52.694
  • And stood up for the values of the kingdom of god.
  • 00:26:52.694 --> 00:26:57.198
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:57.198 --> 00:27:21.189
  • Male: that's right. all: hey!
  • 00:27:01.169 --> 00:27:23.525
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:23.525 --> 00:27:23.525