It has stood the test of time.
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God's book, the Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
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I am John Bradshaw.
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Have you ever noticed
that food products you so often
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see in advertisements don't
seem to bear much resemblance
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to the food you actually
see in restaurants and fast-food
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places?
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These big glossy pictures
you see in billboards and on
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signs and in magazines and
various ads here and there -
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I've often heard people
say, and I'm sure I've said
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myself, "That doesn't look
a lot like anything I've ever
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purchased..."
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McDonald's in Canada recently
released a video showing how
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one of their burgers is
prepared for a photo shoot.
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For a burger to look good
in an advertisement it takes a
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whole team of stylists
several hours of preparation.
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The video shows that
the burger is prepared
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meticulously before
being photographed in a photo
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studio - the cheese is melted
down with a warmed knife and
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mustard and ketchup
are actually added with a
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syringe.
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The bun is then strategically
slanted to show off the
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ingredients in the most
attractive way, and then
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comes - computer magic.
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The colors in the photo
are digitally enhanced, and all
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the imperfections in the
bun are smoothed out so that
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everything looks perfect.
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[Music in the background] You
might think you're looking at
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the real thing, but you're not.
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The real thing is far
less perfect that the publicity
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suggests.
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I haven't eaten one of
these in more than 20 years...
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Now, I hope you don't mind
me comparing a fast-food burger
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to the church, but I'm about to.
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It isn't uncommon to have an
idea in your mind of what the
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church should be like, and,
then find out that like this
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burger right here the
church often appears to be more
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perfect than it really is.
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You drive past a beautiful
big building and you might
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think to yourself, "Ooooh."
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Or you hear the choir sing
or the pastor speak or you hear
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about the community programs
and you might think, "Those
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people must be so close to God!"
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And maybe some of them are.
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I remember the first time
I walked into a church after
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I'd decided to be
a follower of Jesus.
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They sang!
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They prayed!
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They acted the part!
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I thought they were all ready
to go to heaven right then.
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But before too long, the
gloss started to wear off, in
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that I discovered
people weren't as perfect as I
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thought they might have been.
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And over the years, I've
discovered that it's very
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hard to find a perfect church.
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In fact, I've never found one.
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Never even come close.
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And this discourages
some people, you know?
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Here's the sad truth.
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Church leaders and pastors
and ministers and members
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frequently get it wrong:
there are moral failings,
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financial messes,
inter-personal friction...
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and some of these things
even make the headlines in the
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news media.
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People are imperfect,
they act imperfectly, and yet
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Jesus rested the hopes for
the future of the church upon
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imperfect people.
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And how does He feel about this?
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Well, God's history with His
people is sort of complex, in
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a way.
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He created a perfect world
and put two perfect people in
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a perfect garden,
and they went astray!
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He would have to send His Son
Jesus to redeem the world and
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bring the human family
back into harmony with Him.
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Later, God called
Abraham to follow Him.
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But even Abraham
didn't always get it right.
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Then, like his dad, Isaac
lied about his wife; Jacob
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swindled Esau; and the
sons of Jacob were just plain
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dysfunctional at times.
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And these were God's "leaders".
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Israel was in the wilderness
40 years because of their
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unbelief, and they were led
by Moses, who was a murderer!
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They finally made it to the
Promised Land, and acquitted
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themselves so badly 10 of
the twelve tribes were scattered
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and absorbed into the
heathen nations around them.
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Then, when Jesus came to
Israel - His church, really -
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He hardly got a great welcome.
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There were hundreds of
prophecies about His coming.
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John 1:11 puts it this way.
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He came to His own, and
His own did not receive Him.
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The book of Isaiah says in
chapter 53:3, He is despised
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and rejected by men, A Man
of sorrows and acquainted with
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grief.
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His own people called for
His death, and had Him nailed to
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a cross.
00:05:05.66\00:05:06.66
His own people!
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And you think YOUR
church has problems.
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Someone who was there when
Jesus was crucified was the
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apostle John.
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About 60 years after the
crucifixion, John wrote the
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book of Revelation.
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John was a prisoner on
the Island of Patmos, a tiny
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island in the Aegean Sea,
close to Turkey, measuring
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just 13 square miles in area.
00:05:26.46\00:05:28.70
Now for perspective, New
York City is 468 square miles.
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Patmos is just over half
the size of Providence, Rhode
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Island, and
smaller than Frankfort, KY.
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And there was John, on
Patmos, a prisoner, when God
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gave him the vision that
ended up being the Book of
00:05:42.10\00:05:46.23
Revelation.
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And John was aware that
the early Christian church was
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far from perfect!
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He'd seen it all -
arguing, theological debates,
00:05:51.76\00:05:55.36
troublemakers in the
church, faulty church leaders...
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But I want you to
notice something - and that is,
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where John saw Jesus.
00:06:02.86\00:06:04.63
Let's look in
Revelation 1, verses 12 and 13.
00:06:04.63\00:06:09.33
"Then I turned to see
the voice that spoke with me.
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And having turned I saw seven
golden lampstands, and in the
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midst of the seven lampstands
One like the Son of Man."
00:06:15.96\00:06:21.00
Now this is fascinating,
because we read in Revelation
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1:20 that "the seven
lampstands which you saw are
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the seven churches."
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Isn't that something?
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Jesus is shown as being in
the midst of His churches-His
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far from perfect churches.
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What does Jesus say
about these churches?
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We're going to find that
in spite of all her failings,
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Jesus has a lot to say
about the churches that is good.
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In just a moment, we'll open
up Revelation 2, and find our
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what Jesus likes
about His church.
00:06:54.30\00:06:58.50
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of
God says "It is written 'Man
00:07:00.53\00:07:04.33
shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
00:07:04.33\00:07:08.06
proceeds out of
the mouth of God'."
00:07:08.06\00:07:10.00
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:07:10.00\00:07:13.20
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:07:13.20\00:07:16.33
especially for
busy people like you.
00:07:16.33\00:07:18.86
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:07:18.86\00:07:21.63
on-line everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:07:21.63\00:07:24.73
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:07:24.73\00:07:27.96
Watch Every Word.
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You'll be glad you did.
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Here4s a sample.
00:07:30.66\00:07:32.53
You've heard it said,
Here today, gone tomorrow.
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And that's what it's like
with the fun people have when
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they sin.
00:07:43.70\00:07:44.70
The thrill of gambling
or drinking or whatever only
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lasts briefly.
00:07:46.80\00:07:48.43
Then there's reality to
deal with, and often guilt or
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financial issues.
00:07:51.06\00:07:52.53
Same thing with other
sins like pride and anger and
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lust.
00:07:54.90\00:07:55.90
Any 'benefit' a
person gets is temporary.
00:07:55.90\00:07:58.50
There's nothing that
lasts in a meaningful way.
00:07:58.50\00:08:01.16
Hebrews 11:25 says Moses
chose "to suffer affliction
00:08:01.16\00:08:04.40
with the people of God, than
to enjoy the pleasures of sin
00:08:04.40\00:08:06.96
for a season."
00:08:06.96\00:08:08.23
The pleasure of
sin is transitory.
00:08:08.23\00:08:10.30
Drugs and alcohol get
you up for a short time.
00:08:10.30\00:08:12.80
Dishonesty gives you
an advantage briefly.
00:08:12.80\00:08:15.33
Immorality is for the moment.
00:08:15.33\00:08:17.23
If you want something that
will last, you'll avoid sin,
00:08:17.23\00:08:19.93
the pleasures of
which are seasonal.
00:08:19.93\00:08:22.26
One thing really lasts:
the pleasure of being one with
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God.
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That's forever.
00:08:26.73\00:08:28.66
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:08:28.66\00:08:30.63
Let's live today by Every Word.
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??? Music ???
00:08:34.53\00:08:43.56
In Revelation chapters 2
and 3, John writes to seven
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churches in Asia Minor -
today we'd call that part of
00:08:47.06\00:08:49.83
the world Turkey.
00:08:49.83\00:08:52.13
Now these were literal
churches in literal places -
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Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis,
00:08:54.76\00:08:58.66
Philadelphia and Laodicea.
00:08:58.66\00:09:01.26
So the messages were in
the first place for those
00:09:01.26\00:09:03.63
churches.
00:09:03.63\00:09:04.96
But that number 7 appears
all over the book of Revelation.
00:09:04.96\00:09:08.70
You read about not only 7
churches but seven Spirits,
00:09:08.70\00:09:11.86
the seven candlesticks, seven
stars, seven lamps of fire, a
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book that has seven
seals, the seven horns and seven
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eyes of the Lamb, seven
angels with seven trumpets,
00:09:19.46\00:09:22.23
seven thunders, a dragon with
seven heads and seven crowns,
00:09:22.23\00:09:26.00
a beast with seven
heads, seven angels having seven
00:09:26.00\00:09:29.03
vials containing the seven
last plagues, and the beast
00:09:29.03\00:09:32.23
with seven heads, which
are also said to be seven
00:09:32.23\00:09:35.06
mountains and seven kings.
00:09:35.06\00:09:37.03
This repeated use of the
number seven with so many
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different symbols suggests
there's a symbolic element to
00:09:39.60\00:09:42.96
it.
00:09:42.96\00:09:43.96
Throughout Scripture
the number seven, when used
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symbolically, is
generally understood to indicate
00:09:45.96\00:09:48.90
completeness, perfection.
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While the messages to
the seven churches applied to
00:09:51.60\00:09:54.06
conditions in the church
of John's day, it also appears
00:09:54.06\00:09:58.06
reasonable to understand
these messages as descriptive
00:09:58.06\00:10:01.30
of the whole church at
any time during its history.
00:10:01.30\00:10:04.63
A Christian writer
wrote in about 200 A.D.
00:10:04.63\00:10:06.70
that "John writes to the
seven churches, yet he speaks
00:10:06.70\00:10:10.70
to all".
00:10:10.70\00:10:11.70
In other words,
there's something in there for
00:10:11.70\00:10:14.16
everyone.
00:10:14.16\00:10:15.36
The churches are listed
in the order a messenger
00:10:15.36\00:10:17.46
carrying a letter from John
on Patmos would get to those
00:10:17.46\00:10:20.36
cities.
00:10:20.36\00:10:21.36
And the churches, though
they existed long ago, are
00:10:21.36\00:10:24.40
representative of the
Christian church at various
00:10:24.40\00:10:27.16
stages down through history.
00:10:27.16\00:10:29.03
Let's look at that, and
let's see what Jesus likes about
00:10:29.03\00:10:32.10
His church.
00:10:32.10\00:10:33.33
First the church of Ephesus.
00:10:33.33\00:10:36.30
The word
'Ephesus' means "desirable".
00:10:36.30\00:10:38.43
It represents the first
period of church history
00:10:38.43\00:10:40.86
after Christ died.
00:10:40.86\00:10:42.40
Ephesus had been a stronghold
of paganism where the apostle
00:10:42.40\00:10:45.10
Paul had taught and
preached and worked miracles.
00:10:45.10\00:10:47.36
Now this era represented by
the church of Ephesus was one
00:10:47.36\00:10:50.66
when the gospel message was
pure and the church grew, and
00:10:50.66\00:10:55.13
Jesus commends the
Ephesian church by saying in
00:10:55.13\00:10:58.20
Revelation 2:2,3, "I know
your works, your labor, your
00:10:58.20\00:11:03.66
patience, and that you
cannot bear those who are evil.
00:11:03.66\00:11:07.26
And that you have
tested those who say they are
00:11:07.26\00:11:09.53
apostles and are not, and
have found them liars; and
00:11:09.53\00:11:13.46
you have persevered and
have patience, and have labored
00:11:13.46\00:11:15.90
for My name's sake
and have not become weary.
00:11:15.90\00:11:18.33
Jesus says, "I know your works."
00:11:18.33\00:11:21.60
I'm aware of your deeds
as they give evidence of your
00:11:21.60\00:11:24.76
moral character, and I
know how you've endured..
00:11:24.76\00:11:27.63
This was a time
when the church grew.
00:11:27.63\00:11:31.13
Churches sprung up, and
paganism actually feared for
00:11:31.13\00:11:34.20
it's existence.
00:11:34.20\00:11:35.53
Jewish leaders said believers
had turned the world upside
00:11:35.53\00:11:38.83
down.
00:11:38.83\00:11:39.83
And Jesus commends the
Ephesians by saying, "I know
00:11:39.83\00:11:43.23
how you can not
bear them which are evil.
00:11:43.23\00:11:46.16
You have tried them who
claim to be true believers, and
00:11:46.16\00:11:49.16
you've uncovered them."
00:11:49.16\00:11:50.80
Now Jesus likes it when
we have very little tolerance
00:11:50.80\00:11:54.00
for sin -
especially in our own lives.
00:11:54.00\00:11:56.70
Not intolerance for
evildoers, because there is
00:11:56.70\00:11:59.70
an evildoer inside all of us.
00:11:59.70\00:12:01.70
Jesus says, What I like about
my church, is that they have
00:12:01.70\00:12:05.43
accepted my
standard of righteousness.
00:12:05.43\00:12:08.73
Now here's a challenge for us.
00:12:08.73\00:12:11.53
We live in an age
of moral relativism.
00:12:11.53\00:12:14.46
Preachers are under immense
pressure to soft-peddle the
00:12:14.46\00:12:17.03
Bible.
00:12:17.03\00:12:18.26
But some things are
wrong, and always will be wrong.
00:12:18.26\00:12:21.26
Now you don't want to
sound harsh, but there are some
00:12:21.26\00:12:23.66
things that aren't
consistent with Christianity.
00:12:23.66\00:12:26.56
And surely it's
okay to acknowledge that.
00:12:26.56\00:12:28.63
In fact, we have a
responsibility to do so.
00:12:28.63\00:12:30.83
Now, on the other hand,
if you're immoral, if you're
00:12:30.83\00:12:35.66
breaking the 10
commandments, If you4re ...
00:12:35.66\00:12:38.40
whatever you4re into ...
00:12:38.40\00:12:40.03
you may know that you're
doing wrong, but you may not
00:12:40.03\00:12:43.06
know how to fix that.
00:12:43.06\00:12:44.76
My friend, remember, Jesus
is in the midst of his churches.
00:12:44.76\00:12:48.56
He identifies with His people.
00:12:48.56\00:12:50.93
If you hear God's
voice, don't resist.
00:12:50.93\00:12:53.63
If you know that God is
inviting you to make the
00:12:53.63\00:12:55.63
simple request, Lord Jesus,
come into my heart and make
00:12:55.63\00:12:58.76
me new, He will do that for you!
00:12:58.76\00:13:02.13
He really will.
00:13:02.13\00:13:03.23
The Ephesian church actually
stood for something, and
00:13:03.23\00:13:05.66
Jesus said, That's something
I like about My church!
00:13:05.66\00:13:11.76
The next church mentioned
is the church of Smyrna, and we
00:13:11.76\00:13:15.10
will look at the church
of Smyrna in just a moment.
00:13:15.10\00:13:18.20
I4ll be right back.
00:13:18.20\00:13:19.76
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??? Music ???
00:14:29.10\00:14:38.10
Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
00:14:39.03\00:14:41.03
Today we are looking at
the churches mentioned in the
00:14:41.03\00:14:44.13
opening chapters of
the book of Revelation.
00:14:44.13\00:14:46.66
The next church
we4re looking at is
00:14:46.66\00:14:48.10
the church of Smyrna.
00:14:48.10\00:14:49.33
Smyrna - might mean
"sweet smelling", which possibly
00:14:49.33\00:14:51.66
equates with the many who
gave their lives for their
00:14:51.66\00:14:55.23
faith in Jesus.
00:14:55.23\00:14:56.90
Some scholars say the church
of Smyrna correlates with the
00:14:56.90\00:14:59.03
period of history from about
the end of the 1st century to
00:14:59.03\00:15:02.10
about the beginning of the 4th.
00:15:02.10\00:15:03.86
What does Jesus
like about this church?
00:15:03.86\00:15:06.66
Let's read Revelation 2:9 "I
know your works, tribulation,
00:15:06.66\00:15:10.56
and poverty (but you
are rich); and I know the
00:15:10.56\00:15:14.36
blasphemy of those who
say they are Jews and are not,
00:15:14.36\00:15:18.16
but are a synagogue of Satan."
00:15:18.16\00:15:21.26
He goes on to urge them not
to fear, but to hold fast and
00:15:21.26\00:15:24.86
be faithful.
00:15:24.86\00:15:26.23
These were people who were
poor in this world's goods,
00:15:26.23\00:15:28.60
but Jesus called them
rich because they were rich in
00:15:28.60\00:15:32.00
faith, and Jesus
liked that about His church.
00:15:32.00\00:15:35.36
Jesus likes it when His
church manifests faith in Him
00:15:35.36\00:15:38.53
no matter what
the circumstances.
00:15:38.53\00:15:40.83
And that's what faith is.
00:15:40.83\00:15:41.86
Faith is believing the
word of God simply because it's
00:15:41.86\00:15:44.73
the word of God, and not
because of anything external
00:15:44.73\00:15:48.03
suggesting that you should.
00:15:48.03\00:15:50.10
Anyone can trust God when
things are good, but when the
00:15:50.10\00:15:52.33
chips are down,
that's another matter.
00:15:52.33\00:15:55.30
I read the story of a man
who'd been wrongly imprisoned
00:15:55.30\00:15:58.03
in the State of Oregon for
over 20 years, for a crime he
00:15:58.03\00:16:00.50
didn't commit.
00:16:00.50\00:16:01.50
When he was finally released
he was able to say, God is
00:16:01.50\00:16:05.00
good.
00:16:05.00\00:16:06.00
No bitterness.
00:16:06.00\00:16:07.00
You see, he never lost his
faith and he trusted in God,
00:16:07.00\00:16:09.03
even when the chips were down.
00:16:09.03\00:16:11.03
And that's faith.
00:16:11.03\00:16:12.03
And that's what Jesus liked
about the church of Smyrna.
00:16:12.03\00:16:15.70
Rich in faith, even
when they had nothing else.
00:16:15.70\00:16:19.96
The third church is the
church of Pergamos, which
00:16:19.96\00:16:22.86
means "elevation".
00:16:22.86\00:16:25.06
What did Jesus
like about this church?
00:16:25.06\00:16:28.60
When the Roman
Emperor Constantine embraced
00:16:28.60\00:16:30.80
Christianity, the Christian
faith was elevated to a
00:16:30.80\00:16:33.80
position of favor
among the Roman Empire.
00:16:33.80\00:16:36.60
Church and state
started to join hands.
00:16:36.60\00:16:39.36
And Jesus says to the
church of Pergamos in Revelation
00:16:39.36\00:16:42.96
2:13, "I know your works,
and where you dwell, where
00:16:42.96\00:16:48.13
Satan's throne is.
00:16:48.13\00:16:50.10
And you hold fast to My name,
and did not deny My faith."
00:16:50.10\00:16:55.80
Jesus likes it because
they have not denied His faith.
00:16:55.80\00:16:59.53
Not denied the "faith"
in Him, and therefore in His
00:16:59.53\00:17:02.90
word.
00:17:02.90\00:17:04.30
You know, I don't have
to have answers to all the
00:17:04.30\00:17:06.93
questions that the
Bible raises, and I don't know
00:17:06.93\00:17:09.20
anyone who does, actually.
00:17:09.20\00:17:11.00
I might have answers for
many, but I can't tell you
00:17:11.00\00:17:13.63
how Jesus could raise the dead.
00:17:13.63\00:17:16.03
Or give sight to the blind.
00:17:16.03\00:17:17.26
Or turn water into wine.
00:17:17.26\00:17:18.80
Or heal lepers.
00:17:18.80\00:17:20.90
But I don't have
to know how He did it.
00:17:20.90\00:17:23.30
I simply believe that He did it.
00:17:23.30\00:17:25.66
It's that easy.
00:17:25.66\00:17:26.80
You know today, a staggering
amount of churches don't
00:17:26.80\00:17:28.86
believe in the Bible
account of a 6-day creation.
00:17:28.86\00:17:31.60
Why?
00:17:31.60\00:17:32.60
Because certain scientific
'evidence' raises questions
00:17:32.60\00:17:36.10
that can be difficult to answer.
00:17:36.10\00:17:38.20
Now it's wise to be as
educated as you can be on
00:17:38.20\00:17:40.70
different subjects, but
at the end of the day I might
00:17:40.70\00:17:43.50
just have to admit that
I don't understand certain
00:17:43.50\00:17:45.96
things, but that I've
understood I can trust God.
00:17:45.96\00:17:50.66
That's faith.
00:17:50.66\00:17:51.90
I can't tell how God
wrapped rings around Saturn or
00:17:51.90\00:17:54.83
painted that big red spot
right there on the side of
00:17:54.83\00:17:57.13
Jupiter.
00:17:57.13\00:17:58.13
You know, a group of
scientists calculated that
00:17:58.13\00:18:01.40
there are more than 70
sextillion stars in the sky.
00:18:01.40\00:18:04.50
And these are just
the ones you can count.
00:18:04.50\00:18:07.90
You might ask, How many is that?
00:18:07.90\00:18:11.16
Well, I4ll tell you.
00:18:11.16\00:18:12.16
More stars than grains of
sand on all the beaches and
00:18:12.16\00:18:15.83
in all the deserts
there are on planet earth.
00:18:15.83\00:18:19.16
These are just
the ones you can see!
00:18:19.16\00:18:21.16
In other words, the
universe is infinite.
00:18:21.16\00:18:23.53
And so is God!
00:18:23.53\00:18:25.43
So when Jesus says, when the
church believes, has faith, I
00:18:25.43\00:18:30.33
like that!
00:18:30.33\00:18:31.33
We can
understand what He4s saying.
00:18:31.33\00:18:34.63
If you're wondering why
we're ignoring the 'bad' things
00:18:34.63\00:18:36.66
about these churches listed
in Revelation 2 and 3, the
00:18:36.66\00:18:39.90
things Jesus 'doesn't' like,
we looked at those things in
00:18:39.90\00:18:43.30
another It Is Written program.
00:18:43.30\00:18:45.30
Yes, there are plenty of
things Jesus doesn't like
00:18:45.30\00:18:47.30
about these churches.
00:18:47.30\00:18:48.50
But again,
remember where He stands.
00:18:48.50\00:18:51.03
Revelation has Jesus standing
in the midst of the churches.
00:18:51.03\00:18:54.60
Even when His people
don't get it right, Jesus stands
00:18:54.60\00:18:58.30
with His church.
00:18:58.30\00:18:59.50
The church of Thyatira
is said to correspond to the
00:18:59.50\00:19:03.73
middle and dark ages, a
time of great persecution.
00:19:03.73\00:19:07.66
Here is what Jesus says in
Revelation 2:19 "I know your
00:19:07.66\00:19:14.53
works, love, service, faith,
and your patience; and as for
00:19:14.53\00:19:20.93
your works, the last
are more than the first."
00:19:20.93\00:19:25.26
The last were
more than the first.
00:19:25.26\00:19:28.90
In other words, they
experienced spiritual growth.
00:19:28.90\00:19:32.10
Jesus was able to say, I
like that about my church.
00:19:32.10\00:19:34.66
They're growing.
00:19:34.66\00:19:35.66
They're pushing forward.
00:19:35.66\00:19:36.86
They're becoming more like me.
00:19:36.86\00:19:39.23
They're not staying still.
00:19:39.23\00:19:40.23
There was plenty about
Thyatira that wasn't so good.
00:19:40.23\00:19:43.96
But here's a key point:
God wants us to be pressing
00:19:43.96\00:19:47.50
forward in our faith.
00:19:47.50\00:19:49.50
You might not be what you
ought to be, but if you're
00:19:49.50\00:19:51.80
not what you used to be that
could demonstrate that you're
00:19:51.80\00:19:55.03
growing.
00:19:55.03\00:19:56.46
Faith in God is to
be a growing experience.
00:19:56.46\00:19:58.66
A continual pressing forward.
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.20
You don't want to get to the
place where you stop growing,
00:20:00.20\00:20:04.30
where you quit
moving forward, where you've
00:20:04.30\00:20:06.40
plateaued and you're not
becoming more like Christ.
00:20:06.40\00:20:11.40
Remember what Jesus
said in John 8:31 & 32.
00:20:11.40\00:20:17.03
"Then Jesus said ..."If you
abide in My word, you are My
00:20:17.03\00:20:20.93
disciples indeed.
00:20:20.93\00:20:22.30
And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you
00:20:22.30\00:20:26.03
free."
00:20:26.03\00:20:27.53
The thought there is
continuing in God's word, not
00:20:27.53\00:20:30.30
stagnating.
00:20:30.30\00:20:32.23
How is it with you, friend?
00:20:32.23\00:20:33.93
Don't be satisfied
with the status quo in your
00:20:33.93\00:20:36.50
experience.
00:20:36.50\00:20:37.50
Keep on pressing
forward with Jesus.
00:20:37.50\00:20:41.20
The church of Sardis is
said to be the church during
00:20:41.20\00:20:43.56
Protestant reformation times.
00:20:43.56\00:20:45.33
Jesus says in Revelation 3:4,
"You have a few names even in
00:20:45.33\00:20:53.06
Sardis who have not
defiled their garments; and they
00:20:53.06\00:20:58.10
shall walk with Me in
white, for they are worthy."
00:20:58.10\00:21:03.93
There were some here who
stayed true to Jesus, even
00:21:03.93\00:21:07.10
though the
majority had forsaken Him.
00:21:07.10\00:21:09.66
Jesus likes that!
00:21:09.66\00:21:11.46
And that tells me that we
can stay close to Him even when
00:21:11.46\00:21:14.36
those around us don't.
00:21:14.36\00:21:17.00
Many people have
lived Christian lives in
00:21:17.00\00:21:19.00
un-Christian homes.
00:21:19.00\00:21:20.60
Spouses who have
weathered difficult marriages to
00:21:20.60\00:21:22.83
individuals who looked
like they'd never change or who
00:21:22.83\00:21:25.80
would never make a spiritual
commitment in their lives.
00:21:25.80\00:21:28.76
But Jesus is with His
people in those difficulties.
00:21:28.76\00:21:31.66
Some in Sardis hadn't defiled
their garments, and Jesus
00:21:31.66\00:21:35.56
liked that!
00:21:35.56\00:21:37.20
Then there's the
church at Philadelphia.
00:21:37.20\00:21:39.20
Jesus says in Revelation
3:10, "Because you have kept
00:21:39.20\00:21:42.40
My command to persevere, I
also will keep you from the
00:21:42.40\00:21:47.10
hour of trial which shall
come upon the whole world, to
00:21:47.10\00:21:51.83
test those who
dwell on the earth."
00:21:51.83\00:21:55.43
There's something
about just hanging on to God.
00:21:55.43\00:21:57.86
Here were people who had
kept the word of His patience.
00:21:57.86\00:22:00.36
Jesus liked that.
00:22:00.36\00:22:02.46
If we hang on to Him with
a faith that just refuses to
00:22:02.46\00:22:05.30
let go, He will
keep us from temptation.
00:22:05.30\00:22:08.33
You know, the spiritual
strength we need from day to
00:22:08.33\00:22:10.76
day is found in God.
00:22:10.76\00:22:12.16
Really, ours is just to
hold on to God and expect Him to
00:22:12.16\00:22:16.06
do what He wants
to do in our lives.
00:22:16.06\00:22:18.23
The church at
Philadelphia did that.
00:22:18.23\00:22:20.40
They persevered.
00:22:20.40\00:22:22.13
And now the church of Laodicea.
00:22:22.13\00:22:24.13
Laodicea means "a people
judged", or "the judging of
00:22:24.13\00:22:27.46
the people" This Laodicean
church correlates to the
00:22:27.46\00:22:30.26
end-time church.
00:22:30.26\00:22:32.36
There's not much here
that's very complimentary.
00:22:32.36\00:22:34.83
In fact, I can't find
anything in this passage that
00:22:34.83\00:22:37.80
would constitute Jesus saying
something positive, something
00:22:37.80\00:22:40.56
He likes, about His church.
00:22:40.56\00:22:43.76
And maybe......maybe
that's what's most encouraging.
00:22:43.76\00:22:48.26
When the church is
failing Him, Jesus still says,
00:22:48.26\00:22:51.46
"That's my church."
00:22:51.46\00:22:53.10
I'm not trying to give a
free pass to unfaithful churches
00:22:53.10\00:22:55.63
or church leaders.
00:22:55.63\00:22:57.00
If you read the rest of
the letters to the 7 churches,
00:22:57.00\00:22:59.43
you'll find that Jesus
doesn't give them any kind of
00:22:59.43\00:23:01.80
free pass either.
00:23:01.80\00:23:03.36
But to a lukewarm church,
the church of Laodicea, a church
00:23:03.36\00:23:05.96
that doesn't even know
the seriousness of its lost
00:23:05.96\00:23:08.60
condition, Jesus
issues an invitation.
00:23:08.60\00:23:12.80
In Revelation 3:20, 21 he
says, "Behold, I stand at the
00:23:12.80\00:23:18.03
door and knock.
00:23:18.03\00:23:19.03
If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come
00:23:19.03\00:23:23.50
in to him and dine
with him, and he with Me.
00:23:23.50\00:23:27.43
To him who overcomes I
will grant to sit with Me on My
00:23:27.43\00:23:30.70
throne, as I also overcame
and sat down with My Father
00:23:30.70\00:23:34.86
on His throne."
00:23:34.86\00:23:37.03
Even though the church has
let Him down, Jesus issues a
00:23:37.03\00:23:40.36
gracious invitation.
00:23:40.36\00:23:41.66
The invitation to repent,
and to have your life connected
00:23:41.66\00:23:46.60
with His.
00:23:46.60\00:23:48.50
Even in this day when
imperfect people often fail
00:23:48.50\00:23:51.96
to represent God as they
could, or should, God offers
00:23:51.96\00:23:55.60
us the chance to
be connected with Him.
00:23:55.60\00:23:58.13
In spite of our own
imperfections, our own
00:23:58.13\00:24:00.43
failings, Jesus is gracious
enough to offer us a seat
00:24:00.43\00:24:04.13
with Him in His throne.
00:24:04.13\00:24:06.63
Jesus still sees things
He likes about His church.
00:24:06.63\00:24:10.43
And about you.
00:24:10.43\00:24:12.03
The offer is open, to all
of us, to open the door of our
00:24:12.03\00:24:16.00
hearts and let
Jesus come into our lives.
00:24:16.00\00:24:21.16
I want to ask you, are
you willing to do that today?
00:24:21.16\00:24:25.53
The church might be
imperfect, we might be
00:24:25.53\00:24:28.16
imperfect.
00:24:28.16\00:24:29.16
Yet, God finds something
about us to rejoice in.
00:24:29.16\00:24:32.33
And perhaps it is
simply this: That we are his.
00:24:32.33\00:24:37.73
Let's pray together.
00:24:37.73\00:24:39.50
Our Father in heaven, thank you.
00:24:39.50\00:24:41.63
Thank you.
00:24:41.63\00:24:42.63
Thank you that we can
look at these seven churches so
00:24:42.63\00:24:44.63
imperfect and yet find
that Jesus says, "Here's what I
00:24:44.63\00:24:47.63
like about my church."
00:24:47.63\00:24:50.46
Thank you, Lord, that you
can look at our lives and find
00:24:50.46\00:24:52.60
something in us that is
worth redeeming, something in us
00:24:52.60\00:24:56.70
that you wish to save.
00:24:56.70\00:24:57.70
I pray today that as you
find something likeable about
00:24:57.70\00:25:02.86
these churches, as you find
something to be joyful about
00:25:02.86\00:25:07.20
in the seven churches in
the Book of Revelation, I am
00:25:07.20\00:25:10.46
grateful that you can find
in us something that makes your
00:25:10.46\00:25:12.80
heart glad.
00:25:12.80\00:25:13.66
Lord, would you take
your heart and let us be like
00:25:13.66\00:25:15.63
these people invited in
Revelation to open up the
00:25:15.63\00:25:18.83
door and let you come in
so that we might spend real
00:25:18.83\00:25:22.26
time, eternal time, with you.
00:25:22.26\00:25:24.86
We thank you today for
encouraging us from your word
00:25:24.86\00:25:27.66
and we pray in
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:25:27.66\00:25:31.36
??? Music ???
00:25:39.40\00:25:51.16
If you'd like to know more
about the Book of Revelation,
00:25:52.50\00:25:54.23
prophecy and last-day events,
I have a special book for you
00:25:54.23\00:25:58.43
today.
00:25:58.43\00:25:59.43
It's called The Next
Superpower, written by Pastor
00:25:59.43\00:26:02.46
Mark Finley, a former
presenter of this very
00:26:02.46\00:26:04.86
television program.
00:26:04.86\00:26:06.46
The Next Superpower is loaded
with insights in the Book of
00:26:06.46\00:26:09.80
Revelation.
00:26:09.80\00:26:10.80
Not only will it
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00:26:10.80\00:26:12.93
Revelation, but it
will grow your faith in God.
00:26:12.93\00:26:15.63
It is a quality, hard- cover
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00:26:15.63\00:26:19.53
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00:26:19.53\00:26:21.76
Please call or write us and
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way to you as
long as stocks last.
00:26:24.86\00:26:27.60
There is no cost or obligation.
00:26:27.60\00:26:29.60
Just call 1.800.253.3000
and ask for the book The Next
00:26:29.60\00:26:34.76
Superpower.
00:26:34.76\00:26:36.00
You can call
anytime, day or night.
00:26:36.00\00:26:38.40
If the line is
busy, do keep trying.
00:26:38.40\00:26:40.90
You can also request this
free book by writing to It Is
00:26:40.90\00:26:44.06
Written, Box O, Thousand
Oaks, CA 91359 and we will
00:26:44.06\00:26:49.50
mail a copy to your
address in North America.
00:26:49.50\00:26:52.50
Now please notice: This
book is limited to the supply on
00:26:52.50\00:26:56.23
hand, so call quickly so we
can get it on its way to you.
00:26:56.23\00:27:00.10
I also want to encourage
you to visit our website:
00:27:00.10\00:27:02.26
itiswritten.com, where
you will discover additional
00:27:02.26\00:27:06.13
helpful resources on a
host of life-changing topics.
00:27:06.13\00:27:10.40
It Is Written is a
faith-based ministry, made
00:27:10.40\00:27:13.50
possible by viewers like you.
00:27:13.50\00:27:15.00
If you wish to help the
worldwide outreach of It Is
00:27:15.00\00:27:18.36
Written and help us to ensure
people continue to be blessed
00:27:18.36\00:27:21.93
by solid Bible teaching,
your tax-deductible gift can be
00:27:21.93\00:27:25.53
sent to the same address
or you can make a gift on-line
00:27:25.53\00:27:28.46
at itiswritten.com.
00:27:28.46\00:27:30.40
Thank you for your letters
and your continued support.
00:27:30.40\00:27:33.90
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:27:33.90\00:27:39.33
address itiswritten.com.
00:27:39.33\00:27:44.20
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:47.10\00:27:48.76
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:48.76\00:27:51.23
And remember - It Is Written:
man shall not live by bread
00:27:51.23\00:27:55.16
alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of
00:27:55.16\00:27:58.70
God.
00:27:58.70\00:28:00.30