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. . . . . . . Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. There to my heart was the blood applied. There to my heart was the blood applied. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Glory to his name, glory to his name. There to my heart was the blood applied. There to my heart was the blood applied. Glory to his name, glory to his name. Come to this fountain so rich and sweet. Come to this fountain so rich and sweet. Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet. Plunge in today and be made complete. Glory to his name. Glory to his name. Glory to his name. Glory to his name. There to my heart was the blood applied. Glory to his name. All right, let's pray. Heavenly Father of the Lord, we just want to thank you, God, just for another beautiful day to hear your word preached. Thank you, God, for the fellowship we had with the anniversary, and thank you for the souls that were saved yesterday and throughout last week. I pray, Lord, that you would just now be with our pastor, fill him with your power and spirit, for it's in Jesus' name we ask all of it. Amen. All right, you may be seated and turn in your song books to song number three. Song number three. We're just starting over. We're just going on. That's how we roll here. It's real easy. So we'll sing Jesus Paid It All, song number three. I hear the Savior say, Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in me thine all in all. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin hath left a crimson stain he washed in white as snow. For now indeed I find thy power and thine alone can change the leper's spots and mount the heart of stone. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin hath left a crimson stain he washed in white as snow. For nothing good have I whereby thy grace to claim. I'll wash my garments wide in the blood of cloud. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin hath left a crimson stain he washed in white as snow. And when before the throne I stand in him complete, Jesus died my soul to save. My lips shall still repeat. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin hath left a crimson stain he washed in white as snow. Amen. So welcome back to Mount Baptist Church on this Sunday afternoon. And the first thing I want to get actually before I forget about it is get the soul winning numbers for the week. I think I know what we got. Obviously yesterday we had 15 in our soul winning efforts out there in Moundsville. And so I think we had two earlier in the week. Do we have any more than two? Okay, but Wednesday there was two, right? So 17 for the week, so that's awesome. So we are definitely set to crush our soul winning numbers from last year. Because we had 279 from last week, so that doesn't count the 17 that we got now. I can't multitask. Let me get this number down first. So that means what? We have 296. Get us up to 296 right now. Last year our total salvation at the end of the year was 327. And that was, we crushed our numbers from the year before. And so barring we don't just hit a wall with soul winning from here on out to the rest of the year, we should be able to beat that record too. So keep up the good work with soul winning. We actually are going to have three baptisms this afternoon. And I forgot to mention, but we had Michael's baptism plan, Michael Jones. And so we are going to have his baptism after the service. And then actually our visitors, Evan and Sydney, if I can ever think straight and get their names right. And Veace, right? But I am going to be singing Edelweiss every time I think of your last name. But it is like Swiss and you know, Sound of Music? No? Nothing? Anyway. But they are going to get baptized as well. So excited about that. And so the water is not warm. It is not that bad. But it is not as warm as it can usually be. So we will turn the heater on as soon as we get done with the service. Try to warm it up a little more. It is not freezing. And it is warm outside so you can always go outside too. But keep up the good work with the soul winning. I am really excited about how this year will end. But then also just with the upcoming year, I think we should just keep striving to keep doing more. And we are going to try to do a couple of mission trips a year. That is kind of the big thing. And obviously with the Belize mission trip, that brought up our soul winning numbers a lot. And then with the soul winning marathons, I don't know when we are going to go to Harlem. But we are going to plan on going to Harlem. So we have kind of already discussed that. So there are different marathons we want to try to do and all that. So just keep that in your prayers. Whether you can make it to it or not to those type of things, just be in prayer for it. All of the other stuff as far as service times, our Wednesday evening, we are going through the book of 1 Corinthians. So try to be here for that. This afternoon we are continuing our study through the book of Revelation. And the other stuff on here, just don't forget about the soul winning times on Tuesday. Brother Charles leads that up on Tuesday and Brother Richie leads up the soul winning time on Wednesday. And so we have those times as well. If you can't make it on Sunday or like this week, obviously we kind of have a special event. Our chapter memory is Galatians 5 and our verse memory is 1 John 5. Again with the retreats, if you have any questions, let me know. I think we have, and I will try to make sure, but the resort usually gives out a pamphlet as far as what they provide and what they don't provide. So I will try to get that just so you know what you need to bring and what you don't need to bring. So just kind of the typical stuff if you are going somewhere, you need paper towels, you need bring soap, things like that. But we will get into that. But that is going to be here before you know it. So that is not this coming weekend, that is the next weekend. So that is going to be here before you know it. Now we usually have it in October, so that is why it kind of maybe feels a little sooner. Last time I think it was in mid-October that we did it, so it wasn't that much further away. Besides that, I will be in prayer for all the ladies on the pregnancy list. And again we want to congratulate the Gandy family on their newborn. And I just want to congratulate Ms. Tabby for putting up with this guy right here through that whole pregnancy. So she has to deal with the whole pregnancy thing. But then you have Brother Dave over here just pressuring her to get this thing delivered sooner. Anyway, but all joking aside, definitely happy about that. And that is about what I got for announcements. And so again after the service, once we close up everything, we are going to have some baptism. So stick around for that. And Brother Dave is going to sing one more song. And Brother Joseph is going to be reading Revelation chapter 3 for us. All right, take your song books and turn to song number 5. Song number 5. We'll sing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, song number 5. When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride, Forbidden Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God, All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood, See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow me, go down, Dead e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns composed so rich a crown, Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small, Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. All right, take your Bibles and turn to Revelation chapter number 3. Revelation chapter number 3. We'll have Brother Joseph come and read that for us. Revelation chapter 3. And if you found your place there, you'll say amen. Amen. And unto the angel of the church of Sardis write, These things saith he that have the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest in heart dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent, if therefore thou shalt not watch. I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment. I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth. I know thy works, behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it, for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And unto the angel of the church of Laodiceans, write, These things saith, Amen. The faithful and true witness and beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou saith, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I have loved, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even also as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Let's pray. Let's pray. Lord Father, thank you for this time we're able to gather again. Lord, thank you for your pure and holy word in this study through Revelation. Lord, I thank you for the time we were able to fellowship in four years with Mount Baptist. I ask you to be with Pastor Robinson and edify us this evening in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. So you're there in Revelation chapter 3, and we are continuing our study through the book of Revelation, and we're going to be ending with the seven churches here. So we've already dealt with that which John has seen in chapter 1. Chapter 2 and 3 are those things which are, and so we're going to be ending that, and when we get into chapter 4, we're going to be getting into the hereafter. So we're still dealing with churches that were in the day of John that were in Asia, or Asia Minor as we would call it, which is modern day Turkey. And let's get into Sardis. So we've already hit Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. That was in chapter 2. Now we're going to get into Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. And let's get into Sardis here. In verse 1 it says, And unto the angel of the church and Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. So the first thing I want you to see here is that he's basically stating that you have a name that you live, but you're dead. Okay, so basically, Sardis is like that church that used to do great things for God, and they're known for doing great things for God. They had the name of it. They had the reputation of basically being alive and being this thriving church, but ultimately they're dead because they're kind of just living off past glory, if that makes sense. And there's a lot of churches today where they used to do great things for God, but then they're just kind of living off the past, and they're pretty much just dead churches that used to be good. And notice why they're dead. In verse 2 it says, For I have not found thy works perfect before God. It's interesting because Sardis is pretty much the church equivalent to a Christian that is not doing works. That is basically an unprofitable Christian. Okay, so go to James chapter 2. James chapter 2. And this is usually where people are like, Oh, faith without works is dead, you could lose your salvation. That's not what we're talking about. It's not saying this church is unsaved. What it comes down to is this church is not profitable. They used to be profitable. They used to be thriving. They used to be alive, but they're not profitable right now. And it gets in later that basically saying that there are some there that have not defiled their garments, and basically there are some that are not dead. Okay, so this church is kind of limping along, and again, all these addresses are being addressed to the angel at the church. The angel of the church, meaning that the messenger of the church or the leader of the church, the pastor, the bishop, the elder, that Jesus is talking to the elder of the church and talking to the bishop and saying, Hey, I have some things against thee. So the buck stops at that leadership, and he's basically saying, Thou hast the name that thou livest, and art dead. Okay, meaning this is that you're not profitable. But there's people in the church that are alive. Okay, so that's what's interesting about this, and this is something we see a lot today when it comes to Baptist churches, is that you'll have the leadership. The leadership is like as dead as a doornail when it comes to preaching doctrine, going soul winning, all that, and then you'll have this lively group where it's like these people that are just excited about soul winning, and they're trying to get this church to kind of get back into it, and it's just like they just don't want to do it in a lot of cases. And listen, if you can't get the leadership on board, that church is going to die. The leadership has to be on board. If your pastor's not out soul winning, you can't expect that church to be soul winning for very much longer. The church is going to die out eventually, and you can't expect church members to keep going soul winning when the leadership isn't doing it, and they're not sending you out to go soul winning. There's something to be said about a church sending you out, and you're just trying to go yourself. Now, listen, you know what, go yourself. Okay, so I'm not saying don't do that, but what I'm saying is that, you know what, you need a good church that's striving, that's alive, that their works are perfect before God, and look at what it says in James chapter 2 and verse 14. I believe Sardis and James 2, these are two really paralleled in a lot of cases. Notice in verse 14. What doth the prophet my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and hath not works, can faith save him? Now, that's a rhetorical question meaning that no. Now, it's not talking about eternal salvation because it just says right before this that, he that showeth no mercy shall have judgment without mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty, meaning that as a Christian, if you don't show mercy to your brother, then you're not going to get mercy in return. You're going to reap what you sow, and you're going to be judged according to the law of liberty, and listen, there's a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation on those that sin willfully as Christians, and it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, and so meaning this is that you can say you have all this mountain moving faith, but if you're not doing anything with it, and you're not helping out your brother, which is where we're going to get to here, then you know what? You're not going to have mercy and judgment either. Now, notice what it says in verse 15. If a brother or sister be naked, in destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Notice that there's a term that's being brought up a lot here, profit, profit, profit, okay? And it says even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. So now we see this term dead being used. What people want to want to insinuate with this is that dead faith means that it's non-existent faith, okay? No, it's unprofitable faith, okay? Meaning this, not unprofitable meaning like you're not saved, it just means that your faith isn't profiting anybody, okay? And it really just, I mean, just bring it down to the bottom of the table here. If you needed, you're like, hey brother, you know, I need to pay the electric bill or something like that, and I just can't do it this month, it'd be like, you know what? Your bill be paid. I have faith that your bill's going to be paid. Oh, that sounds cool. That sounds cute in some charismatic holy roller church atmosphere. But at the same time, you know what? Money answereth all things. At the same time, you know what? You know what? If you really want to show your faith, why don't you just, you know, pay that bill? Why don't you clothe your brother or sister? Why don't you give them food? And that's why it's saying, you know, show me thy faith without thy works, and I'll show you my faith by my works, meaning that, you know what? A profitable faith is a faith that you are, you know, using, you know? And go to Titus chapter 3. Titus chapter 3. Because when we're talking about being dead, we're talking about being unprofitable. You know that a living dog is better than a dead lion. That's what the Bible says. A living dog is better than a dead lion. Now, we have a couple wiener dogs. I like one of them, okay? Clara likes them both. And you know what? Clara is the only reason that that one dog is still with us. No. But we joke about it. But honestly, a dog is obviously not the most profitable animal, right? I guess unless you've got a sled dog in Alaska or something like that, I guess you could say it's profitable. But let's just be honest. It's not the most profitable animal. It's not the strongest beast in the jungle. You know, a lion is the strongest among beasts, okay? So pound for pound, I believe the lion is the strongest beast out there, right? But at the same time, you know what? It's saying that anything that's living is going to be better than something that's dead. Does that make sense? Because obviously you can do something with that because it's alive. So that being said is that, you know what? A living dog is more profitable than a dead lion even though there's a stark difference between those two types of animals. Now in Titus chapter 3 and verse 8 here, notice what it says. It says, Why? These things are good and profitable under men. So when we're talking about Sardis, what we're talking about is the fact that, you know what? It's not that they're not believers. It's just that they're a bunch of unprofitable Christians. Have you ever heard of this? That church down there is a dead church. Now when you say that, and maybe you have a different way of thinking about it, when I say that's a dead church, I'm not saying they're unsaved. I'm saying that they're not doing anything, right? They're dead as a doornail, right? They're just not doing anything. And so any Baptist church, any church that believes the Gospel and believes right on the Gospel but they're not actually doing the Great Commission, they're not actually going out and preaching the Gospel, you know what I say? I say they're a dead church. And if they used to do it, then they're like Sardis. They have a name that they'll live as but are dead. And you know what? Jesus is rebuking them sharply, basically saying, you know what? You better repent because I'm going to come on you in an hour when you think not. And I see a big, basically with these two churches as far as Ephesus and Sardis, I see a very similar type of rebuke. It doesn't say he's going to take the candlesticks away, but it's interesting because he starts talking about the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, you know, which is very well linked to the seven candlesticks, you know, which are the seven churches in Asia. And I think that there's definitely a stark rebuke that, hey, it's about to die. It says strengthen, in verse 2 it says, be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die. So it's not completely dead, right? It's kind of like limping along, meaning that there are certain people there that are still doing something for the Lord and they're not, you know, just completely dead, but it's pretty much ready to die. It's ready to be completely dead. And that's where Sardis is at right here. So I see a huge comparison with James chapter 2 in this, in the fact that, you know what? If you want to be a profitable Christian, you need to do the works. Hey, don't just tell me you believe that. You're like, man, I just believe, I believe, you know, what God says about this. Well, then why aren't you using it? If you really believe that, why aren't you doing something about it? Why aren't you doing, if you believe hell exists and the people are going there, if you really believe that, why aren't you telling people about it? Okay? And that's the thing that you have to think about there as far as how strong is your faith. And you know what? Abraham perfected his faith. It says his faith was made perfect, you know, by, you know, his works. So, and the scripture was fulfilled which said Abraham believed God and was imputed under him for righteousness, so he was saved by faith, and he was called the friend of God. See how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect? And it's not that he didn't have faith before that because obviously he had faith to believe and be saved, but if you want to be the friend of God, you're my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. If you want to be a profitable Christian, then you need to do the works. And Sardis is stating here that they're not doing the works. You know, their works are not found perfect before God and he's rebuking them for that. He's basically saying you're not a profitable church, you're a dead church. You have a name, you used to be, you used to be alive, but you're lacking, you need to get this right. Now, another thing that I see here that's interesting is the fact that he's saying that he's going to come upon them in an hour as a thief. Okay, now notice what it says here in verse three. It says, remember therefore, how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent, if therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Sound familiar? Now, we're talking about a physical church at a time back then that he's stating this to them, but does that sound familiar to the coming of the Lord? And the fact that, notice in, go to 2 Peter chapter 3, 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 10, this term of the Lord coming as a thief in the night, that is a biblical term. But the pre-tribbers out there believe that because he says he's going to come as a thief in the night, that means he can come at any moment for anybody. Meaning like, he can come right now. Just because he comes as a thief doesn't mean that it's going to happen at any moment. That's telling you that you're not going to know when it happens, but that doesn't mean it can happen at any moment. But here's the thing, is that something that as Christians, that he should be overtaking us as a thief? This is a rebuke, and he's saying I'm going to come on you as a thief. This isn't a good thing, but yet Christians today and Baptists today want to look at this as, oh, he's coming as a thief in the night, what a blessing. You know, the blessed hope. And they'll say, well, the blessed hope and the glorious appearing, those are two different things. Because the Bible says in Titus, the blessed hope and the glorious, we look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. And they'll say, well, you're missing the blessed hope, brother. The blessed hope is when he comes in the clouds and takes us out of here before the tribulation. The glorious appearing is when he comes out on the white horse. Just, I mean, just pull that out of thin air, okay? Because that's what it said. Now, the blessed hope and the glorious appearing are the same thing, just as much as the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ are the same thing, okay? Because we're waiting for the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ to descend, you know, out of heaven in the clouds to come save us. And the blessed hope is the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, okay? So, that being said is that, let's look at 2 Peter 3 where it says this famous line, the thief and the knight. It says in verse 10, But the day the Lord will come as the thief and the knight, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Okay? So, when he comes, you know what? There's going to be great wrath that's coming upon the world. But go to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, because let me ask you a question. They want to say that holistically Jesus comes as the thief and the knight, whether for the saved or the lost. Because their whole modus operandi with this verse is the fact that that means it's imminent. Okay? He's coming as the thief and the knight, brother. That's why, you know, he could come right now. Because you don't know. You don't know the day or the hour. You know what? You know, David didn't know the day or the hour that Olive was going to be born, but he knew it was going to be somewhere around here, around September or something. Okay? He's not like thinking, well, that could have happened like nine months ago, or even before he found out that his wife was pregnant. Listen, there's a certain season of pregnancy. And you know what's interesting about this passage here? Is that light can sit on the pregnancy. I'm not even using that as like an allegorical example that's just out of thin air. That's what the Bible uses when it comes to the coming of the Lord as pregnancy and a woman giving birth. But you know what? Unless there's a special case where someone gives birth and they didn't know they were pregnant, I know, listen, the exception proves the rule. I know that exists out in the world. I partly believe it. Okay? I'm like Paul. I'm like, I partly believe it. Because I don't know if I fully believe that. Okay? But at the same time, let's give it to them that there's people out there that don't realize they're pregnant and they get birth. Okay? Now, in 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 1, it says, But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as the thief in the night. Now, there's other places in the Bible where it talks about the times and the seasons. Okay? It talks about what's going to be leading up to this. And that's the sermon for another day. We're not really getting into that. But it does say that the day of the Lord cometh as the thief in the night. Notice what it says in verse 3. For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. So we're talking about he comes to the thief in the night and then the wrath is being poured out. We saw that in 2 Peter. You really just see that clearly that, you know what, he's going to burn everything up. But notice in verse 4. But ye, brethren, because you know what, the pre-Tribbers never want to read this verse. And verse 4 here. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. You know what that means? That if that's your verse for imminent return, it's not imminent for the saved. It's just imminent for the unsaved. Right? I mean, if that's your interpretation of that, then it's not imminent for us. But it says that that day should not overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. So when I was talking about him overtaking them as a thief, basically saying that you're not ready. You know, it talks about if the good men of the house knew what hour the thief would come, he would have prepared himself. Now, this passage here in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, is saying ye are the children of light. Okay? So we're talking spiritually speaking here. We're the children of light. We're ready. We're watching. But, and Ephesians 5 says the same thing. Ephesians 5, 8 says, for ye are sometimes, or sometimes are, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. So, here's the thing. Go to Mark, chapter 14. Mark, chapter 14. I'm going to explain something really quick here, dealing with this. As far as, because it says that they should not overtake you as a thief. You know what that means? Is that it could. Okay? I mean, Revelation, chapter 3, isn't he saying I'm going to come upon you as a thief? He's talking to save people. Now, obviously, I don't believe he's talking about the coming of the Lord. Okay? But at the same time, he's saying to his group of Christians, I'm going to come upon you as a thief. If you don't repent. So, in 1 Thessalonians, it's saying, you're not in darkness that I should overtake you as a thief. But at the same time, or that the Lord should overtake you as a thief. We are the children of light. But, are we holistically the children of light? Meaning, like, physically are we the children of light? Or are we spiritually the children of light? Are we ready spiritually? Or are we ready physically as well? And notice what it says here in Mark, chapter 14. Mark, chapter 14, and verse 31. And I want you to remember in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, you know, Let us not sleep, but be sober and watch. Notice those terms that I mentioned there. Notice what it says in Mark 14, verse 37. And he cometh, and fineth them what? Sleeping. And saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest thou not, or couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye, and pray lest ye enter into temptation. Notice this. The Spirit truly is, what, ready, but the flesh is weak. You know what that means is that the flesh isn't ready. So, when it's talking about those that are ready, you know, and this doesn't just apply to 1 Thessalonians 5, this applies when you're looking at Matthew 24. Okay, and it'll say, you know, these people were ready, these people weren't ready. Well, spiritually speaking, we're ready no matter what time he comes. Does that make sense? Like, we're saved, we're ready. Spiritually, we're ready. The Spirit is willing, the flesh is weak, it says in another place, but it says here that the Spirit is ready. We're the children of light spiritually right now. Now are you the sons of God. You know, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. We are now ready spiritually at any moment. Okay, but physically are you? Are you physically sleeping or are you physically watching? See, spiritually speaking, we're sober, we're awake, we're ready, but are you walking in that? You are the children of light, but are you walking in it? And when it comes down to the coming of the Lord, when you come down to the end times, for example, you can be spiritually ready, meaning that when he comes, obviously you're going to be caught up together in the clouds, but are you physically ready? Are you physically watching? Are you walking in the new man? Are you walking in the child of light? Are you ready both spiritually and physically? And that's where you get into this church in Sardis here, is that yes, spiritually speaking they're ready, spiritually speaking, obviously they would be awake, right, they're not sleeping because they're children of light, but at the same time, physically speaking, they're not ready. They're not ready for whatever tribulations are going to come, whatever the case may be, and you know what, the Lord's going to come upon them as a thief. And that is something that we need to think about when it comes to the end times, is that we know, spiritually speaking, we're good, we're ready to go, but physically speaking, that's where we have to reign in the flesh, and we have to walk in the Spirit, and basically walk in the new man. You want to be ready? Be walking in the new man. When everything comes down, and everything starts falling apart in the world, and the Antichrist comes on the scene, you need to be walking in the Spirit, because that day can overtake you to the thief, and actually when we get to Philadelphia, I'm going to show you exactly the consequence of not being ready. There is a consequence for a Christian not to be ready going into the tribulation. So, but I wanted to finish up what it says here about Sardis. It says in verse 4, so verse 4 there says, And hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh the saint shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. He that hath near let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So I preached a whole sermon on this, so I don't want to belabor this, because I just don't have time to go through this. But I preached a whole sermon on clothed in white raiment. And this goes into that same aspect of being ready spiritually, but not physically. You're clothed in white raiment spiritually. The moment you believed on Christ, you had the righteousness of Christ imputed unto you. You have that white raiment. But if you're walking in the flesh, are you walking in that raiment? If you don't put on the new man, are you walking in that raiment? Because it talks about putting on the new man or putting on Christ. You put on Christ, you'll not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Put on the new man and cast off the old man. So you liken it unto garments, right? You know it's always there, but are you putting it on? And that's what it's saying with Sardis here, is that there's some people there that have not been just walking in the flesh and defiling the temple of God. Because if you commit fornication, for example, it says that you defile the temple of God. Because your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. But if you're walking in the new man, then you're walking in white raiment. And it goes on to say that he that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment. Because who is he that overcometh? But he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. So spiritually speaking, you believe on Jesus, you're clothed in white raiment. And by the way, in the end, everybody will be clothed in white raiment holistically. Soul, body, and spirit, because eventually we're going to be changed. So even if you die like Saul, being wicked and not doing what you should be doing, listen, Saul's going to be in the resurrection and he's going to be clothed in white raiment. He's clothed in white raiment, spiritually speaking right now, but he's going to be clothed in white raiment physically as well. But do you want to go out like Saul? Or do you want to go out like David, for example? And David obviously made mistakes, but he still went out well. He didn't go out like Saul. Now, go to Revelation chapter 3 and verse 7. And so if you want to hear more about that, I did a whole sermon on being clothed in white raiment. And I kind of just uncovered it. I don't want to say uncovered every, but I kind of uncovered a lot of the stones when it came to that doctrine and what's going on with that. But that just really gets into the old man, new man, walking in the spirit, walking in the flesh. So the church in Philadelphia. And then there was two churches that really don't have a rebuke. And this is another one of those churches. So you had Smyrna that didn't really have a rebuke. It was just kind of good things and saying keep on the right track. Same thing here. There's really no rebuke here. It's just kind of like keep going. And in verse 7 here it says, The angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth no man shutteth, and shutteth no man openeth. Now that's where I preached the whole sermon this morning. So I'm not re-preaching that. But this is where I was just like there's just too much to cover with this. I wanted to really kind of expand on that in a whole sermon. But look at verse 8 here. Clarice, sit up please. It says in verse 8, it says, I know thy works, behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. For thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Now go to Colossians chapter 4. Because yes, when it comes to salvation, that door is open. You come into that door, you're saved and you can come in and out and find pasture and that door will not be closed. And that's as true as the day is long. But there is another application here is that as saved people, God will also open other doors. And if God opens a door, you know what, no one's going to be able to shut that door. You think of like this social media stuff, right? And the social media companies are trying to shut all the doors, aren't they, for anybody that's Christian or even conservative, let alone just Christian. But they're just trying to close all those doors. But listen, if God opens a door of utterance, no one's going to be able to shut that door. So I don't fear like, what happens if YouTube just completely just annihilates all churches from getting on there. We'll just get ready for the Lord to work. Get ready to see some great things from God. It's actually a little more exciting to think about what God will do because it talks about in the end times how His people are going to do great exploits for God. Do you think they're going to do it on their own or do you think God's going to be working through them? Do you think that the Gospel's going to get preached to every nation and that the whole world's going to preach the Gospel or not? I believe it will. And I don't believe God needs YouTube, Facebook, Twitch or Rumble or any of these other platforms. I don't think Twitch, you know, isn't that like a gaming thing? Anyway, He doesn't need any of that stuff. He doesn't need Instagram. He doesn't need Twitter, right? He doesn't need any of these platforms to get the Gospel out. If He wants to get the Gospel out, He'll open a door and no one's going to shut that door. Notice in Colossians chapter 4 and verse 2, it says, Continue in prayer and watching the same with thanksgiving, withal praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds, that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. So He's basically saying, pray that God would open the door. You know what? We want God to open the door because when He opens the door, it's open. Right? You don't have to worry about someone shutting that door because when He opens it, it's open. And notice, if you go to 1 Corinthians chapter 16, it reminds me in the book of Acts, in Acts chapter 16, they're trying to go, basically you had the Macedonian call, remember? But at the same time, they're trying to go to Asia, and they keep wanting to go to Asia and then the Spirit forbids them to go. So this door is just not being opened for them, right? And then they end up going down to Philippi, right? And who do they end up winning? To the Lord but Lydia, who's of, I think, Ephesus. Like I think they're somewhere from Ephesus, which is one of the churches in Asia. So it's interesting because they're like winning someone to Christ that's from Asia, but they're not even in Asia. And there's obviously a reason why He basically closed these doors so that He could open this door over here. So sometimes you may look at this and be like, oh man, these doors are closing. Listen, if God opens a door, it's going to stay open. And if He doesn't want the door to be open, it's not going to be open. But in 1 Corinthians 16 and verse 9 here, it says, For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. So just because the door is open doesn't mean that there isn't going to be enemies. Okay? Go to 2 Corinthians 2 and verse 12. And by the way, when you're talking about a door of utterance, it says in Ephesians chapter 6 that utterance may be given unto me that it may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. When we're talking about a door of utterance, we're talking about preaching the gospel. We're talking about getting people safe. And we're waiting for that open door, and we're looking for those open doors. We're not just going to, you know, we think about mission trips or marathons that we do when it comes to soul hunting. We're not just going to go to a place and beat our head against the wall. Okay? We're going to go somewhere where we believe it's going to be receptive. You know, we went to Moundsville, and I'm just like, Moundsville looks like it'll be receptive. You know, it's not high income. You just think that, hey, this is going to be a receptive place. And you think of, like, just other places. You know, I know Miss Anne was talking about, you know, she's from Harlem, and she was saying that the soul-winning there is great. And that's where we're going to go. We're going to go somewhere where the soul-winning is awesome. Right? But that's not the only place. Like, there's all kinds of places like that. And the thing is that you're looking for those open doors to where, hey, this is going to be receptive. This is going to be receptive. This is going to be good. And you say, you know, what door will be closed? Well, think about the travel these days internationally. And I'm just going to be honest. There's places I want to go, but that door is just being shut right now. When it comes to all this COVID stuff, when it comes to just everything that's going on in that country, those doors are being shut. You think about the Middle East. Do you think that door is wide open? You think, like, going into Iran, Iraq, you think Afghanistan is going to be an open door of utterance right now? It's just not an open door. Okay? But let me say this. If God wants there to be an open door there, it will be open. Now, I don't know how He's going to do it. Okay? But I know He can do it. He wants to be an open door there for utterance, it will happen. But at the same time, you'll have many adversaries in any type of door that's open. So don't think this is going to be, like, smooth cruising, you know, no adversaries. Because where there's going to be a lot of people saved, there's going to be a lot of people against you. Because the devil is going to try to attack any type of great movement for soul winning. Now, the thing I want to get to with this church, but I first want to get through the synagogue of Satan here. In Revelation chapter 3 and verse 9, it says, What a statement that is right there. Because, you know what, the Jews were enemy number one. And listen, by the way, out of all the religions in the world right now, Judaism is the most anti-Christ religion out there. There I said it. I've already said it, but I'll say it again. And the fact that, you know what, you can say, well, we're Judeo-Christian, you take that moniker, I don't want it. Judaism teaches that Jesus is not the Christ. And who is a liar but He that denies that Jesus is the Christ, He is anti-Christ and denies the Father and the Son. And so Judaism is not, that is the synagogue of Satan. And the thing is that God is going to basically make the Jews worship at our feet. That's what the Bible says. You say, well, they should only worship God. I'm not the one that said it. I'm not the one that said that. Jesus said He's going to make them worship at our feet. And He's going to make them know that He loved us. You know why that's interesting? Because He's speaking to a bunch of Gentiles, isn't He? Where are these churches? They're in Asia. This is not Jerusalem. This is churches that are Gentile churches, meaning there are other nations than Israel, and He's saying that I'm going to make them know that I loved you. Why? Because even today, churches and Baptist churches are teaching that the Jews are God's chosen people and God loves them more than the Gentiles. Now, they may not say it exactly like that, but you know what? I've heard some pretty crazy stuff. I mean, you get into the Sam Gipp stuff, who knows what will come out of that guy's mouth. But they're basically saying that God prefers the Christ-rejecting Jews today over Bible-believing Christians that aren't Jewish. It's unreal. And you know what Jesus is stating here? He's like, I'm going to make them worship at your feet, and they're going to know that I loved you. Because today, everybody wants to be like, well, God loves the Jews, but He kind of puts up with the Gentiles. No, in Christ, there's neither Jew nor Gentile. There's neither bond nor free. There's neither bond nor Scythian. You know what? We're all one in Christ. This whole division of races and Judaism, is that even really a race when you've got a bunch of Ashkenazi white people over in the Middle East right now? Is that really a race? Because I think that I'm probably more closely related to them. I'm half like Austrian, Czechoslovakian, and the thing is that, you know what? That's where a lot of the Ashkenazis were at. They were like Polish and German and in that area, you know, in Central Europe. That's who's over in the Middle East, by the way. And you say, oh, you're a conspiracy theorist. Look it up. The Ashkenazis were not of that descent that were in the theospora, you know, the Great Dispersion. And the thing is that, does it matter? To me, those people, they can call themselves Jews. I'm going to call them the synagogue of Satan. But you know what? It's not even about race, is it? It's about what they believe. It's about the religion. You're like, oh, you're anti-Semitic. Really? Shem. You're going to tell me that none of us have Shem in us right now. Because I'm going to call you an idiot for not knowing the mathematical impossibility of that. Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. So you're telling me that just out of all that lineage, just none of us go back to Shem at all? Yeah, give me a break. The thing is that's so stupid. Anti-Semitic is, I mean, just Semitic is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life. Even if you were to say that you were like Abraham's seed, that's dumb to say. Or if any of the tribes. Two thousand years ago when Christ was here walking on the earth, and they didn't even have the tribes back then really well known. So anyway, I'm getting off on a tangent here. That's not even in my notes. But I just want to make a point here that that's what Jesus thinks about that. This whole idea of putting up this wall of partition that he broke down between the Jews and the Gentiles. And by the way, the Jews that he's talking about right here are a bunch of Christ rejected. They say they're Jews but they're not because they're just physically outwardly manifesting themselves as Jews. But inwardly, they're ravening wolves, but they're inwardly, you know, it says that he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly. And circumcision is that of the heart and the spirit. So we're Jews actually, biblically speaking, because we're circumcised in the heart. Now the thing I want to get to here though with Philadelphia, and I'm going to get to Laodicea, but I've kind of already preached a sermon about being lukewarm too. So I really want to park something here right here. And this is where we're going to get into some end times prophecy. Okay, when we're going to deal with how does this really relate to us. And it has to do with this verse right here in verse 10. So in Revelation chapter 3 and verse 10 it says, Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. Now the pre-tribbers out there will say, well see, we're going to be raptured out. Well okay, so only those that keep his word are going to be raptured out? I thought it was the saved. So you've got a problem first of all if you're going to say, well this is talking about just holistically just the rapture. We're not going to be here for the tribulation. Like that hour of temptation is talking about the fact that we're not going to even go through the tribulation. Now what I believe this is talking about, I believe this is a promise to those that are saved that keep his word and that are doing what they should be doing during the great tribulation. And what is that hour of temptation? Well go to Daniel chapter 3. Daniel chapter 3. I've always kind of believed this, okay. Meaning this is that a lot of people say, well you're going to be the first one to go. You know, you guys that are up there preaching hard and you're out soul winning, your face is out there, they're going to execute you first. I don't think so. Now, you know what, I'm not saying that us out front, there may not be some martyrs in that, but I'm going to say this, I believe it's going to be by our choice whether that happens. Because I believe that the Bible is promising here that he will keep us from that. That he will save us from any type of punishment that would come upon us. But it's not just to every believer. Meaning this is that if you're a believer but you're just not doing what you should be doing, you may end up getting killed. Those are the people that are going to end up getting killed more than those that are on fire for God, okay. And I'm going to show you why. Daniel chapter 3, and I want you to keep in mind the hour of temptation. The hour of temptation. Just keep that in your mind. The hour of temptation. What are we talking about? Daniel chapter 3 and verse 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, sultry, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made well. But if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same what? The same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. And he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. So get this. If you read the beginning of the chapter there, it talks about that in the hour you hear this music, that's when you're supposed to bow down. So there's a specific time, and specifically in this hour of time, that this music would play and they'd have to bow down to this image. And would you not say that's a temptation? Because if you don't bow down, you die. Now let's see what happens to them. Now you know the end of the story. Most everybody knows the end of the story. But do they die? In verse 23 it says, And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt. And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth of the midst of the fire. Notice this, And the princes and governors and captains and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men upon whose bodies the fire had no power. Nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of the fire had passed on them. You know like when you stand next to a campfire and you smell like smoke? Not even that. They didn't even smell like they were next to a fire. But there's something I want you to notice there, is that not a hair of their head singed. That's going to be important too, when I'm going to show you something here. Say, well how does that apply in the future? Go to Revelation chapter 13. Because that same type of thing is going to be implemented when the Antichrist comes on the scene. It's called the abomination of desolation. This is where he's going to set up an image, and if you don't worship this image, you're going to be put to death. You either, you have to worship this image and then you get this mark in your right hand or in your forehead, or you die, or you're put to death, or you're killed. In Revelation chapter 13 and verse 13 it says, And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth and the sight of men, talking about the false prophet, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, and the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. So here's the hour of temptation. You notice that it says upon all the world? Let me ask you this, is this upon all the world or just part of the world? This is all the world. This isn't just on the saved, this is on all the world. That they have a choice, do they worship this image or not? If they worship this image, then they'll live. If they don't, they die. If they don't, then they can't buy or sell or get any food or anything like that. So here's the thing, notice in Matthew chapter 24, because here's the thing. And I haven't got to this chapter yet, obviously. No saved person can take the mark of the beast. I'm not like the chipmunk guy, what's that guy's name, Robert Breaker, who thinks that you can take the mark of the beast and you've got to cut your head off or something like that. It's just ridiculous. It says you have to worship the beast. You're not going to go down to Walgreens, aisle 5, and find the mark of the beast. Now I'm against the vaccination stuff that they're pushing out here, but that's not the mark of the beast. Because you're not going to be able to just easily go down there and get this thing. You're going to have to actually worship the beast. And I believe that if any Christian were to come to that point, they're going to know what you are. Because the antichrist doesn't want you to live, he wants you to die. And I believe that there's even technology today to know whether you're actually worshipping something or not. And you know what, what's going to happen is Christians are going to come up. And you know what, you can say a lot of things, but it doesn't mean you're worshipping it. You can say that you believe something, but it doesn't mean you believe it. And there could be Christians that could even say that they, oh yeah, I worshiped this beast, but they don't. So a Christian cannot take the mark of the beast. But that doesn't stop them from being killed. Does that make sense? Like they could still be killed. And notice in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 11 here. Matthew 24 and verse 11, it says, And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. I believe this is the same type of promise that's being made in Revelation 3 and verse 10. That if you keep the word of his patience, he will also keep you from the hour of temptation that will come upon all the earth, or all the world. But here it's saying, but if you endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Well, let's keep reading. Now, I'm going to show you where it says that no flesh shall be saved. You know, meaning that we're talking about physically being saved from death. Okay, notice in verse 15. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand. Okay, so he's saying if you endure in the end, you'll be saved. Why? Because there's this abomination of desolation that's going to be set up. And notice what it says in verse 21, Matthew 24 and verse 21. For then shall be great tribulations, such as was not since the beginning of the world, to this time, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. That means people, you know, Christians are dying. They're being put to death. They're being killed. And the Bible even talks about people, you know, them being beheaded for the cause of Christ and all that. Now, that being said is that I believe there's a promise for Christians that live for God, that are doing great exploits, to where he's saying you endure into the end, you're going to be saved. You're going to be standing there looking up and lifting up your head for your redemption draw not. I believe that's going to be a great blessing for those that serve the Lord. Go to Luke chapter 21. Luke chapter 21, you know, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, these all deal with end times prophecy. And remember when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the burning fiery furnace, remember something that it said about them, that not a hair of their head was singed? Think about this verse. Verse 18, so Luke 21, verse 18. It says, But there shall not an hair of your head perish, and your patience possess ye your souls. Isn't that interesting that it's saying, and it's talking about the fact of being saved through this tribulation physically. Now, you could obviously take then the fact that when we're resurrected, obviously nothing's going to perish and all that, but I think there's a more literal stance here that is basically saying that not even a hair. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, not even a hair perished on them. They didn't have one singed hair at all. Now, go to 1 Peter chapter 4, 1 Peter chapter 4. 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 19. You're like, you're taking a long time on this one verse. Yeah, well, first of all, I want to disprove that this is talking about us not going through tribulation. Because tell me that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't go through tribulation. They were thrown into a burning fiery furnace. Let's not forget that. That happened. They didn't know whether God was going to deliver them. They knew He was able, but they didn't know for sure that that's what He was going to do. So I would call that some pretty hard tribulation there. But did they bow in the time of temptation? No. And what was the reward for not bowing in time of temptation? They were saved. They were saved physically from that. And not only were they saved physically from that, but if you remember Nebuchadnezzar basically said that he'll make any religion that says anything about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he'll basically make it like a dung hill. I think it's talking about the house of the person that says that. He'll make it into a dung hill. I'm paraphrasing, but it's basically something to that effect. And so God was magnified through it all. And notice in 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 19 it says, Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator. We're not talking about souls as far as like being saved from hell. We're talking about in your patience, in your patience possess your souls. We're talking about our physical death. It talks about you shall save a soul from death in James chapter 5. It's not talking about hell. It's talking about someone physically dying because of their sins. There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he shall pray for it. But at the same time, you can save a soul from death and it's talking physically. And here he's stating that if you suffer according to the will of God, if you keep His word of patience, if you endure unto the end during this time, guess what? You will be saved. And He'll keep you from that hour of temptation. And this is a great promise that He gives us here. Go to Mark chapter 14. I know we were already there. But Mark chapter 14, I want you to look at this passage. It's interesting how this relates to Sardis and then it relates right into Philadelphia here dealing with this. Mark chapter 14 verse 37. So it says He'll keep you from the hour of temptation if you keep His word of patience. So automatically when you look at that verse, you should know that we're not just talking about just Christians in general. It's got to be a specific group. It's got to be someone that is doing something above and beyond just being saved. It doesn't say He that overcometh will I keep from the hour of temptation. If I said that, I'd be like, yeah, it's all the same. And we'll have to look into what that's talking about. But I believe it's talking about those that are doing what they should be doing, that they're not fainting, they're doing what they should be doing, and He'll keep them from being killed, essentially. Mark 14 verse 37. That's what it says here. And He says He cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Notice this. Couldest not thou watch what? One hour. The hour of temptation, right? Oh, I think there's a word in the next verse there. It says, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The Spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. See how that fits perfectly in the fact that, you know what, there's this hour of temptation, but if you're watching, you're waiting, you're ready, you're doing what you should be doing, and you're praying for that one hour, right? Could you not watch for one hour so that you don't fall into temptation? I don't believe that any of this stuff is by accident the way it's written. I believe it's perfectly written for that purpose to show you what's going on here. And you say, okay, well, what about people that are martyred, are they all just not right with God? Because that's what you kind of think on the surface if you're thinking, okay, if you're doing great things for God, then none of them are going to die because He's given you this promise. Well, what I'm going to show you here is that those that are living for God can make that choice. Go to Hebrews chapter 11. I'm going to show you that you can make that choice whether you want to die for the Lord or whether you want to be saved. And this is going to be quite a choice. I mean, think about it. If you see the abomination of desolation, you know that you don't have much time anyway, right? So the question is, do you want to go out as a martyr or do you want to stand there and see Jesus coming in the clouds as you're standing in the flesh? And I'm going to tell you, I don't know. I think I would want to see Him coming in the clouds and be like, I made it through. He saved me through it. But then part of me is kind of like, ah, you know, for all eternity I'm going to say that I died for the cause of Christ. I was like, put to death for the cause of Christ. And it's going to be, you know, you think that's silly, but at the same time, if you're in the Great Tribulation and you see the abomination of desolation set up and all this crazy stuff is going on, I mean, do you care about anything in this world at that point? I mean, besides your family, obviously you want to be here to protect your family and all that. Obviously I understand that and I would be there for that reason, too, right? But notice what it says in Hebrews 11, verse 35. It says women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured. Notice this, not accepting deliverance. Isn't that interesting? They were not accepting deliverance. Why? That they might obtain a better resurrection. So, oh, you choose. And I'm not saying that, you know, you should make that choice now or anything like that. You know what, I'm going to choose to die or I'm going to choose, I'm going to live. You know, listen, there's going to be different circumstances and, you know, there could be a case where you're like, it's going to be more glorifying to the Lord if I die over here or it's going to be more glorifying if I can stay alive and win more people to Christ, you know, whatever the case may be, right? And I don't think that any of us could choose that right now and know what we want, okay? But you know what, I believe God's giving us that choice. You live for God, you do what you're supposed to be doing during that time, then I believe God will give you a choice. Do you want to be saved through this or do you want to be, or do you want to, you know, have a better resurrection? Because I do believe there is a better resurrection if you die for the cause of Christ. Now, what would you choose? And I'm not, again, I'm torn, I'm a straight betwixt the two, my friends. To die a martyr's death or to stand there to see the Lord coming in the clouds? And to me, it's kind of hard. I'll say this, if I die a martyr's death, at least I'm going to be up there first, right? I'm going to beat you all guys, you know. If I die and you guys all make it to the end, I'll be like, I beat you up there. Because you will not prevent them from which are asleep, right? But all joking aside, this is a great promise and this is something that I believed for a while, but I believe this verse in Revelation chapter 3 actually solidifies that. To show you, hey, you know what, this is a promise. That that promise and, you know, he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved. I don't believe he's just saying, if you make it, you'll be saved. It's like, well, of course, right? I think that's kind of, it would be kind of silly if that was just stated that way. Like, you endure, you make it through, you're going to be saved. Okay, okay, I got it. But I think what he's saying, if you endure, meaning that, you know, those that deareth for a while, but then when persecution and tribulation come by and by, they are offended. I believe the enduring is talking about not being offended and, you know, basically persevering through all that tribulation and trials and all that, okay? Now, I'm going to kind of go through the Laodicea, but I wanted to hit on that last part of the church there in Philadelphia. What verse is that? Verse 11 there, it says, Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. And obviously, if you think about it, we're talking about rewards and all that, and you can think about the crown of life. It talks about Antipas, you know, dying a martyr's death, and it says, Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. So you can see how that would apply here. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So this is another promise about, you know, something we're going to receive just for being saved, you know, that we've overcome because we've believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I'll be getting into the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven when we get to the new heaven, new earth, but that's something that's already being stated here, even though, you know, you see that in Revelation 21 and 22 and all that. The church in Laodicea, it says in verse 14, it says, And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou art cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. So this is the famous lukewarm, right, if you're lukewarm. The first thing I want to mention here is that when it says the beginning of the creation of God, you know, a lot of people twist that and say, see, Jesus is the first creation, right? That's where the Jehovah Witness would be like, he's the first creation. So the beginning of the creation of God is because he's the first begotten of the dead. Actually, if you look at chapter one, it talks about that. If you look at Colossians chapter one, I don't really have time to get into that. That's a whole other sermon for another day dealing with, he's the first fruits of every creature, you know, talking about the new man, you know, talking about the, you know, he is created in us, we're a new creature, right? He's the beginning of that because he's the first fruits of them that slept. He's the first begotten of the dead. That's another sermon for another day and I don't want to belabor that right now. Being lukewarm, though, I've heard people say, well, this is, if you're cold, then you're not on fire for God, if you're hot, then you're on fire for God, but you don't want to be in between. Yeah, I've heard it preached like that. I don't believe that's what it's talking about. I believe it's just as simple as this. This drink is cold, I like it. It's good. You know, coffee, for example, coffee is awesome, hot. It's good, cold, but it's not like the way I'd really like it. But you know what, lukewarm is disgusting. If you like lukewarm coffee, I question your salvation. No, I'm just kidding. But I'm just, out of experience, like, when I drink lukewarm coffee, I just want to spew it out, like, especially if you think it's hot and you take a sip and you're like, oh, like, you just want to spew it out. So I believe God has given an example here of just drinking something, right, and that lukewarm is just disgusting. That's what he's trying to get across to you. I don't believe that there's, like, all this symbolism to the hot and cold as much as there's just, we know that you want to drink, you want it hot or cold, right? You don't usually go up to Starbucks and be like, I want it lukewarm, please. Can you just, like, make it and set it out for, like, an hour and then give it to me? So the reason they're lukewarm or why, you know, what it means to be lukewarm is just means that it disgusts God, okay, to the point where he spews you out of his mouth. Verse 17 is why? Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. That's why God is disgusted with them. Because they think they have everything. They have need of nothing. They're rich, they don't need him, they don't need to be dependent on God. But then it says, and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So it's basically like, you think you have everything, you think you have need of nothing, but you're literally the opposite of that. And it says in verse 18 there, So you know what, they need to stop walking in the flesh and think that they got everything under control. And you know what, get in the spirit and realize that they are not what they think they are. And some good verses on this to show you how I would relate this here is in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 3. Galatians chapter 6 and verse 3 says this, You know what, that person that thinks he's just God's gift, right? You know, I'm just glad that the angel sent me down here. This is perfect, you know, I'm just this perfect pastor for you here. And you should just be blessed that you're in my presence. You know, like that kind of attitude is like, what in the world? You'd be like, you need to get that chip off your shoulder and just knock down a couple pegs, right? Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 2, those type of people, you don't like being around those type of people, do you? I don't like being around those people that think that they're just everything in a bag of chips. Is that a phrase anymore? I think that was in the 90's. But that being said is that you're just deceiving yourself if you think that you're something. You think that you're just this great whatever. But in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 2 it says, And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. And isn't that the truth? You're like, oh, I know the Bible, I've read it cover to cover, you know. Do you? Because if you tell me you know the Bible, you're just like, I know it all. I mean, just tell me you don't know anything. Because the more I read the Bible, the more I realize I don't know. And that's your pastor speaking here. And I've read it scores of times. But you know what, every time I read it, I'm like, man, I don't really know that much, do I? You're just constantly finding things that you didn't know. And that's the way it's always going to be, why I'm here in this flesh, by the way. So don't think that I'm ever going to become any real. I've arrived, my friends. And just get to my level and we'll just cruise on through this. But we're going to constantly be growing. And notice what it says in Philippians chapter 3 and verse 12. Philippians chapter 3 and verse 12. It says, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that, which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It's all saying I haven't attained, I haven't apprehended, but I'm pressing. I'm pressing toward that mark. So that's the attitude you should have is that I haven't attained, I'm not something, but you know what, I'm going to strive to be something. You know what, I don't know everything, but you know what, I'm going to strive to know everything. But you know what, you should always be in the mindset that you don't know everything. You should always be in the mindset that you're not something. You should always be in the mindset that you haven't attained or haven't apprehended because if you're in that mindset, you know what you're going to do? You're going to try to attain, you're going to try to apprehend, you're going to try to do great things for God, but you have that high-minded attitude that you have at all and you don't need anything, you know what, that makes God sick. And God wants to spew you out of His mouth if that's your attitude. So don't have that high and mighty attitude that you're just some gift sent down here and you just know everything. And by the way, God thinks it's disgusting, I think it's disgusting. When people have that attitude, I think it's gross. It makes me sick when people act like that. And you know what, that could be a pastor, that could be a church member. Don't act all high and mighty like you know everything. And go to Revelation chapter 3 and verse 19, trying to end this chapter here, running out of time here. I wanted to get into our temptation because I preached through a lot of this stuff already with the lukewarm, with the white raiment, all that stuff. But it says in verse 19, it says, As many as I love are rebuking, chasing, be zealous, therefore, and repent. You know what this shows you, that all these churches save people, children of God, that He's saying, I love you and I'm rebuking you because I love you. I'm chasing you because I love you, I want you to repent, I want you to get this right. You know the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 6, For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. So He's talking to children here, He's talking to children of God. All these churches, He's talking to children of God, He's not talking to a bunch of unsaved people. And this proves that at the end of when He gets done talking to all these churches. Then in chapter 3 and verse 20, it says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me. Now this is talking, I believe, about abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in you. This isn't talking about salvation, although a lot of people have used this to say, like, you know, Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart, you need to let him in. I mean, it's cute and all that. I mean, true, I mean, it's just not, I don't believe that this is what it's saying. Okay, I believe this is talking to saved people and He's basically saying, you know, I'm there waiting, if you want me to abide with you, I'll come and abide with you. But notice that I've literally heard, I don't know who this preacher was, but they literally said, you know what, God doesn't knock, He just blows down the door and comes in. I'm like, can you be any more unbiblical? Like, there's literally a whole verse on that. And they literally just, you know, they're just like, you know what, He doesn't knock on the door, He just kicks it down and comes in. They're a Calvinist, by the way. Shocker. But at the same time, like, He literally says in this verse, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in. He's not saying, I'm going to kick it down. He's like the big bad wolf in the Calvinist's eyes. You know, I'm going to blow your house down if you don't open this door. Okay? Now, that's obviously ridiculous. And the Bible says this in John 14, I'm going to read these verses real quick. John 14, 23 says, Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. You have the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, but listen, if he that abideth in him sinneth not, meaning this, you're walking in the flesh, you're not abiding in Christ. Okay? That doesn't mean you're not saved. It doesn't mean that you don't have Christ in you, the hope of glory. But you know what? Christ isn't, like, abiding with you when you're, like, hating your brother. He's not abiding with you when you're off sinning, doing whatever. You know what? He is abiding with you when you're leading someone to Christ, though. And you know why? Because in John 15, verse 5, it says, I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. So, you know what? All those people that we got saved yesterday and weeks past, you know what? There's no way that we would have done that without Christ abiding in us, because without him we can do nothing. You say, well, and you know what? That's a great thing to know, is the fact that, you know what? You've had Christ, if you've won someone to Christ, you've had Christ abiding in you. And you've been, and you abided in the vine, because otherwise, you can't bear any fruit. Because we can't do it without him. So, that's a great truth to know. By the way, that's your choice. It's your free will choice. It's not going to blow down the door. Revelation chapter 3, let's end it here in verse 21. It says, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath in the air, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So, again, another promise to the saved, because who is he that overcometh, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. And notice in Revelation 22 in verse 5, it's talking about sitting in Jesus' throne, even as, you know, Jesus is sitting in his Father's throne. And you think about Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father. But you remember they had this conversation about who's going to sit on Jesus' left hand and right hand. And that idea there of rolling and reigning with him. Notice what it says, because we're going to roll and reign with him for a thousand years, because we'll be a part of the first resurrection. But notice in verse 5, it says, And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever. That's to the saved. So, those are promises, and that's always fun to look at. You know, like all these promises that he that overcometh. Guess what? That's you. He believed on Christ. That's you. And I know I kind of went long there, but I wanted to get into that hour of temptation. I think that's a cool thing to know, and a very comforting thing to know, because, you know what? We should be living for God in that time. I want to be known as the Christians that are doing great exploits for God for all eternity, if we're in that time. I don't want to be known as the Christian that just, you know, cowered, and didn't want to live for God, or recanted, or whatever the case may be. Or I, you know, for fear, I didn't confess them openly, you know. Do you want to be going down as those Jews that didn't confess them openly for fear of the Jews? I don't want to be those people. They're probably glad their names weren't mentioned, right? But at the same time, great truths there, and we're going to continue that study, Lord willing, next week. So, let's end with a word of prayer to Heavenly Father. We thank you today. Thank you for your word, and thank you for the time that we had, the fellowship. Thank you for all the salvations this week, and Lord, just pray to be with us with the baptisms as well. And Lord, just thank you for that. And Lord, we love you and pray all this in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. So, we'll do another song, and then we're going to let those that are getting ready for baptism to get ready, get changed, all that. And then we're going to do the baptisms after that. All right, take your song books and turn to song number 10. Song number 10 in your song books, we'll sing Near the Cross. If you would stand, we'll sing song number 10.