[Theme Music] It
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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 ...
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sharing hope around the globe.
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Thanks for joining me
today on It is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw and
I am going to start today
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by telling you a little
story that might even be true.
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[Background music]. A
man is driving in heavy
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traffic. And
he's not having a good
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morning on his way to work.
He's getting worked up about
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what the other drivers are
doing, and he starts shouting
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at the other motorists.
Driving Man:"ARE YOU CRAZY?"
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He gets so mad he starts
pounding his steering wheel
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and he shakes his fist
when someone ducks quickly
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in front of him.
Driving Man:"LOSER!"
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He honks his horn,
makes a scene, and then
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in his rear-view mirror
he sees flashing lights.
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He's being pulled
up. "What in the world
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have I done wrong?" he wonders.
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I haven't broken any laws?
So the police officer comes
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-you know what happens--
takes his license and heads
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back to his squad car while
our man sits there brooding
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and stewing. "What
a terrible morning!
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I'm late, all these
people are driving like maniacs.
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I'm going nowhere...
and I get pulled up!"
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He stews a while until the
officer comes back and gives
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him his license back.
The man says, "Officer,
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what did I do wrong? I
don't think I was breaking
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any laws! I wasn't
driving dangerously!"
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The police officer says,
"I saw the way you were acting
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back there - shouting,
and screaming, and shaking
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your fist, and
honking on your horn..."
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The man cut in and he
said "Officer, you can't pull
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someone up for shouting or
shaking their fist, can you?"
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The officer says,
"That's not why I stopped you.
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I saw the sticker on the
back of your car that says, "God
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bless you," and the other
one on the back of your car that
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says, "Honk if you love Jesus.
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And then I saw your
license place holder that says,
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"Follow me to my church!"
The officer said, "When I saw
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all that, I thought you
must have stolen that car!"
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I know... I know ...
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but the story makes a point.
Very often God's people don't
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get it right. And
that goes for church
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members, for pastors,
church administrators and church
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school teachers.
Sometimes church leaders make
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decisions nobody understands,
and sometimes church folks
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just blow it.
You'll get differences
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of opinion in church,
personality clashes, hurt
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feelings... And the
saints will sometimes
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respond by getting mad.
I'm not going to come to
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church anymore. I'm
not going to return my
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tithe or give
offerings to the church anymore.
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Some people choose to stay
away from church altogether!
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"I'm never going back THERE!"
You know, people get upset
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with hypocrites in the
church and they stay away.
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I'll tell you what
I've told many people.
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I've often said I'd rather
go to church with hypocrites
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than go to hell
with hyprocrites!
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Now you'll hear people
say for a variety of reasons,
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"I don't like my
church". And I guess you can
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understand that to a
point. But wait a minute!
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Just whose church is it anyway?
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And when you figure that out,
ask yourself how Jesus feels,
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when He looks on, at HIS church.
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How does Jesus feel when
He sees the way people act in
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church, the way they treat
each other, the way they get
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mad with each other,
refuse to speak to each other.
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You think there are things
about your church that bug
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YOU? Jesus sees it ALL.
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He's there when parents go
home from church and yell at
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their kids, He sees when
people smile at the preacher
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and then criticize him
all the way home in the car.
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He is acquainted with all
the different kinds of church
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politics, He hears the gossip
and He sees when God's people
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say one thing and do another.
Jesus sees dishonesty; he
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sees the infidelity that
sometimes goes on in church.
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You think YOU have problems
with what goes on in church?
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How do you think JESUS feels?!
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Well, the Bible opens some
of this up to our understanding.
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In the Book of Revelation
Jesus comes straight out
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and says what He
doesn't like about His church.
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You might be surprised
with some of what he says, so
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don't go away,
I'll be right back.
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[music] The Bible provides all
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the information we need
in order to walk with God
00:04:44.01\00:04:46.48
and be ready for the
second coming of Jesus.
00:04:46.48\00:04:49.38
It outlines the signs of
Jesus' return, and tells us what
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to expect in
regard to some major world
00:04:52.49\00:04:54.89
events. It also
includes specific
00:04:54.89\00:04:57.49
information related
to the United States, and
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its role in the final
events of earth's history.
00:05:00.73\00:05:03.83
Let me send you a
free booklet called
00:05:03.83\00:05:05.63
“The United States
in Bible Prophecy.”
00:05:05.63\00:05:07.87
Just call (800) 253-3000
and ask for your FREE copy of
00:05:07.87\00:05:12.71
"The United States
in Bible Prophecy.”
00:05:12.71\00:05:15.58
If you don't get
through the first time you call,
00:05:15.58\00:05:17.61
please do try again.
And you can write us at
00:05:17.61\00:05:20.65
It Is Written, P.O. Box
6, Chattanooga, TN 37401.
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We'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:05:25.72\00:05:28.86
Again, you can call toll-free,
(800) 253-3000, or visit
00:05:28.86\00:05:33.56
ItIsWritten.com.
00:05:33.56\00:05:36.50
In Revelation
chapters 2 and 3 you find
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the letters to the 7
churches. Seven brief messages,
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one each to seven
different churches.
00:05:44.14\00:05:46.54
Now they were real churches
that existed in John's day in
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the area known in the Bible
as Asia Minor, but today we
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call that Turkey.
The churches involved are
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Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis,
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Philadelphia and
Laodicea. These were young
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congregations when
John wrote to them.
00:06:03.49\00:06:05.66
He wrote to them from
the Island of Patmos, a Greek
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Island in the Aegean
Sea rather close to Turkey.
00:06:07.66\00:06:10.03
And he was on the
Island of Patmos as a prisoner,
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a prisoner for his faith.
The Roman government had him
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pegged as a troublemaker
and a disturber of the peace.
00:06:17.31\00:06:20.21
Imprisoned for his
faith, cut off from friends and
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associates, John still has
strong faith in God and he is
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gifted by God with the
revelation that ended up
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being the Book of Revelation.
John was writing at a time
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when the Christians of
Asia were suffering terrible
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persecution, and these
messages were designed to
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encourage these poor souls
and inspire them with hope.
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And when you read the Book
of Revelation you discover that
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this is the first of the
many 'sevens' in Revelation -
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you've got seven Spirits,
candlesticks, stars, seals,
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trumpets, plagues, thunders...
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When the number seven is
used throughout the Bible
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in a symbolic sense,
it is generally understood
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to indicate
completeness or perfection.
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And seeing as there were
more than seven churches in Asia
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Minor (there was Colosse
and Hierapolis and others),
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we conclude that Bible
teachers have historically been
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correct in believing that
each of those seven churches
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in early Revelation
represents an era of church
00:07:16.16\00:07:20.00
history. Now the
first church listed
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correlates with the experience
of the early Christian church
00:07:22.84\00:07:25.71
after Christ's death,
while Laodicea, the last
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of the seven, relates to
the church of the last days.
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Jesus has something to say
to each church, and He doesn't
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hold back. In
fact, He tells them
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exactly what He doesn't
like about their situation.
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Let's look together. The
first church is the church
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of Ephesus, and
Jesus addresses Ephesus
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with a glowing introduction.
Revelation 2:2,3, he says:
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"I know your works, your labor,
your patience, and that you
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cannot bear those who are evil.
And you have tested those who
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say they are apostles and
are not, and have found them
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liars; and you have
persevered and have patience,
00:08:05.85\00:08:08.75
and have labored for My
name's sake and have not
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become weary." But...
00:08:12.25\00:08:15.59
They had their problems.
In the very next verse, Jesus
00:08:15.59\00:08:18.33
says, "Nevertheless I
have this against you, that you
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have left your first love."
Revelation 2:4 To have lost
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your first love
is a terrible thing.
00:08:28.20\00:08:31.71
Sometimes it happens in
relationships, marriages.
00:08:31.71\00:08:34.38
It starts with
flowers and text messages
00:08:34.38\00:08:38.01
and hand-written notes, but
then spirals downward into habit
00:08:38.01\00:08:42.85
and routine. The
nice little things that
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used to happen are HISTORY.
Too often that happens with
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people and Jesus.
They were always talking to
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Him, always wanting to
know more about Him, always
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telling others how
wonderful He was or is.
00:08:55.10\00:08:58.27
They were in love.
But love gave way to
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a familiarity that bred
apathy. The fire went cold.
00:09:02.04\00:09:06.98
Not good. But
Jesus shows us a way out.
00:09:06.98\00:09:10.75
And  maybe you
can relate to this.
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Look at Revelation 2:5
"Remember therefore from
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where you have fallen;"
Remembering where you were
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can spark a
desire to get back there.
00:09:20.99\00:09:23.29
It's just like in
a marriage. Remember.
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You really had something
- you could have that again.
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And friend, if you
really once had something with
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Jesus, He's wants
you to have that again.
00:09:32.83\00:09:36.10
Back to revelation, Chapter
2. "Remember therefore from
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where you have fallen;
repent and do the first works."
00:09:38.94\00:09:43.88
Revelation 2:5 John tells the
church at Ephesus, Think of what
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it used to be like.
Remember where you used to be.
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Then repent. And
then do the first works
00:09:50.89\00:09:53.19
again. And if we don't?
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Let's read the entire
verse, Revelation 2:5 "Remember
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therefore from where you
have fallen; repent and do the
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first works, or else I
will come to you quickly
00:10:02.40\00:10:05.63
and remove your lampstand from
its place--unless you repent.
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Revelation 2:5
The light will go out.
00:10:10.91\00:10:13.48
But Jesus can help you
get that first love back.
00:10:13.48\00:10:16.14
He can heal a
wounded relationship,
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especially if that
relationship is with Him.
00:10:18.48\00:10:21.45
The reward promised
to the Ephesian church
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is that it would - if faithful
- eat of the tree of life (v7),
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and that's
promise is for us today.
00:10:28.89\00:10:31.86
You see, even though
these letters were written to
00:10:31.86\00:10:34.00
actual churches long ago,
we can see that they contain
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counsel, advice -
and hope - for us.
00:10:36.36\00:10:39.87
We will look at the remaining
churches in just a moment.
00:10:39.87\00:10:43.64
[Music] Every
Word is a one-minute
00:10:43.64\00:10:45.74
Bible-based daily
devotional presented by
00:10:45.74\00:10:48.28
Pastor John Bradshaw
and designed especially
00:10:48.28\00:10:50.58
for busy people like you.
Look for Every Word on selected
00:10:50.58\00:10:54.42
networks or watch it
on-line everyday on our website,
00:10:54.42\00:10:57.45
itiswritten.com.
00:10:57.45\00:11:01.06
[upbeat music] The
apostle Paul gives some
00:11:02.02\00:11:09.66
very practical advice in
Romans 13:14, when he says,
00:11:09.66\00:11:13.10
"But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make not
00:11:13.10\00:11:16.44
provision for the
flesh, to fulfill the lusts
00:11:16.44\00:11:18.91
thereof." How do
we make provision for
00:11:18.91\00:11:20.81
the flesh? Simple
example: if you have a
00:11:20.81\00:11:23.41
drinking problem you're trying
to kick, you wouldn't want
00:11:23.41\00:11:25.88
to meet your friends at a
bar. You're setting yourself up
00:11:25.88\00:11:28.35
to fail. That
would be making provision
00:11:28.35\00:11:30.65
for the flesh. If
you're having trouble keeping
00:11:30.65\00:11:32.89
your thoughts where they ought
to be, you might want to drive
00:11:32.89\00:11:35.12
to work a different way and
avoid the suggestive billboards.
00:11:35.12\00:11:37.69
We make provision for the flesh
when we cater to the flesh and
00:11:37.69\00:11:41.26
essentially put
stumbling blocks in our way.
00:11:41.26\00:11:44.47
Some simple decisions can remove
a lot of temptation and make our
00:11:44.47\00:11:47.90
spiritual lives a
whole lot more successful.
00:11:47.90\00:11:51.11
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:11:51.11\00:11:53.24
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:11:53.24\00:11:56.95
[upbeat music]
00:11:57.15\00:12:00.28
In the book of Revelation
you will find the letters to the
00:12:01.68\00:12:04.19
seven churches. A
moment ago, we left off at
00:12:04.19\00:12:06.29
the church at
Ephesus. Next is Smyrna.
00:12:06.29\00:12:10.73
Now Jesus doesn't have
anything negative so say to
00:12:10.73\00:12:13.56
the church at Smyrna.
This time period here is when
00:12:13.56\00:12:17.17
the church went through
brutal persecution under the
00:12:17.17\00:12:19.53
Roman Caesars. The
ten days mentioned in
00:12:19.53\00:12:21.97
verse 10 of Chapter 2 are
said to refer to the 10 years
00:12:21.97\00:12:25.57
of persecution under
the Emperor Diocletian when
00:12:25.57\00:12:29.21
thousands of
people were martyred.
00:12:29.21\00:12:31.55
But during that time of
intense persecution, the
00:12:31.55\00:12:33.78
church possessed an
ardent love for Christ and His
00:12:33.78\00:12:36.79
truth. History
says that when the
00:12:36.79\00:12:38.79
Bishop of Carthage was sentenced
to die, the Christians listening
00:12:38.79\00:12:41.76
cried out, "We
will die with him!"
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.86
Christ doesn't rebuke these
faithful ones who have been
00:12:44.86\00:12:48.56
through so much, but He
promises them in verse 10
00:12:48.56\00:12:51.40
that they will receive
from Jesus "a crown of life."
00:12:51.40\00:12:55.84
You'll read in Rev 2:8
that Jesus says, "These things
00:12:55.84\00:13:00.21
saith the first and the last,
which was dead and is alive."
00:13:00.21\00:13:04.95
Imagine the
encouragement that would be!
00:13:04.95\00:13:07.62
Jesus says, "You're going
through misery, but you know
00:13:07.62\00:13:10.35
what? I went
through that too - I
00:13:10.35\00:13:12.65
died, but now I am alive."
What an encouragement that
00:13:12.65\00:13:16.59
had to be for the believers
in Smyrna, many of whom were
00:13:16.59\00:13:18.76
facing death. You
know, Jesus doesn't
00:13:18.76\00:13:21.53
always deliver you from
the calamity facing you, but He
00:13:21.53\00:13:24.87
promises you that if you're
faithful in whatever comes
00:13:24.87\00:13:27.27
your way, ultimately
you're going to experience the
00:13:27.27\00:13:30.57
greatest blessings imaginable.
00:13:30.57\00:13:32.74
When you're going through
a difficult time you can know
00:13:32.74\00:13:35.21
that Jesus is near.
You don't have to feel it,
00:13:35.21\00:13:37.91
just need to believe it.
When the heat is turned up,
00:13:37.91\00:13:41.32
Jesus is close by.
And this is what John told
00:13:41.32\00:13:44.35
the church at Smyrna.
But then there's Pergamos.
00:13:44.35\00:13:49.16
Pergamos is in western
Turkey about 20 miles from the
00:13:49.16\00:13:52.09
Aegean Sea. It
was a fabulous city in
00:13:52.09\00:13:54.50
ancient times. It had
a library with 200,000
00:13:54.50\00:13:58.27
volumes in it - Mark Anthony
gave the library to Cleopatra.
00:13:58.27\00:14:03.61
(She must have liked to read!
Today I guess he'd just give
00:14:03.61\00:14:06.54
her a Kindle or a Nook or
an e-book or an e-book reader
00:14:06.54\00:14:09.24
or something.) There was
a theatre there that seated
00:14:09.24\00:14:11.45
10,000 people, and they
say it had the steepest seating
00:14:11.45\00:14:15.22
of any known theatre
in the ancient world.
00:14:15.22\00:14:17.45
Now this is the church
period when Christianity became
00:14:17.45\00:14:20.09
popular under the
Roman Emperor Constantine.
00:14:20.09\00:14:22.92
And just what does Jesus
say He doesn't like about His
00:14:22.92\00:14:27.13
church? We'll look in Revelation
00:14:27.13\00:14:29.43
2:14: "But I have a few
things against you, because
00:14:29.43\00:14:34.10
you have there those who
hold the doctrine of Balaam, who
00:14:34.10\00:14:37.17
taught Balak to put a
stumbling block before the
00:14:37.17\00:14:39.57
children of Israel, to eat
things sacrificed to idols,
00:14:39.57\00:14:42.61
and to commit
sexual immorality."
00:14:42.61\00:14:45.48
So what was it with Balaam?
His whole story is one that
00:14:45.48\00:14:49.75
it would be good to take up
at length if we had the time.
00:14:49.75\00:14:52.35
Balaam was a prophet of God,
one of God's people, and the
00:14:52.35\00:14:56.36
Moabites wanted him to
curse Israel to weaken Israel so
00:14:56.36\00:15:00.13
that Israel could be overcome.
00:15:00.13\00:15:02.40
According to 2 Peter
2:15, Balaam loved the wages
00:15:02.40\00:15:07.17
of unrighteousness.
He was a covetous man,
00:15:07.17\00:15:10.77
and when he was offered
large sums to turn against God's
00:15:10.77\00:15:14.08
people, it was too
much for him to refuse.
00:15:14.08\00:15:17.48
He refused once, but
the second time he refused
00:15:17.48\00:15:20.48
and then, then he said to the
men sent to him, hang around,
00:15:20.48\00:15:24.12
while I enquire
further of the Lord.
00:15:24.12\00:15:25.95
As though God was
going to change his mind!
00:15:25.95\00:15:28.16
Balaam was the one who had
a conversation with a donkey,
00:15:28.16\00:15:30.79
met with an angel and
STILL carried on in his own evil
00:15:30.79\00:15:33.86
way, because he
wanted the money.
00:15:33.86\00:15:36.70
Balaam speaks to those of
us who are motivated by our own
00:15:36.70\00:15:39.47
desires and not
by God's desires.
00:15:39.47\00:15:42.60
Balaam would have had no
trouble knowing God's will
00:15:42.60\00:15:45.11
if only God's will had
been the same as HIS will,
00:15:45.11\00:15:48.04
and sometimes some of
God's people are like that.
00:15:48.04\00:15:51.35
Some folks want their
own way, and not God's way.
00:15:51.35\00:15:54.32
That was Balaam's issue,
and John writes to a church that
00:15:54.32\00:15:57.42
was wrestling with
that. And in that period when
00:15:57.42\00:15:59.92
Christianity became popular
because the state was smiling
00:15:59.92\00:16:03.06
on it, things evidently got
a little easy for believers.
00:16:03.06\00:16:07.13
Not always the best
thing. The overcomer in Pergamos
00:16:07.13\00:16:11.13
is promised the hidden manna
- the forever spiritual food
00:16:11.13\00:16:15.24
of the believer which promises
eternal life and health-
00:16:15.24\00:16:18.44
the white stone of the high
priest also, and the new name
00:16:18.44\00:16:21.88
indicating a victorious
experience and a changed
00:16:21.88\00:16:25.08
character. Friend,
thank God we can all
00:16:25.08\00:16:27.58
have that. Now to
the church of Thyatira
00:16:27.58\00:16:32.05
in verse 20, Jesus says,
"I have a few things against
00:16:32.05\00:16:35.72
you, because you allow
that woman Jezebel, who calls
00:16:35.72\00:16:38.43
herself a prophetess, to
teach and seduce My servants
00:16:38.43\00:16:42.66
to commit sexual immorality
and to eat things sacrificed
00:16:42.66\00:16:45.97
to idols." In the
Bible, Jezebel was
00:16:45.97\00:16:48.87
married to King Ahab
and introduced all kinds
00:16:48.87\00:16:52.97
of falsehood into the
midst of God's people.
00:16:52.97\00:16:55.64
In fact, Jezebel managed
to mix light with dark, truth
00:16:55.64\00:17:01.62
with error, so that although
Israel hadn't totally given
00:17:01.62\00:17:05.32
up on God, they
were worshipping both God
00:17:05.32\00:17:08.26
and Baal. That's disastrous
00:17:08.26\00:17:10.79
for a Christian church, to
be mixing truth with error,
00:17:10.79\00:17:12.83
light with dark, true
worship with false worship.
00:17:12.83\00:17:16.43
Disastrous! God is
looking for people who
00:17:16.43\00:17:19.07
will be faithful, radically
committed to truth and right.
00:17:19.07\00:17:22.87
And then God says to this
church, I will give you power
00:17:22.87\00:17:25.27
over all nations,
that you will rule them.
00:17:25.27\00:17:27.91
Interesting - Jesus says,
There's a lot I don't like
00:17:27.91\00:17:32.05
about my church, but I'm
telling you that I'm going to
00:17:32.05\00:17:35.18
give you everlasting life,
because I'm going to save you
00:17:35.18\00:17:38.19
anyway, if you want to be saved!
00:17:38.19\00:17:41.42
Now to Sardis (in Revelation
3:1,2) Jesus says this,
00:17:41.42\00:17:46.26
"I know your works, that
you have a name that you are
00:17:46.26\00:17:50.63
alive, but you are dead.
Be watchful, and strengthen
00:17:50.63\00:17:55.14
the things which remain, that
are ready to die, for I have
00:17:55.14\00:17:59.07
not found your
works perfect before God."
00:17:59.07\00:18:02.74
What a thing for
Jesus to say to His church.
00:18:02.74\00:18:06.05
You're dead! Now
that's a wake-up call!
00:18:06.05\00:18:08.95
Dead people in the church.
You think there's any of that
00:18:08.95\00:18:12.95
today? Now here's the good news.
00:18:12.95\00:18:15.36
Remember the prodigal son?
His father said, "My son was
00:18:15.36\00:18:18.43
dead, but now he's alive."
The gospel is the work of
00:18:18.43\00:18:22.66
bringing the
spiritually dead back to life.
00:18:22.66\00:18:25.50
So Christ says to the church
in Sardis, in Revelation 3,
00:18:25.50\00:18:29.37
"He who overcomes shall
be clothed in white garments,
00:18:29.37\00:18:34.04
and I will not blot out
his name from the Book of Life;
00:18:34.04\00:18:37.45
but I will confess his
name before My Father and before
00:18:37.45\00:18:41.85
His angels." I'm
glad the Lord is able to
00:18:41.85\00:18:45.29
raise the dead. That
means there's hope for
00:18:45.29\00:18:48.59
all of us! Now the church in
00:18:48.59\00:18:52.16
Philadelphia. It
doesn't appear that Jesus
00:18:52.16\00:18:54.40
reproves this church at
all. He does say the church has
00:18:54.40\00:18:57.37
little strength, but maybe
that's a commendation, that
00:18:57.37\00:19:00.87
they have strength at
all. It is said that the time
00:19:00.87\00:19:03.37
period represented
here is the time after the
00:19:03.37\00:19:05.74
Reformation has taken
place. And if you study that
00:19:05.74\00:19:08.48
history, you'll see that
the church got stuck in a rut
00:19:08.48\00:19:10.75
after the reformation
had brought it back to life.
00:19:10.75\00:19:13.55
But then God makes another
promise to a faltering body
00:19:13.55\00:19:16.89
of believers: God's
promise to his church is to be
00:19:16.89\00:19:20.82
a pillar in the temple,
and to have His new name.
00:19:20.82\00:19:24.36
See, we receive the character
of Christ, because we receive
00:19:24.36\00:19:29.00
the gift of His
life. Then Laodicea, which
00:19:29.00\00:19:33.97
correlates with the church
in the last years of Earth's
00:19:33.97\00:19:36.97
history. Notice
what God says: This is
00:19:36.97\00:19:39.01
Revelation 3:15,16. "I
know your works, that you
00:19:39.01\00:19:45.21
are neither cold nor hot.
I could wish you were cold
00:19:45.21\00:19:48.88
or hot. So then, because you
00:19:48.88\00:19:51.02
are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out
00:19:51.02\00:19:55.52
of My mouth."
Lukewarm -- not cold or hot.
00:19:55.52\00:20:00.66
The result is that God will
spew many of these people out
00:20:00.66\00:20:03.63
of His mouth. And if
I can be agricultural
00:20:03.63\00:20:06.20
for just a moment, spewing
is not a voluntary action.
00:20:06.20\00:20:10.87
It is involuntary.
Which is to say, this isn't
00:20:10.87\00:20:13.34
something God wants to
do, or tries to do, but it is
00:20:13.34\00:20:15.84
something He has to do.
Something very curious here
00:20:15.84\00:20:19.38
is that there is something
in God's eyes that is worse than
00:20:19.38\00:20:23.35
being against God, and
that is being lukewarm.
00:20:23.35\00:20:28.29
To be going through the
motions as a Christian is
00:20:28.29\00:20:30.99
more dangerous than
to be opposed to God.
00:20:30.99\00:20:34.66
You see, if you're
self-deceived - that is truly
00:20:34.66\00:20:37.47
hazardous to your
spiritual well-being.
00:20:37.47\00:20:39.50
And clearly it is
entirely possible to be in that
00:20:39.50\00:20:42.04
condition. I heard
a few years ago about
00:20:42.04\00:20:44.17
people living in a
part of Rhode Island.
00:20:44.17\00:20:46.41
They thought they had
lived their whole life but when
00:20:46.41\00:20:48.81
the map was re-examined
it was found that they
00:20:48.81\00:20:52.28
had actually been living
the entire time in Connecticut,
00:20:52.28\00:20:55.95
even though they had
a Rhode Island zip code,
00:20:55.95\00:20:57.92
area code,
address, the whole thing.
00:20:57.92\00:20:59.79
All their lives they lived
in a state different to the
00:20:59.79\00:21:02.89
state they thought
they were living in!
00:21:02.89\00:21:05.09
You know that can happen to
Christians, who think they're
00:21:05.09\00:21:07.50
fine but they're not
because they're self-deceived.
00:21:07.50\00:21:13.27
Reading Revelation 3:17 and on.
00:21:13.27\00:21:17.64
"Because you say, 'I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have
00:21:17.64\00:21:21.64
need of nothing'--and do
not know that you are wretched,
00:21:21.64\00:21:24.55
miserable, poor, blind,
and naked--" (Revelation 3:17)
00:21:24.55\00:21:27.52
They are self-deceived.
Man, is there any hope?
00:21:27.52\00:21:30.32
Yes there is. Here
is what the Bible says:
00:21:30.32\00:21:33.79
"I counsel you to buy from
Me gold refined in the fire,
00:21:33.79\00:21:38.46
that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you
00:21:38.46\00:21:41.60
may be clothed, that the shame
of your nakedness may not be
00:21:41.60\00:21:45.43
revealed; and anoint your
eyes with eye salve, that you
00:21:45.43\00:21:49.14
may see. As many
as I love, I rebuke
00:21:49.14\00:21:53.01
and chasten.
Therefore be zealous
00:21:53.01\00:21:56.21
and repent."
Revelation 3:18-19 Gold tried
00:21:56.21\00:22:00.62
in the fire.
Someone said that's faith
00:22:00.62\00:22:03.35
that works by
love. White garments -
00:22:03.35\00:22:06.15
the righteousness of
Christ. And that eye salve?
00:22:06.15\00:22:10.03
That's the Holy Spirit
- He can help us to see
00:22:10.03\00:22:12.36
as He sees. And
notice what God tells us
00:22:12.36\00:22:15.63
to do. Be zealous, and repent.
00:22:15.63\00:22:19.23
God calls us to
have zeal for Him.
00:22:19.23\00:22:22.97
You know what
zeal is? Enthusiasm.
00:22:22.97\00:22:25.34
Passion. Fervor.
00:22:25.34\00:22:26.98
Ardor. Are you passionate
00:22:26.98\00:22:28.91
for Christ?
Because I'll tell you what,
00:22:28.91\00:22:31.25
he's passionate about
you. Are you fervent for Jesus?
00:22:31.25\00:22:34.42
Are you ardent for God?
God says that if we open up
00:22:34.42\00:22:38.02
the door of our hearts to
Jesus, He'll come in and then
00:22:38.02\00:22:42.22
he will allow us to
sit with Him on His throne.
00:22:42.22\00:22:47.23
Isn't it amazing? God
tells us candidly exactly
00:22:47.23\00:22:51.33
what He thinks is wrong
with His church, what he doesn't
00:22:51.33\00:22:54.14
like about his church
and the things that look bad.
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.91
A group that has left its
first love; that is tied up
00:22:56.91\00:23:00.51
in the same mess as
Balaam was, that tolerates
00:23:00.51\00:23:03.88
the foolishness of
Jezebel, and whose works
00:23:03.88\00:23:06.51
are not perfect before
God. There are people claiming
00:23:06.51\00:23:09.62
to be believers who really
are not, and people who have
00:23:09.62\00:23:12.69
deceived themselves into
thinking they're okay when
00:23:12.69\00:23:15.49
they're a total
spiritual basket case.
00:23:15.49\00:23:18.49
Is it any wonder there
are people who say they don't
00:23:18.49\00:23:21.03
like their church? Hold on.
00:23:21.03\00:23:23.80
Hold on. What is Jesus saying?
00:23:23.80\00:23:26.67
Jesus, who died for this church,
only points out the foibles
00:23:26.67\00:23:31.74
of it in an effort to
spur it on to repentance.
00:23:31.74\00:23:36.28
And through it all,
Jesus is depicted as being
00:23:36.28\00:23:38.78
in the midst of His church.
He has the leaders in His
00:23:38.78\00:23:43.99
hand, according to Revelation
1, and He stands with His
00:23:43.99\00:23:46.69
people. So even if you're at the
00:23:46.69\00:23:49.46
point where you're about
to say, The church is just too
00:23:49.46\00:23:53.06
bad, remember that it's Christ's
church and He has all the help
00:23:53.06\00:23:59.03
we need to be all
that He can help us to be.
00:23:59.03\00:24:03.24
And if you're
dissatisfied with the Church,
00:24:03.24\00:24:05.71
disillusioned with
Christianity because of what
00:24:05.71\00:24:07.94
you see in the church,
these 7 messages help us to see
00:24:07.94\00:24:11.38
that Jesus is
still with the church.
00:24:11.38\00:24:14.82
No point trying to tear
the church down, when Jesus
00:24:14.82\00:24:17.15
is trying to build it up.
You don't have to be a genius
00:24:17.15\00:24:19.75
to see the shortcomings
of something, but seeing
00:24:19.75\00:24:22.36
the way out of the
mire takes some vision.
00:24:22.36\00:24:27.13
If Jesus can list the weaknesses
of the church and still see
00:24:27.13\00:24:29.53
a future for it,
then we can apply this
00:24:29.53\00:24:31.60
on a personal basis. The
church is made up of people,
00:24:31.60\00:24:34.37
and if there's a
future for a wayward church,
00:24:34.37\00:24:37.01
there has to be a
future for a wayward person.
00:24:37.01\00:24:39.87
There has to be hope
for a struggling soul.
00:24:39.87\00:24:42.54
You know there's
hope for a lost sheep.
00:24:42.54\00:24:45.01
I hope you'll pardon this
story I'm about to tell you,
00:24:45.01\00:24:48.02
but it's true and I
think it makes the point.
00:24:48.02\00:24:50.99
In the city of Suwa in
Japan, city authorities found
00:24:50.99\00:24:55.86
treasure in an unexpected place.
00:24:55.86\00:24:59.29
In an effort to get rid
of the city's sewage waste,
00:24:59.29\00:25:02.96
they decided to incinerate
it. They had been having someone
00:25:02.96\00:25:07.47
take it away and
paying for someone to do that.
00:25:07.47\00:25:09.87
They decided they would burn
it down into industrial waste.
00:25:09.87\00:25:12.47
Now what do you think
they found in the ashes?
00:25:12.47\00:25:16.75
They found gold -
$200,000 worth a year.
00:25:16.75\00:25:21.08
See, mineral waters flow
through the town, and there's
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.72
an industry in the area
that uses gold to gold-plate
00:25:23.72\00:25:26.15
things. So even though it is in
00:25:26.15\00:25:28.36
the sewage in tiny amounts,
it's there, and when they stuff
00:25:28.36\00:25:32.43
is burned up, this gold remains
and can be seen in the ashes
00:25:32.43\00:25:37.03
of the waste!
Sewage - just sewage --
00:25:37.03\00:25:40.14
and there was
valuable treasure in it!
00:25:40.14\00:25:43.91
Before you decide that something
worthless, consider that God
00:25:43.91\00:25:47.64
can find great worth
where you'd least expect it.
00:25:47.64\00:25:51.91
That goes for His church,
it goes for you, and thank God
00:25:51.91\00:25:55.92
it goes for me. We
are valuable in God's eyes
00:25:55.92\00:25:59.65
- His church is so valuable
he considered it to be worth
00:25:59.65\00:26:04.49
the cost of the
life of his own Son.
00:26:04.49\00:26:08.50
How valuable does that make you?
00:26:08.50\00:26:12.20
Let's pray. Father
in heaven, thank you
00:26:12.20\00:26:15.64
that even though Jesus is
able to say "here's what I
00:26:15.64\00:26:17.97
don't like about my church"
we can know that Jesus still
00:26:17.97\00:26:20.78
values it and every
circumstance and situation
00:26:20.78\00:26:24.61
shows a way out or a way back.
00:26:24.61\00:26:26.92
Thank you, Lord, that even
if we are struggling, even if we
00:26:26.92\00:26:29.12
are getting it wrong, there
is a way out and there is a
00:26:29.12\00:26:31.72
way back. Let us
be encouraged that
00:26:31.72\00:26:33.99
we've always got hope in
Jesus and thank you for that.
00:26:33.99\00:26:36.19
In Jesus' name, Amen.
00:26:36.19\00:26:40.63
The Bible provides all
the information we need
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.80
in order to walk with God
and be ready for the second
00:26:45.80\00:26:48.60
coming of Jesus. It
also includes specific
00:26:48.60\00:26:51.57
information related
to the United States.
00:26:51.57\00:26:54.41
Let me send you a free
booklet called “The United
00:26:54.41\00:26:56.64
States in Bible Prophecy.”
Just call (800) 253-3000 and ask
00:26:56.64\00:27:01.88
for your FREE copy of
"The United States in Bible
00:27:01.88\00:27:05.02
Prophecy.” If
you don't get through
00:27:05.02\00:27:07.59
the first time you
call, please do try again.
00:27:07.59\00:27:09.99
And you can write us at
It Is Written, P.O. Box 6,
00:27:09.99\00:27:13.23
Chattanooga, TN 37401.
We'll mail a free copy to your
00:27:13.23\00:27:17.67
address in North America.
It Is Written is a faith-based
00:27:17.67\00:27:21.77
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00:27:21.77\00:27:24.84
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00:27:24.84\00:27:27.64
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00:27:27.64\00:27:30.35
on your screen, or through
our website at ItIsWritten.com.
00:27:30.35\00:27:34.42
Thank you for your
continued prayerful support.
00:27:34.42\00:27:37.49
Again, our toll-free number
is, (800) 253-3000, and our web
00:27:37.49\00:27:42.02
address is, ItIsWritten.com.
00:27:42.02\00:27:45.46
Thanks for joining me today.
I look forward to seeing you
00:27:48.23\00:27:50.63
again next time.
Until then, remember -
00:27:50.63\00:27:53.00
It Is Written: man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:53.00\00:27:57.04
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:27:57.04\00:28:02.98