WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:06.160 You come to the red letters of Revelation chapters two and three as Christ is speaking. 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:08.320 He speaks to his church. 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:19.440 God at many different ways and at many different times in the Old Testament spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:27.120 The writer of Hebrews said, In these last days, has spoken unto us by his son. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:31.600 Jesus is God's final word. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.799 Let's see what God says to the church today. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:54.960 Verse 18, and unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:04.000 I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:22.239 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants, and to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:28.239 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:50.239 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds, and I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, give unto every one of you according to your works. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:02:05.200 But I say unto you, uh but but unto you I say, and unto the rest and Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak, I will put upon you none other burden. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:24.080 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come, and he that overcometh and keepeth my words unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations, and he shall rule them over them with the rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my father, and I will give him the morning star. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:30.560 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.120 And I speak on the subject of rooted in holiness. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:36.080 May we pray? 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:40.479 Our Father, we thank you for the privilege of reading the Word today. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:47.199 We're even reminded in chapter one that we are blessed just to read the prophecy of this book. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:56.240 We know that a blessing from heaven will come upon the Calvary Baptist Church in these days as we study this particular portion of Scripture. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:03.520 But I do pray, Lord, specifically that a special blessing might come upon us today. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:11.919 That you might speak personally and very specifically to each of us here today. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:16.400 Lord, I'm very aware of our own human weakness. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:23.599 And I pray that in our weakness you would be strong to us, through us, and in us. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:26.479 We know what men can do. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:28.479 We've seen that many times. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.400 But we ask that you would do what only God can do. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:38.240 So speak and move and work in a powerful way today is my prayer. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.319 And I pray it in Jesus' name. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:40.960 Amen. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.240 Thank you for standing, and please be seated all around together. 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:55.840 God does not call his church merely to survive in a sinful culture. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:01.840 He calls us to remain holy in the midst of it. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:10.319 We're noticing that in the midst of all the church ages, God's people have a choice. 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:18.560 Though evil surrounds them, they may still live victoriously in the strife. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:27.360 Jezebel, mentioned for us here in verse 20, may have a table spread, but you don't have to feast at it. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:32.879 There's never a time in our Christian lives that we have to sin. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:37.839 Never a time our church has to compromise. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:46.240 The Bible says, there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men, but God is faithful. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:56.399 God is faithful, he will not suffer you to be tempted above your capability, but he with the temptation makes a way to escape. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:03.920 For the church of Ephesus, their escape was loving Christ, returning to their first love. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:10.399 For the church of Smyrna, their way of escape was patient endurance in the trials of life. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:18.480 For the church at Pergamus, as we read last week, their way of escape was the truth of God's word. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:26.800 And now we come to this church at Thyatira and we see their escape is to be holy. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:37.759 The danger in using a word holy is that you have, unbeknownst to you, maybe already defined a definition to it. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:47.040 Maybe you think you know what I mean by that term, or maybe you have a means in your mind of which you think you would know holiness if you saw it. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:06:00.399 Some might be caused to think of a matter of dress or a list of do's or don'ts, or places we go and places we don't frequent and things we don't involve ourselves in. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:05.600 Someone said, I don't drink and I don't chew and I don't run with those that do. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:09.279 And that's their definition of holiness. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:17.519 But when I say holiness, I want you to think about Jesus. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:22.480 Holiness is not the way to Christ. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.519 Christ is the way to holiness. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:37.839 This church is in the midst of a spiritual, full frontal attack. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.480 As we will notice in these passages. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:52.560 We talked about the church of Smyrna, and those in Smyrna were dealing with intense persecution by the devil. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:56.480 He said, Satan will cast many of you into prison. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.920 Be faithful unto death, I'll give you a crown of life. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:08.959 And then we went to Pergamos last week and discovered that these Christians were living in a city known as the seat of Satan, is there. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:13.040 The dominion of Satan at that moment was in their town. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:33.439 But we've gone from Christians being persecuted for their faith, Christians being encouraged to withstand the fiery trials of the onslaught of error, to now a church who has become so comfortable with the darkness. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:40.959 He says in verse number 24, some of them have come to know the depths of Satan. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:50.720 Now I want us to look at Jesus in this passage and discover some truths about holiness. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:56.800 First of all, will you notice in this passage Christ sees where we are? 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:05.759 The beautiful young lady who sang a moment ago is my oldest daughter. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:12.639 I do not have permission to share this story, but I think it's safe enough. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.959 Let me just let me ask her really quick. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.759 Can I share that story you have no idea I'm about to share? 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:18.399 Perfect. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.879 She gave me permission to do so. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:29.759 Sometimes when she was a little girl, she would do things maybe that she wasn't supposed to do. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.159 As some children do. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:35.200 And we would say, Phoebe. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:40.559 And Phoebe had a habit of putting her hands over her eyes. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:50.320 In her young mind, she thought that if she couldn't see me, we couldn't see her. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:04.799 Christ sees where we are today. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:13.279 The Bible says in verse 18, unto the angel of the church in Thyatira, write, These things saith the Son of God. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:19.279 He has eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:22.159 The Son of God. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:29.600 Now, if you're in the habit of marking things in your Bible, I want you to mark in verse number 18, the Son of God. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.960 Do you see that there? 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.360 His eyes, his feet. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.759 Well, we've seen that already in this prophecy. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:41.120 Go back to the first chapter with me in verse 13. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:47.120 This is the second coming of Christ, what we call the second advent of Christ. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:56.320 When Jesus came the first time, he came as a baby, meek and lowly, lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, came and born to die. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:01.679 Oh, but when he comes again, he doesn't come to die, he comes to reign. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.720 When he came the first time, he came in obscurity. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:06.720 Where is Jesus born King of the Jews? 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.840 But when he comes the second time, every eye shall see him. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:13.840 And I don't think anyone looks up in the clouds and says, Hmm, I wonder who that is. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.159 That's Jesus, is who that is. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.559 He comes distinctively. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:27.360 In the midst of the candlesticks, verse 13, chapter 1, one like unto one like unto the Son of Man. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.559 Do you have that there? 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.679 Circle that. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:36.559 One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to his foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:40.320 His head and his hairs were white like snow. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:47.120 As white as snow, his eyes were as a flame of fire, his feet like a like unto fine brass. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:56.000 But here in chapter 2, the angel of the church of Smyrna is to see the Son of God. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:03.120 Now in that society they worshiped a God by the name of Apollo. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:06.159 Apollo was the son of Zeus. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:11.200 He was believed to have the power of light and healing. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:20.240 John says, You think you worship a man responsible for the light of the sun? 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.080 I want to tell you something. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:25.759 We don't worship the S-U-N, we worship the S-O-N. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.000 We worship the Son of God. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:32.240 He's in the midst of the candlestick. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:37.120 In chapter 1, verse 13, he's known as the Son of Man. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:45.919 This identifies Jesus with his humanity, identifies him in his role as mediator and high priest. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:52.080 And aren't you glad today, church, that there's one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus? 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:00.960 And the man Christ Jesus is our faithful high priest, tempted in all points, like as we are, and he can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:05.600 Aren't you glad that the Son of Man knows how we feel and he cares? 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:08.960 The Son of Man. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:13.600 He is sympathetic when he walks among the churches. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.919 And this speaks of his relationship to his people. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:23.200 Oh, but in chapter 2, John doesn't see one like the Son of Man. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.000 He sees the Son of God. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:34.399 I say to us this morning, we have all become too familiar with Jesus. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:39.039 Too familiar. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:44.879 Our familiarity is bred, if not contempt and indifference. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:51.759 Paul said to Timothy, that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, they're able to make thee wise unto salvation. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:56.639 But beloved, if we're not careful, that which we are so familiar with we take for granted. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:00.240 We become too familiar with who Jesus Christ is. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.279 He's the Son of God. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:16.799 Van Savner told of the missionary story of a missionary somewhere in the heart of Africa watching a young boy playing on a street corner with sparkly marbles. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:25.440 And as he got closer to that young boy playing marbles, he discovered he wasn't just playing marbles. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:28.480 He was playing marbles with diamonds. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:34.159 Not just the Son of Man, as revealed in his relationship to us. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:37.039 Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:45.279 His deity, his absolute authority, his right to judge and purify is being spoken of here. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:50.720 His holiness is being pointed at here in that he cannot tolerate sin. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:57.519 This speaks of the fact that Christ is in authority over the church. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:04.399 As I've said a few times the last couple weeks, this is not your church, and this is not my church. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:06.480 This is Christ's church. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.080 He loved the church and he gave himself for it. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:16.879 This church at Thyatira's will discover this morning was tolerating sin. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:24.000 So Jesus does not approach them primarily as a sympathetic priest. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:29.919 He approaches them as a holy judge who sets things in order. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:38.960 Peter says, because the end of the age is coming, judgment must begin at the house of God. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:42.559 Now I know what you're thinking, and I think it too. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:51.840 I'd like the Lord Jesus Christ to walk in the midst of Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., and I'd like to see him straighten that mess out. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:58.799 I think they have an 8% approval rating in Congress these days. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:01.600 There's a lot he could straighten out. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:04.480 But that's not where he's going to start. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:11.440 Maybe we could take him to Sin City or downtown Orlando, and that's where he could set it straight. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.399 Oh, he might, but that's not where he starts. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:22.720 One like the Son of God comes and he walks up and down in the midst of the pews of the candlestick. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.440 And he speaks to us today. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:30.159 Notice his eyes as a flame of fire. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.200 That's verse number 18. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.919 Now, what does he mean here? 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:40.159 His eyes as a flame of fire. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:46.799 Well, first of all, it means that this is a picture of his omniscience and his perception. 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.279 His perception. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:16:00.799 The writer said that he has bright, sharp, penetrating eyes, as if everything was light before him, or they would penetrate into the thoughts of men. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:05.519 The word of God is quick and powerful, it's sharper than any two-edged sword. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:12.720 It pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.519 Beloved, we we ought not lie to God. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.480 He knows the thoughts and intents of our heart. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.879 It speaks of his omnipresence. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:35.440 Hebrews 4 12 continues, neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.879 May I return to the figure. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:43.840 We may not see God in our lives right now, and we might be lying to God and lying to ourselves and lying to others. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:49.519 But I want to tell you this morning, we cannot lie to the staring, searching eyes of God. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.320 Oh, he sees. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:57.759 Matter of fact, this is an analogy used often of Jesus in Revelation chapter 19. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:05.279 I saw heaven opened, behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:11.680 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:17.279 The psalmist wrote this, Psalm 94, verse 7, yet they say, The Lord shall not see. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.960 Neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.039 Understand, ye brutish among the people. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:23.759 Hear this. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.880 And ye fools, when will ye be wise? 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:30.240 He that planted the ear shall he not hear? 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:35.279 He that formed the eye shall he not see. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:40.880 We are talking about the Son of God that has penetrating eyes. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:44.480 He knows the true nature of our lives. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.559 So not only that, he has feet like brass. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:58.000 Thyatira was known as a place of the working of metal, the invention of a copper zinc alloy. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:02.240 It was good in the making of weapons and currency. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:10.720 John here uses the term brass to speak of something of which they were familiar. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:15.039 It spoke of endurance, of stability, of unyielding strength. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:18.880 His feet, he's standing with feet of brass. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:24.880 His feet are not weak, they're not shifting, they are firm, they are unmovable. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:33.759 Beloved, the church might move, but our God has never moved. 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:44.960 And though this though the waves of life might knock us off of our equilibrium, our God stays constant and he stands firm. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.960 The God who sees clearly stands firmly. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:53.200 He acts decisively. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.319 He's not passive. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:58.640 He is able to handle whatever the churches face. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.720 Now I want to make another distinction for you. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:04.799 Go back to chapter 2, if you will. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:07.359 Notice the Church of Ephesus. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:16.319 I've heard people say, well, Pastor, if a church compromises, and they'll list a few things they think churches do when they compromise. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:21.440 They'll say, well, he'll come after the music or he'll come after the Bible. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.880 That might be true. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.559 Hear this. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:31.359 Satan has a million ways to compromise the church. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:38.880 The church of Ephesus, we learned, was great in truth and low in love. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:41.440 They had great orthodoxy. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.079 They lost their doxology. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.920 They left their first love. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:52.240 And we live in a society today that would tell us that the most important thing is love. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.599 Matter of fact, it's a self-defining term in our world today. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.559 Love is love. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.200 Love is not love. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.000 How many of you are parents in the room? 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.119 Will you raise your hand? 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:15.680 Would you agree that love always has restrictions? 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.799 I love cotton candy. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.559 How many of you like cotton candy? 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.920 How many of you think you ought to eat it three times a day? 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.480 Only a dentist would agree with that, right? 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.359 Love has restriction. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.839 Well, we just ought to be loving. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.200 We ought to be tolerant. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:37.920 And so this church at Thyatira said, we'll just love everybody. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:43.839 And we'll love everyone at the expense of the truth. 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:54.720 If I hold in my hands love and tolerance, love and truth, which one should we choose today? 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.519 I have love. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:02.160 By this shall all men know you're my disciples if you have love one for the other. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.599 Should I choose that one? 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.880 Or should I choose the truth? 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.480 Sanctify them through thy truth. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.920 Thy word is truth. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.599 Let me tell you something. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:17.519 Anytime someone tells you to make a choice between love and truth has an agenda under their argument. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:22.000 The Bible says we're to speak the truth in love. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:27.359 We must not be so loving that we don't speak the truth. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:30.079 We ought not be so harsh in speaking the truth. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.079 People think we don't love them. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:35.440 That's the church of Thyatira. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:40.880 Number two, Christ not only sees where we are, he confronts what we tolerate. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:43.359 He confronts what we tolerate. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.960 That's verse 20. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:52.640 He says to them in verse 19, by way of commendation, I know your faith, your charity, your love, your patience. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:59.680 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth her. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:06.079 A prophetess to teach and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:11.519 Only one dear friend in our entire life, I mentioned her name, but I won't do that. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.319 Thought, she thought she didn't do it. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:17.440 Her husband told her, no, you can't do it. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:20.559 But she she wanted to name her her daughter Jezebel. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:23.119 Well, you don't see that a lot. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:29.359 Jezebel, of course, is an old testament figure. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:34.720 Who speaks of everything that we ought to stand against. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:42.799 She hated the preaching of God's word, she hated the prophets of God, she hated the exclusive worship of God. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:55.200 And so John's using an allegory, an illustration here, the spirit of Jezebel, the prophetess, who taught seduced servants to commit fornication. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:23:06.640 And the idea here is not a physical act of sexual immorality, but a spiritual act of adultery, and that that is sinning against the love of our bridegroom. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:11.200 Walking away from our worship of Jehovah to worship and serve other gods. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.039 And it gets to this level. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:24.400 It's not that we leave Jehovah, it's that we incorporate other beliefs into our worship of Jehovah, and we take worldliness and we take Christ and we try to worship them both at the same time. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.640 That's Jezebel. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:31.680 He speaks of the corruption of holiness. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:34.799 The corruption of holiness. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:46.880 And the corruption here, for sake of time, is to cloud the line, to murky the line between idolatry and the Christian faith. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:51.599 To cloud the line between Christianity and secularism. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:57.680 To cloud the line between Jesus and the things of this world. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.519 There's no doubt we ought to agree today. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:17.359 That the culture is having more impact on the church than the church is having on the culture. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:23.119 Let's go home. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.200 There's no doubt. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:34.000 The culture is having a higher impact on our homes than our homes are having on the culture. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:38.480 May God help us. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:47.680 When the church looks no different than the world, the church has no gospel to preach to the world. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.960 That's the sin of Jezebel. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:57.279 To corrupt the clear truth of Scripture. 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:01.920 It said of her in 1 Kings chapter 18, verse 19. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:05.440 Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel into Mount Carmel. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.759 Elijah speaking. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:12.400 And the prophets of Baal 450, and the prophets of the groves 400. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:15.839 Here's the lion, which eat at Jezebel's table. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:23.759 Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:34.400 Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, for it was so when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:39.680 Can I just say this morning, we ought not to ever eat and feast at Jezebel's table? 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:52.480 To line our pockets, to find some station in life of comfort, and compromising our convictions, eating at Jezebel's table. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:26:10.640 William Booth said years ago, founder of the Salvation Army, the chief danger of the 20th century will be religion without the Holy Spirit, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:18.400 I ask you today, have you moved, have you compromised in your convictions of God's word? 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:29.039 My dear friend, his son bought an old square body Chevy truck with the bench seat in the front. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:38.559 And he said he wanted to take his wife out on a date on a Friday night, and he borrowed his son's old Chevy truck with the bench seat. 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.799 And they liked it. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:43.279 His wife would sit right there in the middle. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.839 He'd put his arm around her. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:48.079 They'd go down the road together. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.359 Well, they did that repeatedly. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:27:00.319 Till one day he was driving down the road, and she was sitting as far away as she could on the other side of the bench seat. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.960 And she said, Oh, don't you remember those date nights we used to have? 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:16.880 When I used to sit up close to you and you'd put your arm around me in the bench seat, and he said, Who moved? 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.440 Have you moved? 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.319 Jesus didn't move. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:40.480 If there were ever a time in our Christian life we loved him more. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:56.720 If there were ever a time we loved his word more, if there was ever a time we were more willing to identify with Christ than we are willing to identify with Christ this morning, the question remains, who moved? 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:03.599 I think we have a picture of Jonathan Isaac. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.160 You remember 2020? 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:20.559 During the NBA's restart in the bubble, BLM protest had expanded all across the country. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:27.279 BLM was a Marxist organization. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:36.000 Every athlete was wearing a shirt that said something about equity. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.519 Quality and equity. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:55.759 They were asking for sameness of outcome. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.960 Big difference. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.200 Big difference. 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:03.359 Jonathan Isaac is a Christian. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:11.599 And when the national anthem was played, he didn't kneel. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:17.119 He was the only one that stood. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:26.319 In a culture that constantly pressures believers to redefine themselves. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:29.200 Jonathan Isaac made a simple but powerful statement. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:33.119 He said, Quote, my faith in Jesus Christ is what defines me. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:38.799 That cuts directly against the compromise of this age. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:43.839 Jezebel may not ask you to abandon your faith outright, no. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:49.599 Just relabel yourself according to the moment. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:57.119 She says, let culture define you, let the crowd assign your identity. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:01.119 You don't have to change your convictions, just be quiet about them. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.480 But Isaac refused that. 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:08.160 Here's what he said. 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:13.680 He said, I'm not anti-black, I'm not anti-police, I'm pro-gospel. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:27.200 In other words, he refused to let the world force him into a category that blurred or replaced his allegiance to the person of Jesus Christ. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:31.759 We need more in our society like that today. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:38.559 That's why compromise is so painful and dangerous. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:46.160 Isaac said, I didn't feel like putting that shirt on and kneeling went hand in hand with supporting black lives. 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:56.160 Whether people agreed or disagreed, the point was this: he would not symbolically align himself with something he did not fully believe in his conscience before God. 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:58.319 Hey, who moved? 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:11.440 The battleground of Fiatira is that Jezebel invites believers to participate outwardly while quietly justifying it inwardly. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:13.759 It's just a small thing. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.960 Just a gesture. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.039 I don't think you have to agree with it. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:21.759 Nebuchadnezzar said, we want to play the music, boys. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.839 I'm not asking you to believe it. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:27.119 I'm not asking you to uh I'm not asking you to give your whole life to it. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:31.279 I'm just asking you that when the instruments play, just bow. 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:46.640 But faithfulness says, if it violates my conviction and it goes against Scripture, I cannot join it. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:32:00.240 The moment in our lives we start acting against conviction to gain acceptance by this world, we're already on the path of compromise. 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:04.079 Have one more point, I'll finish the message tonight. 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:10.400 That would have been a good place to say amen. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:16.160 If you guys are thank you, George, I think I will. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.880 The erosion of holiness. 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:29.519 The erosion of holiness. 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:38.480 Someone said that there are three generations of faith. 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:40.160 I want you to get this. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:48.960 First generation Christians experience conversion. 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:56.640 Those who come to Christ out of unbelief. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:06.720 Their life is marked by clear change, a zeal and gratitude for God, and a strong testimony for Christ. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:12.319 First generation Christians have a faith that is newly received. 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:21.200 I wasn't able to hear all of Joy's lesson yesterday. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:26.640 But I think she talked about being the daughter of a first generation Christian. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:39.119 There used to be things in her family's life that were very normal that became very abnormal after your dad met Jesus. 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:45.359 How many of you would consider yourself a first generation Christian? 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.079 Amazing. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:55.519 Someone said that first generation Christians pay a price. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.119 They pay a price. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:03.920 Then there are second generation Christians. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:12.000 They're raised around the truth and they have to make it personal. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:19.280 They're familiar with Scripture, they inherit exposure to the truth. 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:28.960 But although their parents had a radical transformation, they must personally come to faith in Christ and the truth of Scripture. 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:35.679 Their faith must be personally avowed. 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:43.119 Then there are third generation Christians. 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:51.840 I don't know if you've been keeping up with the series, the slide the churches are on. 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:55.519 There is a dissension. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:00.639 There's a slippery slope that they've hit. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:04.320 They used to do everything right. 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:11.039 They just got so busy making sure everything was right, they forgot about whom they were answering to. 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:13.760 And they suffered persecution. 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:27.519 And then the next generation was adopted by Constantine and the Catholic Church, became one with biblical Christianity, and they enjoyed comfort to second generation Christians. 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:30.400 And now we're in that third generation now. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:45.920 And in the third generation, their faith can become cultural if not renewed personally. 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:49.679 I say this as a son of the South. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:53.199 I was born on the buckle of the Bible belt. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:59.360 When I was a kid, there were 800 Baptist churches in my hometown. 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.960 800. 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:06.079 There were 450 Southern Baptist churches. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:09.360 There were 350 independent Baptist churches. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:17.199 You'd go down the road, you'd see Hope Baptist Church, you'd see Old Baptist Church, you'd see New Baptist Church. 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:21.920 You'd see Hope Baptist Church, Old Hope Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church. 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:24.480 Because they couldn't get along. 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:28.480 They fought about unnecessary things. 00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:34.719 I heard of a church one time that got riled up about the purchase of a chandelier. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:42.400 And somebody said in a business meeting, we don't need a new chandelier. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:47.920 And by the way, we don't even have anyone here who can play the stupid thing. 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:57.920 Third generation Christians! What do they do? 00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:01.679 Their faith becomes routine and cultural. 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:04.159 Why are you a Christian? 00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:06.800 Well, my granddaddy's a preacher. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:11.119 My uncle's a preacher. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:16.320 May I say to you today, there are no grandchildren in the family of God? 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:27.519 Every son of God comes to Christ by personal faith in the finished work of Christ. 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:34.880 I'll say to my children, none of my children will ride my coattails into the city of God. 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:40.320 We must personally come to Christ by faith. 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:46.320 There's a loss of spiritual passion, adrift without intentional renewal. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:50.719 And their faith will become obsolete if not continually renewed. 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:54.079 Now I want to ask, we got second generation Christians. 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:56.719 Or first, where are my second generation Christians? 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:58.800 Your parents started a line of faith. 00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.679 Amen. 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:06.320 Where are my third generation Christians? 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.440 We're not careful. 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:20.320 Belly up to Jezebel's table and compromise our convictions. 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:23.280 Take a lot of things for granted. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:26.320 I'll close with a story. 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:30.480 I was at uh the ladies' tea yesterday. 00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:33.840 I was listening to everything finish up. 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:37.840 Joy had gotten done speaking. 00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:49.119 She'd finished speaking, and Marie came up and tried to put the big bow on the top and let the cleanup begin. 00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:54.960 By the way, fellas, I'm going to be calling on you to help more of us next year. 00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:58.639