John Bradshaw - The Seven Churches of Revelation - Ephesus

March 23, 2025 | S25:E12

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It Is Written with John Bradshaw | John Bradshaw - The Seven Churches of Revelation - Ephesus | March 23, 2025

♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
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♪[music ends]♪♪
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♪[soft mysterious music]♪
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♪[music swells and becomes suspenseful]♪
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♪[music shifts to middle-eastern instruments]♪
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>>john bradshaw: welcome to turkey.
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People have been living here
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Longer than almost anywhere else on the planet.
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It's played an important role throughout history.
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Ancient ruins dot this storied land.
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The trojan war took place here.
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Alexander the great conquered a large part of what was
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Then called anatolia in 334 bc
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On his way to conquering the medo-persian empire.
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And after greece moved off center stage,
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The roman empire governed this part of the world.
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♪[music continues]♪
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Turkey is a beautiful country.
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It borders eight different nations, spans two continents,
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Europe and asia, and sits between the black sea,
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The aegean sea, and the mediterranean.
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But its importance isn't just limited to world history.
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Turkey has an extraordinarily rich christian history.
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The book of colossians was written to believers in turkey.
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Antioch, where believers were first called christians,
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Was here.
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It was also home to seven of the most important churches
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In the history of christianity:
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The seven churches of the book of revelation.
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"what you see, write in a book
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"and send it to the seven churches which are in asia:
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"to ephesus, to smyrna, to pergamos, to thyatira,
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To sardis, to philadelphia, and to laodicea."
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♪[soft piano music]♪
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The letters to the seven churches are all brief.
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The letter to thyatira is only 12 verses, less than 300 words;
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The letter to smyrna, only four verses.
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But however short, these letters endure,
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And they were placed in the last book of the bible
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With good reason.
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And the reason i say they are among
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The most important churches ever is because jesus addressed
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These churches personally, prompting the apostle john
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To write letters to the churches in behalf of jesus himself,
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Letters which speak to us today, as we're going to learn.
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Each of the letters to the seven churches
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Contains several things in common.
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To each of them there is an introduction of jesus.
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For example, to the church of smyrna,
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He's the one who was "the first and the last,"
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Who "was dead, and is alive."
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To sardis, jesus is the one
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Who has "the seven spirits of god, and the seven stars."
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To all of the churches, jesus says, "i know your works."
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To most of them there's a rebuke or a reproof,
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And then to all of them there's a promise.
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For example, to the church at philadelphia, jesus says,
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"i will make [you to be] a pillar in the temple of my god."
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To laodicea, he says,
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"i will grant [you] to sit with me [in] my throne."
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Now, the first of the seven churches
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Is one that's very well known: ephesus.
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♪[soft dramatic music]♪
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Back in john's time, ephesus was one of the largest cities
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In the roman province of asia minor,
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And it was a bustling center of pagan worship.
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Originally located on the shores of the aegean sea,
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2,000 years of war, earthquakes,
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And the harbor being clogged with silt
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Has left the site of old ephesus three miles inland from the sea.
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However, the ruins that remain clue us in
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On how incredible this city once was.
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Here's how a poet from the second century bc described
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The grandeur of the ephesian temples and monuments:
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"i have set eyes on the wall of lofty babylon
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"on which is a road for chariots,
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"and the statue of zeus by the alpheus,
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"and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the sun,
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"and the huge labor of the high pyramids,
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"and the vast tomb of mausolus;
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"but when i saw the house of artemis
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"that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels
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"lost their brilliancy, and i said, 'lo, apart from olympus,
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The sun never looked on aught so grand.'"
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When you're standing in the old city,
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It's easy to understand what the poet was talking about.
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There are some absolutely remarkable ruins here.
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There's the temple built by domitian,
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A roman emperor in the first century;
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The fountain of domitian;
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The third-largest library in the roman empire,
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Where thousands of scrolls were held;
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Ruins of gymnasiums close to 2,000 years old;
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A relief of the goddess nike, the goddess of victory;
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The nymphaeum, an impressive building constructed
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To honor nature spirits called nymphs.
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Ephesus hosted gladiator fights and wild animal fights
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During the third and fourth centuries,
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Long after the time of john.
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Many historians say christians were persecuted in this place.
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Of course, this isn't the only time
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The church of ephesus appears in the new testament.
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The apostle paul wrote an epistle--that's a letter--
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To the church here about 20 years
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Before revelation was written.
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So, clearly, this was an important place.
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Paul wrote to the ephesians of conversion,
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Of how god changes the life.
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It was to the ephesians that he explained people are saved
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By grace through faith-- the inference being,
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By grace alone through faith alone.
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He wrote to the ephesians of righteousness by faith,
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Of being strengthened inwardly by the holy spirit,
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Of christ dwelling in the heart by faith,
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Of knowing the love of christ
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And being filled with "the fullness of god."
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He wrote to them about baptism and spiritual gifts
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And manifesting the character of christ.
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And it was to the ephesians that he wrote about
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The armor of god: "the shield of faith,"
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"the helmet of salvation,"
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"the sword of the spirit," which he said was "the word of god."
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When paul wrote to the ephesians,
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He specifically addressed
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Both slaves and slave owners, as ephesus was
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A very significant slave trading center.
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♪[soft music]♪
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Years later, when john wrote to the church of ephesus
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Back in revelation, chapter 2, he had this to say:
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"to the angel of the church of ephesus write,
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"'these things says he who holds the seven stars
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"'in his right hand,
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Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.'"
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Notice, this letter starts with an assurance:
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This comes to you from the one
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"who holds the seven stars in his right hand."
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We're told in chapter 1 that those stars represent
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The angels, or the messengers, of the seven churches.
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Then: this is from the one
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"who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands,"
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Which chapter 1 said are the seven churches.
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Jesus says he's intimately acquainted with them
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And with what they're going through. that's reassurance.
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He goes on: "i know your works, your labor, your patience,
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"and that you cannot bear those who are evil.
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"and you have tested those who say they are apostles
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"and are not, and have found them liars;
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"and you have persevered and have patience,
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"and have labored for my name's sake
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And have not become weary."
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That's good, isn't it?
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Sure it is. but there was something missing,
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Something serious missing.
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We'll find out what that was, and we'll go to the site
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Of a riot--that almost cost the apostle paul his life--
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In just a moment.
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♪[music swells and ends]♪♪
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>>announcer 1: travel back in time and visit
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The historic sites of revelation's ancient churches,
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Where christianity grew against all odds,
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And learn how messages shared by jesus 2,000 years ago
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Are also messages from heaven for today.
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Call now for your free copy
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Of "the seven churches of revelation: messages for today."
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Call 800-253-3000.
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That's 800-253-3000.
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Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com.
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♪[ominous music]♪
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>>john bradshaw: paul didn't have everything his own way
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While he was here.
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In fact, he wrote to the church at corinth and told them
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That when he was in ephesus, he "fought with beasts."
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Now, he didn't mean actual animals;
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That was the bitter opposition he was met with
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While he was here.
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Yet god worked powerfully here.
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♪[somber middle-eastern instrumental music]♪
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In acts 19, it states that paul "[disputed here] daily
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In the school of one tyrannus."
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In an auditorium near the library of celsus,
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Inscriptions have been found mentioning the name of tyrannus.
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So paul preached very near this spot.
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Now, in that same chapter, paul meets certain believers,
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He baptizes them with the holy spirit,
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And they have the miraculous ability to speak
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In other languages.
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It was in acts 19 that people would bring handkerchiefs
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And so forth that had touched paul's body and then go
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And place them on sick people,
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And they would miraculously recover
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From their illnesses or have demons cast out of them.
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♪[soft somber music]♪
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It was here that the seven sons of sceva
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Were overcome by evil spirits.
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It was also here that people burned their occult books.
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But it was also here that a silversmith named demetrius
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Realized that paul's preaching against idolatry
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Was costing him, and a lot of people like him, a lot of money.
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If people weren't worshiping idols,
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Then they weren't buying his idols and shrines.
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So he caused an uproar.
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He said, "this paul has persuaded and turned away
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"many people, saying that they are not gods
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Which are made with hands."
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He feared the temple of artemis--
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Or diana, as the ephesians called her--might "be despised
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And her magnificence destroyed."
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And he mentioned that "all asia and the world" worshiped her.
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In acts, chapter 19,
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There's a story that discusses the temple of artemis.
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It's right here in ephesus.
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It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
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There was a belief, mentioned in the same chapter,
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That a statue of artemis fell to the earth from heaven.
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Of course, that was nonsense,
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But it wasn't out of sync with the teachings of pagan worship.
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And similar things have been taught in christian churches.
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♪[somber middle-eastern instrumental music]♪
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So, whipped into a frenzy by demetrius,
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"the whole city was filled with confusion," the bible says.
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And people flowed into the theater and shouted in unison,
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"great is diana of the ephesians!"
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They kept it up for two hours.
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It was so wild that paul was told to stay away
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From the protest in order to save his life.
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Order was only restored when a city official
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Reasoned with the mob and settled them down.
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So this place was the home of rampant idolatry
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And people who were fiercely committed to that idolatry.
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Fascinating thing,
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Today the temple doesn't exist--just ruins.
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Paul's writings, however,
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Are still read and respected all over the world.
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The temple was destroyed for the final time in 262 ad,
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And not long after that, the empire became christian,
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So that the temple was never rebuilt.
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Jesus commended the believers in ephesus
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For differentiating between right and wrong
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And for refusing to tolerate certain sins
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And for having worked tirelessly in christ's cause.
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Now, that's a big deal
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Because this place wasn't the bible belt
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With a christian church on every corner.
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Notice, paul wrote to the church at ephesus--
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Not to the diocese or convention or conference or council--
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The church.
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And this was a deeply wicked place.
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After commending the ephesians, jesus says--
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And remember, the letters to the seven churches
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Were messages from jesus--
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He says, "nevertheless i have this against you,
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That you have left your first love."
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Now, that ought to sober you up.
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He didn't say, "you've all fallen into deep apostasy."
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He didn't say, "i have a problem with your drug use
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Or with your immorality."
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He said, "you have left your first love."
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It's interesting that in this first of the seven letters
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To the churches, jesus goes right to the heart
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Of what it is to be a christian.
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They had left their first love.
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They had commendable works.
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Jesus spoke highly of their labor and their patience.
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They had a lot going for them.
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But there was an achilles' heel: they had left their first love.
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They were careful in their adherence to the gospel message.
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They guarded the flock of the lord faithfully.
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They kept evil practices and teachings out of their ranks.
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But they had left their first love.
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We'll find out more about that
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And hear an amazing promise from jesus in just a moment.
00:14:45.670 --> 00:14:50.141
♪[music swells and ends]♪♪
00:14:50.141 --> 00:14:57.182
>>john: miracles--events that can only be explained
00:14:59.384 --> 00:15:02.687
As the actions of an all-powerful god.
00:15:02.687 --> 00:15:06.057
If you look at the bible, you'll find it's full of miracles:
00:15:06.057 --> 00:15:11.262
Parting the red sea, healing the blind,
00:15:11.262 --> 00:15:14.599
Walking on water, raising the dead.
00:15:14.599 --> 00:15:18.603
Many have claimed these events never happened.
00:15:18.603 --> 00:15:21.773
But did they?
00:15:21.773 --> 00:15:22.774
♪[music]♪
00:15:22.774 --> 00:15:23.908
Is it important for christians to believe in miracles?
00:15:23.908 --> 00:15:27.612
And do they still happen today?
00:15:27.612 --> 00:15:29.748
Join me for "do you believe in miracles?"
00:15:29.748 --> 00:15:32.650
We'll meet some remarkable people
00:15:32.650 --> 00:15:34.285
And hear some incredible stories.
00:15:34.285 --> 00:15:36.421
We'll learn what miracles are--and what they're not.
00:15:36.421 --> 00:15:40.291
And we'll discuss the greatest miracle of all time,
00:15:40.291 --> 00:15:43.995
One that has significance for every human being on earth
00:15:43.995 --> 00:15:47.832
And the potential to change your life entirely.
00:15:47.832 --> 00:15:51.369
"do you believe in miracles?"
00:15:51.369 --> 00:15:53.204
Brought to you by it is written tv.
00:15:53.204 --> 00:15:56.374
♪[music ends]♪♪
00:15:56.374 --> 00:15:57.942
>>john: thank you for remembering that it is written
00:15:59.844 --> 00:16:01.946
Exists because of the kindness of people just like you.
00:16:01.946 --> 00:16:05.383
To support this international life-changing ministry,
00:16:05.383 --> 00:16:08.653
Please call us now at 800-253-3000.
00:16:08.653 --> 00:16:12.891
You can send your tax-deductible gift
00:16:12.891 --> 00:16:14.359
To the address on your screen,
00:16:14.359 --> 00:16:15.860
Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:19.664
Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support.
00:16:19.664 --> 00:16:22.534
Our number again is 800-253-3000,
00:16:22.534 --> 00:16:26.671
Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
00:16:26.671 --> 00:16:29.707
♪[soft dramatic music]♪
00:16:31.876 --> 00:16:36.147
>>john bradshaw: now, you know that you can love ice cream
00:16:36.147 --> 00:16:38.183
And love your cousin and love god,
00:16:38.183 --> 00:16:40.919
And they're a different kind of love in each case.
00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:44.055
The church in philadelphia,
00:16:44.055 --> 00:16:45.690
That's the church of "brotherly love."
00:16:45.690 --> 00:16:47.892
The word "love" there comes from the greek "phileo,"
00:16:47.892 --> 00:16:50.829
And that's, that's "brotherly love."
00:16:50.829 --> 00:16:52.697
But that's not what jesus is talking about here.
00:16:52.697 --> 00:16:56.101
When jesus says they've left their first love,
00:16:56.101 --> 00:16:58.770
He uses the words "protos agape."
00:16:58.770 --> 00:17:01.973
"protos"--"first," like the word "prototype."
00:17:01.973 --> 00:17:05.076
Today we take that to mean the first model of something.
00:17:05.076 --> 00:17:08.613
"protocol" originally meant the first page or sheet of a volume
00:17:08.613 --> 00:17:13.118
Or of a manuscript.
00:17:13.118 --> 00:17:14.752
"proto," "protos"--"first."
00:17:14.752 --> 00:17:17.355
The word for "love" is the word "agape."
00:17:17.355 --> 00:17:20.391
Not love in a sensual sense
00:17:20.391 --> 00:17:22.794
And not "phileo"--that's "brotherly love"--
00:17:22.794 --> 00:17:25.230
Instead, this is "agape"; that's "self-sacrificing love."
00:17:25.230 --> 00:17:30.235
It's the love that god has for the human family,
00:17:30.235 --> 00:17:33.171
The love which led jesus to die on the cross.
00:17:33.171 --> 00:17:36.608
And it's the love that we may have for god,
00:17:36.608 --> 00:17:39.511
That same self-sacrificing love
00:17:39.511 --> 00:17:42.213
That leads a person to yield their life to god.
00:17:42.213 --> 00:17:46.284
Now, they had left that.
00:17:46.284 --> 00:17:48.753
There's a message for us there.
00:17:48.753 --> 00:17:50.755
You know that the book of revelation
00:17:50.755 --> 00:17:52.090
Details the last great crisis to come to the world,
00:17:52.090 --> 00:17:55.460
And we're getting closer and closer to that time.
00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:59.531
And the first message given by jesus in the book of revelation,
00:17:59.531 --> 00:18:03.701
The first words he speaks to a group of believers
00:18:03.701 --> 00:18:06.504
Contain a warning against leaving your first love.
00:18:06.504 --> 00:18:12.043
And they didn't lose it. they left it.
00:18:12.043 --> 00:18:15.547
♪[melancholy guitar music]♪
00:18:15.547 --> 00:18:22.820
Even though they were ardent believers,
00:18:26.724 --> 00:18:28.860
Even though they worked hard to keep heresy out of their ranks,
00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:31.729
Jesus said they'd left their first love.
00:18:31.729 --> 00:18:35.433
They had no time for the teachings of the nicolaitans.
00:18:35.433 --> 00:18:38.236
Scholars believed the nicolaitans fostered
00:18:38.236 --> 00:18:40.905
Immorality in the church and taught their fellow christians
00:18:40.905 --> 00:18:43.908
They didn't need to obey the law of god.
00:18:43.908 --> 00:18:47.078
Got plenty of that in the church today.
00:18:47.078 --> 00:18:49.414
But jesus said, in spite of all of that,
00:18:49.414 --> 00:18:52.984
They'd left their first love.
00:18:52.984 --> 00:18:55.253
Many of them were simply going through the motions
00:18:55.253 --> 00:18:57.755
Of living a, a good christians life.
00:18:57.755 --> 00:19:00.191
They were teaching the truth, and they were refuting error--
00:19:00.191 --> 00:19:03.394
All of that.
00:19:03.394 --> 00:19:04.629
They were like many husbands and wives
00:19:04.629 --> 00:19:06.231
Who stay together out of convenience
00:19:06.231 --> 00:19:09.067
But simply don't really love each other anymore.
00:19:09.067 --> 00:19:12.337
It might be that you can relate to some of that.
00:19:12.337 --> 00:19:14.806
You've got the christian label,
00:19:14.806 --> 00:19:15.974
But you're going through the motions.
00:19:15.974 --> 00:19:18.276
You believe, all right, but living in a world
00:19:18.276 --> 00:19:20.812
Where there are so many attractions and distractions
00:19:20.812 --> 00:19:24.549
And inducements to sin everywhere you turn,
00:19:24.549 --> 00:19:28.453
It's like you can become sort of numb to real christianity.
00:19:28.453 --> 00:19:34.192
Where's that first love?
00:19:34.192 --> 00:19:37.328
Jesus spoke to this when he said it's our privilege
00:19:37.328 --> 00:19:40.231
To "love the lord your god with all your heart,
00:19:40.231 --> 00:19:44.335
With all your soul, and with all your mind."
00:19:44.335 --> 00:19:47.305
But down here in the close of time,
00:19:48.273 --> 00:19:50.375
Locked in a titanic spiritual struggle,
00:19:50.375 --> 00:19:53.678
There's an almost magnetic pull
00:19:53.678 --> 00:19:55.246
Away from anything that looks like real faith in jesus.
00:19:55.246 --> 00:19:58.916
Here in ephesus,
00:19:58.916 --> 00:20:00.084
What sin couldn't do, a lack of focus did.
00:20:00.084 --> 00:20:04.222
While jesus doesn't say his people dived into idol worship,
00:20:04.222 --> 00:20:07.792
They did get distracted.
00:20:07.792 --> 00:20:09.594
They lost their fire, their zeal.
00:20:09.594 --> 00:20:13.931
And there's a warning here.
00:20:13.931 --> 00:20:15.967
He says to the believers in ephesus,
00:20:15.967 --> 00:20:18.236
"remember therefore from where you have fallen;
00:20:18.236 --> 00:20:21.339
"repent and do the first works,
00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:24.142
"or else i will come to you quickly
00:20:24.142 --> 00:20:26.778
And remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent."
00:20:26.778 --> 00:20:32.183
Simple: repentance--sorrow for sin and turning away from sin.
00:20:32.183 --> 00:20:38.423
Clearly, just going with the flow
00:20:38.423 --> 00:20:40.525
Isn't god's plan a for anyone.
00:20:40.525 --> 00:20:43.961
He'll remove the lampstand. that's interesting.
00:20:43.961 --> 00:20:46.964
The lampstands or candlesticks you read about
00:20:46.964 --> 00:20:49.300
Represent the churches themselves.
00:20:49.300 --> 00:20:52.036
Jesus is saying, "if you don't return to your first love,
00:20:52.036 --> 00:20:55.873
You won't be able to function as a representative church."
00:20:55.873 --> 00:21:00.111
So, looking around,
00:21:00.111 --> 00:21:02.447
The words of jesus have definitely been fulfilled.
00:21:02.447 --> 00:21:05.983
Clearly, in a time of spiritual crisis, real agape love for god
00:21:05.983 --> 00:21:11.189
Is needed to guide a person through that time.
00:21:11.189 --> 00:21:14.826
Jesus declared, "not everyone who says to me, 'lord, lord,'
00:21:14.826 --> 00:21:19.230
"shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
00:21:19.230 --> 00:21:21.699
But he who does the will of my father in heaven."
00:21:21.699 --> 00:21:25.436
That's not god being arbitrary or capricious.
00:21:25.436 --> 00:21:29.107
That's god letting us know what real christianity is.
00:21:29.107 --> 00:21:32.944
It's about being all-in, about being committed.
00:21:32.944 --> 00:21:36.414
And, you know, on the cross
00:21:36.414 --> 00:21:39.050
Jesus demonstrated how committed to you he is.
00:21:39.050 --> 00:21:42.653
It's also a warning:
00:21:42.653 --> 00:21:44.288
That a church in a challenging place can lose their ardor,
00:21:44.288 --> 00:21:47.992
Can lose their commitment.
00:21:47.992 --> 00:21:49.794
It can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
00:21:49.794 --> 00:21:54.799
But in the letters to the seven churches, jesus offers hope:
00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:59.504
"he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says
00:21:59.504 --> 00:22:03.174
"to the churches. to him who overcomes
00:22:03.174 --> 00:22:06.844
"i will give to eat from the tree of life,
00:22:06.844 --> 00:22:09.213
Which is in the midst of the paradise of god."
00:22:09.213 --> 00:22:13.017
♪[soft somber music]♪
00:22:13.017 --> 00:22:16.788
It was said that artemis and her twin brother apollo
00:22:16.788 --> 00:22:19.824
Were born in a sacred grove called a "paradeisos."
00:22:19.824 --> 00:22:24.228
Here god offers his people a place in the true paradise,
00:22:24.228 --> 00:22:28.733
Not a counterfeit,
00:22:28.733 --> 00:22:30.468
Not fruit from a tree that would live and then die,
00:22:30.468 --> 00:22:34.205
But the genuine article,
00:22:34.205 --> 00:22:35.840
Something that would exist forever--unlike pagan idolatry,
00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:41.612
Which itself is a poor and destructive imitation
00:22:41.612 --> 00:22:45.316
Of what god offers.
00:22:45.316 --> 00:22:47.585
So even to a church that had begun to drift, jesus says,
00:22:47.585 --> 00:22:51.422
"one day, through faith in me, you'll have eternal life.
00:22:51.422 --> 00:22:56.627
"you'll eat from the tree of life
00:22:56.627 --> 00:22:58.062
That grew in the garden of eden way back at creation."
00:22:58.062 --> 00:23:01.466
Jesus gave the very direct assurance that heaven awaits,
00:23:01.466 --> 00:23:04.869
That there's a better day coming in a better land.
00:23:04.869 --> 00:23:08.773
It couldn't have been easy to live in the midst
00:23:08.773 --> 00:23:10.675
Of raw paganism as a believer in jesus,
00:23:10.675 --> 00:23:13.110
But jesus encourages them.
00:23:13.110 --> 00:23:14.946
And he says, "find your first love,
00:23:14.946 --> 00:23:17.615
And you have eternity to look forward to."
00:23:17.615 --> 00:23:20.218
♪[music continues]♪
00:23:20.218 --> 00:23:25.223
[sound of waves]
00:23:25.223 --> 00:23:27.058
[goats' bells tinkling, goats blatting]
00:23:27.058 --> 00:23:31.696
So what do you do if you've lost your first love?
00:23:31.696 --> 00:23:36.133
Here on the island of patmos,
00:23:36.133 --> 00:23:39.203
John was told by jesus exactly what you should do.
00:23:39.203 --> 00:23:43.674
Jesus said, "repent and do the first works."
00:23:43.674 --> 00:23:47.545
Now, what would those first works be?
00:23:47.545 --> 00:23:50.781
When you first came to faith in christ, you were excited.
00:23:50.781 --> 00:23:53.684
You read the bible; you prayed; you shared your faith;
00:23:53.684 --> 00:23:56.654
You were consistent about corporate worship--those things.
00:23:56.654 --> 00:24:00.691
Jesus is saying, "go back to those times and relive,
00:24:00.691 --> 00:24:04.595
Recapture that fervency about your faith."
00:24:04.595 --> 00:24:07.999
Jesus would be saying,
00:24:07.999 --> 00:24:09.100
"allow the spirit of god to work in your life."
00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:11.903
He'd be saying, "consider the power of the cross."
00:24:11.903 --> 00:24:16.641
Here on patmos, john did that.
00:24:17.708 --> 00:24:20.211
You know, john was present at calvary
00:24:20.211 --> 00:24:23.714
When jesus died on the cross.
00:24:23.714 --> 00:24:26.284
And here on patmos, he had ample opportunity to relive those days
00:24:26.284 --> 00:24:31.489
And think that through in his mind,
00:24:31.489 --> 00:24:32.857
Though it be many decades later.
00:24:32.857 --> 00:24:35.059
At the same time, as he thought back at the cross,
00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:37.862
He looked forward in vision to that time
00:24:37.862 --> 00:24:39.564
When jesus would come back as king of kings and lord of lords.
00:24:39.564 --> 00:24:44.669
John maintained that first love experience, and you can, too.
00:24:44.669 --> 00:24:49.307
Think of what jesus has done in your life.
00:24:49.307 --> 00:24:51.676
Think of what he's doing right now
00:24:51.676 --> 00:24:53.044
And look forward to that time when he comes back for you,
00:24:53.044 --> 00:24:55.746
King of kings, lord of lords,
00:24:55.746 --> 00:24:57.481
To gather you and the redeemed together,
00:24:57.481 --> 00:24:59.984
To take you to be with him forever and ever.
00:24:59.984 --> 00:25:04.155
♪[music ends]♪♪
00:25:04.155 --> 00:25:05.690
>>announcer 1: travel back in time and visit
00:25:07.558 --> 00:25:09.594
The historic sites of revelation's ancient churches,
00:25:09.594 --> 00:25:12.964
Where christianity grew against all odds,
00:25:12.964 --> 00:25:15.533
And learn how messages shared by jesus 2,000 years ago
00:25:15.533 --> 00:25:19.503
Are also messages from heaven for today.
00:25:19.503 --> 00:25:22.406
Call now for your free copy
00:25:22.406 --> 00:25:23.908
Of "the seven churches of revelation: messages for today."
00:25:23.908 --> 00:25:28.045
Call 800-253-3000.
00:25:28.045 --> 00:25:30.648
That's 800-253-3000.
00:25:30.648 --> 00:25:33.517
Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com.
00:25:33.517 --> 00:25:36.887
>>john bradshaw: let me pray with you now.
00:25:38.956 --> 00:25:40.591
Our father in heaven, here where john stood
00:25:40.591 --> 00:25:43.661
On the island of patmos, we come to you
00:25:43.661 --> 00:25:45.863
Asking that we'd never lose our first love.
00:25:45.863 --> 00:25:48.733
And right now there's somebody, many somebodies
00:25:48.733 --> 00:25:51.802
Who are battling with that.
00:25:51.802 --> 00:25:53.838
Something's slipping, there's a weakening there,
00:25:53.838 --> 00:25:56.140
And i pray that you'd come alongside that person right now;
00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:59.343
Fill that person with your spirit;
00:25:59.343 --> 00:26:00.645
Give that person a picture of the cross
00:26:00.645 --> 00:26:03.147
And a picture of jesus coming back...as a conquering king.
00:26:03.147 --> 00:26:06.917
♪[soft music]♪ [sound of waves]
00:26:06.917 --> 00:26:08.119
And, friend, if that's you, you've lost your first love,
00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:10.021
Will you pray the prayer with me now?
00:26:10.021 --> 00:26:11.355
That says, "lord jesus, give me that first love
00:26:11.355 --> 00:26:15.159
And don't ever let it slip away."
00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:18.562
We thank you for the revelation.
00:26:18.562 --> 00:26:20.865
We thank you for the messages to the seven churches.
00:26:20.865 --> 00:26:23.968
And we thank you
00:26:23.968 --> 00:26:25.036
That your will would be wrought out in our lives.
00:26:25.036 --> 00:26:28.706
In jesus' name.
00:26:28.706 --> 00:26:30.841
Amen.
00:26:30.841 --> 00:26:32.109
Thank you so much for joining me.
00:26:32.109 --> 00:26:33.277
I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time.
00:26:33.277 --> 00:26:35.646
Until then, remember:
00:26:35.646 --> 00:26:37.348
"it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
00:26:37.348 --> 00:26:41.652
But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
00:26:41.652 --> 00:26:45.956
♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
00:26:45.956 --> 00:27:22.893
♪[music ends]♪♪
00:27:26.363 --> 00:27:26.363

John Bradshaw - The Seven Churches of Revelation - Ephesus

March 23, 2025 | S25:E12

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