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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What If Jesus Sent You An Email?

February 18, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - What If Jesus Sent You An Email?
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Jesus #Revelation #EndTimes #LastDays #Prophecy #Future #Church #BodyofChrist #Lukewarm #FirstLove #Work #WorkofYourHands #Passion #LoveofGod #Heart'sDesire #Heart #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What If Jesus Sent You An Email? | February 18, 2026
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: hi, i'm greg laurie, and i'm so glad you've
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  • Joined us because god's word is full of promises.
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  • It's alive, it's powerful, and it can change your life.
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  • So, let's get started.
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg laurie: let me start with a question.
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  • Have you ever wondered about what is going
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  • To happen in the future?
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  • Have you ever wished you could just peer over time and see what
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  • Is going to take place.
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  • I have to be honest with you, in some ways, i'm glad
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  • I don't know the future.
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  • Bottom line, god knows the future, and i know him,
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  • And that's enough.
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  • But in fact, the book of revelation does give us a
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  • Glimpse into the future.
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  • Not only does revelation reveal the future, it reveals us.
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  • It reveals us to us.
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  • You know, when we think of revelation, we think of
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  • Armageddon and antichrist and the 144,000 and the mark of the
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  • Beast and all those things.
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  • And that's all in this book, of course, but there's more than
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  • That in this book.
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  • And as we're gonna see from revelation chapter 2 to 3, jesus
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  • Has a lot to say to the church.
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  • But before we get into all the prophetic things, jesus has
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  • A lot to say to his followers.
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  • He has a lot to say to you.
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  • And he has a lot to say to me.
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  • So, in effect, before the lord addresses our future, he says,
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  • "there's some things i want to say to you, my children,
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  • Right now."
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  • And that's very important 'cause we're gonna look at the words
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  • Of jesus to the seven churches.
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  • You can think of this as god's letter to you, or you could
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  • Think of it as god's email to you.
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  • Imagine if you got an email from god, or if you got
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  • A text from jesus.
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  • Would you read it?
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  • I think you would.
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  • Think of this as a personal email, a personal text,
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  • A letter, a card, from the lord directly to you.
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  • Now, as we look at what jesus says to these seven churches,
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  • There's three things we need to know.
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  • Number one, this speaks to us practically.
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  • In other words, these were actual churches we're gonna read
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  • About, the church of ephesus, the church of smyrna, the church
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  • Of pergamos, thyatira, laodicea, laodicea, philadelphia,
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  • And so forth.
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  • So, they were actual churches, and in fact, they followed
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  • A postal route of that day.
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  • So, jesus is speaking specifically to these existing
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  • Churches and their pastor.
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  • So, we don't want to miss that.
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  • Secondly, the words of jesus to the seven churches speak
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  • To us prophetically.
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  • We have sort of a flyover of church history starting with the
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  • Church of ephesus and concluding with the church of laodicea.
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  • So, we start with an apostolic church, and we end up with an
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  • Apostate church.
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  • We start with a church that is in danger of leaving its first
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  • Love, and we end up with a church of jesus says, "you make
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  • Me sick to my stomach."
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  • While you know things are messed up when someone says, "you make
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  • Me sick to my stomach."
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  • Guy, if you ask a girl or guys, if you ask a girl out on a date
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  • And she says, "you make me want to throw up,"
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  • That's not a good sign.
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  • And that's exactly what jesus says to the final church
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  • We'll be looking at.
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  • So, we start with a church that's losing its passion.
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  • And we end with a church that jesus is on the outside of
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  • Trying to get into.
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  • And one final thing, as we look at the words of jesus to these
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  • Churches, they speak to us personally.
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  • Again, i want you to think of this as god's email to you.
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  • So, let's look together now at revelation chapter 2.
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  • I'm reading verses 1 to 5.
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  • "to the angel of the church of ephesus write 'these things says
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  • He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the
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  • Midst of the seven golden lampstands: i know your works,
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  • Your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who
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  • Are evil.
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  • And you've tested those who say they are apostles and are not,
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  • You found them liars; you persevered, you've had patience,
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  • And you've labored for my name's sake and have not become weary.
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  • Nevertheless i have this against you, you have left
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  • Your first love.
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  • Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do
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  • The first works, or else i will come to you quickly and remove
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  • Your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.'"
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  • Wow, powerful words.
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  • I want you to notice how aware jesus is of what is going on
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  • In his church.
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  • Look at verse 1, "these things says he who holds the seven
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  • Stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven
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  • Golden lampstands."
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  • Now, when you think of a lampstand, think of a menorah
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  • Holding candles.
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  • These are symbols of the church.
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  • So effectively jesus is saying, "i am walking in the midst
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  • Of my church."
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  • Let me put it another way.
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  • Jesus is saying, "i know what's going on in my church."
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  • And he's also saying, "i know what's going on in your life as
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  • One of my followers."
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  • You know, it's very popular today to critique the church.
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  • But remember, jesus himself walks in the midst of it.
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  • He only started one organization when he walked this earth, and
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  • It's called the church.
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  • And he said, "the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
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  • Listen, the church has many critics, but it has no equals.
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  • And a true child of god should want to be a part of the church.
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  • So, jesus is saying to these seven churches, "i know, i know
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  • What's happening."
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  • And he would say that to you as an individual right now.
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  • Wherever you are, he'd say, "i know what you're facing.
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  • I know how hard it is.
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  • I know how challenging it is.
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  • I know what your dreams are.
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  • I know what your aspirations are.
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  • I am aware of what is happening in your life right now."
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  • Remember, this church that jesus was speaking to was a literal
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  • Church.
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  • Both the apostle paul, and possibly the apostle john, were
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  • Pastors of the church of ephesus.
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  • Now, think about that for a moment.
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  • The apostle paul as your pastor, and then the apostle john.
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  • It doesn't get much better than that, two living apostles
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  • Opening the word of god for you.
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  • But here's what was going on.
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  • When this church was in existence, they were in the
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  • Second generation of faith.
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  • In other words, the people in this church were born to the
  • 00:07:03.488 --> 00:07:06.758
  • Parents that came to jesus right after his earthly ministry.
  • 00:07:06.758 --> 00:07:12.097
  • So, this church is in the aftermath of the first
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  • Jesus movement.
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  • But as it often happens, sometimes that wonderful truth
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  • Is not passed on to the next generation.
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  • They were losing it.
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  • They were missing it.
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  • So, jesus comes to tell them how to get things right, and he
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  • Starts with a commendation.
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  • He starts with a compliment.
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  • Number one, and if you're taking notes, here's my first point.
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  • As followers of jesus, we should be busy and be about our
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  • Father's business.
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  • As followers of jesus, we should be busy and be about our
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  • Father's business.
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  • Look at revelation 2, verse 2.
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  • Jesus says to the church of ephesus, "i know your works,
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  • Your labor, and your patience."
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  • They were a very active church.
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  • This can be literally translated, you've labored to
  • 00:08:04.149 --> 00:08:07.319
  • The point of weariness.
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  • They didn't just work, they worked really hard to the point
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  • Of exhaustion.
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  • It's even implied in the original language.
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  • They worked even at the cost of pain.
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  • Could jesus say that to you?
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  • "man, thank you for working so hard for me.
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  • Thank you for all that you do for my glory.
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  • I appreciate all that you do behind the scenes."
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  • You know, a lot of times, you don't get a lot of back pats or
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  • "attaboys."
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  • And you get a little bit discouraged.
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  • But here's what jesus is saying, "i know what you're doing
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  • For me.
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  • I am aware of it, and i appreciate it."
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  • I love what he says in matthew 6:3.
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  • He says, "when you give to the needy
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  • Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
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  • So your giving may be in secret.
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  • Then your father who sees what is done
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  • In secret will reward you."
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  • So whatever you've done in the name of the lord,
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  • However you've served faithfully behind the scenes.
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  • Be aware of this: god is aware of this, god knows about it,
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  • And god will bless you for it.
  • 00:09:09.147 --> 00:09:11.116
  • Point number two, as followers of jesus, we need to hang in
  • 00:09:11.116 --> 00:09:15.220
  • There through thick and thin.
  • 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:17.489
  • As followers of jesus, we need to hang in
  • 00:09:17.489 --> 00:09:19.791
  • There through thick and thin.
  • 00:09:19.791 --> 00:09:21.626
  • Jesus says, "i know your works, your labor, and your patience."
  • 00:09:21.626 --> 00:09:26.264
  • The word that is used here for patience is a word that means to
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  • Bear up under a load.
  • 00:09:29.701 --> 00:09:32.671
  • It wasn't easy to be a christian in the city of ephesus.
  • 00:09:32.671 --> 00:09:37.642
  • Ephesus was sort of a center of pagan idolatry.
  • 00:09:37.642 --> 00:09:41.713
  • They worshiped a goddess there, in their minds, a goddess,
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  • A deity.
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  • She was known as diana.
  • 00:09:47.085 --> 00:09:49.354
  • And they would chant, "great is diana of the ephesians."
  • 00:09:49.354 --> 00:09:53.191
  • In fact, when paul went there to preach the gospel, a riot broke
  • 00:09:53.191 --> 00:09:56.828
  • Out because of it.
  • 00:09:56.828 --> 00:09:58.163
  • So, it was a very pagan place to be.
  • 00:09:58.163 --> 00:10:01.032
  • It's not always easy to be a christian in a godless city or a
  • 00:10:01.032 --> 00:10:05.537
  • State that isn't as spiritual as you wish it was.
  • 00:10:05.537 --> 00:10:08.974
  • But it was hard to be a christian in ephesus.
  • 00:10:08.974 --> 00:10:11.943
  • But they were very discerning.
  • 00:10:11.943 --> 00:10:14.846
  • That's point number three, we need to be more discerning
  • 00:10:14.846 --> 00:10:17.949
  • As christians.
  • 00:10:17.949 --> 00:10:19.284
  • Look at verse 2.
  • 00:10:19.284 --> 00:10:20.652
  • "you cannot bear them which are evil."
  • 00:10:20.652 --> 00:10:24.255
  • You see, they didn't just believe someone because they
  • 00:10:24.255 --> 00:10:26.658
  • Said they had a word from the lord, or they claimed to speak
  • 00:10:26.658 --> 00:10:30.895
  • For god, or they claimed to be an apostle, or a prophet.
  • 00:10:30.895 --> 00:10:34.799
  • The bible actually warns that one of the signs of the last
  • 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:37.969
  • Days will be false prophets telling us certain things are
  • 00:10:37.969 --> 00:10:41.473
  • Gonna happen, and then those things don't happen.
  • 00:10:41.473 --> 00:10:44.309
  • And they lead people astray.
  • 00:10:44.309 --> 00:10:46.277
  • We need more discernment in the church today.
  • 00:10:46.277 --> 00:10:50.015
  • In 1 john 4:1, he writes, "dear friends,
  • 00:10:50.015 --> 00:10:52.417
  • Don't believe everyone who claimed to speak by the spirit.
  • 00:10:52.417 --> 00:10:55.453
  • Test them to see if the spirit they have
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  • Comes from god for there's false prophets in the world."
  • 00:10:58.289 --> 00:11:02.560
  • We need to be more discerning.
  • 00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:04.362
  • And i bring this up because there's a lot of
  • 00:11:04.362 --> 00:11:06.831
  • Crazy conspiracy theories floating around out there
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  • That sometimes i see christians believing.
  • 00:11:10.435 --> 00:11:13.338
  • And a lot of these theories have to do with end time events.
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  • We have to be very careful and look at the scripture
  • 00:11:17.042 --> 00:11:21.046
  • For direction.
  • 00:11:21.046 --> 00:11:22.714
  • But jesus says there's a problem.
  • 00:11:22.714 --> 00:11:24.215
  • "you guys are doing awesome.
  • 00:11:24.215 --> 00:11:26.284
  • You're hard working, you're discerning.
  • 00:11:26.284 --> 00:11:28.687
  • You do so much for me, and i appreciate it.
  • 00:11:28.687 --> 00:11:31.056
  • But there is a problem developing, and i have to tell
  • 00:11:31.056 --> 00:11:34.192
  • You what this problem is.
  • 00:11:34.192 --> 00:11:37.128
  • You no longer love me as you did at the beginning.
  • 00:11:37.128 --> 00:11:41.166
  • You have left your first love."
  • 00:11:41.166 --> 00:11:44.102
  • Or one translation puts it this way, "you no longer love me as
  • 00:11:44.102 --> 00:11:48.139
  • You did at first."
  • 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:50.408
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:11:50.408 --> 00:11:51.776
  • It means these christians had traded their devotion and put
  • 00:11:51.776 --> 00:11:56.347
  • Duty in its place.
  • 00:11:56.347 --> 00:11:57.682
  • They had motion, but they lost the emotion.
  • 00:11:57.682 --> 00:12:01.252
  • They had labor, but they lost the love.
  • 00:12:01.252 --> 00:12:04.122
  • They had perspiration, but they didn't seem to have inspiration.
  • 00:12:04.122 --> 00:12:07.959
  • And you might say, "well, but is it really that big of a deal to
  • 00:12:07.959 --> 00:12:11.129
  • Just leave your first love?
  • 00:12:11.129 --> 00:12:13.164
  • I mean, in a marriage, you can't always have butterflies in your
  • 00:12:13.164 --> 00:12:17.235
  • Stomach and all that."
  • 00:12:17.235 --> 00:12:18.603
  • No, i understand that, you know, there's sort of the spark that
  • 00:12:18.603 --> 00:12:21.172
  • Sets marriage into motion, but then you settle down into a
  • 00:12:21.172 --> 00:12:25.210
  • Deeper love.
  • 00:12:25.210 --> 00:12:26.544
  • When you see a married couple who've been together for years
  • 00:12:26.544 --> 00:12:30.215
  • Holding hands and walking together and still in love,
  • 00:12:30.215 --> 00:12:33.551
  • That's because they've cultivated that.
  • 00:12:33.551 --> 00:12:35.920
  • If you take your hand off the wheel, so to speak, your
  • 00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:38.690
  • Marriage is gonna go the wrong way.
  • 00:12:38.690 --> 00:12:40.391
  • If you want to keep a marriage strong, you have to do things to
  • 00:12:40.391 --> 00:12:43.862
  • Strengthen it.
  • 00:12:43.862 --> 00:12:45.196
  • And in the same way in your relationship with god, if you
  • 00:12:45.196 --> 00:12:47.832
  • Take your hand off the wheel, if you stop moving forward, you'll
  • 00:12:47.832 --> 00:12:51.669
  • Begin to start moving backwards.
  • 00:12:51.669 --> 00:12:54.239
  • You've left your first love.
  • 00:12:54.239 --> 00:12:56.541
  • See, it was a heart problem.
  • 00:12:56.541 --> 00:12:58.843
  • Notice that jesus says you've left your first love, and he
  • 00:12:58.843 --> 00:13:02.180
  • Talks about how they have fallen.
  • 00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:04.883
  • Remember from where you have fallen.
  • 00:13:04.883 --> 00:13:06.885
  • See, this is the first step to falling away.
  • 00:13:06.885 --> 00:13:10.088
  • When someone backslides or turns away from god, it's not
  • 00:13:10.088 --> 00:13:13.825
  • Something they generally do overnight.
  • 00:13:13.825 --> 00:13:16.327
  • You don't call up your christian buddy.
  • 00:13:16.327 --> 00:13:18.129
  • By the way, why is this the phone?
  • 00:13:18.129 --> 00:13:19.497
  • We make this the phones like this, i don't know.
  • 00:13:19.497 --> 00:13:21.800
  • But anyway, you call up your christian buddy.
  • 00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:23.401
  • "hey, dude, want to backslide tonight?"
  • 00:13:23.401 --> 00:13:25.870
  • "yeah, let's do it. pick me up at seven."
  • 00:13:25.870 --> 00:13:28.106
  • No, no one plans to backslide generally, but it's a little
  • 00:13:28.106 --> 00:13:33.311
  • Compromise here, lowering your guard there.
  • 00:13:33.311 --> 00:13:37.282
  • And next thing you know, you're slipping.
  • 00:13:37.282 --> 00:13:40.685
  • And so, if you're not moving forward in cultivating that
  • 00:13:40.685 --> 00:13:43.421
  • Relationship with the lord, your spiritual life is going to come
  • 00:13:43.421 --> 00:13:47.659
  • To a standstill.
  • 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.027
  • That's what's happening.
  • 00:13:49.027 --> 00:13:50.428
  • Okay, but jesus doesn't just tell him what's wrong.
  • 00:13:50.428 --> 00:13:53.565
  • He tells them what to do to make it right.
  • 00:13:53.565 --> 00:13:56.334
  • There's three r's to get right with god.
  • 00:13:56.334 --> 00:13:59.904
  • Three r's to get right with god.
  • 00:13:59.904 --> 00:14:02.574
  • You need to remember, you need to repent,
  • 00:14:02.574 --> 00:14:05.977
  • And you need to repeat.
  • 00:14:05.977 --> 00:14:08.213
  • So, if you want to get right with god, listen very carefully.
  • 00:14:08.213 --> 00:14:11.716
  • First, you need to remember.
  • 00:14:11.716 --> 00:14:13.852
  • He says, "remember from where you have fallen."
  • 00:14:13.852 --> 00:14:17.155
  • This can be translated, keep on remembering.
  • 00:14:17.155 --> 00:14:20.558
  • Remember where you were when you were at your highest point of
  • 00:14:20.558 --> 00:14:26.030
  • Commitment to christ and go back to that place.
  • 00:14:26.030 --> 00:14:29.601
  • It's sort of a marker so you have a point of reference.
  • 00:14:29.601 --> 00:14:34.606
  • You know, let's say you're trying to lose weight.
  • 00:14:34.606 --> 00:14:36.507
  • And you're saying, "how did i get so overweight?
  • 00:14:36.507 --> 00:14:39.410
  • Why do i have two wardrobes now, one for skinny me and one for
  • 00:14:39.410 --> 00:14:45.416
  • Fatter me?" right?
  • 00:14:45.416 --> 00:14:46.885
  • And you keep both wardrobes 'cause you fluctuate
  • 00:14:46.885 --> 00:14:49.120
  • Between the two.
  • 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.488
  • Well, that's not a good thing.
  • 00:14:50.488 --> 00:14:51.823
  • There's telltale signs you're gaining weight.
  • 00:14:51.823 --> 00:14:54.225
  • You know you're gaining weight when you take a shower, and
  • 00:14:54.225 --> 00:14:56.294
  • Nothing below your waist gets wet.
  • 00:14:56.294 --> 00:14:59.230
  • You know, you're gaining weight when the couch gets up when you
  • 00:14:59.230 --> 00:15:02.000
  • Do, right?
  • 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.334
  • You know you're gaining weight when you get your shoes shined
  • 00:15:03.334 --> 00:15:06.638
  • And you have to take the guy's word for it.
  • 00:15:06.638 --> 00:15:08.940
  • So, that's not good.
  • 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:10.375
  • So remember, remember when your pants fit.
  • 00:15:10.375 --> 00:15:13.144
  • Remember, when you didn't have to punch holes in a belt that
  • 00:15:13.144 --> 00:15:16.614
  • Shouldn't really be there.
  • 00:15:16.614 --> 00:15:17.949
  • You shouldn't have a hole in your belt right to the very edge
  • 00:15:17.949 --> 00:15:21.019
  • Of it, right?
  • 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.353
  • So remember, it's a point of reference.
  • 00:15:22.353 --> 00:15:23.688
  • "i was in better shape before," and repent.
  • 00:15:23.688 --> 00:15:27.058
  • Change your behavior.
  • 00:15:27.058 --> 00:15:28.793
  • Stop beating donuts all the time.
  • 00:15:28.793 --> 00:15:31.062
  • Stop, you're late-night eating.
  • 00:15:31.062 --> 00:15:33.298
  • Stop the things that you're doing.
  • 00:15:33.298 --> 00:15:34.732
  • Stop being complacent and lazy and get out there and exercise.
  • 00:15:34.732 --> 00:15:39.003
  • So, you need to repent and then you need to repeat.
  • 00:15:39.003 --> 00:15:42.206
  • Do the first works quickly.
  • 00:15:42.206 --> 00:15:43.841
  • All right, so go out there and think about what you're eating,
  • 00:15:43.841 --> 00:15:48.079
  • Exercise more, et cetera.
  • 00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:50.181
  • Okay, so now let's apply this to the spiritual life.
  • 00:15:50.181 --> 00:15:53.217
  • Remember, was there a time when you were closer to god than you
  • 00:15:53.217 --> 00:15:56.721
  • Are right now?
  • 00:15:56.721 --> 00:15:58.056
  • Well, make that a point of reference, if the answer is yes,
  • 00:15:58.056 --> 00:16:00.758
  • Now repent.
  • 00:16:00.758 --> 00:16:02.093
  • Admit that you're not as close to the lord as you want to be.
  • 00:16:02.093 --> 00:16:05.063
  • Now repeat.
  • 00:16:05.063 --> 00:16:06.397
  • Go back and do the first works quickly.
  • 00:16:06.397 --> 00:16:08.399
  • So, let me ask you a question.
  • 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.001
  • What did you used to do when your relationship with jesus was
  • 00:16:10.001 --> 00:16:13.571
  • Stronger?
  • 00:16:13.571 --> 00:16:14.906
  • Well, you say, "i used to read my bible every day.
  • 00:16:14.906 --> 00:16:17.742
  • And i would listen to bible teaching on podcasts and praise
  • 00:16:17.742 --> 00:16:22.046
  • Music."
  • 00:16:22.046 --> 00:16:23.381
  • Go back and do that again.
  • 00:16:23.381 --> 00:16:24.749
  • "yeah, well, i used to share the gospel whenever i could."
  • 00:16:24.749 --> 00:16:27.552
  • Go back and do that again as well.
  • 00:16:27.552 --> 00:16:30.021
  • Do the first works quickly and return to your first love.
  • 00:16:30.021 --> 00:16:34.726
  • And if you do that, if you're walking closely with the lord,
  • 00:16:34.726 --> 00:16:38.529
  • Guess what will happen.
  • 00:16:38.529 --> 00:16:39.864
  • In fact, this is a confirmation you're doing the right thing.
  • 00:16:39.864 --> 00:16:43.801
  • Ready for it?
  • 00:16:43.801 --> 00:16:45.136
  • You're thinking, "what, i'll be blessed?"
  • 00:16:45.136 --> 00:16:46.637
  • Well, in a way, yes, but maybe not the kind of blessing you're
  • 00:16:46.637 --> 00:16:50.308
  • Hoping for.
  • 00:16:50.308 --> 00:16:51.809
  • You will be persecuted. that's right.
  • 00:16:51.809 --> 00:16:55.947
  • The bible says, "all that live godly in christ jesus will
  • 00:16:55.947 --> 00:16:59.951
  • Suffer persecution."
  • 00:16:59.951 --> 00:17:02.253
  • When someone harasses you, makes fun of you, gives you a hard
  • 00:17:02.253 --> 00:17:05.757
  • Time, or even outright attacks you because of your faith,
  • 00:17:05.757 --> 00:17:09.594
  • That's an indication you're on the right track.
  • 00:17:09.594 --> 00:17:12.463
  • If you're never persecuted, if you're never criticized, if
  • 00:17:12.463 --> 00:17:16.567
  • You're never hassled for your faith in any way, shape, or
  • 00:17:16.567 --> 00:17:19.370
  • Form, i wonder if you're actually living a godly life.
  • 00:17:19.370 --> 00:17:22.974
  • And that brings us to the second of seven churches that jesus
  • 00:17:22.974 --> 00:17:27.779
  • Sends a message to.
  • 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:29.847
  • They're called the church of smyrna.
  • 00:17:29.847 --> 00:17:33.184
  • And in revelation 2, verse 8 he says, "don't fear those things
  • 00:17:33.184 --> 00:17:37.121
  • That you're about to suffer.
  • 00:17:37.121 --> 00:17:39.057
  • The devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may
  • 00:17:39.057 --> 00:17:42.026
  • Be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.
  • 00:17:42.026 --> 00:17:45.430
  • Be faithful until death, and i will give you the crown of life.
  • 00:17:45.430 --> 00:17:50.301
  • He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the spirit says to
  • 00:17:50.301 --> 00:17:54.072
  • The churches.
  • 00:17:54.072 --> 00:17:55.440
  • He that overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."
  • 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:00.111
  • You know, it's interesting to note that this message of jesus
  • 00:18:00.111 --> 00:18:03.981
  • To our second of seven churches, smyrna, is the briefest of all
  • 00:18:03.981 --> 00:18:09.120
  • The messages he gave, and there's not a single critical
  • 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:12.990
  • Word said to them.
  • 00:18:12.990 --> 00:18:14.725
  • He had some criticism for the first church.
  • 00:18:14.725 --> 00:18:16.994
  • He had lots of criticism for the last one.
  • 00:18:16.994 --> 00:18:19.764
  • He had none for this particular body of believers.
  • 00:18:19.764 --> 00:18:23.267
  • Now, again, this was an actual historical church.
  • 00:18:23.267 --> 00:18:27.271
  • And as smyrna was like ephesus a capital of paganism, but instead
  • 00:18:27.271 --> 00:18:31.742
  • Of worshiping this goddess called diana, they actually
  • 00:18:31.742 --> 00:18:35.379
  • Worshiped caesar.
  • 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:37.248
  • Around 25 ad, many asian cities were competing with each other
  • 00:18:37.248 --> 00:18:41.819
  • For the privilege of building a temple to the emperor tiberias.
  • 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:46.991
  • Smyrna had the dubious distinction of winning the
  • 00:18:46.991 --> 00:18:50.328
  • Contest, so they prided themselves in their worship of
  • 00:18:50.328 --> 00:18:54.799
  • Caesar as lord.
  • 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.234
  • And they erected a giant temple to him.
  • 00:18:56.234 --> 00:18:58.736
  • And people were expected to say, "caesar is lord."
  • 00:18:58.736 --> 00:19:02.473
  • So, if you were a christian and you said, "jesus is lord," they
  • 00:19:02.473 --> 00:19:05.877
  • Would say, "but you have to say caesar is lord."
  • 00:19:05.877 --> 00:19:09.347
  • And many christians would not, and they lost their lives
  • 00:19:09.347 --> 00:19:12.617
  • As a result.
  • 00:19:12.617 --> 00:19:14.585
  • It was a hard place to be a christian.
  • 00:19:14.585 --> 00:19:17.188
  • Jesus says in verse 9, "i know your works, your tribulation,
  • 00:19:17.188 --> 00:19:21.125
  • And your poverty."
  • 00:19:21.125 --> 00:19:23.161
  • They suffered greatly.
  • 00:19:23.161 --> 00:19:24.495
  • They suffered in their businesses
  • 00:19:24.495 --> 00:19:25.963
  • Because of their faith.
  • 00:19:25.963 --> 00:19:27.732
  • People would not want to trade with these people that would not
  • 00:19:27.732 --> 00:19:30.268
  • Say, "caesar is lord," but instead said, "jesus is lord."
  • 00:19:30.268 --> 00:19:34.438
  • And they were mistreated, and many of them
  • 00:19:34.438 --> 00:19:36.674
  • Were even put to death.
  • 00:19:36.674 --> 00:19:39.210
  • But jesus says in verse 10, "be faithful unto death, and i will
  • 00:19:39.210 --> 00:19:42.580
  • Give you the crown of life."
  • 00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:44.715
  • When we get to heaven someday, god has some rewards waiting for
  • 00:19:44.715 --> 00:19:50.588
  • Us and among those rewards will be the crown of life.
  • 00:19:50.588 --> 00:19:55.927
  • You know, the bible mentions that there is a crown of
  • 00:19:55.927 --> 00:19:58.663
  • Rejoicing, which is a crown for winning people to christ in 2
  • 00:19:58.663 --> 00:20:03.868
  • Thessalonians 2:19.
  • 00:20:03.868 --> 00:20:05.736
  • Then there is a crown of righteousness that will be given
  • 00:20:05.736 --> 00:20:09.540
  • To those who love his appearing, 2 timothy 4:8.
  • 00:20:09.540 --> 00:20:14.345
  • And here we have the crown of life.
  • 00:20:14.345 --> 00:20:17.448
  • Interestingly, this is the same crown promised to those who
  • 00:20:17.448 --> 00:20:20.785
  • Resist temptation.
  • 00:20:20.785 --> 00:20:22.553
  • In james 1: 12 it says, "blessed is the man who endures
  • 00:20:22.553 --> 00:20:26.123
  • Temptation and perseveres under trial because when he has
  • 00:20:26.123 --> 00:20:29.560
  • Stood the test, he'll receive the crown of life
  • 00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:32.230
  • That god has promised to those who love him."
  • 00:20:32.230 --> 00:20:35.866
  • So, if you want to receive the crown of life, you must
  • 00:20:35.866 --> 00:20:38.002
  • Persevere under trial.
  • 00:20:38.002 --> 00:20:40.838
  • You must hang in there when you're persecuted.
  • 00:20:40.838 --> 00:20:44.008
  • You must resist temptation.
  • 00:20:44.008 --> 00:20:47.211
  • And if you are living a godly life, this persecution
  • 00:20:47.211 --> 00:20:50.448
  • Will come into it,
  • 00:20:50.448 --> 00:20:52.917
  • But sometimes god allows persecution to wake us up,
  • 00:20:52.917 --> 00:20:57.121
  • To keep us on our toes spiritually.
  • 00:20:57.121 --> 00:21:00.391
  • Let me close with this.
  • 00:21:00.391 --> 00:21:02.059
  • If you've trusted in jesus christ, you don't have
  • 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:05.997
  • To fear the second death.
  • 00:21:05.997 --> 00:21:08.199
  • Look at revelation chapter 2, verse 11.
  • 00:21:08.199 --> 00:21:11.302
  • "he that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the spirit says
  • 00:21:11.302 --> 00:21:14.672
  • Of the churches.
  • 00:21:14.672 --> 00:21:16.107
  • He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."
  • 00:21:16.107 --> 00:21:20.077
  • What is this second death?
  • 00:21:20.077 --> 00:21:22.546
  • The second death is dying without christ
  • 00:21:22.546 --> 00:21:25.449
  • And going to hell.
  • 00:21:25.449 --> 00:21:27.551
  • Yes, hell is real.
  • 00:21:27.551 --> 00:21:30.087
  • We'll talk about that as we get deeper into the book
  • 00:21:30.087 --> 00:21:32.857
  • Of revelation.
  • 00:21:32.857 --> 00:21:34.225
  • Just as surely is there is a heaven, there also is a hell.
  • 00:21:34.225 --> 00:21:39.030
  • Hell was not created for people.
  • 00:21:39.030 --> 00:21:41.799
  • According to jesus, hell was created for the devil
  • 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:44.702
  • And his angels.
  • 00:21:44.702 --> 00:21:46.170
  • And the last thing that god wants is for any person, made in
  • 00:21:46.170 --> 00:21:49.106
  • His image, to spend eternity separated from him in this place
  • 00:21:49.106 --> 00:21:54.045
  • Called hell, are also known as the second death.
  • 00:21:54.045 --> 00:21:57.848
  • The first death is when we die physically.
  • 00:21:57.848 --> 00:22:00.251
  • The second death is when we face judgment if we have not put our
  • 00:22:00.251 --> 00:22:04.322
  • Faith in christ.
  • 00:22:04.322 --> 00:22:05.723
  • So, i can simplify it this way.
  • 00:22:05.723 --> 00:22:07.058
  • If you're born once, you will die twice.
  • 00:22:07.058 --> 00:22:09.760
  • But if you're born twice, you will die once.
  • 00:22:09.760 --> 00:22:12.830
  • Does that make sense?
  • 00:22:12.830 --> 00:22:14.165
  • If you're born once, you'll die twice.
  • 00:22:14.165 --> 00:22:15.900
  • You'll be born physically, and then you'll die physically and
  • 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:18.936
  • Die spiritually in the second death, facing judgment.
  • 00:22:18.936 --> 00:22:24.008
  • But if you're born twice, you'll die once.
  • 00:22:24.008 --> 00:22:26.644
  • And by being born twice, i mean you've been born again.
  • 00:22:26.644 --> 00:22:29.647
  • Yes, you're born physically, but then you put your faith in
  • 00:22:29.647 --> 00:22:32.583
  • Christ and you're born again spiritually.
  • 00:22:32.583 --> 00:22:35.986
  • Remember jesus said to that religious leader named
  • 00:22:35.986 --> 00:22:39.857
  • Nicodemus, "you must be born again or literally born
  • 00:22:39.857 --> 00:22:44.662
  • From above."
  • 00:22:44.662 --> 00:22:46.597
  • Yes, this is the promise god has, and we won't be hurt
  • 00:22:46.597 --> 00:22:50.668
  • By the second death.
  • 00:22:50.668 --> 00:22:52.870
  • You know, when you don't know christ, you're spiritually dead.
  • 00:22:52.870 --> 00:22:57.074
  • You're like a zombie.
  • 00:22:57.074 --> 00:22:58.509
  • Oh, you're alive, but you're dead in the inside.
  • 00:22:58.509 --> 00:23:01.612
  • The bible says, "she the lives her pleasure is dead while she
  • 00:23:01.612 --> 00:23:05.416
  • Is living."
  • 00:23:05.416 --> 00:23:06.784
  • Don't live that way.
  • 00:23:06.784 --> 00:23:08.285
  • God has something better for you.
  • 00:23:08.285 --> 00:23:09.687
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:23:09.687 --> 00:23:11.021
  • This earth is as good as it ever will be for the non believer.
  • 00:23:11.021 --> 00:23:15.493
  • But for the believer, this earth is as bad as it gets because for
  • 00:23:15.493 --> 00:23:20.264
  • Those who have trusted christ, the best is yet to come.
  • 00:23:20.264 --> 00:23:29.373
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart, and you have seen
  • 00:23:33.511 --> 00:23:38.182
  • Your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:23:38.182 --> 00:23:40.251
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who came from heaven
  • 00:23:40.251 --> 00:23:44.355
  • To this earth.
  • 00:23:44.355 --> 00:23:45.689
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:23:45.689 --> 00:23:47.691
  • He died in a cross.
  • 00:23:47.691 --> 00:23:49.226
  • He rose again from the dead, why?
  • 00:23:49.226 --> 00:23:51.128
  • Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:23:51.128 --> 00:23:54.832
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:23:54.832 --> 00:23:57.134
  • I don't want to be a religious person.
  • 00:23:57.134 --> 00:23:59.203
  • I don't think you want to be one either.
  • 00:23:59.203 --> 00:24:01.105
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:24:01.105 --> 00:24:04.675
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:24:04.675 --> 00:24:08.612
  • And he knocks.
  • 00:24:08.612 --> 00:24:09.947
  • And he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door, he will
  • 00:24:09.947 --> 00:24:13.017
  • Come in.
  • 00:24:13.017 --> 00:24:14.351
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ to come and live inside
  • 00:24:14.351 --> 00:24:17.488
  • Of you?
  • 00:24:17.488 --> 00:24:18.823
  • You might say, "well, i think so. i'm not sure."
  • 00:24:18.823 --> 00:24:20.491
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
  • 00:24:20.491 --> 00:24:22.693
  • Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:22.693 --> 00:24:25.429
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:25.429 --> 00:24:27.064
  • And then the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:24:27.064 --> 00:24:29.900
  • You will know.
  • 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.235
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:31.235 --> 00:24:34.972
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:24:34.972 --> 00:24:36.841
  • All you need to do is say, "jesus,
  • 00:24:36.841 --> 00:24:38.909
  • I want this relationship with you.
  • 00:24:38.909 --> 00:24:40.878
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:24:40.878 --> 00:24:43.180
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:45.149
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:24:45.149 --> 00:24:46.484
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:24:46.484 --> 00:24:49.119
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.389
  • You can pray it out loud or you can pray it in the quietness
  • 00:24:52.389 --> 00:24:55.559
  • Of your heart.
  • 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.894
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ to be
  • 00:24:56.894 --> 00:24:59.930
  • Your savior and lord.
  • 00:24:59.930 --> 00:25:01.499
  • Pray this with me now.
  • 00:25:01.499 --> 00:25:02.833
  • "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner, but i know that you're
  • 00:25:02.833 --> 00:25:07.137
  • The savior who died on the cross for my sin
  • 00:25:07.137 --> 00:25:11.242
  • And rose again from the dead.
  • 00:25:11.242 --> 00:25:12.576
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:25:12.576 --> 00:25:15.379
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:19.817
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering
  • 00:25:19.817 --> 00:25:22.319
  • This prayer.
  • 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.821
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:23.821 --> 00:25:26.624
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:26.624 --> 00:25:28.726
  • If so, i want you to know, in the authority of scripture, that
  • 00:25:28.726 --> 00:25:31.595
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you
  • 00:25:31.595 --> 00:25:34.932
  • And i would love to send to
  • 00:25:34.932 --> 00:25:36.267
  • You, at no charge,
  • 00:25:36.267 --> 00:25:37.935
  • Something called "the
  • 00:25:37.935 --> 00:25:39.270
  • New believer's bible."
  • 00:25:39.270 --> 00:25:40.604
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll find
  • 00:25:40.604 --> 00:25:43.841
  • Very understandable, and it's filled with hundreds of notes
  • 00:25:43.841 --> 00:25:47.511
  • That i wrote that will encourage you in this commitment you've
  • 00:25:47.511 --> 00:25:51.015
  • Just made to follow jesus.
  • 00:25:51.015 --> 00:25:52.950
  • Let me send that to you at no charge.
  • 00:25:52.950 --> 00:25:55.452
  • And let me be the first to say to you, congratulations, and
  • 00:25:55.452 --> 00:25:59.256
  • Welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:25:59.256 --> 00:26:02.393
  • Greg: you know, we say to a new believer, "start reading the
  • 00:26:02.459 --> 00:26:05.996
  • Bible," but they don't know where to start, do they?
  • 00:26:05.996 --> 00:26:09.066
  • So, we have a special edition of the bible called
  • 00:26:09.066 --> 00:26:12.970
  • The new believer's bible.
  • 00:26:12.970 --> 00:26:14.939
  • I wrote thousands of notes for it, and i sort of see it as what
  • 00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:19.577
  • I would do if i was sitting down with a person over a cup of
  • 00:26:19.577 --> 00:26:22.646
  • Coffee and explaining the basics of the christian life to them.
  • 00:26:22.646 --> 00:26:27.484
  • There's over 10 million copies of this bible in print, but
  • 00:26:27.484 --> 00:26:31.255
  • Here's the exciting news:
  • 00:26:31.255 --> 00:26:33.223
  • We have personally given out 700,000 of these at no charge to
  • 00:26:33.223 --> 00:26:38.429
  • People to help them in their spiritual journey.
  • 00:26:38.429 --> 00:26:42.399
  • So we need your help to keep doing this.
  • 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:45.336
  • So, let's invest in the spiritual future of people that
  • 00:26:45.336 --> 00:26:49.340
  • Are going to come to christ, who will get a copy of
  • 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:52.209
  • The new believer's bible for themselves.
  • 00:26:52.209 --> 00:26:54.545
  • Thank you for your financial support.
  • 00:26:54.545 --> 00:26:56.580
  • Together we can change lives.
  • 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:59.249
  • Female announcer: jesus says that "where two or three are
  • 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:05.856
  • Gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them."
  • 00:27:05.856 --> 00:27:10.494
  • We are all different.
  • 00:27:10.494 --> 00:27:11.895
  • We have different interests, different personalities,
  • 00:27:11.895 --> 00:27:15.032
  • Different upbringings, and different ways we do life.
  • 00:27:15.032 --> 00:27:18.802
  • But here we have a deep connection and you are
  • 00:27:18.802 --> 00:27:24.408
  • Welcome here.
  • 00:27:24.408 --> 00:27:26.744
  • This is harvest.
  • 00:27:26.744 --> 00:27:26.744