Good evening. Very
happy to welcome all of you
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back tonight. This is
our eighth presentation
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on the seven
churches of Asia Minor.
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And tonight we're
looking at the last one:
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the church of Laodicea.
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And so we're very
happy to welcome you.
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If you're
joining us by teleivision
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or if you're tuning in
by radio or on the Internet,
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we're very happy that
you're here and visiting with us
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this evening or tuning in
by the radio or television.
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Uh, we hope that
these studies on Revelation
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are beginning to open
the book of Revelation up,
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because there's a lot of
things that we have looked at
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that we will see as we
continue to go through the book
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because this IS a
revelation of Jesus Christ.
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That's what it's
about is Jesus Christ.
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And so we'll continue to
study the book of Revelation
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chapter by chapter. And
so I see many of you here
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have your Bibles.
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And those of you that
are watching by television
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or listening on the
radio, we hope that you
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will get your Bible and as we
go through the study follow us.
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And this is a good time
to take notes or to outline
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or underline your Bible
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so that you can
go back and recap
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what we have
had to say about it.
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Uh, tonight we're
looking as I mentioned
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at the church of Laodicea
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which is the last of
the seven churches...
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a very, very important
one because the message
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to Laodicea,
folks, is a message to us
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because this is to
the church that is living
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just before Jesus comes.
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And therefore what He
has to say applies to us
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and we need to look at
it very, very carefully
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so that we know
what the Lord is saying
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and what we need to look
at in our own lives to follow
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and to walk with Him
as He would have us to.
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So we hope it will bless
you as we continue to study
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the book of Revelation and
particularly the seven churches.
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Uh, I hope as we have gone
through this during the week
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that you have enjoyed the music,
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particularly of Joe
Pearles and Dona Klein.
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We hope that it has
touched your heart and all.
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And I'm sure you'll be blessed
tonight as Joe is going to
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sing for us. And also before
we have the music each evening
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well we have Chuck
Allgaier come out and read to us
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the section about what
we're studying that evening.
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And tonight he's going to read
about the church of Laodicea.
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So, Chuck, come
and share that with us.
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Laodicea... the last
of the seven churches.
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What is the
message from a loving God
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to this church?
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Let's read about
it. Revelation chapter 3
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verses 14 through 22.
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Revelation chapter
3... 14 through 22.
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Fallen leaves that lie scattered
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on the ground.
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The birds and
flowers that were here
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now can't be found.
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All the friends that he once had
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are not around.
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They are scattered like
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the leaves upon the ground.
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Some folks sleep at night
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and never get the thrill
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that the feeling of a good deed
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brings until
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it's too late...
and they are ready
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to lie down
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'neath the leaves
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that lie
scattered on the ground.
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Lord, let my eyes see every need
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of every man.
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May I always stop
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and lend a helping hand.
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And then when I lay
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'neath that little grassy mound
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there'll be more friends around
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than leaves upon the ground.
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To your grave
there's no use taking
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any gold.
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You cannot use it
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when it's time
for hands to fold.
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When you leave this earth
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for a better home someday,
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the only thing you'll take
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is what you gave away.
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The only thing you'll take
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is what you gave away.
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Our Gracious Father,
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we come to You this evening
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realizing, Lord,
that we are living
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down in the last days.
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So many things that
are happening, Lord,
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tell us that it can't be long...
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that You're coming back.
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And yet according to Your Word
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we're so unprepared.
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So Lord we ask that you
will give us insight tonight.
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Open our hearts.
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May we receive
the Word that You have
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that we might
take it into our lives,
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desire to walk and follow You.
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To be humble and
teachable as You lead us.
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For this we pray in
Christ's name, Amen.
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Well, the last of
the seven churches...
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personal
letters that Jesus wrote
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to each one of these churches
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in which He told them
about their condition,
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told them about their problem,
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talked about the
solution to their problem,
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and gave them promises.
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This is all what He
said to these seven churches.
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And tonight we're taking
a look at the last one...
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the church of Laodicea.
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Now, the simple thing
about this last church
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is this, folks:
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is the church
here in Philadelphia
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posesses what Laodicea needs.
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And if Laodicea can acquire
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what Philadelphia has,
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Jesus will come back.
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Did you follow me?
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If Laodicea can
acquire what Philadelphia has,
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Jesus will come back.
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And so this last
church is a church that
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is there, and what
we must not do, folks,
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is take for
granted that we'll make it.
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Because He gives a very
very stern, stern rebuke.
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In fact, the
hardest of the seven
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is to the church of Laodicea.
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So as we look at it, we want
to see what He has to say to it.
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So to this church
He's writing. Laodicea
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comes from two Greek
words: lao which means people,
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cea means judging.
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It means judging of the people.
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That's what it stands for.
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So you and I are
living in the time
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when the judgment is
going on up in heaven.
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And so this is a
judging of the people.
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And we're going to
look at some things
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concerning Laodicea that
you and I need to consider
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very carefully, because
if we are facing the judgment
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then I definitely need
Christ to represent me.
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I need Him standing in my place.
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I need Him
interceding in my behalf.
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Very very vital if I'm going
to make it into the kingdom.
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So this is the church.
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Now as we take a look at it
you'll find that Laodicea was
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about 40 miles
southeast of Philadelphia.
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This opened up
the road from Ephesus
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and from
Pergamos... came through
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Laodicea and opened up
there to take them on into
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Syria and Arabia and on
into those parts of the world.
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But the gate for going through
that was there at Laodicea.
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They're the
ones that were there.
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Laodicea is a
very, very wealthy city.
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Actually was named -
Laodicea - after Antiachus.
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His wife... named after her.
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But she poisoned him
later... I don't know why,
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but she did. Anyhow
it was named after her,
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and a very,
very well-to-do city.
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The population of
the city of Laodicea
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was largely made up
of Syrians and Jews,
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and these were people that
were brought out of Babylon
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and put there in Laodicea.
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So at the time that
John is writing this
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the population of Jews
we found out in that city
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was about 7,500 Jews
that lived there at that time.
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That's counting just men...
not counting women and children.
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And so there was a large
population of Jews as well as
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other people in
the city of Laodicea.
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Today? Not much left there.
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It sits out on the plains.
It was very fertile farming land
00:14:03.34\00:14:07.52
all around it. And all
that we have today left there
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is some of a couple
theatres and a stadium...
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the ruins of those two. And
that's basically all we have
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of the city of Laodicea.
It has been taken away.
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Its candlestick has
been moved out of its place.
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Not there any more.
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But the city, as I mentioned,
was a very, very wealthy city.
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Wealthy enough that in 60 AD
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it was destroyed
by an earthquake.
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And the emperor
offered to help them rebuild it
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and they refused
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and said they would
build it on their own.
00:14:49.89\00:14:51.66
And there is a little
connection there, because as we
00:14:51.96\00:14:55.78
look at it you'll find
that this church is very, very
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self-sufficient.
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It doesn't need help from
anybody... not even the Lord.
00:15:02.51\00:15:07.18
So a very strong connection
there between that and all.
00:15:07.48\00:15:12.31
Uh, the city was very modern.
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They had hot water
piped to all the homes.
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Here's one of the aquaducts
that flowed into the city
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of Laodicea. And they
had all kinds of access to
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hot water in
their homes and all.
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It was a very, very modern city.
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Very up-to-date. And I
don't know if you can see it
00:15:36.40\00:15:40.25
but if you'll
look at that carefully
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there's a crustation
around the inside of it.
00:15:45.11\00:15:48.39
The mineral springs there
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were very high in
mineral content, and they had a
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crustation there. In fact,
00:15:56.63\00:15:58.84
about 7 or 8 miles
from Laodicea is Hierapolis.
00:15:59.24\00:16:05.22
And there is where the
great source of water came from.
00:16:05.42\00:16:10.10
And it was so heavy in minerals
00:16:10.40\00:16:14.36
that it would form
formations even on the falls
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so that you could see
it from several miles away.
00:16:19.49\00:16:22.92
Looked like white statues
all over... quite spectacular
00:16:23.22\00:16:27.96
as to what it did there.
00:16:28.27\00:16:30.53
Also in the city of Laodicea
00:16:30.83\00:16:34.56
they had a garment industry,
00:16:34.86\00:16:37.29
and there they
made a black cloth
00:16:37.59\00:16:42.17
from black sheep
that they had there.
00:16:42.37\00:16:45.19
And the texture was very
soft and very similar to silk.
00:16:45.50\00:16:50.17
And it was very, very special
and expensive and sought for...
00:16:50.48\00:16:55.84
the black garments that
they put out of Laodicea.
00:16:56.07\00:17:00.58
And so there was a
lot connected with it.
00:17:00.68\00:17:04.02
In the city of Laodicea
they had a school of medicine.
00:17:04.32\00:17:10.19
One of the
schools for the goddess...
00:17:10.42\00:17:14.76
the god Asclepius who was
the Greek god of medicine.
00:17:14.96\00:17:19.79
And they had it
there, and they practiced.
00:17:20.09\00:17:22.64
Also they had an eye
salve that they sold...
00:17:22.74\00:17:27.29
Phrygian eye salve...
that people could buy.
00:17:27.49\00:17:30.10
So these were all the
things that took place there
00:17:30.30\00:17:32.52
in Laodicea that has
reference that Christ makes
00:17:32.72\00:17:37.93
to the church there and the
people that lived in Laodicea
00:17:38.14\00:17:41.93
at that time. OK, let's see
as Christ identifies Himself
00:17:42.23\00:17:46.53
what He says to the church here:
00:17:46.73\00:17:48.82
Hmmm. Only place in scripture
00:17:56.60\00:18:00.56
that you find that the name Amen
00:18:00.86\00:18:04.18
is applied to Christ.
00:18:04.38\00:18:07.74
Amen is used many
places in scripture...
00:18:08.05\00:18:10.89
don't misunderstand me...
00:18:11.10\00:18:12.15
but this is the only place
that it is put there as a name.
00:18:12.45\00:18:15.18
Says: "The Amen. "
00:18:15.48\00:18:17.47
And there's, I
believe, reason for that...
00:18:17.77\00:18:20.08
using it as a name for Christ.
00:18:20.39\00:18:24.06
Acutally the word
Amen means so be it.
00:18:24.26\00:18:27.08
That's what it implies.
00:18:27.38\00:18:30.02
And I think that as
Christ is giving the message
00:18:30.32\00:18:33.99
He's telling them: "This is
it, this is the way it is. "
00:18:34.19\00:18:37.35
"So be it. " And we
need to look at it that way.
00:18:37.65\00:18:41.32
Also, when we
finish praying we say?
00:18:41.52\00:18:44.77
Amen... which means
the prayer is finished.
00:18:44.98\00:18:47.90
And Christ is telling them here
00:18:48.11\00:18:49.83
"These messages to the seven
churches is finished, over. "
00:18:50.03\00:18:54.50
What He's
getting across to them.
00:18:54.70\00:18:56.12
So He's saying that He is the
Amen... the First and the Last,
00:18:56.32\00:19:00.60
the Faithful and True Witness.
00:19:00.70\00:19:02.93
That Jesus Christ
IS the True Witness
00:19:03.23\00:19:06.60
and that you and I need
to listen very carefully
00:19:06.80\00:19:10.07
to what He has to say.
00:19:10.27\00:19:11.76
He is the beginning
of the creation of God.
00:19:12.06\00:19:15.26
Now I just want to take
just a moment on this because,
00:19:15.56\00:19:18.83
uh, there's some people
that misunderstand this text.
00:19:19.03\00:19:23.32
It says here: "He
is the beginning of the
00:19:23.62\00:19:26.32
creation of God. " That
means He is the Creator.
00:19:26.52\00:19:29.63
That He is the One that
creates; He is the beginning.
00:19:29.94\00:19:32.79
He's the One that made things;
He's the One that possesses it.
00:19:33.09\00:19:36.07
There are some people
that want to take this text
00:19:36.37\00:19:38.56
and apply it and saying
this is saying that Jesus
00:19:38.76\00:19:42.11
is not divine...
00:19:42.32\00:19:44.45
that He was the
beginning of God's creation.
00:19:44.75\00:19:48.15
No, that's not what
that text is saying.
00:19:48.45\00:19:50.22
It's saying that
He is the Creator.
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.23
That He's the One
that created all things.
00:19:52.53\00:19:54.81
This is one of the texts
that you find that Arianism
00:19:55.11\00:19:58.32
comes from and what they
teach in regard to Arianism.
00:19:58.52\00:20:01.90
But Jesus Christ is the Creator;
00:20:02.20\00:20:06.22
He is the Son of God.
00:20:06.52\00:20:09.55
OK, let's continue on.
00:20:09.85\00:20:11.86
Church age. This come at a time
00:20:12.36\00:20:17.25
in which it's clear
from what the scripture says
00:20:17.55\00:20:21.07
this is the church that
will be there or should be there
00:20:21.27\00:20:26.06
when Jesus comes back.
00:20:26.26\00:20:28.22
Uh, as I've told you, do
not try to pinpoint a date.
00:20:28.52\00:20:33.37
I put down 1900 AD
about when it began.
00:20:33.67\00:20:36.76
And basically
the reason I do that
00:20:37.06\00:20:40.47
is because we are living, folks,
00:20:40.68\00:20:44.51
in an age of secularism.
00:20:44.81\00:20:47.43
Uh, I told you when
we talked about, uh,
00:20:47.63\00:20:51.02
Philadelphia and them
coming out of the period of time
00:20:51.22\00:20:56.28
in which there was
scientific evidence
00:20:56.48\00:21:00.23
and they began to
question the Bible and all that
00:21:00.26\00:21:02.95
and Atheism rose.
00:21:03.15\00:21:04.77
Uh, this period of
time we've moved in
00:21:05.08\00:21:08.12
we've kind of moved out
of that and we've moved into
00:21:08.32\00:21:11.26
secularism. And that's
all that people seem to be
00:21:11.46\00:21:14.81
concerned today with is what
they can have materialistically.
00:21:15.01\00:21:19.81
What they can get.
00:21:20.12\00:21:21.79
The one who has
the most toys wins.
00:21:22.09\00:21:25.35
It's strictly
secularism, and so, uh,
00:21:25.65\00:21:29.26
picking up that period of
time and going from there:
00:21:29.57\00:21:32.99
this is the period of time that
represents the time of Laodicea.
00:21:33.19\00:21:38.58
Let's see what He
says is the condition:
00:21:38.88\00:21:42.36
He said: "I know your works.
00:21:51.73\00:21:54.06
I've looked at them. I
wish you... " And by the way,
00:21:54.36\00:21:58.23
they're not... they're
not lacking in works here.
00:21:58.43\00:22:02.28
We'll come to that in a minute.
00:22:02.58\00:22:03.86
The church of Laodicea is
not lacking in works, folks.
00:22:04.06\00:22:07.23
There's plenty of works there.
00:22:07.43\00:22:09.02
He said: "I know your works,
00:22:09.33\00:22:11.56
but I wish that you
were either cold or hot
00:22:11.86\00:22:16.48
because you are
neither cold nor hot. "
00:22:16.78\00:22:19.43
Now when He says - and
most translators and most
00:22:19.73\00:22:23.13
Bible scholars and theologians -
00:22:23.43\00:22:26.86
they will take that to say
that cold means that you don't
00:22:27.16\00:22:30.99
know the Lord and that
you're living out in the world
00:22:31.19\00:22:34.70
and you don't know Christ
and you're cold... you're lost,
00:22:34.90\00:22:38.78
you don't have any
relationship that way.
00:22:39.08\00:22:41.58
Uh, they take hot and say
hot means that you're on fire
00:22:41.88\00:22:46.27
for the Lord and
working and all this.
00:22:46.47\00:22:49.43
They apply that
word hot that way.
00:22:49.73\00:22:52.43
And maybe it does have
a meaning that way, folks.
00:22:52.73\00:22:55.77
But I prefer to look
at it a different way.
00:22:56.07\00:22:59.69
I prefer to look at it and say
00:23:01.39\00:23:04.12
it means God saying "I
wish you were uncomfortable. "
00:23:04.42\00:23:07.92
"I wish you were either
cold - you were uncomfortable -
00:23:09.09\00:23:13.61
that you were cold or you were
hot - you were uncomfortable. "
00:23:13.71\00:23:17.86
He's trying to say "Get
out of being lukewarm. "
00:23:18.16\00:23:22.05
"Would that you were
either hot or cold...
00:23:23.54\00:23:25.90
you weren't comfortable. "
00:23:26.10\00:23:27.54
This is the problem with
the church: it's comfortable!
00:23:27.74\00:23:33.40
It's comfortable.
00:23:33.71\00:23:35.20
We were over in Africa
holding a meeting in Africa
00:23:36.36\00:23:39.62
and here people
came by the thousands.
00:23:39.82\00:23:41.89
And out in the bush... I
mean WAY OUT in the bush...
00:23:42.19\00:23:45.14
uh, here we are. There's
some 10,000 of them there
00:23:45.44\00:23:49.29
out in the bush.
There is one pump
00:23:49.49\00:23:54.00
in the middle of
the compound for water.
00:23:54.30\00:23:56.54
There are no
facilities out there at all...
00:23:56.84\00:24:02.02
just out in the bush. And they
come and they sit on the ground
00:24:02.32\00:24:07.38
and sit there all day.
00:24:08.74\00:24:12.39
And my question to you is:
how many of you will do that?
00:24:12.69\00:24:15.61
How many of you would go
out where there was... you know,
00:24:19.23\00:24:23.01
no facilities: no
electricity, no... no...
00:24:23.31\00:24:27.84
none of the modern
things that you have...
00:24:27.97\00:24:29.93
and sit on the ground to
hear the Word of God preached.
00:24:30.13\00:24:33.82
You see, we...
No, we're comfortable.
00:24:34.89\00:24:39.44
We... we like it.
It's... it's nice, you know.
00:24:39.74\00:24:43.87
This is the way we are.
00:24:44.11\00:24:45.87
He's saying: "I wish
you were uncomfortable.
00:24:46.17\00:24:50.24
I wish you were
either cold or hot. "
00:24:50.54\00:24:54.74
That's what He's
wanting us to be.
00:24:55.04\00:24:57.53
See the Lord's saying: "Listen,
00:25:10.27\00:25:13.97
just because you go to church,
00:25:14.27\00:25:16.70
just because you
say 'Lord, Lord, '
00:25:17.00\00:25:19.96
that doesn't make...
make you right with God. "
00:25:20.26\00:25:24.21
Said: "We've done
all these things. "
00:25:35.51\00:25:38.36
Done many what?
"Wonderful works in Your name. "
00:25:38.67\00:25:42.41
And Jesus said:
"I know your works.
00:25:42.61\00:25:44.98
I know that...
I'm aware of that. "
00:25:45.08\00:25:48.52
Uh, He said: "I
don't recognize you. "
00:25:57.40\00:26:01.79
"I don't know who you are. "
00:26:02.09\00:26:04.59
They said: "Well, Lord, we
did all these wonderful works
00:26:06.30\00:26:08.93
for You. " And He said: "Sorry,
00:26:09.13\00:26:12.30
I don't know who you are. "
00:26:12.61\00:26:14.22
And something must be there
that is more than just works.
00:26:15.84\00:26:21.74
Has to be.
00:26:22.04\00:26:24.28
Churches today...
00:26:24.58\00:26:26.58
comfortable.
00:26:28.11\00:26:30.44
We have entered an
age churchwise, folks,
00:26:33.04\00:26:38.08
where people think that
they have to be entertained.
00:26:38.38\00:26:42.77
They... they can't seem to
come for the purpose of worship;
00:26:43.07\00:26:48.93
they feel they
have to be entertained.
00:26:49.23\00:26:51.69
If it's not
entertaining, well...
00:26:51.99\00:26:55.19
they're... And thus we have
church after church after church
00:26:55.49\00:26:59.53
across this nation
where every church service
00:26:59.73\00:27:04.13
is a big show.
00:27:04.43\00:27:06.84
It's a production that they do
00:27:07.14\00:27:09.44
because people come
there to be entertained...
00:27:09.58\00:27:12.47
not to study the Word of God.
00:27:12.77\00:27:15.22
This is what it's talking
about to the church of Laodicea
00:27:16.82\00:27:20.50
because they're lukewarm...
satisfied, something wrong.
00:27:20.81\00:27:26.65
He said: "Since you're...
you're neither cold nor hot... "
00:27:38.60\00:27:43.79
"Makes Me sick"
is what He's saying.
00:27:45.12\00:27:48.89
"Makes Me sick. "
00:27:49.13\00:27:51.59
"I will vomit you
out of My mouth. "
00:27:51.89\00:27:55.75
And so if you and
I are just, you know,
00:27:56.06\00:28:00.11
comfortable and not
really doing anything,
00:28:00.41\00:28:05.45
we'd better take a
good close look, folks,
00:28:05.75\00:28:09.04
because He says: "I'll
vomit you out of My mouth. "
00:28:09.24\00:28:12.24
You see in
Laodicea the water came out
00:28:12.54\00:28:17.89
from up by Hierapolis
and it flowed down to there.
00:28:18.19\00:28:23.18
By the time it reached
Laodicea it was lukewarm
00:28:23.68\00:28:29.32
and this was the problem there.
00:28:29.62\00:28:31.75
You're looking at the
stream right there from it.
00:28:31.96\00:28:34.20
As it flowed it
was lukewarm water.
00:28:34.50\00:28:37.23
But dear friend, if you drank it
00:28:37.53\00:28:41.27
it tasted like kerosene
spiked with Alka-Seltzer.
00:28:41.58\00:28:45.46
It didn't taste good.
00:28:45.76\00:28:48.54
It just... it was very, very...
00:28:48.84\00:28:52.05
uh, something you wanted
to spew out of your mouth.
00:28:52.35\00:28:55.43
Made... made you sick.
00:28:55.73\00:28:57.25
And He said: "This is
the way this church is to Me.
00:28:57.56\00:29:01.51
It makes Me
sick the way they are
00:29:01.81\00:29:05.65
because they have let
the cares of this world
00:29:08.06\00:29:12.71
come into their life. "
00:29:15.09\00:29:16.76
See, the world
came into the church
00:29:29.99\00:29:34.77
and it choked out the Word
00:29:35.07\00:29:37.52
and the people...
people became unfruitful.
00:29:37.82\00:29:43.23
You see, do you? Do
you have any trouble
00:29:44.24\00:29:49.73
speaking to
somebody about Jesus Christ?
00:29:50.03\00:29:53.28
Do you? Do you
have trouble witnessing?
00:29:55.80\00:29:59.45
You and I should be
witnessing to people around us
00:30:00.69\00:30:03.99
talking to them
about Jesus Christ
00:30:04.19\00:30:06.60
and what He's done for us.
00:30:06.80\00:30:08.00
Let's see what the
Lord says the problem is.
00:30:08.30\00:30:11.23
When I was a kid
00:30:23.71\00:30:25.41
I went to a little
old country school...
00:30:25.72\00:30:28.59
we used to sing a
song. The song said
00:30:28.69\00:30:32.48
"Fly in the
buttermilk, shoo fly, shoo. "
00:30:32.68\00:30:35.74
Don't know if you remember that.
00:30:36.04\00:30:37.66
But in other words,
what I'm trying to tell you
00:30:37.96\00:30:40.30
there's something
wrong with this church.
00:30:40.50\00:30:42.18
There's definitely a problem
of fly in the buttermilk.
00:30:42.48\00:30:44.94
And that is what it's
saying here when it says:
00:30:45.24\00:30:48.36
"Because you say 'I am rich,
00:30:48.66\00:30:50.58
have become wealthy,
have need of nothing'
00:30:50.88\00:30:53.68
and do not know that
you are wretched, miserable,
00:30:53.98\00:30:57.27
poor, blind, and naked. "
00:30:57.47\00:31:00.35
Now the problem here,
folks, is they're all this.
00:31:00.65\00:31:06.21
They're wealthy;
they have need of nothing.
00:31:06.51\00:31:12.32
I'm rich...
have need of nothing.
00:31:12.62\00:31:16.45
That's the way we see ourselves.
00:31:17.75\00:31:21.21
Don't need
anything... good shape.
00:31:22.34\00:31:25.41
And the problem is
they don't know it.
00:31:26.51\00:31:30.72
They don't know it.
00:31:31.22\00:31:33.89
If they knew it, they
might do something about it,
00:31:35.37\00:31:38.97
but they don't even know it.
00:31:39.27\00:31:41.02
And He says: "Do not
know that you are wretched
00:31:41.32\00:31:45.51
and miserable,
poor, blind, and naked. "
00:31:45.82\00:31:49.88
All those things. And
that's describing, folks,
00:31:50.18\00:31:54.14
the spiritual
condition of the church.
00:31:54.44\00:31:56.88
That's what it's talking about.
00:31:57.18\00:31:58.94
They're poor. That
means they don't have anything
00:31:59.24\00:32:04.77
spiritually...
they're bankrupt spiritually.
00:32:05.07\00:32:08.88
They're... they're wretched.
00:32:09.01\00:32:10.91
They spiritually are
blind and they are naked.
00:32:11.11\00:32:15.90
And those are
things that their condition
00:32:16.20\00:32:19.61
and there's certain
things that Christ gives
00:32:19.81\00:32:21.94
that takes care of that.
00:32:22.14\00:32:23.95
But the problem is
you can't take care of it
00:32:25.30\00:32:30.42
if you don't know you need it.
00:32:30.52\00:32:33.56
Follow me?
00:32:35.93\00:32:38.00
The answer's here.
We'll look at the answer.
00:32:38.31\00:32:41.38
But if you don't
know you need it,
00:32:41.78\00:32:45.24
then you're not
going to look for it.
00:32:45.54\00:32:47.74
And dear friends, the
only thing I can tell you
00:32:47.94\00:32:50.18
is you, myself,
and every one of us
00:32:50.38\00:32:55.20
ought to be on our
knees praying that God
00:32:55.50\00:32:59.13
will open our eyes and
that we will see our need.
00:32:59.43\00:33:04.39
Because He's got the answer.
00:33:04.69\00:33:07.46
He's got what is needed
to take care of the problem.
00:33:07.76\00:33:10.56
But you and I, unfortunately,
00:33:11.16\00:33:15.07
go about our activities
day by day unaware of our need.
00:33:15.98\00:33:20.92
What does Christ have
to do to get our attention?
00:33:21.42\00:33:27.39
You know? What does He
have to do to get our attention?
00:33:29.01\00:33:32.04
Uh, maybe it takes
00:33:32.44\00:33:38.00
natural disasters?
00:33:40.01\00:33:41.94
Maybe it takes
more than just saying
00:33:43.15\00:33:49.12
"Repent... change your way. "
00:33:49.42\00:33:52.19
Maybe it takes
the loss of something.
00:33:52.49\00:33:57.87
But He's having a hard
time - a difficult time -
00:33:58.17\00:34:03.77
getting our attention, folks,
00:34:04.07\00:34:05.99
because He says...
we're going to come to it...
00:34:06.29\00:34:09.96
He says: "Behold, I
stand at the door and knock.
00:34:10.27\00:34:14.33
And if anyone
hears My voice... "
00:34:14.53\00:34:18.74
He's saying: "Hello,
hello! Do you hear Me? "
00:34:19.85\00:34:24.42
And the problem is
not only are we blind
00:34:25.99\00:34:29.52
but we're deaf.
00:34:29.83\00:34:31.47
We don't see; we don't hear.
00:34:31.77\00:34:36.01
We don't even know our need.
00:34:36.31\00:34:38.88
From the top of the
head to the sole of the foot
00:34:59.33\00:35:01.50
nothing but bruises and sores.
00:35:01.80\00:35:05.38
We're... we're a mess!
00:35:06.64\00:35:09.10
That's literally... we're a mess
00:35:09.40\00:35:12.69
and we don't
recognize it. As He says here:
00:35:12.99\00:35:17.32
This is where the
church of Laodicea is.
00:35:22.83\00:35:27.12
And dear friend, if
there was ever a period in time
00:35:27.42\00:35:31.97
which that
depicts it, it's today.
00:35:32.27\00:35:36.25
Took their lamps; went
out to meet the bridegroom.
00:35:49.20\00:35:52.97
And it says that they all what?
00:36:00.23\00:36:05.44
"Slumbered and
slept. " All ten of them!
00:36:05.74\00:36:09.98
Not just five... all ten
of them slumbered and slept.
00:36:10.28\00:36:14.34
And it says: "The cry came:
00:36:14.54\00:36:16.53
'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming. ' "
00:36:16.73\00:36:18.76
And they got up
and shook themselves
00:36:19.37\00:36:22.12
and trimmed their lamps.
00:36:22.32\00:36:24.52
Are you taking time? Are
you taking time to make sure
00:36:39.36\00:36:45.21
that your vessel is filled
with the oil of the Holy Spirit?
00:36:46.65\00:36:52.64
Are you? Or are
you, uh, too busy?
00:36:55.29\00:37:01.20
Or maybe you
don't need anything?
00:37:01.50\00:37:04.80
Increased with
goods; have need of nothing.
00:37:06.25\00:37:09.86
And when the bridegroom shows up
00:37:11.28\00:37:13.92
you say: "Oh, not enough oil. "
00:37:14.22\00:37:17.31
You see, that's...
there's a lot there, folks.
00:37:33.03\00:37:35.64
"Go out and buy
for yourselves. "
00:37:36.05\00:37:40.00
When it comes to this part
00:37:40.30\00:37:45.12
there's nothing
anybody can do for you.
00:37:45.42\00:37:51.24
You're not going to
be saved by your wife.
00:37:52.76\00:37:58.21
You're not going to
be saved by your husband.
00:37:59.59\00:38:02.41
You've got to go and you
have to buy for yourself.
00:38:02.71\00:38:08.52
And you buy without money...
00:38:09.75\00:38:15.46
without price.
00:38:15.76\00:38:17.51
But you've got to go buy
00:38:17.81\00:38:20.88
and you have to be filled.
00:38:20.98\00:38:24.26
But, dear friend, the
problem here with these virgins
00:38:24.96\00:38:27.84
isn't that they
didn't go to buy.
00:38:28.15\00:38:30.43
They went to buy.
00:38:32.32\00:38:34.27
The problem is
they waited too late.
00:38:34.77\00:38:38.15
You see these...
these people were those
00:38:53.27\00:38:58.06
that they had the opportunity.
This is not talking about,
00:38:58.36\00:39:02.01
uh, people that
don't know the Lord.
00:39:02.21\00:39:04.23
This is not talking
about non-church members.
00:39:04.44\00:39:06.77
This is talking
about church members.
00:39:06.97\00:39:08.67
And they went out to buy,
and while they were out buying
00:39:08.97\00:39:12.03
the bridegroom came
and the door was shut.
00:39:12.23\00:39:16.24
The door that was
opened in Philadelphia
00:39:17.38\00:39:21.02
is shut in Laodicea.
00:39:21.32\00:39:24.73
And you remember
they knocked on the door.
00:39:27.48\00:39:29.25
Said: "Lord, let
us in. Let us in. "
00:39:29.45\00:39:32.46
And He said:
"Sorry, I don't know you. "
00:39:32.76\00:39:36.57
Why didn't He know them?
00:39:36.87\00:39:39.69
Why... why didn't
He know these five?
00:39:42.21\00:39:45.16
Because they were not
like Him in character.
00:39:46.76\00:39:51.90
That's the problem.
00:39:53.15\00:39:54.72
They were not like Him
in character. Therefore
00:39:55.02\00:39:58.02
He didn't recognize them.
He said: "I don't know you...
00:39:58.22\00:40:00.79
don't know who you are. "
00:40:01.10\00:40:02.54
So let's see as we
have taken a look at this
00:40:04.17\00:40:06.26
what counsel He
gives to take care of it.
00:40:06.47\00:40:10.30
How can it be taken care of?
00:40:10.50\00:40:12.81
OK?
00:40:27.62\00:40:28.68
Now He's taken care of
this question of blind,
00:40:40.08\00:40:44.26
and poor, and...
00:40:44.46\00:40:48.67
and not having things
00:40:48.97\00:40:51.61
and, what say?
Blind and poor and naked.
00:40:51.81\00:40:57.10
He takes care of all
those things... each one.
00:40:57.30\00:41:01.17
So He says: "Buy of Me gold
00:41:01.40\00:41:05.03
that has been
refined in the fire. "
00:41:05.33\00:41:08.34
Do you know what gold is?
00:41:10.62\00:41:12.58
Do you know what gold is?
00:41:14.11\00:41:16.45
When... I'm not
talking about literal.
00:41:16.75\00:41:19.86
I'm not referring to that,
I'm talking about spiritually.
00:41:20.16\00:41:22.13
Do you know what gold is?
00:41:22.33\00:41:23.77
Hmmm?
00:41:25.06\00:41:26.82
Let me tell you what gold is:
00:41:27.12\00:41:29.31
three things as far as
God's Word is concerned.
00:41:30.43\00:41:33.62
This is gold.
00:41:33.82\00:41:35.52
God's Word... that's gold.
00:41:35.82\00:41:38.53
And you have to
come to the scripture
00:41:38.73\00:41:42.58
and spend time in the scripture.
00:41:42.78\00:41:44.11
That is absolutely necessary
00:41:44.31\00:41:46.76
because the other
two things that are gold
00:41:47.06\00:41:50.09
is dependent upon this.
00:41:50.29\00:41:52.06
And if you don't spend
time in the Word of God
00:41:52.36\00:41:56.01
then dear friend you're not
going to get the other 2 things
00:41:56.21\00:41:59.42
that's absolutely necessary
00:41:59.62\00:42:01.67
if you're going to
make it into God's kingdom.
00:42:01.87\00:42:04.03
The other thing that is gold
00:42:04.53\00:42:07.37
that comes only
by this is faith.
00:42:07.67\00:42:10.26
Faith is gold.
00:42:11.57\00:42:12.88
"Faith cometh by
hearing and hearing by the... "
00:42:13.18\00:42:17.49
"Word of God. " So
you and I must spend time
00:42:17.69\00:42:21.01
in the Word so that
I will begin to possess
00:42:21.21\00:42:27.00
faith and it
begins to work in my life.
00:42:27.30\00:42:30.74
And that is
absolutely necessary.
00:42:31.04\00:42:33.14
If you don't have
faith, you can't make it.
00:42:33.34\00:42:36.15
Faith is absolutely required.
00:42:36.55\00:42:38.90
Without faith you
cannot please God.
00:42:39.10\00:42:43.17
Very, very
clear. So faith is gold.
00:42:43.47\00:42:47.33
Put it down. If you're
wanting to know how can I
00:42:47.63\00:42:50.55
help my poor condition,
00:42:50.75\00:42:53.44
then dear friend
you've got to have faith.
00:42:53.74\00:42:56.35
Absolutely necessary.
00:42:56.65\00:42:58.69
The third thing is
that's gold is love.
00:42:59.00\00:43:03.48
You see, love and
faith work together,
00:43:03.78\00:43:09.02
and you've got to have love
if it's going to take place.
00:43:09.32\00:43:13.62
If you don't have
love for the Lord,
00:43:13.92\00:43:15.91
if you don't have
love for your brethren,
00:43:16.21\00:43:18.19
if you don't have love
for people, dear friend,
00:43:18.49\00:43:20.68
you are in jeopardy.
00:43:20.88\00:43:23.06
You are in problems.
00:43:23.26\00:43:25.01
You've got to love one another;
that is absolutely required.
00:43:25.21\00:43:29.46
And the way you get those is by
spending time in the Word of God
00:43:29.76\00:43:34.76
drawing near to Him.
00:43:34.96\00:43:37.68
Works won't get you there.
00:43:37.78\00:43:41.07
Works won't get you there.
00:43:41.37\00:43:44.72
Takes something more than that.
00:43:46.39\00:43:48.77
I've spent my
life in evangelism,
00:43:50.31\00:43:53.00
and I don't mean
this in a wrong way.
00:43:57.01\00:44:00.51
But the church...
00:44:00.81\00:44:04.93
and when I say the church
I'm talking about all of us...
00:44:05.23\00:44:08.37
When you talk about evangelism
and preaching God's Word
00:44:09.07\00:44:14.98
almost invariably you
know what people want to know?
00:44:15.28\00:44:18.35
How many people were baptized?
00:44:20.58\00:44:22.73
How many people were baptized?
00:44:23.03\00:44:25.62
Now don't misunderstand me. I
believe that that's important.
00:44:25.92\00:44:30.10
But dear friend,
numbers is not...
00:44:30.40\00:44:34.60
is not the change of heart.
00:44:34.90\00:44:37.87
We... we have to talk about
and preach and pray for the
00:44:38.17\00:44:43.78
Holy Spirit... that God's
Spirit will come in and work
00:44:43.88\00:44:47.78
in people's lives.
00:44:48.08\00:44:49.20
And still today it's that way.
00:44:49.40\00:44:51.31
Almost invariably when we
ask somebody about what kind
00:44:51.61\00:44:55.11
of meeting they had, they
want to know how many numbers
00:44:55.21\00:44:59.08
there was.
00:44:59.38\00:45:00.38
And... and that's...
that's part of works.
00:45:00.68\00:45:03.98
That's where the
works comes into it.
00:45:04.28\00:45:06.63
And as Laodicea, we
are work-orientated.
00:45:06.93\00:45:12.85
And we have all these
things that we can look at.
00:45:13.25\00:45:16.19
We have these
buildings, we have churches,
00:45:16.39\00:45:18.35
we have hospitals, we
have publishing houses.
00:45:18.55\00:45:20.62
We have all these
all over the world.
00:45:20.93\00:45:23.22
Next-to-the-largest
parochial system in the world.
00:45:23.42\00:45:26.19
All that we have... and
we say: "Look at this. "
00:45:26.49\00:45:30.04
And God's saying:
"You're not understanding.
00:45:32.17\00:45:35.81
You're really poor.
00:45:36.11\00:45:38.56
You don't have anything. "
00:45:38.86\00:45:42.10
That... that's our condition.
00:45:42.40\00:45:44.54
That's where we are.
00:45:44.84\00:45:46.94
So you've got to have...
you've got to have faith.
00:45:47.24\00:45:52.04
You have to have love
00:45:52.34\00:45:54.97
if it's going to
be what it should be.
00:45:55.27\00:45:58.24
Secondly, He supplies our need
00:46:00.05\00:46:04.68
by giving us the
garment of His righteousness.
00:46:05.08\00:46:08.17
And I hear people say:
"Well our righteousness
00:46:08.37\00:46:12.13
is as filthy rags. "
00:46:12.43\00:46:15.14
That it is... but
that's not what He's saying.
00:46:15.44\00:46:18.62
That's not what He
says in this... this here.
00:46:18.92\00:46:22.48
He says: "You're naked. "
00:46:22.78\00:46:24.87
That's what He
says... just read it.
00:46:25.27\00:46:26.87
He said: "You don't
even have anything on. "
00:46:27.07\00:46:28.94
Said: "You ought to take a good
look and you ought to be ashamed
00:46:29.24\00:46:33.42
of walking around naked. "
00:46:33.63\00:46:35.25
That's what He's saying.
00:46:35.55\00:46:37.00
You don't have
any righteousness...
00:46:37.30\00:46:40.00
it's not even as
good as filthy rags.
00:46:40.30\00:46:42.28
You don't have anything at all.
00:46:42.68\00:46:45.04
You're miserable, you're poor,
you're blind, you're naked.
00:46:45.24\00:46:48.28
That's the way you are. And He
said: "If you don't come to Me
00:46:48.58\00:46:53.87
and be covered with
His righteousness...
00:46:54.17\00:46:57.99
Zealous means what? Get with it!
00:47:06.18\00:47:09.70
Stop playing
around... get with it.
00:47:10.00\00:47:13.72
Be zealous, repent,
change where you're going.
00:47:13.92\00:47:17.77
Here's the gold, folks...
"faith working through love. "
00:47:27.44\00:47:31.69
So be rich; have
faith; have love.
00:47:43.68\00:47:48.07
Spend time with the Lord.
00:47:48.37\00:47:50.28
Get it clear. I have people
that read this text all the time
00:48:00.59\00:48:04.53
but they never talk about
one word that's in this text.
00:48:04.73\00:48:07.92
And it says: "To
her was... " What?
00:48:08.22\00:48:11.29
What? Granted. That
means you don't have it
00:48:11.59\00:48:15.12
of yourself. It was
granted for her to have it.
00:48:15.42\00:48:18.19
Given to her: the
righteousness of Jesus Christ
00:48:18.49\00:48:21.78
that covers your life and mine.
00:48:21.98\00:48:24.62
This is the
righteousness of Christ.
00:48:24.83\00:48:27.22
If you don't have that, then I'm
sorry... you're running around
00:48:38.59\00:48:42.55
unclothed.
00:48:42.65\00:48:43.98
This is the righteousness of
Christ that covers our lives.
00:48:52.32\00:48:57.04
Gives to us His righteousness.
00:48:57.34\00:49:01.51
You see, I talk to people -
00:49:15.32\00:49:19.81
and I'm talking
about church members -
00:49:20.11\00:49:21.92
and they say to me:
00:49:22.22\00:49:24.51
"Oh, Brother Cox,
I don't see that. "
00:49:24.81\00:49:28.05
And naturally they don't see it
00:49:28.45\00:49:31.77
because their
eyesight's not very good.
00:49:32.07\00:49:35.92
They're lacking in
eyesight... they need eye salve.
00:49:36.22\00:49:40.27
They need to be able to
see what God's Word is saying.
00:49:40.57\00:49:44.67
You see, we must understand -
00:49:44.97\00:49:48.21
and you won't
understand what God is doing
00:49:48.42\00:49:51.90
until you understand the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:49:52.20\00:49:55.24
That's what opens your
eyes is the grace of Christ.
00:49:55.54\00:49:59.62
When you see His
grace, you see His love,
00:50:05.50\00:50:07.98
you see what He's done,
then your eyes begin to open up.
00:50:08.19\00:50:11.79
OK? This is the way it comes,
this is the way it happens
00:50:20.51\00:50:24.74
in your life and mine.
00:50:25.04\00:50:27.01
Grace is the source.
That's the eye salve.
00:50:27.21\00:50:31.80
When you understand
grace, your eyes get opened up
00:50:32.00\00:50:36.02
and you can see and understand.
00:50:36.22\00:50:37.96
Blood is the means...
that's the white raiment.
00:50:38.26\00:50:42.67
Because we wash our
robes in the blood of the Lamb
00:50:42.83\00:50:47.52
and the blood of the
Lamb makes them what?
00:50:47.72\00:50:49.96
Makes them white.
00:50:50.27\00:50:52.29
Faith is the
method. That's how you and I
00:50:52.59\00:50:56.76
lay hold of it.
That is the gold.
00:50:56.96\00:51:00.52
So here's the
solution to the problem, folks.
00:51:04.31\00:51:07.98
Christ is offering you
the solution to the problem.
00:51:08.28\00:51:11.25
And the problem of it
is... is we don't see it.
00:51:11.55\00:51:16.94
Christ standing at
the door and knocking.
00:51:32.59\00:51:35.67
This is the problem of
the church of Laodicea.
00:51:35.97\00:51:40.01
This is the problem right here
00:51:40.31\00:51:43.21
because Christ
is on the outside.
00:51:43.51\00:51:48.18
That's where the problem is.
00:51:48.48\00:51:50.31
He's not inside... He's outside.
00:51:51.50\00:51:54.03
And He's knocking at the
door asking for entrance.
00:51:54.34\00:51:58.56
And dear friend, He
won't force Himself.
00:51:58.86\00:52:03.66
You've got to invite Him in.
00:52:03.96\00:52:07.11
And He says: "If
anyone hears My voice. "
00:52:07.51\00:52:10.15
He's... He's calling out.
00:52:10.35\00:52:12.89
He's asking for you and to me
00:52:13.19\00:52:15.78
open the door... let Him in.
00:52:15.98\00:52:17.95
Come into our
lives to change us...
00:52:19.30\00:52:23.04
to make us different.
00:52:23.34\00:52:25.42
To become acquainted with us so
that when you're down to the end
00:52:26.22\00:52:31.84
He won't say: "I don't know you.
I've never been to your house.
00:52:32.04\00:52:36.21
I've never dwelt with you;
I've never supped with you.
00:52:37.36\00:52:39.78
I've never had a meal with you.
00:52:39.98\00:52:41.69
I don't know you. "
00:52:41.99\00:52:43.49
Knocking at the door
saying: "Let Me in. "
00:52:45.24\00:52:48.52
Invite Him in,
folks; don't wait.
00:52:48.82\00:52:52.26
Then He gives a promise:
00:52:53.69\00:52:55.10
He says: "If
you'll just let Me in,
00:53:07.10\00:53:09.84
then I'll come
in and sup with you.
00:53:10.24\00:53:13.06
And he that overcomes
I'll grant to sit with me
00:53:13.27\00:53:18.49
in My throne. " What
marvelous, marvelous opportunity
00:53:18.80\00:53:22.76
to sit with
Christ on His throne.
00:53:23.06\00:53:27.97
Thrones in the Orient were
room for more than one person
00:53:29.49\00:53:35.45
to sit by them. They had a place
for a person to sit on the left
00:53:35.65\00:53:39.29
and on the right.
00:53:39.49\00:53:40.51
Christ is saying:
"Open your heart up.
00:53:40.82\00:53:44.08
If you overcome, I'll let
you sit with Me on My throne
00:53:44.38\00:53:49.00
as I overcame and sat down
with my Father on His throne. "
00:53:49.30\00:53:53.04
And so He has written to
the churches of Asia Minor.
00:53:53.34\00:53:59.10
And He said to them:
00:53:59.40\00:54:01.03
Oh I pray tonight
00:54:07.64\00:54:09.53
that the church of
Laodicea will hear.
00:54:09.83\00:54:13.13
That it will listen
and accept His invitation.
00:54:13.43\00:54:18.43
Let us pray.
00:54:18.73\00:54:19.79
Heavenly Father,
00:54:20.10\00:54:21.37
help us, Lord,
that we may be willing
00:54:24.09\00:54:28.31
to accept Your invitation.
That we'll open the door,
00:54:28.71\00:54:33.40
invite You in.
00:54:33.60\00:54:36.38
And that we
might commune with You
00:54:36.58\00:54:39.35
and that all of us
may be in Your kingdom
00:54:39.55\00:54:43.32
because we've opened our hearts
and invited You into our lives.
00:54:43.62\00:54:48.83
For these things we thank you
00:54:49.13\00:54:51.36
in Christ's name, Amen.
00:54:51.66\00:54:54.25
Well, we're down to the
end of the seven churches.
00:54:55.64\00:55:00.55
Our next session or series
00:55:00.85\00:55:04.65
will be on Visions From
The Throne Room In Heaven.
00:55:04.95\00:55:09.36
And we'll be looking
at Revelation 4, 5, 6, 7
00:55:09.67\00:55:14.21
and so forth. God bless you.
00:55:14.41\00:55:15.84
Hello, folks.
00:55:16.66\00:55:17.77
One of my favorite
things to do in the springtime
00:55:17.97\00:55:20.42
is to take a walk and
look at all the new growth.
00:55:20.62\00:55:24.03
The earth seems so fresh,
00:55:24.33\00:55:25.96
and each tree bursts
forth with buds and flowers.
00:55:26.16\00:55:29.00
That reminds me of a parable
that Jesus told His followers
00:55:29.30\00:55:33.26
in Luke 21.
00:55:33.36\00:55:34.83
You see, He had just described
the events which will happen
00:55:35.13\00:55:38.55
immediately
before His second coming.
00:55:38.75\00:55:41.13
But in verse 29
Jesus turns their attention
00:55:55.24\00:55:58.72
to the fig tree.
00:55:58.82\00:56:00.18
And ever since then the budding
trees have served as a permanent
00:56:00.48\00:56:04.07
reminder that our
time here is very short
00:56:04.27\00:56:07.29
and the second
coming is very near.
00:56:07.49\00:56:10.21
Folks, many of these
signs are already upon us.
00:56:25.18\00:56:29.03
The earth groans from
the greed of those who have
00:56:29.33\00:56:31.82
exploited her
resources, ravaged her land
00:56:32.02\00:56:35.65
and destroyed plants and
animals and atmosphere alike
00:56:35.85\00:56:38.87
in a selfish pursuit of wealth.
00:56:39.07\00:56:41.61
Have you seen the signs?
00:56:41.91\00:56:43.46
Have you seen men's
hearts failing with fear?
00:56:43.76\00:56:46.17
If you haven't, then I'm
afraid you're not watching
00:56:46.47\00:56:49.32
very closely. However, the
Holy Spirit is hard at work
00:56:49.52\00:56:53.31
and so are many Christians
who long for an end to sin
00:56:53.61\00:56:57.19
and look forward to
their soon-coming Savior.
00:56:57.32\00:57:00.55
And that's why we
continue to preach the gospel
00:57:00.85\00:57:03.29
to as many as we can
through any means that we can
00:57:03.49\00:57:07.49
as often as we can.
00:57:07.69\00:57:09.57
Our ministry team
is supported solely
00:57:09.87\00:57:12.16
by your contributions...
and we thank you for your
00:57:12.36\00:57:15.54
faithful prayers
and financial support.
00:57:15.74\00:57:19.01
May God richly bless you.
00:57:19.31\00:57:21.39
Please consider what you can do
for those who still don't know
00:57:21.59\00:57:25.05
about Jesus. As the
Holy Spirit impresses,
00:57:25.15\00:57:27.82
please send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
00:57:28.02\00:57:30.26
Thank you for helping us
spread the light of God's Word
00:57:42.12\00:57:44.66
through television and radio.
00:57:44.86\00:57:46.52
Your gifts help bring
the blessed hope of salvation
00:57:46.72\00:57:48.86
to millions around the world.
00:57:49.06\00:57:51.25