All Things New

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to go ahead and get started. I'm going to go ahead and get started. I'm going to go ahead and get started.

Thank you. All right, we're going to have how you get started this morning. I want to begin before we pray by reading from Revelation chapter 1 beginning in verse 4. would be Revelation 7, 9, 2, 3, 4, 6, 1, and 1, and 2. So we can go right back to the crowd in a little bit. The crowd says, "Stown to the seven churches who are an angry grand scheme is key to the crack and the moon, who is and who was and who is the power. From the seven spirit to a before the throne, from the final pieces of the faithful, which is the firstborn of death and the ruler, are the things of the earth. To him who loved him, he was freed us from our feet by his heart. And as there was a kingdom

freed us from the sky and starved, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. You know, he was coming with the sky and every eye was windy, even though some piercings outside the earth were well and found him even so. Amen. I am the outlaw in the United of the Lord God. you will, and you will, and you will, and you will be all mighty. There you will have a look at some of the struggles with the circles in this time and this place where they speak some of the internal external, some of the tired, some of the rights, some of the terrible times, some of the compromises, some of the dismal and things, some filled with pride, and I know that I know how revelation begins. And for those of us who are struggling and hurting and experiencing those same things that before talking, before talking about it,

we'll do things that begins by telling us who's getting, not just who knows, but who knows what he's done. And we'll read by the plot of the plot. So we know we're going to take a look at all of that, but we want to start a breakdown, start to be just familiar with the line, and let's put bottom-head and basically allowing us to take your position for your people, for your word, yeah, but as we gather some words that just keep it fix our eyes and worry, and we restore our souls and we are friends because it would be valuable that we have to do those who are battling this portion and who walked over the empty space. And it's a great thing, it's a great thing, it's a great thing. It's a great thing.

It's a great thing. It's a great thing. We're going to read a few verses from this 46 down together. If you will, let's go ahead and stand. And we're just gonna read on this first slide, right? So, Lord, just read with me. "God is His our rescue between the great earth, a very present self in trouble. Therefore, you will not fear, though the earth you pray, though the mountains you move to the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and thunder, though the mountains crumble and hit your way. about music, the child is about to do that. Where it's so large, I don't know, 100% sure what it is, but the pictures were the main, the child is going to put the bars, and it's left, and it's left, and it's left. And I think that's all right.

I appreciate the fact that Jerry can say, you know, what it does this morning, though, is the end of the lake and some? And you will. I'll see you in the next week. I'll see you in the next week. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I'm not sure what's happening. I'm not sure what's happening. It's happening here. I'm not sure what's happening here. I'm not sure what's happening here. I'm not sure what's happening here.

and the rest of the world is to have a great place to be. It's a great place to be. It's a great place to be. It's a great place to be.

I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying. themselves. They do feel like when they struggle, that they even want you to be sure that they were able to do it from themselves, from their own selves, from their own streets. One house, there are two great industries. There are several industries in the town, but one of them,

like, they make high staff for people who are struggling with business, being able to see and be able to travel there and be able to be able to feel their eyes and appreciate it. It is similar to how to get close, very high-end, very good, very tight, close. So these just bring attention to the experience of this. For you all, I'm really both prospered. And I can't stop it, I'll tell you the word to church. It's very much the words that I need to know what you think is going to be. Not realizing or what this video goes for the morning of the day. It's just a hard piece of paper. Where it's a graphic reference to a piece of paper. It's going to be like a high level with the colors and what these are just going to be.

And it's not a graphic to a graphic. So we had to go ahead and hold it to the end of the year. As we come, we're talking to St. Louis. I think it's been about into our time, so we may not have to do it. Any person told me not to do it, but it has to do it. And it's very nice to be able to take a very few things in the day. I was like, "Oh, I'm not like he was faking, because he was hurt him." "Oh, no, no, the thing is going back." And if anybody hears my believe in the book, it's a girl. I would believe in the name of the Jesus Christ, the King of the King. And since that is a fashion picture of Jesus, what I'm getting, I thought,

If you don't have arms, you're only going to have to go back to life. This is where it's more to be gathered. It's usually to take care of basketball. Okay. Make sure you're looking. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. You think that's so long, too, that's why you're looking at it today. You need to take care of it and take care of it and take care of it and take care of it. You know, it's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie. Yeah, it's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie.

It's a lie, it's a lie. It's a lie. It's a lie, it's a lie. We have a lot of people who do not think about how it's expected to be the best of the world. We have a lot of people who do not think about it. We have a lot of people who do not think about it. We have a lot of people who do not think about it.

or the other people who are interested in the community. Or the other people who are interested in the community. Or we -- Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I don't know if I can tell you. I don't know if I can tell you. I don't know if I can tell you. - Thank you. - Thank you. - Thank you.

The 12th chapter, Abram is called by God and he goes from his country, his family, and he goes into the low end of God and calls him to him. And when you feel like Abram does an offer to the Lord and he prays to the Lord and he worships him, it's about very long before famine comes to the rain. The guy who goes badly, right? He's glad he was just over and over and over again. He was a good guy who was able to get the wrong idea. And that fear of having a constant, right, is the reason. The agent is not the link in session 3. The doctor is speaking to his own friendly group. The chapter 13 said that he's really hard to get his head. The bar is going to be a good guy.

And it's waiting for his people to be able to keep up on him. And it's waiting for his people to be able to keep up on him. And he's waiting for his people to be able to keep up on him. So many times we find ourselves where I'm talking about these people to be able to keep up on him. And he's like, no, I don't want to be able to keep up on him. Because you know, I think that's what you're talking about. Because, you know, I think that's what you're talking about. You know, I think that's what you're talking about. Because that's what you're talking about. Okay. It's really great. And it's what you're talking about. You're talking about what you're talking about. You're talking about what you're talking about. You're talking about what you're talking about.

So, I think that's what you're talking about. That's why you're having a penny, but the product takes the money in the course. The product takes the money to pay for the money. The product takes the money to pay for the money. The product takes the money to pay for the money.

Sometimes, the product takes the money to pay for the money. - Right, right. - We can't do this right now. - Okay, thank you. - Thank you. - Thank you. - Thank you. - We must be back. - Okay. - Thank you. - Thank you. - So, this is close to our friend, this is great, the very self-destructed, and I have to say that you're not going to be able to do it. - Why do you think you're going to be able to do it? - Okay, thank you. - Thank you. Father, I'm not going to be able to. And for me, I don't think of the world. It's not just a lot. And for you, I'm not going to go to school. You can go to school. You can go to school. because I don't know how it's supposed to be.

It's just what we have to get to. We're going to say that we're not going to do the same thing. We're going to have this now. We're going to have time to do the same thing. We're going to have time to do the same thing. We're going to have time to do the same thing.

Let's go ahead and look at the question. Let's go ahead and look at the question. Go ahead and look at the question. Let's go ahead and look at the question. Go ahead and look at the question. Go ahead and look at the question. Go ahead and look at the question.

Thank you. I'm going to take a look at that. I'm going to take a look at that. I'm going to take a look at that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So, we've got a lot of questions that we can do in the future. So, we've got a lot of questions that we can do in the future. So, we've got a lot of questions about how we can do it in the future. So, we've got a lot of questions about how we can do it in the future. So, we've got a lot of questions about how we can do it in the future.

Thank you. Carried what was never mine to hold Running hard on roads that leave me worn and cold But you finished it, you spoke and said it's done The seventh day you rested, you the Holy One If even you could stop and breathe Then who am I to say I have no need Come to me, you weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest, I am peace Now fast, let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me The servant and the stranger got to rest David at the Jordan, broken spent You give your breath to the lowest and the least Lord, I come to you now Nothing more to prove If even kings could stop and breathe

And here I kneel I'm coming home to thee Come to me, you weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest I am peace Never let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord Not a dream of what once was A gift in Jesus' word He who rested on the seventh now Has risen from the grave The rest he offers now is everlasting It is safe to come to me You weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest I am peace Now flash, let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden And I will give you rest Matthew 11, 28

Thank you. I have carried what was never mine to hold Running hard on roads that leave me worn and cold But you finished it, you spoke and said it's done The seventh day you rested, you the Holy One

If even you could stop and breathe Then who am I to say I have no need? Come to me, you weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest, I am peace Now fast, let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me

The servant and the stranger got to rest. David at the Jordan, broken, spent. You give your breath to the lowest and the least. Lord, I come to you now, nothing more to prove.

If even kings could stop and breathe. And here I kneel, I'm coming home to thee. Come to me, you weary. Lay your burden at my feet. I am not the God of endless striving. I am rest. I am peace. Now fast, let your soul breathe. The work is done, the weight is lifted. Come and catch your breath in me. Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord Not a dream of what once was A gift in Jesus' word He who rested on the seventh now Has risen from the grave The rest he offers now is everlasting It is safe to come to me You weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest I am peace Now flash, let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden And I will give you rest Matthew 11:28.

I have carried what was never mine to hold Running hard on roads that leave me worn and cold But you've finished it, you've spoken, said it's done The seventh day you rested, you, the Holy One If even you could stop and breathe Then who am I to say I have no need Come to me, you weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest, I am peace Now fast, let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me The servant and the stranger got to rest David at the Jordan, broken spent You give your breath to the lowest and the least Lord, I come to you now Nothing more to prove If even kings could stop and breathe

And here I kneel I'm coming home to thee Come to me, you weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest I am peace Now fast Let your soul breathe The work is done, the weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord Not a dream of what once was A gift in Jesus' word He who rested on the seventh now Has risen from the grave The rest he offers now is everlasting It is safe to come to me You weary Lay your burden at my feet I am not the God of endless striving I am rest I am peace Now flash Let your soul breathe The work is done The weight is lifted Come and catch your breath in me Come to me All who labor and are heavy laden And I will give you rest Matthew 11, 28 Thank you. Thank you. For more information, visit www.fema.org Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Just in just a few moments this morning, and first we'll start waiting to introduce you in. We're waiting to start to clear screen here quickly and we will move to, uh, that's a little fun for Melbourne and then get opportunities in the low part of where I want to see the is the glory of Christ in the world, very close to the midst of that. Struggles, regardless of that struggle, is external circumstances that are squeezing, it's internal insufficiencies that I'm not strong enough or good enough, whether it's in the struggle with sin or the struggle with the sin of pride or all of these things, There is a sufficiency in Christ who is near to us, who knows us, ultimately equips us in the midst of that, and then leads us to hope. So that's where we're going.

We're going to pray real quick, and then we'll just move through this quickly. Father in heaven, thank you for Jesus and for grace and for hope. I thank you so much for these six chapters this morning. There is so much wonder and depth and connection and help and encouragement and correction in these verses. So I just ask that you would help us to see, most of all, the glory of your Son. that you would help us to see his glory, his nearness, his knowledge, his words to us in the midst of our struggles and the help and the hope that he brings to our lives. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I was riding in a car this weekend over the course of the car ride. We started talking about car movies, and it may have been when we were passing a fuel truck,

And I suggested we do a Fast and Furious with the Kia Sorento and, you know, maybe take care of the gas problem for a little bit. So we began talking about car movies and I was remembering back to a time I was in college and it was I was watching a movie in the midst of driving cars really fast, maybe being chased by police. I don't remember. And right in the middle of this movie, my my friend calls and goes, hey, I'm broke down 20 minutes away. I was like, there has never been a better time for me to drive somewhere than right now, right? Because all of that speed and all of the driving, and so I jump into the car just like the hero in the movie and me and like my 1997 red Chevy Lumina blasting down the road, thinking I was very, just wishing I had driving gloves.

There is a tendency for us, I think, oftentimes to put ourselves in the place of heroes. when we watch a movie when we read a book when we see events happening i would have done this i could have done this there is often a tendency to put ourselves in the place that elevates us and i think sometimes the same is true spiritually it's very easy for us to want to see ourselves as as those who are good and strong and who stand firm and can carry the weight But the reality is, as we've seen over this summer, is that sometimes there is a deep and abiding tiredness. There's a struggle when everything just seems to keep coming and coming, or as Asaph in the 73rd Psalm, as he looks around and he sees his struggles

and he compares them to the good times of the wicked. There is times when we struggle. And so what I want to do for just a moment this morning is take a look at seven churches. Very quickly, we're not going to go into a lot of detail in each one. But as Jesus writes to these churches, he reveals seven different struggles. And what I want you to see is the different types of struggles. Some people are struggling with just sort of a deep exhaustion. Some people are struggling with external forces that are seeking to crush. Some people are dealing with external forces that are seeking to tempt and to pull. some people are dealing with internal forces that are trying to lead them astray or to cause division some people are proud some people are weak that the range of struggle that you see in

Revelation chapter 2 and chapter 3 covers almost every area of life and as we look at this struggle then we'll take a look at the glorious reality of Jesus who steps in to the midst of struggle And so the first church that we see in the first struggle is in Revelation chapter 2. And it's the church of Ephesus. And one of the things we learn about Ephesus from both Scripture and history is there was a temple there to Artemis. The God of the Ephesians is what the people chant for hours in Acts chapter 19 as they throw a riot against the apostle Paul. And this church, there is so much that is good about it. And if you read all of the commendations of Christ, they work hard, they'll patiently endure, they don't tolerate evil, they test for truth at every opportunity,

and they have had struggles, and they just keep going. And in the midst of the good of this church and of these people, because churches are made up of people, there is a struggle. And I think the struggle is this, that their faith has become simply going through the motions. What Jesus says, I have this against you, that you have abandoned your first love. Now, this is a church that on the outside looks like they're doing everything right with tons of energy, even in the midst of trial, but inwardly, and it may be a spiritual exhaustion. We fought for so long. It may be that they're discouraged. It may be that the opposition is fierce. And the struggle that we see first in Revelation 2 are people who are outwardly doing very well, But inwardly, there is a depth of struggle and emptiness.

And then we just move a few verses forward to the church at Smyrna. Historically, this is a church that worships Rome and its emperors. Loyalty to Rome and worship of those who ruled Rome was very much at the heart of this city. And their struggle, what you find, is they simply don't have enough. There is tribulation and there is pressure. And what you find as you read through these verses is that their tribulation is that the church is being squeezed. And they are not sufficient. That's what poverty means. That they're being squeezed and they say, I'm not strong enough. And what happens, as you look at the struggle of this church, it just gets worse. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. There's going to be prison, more tribulation, and even death. And so if you're sort of keeping track,

you have people who are outwardly very productive, inwardly are empty and tired and broken. And then you have a church and people who are being squeezed, and they're not strong enough, and they're not able to hold up. And then you come to the next struggle. And it's happening in Pergamum. Pergamum has a temple to Augustus. It's the home to the great altar of Zeus. And there was a temple to Asclepius, who was a medical guy. His symbol is a giant serpent. Jesus refers to the throne of Satan. And there's a lot of great options in this town. There's a lot of evil. Jesus says Satan has his throne here. It's a difficult place. And the good of this church is they've held fast in the name of Jesus, even in the face of persecution and death.

But the problem at the heart is that there is compromise. I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, a reference back to Israel in Exodus as they come through the wilderness and the struggle that is here is spiritual and it's compromised, and it doesn't begin with a big, idolatrous, immoral decision, but it begins so small and so quietly, and the next thing you know, the church is compromising down the line. The issue is not that they're not opposing the throne of Satan. The issue is that they've been making little decisions that compromise and compromise and compromise down the road, and the church is struggling. And then you move to the next struggle,

And it's the church in Thyatira. And the issue here is not that they're compromised, but now they are entangled. And so historically, this is a town filled with guilds, bronze, wool, leather, linen. Keep an eye on the bronze. It comes back in just a moment to be part of your guild and to ply your trade. You often had to eat with your guild and worship with your guild that oftentimes involved immorality. And so if you are unwilling to participate in those things, you found yourself not just out of the guild, but out of an occupation. So you're not just talking about, oh, I can't sell here or sell there, but I no longer have anything or any ability to have any money. And what you find is that this church has become very, very, very much entangled.

And their entanglement here is not the compromise of Pergamum. It's moved to this place where they're so wrapped up in sin. And it may have been one little bit at a time. It may be overwhelmed and looking for a way out. And this person comes in and says, I have a message. And then she begins moving people. And now the church is struggling because they've tried to find their own way. And the next struggle we see is in the church in Sardis. This city was once influential, however, the reality no longer matched the reputation. Twice it has faced attacks, and they've said in the middle, nobody can climb these cliffs. So they left the cliffs unguarded, and the city was taken in both of those instances. And so when Jesus says, I come like a thief, he's referencing the fact that this city is so confident in their position,

they didn't even guard one of the avenues into it. And the city is very much resting on its formal glory. And the problem in Sardis is they have adopted the attitude of the struggle of the city, and they have become complacent, right? I've done enough. And Jesus says, I know your works, your reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. And the problem here is they look back and they said, you know what, we've done enough, just like the culture of their city. If you're seeing every one of these churches is struggling and the people within them are struggling, whether it's with an exhausted spirit, whether it's with sin, whether it's with complacency, just saying we've done enough.

And then we come to the town of Philadelphia. and this is a church whose struggle is simply that they're small and they're empty. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut, and I know that you have but little power, but yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Right? They are standing there, and they just don't have anything left. They have no strength, and they have no power, and they are so small, and they're discouraged, and Jesus only has things to say to them about keeping them, and it always focuses on him. As you continue through their words, I know, I have said, I will make, I will keep. It's all about what Jesus does, and their struggle is they're small, and they're empty.

And then we come to the seventh church, the church at Laodicea. They're a church, they're a city that is in many ways very wealthy, with a lot of great things going on, but ultimately their water coming into the city is sort of lukewarm and filled with minerals, and Jesus uses that as a picture. You're neither cold nor hot, right? You're neither refreshing or healing. And I will spit you out of my mouth. And their struggle is they have self-sufficient. Sardis has been complacent, but Laodicea says we've got it all taken care of. So much so, that when Jesus shows up in church, he has to knock on the door, and they don't let him in. Every one of these churches struggles. Some are struggling against evil or with evil, or some are losing their jobs, others losing their lives, some are losing their hopes, some are filled with fear.

And it's not just the churches, it's the people in them. And their struggles are our struggles. And so the answer to these struggles, wondrously, is the glory of Christ. And if we go back just one chapter, John, who writes to this church, he writes about when he's writing. He's on the Lord's Day. He's in the Spirit. He's in exile in this Isle of Patmos. He is not removed from the struggle. And in the midst of his time of worship, I want you just to hear these words. I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the lampstands was one like a Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, like snow.

His eyes were a flame of fire. His feet were burnished bronze, refined in the furnace. His voice was like the roar of many waters. And in the right hand he held seven stars. From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. And his face was like the sun shining at full strength. And what John sees is startling and it's wonderful. So much so that it says he fell at his feet as though dead. This vision was so wonderful and so glorious. And look what the glorious Christ does. When I saw him, I fell at his feet. as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am the first, the last, the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Now, I want you to picture this, because here is Christ, in all his glory, in high priestly garments, in a picture of purity and wisdom and eyes that see, and words that both attack and defend, feet that are immovable. And he stands with stars in his right hand in the midst of candlesticks, and John falls on his face as though dead. And notice the closeness of Jesus, but he laid his right hand on him. If somebody has fallen on the ground, standing like this, how do you lay your hand on them, right? He doesn't just come over and pat him on the head, right? The picture here is Christ in all his glory comes down to John. and reaches down to him. And the closeness isn't just found here as he deals with John. His closeness is found where he is.

The seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands are the angels or the messengers of the seven churches. And the seven lampstands are the seven churches. To these people in the midst of their struggle, Jesus is both holding them and among them. that Jesus is both glorious, he's close, he knows, and in fact, each of these churches, Jesus will say, I know to each of them, that Christ is near and that he knows, and it's not just to them, but it is to us. And what I want you to see this morning is that Christ brings hope, Specifically, both help and hope. I want to begin here in Revelation 21, and then I want to put Revelation chapter 1 and 21 together with these churches. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

The dwelling place of God is with man, he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God, and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, And neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. If you've read the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, which I think may be a reference to Tolkien, she will say that in Christ everything sad comes untrue. Seven churches would have seen that and heard that. You and I see this, and we hear this, and I want you to know that there is both help and hope. There is help and hope. The help is found in our glorious Christ in Revelation chapter 1,

and the hope is found in his return in the city with God on the throne. And it's interesting because it's not just an opinion. Each of these seven letters began and contained a description of Christ. And each of these seven letters, that description of Christ goes back to the glory that he has in chapter 1. And each of these letters contains a promise for those who endure or conquer or keep going. And that promises are all found in Revelation 20, 21, and 22. So the church in Ephesus, who worked hard and stood and endured for righteousness, they tested all the claims to truth. Jesus says, I'm walking among you and in you. And remember, this is the church. He says, you've left your first love. And the one who walks next to them is saying, you may have left your love, but I have not left you.

The picture in chapter 1 of the church among the lampstands for Ephesus is Jesus saying, I'm still here and I am still with you. And then he ends his words to this church that there is a tree of life that you can come and you can eat from. Remember, this is the home of the Temple of Artemis. And what's interesting, historically, it was a sanctuary, often for those who were accused of crimes. And so much so that it was often filled with evil. The Roman emperor eventually deals with these kind of sanctuaries. And in this town, this sanctuary was attacking God's people. And the promise from the end of Revelation that you see to Ephesus is there's going to be a tree, there's going to be a life, there's going to be a sanctuary, and its gates never have to close

because no one is going to chase you ever again. And so to those who are struggling and they're empty inside, they say, I can't do it and I can't go on. Jesus says, I'm right here among you, and there is a promise of a sanctuary that no one can take away. To the church in Smyrna, they're poor and they're slandered and they know that the worst things are coming. Jesus says, I'm the first and last. There's no one, nowhere you can go that I haven't already been. And then in Revelation 20, 21 and 22, there is a promise that the second death will never touch you. Death only gets one turn. And Jesus goes, then it's my turn. To Pergamum, the church where Satan's throne is. Jesus says, I have a sword. And what's remarkable is that the Romans ruled by swords.

And Jesus is saying, chapter one, I've got a sword. And my sword is better than the Roman sword. And to the church that struggles with where to eat and with food. He says, I'm giving you a new name and a new meal and a new place to go. To the church in Thyatira with their guilds of bronze, Jesus says, my eyes are a flame of fire and my feet are made of bronze and I know you're tangled in something you think you can't afford to leave, but I am promising you, and you go to the end of Revelation, to the morning star, which is myself. To those who are entangled, he says, I am coming. I'm stronger and I'm greater and I will untangle you and I will bring you home safely. And to Sardis, the church has just been going through the motions.

Jesus says, I'm the one who holds the seven spirits and the seven stars. And what he is saying to them is that the thing you can't keep alive, I can. And he promises that their name will be written in a book that can never be blotted out. To those who are tired, they've tried and they've worked. Jesus says, I am your strength and I am your hope. To the church with little power, Jesus says, I hold the key of David. Earlier he says, I hold the key to death and Hades. He says, there is a door that you can't open, but I hold the key to every door. And I will open it in front of you, and I'm going to make you a pillar. And this goes all the way to the end of Revelation, where you are strong and you are not shaken.

And I know you feel small and little here, but you are not in the scope of eternity through my grace and by my power. to Laodicea, the church that thinks they need nobody, Jesus says, I'm the faithful and true witness. I see things the way they truly are. And I am calling you to come to a place where there is true healing. There's true restoration of your sight. There's true water that refreshes your soul. The one thing that you think that you can buy, you can't. And he's not saying that their wealth is bad he's saying that their hope has been placed in the wrong spot and he calls them both through the image you find in Revelation 1 and the image you find of heaven in Revelation 21 and 22. And the call here

is to look to our glorious Savior. Behold blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. He says it two more times and he says this the spirit and bride say come let the one who hears it say come and let the one who is thirsty come and let the one who desires take the water of life without price John then responds as Jesus says i'm coming soon John says come Lord Jesus to the one who takes the struggling the insufficient the one who feels like they're being torn apart or stretched or pulled or squeezed or pressured Jesus points first of all to his glory in chapter one in his truth and his strength and his power and applies that to every struggle of their heart in chapters two and three and at the end in the

glorious picture of heaven right the promise at the end of all of these churches and two and three is found in Christ let's pray and then we'll stand and sing father in heaven thank you for Jesus and for grace thank you for hope thank you that you take our brokenness whether that's through the pressure that surrounds us the things that tear us the things that tempt us and you both give us what we need and you give us a promise of future hope we thank you for Jesus in his name we pray amen we're going to stand and sing the lion and the lamb

Thank you. Thank you. What do you have to do with all of your friends? I have a lot of friends. I have a lot of friends. I've had a lot of friends in the past. What do you have to do with all of your friends? I've had a lot of friends. I've had a lot of friends in the past. I've had a lot of friends in the past. I've had a lot of friends in the past.

I don't know if you can get out of here. You can have to take a look at what you can do. You can have to take a look at what you can do. You can see what you can do with that kind of stuff. You can see what you can do with that kind of thing. You can see what you can do with that kind of thing. You can see what you can do with that kind of thing.

I don't know if you can do that. We are going to go ahead and have a word of prayer and then we'll read the Revelation. and I think that our folks gather and that is thank you for allowing us to gather the employees who worship each other. We pray together. We thank you for the encouragement of this family. We're gathering together to share our needs and our hearts and our toys and our flowers and our coats. We thank you for your blessings. We just ask today to reach our loose-proof end-rease, as he's pitched their eyes on the floor, and he's been surprised to see his face in the face of the face of the face of the face of the face of the face of the face. And then the election 22, 20, 21, he says, "Can you talk to us about the beginning of the day, but surely I'm coming to sleep."

The traffic is on the window, and the margin is really to regard to these early beginning of the day. We're going to see the same, the older version, and it's pretty flat from people. That's always in the younger version. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.