WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.200 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:10.960 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:15.039 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.039 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:24.640 Glad that you're here. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.239 Turn your Bibles to Revelation chapter 3. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:31.120 Revelation chapter 3. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:39.359 If you look on the map there, you're going to see that we're going to be looking at Sardis and Laodicea together this morning. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:44.320 We've got this message, and then one more of the churches we'll be ending. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.600 So chronologically, it's messing up some folks out here. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:53.679 But we're going to be ending on church 6 next week, Philadelphia, which is good. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.000 We're ending on a good church. 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:05.359 So anyway, we'll be finishing that up, and then we'll be jumping into a Christmas mini-series. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:09.200 Myself, Pastor Dave,'s going to work through some messages there. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:13.840 Christmas Eve service on the 22nd, I believe it falls this year. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.760 It's going to be an awesome service. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:22.159 By the way, be planning and praying on how you can give a Christmas gift. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.159 We try every year as a church. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:30.959 The greatest gift we want to challenge you that you give this Christmas will be our Jesus gift, our Christmas offering. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:32.719 So be in prayer about that. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:35.120 I do have to say something about Thanksgiving. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:36.799 Happy Thanksgiving. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:41.200 I'm thankful for you. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:46.239 Even though we got our tree up, better calm down over there, Darren. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.599 We got our tree up, but we are happy about Thanksgiving. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:56.000 And I'm thankful for you. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.000 We have a good church. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.159 And it's meant more than ever to myself and my wife. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:07.200 And watching this church body be a church I'm so thankful. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:09.360 So thank you, church. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:15.520 One more thing on Thanksgiving Day for all of our gridiron grates that are here. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:30.159 Every Thanksgiving, if you're new to the church at 8:30 Thanksgiving Day on the big field, we have the annual Turkey Bowl Football Competition of the best and some of the worst. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:35.680 And so if you're interested in joining us, usually we have about 30 or so men. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.719 It is church tackle football. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:39.680 Okay? 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:43.199 When I say church tackle, it means what I said. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.800 It's Christian tackle. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:49.199 Alright, we will tackle you, but if you say I'm down, we will not tackle you. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:49.680 Okay? 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:51.439 We're not looking to hurt folks. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:53.599 Just leave a few bruises. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:57.840 So, anyway, we're ready for that Thursday. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:02:59.199 It's gonna be a good week. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:04.960 Revelation chapter 3, you've seen the map there in Sardis and Laodicea. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:10.240 We're not gonna come back later when we hit Laodicea, but I want you to see them where they uh are. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:14.240 And Sardis was the capital city of Lydia. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:21.759 The original city sat on top of a 1,500-foot-high plateau, so it was seen. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:25.039 There was one narrow road leading into the city. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:28.000 The other sides of the plateau were steep cliffs. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:34.000 This made the city very safe and nearly impenetrable by invading armies. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:38.560 Gold and silver coins were first minted at Sardis. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:42.000 The city of Sardis was very famous for its wealth. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:44.800 It was famous for its industries. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:49.280 Carpet and wool and dyed cloths were their primary products. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:55.520 And it's said that the art of dying was invented at Sardis. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:01.840 At one time, Sardis had been one of the great cities of the earth. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:06.560 The church at Sardis was a different story that we're going to find out about. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:11.120 The church at Sardis was one that had a beautiful appearance because of all the wealth. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:18.480 And by the way, the problem of both of these churches that I want to open up right now, they both had a lot of wealth. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:23.040 And I don't want you to leave here today thinking that I have a problem with wealth. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:28.319 Wealth comes by hard work, comes by ingenuity, creativity, and wealth is okay. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.639 The Bible never says wealth is not okay. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:37.279 It says that the love, the preoccupation with it, the idolization of it is a big problem. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:43.519 But this church and Laodicea both had problems seemingly because of wealth. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:51.279 It has an appearance of something beautiful, but the church at Sardis was nothing more than a mirage in the desert. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.000 It looked like something that was so needed. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.120 But at the heart of it, it was a dying church. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:58.800 Would you pray with me? 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:04.399 Father, we love you, and we are thankful for your goodness to us. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:10.399 God, we have so much as we consider the week that is before us. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:15.360 And God, may we evermore have just thankful living. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:18.319 But God, thank you for being a good God. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:20.399 Thank you for sending your Son. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:25.759 Thank you for giving us a church and a purpose and a passion, platform which to live for. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:27.920 Lord, we thank you for your goodness. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:33.839 God, we ask that as we look into this scripture, that you would open our hearts. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.600 We have a lot of wealth. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:38.879 And God, there is a lot of application that can be taken. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.560 I pray that our hearts should be pierced for the right things today. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:47.120 Help each and every person to leave here, having met with you and your word. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.040 We love you in Jesus' name. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:49.920 Amen. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:55.839 The first thing we see, that church, that church at Sardis, point number one, it's the artificial church. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:06:07.600 Revelation chapter 3, verses 1 through 3, it says, And to the angel of the church in Sardis, right, these things says he who has seven spirits of God and the seven stars. 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:13.600 I know your works, that you have a name, that you are alive, but you are dead. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:20.240 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:26.240 Remember, therefore, how you have received and heard, hold fast and repent. 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:30.720 Letter A is this busyness does not equate belief. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:32.800 Busyness. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.759 You've heard these phrases today. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.399 I'm swamped, I'm buried, I'm barely holding my head above water. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:42.160 I don't know if I'm coming or going. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.839 I'm covered up, I'm tied up, I've got a full plate, right? 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.079 You've heard this constantly. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:07:01.040 I was thinking when I was when I became a pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, one of the first things that happened in ministry, my boss gave me this device called a PDA. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:02.160 You remember these? 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:06.000 Personal digital assistant. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:10.240 And for about two days I was kind of excited about the PDA, right? 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:18.240 All I knew about PDA before that was in college it got me demerits because you weren't allowed to have personal displays of affection. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:25.120 But now I got a PDA, and to wear this thing, you had to have a police grade belt. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:33.439 Put it in a pouch, had a holster, and if somebody was in the church and they wanted to set an appointment with me, pull it out. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:35.279 And it had a magic wand. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.199 Oh, you want to have lunch? 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:38.639 Right? 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:40.240 This is what I had to do with the PDA. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:47.759 And I found out after about a week of looking like Barney Fife with my PDA, that they had turned me into a nerd. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:53.519 I had my PDA and I had become a pastor, but now I'm a nerd. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:58.959 They were trying to tell me something that I had to keep track of all my busyness. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.000 Right? 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.120 We're busy. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:02.560 We're busy people. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:05.279 It says you have this name. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.680 That word is onoma. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:09.680 It's a reputation. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:10.879 You have this name. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:17.600 Evidently, Sardis Baptist Church worked hard to look like something that they were not. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.399 The Greek word is Hippocrates. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:26.399 Hippocrates, where we get our word hypocrite, and the Greek means a play actor. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:31.759 In Greek theaters, actors wore masks to signify the different types of character. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.279 So we have this word for someone who wears a mask. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:40.960 In Scripture, we see this word come out of Jesus' mouth to groups of people a few times. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:44.480 He calls out the Pharisees, he calls out the scribes. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:53.360 But I thought about one individual in particular that was busy, that was busy with a lot of work. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:54.480 His name? 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.159 Judas Iscariot. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:06.799 Judas was a disciple, personally chosen by Jesus Christ, left everything that he knew to follow Jesus into the ministry for three and a half years. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.480 It says he forsook all. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:26.399 Judas Iscaria had a front row seat for the teaching of the word of God from the mouth of the Son of God. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:31.840 He had a reputation as someone in the ministry. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.759 He was busy. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:37.759 But alive as he might have looked on the outside. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:42.960 He was on the inside spiritually dead. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:48.480 The problem of Sardis, they had wealth and a reputation. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:50.399 They had a reputation. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.240 People saw it and said, Oh, it looks good. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:54.720 That church at Sardis, what a nice place. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.919 Oh, they have a lot of things going on over there. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.519 There's a lot of program. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.240 There's a lot. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.320 It's bustling over at Sardis. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.440 They had a reputation. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.360 Let me tell you a scripture that's important. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:09.440 2 Timothy 3.5, I think it's a terrifying scripture. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:19.200 It says they have a form of godliness, but they're lacking the power thereof, or denying its power. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:26.879 Power in the sense of rightful authority, the power it has to speak through the word of God to a person. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:35.840 There are lifelong churches today that have a form of godliness, but they have no power. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:38.399 And for many, many years without any power. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:44.960 Some of you will visit a church over the holidays, and you're going to come back and you're going to say, Man, I went to this place and it was just cold. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:46.159 Well, what is that? 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.559 What makes a place like that? 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:53.360 It's that lacking of the power of God working. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.200 Oh, they got a lot over there. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:00.879 And we can have a hundred different ministries and be dead on the inside. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.759 Lacking the power. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.679 What is it about this busyness? 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.919 The Bible commends us to do some things. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.679 The Bible in Ephesians 5 says, redeem the time because the days are evil. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.519 So what do we do with this busyness? 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:17.840 I'm not saying even being busy is evil, but how is our busyness? 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:19.120 Redeem the time. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.919 You have 168 hours in a week. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.240 And this was a breakdown that was given. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:29.039 It says 56 hours are normally given to sleep. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:33.120 About 24 hours are spent with eating or hygiene. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:39.759 50 hours work or school, and that would leaves approximately 35 hours of other. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:45.360 So in the other category of your life, all these other things are sort of have-tos. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:49.600 What happens in the blank of your life that says other? 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:55.200 Because the investment of other determines your direction. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.200 What's happening with your other? 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.279 Sardis was busy. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.279 And you're busy. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:03.919 But what happens in the blanks of your other? 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:07.759 What are you dedicated to in those times? 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.759 If I asked people, and I practiced this last week, I promise. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:13.840 We were having that big meal and it was awesome. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.120 Everything was so good. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:21.919 And I was walking through the lines and I was talking to people, and I would say a simple question that I got the same answer many times. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:24.960 I say, hey, how are you guys doing? 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.000 We are so busy. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:34.720 Over and over and over, people looked at me and said, We are so busy, Pastor. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.879 And I don't know how to take that. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.559 For some people, I think they like that. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.840 For some people, I think they mean to say, Pray for me. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:42.879 I want some relief. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.720 I am so busy. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.559 Maybe stop scheduling so much that means so little. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:55.440 Schedule family night on the calendar. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:59.679 Schedule family devotions on the calendar. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:03.919 Schedule something that means something. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.919 Schedule church on the calendar. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:11.679 Parents, I told a family member something that seems inconceivable in American culture. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:15.039 I told them something that nobody told me when I was a young parent. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.480 I said, you know what, guys? 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:21.279 I want to tell you something that may hurt a little because of the culture around you and what they say. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:28.320 I said, you don't have to have every one of your children in a sport every season that there's a sport. 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.559 I said it. 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.279 I said it. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.919 And I know the I know the thought. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.519 Well, if I don't, then Johnny's not going to get to start. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.600 He's not going to get to play as much. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:54.399 If he doesn't keep up with all the other kids that are going to 47 camps through the summer and they're paid to play professional sports as a child, they're never going to make it. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.679 I'm going to tell you something. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.759 Most doesn't mean anyway. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:10.399 If they're already not an amazing sports professional right now, without any extra help, it's probably not going to get paid. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:11.039 Okay? 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:21.440 They may get something to happen in college, but the thing that I want you to hear, American sports, we have turned this into something that it didn't used to be. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:25.039 It's two things it's idolization and it's industry. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:28.559 Oh, we're making bank over little kids that look great. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:31.519 Because you got to take a picture every time they play that sport. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.399 And we got to get the special uniforms and the special shoes. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.320 And I'm telling you, it's money. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.679 Crazy money. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.720 And every coach here can make lessons a part of that. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:42.000 Look, hey, do it. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.200 Go make some money. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:46.639 But all I'm saying is we have turned it into industry and idolization. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:50.399 Ask any little kid in the sport right now what's he want to be when he grows up? 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:53.200 Used to be veterinarians and doctors. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:59.919 And this two things kids will tell you today they want to be whatever sport they're playing, and they want to be a YouTube star. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.759 I'm serious. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:04.159 We were in a little kindergarten thing that I want to be. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:06.159 Five kids say I want to be on YouTube. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:08.240 I'm like, what in the world? 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.759 Listen to me. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.879 Busyness is a veil for being good or right. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.840 You've got the power of choice in your life. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.440 So think about your choices. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.120 The Bible says, Redeem the time. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:24.960 Busyness does not equate belief. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:25.679 Let it be. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:28.240 Busyness does not equate bearing fruit. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.960 Turn your Bible over to John. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.159 Chapter 15. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.440 Busyness does not equate bearing fruit. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:44.720 This church, Sardis, oh, they were busy. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:51.600 They had a name, they had a reputation of being something that was alive. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.519 What makes them look like they're alive? 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:55.600 A lot of busyness, but. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:01.360 John 15, 1 through 5 says, I am the vine, the true vine, my father is the vine dresser. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:09.039 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:12.799 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:22.080 Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot, cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:24.240 Neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:31.120 I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me, and I in him bears much fruit. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:31.919 Listen to this. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.919 For without me, you can do nothing. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:41.679 See that vine, the importance of the branch and the vine. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.039 Bearing fruit is not about busyness. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:48.480 It's about being grafted into the right place. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.240 I was reading this this week. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.559 A cadaveric spasm. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:01.440 You can kill animals, you can kill a caterpillar, and it can still move. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.759 Some of you have seen this happen. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:09.519 Somebody's chopped the head off of something and watched it still move, and it made you jump back and you said, What is going on? 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:15.279 Some species of animals can move for up to 24 hours afterwards. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:18.480 The church at Sardis is busy. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:21.839 They're moving, but they're dying on the inside. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:26.160 And I want to tell you, that is not what God created the church to be. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:29.039 The church of God is alive. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:34.640 It's a vibrant organism of God to be vital and out and vibrant. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.599 It's not dead. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:39.599 If a church is grafted into God, it is alive. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:46.079 But if a church is not grafted into the vine, you can be busy all you want and be dying. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.240 He said this. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:50.880 These are strong words about fruit. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:54.960 He said, Apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:00.079 A lot of people spin on a lot of wheels, and I want to tell you. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.680 Remember Mary and Martha? 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:07.359 He said, Mary's chosen that one good thing to just sit right there at my feet. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:13.119 It's like being baptized without first being saved. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:19.759 It's a great symbol, but it means nothing if you hadn't come to know Jesus and had a relationship with him. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:23.359 It's like having a wedding ring on your finger, but you're divorced. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.039 Oh, that's a great symbol of wedding and a union. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.599 But if you're divorced, it means nothing. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:35.039 I don't know how long this church has gone on in this way, but it was busy without fruit. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.559 We had a sweet testimony from Harvest Gym. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:43.440 Talk about like the busiest thing that we do in the whole year, Harvest Gym. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:46.559 You come in here, it's like something on steroids. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:53.440 You come in and there's ministry and there's rides and there's hay rides and there's food and there's hospital, and there's stuff going on all over. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.759 And let me tell you, there's a purpose. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:03.599 And it can be frustrating as a leader to do something very busy and not know whether or not the purpose happened. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:21.759 Well, the other day, a guy was coming up to me during Upward, doesn't attend this church, but he said, Pastor, I want to let you know at Harvest Jam, my daughter, because of what you did in sharing the gospel, my daughter prayed during Harvest Jam, and she received Jesus as her savior. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.519 And I've been working with her. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.400 Amen. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:29.599 The whole purpose was that. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.799 Right? 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.240 It's not just to be busy. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:36.799 And so when I heard that test, I said, thank God this happened. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.599 Because we don't want to just be busy to be busy. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:45.279 This parent was so excited, and they attend and serve at a whole nother church. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:47.119 Praise God, I don't care about that. 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:50.559 Somebody was walking in eternity in a different direction. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.240 Their heart was changed. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.039 Busyness that bore fruit is good busyness. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.720 Well, how do we get there? 00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.920 How do we get our hearts right? 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.720 Because if Sardis was wrong, Pastor, help me. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.880 How do we get it together? 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.519 Well, the key is the heart of a person. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:14.319 Psalms 37, 4 and 5 says, Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:21.519 If you delight into that vine, if you delight into the right places, he will give you desires of your heart. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:26.160 It says also commit your way to the Lord, trust in him, and he will bring it to pass. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:32.240 Proverbs 16, 3 says, Commit your works to the Lord, and he'll establish your thoughts. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:39.200 So a commitment of heart towards a purpose, not just busyness because look at that church. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.720 Oh, aren't they great? 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:44.559 Oh, they're doing lots of things, and those things are good things. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.079 Purpose. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:53.920 Am I living and looking for what God really wants in my is my is my purpose delighting in what God would have? 00:20:54.400 --> 00:21:01.119 It's like sometimes in the summer, Heather would go away for a week or two weeks to Texas. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:13.279 She'd take the kids, and during this time, it would strike me sometimes about a weekend, I'd be so lonely and sad, sitting there talking to myself. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.960 They're just having a good time. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:20.240 And anyhow, about a week in, I'd start thinking about the mess I've created. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:20.880 Just me. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.880 Not a lot, well, I gotta clean this up. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:29.680 And then somewhere along the line in our marriage, when she would go to that, I would start to take a project or two. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:35.920 I had carpets cleaned one time, I painted one time, I would come bring flowers in. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:43.359 You see, my plans reveal a future desire to get to the heart of the one that I love. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:48.319 And so I want her to come home and I want her to see that she was loved. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.920 Man, this is free. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:59.759 The church at Sardis was wealthy and busy, and they were keeping up and they were keeping face, but they were not delighted in the Lord. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.240 The one that they're supposed to love. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:05.200 They were just delighted in the doing. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:10.079 And let me tell you, churches and people get all good about that. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:14.079 I got with my social club and we got together and we did a thing. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:20.400 And, you know, it felt good because we completed a function, we completed a task. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:24.160 Are we delighted in the Lord? 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:28.960 You see, I'm delighted by my wife. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:39.119 And if I can do something and my desire shows my love for her, I can tell you that's a good thing. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:45.839 They liked how it made their reputation look, but on the inside, they were dying. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.200 And that's scary. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.680 That's scary for everyone here. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:53.759 That we can like how it feels to serve, and we've got to be careful with that. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.960 Our motive, our heart. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:58.559 We can like how we can get up and sing our hearts out. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:06.640 But if we're not singing to the one that it's all about, but we like how it feels, and we can like all kinds of things. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:08.640 But what is our motivation? 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:15.200 You see, Sardis was busy and they were doing, but they had no heart. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.519 Second church I want you to see. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.319 The apathetic church. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:26.319 Laodicea was a very important city as well in Asia Minor. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:29.680 It was again known for wealth, for position and pride. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:34.000 They were like Sardis, involved in the clothing industry. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.759 They had a medical school. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.480 They're noted for having eye salved. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:43.200 And they had an interesting that will look at water situation in Laodicea. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:51.039 They had this system that was man-made and created because they didn't have natural water right there as a resource that we'll get back to. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:57.839 But the letter from the Lord to this rich church, I want you to see, we're going to read verse 14. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.599 What it says. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:10.160 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write these things, says the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:14.319 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.319 I could wish you were cold or hot. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:23.759 So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:28.880 He says to the rich church in Laodicea, you make me sick. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.000 Can you imagine this commendation? 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:36.240 God sees a church and he says, You make me sick. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.559 Because you're not hot or cold. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:51.359 We go to Starbucks a lot, and I order from my sweet wife a double tall white chocolate mocha, extra hot, no whipped cream, just two pumps of chocolate syrup. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.200 I got it. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.079 I got it. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:56.559 And sometimes they make me repeat it, and I say it even faster. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:58.000 You didn't hear it the first time? 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.319 And sometimes people say, extra hot? 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:02.160 Why do you get a drink extra hot? 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:06.480 I don't know what normal is if they brew something at 192 degrees. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.000 That's what my courig does. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:14.000 But I guess you can get it up to 211 because 212 would be or two, whatever, one of them's boiling. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:16.720 And I never seen a cup come out boiling. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:23.039 But I know this the longer the hot lasts, the better the drink tastes. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:29.599 And as soon as it gets about like 185, I'm like, mmm, it ain't good no more. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.960 It don't taste good. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.720 I don't like that. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:38.240 Y'all ever heard anybody talk about the McDonald's Coke situation? 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:44.000 I'm sure you've if you've drink, if you go to McDonald's, it's the best Coca-Cola on the planet. 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:46.640 Coca-Cola is world famous. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.000 Everywhere it's old. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:50.720 The best Coke is at McDonald's. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:53.279 And they didn't even pay me for this plug. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.319 And I started looking at what makes their Coke so good. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:06.720 They keep, you know, if you ever worked in the food industry, a lot of drinks, they have drinks and the syrups and stuff in bags. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:10.799 And bags are connected to whatever the thing is that spits out the drink. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.000 Well, not McDonald's. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:18.079 They keep their syrup in stainless steel because it keeps the syrup even colder. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:25.359 And then they drop the temperature of the drink as cold as it can possibly be, and they have clear carbonation. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:30.480 So when that thing hits your mouth, all of a sudden you go, I don't even like coke. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.440 I promise I don't like coke. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:34.799 And I drink it from McDonald's and go, burns. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.039 In a good way. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.400 Right? 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.880 Because it's cold. 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:43.200 Listen to me. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:49.599 The apathetic church, Jesus says to them, You're not hot, you're not cold. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:52.000 And you make me sick. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:57.519 Letter A is this prosperity does not equate position. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:03.200 We saw in verse 14. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.160 It's interesting. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.680 I want you to note this in your Bible. 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:08.880 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:18.559 This is the first of a small thing, but notice, all of the other churches, they are the Lord's church in a city. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:23.680 This church is purposely noticed as the church of the Laodiceans. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:26.160 It was their church. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:28.240