WEBVTT 00:00:01.266 --> 00:00:02.532 Thank you. 00:00:02.532 --> 00:00:07.500 Thank you, worship team and for our worship team helpers this morning. Thank you all. 00:00:07.500 --> 00:00:11.932 It was great to see the overflow of our week of Vacation Bible School. 00:00:11.932 --> 00:00:16.832 In fact, we should welcome many of our kids have joined us in the service today. 00:00:16.832 --> 00:00:19.332 This summer we're taking a break from. 00:00:19.332 --> 00:00:29.733 Normally they have a kids church, we call it Kids Zone, and over the course of the summer, we like to shake things up a little bit, give the workers a break, but also give the kids an opportunity to worship with us during that time. 00:00:29.733 --> 00:00:35.100 I love that we have Kids Zone, and I love that they're joining us this summer, so welcome them in. 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:39.533 It might be maybe you might hear some different noises than normal on a given week. That's okay. 00:00:39.533 --> 00:00:40.299 That's part of it. 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:42.265 We'll get through it together. 00:00:42.265 --> 00:00:47.299 In fact, I have a question that I think the kids can relate to, and maybe some adults as well. 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:51.399 Who in here likes a good cookie? 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:54.133 We know anybody like some cookies? 00:00:54.133 --> 00:00:55.365 Okay, there we go. 00:00:55.365 --> 00:00:57.732 Somebody really loves cookies. 00:00:57.732 --> 00:00:58.899 VBS was last week. 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:00.466 I'm not handing any out this week. 00:01:00.466 --> 00:01:01.832 Don't get too excited. 00:01:01.832 --> 00:01:06.365 I personally am not that tempted by cookies. 00:01:06.365 --> 00:01:08.099 Not that big of a temptation. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:17.066 However, when my daughter makes chocolate chocolate chip cookies, there is one command I have is that she bake them all. 00:01:17.066 --> 00:01:22.733 Their better not be any cookie dough left around because the cookie dough is a big problem. 00:01:22.733 --> 00:01:28.165 I could end up with a basketball lump size cookie dough in my stomach if that's left sitting out. 00:01:28.165 --> 00:01:29.733 Cookies? No big deal. 00:01:29.733 --> 00:01:32.733 The cookie dough is a big temptation. 00:01:33.099 --> 00:01:36.599 I didn't hear any amens there, but that's okay. 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:40.266 The key thing is to know what is your temptation? 00:01:40.266 --> 00:01:41.700 What is your struggle? 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:43.365 How are you wired? 00:01:43.365 --> 00:01:45.500 We all have the thing out there. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:47.700 And of course it could be desserts. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:50.132 It could be some other issue in life. 00:01:50.132 --> 00:01:54.099 There's a whole realm of things that maybe others don't struggle with. 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:59.066 But you might you might have a temptation in a certain area. 00:01:59.066 --> 00:02:04.465 In fact, sometimes I think we might even call it the enemy within. 00:02:04.465 --> 00:02:08.400 We face plenty of temptations out in the world that come from without. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:11.400 But what about within? 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:13.332 We've got our own challenges to face. 00:02:13.332 --> 00:02:16.400 Last week we looked at the church in Pergamum. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:21.500 We've been walking through the churches in revelation chapter two and three. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:22.932 There are seven churches there. 00:02:22.932 --> 00:02:29.165 In fact, if you want to put up the map just as a reminder of how these churches are related, they follow us. Circuit. 00:02:29.165 --> 00:02:32.400 We started in Ephesus, went around to Smyrna, Pergamum. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:34.966 Today we'll be at Thira, Tara. 00:02:34.966 --> 00:02:37.900 And the letters are written in a order that follows the circuit. 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:40.599 Many believe there was a road that was traveled. 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:44.932 And this the letters were delivered by a circuit and they followed one on another. 00:02:44.932 --> 00:02:57.699 Last week, though with Pergamum it was all about the challenges they were facing in their community, the social pressures around them, the cultural pressures around them, the political pressures around them, and how that influenced the church and how to deal with that. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:10.332 This week we're going to look at the challenges within the church, the enemy within, and you got to know how to handle both because there are challenges from without, challenges from within. 00:03:10.332 --> 00:03:13.265 How does the church in Thyatira are going to handle that? 00:03:13.265 --> 00:03:15.800 Let's look together in revelation chapter two. 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:18.800 We're going to read verses 18 through 29. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:23.665 So if you have a Bible, turn to revelation chapter two, revelations at the end of the Bible. 00:03:23.665 --> 00:03:25.699 If you don't have a Bible, we have those out in the lobby. 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:27.500 We'd love to put one in your hands. 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:28.966 That's for you to keep. 00:03:28.966 --> 00:03:36.532 Any page numbers on the screen will tie in to that specific Bible to help make it easier for you to find yourself. 00:03:36.532 --> 00:03:39.500 Find your way into navigate your way through the Bible. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:42.366 And I'm going to read verses 18 through 29. 00:03:42.366 --> 00:03:53.800 So if you would just stand with me while I read these, just as a sign of respect for the Word of God while we read it, I'll read it out loud and you can follow along in your Bible, revelation chapter two, verse 18. 00:03:54.866 --> 00:04:06.000 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, whose feet are like burnished bronze. 00:04:06.566 --> 00:04:16.300 I know your works, your love and faith, and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:32.199 But I have this against you that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:38.500 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:49.565 Behold, I will throw her onto a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. 00:04:49.565 --> 00:04:55.100 And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart. 00:04:55.565 --> 00:04:58.266 And I will give to each of you according to your works. 00:04:58.266 --> 00:05:11.333 But to the rest of you in Thyra Tara, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan to you, I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:19.399 Only hold fast what you have until I come, the one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end. 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:32.565 To him I will give over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my father. 00:05:32.565 --> 00:05:34.899 And I will give him the morning star. 00:05:34.899 --> 00:05:40.100 He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. 00:05:40.132 --> 00:05:43.132 You can be seated. 00:05:43.665 --> 00:05:49.932 Thyatira is a city, probably the least known, well known of the cities. 00:05:49.932 --> 00:05:50.733 We're going to look at. 00:05:50.733 --> 00:05:55.100 And of the churches we have the least amount of information about them. 00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:58.000 But yet it's the longest letter. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.266 We do have some background information. 00:06:01.533 --> 00:06:02.065 We know. 00:06:02.065 --> 00:06:08.800 For instance, bioterror was a city situated in a plain, and it didn't have a lot of natural defenses. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:15.399 As a result, it was often conquered and exchanged hands through different kingdoms, whatever kingdom came through. 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:24.899 In fact, it was a province of Pergamum at one point, the city near it, until the Romans came in, took over, established control. 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:28.100 And it was at that point they really started to develop their identity. 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:30.300 Every city kind of has their identity. 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:33.665 We talked about some of the nicknames of various cities last week. 00:06:33.665 --> 00:06:46.500 Pergamum developed this identity as kind of a garrison or an outpost for a Roman army, and they really became like a supply depot and as a result, a number of different. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:52.365 In fact, the phrase you'll want to write down it, they were known for their guilds or trades, right? 00:06:52.365 --> 00:07:01.132 A number of different ones developed there, largely in part to help be a supply to the needs of the military and everything that surrounded it. 00:07:01.132 --> 00:07:05.800 And if you've been in the military, you understand the need for all the support and supply around it. 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:11.165 It's not just whoever is on the front lines, just as important as all the supplies, all the equipment. 00:07:11.165 --> 00:07:13.333 And at that stuff is developed well. 00:07:13.333 --> 00:07:17.365 And so number trades developed in fire tower. 00:07:17.365 --> 00:07:18.500 They became known for that. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:23.466 In fact, they really became caring deeply about their craftsmanship. 00:07:23.466 --> 00:07:26.565 It's not just yeah that we get this thing done, but we want to do it well. 00:07:26.565 --> 00:07:27.365 We want to excel. 00:07:27.365 --> 00:07:33.466 We want to make sure we're passing it on with apprenticeship and education, and they even kind of develop their own culture around that. 00:07:33.466 --> 00:07:38.699 Became known for this took good, great pride in their their guilds and their trades. 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:43.733 In fact, the only other reference we have in Scripture to Thyatira, we've already looked at as a church. 00:07:43.733 --> 00:07:45.665 Do you remember when we studied the book of Philippians? 00:07:45.665 --> 00:07:46.565 We spent a lot of time. 00:07:46.565 --> 00:07:51.266 We spent many months in the book of Philippians and the first convert in the city of Philippi. 00:07:51.266 --> 00:07:53.533 Do you remember what her name was? 00:07:53.533 --> 00:07:54.266 Does anybody remember? 00:07:54.266 --> 00:07:57.266 You can shout it out if you remember Lydia. Right. 00:07:57.266 --> 00:08:00.600 And how was Lydia nicknamed, or what was she known for? 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:05.266 What was her occupation or the reason she had traveled to Philippi from Terra? 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:08.699 What was she called? 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:09.733 Go ahead, shout it out. 00:08:09.733 --> 00:08:11.333 It's okay. 00:08:11.333 --> 00:08:12.600 Seller of purple. 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:13.466 Right? 00:08:13.466 --> 00:08:15.600 Meaning she dealt in purple fabric. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:19.466 Purple fabric wasn't just any old normal, average fabric. 00:08:19.466 --> 00:08:20.565 They'd had to be dyed. 00:08:20.565 --> 00:08:24.533 It took intentionality, and it cost a lot of money to do that. 00:08:24.533 --> 00:08:26.899 You had to know how to do that well. 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:34.466 And of course, she apparently was doing it well enough that she could travel around and sell it in other cities, not just in her hometown. 00:08:34.466 --> 00:08:38.666 And so you get a glimpse of that, that mindset. The city became known. 00:08:38.666 --> 00:08:44.500 And so it's really interesting to see how that plays out in how Jesus addresses Thyatira here. 00:08:44.932 --> 00:08:58.600 One of the things I haven't really drawn out yet, as we've studied these churches, is how the description of Jesus at the beginning of each letter mirrors some of what was said about him within the Book of Revelation. 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.100 In fact, just look here back at verse 18. 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:15.365 Look at how Jesus is described, because the way he is described here somehow relates not every time, but here especially relates to the situation of this city, to the situation of this church in this city. 00:09:15.365 --> 00:09:23.500 It describes him here as the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, whose feet are like burnished bronze. 00:09:24.466 --> 00:09:27.700 Now this first of all, connects back to chapter one. 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:29.365 Jesus is described in chapter one. 00:09:29.365 --> 00:09:34.100 If you look back at verse 13, but notice some of the differences. 00:09:34.133 --> 00:09:35.299 I know where you dwell. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:35.865 I'm sorry. 00:09:35.865 --> 00:09:37.100 Chapter one, verse 13. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:40.332 In the midst of the lance, stand one like a son of man. 00:09:40.332 --> 00:09:42.865 He's called Son of man in chapter one here. 00:09:42.865 --> 00:09:53.365 Chapter two Son of God, a son of man, clothed with a long robe, with a golden sash around his chest, hairs of his head white like wool, like snow. And here we are. 00:09:53.365 --> 00:09:55.932 His eyes were like a flame of fire. 00:09:55.932 --> 00:10:00.799 His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace. 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:04.533 A lot of descriptors here of Jesus. 00:10:04.533 --> 00:10:08.966 And he picked out of those these particular ones to address Terra. 00:10:09.166 --> 00:10:11.100 Now, why is that? 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.265 We're going to talk more about some of this later. 00:10:13.265 --> 00:10:31.500 But let me just mention here right away, the people of fire attire would have known this message is for us, because that metal, that burnished bronze, which we would really probably call brass in our day and age, what we refer to was a metal that was known for being developed in Tara. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:34.100 It was very specific to that area. 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:37.533 In fact, Thyatira was situated in between the copper mines. 00:10:37.533 --> 00:10:43.600 So brass is mostly copper, but copper is a very soft metal. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:52.066 I mean, it works great if you want to bend it for electricians, for the wires in the walls, of course, it conducts heat very well, but it's a soft metal. 00:10:52.066 --> 00:10:54.666 And so what they would do is they combine it. 00:10:54.666 --> 00:11:00.166 Copper mines were on one side of them, and then zinc was developed and refined down the road the other direction. 00:11:00.166 --> 00:11:01.166 They were landed in the middle. 00:11:01.166 --> 00:11:10.365 When you combine copper and zinc, it makes it a more durable metal, heavier metal, harder metal, which for them at the time even made it almost as valuable. 00:11:10.365 --> 00:11:18.932 Some say even maybe more valuable than gold because of how expensive it was to refine the zinc to get them combined, which made it great for money. 00:11:18.932 --> 00:11:21.932 We can we can make coins gold soft. 00:11:21.932 --> 00:11:25.700 It's going to degrade over time, not as durable, but we can make it from this metal. 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:28.865 And so it became known for this metal in particular. 00:11:28.865 --> 00:11:34.299 They know when we hear this feet like burnished bronze, this message is talking to us. 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:34.966 This is from us. 00:11:34.966 --> 00:11:38.133 If we're talking about the Derby, you know, we're talking to Louisville. 00:11:38.133 --> 00:11:41.265 This is specific to this city, this burnished bronze. 00:11:41.265 --> 00:11:42.299 This message is for us. 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:45.500 Now, why would he say Jesus feet were like burnished bronze? 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:48.166 Well, we'll get to why that is in a minute. 00:11:48.166 --> 00:11:49.600 But here's the point. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.732 They know their ears are perked up. 00:11:51.732 --> 00:11:53.200 This is for us. This relates to us. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:57.000 He understands our city, our culture, our needs, who we are. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:58.932 Now. 00:11:58.932 --> 00:12:02.899 Anytime you need to get to the enemy within, how do you approach that? 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:04.966 We're going to see a number of different approaches here. 00:12:04.966 --> 00:12:05.799 What do you need to do? 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:06.899 How do you need to go about it? 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:13.100 The first way here that we see in this message in particular is to start with the positive. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:19.133 And he's going to do that here in this in this passage, Jesus needs to address some things. 00:12:19.133 --> 00:12:21.732 He needs to get to addressing the enemy within. 00:12:21.732 --> 00:12:22.765 But he starts with a positive. 00:12:22.765 --> 00:12:27.133 By the way, he doesn't do that with every church we saw at least one church we're going to see. 00:12:27.133 --> 00:12:31.865 He doesn't give any positive, but most of them, he's going to start with a positive. 00:12:31.865 --> 00:12:32.732 Here's what's going well. 00:12:32.732 --> 00:12:41.299 And by the way, let me just say this is a really good model to follow in your life when you need to correct someone or deal with something difficult. 00:12:41.299 --> 00:12:42.865 Parents listen. 00:12:42.865 --> 00:12:53.200 It is so easy to just get overwhelmed and focused on only what your kids are doing wrong, and focused on just pointing that out over and over again. Or spouses. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:13:04.566 Sometimes we can become too focused on the imperfections in our spouse and just forget about all the ways God has given you a wonderful spouse. 00:13:04.666 --> 00:13:07.066 Start with the positive. 00:13:07.066 --> 00:13:08.666 I mean, I remember having a boss like this. 00:13:08.666 --> 00:13:14.066 It seemed like all he ever did was point out the negative and I just got I didn't, I just wanted to avoid him. 00:13:14.066 --> 00:13:15.265 Just stay away from him. 00:13:15.265 --> 00:13:16.966 Can I do anything right? 00:13:16.966 --> 00:13:17.700 Yes I can. 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:20.133 Please point out some of that. 00:13:20.133 --> 00:13:23.365 You see, he was just discouraging Downing. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.500 And so he starts with the positive. 00:13:26.533 --> 00:13:27.566 Look back at verse 19. 00:13:27.566 --> 00:13:29.500 Here's what he says. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:41.000 I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:49.365 And if you remember Ephesus when we studied Ephesus, this is the opposite of what he addressed with them, with them. 00:13:49.365 --> 00:13:51.332 Listen, I know your doctrine. 00:13:51.332 --> 00:13:54.133 It's so strong. But what did they lack? 00:13:55.166 --> 00:13:57.133 Love. 00:13:57.133 --> 00:13:58.200 They were lacking love. 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:00.899 Yeah, you're spot on with your doctrine, but you're not very loving. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:01.966 That's a big problem here. 00:14:01.966 --> 00:14:03.500 He's starting out with the opposite. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:07.466 You guys are very loving, full of service. 00:14:07.466 --> 00:14:10.000 You're all about meeting the needs of the community. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:15.365 You're the church with the food pantry and the clothes closet and ministering to widows. You're there. 00:14:15.365 --> 00:14:17.066 And of course, we have those things as well. 00:14:17.066 --> 00:14:19.299 This is the church that's doing that, exceeding it. 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:21.899 And it's the main emphasis of the church. 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:24.865 We're going to be all about meeting all the needs and community. 00:14:24.865 --> 00:14:26.399 We're going to be heavily focused on that. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:29.932 Whatever the community needs, we're going to be there loving on them, serving on them, caring for them. 00:14:29.932 --> 00:14:34.666 And it gets better year after year after year. 00:14:34.666 --> 00:14:36.799 Your latter works exceed the first. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:40.066 You're growing stronger and stronger in that. 00:14:40.066 --> 00:14:42.332 That's a great way to start by praising a church. 00:14:42.332 --> 00:14:46.100 In fact, you hear that and you go, what's the negative here? 00:14:47.265 --> 00:14:48.265 That's pretty strong. 00:14:48.265 --> 00:14:49.299 What's the follow up? 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:52.066 How could you then have a negative to point out about the church? 00:14:52.066 --> 00:15:01.365 Well, listen, we all have our strengths that also are probably going to have a challenge behind those out of balance. 00:15:01.732 --> 00:15:03.466 It could be a problem. 00:15:03.466 --> 00:15:05.133 So first he starts with the negative. 00:15:05.133 --> 00:15:07.133 But second here's what he's going to do. 00:15:07.133 --> 00:15:12.066 He's going to seek clarity in the midst of confusion. 00:15:12.066 --> 00:15:15.765 He's going to bring clarity to the area of confusion. All right. 00:15:15.765 --> 00:15:19.765 So he pointed out that the positive things are going well. 00:15:19.765 --> 00:15:22.200 But look here what the confusing part is. 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:24.265 Where are things not going? Right. 00:15:24.265 --> 00:15:26.365 Where is the enemy? Come within. 00:15:26.365 --> 00:15:43.332 Look at verse 20, but I have this against you that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality, to eat food, sacrifice to idols. 00:15:43.332 --> 00:15:46.399 So the positive is, yes, you're loving, you're serving. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.533 But here's here's the issue. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:16:01.899 In the midst of their love, in the midst of their service, in the midst of meeting physical needs, they're lacking some discernment, some intentional discernment. 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:03.332 And you've seen this. 00:16:03.332 --> 00:16:08.365 I'm sure you've seen this happen with churches that become all about the serving and the love. 00:16:08.365 --> 00:16:12.966 But forget that that's got to be rooted in something like God's Word. 00:16:12.966 --> 00:16:22.932 And so maybe that church will tolerate things that Scripture speaks clearly against and longer than they should. 00:16:22.932 --> 00:16:29.732 And by the way, by the way, it takes great wisdom to know when to address a problem in the church. 00:16:29.732 --> 00:16:39.932 There's a big difference between someone who's just young or immature in the faith versus someone who is clearly outwardly trying to deceive and manipulate and miss God in it. 00:16:39.932 --> 00:16:45.299 Look, there's a big difference between how you treat those, and it takes wisdom to know the difference. 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:53.332 So at one measure, we all need to tolerate the sin of others because we all sin at some time or another. 00:16:53.332 --> 00:16:56.799 So we've got to know how to engage with each other with that. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:07.766 Okay, but what about when it is threatening to erode the church, threatening to undermine the church, threatening to divide the church from within? 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:12.865 This is a serious problem we have here the woman Jezebel. 00:17:12.865 --> 00:17:23.766 And if you remember your Old Testament history, Jezebel married King Ahab, and she began to be a part of leading the people astray into the worship of idolatry. 00:17:23.766 --> 00:17:37.000 In fact, worship of Bale and you, probably you may remember that whole situation where the prophet Elijah comes and he gathers all the prophets of Baal, 450 of them. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.000 And he says, you try to sacrifice, you create fire. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.532 Have God your God's call down fire. 00:17:42.532 --> 00:17:43.865 I'll have my God do it. 00:17:43.865 --> 00:17:44.766 Let's see who wins. 00:17:44.766 --> 00:17:46.465 And of course, Elijah wins. 00:17:46.465 --> 00:17:48.133 And then they kill all the prophets. 00:17:48.133 --> 00:17:54.799 But then Jezebel had such a hole over the country, even though he just had utter domination. 00:17:55.732 --> 00:17:58.333 He runs and hides in fear of her. 00:17:58.333 --> 00:18:07.000 Even though he saw God rained down fire, still was afraid of her and her spirit. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:29.165 Of course, she wasn't physically in Thyatira, but what they're pointing out here is the person you've allowed to have influence here is carrying that same spirit, is leading the people astray, is intentionally leading them into idolatry and worship worship of false gods? 00:18:29.165 --> 00:18:31.700 In fact, the two things that are highlighted here, it's really interesting. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:38.732 The two things that are highlighted, the two things she are doing practice sexual immorality, eat food sacrificed to idols. 00:18:38.865 --> 00:18:48.400 If you remember back in acts when the church was just getting established and there was a lot of confusion, okay, what does it mean to be a Christian if you're a Gentile and not Jew? 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:56.599 Because we thought all Christians came from Jews and there were certain things Jews did, but now we got Gentiles coming in and they don't understand our customs. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.566 And what do they need to do to be Christians? 00:18:58.566 --> 00:18:59.665 They need to follow all these things. 00:18:59.665 --> 00:19:03.665 They need to be circumcised, follow all the rules to follow all the laws. 00:19:03.665 --> 00:19:07.566 And the Jerusalem Council said, no, they don't have to do all that Gentiles. 00:19:07.566 --> 00:19:09.732 You don't have to become a Jew to be a Christian. 00:19:09.732 --> 00:19:11.700 You just got to do two things. 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:19.532 And those two things refrain from sexual immorality, refrain from eating meat sacrificed to idols. 00:19:19.532 --> 00:19:21.365 Just two things. 00:19:21.365 --> 00:19:22.900 They just narrow it all down. 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:24.465 Keep it really simple. 00:19:24.465 --> 00:19:31.665 And these are the very two things that are being attacked head on in this church. 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.900 How do we respond to that? 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:38.099 Right? Jesus sees this as very serious. 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.500 How does he say to respond to that? 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:42.133 Look at verse 23. 00:19:42.133 --> 00:19:51.165 Start with 22 behold, I will throw her onto a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into a great tribulation. 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:53.165 Unless they repent of her works. 00:19:53.165 --> 00:19:55.000 I will strike her children dead. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:58.465 All the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart. 00:19:58.465 --> 00:20:00.700 I will give to each of you according to your works. 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:13.965 And I realize as I was preparing this message, realizing this is the first Sunday where our kids are joining us, that maybe a whole passage about striking children dead isn't the best one for us to lead with. 00:20:13.965 --> 00:20:17.965 I think the emphasis here primarily is on spiritual children. 00:20:19.133 --> 00:20:21.465 What are you passing on to the next generation? 00:20:21.465 --> 00:20:23.566 What are we passing on? 00:20:23.566 --> 00:20:26.965 Are you passing on of faith that will live? 00:20:26.965 --> 00:20:29.700 Are you passing on of faith that will steer them the right direction? 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:33.932 Are you passing on of faith that's going to point them away from Christ. 00:20:33.932 --> 00:20:36.299 That's going to lead them down or on wrong path? 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:38.799 What are you passing on? 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:42.200 When you know there's an enemy within the church, there comes a point. 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:43.766 And here's number three in the outline. 00:20:43.766 --> 00:20:49.165 And this is what Jesus is calling them to do, where you've got to face the issue. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:57.566 When it becomes clear that this person is clearly trying to undermine the church, they're not just immature, they're not just doing their faith. 00:20:57.566 --> 00:21:03.566 They're not just excited about some new teaching and running on with it, but easily correctable, open to direction? 00:21:03.566 --> 00:21:03.932 No. 00:21:03.932 --> 00:21:08.333 Instead they are seeking to undermine, divide, misguide. 00:21:08.965 --> 00:21:14.299 I mean, it points out here, when it describes how she acts, she calls herself a prophetess. 00:21:15.732 --> 00:21:19.932 That's usually a red flag when someone studs up and says, hey, I'm a prophet. 00:21:19.932 --> 00:21:23.266 Listen to me, okay? 00:21:23.266 --> 00:21:25.900 Self-appointed prophet. 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.900 What you want is the church affirming. 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:32.599 You want the elders coming alongside and say, hey, we believe God is at work and what this person is teaching. 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:34.099 Listen to them. 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:36.333 Know the self-appointed prophet. 00:21:36.333 --> 00:21:38.000 I know better than anyone else. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.665 Listen to me. 00:21:39.665 --> 00:21:51.732 Not only self-appointed prophet, but it says she's teaching and seducing very intentionally, very clearly saying, I'm trying to take you off course. 00:21:53.299 --> 00:22:02.066 When that's clear, it's time to face the issue, by the way, within yourself as well face the issue. 00:22:02.066 --> 00:22:04.000 I'm going to give you four ways to do that here. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.099 And the lettering in your notes is off. 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:13.465 It should be A, B, C, d, but it's right on screen and it's here in the text. 00:22:13.566 --> 00:22:14.965 This shows up right here. 00:22:14.965 --> 00:22:20.333 And what he says to them the first is practice patience. 00:22:20.766 --> 00:22:23.400 Look back at verse 21. 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:28.400 Even Jesus says about Jezebel, I gave her time to repent. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:33.099 I gave her time. 00:22:33.766 --> 00:22:36.465 One of my favorite verses in scriptures in Psalm 103. 00:22:36.465 --> 00:22:42.599 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. 00:22:42.665 --> 00:22:44.133 As far as the East is from the West. 00:22:44.133 --> 00:22:47.500 That's how far he removes our transgressions from us. 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.766 He slow to anger. 00:22:49.766 --> 00:22:55.500 I think a lot of times we react to quick, we overreact, we we jump into something. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:58.799 When it can wait, it can simmer a little bit. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:00.099 It again, it takes time. 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:01.400 Sometimes it takes wisdom to know. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:04.732 I remember Bob Russell saying that whenever they face, you know, he came and preached. 00:23:04.732 --> 00:23:06.566 He was the pastor at southeast for many years. 00:23:06.566 --> 00:23:17.665 He came and preached here month or two ago, he said, whenever they were trying to discern as a church how to deal with the problem, they would often ask this question is it the flu or is it cancer? 00:23:19.165 --> 00:23:22.500 Because you treat the two very differently, right? 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:27.165 One you you're going to do all you can to get rid of it, to cut it out, make sure it's gone. 00:23:27.165 --> 00:23:33.532 The other you kind of got to maybe depending on what it is, just kind of wait it out, manage it, care for it. 00:23:33.532 --> 00:23:36.532 Treat it gently, carefully rest. 00:23:37.665 --> 00:23:41.566 Sometimes it's not obvious by the way which it is at first. 00:23:41.566 --> 00:23:50.500 Might take some time to determine practice patience when it comes to dealing with the enemy within. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:56.266 If you see someone doing something wrong, you don't immediately have to label them as Satan, right? 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.465 You can wait. 00:23:57.465 --> 00:23:59.299 Let's see what God's doing here. 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:01.400 Secondly, look at the second one here. 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:03.400 Letter B seek wisdom. 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.799 Look at verse 23. 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:08.066 I will strike her children dead. 00:24:08.066 --> 00:24:15.165 All the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart. 00:24:15.865 --> 00:24:16.766 I love that phrase. 00:24:16.766 --> 00:24:17.766 He searches mind and heart. 00:24:17.766 --> 00:24:18.465 Actually, it's funny. 00:24:18.465 --> 00:24:24.165 The word mind there is actually the I don't know why they translate it this way, but it's usually translated as kidneys. 00:24:24.165 --> 00:24:25.799 I guess that doesn't work real well for us though. 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:31.799 I don't say, hey, search your kidney real in depth to make sure your motives are right, that don't. We don't use that. 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:39.900 But that combination at that time really pointed to the depth of who you are, the depths of your motivation. 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:44.599 Search it deeply and that is an active verb search. 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:48.766 And to do that, many times I can't understand my own motivations. 00:24:48.766 --> 00:24:50.700 I've got to find wisdom from others. 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.932 I gotta bounce it off others. 00:24:51.932 --> 00:24:56.532 I got to seek insight for those who I consider to be wise. 00:24:57.566 --> 00:24:57.900 Yeah. 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:58.732 Practice patience. 00:24:58.732 --> 00:25:01.700 And in the midst of needing patience, seek counsel. 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:03.700 Seek out those you respect. 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:05.165 Hey, listen, we have this situation. 00:25:05.165 --> 00:25:06.099 We're not quite sure. 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:08.900 Is it the flu or is it cancer? We. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.965 Will you help us? 00:25:09.965 --> 00:25:11.766 I've got this thing I'm struggling with. 00:25:11.766 --> 00:25:13.200 Will you help me wrestle with it? 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:17.000 Help me see how can I combat the enemy within? 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:23.200 Practice patience, use wisdom, and then let her see. 00:25:23.665 --> 00:25:29.365 Trust those who have shown conviction and courage. 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:35.200 Conviction and courage has already been displayed in Thyatira. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.665 This is really important to point out. 00:25:37.665 --> 00:25:39.566 I love that this is highlighted in this passage. 00:25:39.566 --> 00:25:53.665 Look over with verse 24 with me to the rest of you in Terra, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan to you, I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 00:25:53.665 --> 00:25:56.532 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 00:25:56.532 --> 00:26:08.766 What this highlights is the reality that there was a group of people in this church that is combating the enemy within, allowing indiscriminately the enemy within, allowing someone to continue to teach heresy and undermine the church. 00:26:09.766 --> 00:26:16.566 But yet in the midst of that, there was a group of people who didn't give in, who were standing firm. 00:26:16.566 --> 00:26:20.133 There was a group of people who were saying, this isn't right. 00:26:20.133 --> 00:26:23.700 We can't just go along with what's being taught. 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:40.299 And so when it comes time to address an issue like that, when it comes time to address the person who's intentionally trying to lead the church off course, or a ministry you're involved with, or maybe someone that you're related to in a friend group when it comes time to address them, here's what you want to do. 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:47.400 You want to go to those who have you seen that they've stayed faithful through the storms? 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:47.900 They didn't. 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:50.099 They went this up and down reaction to everything. 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:53.465 I'm going to immediately chase this new teaching and then I'm back. 00:26:53.465 --> 00:26:54.165 Here's another new one. 00:26:54.165 --> 00:26:55.500 I'm chasing it and then I'm back. 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:58.500 No, they stayed faithful. 00:26:58.732 --> 00:27:07.099 They showed conviction and courage, even when every one else around them was saying, look, here's the best new thing out there that you need to follow the best new teacher. 00:27:08.965 --> 00:27:19.799 Lean on those who show courage and conviction, because what they're going to be able to do is to give you a foundation. 00:27:20.532 --> 00:27:23.500 In fact, I want to take you back to how Jesus was described. 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:26.133 Do you remember this, how he was described at the beginning? 00:27:26.133 --> 00:27:29.133 Eyes like flaming fire. 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:31.299 That's a picture of refinement. 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:35.865 He's described that way later in the book of revelation, refinement and judgment. 00:27:35.865 --> 00:27:40.700 And they understood refining fire in a in a city of trades and guilds. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:47.066 They understood that in order to create metal, you needed something blazing hot and nothing could withstand it. 00:27:47.066 --> 00:27:47.700 They understood. 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:50.365 This is a picture of judgment. 00:27:50.365 --> 00:27:53.365 We know what that's about. 00:27:53.365 --> 00:27:58.732 But they also understood what it meant to have feet like burnished bronze. 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:03.799 Okay, this means and the reason he is saying this to them. 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:09.133 Make sure your feet are a solid, firm foundation. 00:28:10.865 --> 00:28:14.766 You may remember in Daniel, do you remember the dream that the King had? 00:28:14.766 --> 00:28:17.566 Daniel was meant to interpret and his statue? 00:28:17.566 --> 00:28:20.165 What were his feet like? 00:28:20.165 --> 00:28:21.500 What were his feet made of? 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:24.500 Does anybody remember what that was like? 00:28:24.665 --> 00:28:25.099 Iron. 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:27.133 And what else? Clay. 00:28:27.133 --> 00:28:30.799 And what happened when those feet were struck? 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.566 They crumbled. 00:28:33.566 --> 00:28:39.333 But when burnished bronze medal is hard as brass is put as the feet of Jesus. 00:28:39.333 --> 00:28:41.200 That is firm foundation. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:43.932 They understood both the value and the strength of that metal. 00:28:43.932 --> 00:28:47.566 They understood that they are being called to stand firm. 00:28:47.566 --> 00:28:57.500 In fact, that's what he said to them, to those who have not given in, to those who have not followed the deep things of Satan, hold fast to what you have until I come. 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:59.599 Hold fast to the truth. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:12.900 In fact, the last thing will point out here when you are in the midst of facing the issue, when you are in the midst of dealing with the enemy within, look at letter D. 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:15.865 Remember your foundation. 00:29:15.865 --> 00:29:18.865 Your foundation is Jesus. 00:29:19.165 --> 00:29:22.165 Come back to him. 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.732 Heretics. 00:29:23.732 --> 00:29:27.532 Someone teaching heresy loves to come in and teach in a way. 00:29:27.532 --> 00:29:29.099 First of all, that's confusing. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.400 Have you noticed that? 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:34.532 I've noticed it takes actually takes someone. 00:29:35.333 --> 00:29:39.299 Who's quite brilliant to make the complex simple. 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:49.532 But it's the heretic that makes the simple complex, then make it seem like it's something only they have thought of and make it seem like it's a brand new idea. 00:29:49.532 --> 00:29:52.865 And for all the decades you've read the Bible, you've never seen it before. 00:29:52.865 --> 00:29:59.165 This thing that I'm presenting to you now as a brand new thing, and they stir up confusion. 00:29:59.165 --> 00:30:02.965 The First Corinthians 14 makes it clear God is not a God of confusion. 00:30:02.965 --> 00:30:05.900 He's a God of peace. He brings clarity. 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:12.532 So make sure in the midst of the confusion to get back to the foundation in Christ. 00:30:12.532 --> 00:30:16.566 I just want to point out what he quotes here in verse 25. 00:30:17.165 --> 00:30:22.333 The one who conquers, who keeps my works until the end, to him I give authority over the nations. 00:30:22.333 --> 00:30:27.732 He will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces. 00:30:27.732 --> 00:30:33.932 Even as myself have received authority from the father, I will give him the morning star. 00:30:33.932 --> 00:30:36.165 This here is pointing us to Christ. 00:30:36.165 --> 00:30:38.665 This is a quote from Psalm chapter two. 00:30:38.665 --> 00:30:42.900 And if we had time, I'd take us there, and we'd read through Psalm two and unpack it at great length. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:44.566 We'll do that someday, for sure. 00:30:44.566 --> 00:30:48.165 I want to see us dig into the Psalms together. 00:30:48.165 --> 00:30:50.200 Here's the power of Psalm two. 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:52.799 Here's where all this is coming together. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:31:00.333 Psalm two is a psalm all about pointing forward to a day when a messiah comes and set you free. 00:31:02.165 --> 00:31:07.766 Jesus is our firm foundation that we depend on, and this is what he's pointing out here. 00:31:07.766 --> 00:31:09.532 And here's the point. 00:31:09.532 --> 00:31:12.299 I'm going to leave you with this quote. 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:15.099 It's a long, complex quote, and that's why I put it in your notes. 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:17.165 But I want you to hear one thing in this. 00:31:17.165 --> 00:31:19.165 This is a quote from Francis Schaeffer. 00:31:19.165 --> 00:31:24.799 He's a Bible teacher who is very influential in my life, in Julie's life. 00:31:25.266 --> 00:31:26.566 And he makes the point. 00:31:26.566 --> 00:31:29.566 And here's why all this is important. 00:31:29.865 --> 00:31:30.599 Look at this quote. 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:32.365 It should be on screen. 00:31:32.365 --> 00:31:33.200 It's in your notes. 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:45.165 The generation of those who first give up biblical inerrancy may have a warm evangelical background and a real personal relationship with Jesus. 00:31:45.266 --> 00:31:47.799 If you give up on, you know, the Bible is true. 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:50.200 It's trustworthy. I can depend on it. 00:31:50.200 --> 00:32:01.700 If you give up on that, you might still say, but I love Jesus, I follow him, and you might still be able to live as a Christian with that mindset. 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:03.799 But look at the last sentence in this quote. 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:05.465 Look at what he says after that. 00:32:05.465 --> 00:32:10.665 But what happens when the next generation tries to build on that? 00:32:12.566 --> 00:32:18.299 This is why we're memorizing Deuteronomy chapter six as a church, what are you passing on to the next generation? 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.566 It's not just about me. 00:32:19.566 --> 00:32:20.700 What are you passing on? 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:24.732 Are you given the next generation a firm foundation that can stand on? 00:32:24.732 --> 00:32:28.965 Are you passing on feet of clay and iron that will crumble? 00:32:28.965 --> 00:32:30.700 What are we passing on? 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:33.532 This is why we have to fight for truth. 00:32:33.532 --> 00:32:41.333 When the enemy within shows up, we don't just hope maybe it'll go away or it'll take care of itself. 00:32:41.365 --> 00:32:46.465 You got to stand firm and fight for faithfulness. 00:32:47.599 --> 00:33:01.165 I want to end the message today by bringing someone up who is a powerful example of faithfulness, who have endured through the generations, who have stayed firm in the midst of ups and downs. 00:33:01.165 --> 00:33:03.500 In fact, I'm going to bring up now Larry and Charlotte Pierce. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:06.000 Would you guys mind coming down front? 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.400 Welcome. 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:08.365 Larry and Charlotte up, if you would. 00:33:15.932 --> 00:33:19.365 Larry and Charlotte both have been up front before. 00:33:19.365 --> 00:33:21.099 You know who they are. 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:33.165 The thing I want to highlight about them today, and the reason we're having them up front today, is that today is or yesterday was their 70th wedding anniversary. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:42.000 I mean, how many of you aren't even 70 years old and they've been married that long? 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:44.299 I saw a lot of hands shoot up for that one. Right. 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.665 70 years married. 00:33:45.665 --> 00:33:52.865 Larry, I want to ask you, what have been some of the keys to staying faithful that long? 00:33:52.865 --> 00:33:59.900 How have you guys been able to last 70 years and share with us some of your wisdom, please. 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:02.200 Oh, can I just use your own words? 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.865 You know. 00:34:02.865 --> 00:34:04.032 Sure. Please. 00:34:04.032 --> 00:34:07.032 The foundation has to be Jesus. 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:11.032 And that's what he just ended his sermon with. 00:34:11.032 --> 00:34:18.166 We started our marriage really wrong. 00:34:18.865 --> 00:34:24.599 She wasn't a Christian, and I knew what the scripture said about marrying a Christian. 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:31.699 She was saved in a revival service three months after we were married and we started. 00:34:31.865 --> 00:34:39.400 Then a nightly time together in in devotion and prayer. 00:34:39.532 --> 00:34:51.333 And what I learned from that is that the more we got closer to God, we were getting closer to each other. 00:34:51.333 --> 00:35:01.000 And so this is what we fell back on each time when, when issues come and and believe me, issues came. 00:35:01.032 --> 00:35:03.465 We had issues. We've always. 00:35:03.465 --> 00:35:07.500 But but we still know each other and we still like each other. 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:10.965 So that's worked for us. 00:35:11.032 --> 00:35:25.900 I can't give you no simple formula for marriage, but God did watch over our relationship and God kept us together and he kept us alive this long. 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:28.333 So it's all him. It's not anything we do. 00:35:28.333 --> 00:35:29.365 It's not what I'm eating. 00:35:29.365 --> 00:35:32.132 It's not what we're doing in our spare time. 00:35:32.132 --> 00:35:32.666 It's. 00:35:32.666 --> 00:35:35.666 It's God, and he has done it. 00:35:35.932 --> 00:35:40.699 Now, you said that you had some daily practices that really helped you submit your relationship in Christ. 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:43.699 Together we we do have. 00:35:43.865 --> 00:35:46.865 Right after she got saved, we started. 00:35:48.365 --> 00:35:50.400 We do a devotional at night. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:57.365 We do our Bible studies and our our prayer time separately of a morning. 00:35:57.365 --> 00:36:06.032 But at night we started reading a devotional scripture and praying. 00:36:06.032 --> 00:36:20.000 And what we started was on the even days of the month, I would read Scripture and she would pray, and on the odd days of the month she would read the Scripture and I would pray. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.199 And and we always went to get to bed together. 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:39.000 And so, you know, even if we'd had a bad day and, and we started toward bed with some issues, the Bible study and prayer sort of took them away. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:58.166 And it's amazing what praying for each other out loud does to a spirit that is troubled or upset or mad about something, it just sort of wipes it out. 00:36:58.166 --> 00:37:11.300 And you know, when you hear your your spouse praying for you, when you've just had words or you've had disagreements, you can't live together for 70 years without having some disagreements and some problems. 00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:14.099 But God is bigger than that. 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:17.300 But you just have to allow him to be God. 00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:21.800 And you have to remember, you know, that it's all about him. 00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:29.733 It's I don't know why he's left us here this long, but I'm thankful he has. 00:37:29.766 --> 00:37:38.132 We're we're still enjoying being husband and wife, just like us, started Charlotte. 00:37:38.132 --> 00:37:41.132 Anything to correct their. 00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:43.199 No. 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:45.400 Okay. 00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:47.565 Lastly, just one last question. 00:37:47.565 --> 00:37:49.500 Tell us about your wedding day. 00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:51.333 Oh, yeah. 00:37:51.333 --> 00:37:53.199 The wedding. Wedding was special. 00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:59.800 If you remember, I was living in Lebanon, Kentucky at the time. 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:05.465 I had just taken a job as a manager trainee for Southern States Cooperative. 00:38:05.465 --> 00:38:07.465 After I got out of college. 00:38:07.465 --> 00:38:17.965 And we met in college, I had gone back an extra semester because I had some. 00:38:18.565 --> 00:38:23.865 I still had a semester eligibility in cross country and I didn't want to give that up. 00:38:23.865 --> 00:38:29.932 So I sort of scaled back my senior year and and ran my extra year of cross country. 00:38:29.932 --> 00:38:34.666 And that happened to be the year that she came as a freshman and we met. 00:38:34.666 --> 00:38:49.800 And so after her freshman year, after I just started in March in Lebanon, she got on a bus in West Virginia and, and rode the bus to Berea. 00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:59.666 And I went over and picked her up, and I put her in a furnished apartment in Lebanon on Monday night. 00:38:59.666 --> 00:39:04.666 And I was living in a sleeping room across town. 00:39:04.666 --> 00:39:09.132 Wednesday morning we got up and drove to Jeffersonville, Indiana. 00:39:09.565 --> 00:39:18.766 I stopped at the first marriage parlor on the right and got married and and went back to Lebanon. 00:39:18.766 --> 00:39:31.065 I just had one day off from work because I just had started three months ago, and I had one day off, went back to Lebanon, I went to drive in, had chili dogs and and that was it. 00:39:31.065 --> 00:39:34.599 And then the 70 years started right then. 00:39:34.666 --> 00:39:37.000 That's how it worked. Thank you all. 00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.565 Yeah. 00:39:40.565 --> 00:39:43.565 We got one more thing. 00:39:44.266 --> 00:39:44.965 Phil's their son. 00:39:44.965 --> 00:39:46.800 He's bringing them up some flowers from the church. 00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:50.166 Just as a way to say thank you for your 70 years. 00:39:50.166 --> 00:39:54.365 It's a very small gesture, but thank you, guys. 00:39:55.233 --> 00:39:58.865 Just stay up here with them. 00:40:02.666 --> 00:40:03.565 You stay right here. 00:40:03.565 --> 00:40:08.365 Phil, let's all stand and I'll have us a closing prayer of blessing. Thank you. 00:40:08.365 --> 00:40:09.699 Let's come up and say hi to them. 00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:15.699 Encourage them, and if they need, they may take a seat, but say thank you to them. 00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:18.166 How often do you see this? 00:40:18.166 --> 00:40:19.932 I know we've all had different journeys. 00:40:19.932 --> 00:40:23.000 Some maybe a dream of staying together was broken. 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:25.365 I, I know that's out there. 00:40:25.365 --> 00:40:29.365 And yet we also want to celebrate when God works in someone's life. 00:40:29.365 --> 00:40:31.532 Even with an interesting start. 00:40:32.865 --> 00:40:35.865 70 years of faithfulness. 00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:52.099 God, I pray that our church that we would be a church that is faithful to you, that is faithful to one another, and we're going to have ups and downs, and we can't control what other people might do and our lives face challenges. 00:40:52.099 --> 00:40:56.766 I thank you for Larry and Charlotte and their amazing testimony of 70 years. 00:40:58.266 --> 00:41:04.532 May this be an employment and encouragement to our church today, and help us to walk in faithfulness to you. 00:41:04.532 --> 00:41:10.900 And so my prayer for you today is that the Lord would bless you and keep you, that his face would shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:15.132 You feel the fullness of his presence in your life and you'd walk in peace. 00:41:15.132 --> 00:41:16.000 We love you, Jesus. 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:17.599 We pray in your name. 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:20.000 Amen. Have a great day. Go in peace.