The Church in Philadelphia | Pr Matthew Chang

You're listening to a message to go from axt church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

So I've been continuing. I've been doing the series on

the seven Churches, and today I plan to wrap it

up so that I think maybe in February we can

start a new series and also prepare to go in

line with the church theme as well. And so the

last time when I was here, I covered the I

think if I know'm' saycond the fifth Church, which is

the church in sadist So today we'll try to cover

to I will make attempt to cover two. So turn

with me into Revelations chapter three. We're going to read

first from verse seven to verse thirteen, okay, And today

we'll be covering about the church in Philadelphia. Okay. No,

it's not not in US. Okay. It's the church in

Philadelphia ancient times, and it's called the Faithful Church. Okay.

So as usual, I really hope that you bring your

Bibles with you, and if you can, I hope that

you are prepared to take notes, cause a lot of

things you have to take notes here, okay, verse seven

and to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia, right,

these things says he who is holy, he who is true,

and he who has the key of David. Okay, I

need you to underline that. That's very important. Okay, Like

I said again, he who is holy, he who is true,

and he who has the key of David. And then

it goes on to say, he who opens and no

one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, very very mysterious.

Ready you know, okay, now verse eight, Okay, these are

all connected. Well, he says that, and he says, I

know your works. See I've said before you and open door,

and no one can shut it, for you have a

little strength and have kept my word and have not

denied my name. Indeed, I will make those of the

Synagogue of Satan, who another party come into this picture,

who say they are Jews and are not but lie. Indeed,

I will make them come and worship before your feet,

and to know that I have loved you, and because

you have kept my command to persevere, I also will

keep you from the hour trial which shall come upon

the whole world. Okay, talk about the hour trial later on,

and he says that behold, I am coming quickly. Hold

fast what you have. Then no one may take your crown.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in

the temple of my God, and he shall go out

no more. I will write on him the name of

my God and the name of the city of my God,

the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from

my God. And I will write on him my new name.

And he who has an ear, let him hear what

the spirit says to the churches. Okay, all right, okay,

keeps coming in and now okay, all right, okay, Now,

how many of you are familiar with the church in Philadelphia?

Ready before more than once? Okay, what does the word

Philadelphia mean? Let's start with that. It's not cream cheese.

And okay, it's not Philadelphia cream cheese. There's some of

you like, oh I know, it's cream cheese. No, cream

cheese didn't start from there. Okay, no, no, no, no, no,

it's it doesn't work that way. Okay, you know, So

what is Philadelphia? Okay, just the it starts on, you know,

constructor from a few key h Greek words. But I'm

not gonna go to nerdy on today. But just to

keep it simple, it means brotherly love, okay, phileo love.

There are many different types of love. They are. There

is Phileo love, there is Erro's love, there is agape love,

and there's a Philo love. It's a kind of brotherly love.

And so if you go to America and you go

to Philadelphia, they call it, there's another nickname they call

they call it the brotherly City, the City of brotherly love. Hey, bro,

you know everyone you meet bro bro bro, bro bro,

and you eat a lot of cheese steak there as well. Okay,

but that's not what we are talking about today. Okay,

get your mind, you know, to to church today. Okay,

that's thing. Okay. So it is means brotherly love, and

there's gonna be a bit of an irony that comes

out from there, okay, because it's called the Faithful Church.

And then Jesus begins to introduce himself. I always told

you the key to every part of this scripture, especially

regard the seven Churches, is how Jesus introduces himself. It

tells a lot about what the church goes through and

what they need. Okay, what they go through and what

they need as well. Okay, so what what how did

Jesus introduce himself? He says there that what he who

is holy, he who is true, and he who has

the key of David, and he who opens and no

one shuts and shuts and no one opens. What in

the world is going on here? It's all mind blowing. Okay.

So okay, I'm not gonna go through too long about

this church, but I'm gonna go straight because I have

another church of cover as well. The church in Philadelphia

is unique, I know, I say unique. Okay. It has

a small group of believers, and we know that, okay.

And we know that because it's written in the scripture. Okay,

you see that in verse eight, Jesus says, I know

your words. See I've said before you, and open door,

and no one can shut it, for you have little strength.

The word little strength can also be it's not about

just them not being having that power, but it's talking

about them having few in numbers. And when talk about strength,

when they have few in numbers, they have little influence.

So the church the city of Philadelphia has a synagogue

as well. So you have the Romans, you have the Greeks,

you have the Jews, and you have the Christians. Once

upon a time, Okay, the Jews and the Greek the

Jews and the Christians were together, no problem, okay. Everybody

came to the synagogue to worship, and the synagogue was very,

very important because the Jews didn't associate too well with

the rest of the Romans and the Greeks as well,

and the synagogue was like their civic center. Okay, it's

like their MPSG. The nb PJA center got clubs, got arena,

got sports center, got where they got business for staty.

It can mean everything happened there. Nowadays we don't live

like that. But in the early eighties and nineties, right,

I'll tell you all the NPHJA, MPPG all are very

big things, right, you know, all the association, Hockey Association,

whatever association, everything was there. You know, how me remember

the earlier days of clubs. No, some of your years,

I remember my dad used to go to these clubs.

You know, some of you, your grandpa remember going to

those clubs. They participated a lot in the communal communities

and societies as well. But now this we don't Okay,

we go online community, Okay, different community already. But the

synagogue was the center of the Jewish community. Okay. Everybody

went there, and especially on Sabbaths, they go. They have schools. Okay,

school No. Education was not available to everyone, to only

certain groups, to the very intellectuals. But the Jewish should

they believe that everyone should be taught, okay, and should

be it should be should she should be taught in

the laws and h and the commandments of the Torah.

And so they were very educated. But you get it

from the synagogue, makes sense, okay, it's the community as well.

So as a Jew, if you raised that, you look forward.

Your belonging and your identity comes from the synagogue. Makes sense?

Not too far fat, isn't it come from the synder good?

But when Christianity came, okay, and they start to preach

about Jesus, they believe in Jesus. They started taking communion

in Jesus, started getting baptized the name of Jesus, and

then identifying yourself in life and in death with the

work of Jesus. Christ things speaking to change what I'm saying.

As a Jew, you exactly experienced a lot of exemption.

But when they identify as a Christians, the Jewish, the

jew the Jewish community starts to get offended by them,

start to call them, blast famous things, that is why

you see, there's an enmity between the Christians and the Jews,

and even Jesus was calling them out by saying in

verse nine, indeed, I will make those of the Synagogue

of Satan who say they are Jews and are not

who but lie. But he also talks about, you know,

he talks about this time of tension between them. There's

a lot of deception, blaspheming happening not just with them,

but against Jesus as well. And it's but there's a

time there will come of reconciliation, just like how Joseph

was reconciled with his brother as well, you get me right,

they sold him into slavery, you know, they laugh at

he you know, where are you now? You know? And

then but yet eventually he was made to be the

prime minister of Egypt, and then they didn't know him.

And then they came back, and then they even bowed down,

and I almost sent my worship him, isn't it. But

yet reconcile. But there's a reconslation that will kind of

happen between the Jews and the Christians as well. But

in this time, the Christians were severe very greatly persecuted.

But in one of the great persecutions, they actually had

no not from the Romans, but not from the Greeks,

but was from the Jews. It was basically the Jews

beginning to work to shut the door of the synagogue. Okay,

So imagine you come to XPG, Oh Tim, you know,

what do you believe in? Are you? You know? This

and this and this, and then actually at the front

there they will have a register as well, like a

cup member register, you know, society, family, where you are

and stuff like that. Then because of the tension and everything,

and then then blasphem and stuff like that. Eventually what

they did they started to strike out your name and

because your name is not inside, they close the door.

They closed the door. Okay, And so you are shout

out and you know, and then you are outside of

the church. And then you want to peep him. You

want to join your family members and everyone else. Who

do you grew up your identity? You know without them,

who are you in this city? But they shut this

door because you believe in Jesus. Makes sense now brings

a lot of perspective, isn't it. That is why Jesus

comes to them and he says that what he introduces himself,

I am holy. They claim they are holy, they claim

they are the right ones, but they blessphem. I want

review to you right now, believers that I am holy,

I am true. They clear, They say that I am

the false Messiah. They say that I might not have died.

They say that I might not have reason from that.

But I am true. You get me right. Jesus is

countering every single thing they are saying against him. They

are laying against him, but most import Suddenly he said,

telling to the Christians, they are shutting the door. They

can shut the door because they have the key to

the synagogue. But I tell you, they may have the

key to the synagogue, but I have the key to life.

And I opened, and no one can shut. And I

shut no one can open because I have the key.

I have the key because I am worthy. You got

mean right. Jesus has the key to life because he

was worthy. How do we know? Because remember in the

Book of Revelations there were many there were one scroll

that no, there were seven seals that people could not open.

Everybody cried, oh, who can open the scrolls? But yeah,

there was a lamb, there was walking and then people

start rejoicing and say, worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

So to open the scroll, you need to be worthy.

You know what I'm saying. No, worthy is the Lamb.

So Jesus has the key because he was worthy. He

didn't just came here. I am the son of God

and I'm but no, he was the son of God,

but he came in the flesh, but he proved himself worthy. Understand,

there's a very important concept because when you understand the

concept of worthiness and grace, you will understand there are

doors that are open for people to pass through by grace,

but there are doors in the Kingdom of God that

you can only go through and pass based on worthiness.

And I said no, So Christians are to live by grace.

But there are things in life, you say, God, I know,

can I leave a life that is worthy of your calling?

Can I leave my life to please you? Yeah? I

mean right, that's a very important concept. Just connected. I

just leave by grace, you know, just waiting until you

leave my life in the on earth, until and then

you know when I'm gonna you know, aspire a day.

I still got the ticket and I can go to

heaven Okay, you know, take the flight. I mean right,

people leave like that one and on. But yeah, there's

a life I just God say fast already. Yes, I

know God will come here. But I'm gonna ask if

I leave my life for him? Have I lived for truth?

Have I lived my life worthy of the calling of

God who died for me? It makes sense or not,

It's very very big difference, you know. Okay, So Jesus

can open the door and no one can shut it,

and he can shut it and no one can open it.

Okay now, and he says, there verse ten. Because you

have kept my command to persevere, I will also keep

you from the hour of trial, which shall come upon

the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.

And behold, I am quick coming, quickly, hold fast what

you have that no one may take your crown. Okay,

So I don' want to do too much on it.

Some people will say, oh, it's Jesus talking about the rapture.

How many of you don't know about what's the rapture?

How many of you have never heard of the rapture before?

Raise your hands. It's not a massage chair rapture. Oh

few The repture. No, the rapture is not coming down here.

And then when I pray for you or any possible

that you view the rapture, there's not the rapture. Okay?

What is the rapture? Is it a biblical thing? Sure not?

You don't know, but you see a lot of videos online.

Don't care about the rupture?

Oh?

People floating in the Oh you know? Is it like

something like the avengers? You know when all half the

earth and steps then half the earth disappeared and know

you need was boom boom? Is that is that the

mavel version of the rapture? Should I teach on it? No?

I don't know. Got time or not? How many of

you want to know? How do you want to know?

I want to No, it's too bad. Go know enough

time if you If I don't understand your foe Kloster,

I'll tell you briefly what in enough? I'll first I'll

qualify I don't know everything. Okay, I'm not gonna take

any positions. Okay, there's going to be a time the

Bible talks a great tribulation seven years okay, at a

half point three and a half years, the Antichrist will

review himself. Actually he's going to be here. Some people

believe it already is working already, Okay, who he is.

I'm not going to talk about it today. I have

my opinions, but it's just an opinion. It's not it's

not scripture, okay. But there is a time of tribulation

seven years and at the three and a half after

that will be the great tribulation. Now, the rapture is

a single event, Okay. Say, for example, this is the

first half three and a half yeart, and this is

the second half, which is half half yeart. The rapture

is an event where Paul talks in the Book of

Thessalonians about how the body of crimes, those who are

dead and a life, will be caught up in the

air to meet with the lot in the heavens. Okay.

Some people will say that it happens before tribulation, pre trip.

Some people say happens in the middle mid trip. Some

people say it happens in the post tribulation, post tribulation. Okay.

There are many people who I'm not gonna argue when

is it. I don't know, but I do believe, okay,

that it is going to happen okay. And it's not

so much about when that we have to ask because

God it belongs to the lot. It's not. It's more

like what happens when it happens. You can mean, right,

why do you think the rapture is? Why did God

allow a rapture? Why did God want a rapture? Is

it because or that you and I can escape the

Great tribulation? Or so that we won't be starting to

run through the mountains and hide in the caves and nucution.

You think that's the main thing. Maybe because Jesus talks

about we just read in the Book of Revelation to

spare us from the Great tribulation? But is that the

main reason? Think about it? Think about it with me, everyone,

think with me. Okay. Now, imagine that we all get raptured.

Believe us the dead right whom some people say flying zombies,

will be restored to our heavenly body. Let me think

about this with me. What will happen to the rest

of the world so much, Baba, think about it? What

happen to the rest of the world if you wake

up suddenly and realize that, hey, your your fellow friends

who are believers are gone. What hits the world. You

get me, right, This sudden reality hits you. What's going

on the thing that you believe what the world is

is completely shaken, you know, completely undone, you know, like

what you don't know what to make it's got real?

If it's got real? Why am I here? Why what

you get? I mean? Right? But the world is going

to be in such a shock, you know, you get

I mean some people would even they don't believe, they

don't know what to believe us all you get me,

even they don't believe, they don't know what to believe.

And there's going to be what call a great piece

a time or great of uh what they call it.

There's the lack of a removal of peace. You see,

all of us we have a certain sets of peace.

You know when we go to sleep at night and everything.

There's a certain piece that allows you to sleep. You

know when the hey, most likely tomorrow I will wake up.

You know, you get men right, there's a peace that

gods ask one, you know, but there is a peace

when suddenly you lost all your savings, when you've got

a car crash, and when everyone arounds you get to rapture.

Is great piece is taken off you and you are

completely nicked. The world will experience no peace because there's

been removed from them. You get mean, because they don't know.

How does God think of me? Now? Where am I going?

You get me? It's going to be removed from them

and people. You know what they look for. They will

not look for money. They will not look for shelter. Therefore,

look for one thing. They will look for peace? Where where? Where?

Because they realize all the money? Can I explain that happened?

Everybody will be looking for peace? But can I find?

Can I find? Can I fine? Cannot can I find?

And that is where the world will come in to

offer a fake peace, true or not? Believe me or not?

They will how they will give a fake peace by

telling you what you want to believe, not what really happens. Oh,

they will give an explanation why the Christians disappeared. We

don't know what. They will conjure up. They're probably conjured.

Oh so UFOs, there are more. There are aliens that

we don't know existed. Maybe they were taken away. They

will say, maybe Christians were evil? You know what I mean? Right?

Trust me? And people are and they already are the

people have been doing for two thousand years trying to

disprove that Jesus doesn't even exist. They will even can

prove that you never existed, as well that you will

never even write yeous. You know there will be a

lie in such a great deception that will sweep through

the earth because people are into it. As much as

you desire for a vaccine, you would desire for to

know a lie that will give you peace at night.

People will buy into it. You I'm saying, you know,

I'm not saying anything medical, right or anything, but I'm

just saying to you, there's nothing people's thirst and hunger

for more than peace in that life or not. You

can mean right. You can have all the money, but

no Piza. That's what. No not. That's why you got

the hospital and the reach and also sleepy shaking one,

because there's no peace in life you got, I mean right.

That's why I say it doesn't matter when the rapture

is happening, but it's what happens. Why so now it

comes back Why I asked you, why did God allowed

a rapture? Then it is for us, But I feel

I believe that the rapture is more for the world

in the same song, the rapture is not for us,

not to serve us, Yes we maybe not, but the

rapture will serve to help. Will be the last sign

from God to the world. Repent, repent, done, and don't

take that mark from the beast, last last warning, last

last morning, don't take it. Turn and repent and the

world again. They will be the last symbol. But man,

with all the things they want to lie and comfort themselves,

will buy into a false piece and will be deceived

by it. So sad, oh so dark. But you believe

what I'm saying or not? Does it make a bit

of sensor even tell your Even Hollywood is preparing for

you know all they all read from the same Bible. Okay,

Christian rapture. Even the devil knows the word, he knows

what is coming, He knows exactly. Oh, I'm certainly of God,

by God's plan. He knows God's plan, what God has reviewed.

But the rest it doesn't know that. But why is

he going to prepare You'll be so much so powerful,

But I'll be going to be ready for it. Okay,

that's how I know. No want to conclude for this

part of the church. Everybody. Okay, so far who is shaken?

That that's why people don't take your life for granted

in this place. Don't argue or when it's pre treat mitripos.

It doesn't matter. It's what you believe. Are you ready

or not? You can't mean right? People get so caught up.

I don't know the things I don't know. I don't

know God with time, But would you believe in Jesus?

That's most important? All right, Let's turn to the next church.

The next church is the last church, and it's called

the leud warm Church. Let's read from verse fourteen, and

he says it and to the Angel of the Church

of the Laodicians. Right, these things, says the Amen, the

faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God.

Underlying that, again, that's very very important. Okay, these things

says the Amen. Okay, the faithful and true witness the

beginning of the creation of God. And Jesus says, I

know your works that you are neither cold nor hot.

The famous one okay or so many of you have

heard this before. I will want me and a sorry

I could no. I know your works that you are

neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold

or hot. So then, because you are lutewarm and neither

call nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

Because you say I am rich, have become wealthy, and

have need of nothing, and do not know that you

are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you

to buy from me, go refined in the fire, that

you may be rich, and white garments, that you may

be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not

be revealed. And annoy your eyes with eyes soft, that

you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke

and chast them. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I

stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my

voice and opens the door, I will come in to

him and dine with him, and he with me. To

him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me

on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down

with my father on his throne. He who has an ear,

let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Oh,

out of all the seven churches, the strongest rebuke was

for this church. Okay, the strongest rebuke and warning was

to this church and is the church in Laodicia. Now

I mentioned before that you know how Jesus introduced himself

the Amen, the faithful and true witness, and the beginning

of creation of God. I'm gonna come back here in

a short while. I'll put it as an ending. Okay,

why Jesus reviews or discloses himself as such, But let's

start with verse fifteen. He says, Yeah, I know your

works that you are neither cold nor hot. I could

wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you

are little one either cold or hot, I will vomit

you out of my mouth. Okay. Now a lot of

people have this analogy, thinking of a cup. You know,

it's half hard, half caught. Okay, it's a bit of

context again. The city of Loo this year is Verstively.

It's very rich, very powerful. It's like almost like Wall Street,

you know. You know, it's famous for banking, famous for trading, Okay,

but it's also famous for one thing, okay that people

from all around the world come to leodic year. It's

known okay to buy a special eye medicine. Okay, it's

all South, Okay, you know they will buy from them,

and then they will used to treat their eye. Many

people come around the world to treat their eye, to

buy from this. You know, Uh, there is it's called

the If I'm not mistaken, there's a name for it.

If you're interested that it's called it. I think it's

called the Phu region powder. Okay, doesn't matter. Okay. So

and so they were compared to all the churches there

were actually the most well off church. Well, they don't

really struggle. They were so rich and powerful that even

when they had an earthquake. No, I just read they

say then the Roman Roman to send helper. They actually

said to Rome, I don't we don't need any help.

We can set to ourself. That's how good they were.

You know, some of you, some of us are like,

that isn't it? Okay, it's nothing wrong. But first of all,

I just want to say, there's nothing wrong having ah

good wealth. Nothing wrong with them. Okay, it's a love

of money that's the problem. Having good wealth, no problem.

There are people in the Bible they have good wealth

and are great people as well. We talk about Barnabas, Nicodemus,

great people who went from missions called no problem. It's

the generosity of your heart. You know what I mean.

You can do great things for it as well, but

it's how the wealth has stolen your heart. Okay, like Annisaphrus,

before Ananias Sapharis, I lied to the Holy Spirit who

was giving, Barnabas was giving. So when they were so Barnabus,

they were Oabas and they felt like, oh, maybe we

need to do the same thing as well. But they

did it because they wanted to keep up the pretense

of a giving Christian, not because they really want to

give to the church. And so when they came to give,

their struggle to give you came mean right, Peter never

had a problem. If they want to give or not give,

gift doesn't matter. Just don't lie. Makes sense or not.

You read a scripture properly in the Book of Ax

it's not about whether they give or not give. Is

that they lie? I read it. You do not give

them to lie. But why will people go all the

way to lie even if they want to want to

give because they are self righteous. There's a greater hunger

than money and their self righteousness. It's true or not,

there's a greater need. No people, Rather the great Hunger

is for self righteous. They care so much about what

people think about them. They care so much about what

the church and ever I think about them. I'm not

saying that it's you know, like, oh, you know, we

don't have to you know, you come in too church.

You don't care about what people think of you, and

then you just roll out of bed and then your

mouth stinks and all that stuff like that. I'm not

saying that you you cray so much. People think that

you are nice and certain and then you talk a

certain way you behave you give a certain way. You

want to be esteemed by man rather than to be

secretly esteemed by God. Yeah, mean right, your flash takes over.

Okay everybody, Okay, so very quieter listening a huh the

teens listening to their things. Where the teens are one

road there, okay, okay, so okay, go back, you have time. Okay,

let me quickly wrap this up. Okay. So they're Leodissians.

They were wealthy, but they have one problem as a

as as a church as a city. Okay, not a

church as a city. Though they are very wealthy, they

don't have water sauce. They don't have a water sauce.

They don't have like their neighboring cities. Some of their

cities they have a hot spring directly, so they're hot.

Waters were very hot. They can use for a lot

of things. They were not like another city where their

waters come directly from the mountain caps where the snow

melts and it directly flows down. It's like, oh, fresh

spring water. You know. Sometimes you go to the burntng

or gun things. You see people you know, going to

the cliff there and then whole water. I look at

the shore, can drink one? No, no, you know, and

people I saw people like come out the guy and

the like shure, can drink one? You know what I'm

talking about? Yes, really also a rad dubious I cannot

They're not people will do these how things. Okay, okay,

so but so the problem is that they don't have

a water sauce, and so where do they get their water?

They get their water from their neighboring cities or from

places much further away. And so what they did is

that they built pipes. And these are all proven historically

okay archaeological evidence that they build pipes to get the

water from far distance, mostly from the hot springs hot,

but as they travel they lose their heat, and as

they make their way to the city, the water becomes

is already lutewarm, and you know, and because of that,

it's lute warm. It's a breeding, you know, environment for

all the different things, with all the money that you have,

all the things that you have. Purrible water you drink,

really you feel like spitting out because it tastes horrible.

You get not just it's the temperature, but what you

breeds as well. You know, it's not a temperature, it

iss what you breed. You want to speed out. You

can't do a lot of things, you get mean, right,

So sometimes it's rather I rather have not all this

money and just have clean water, you know, just to

have clean water. And so there's the background of this

church to see, you know, it's actually link with how

Jesus discloses himself. You see, when we get safe by God,

we start from the hot spring. We believe in God. Yes, Jesus,

you are a savior of my soul. I live for you.

You come to one service, two service Tree services also

care and you come for prayers if it's oh, but

then life hits you start to work start to have children,

you start to watch a lot more Internet, You think

yourself more wiser. Okay, you stop doing a quiet time,

you stop thinking that you have given before, you have

served before, you have done all this before. And as

you travel from that hot spring, down that pipe, reaching

to this city where God stands here and takes that

cup of your life and taste it, what does it taste?

Do you still remain faithful and true? You see? What

did Jesus say? Jesus says, what towards there are? Amen?

Do you stay? Stay your amens? What does amen mean

to say? The ones? We amen? The name of Jesus

isn't there? Do you still believe everything that you do?

Do you still acknowledge God in your life? Or do

you rather acknowledge that I did it out of my

own intellect. I built this business, I built my family.

You became satisfied, you became as not you? Okay, everyone, Okay,

I'm sorry, my hey. It says that you know because

you say I become rich, I become wealthy. I have

no need of anything. I need nothing. But you don't

know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

Somewhere along this path as you travel. Now you have changed.

You have changed. But Jesus, okay, who actually desires your

life to continue to have the ape man to be

like him? And you know Jesus wants you to be

like him, says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness.

Your plan, God's plan for your life from the very beginning,

from that hot spring that you hear, has always been

to be like him, the true and faithful Witness. But

many people from there come there had no longer been

a true and faithful witness. Make a lot of sense

or not, you stop witnessing. That's why I don't really

don't believe that. You can tell me that you can

be a Christian and you don't believe in in vaginalism.

It does not make sense. People, God did not save

you to just be a stay home Christian. You might

as you call your upreaty. It's a better result, you know,

up there, It's a better result up there. Trust me, Okay,

you are here for a witness one you all you

know what I'm saying or not. Some of you are

called to the police station, to the Makamaha not because

they got free coffee. They called to bear witness because

Jesus name is at stake. People, lies are a stake.

You come so on that that's the thing you're not

going because forul your comfort, you're uncomfort or read your

call to witness because God's name is is at stake

and lies are restake. Simple as steak. You. I mean, right,

you go to the police station because that your friend,

your family, whoever got not into the car? Yeah, yeah, damages.

It's at stake. You mean, it's not about you. It's

always about people, one or not. That's why you cannot

be part time witness or not. So one of the

things whether you gage, whether you are Lukewang m not.

He said, are you continuing to witness for God? No?

God says that have you been the faithful and true witness?

Have you?

And then he says that the beginning of creation of God,

that God, that have you stayed with beginning of creation? Mister?

Have you always remain with God beginning? When you say

took about the beginning of the creation means that Jesus

was there with God when creation happened. When God saved you,

did you continue remaining with him? You know what I'm saying? Now?

Did you remain with him? As he as Jesus remains

with the Father, have you remained with Jesus? But yet

when we are suddenly in this world, we've realized that, hey,

we no longer remain with God. Jesus is no longer

the vine Jesus. Jesus longer is the true vine in

our lives. We start the branching out because you've become rich.

You have become wealthy, you become self sufficient, and you

think that you are okay. But you are Jesus as

he says, you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

And Jesus comes into your life and says that that

counsel you to buy from me, go refined in the fire.

But Jesus doesn't give up onto you, isn't it He

does not come up give up on you. He said,

I now counsel you to buy from me God, refine

and fight. You trade with the world. You call yourself

the wall street, and you trade with the world. But

I am the true merchant. I deal with life, and

I hold the key, and I sit and counsel you

to buy right now, Ye man, you go out of

the world. You go to shopping, you go to La Zada,

che buy the best deal. You think like, whoa, I

got the best thing already. But Jesus comes straight to

your door and I counsel you to buy from him

what he does A counsel come counsel you to buy

what go refine in the fire. It's not just ready

going on. He's asking God means your life, you know,

to be refined in the fire. I sa minsa, are

you ready to buy from me this life with my

blood so that you can go through this fire? And

I'll show you what comes up eddie end pure goal.

You know what I'm saying. No, this is what Jesus

is offering. You know, He's offering you as to become

the pure goal. No by you to go through fire.

But many people rather choose the goal of the world

rather than go through fire. Makes a lot of sense,

makes a lot of sense? Or not? This is what

Jesus is actually offering them A No, okay, I counsel

you to buy from me, go refine in the fire,

that you may be rich and white garments that you

may be clothed, Not white garments from the world by

white comments from me. Not the righteousness of the world

by righteousness from me. So that you may be clothed.

Everybody thinks you have succeeded in like, oh, you buy

this by that God, this job and stuff like that.

You are esteemed. You think you are right. You are

a certain kind of leader or church or whatever your

with your families, whatever that it is that is from

the world. But I ask you to buy from me.

Do you spend time with me? Do you get on

your knees and to pray with me that you may

be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not

be revealed. Means not that if you buy from the world,

you will be revealed. But God will give you the

righteousness that will never shame you, even if you make

mistake before God counts. You buy from me. I know

what you've done. Some of you are hiding in because

you don't know. Yes, I know. I tell you. The

only merchant who can give you and remove your shame

and hide your shame. It's God. It is not hiding

at home. It is not changing another church, it is

not changing another job. It's not finding another partner. You

know understand I'm saying not There's nothing the world can offer.

It's only by Him. Okay, and that and it says

that that you may be close, that the shame of

your neckdors may not be revealed and annoying your eyes.

We've solved that you may see. You think that you

have the solution for the world. You think that all

everybody comes from the world to buy your special eye ointment.

Oh no, no, you think you can open others people's

But in fact your eyes are blind. You can't even

see your own sinfulness. I ask you right now, buy

from me, apply this thing, this solve that I to you,

so that you yourself will see. Okay, you yourself will see.

And in verse nineteen say as many as I love,

I rebuke and chase them. Who is Jesus speaking to you?

Seek to believers or unbelievers? Believers people two believers. This

is not rebuking the unbelieving. You and I we are

the ones being addressed. And sometimes or some of you like,

oh pastor is preaching a heart Hey I'm talking. I'm

speaking to myself. Or so I read this with you

and trembling because it's it's a rebuild. You know. As

much as many as I love, I rebuild. And she

said God is warning you because he loves you. God

warns you because he loves you, and I want to

let you know that God loves you. But some of

you this year you can experience a life and I'm

talking about life that you're gonna get all the prayers

request you want to know. It's gonna be a life

that you're gonna feel alive, really alive. You're going to

feel like there's so much sensitivity. You're so sensitive to

so many things happening. You're suddenly aware of different pains

and different sadness. It's that you're tongueing of life. You know,

not because of my life. You know, you know in

my life, you're not to anything. You cannot taste spice.

Somebody also can I take. But God's going to remove

that my love on your mouth and you're gonna be alive,

like WHOA right, wrong, hungry staff whatever. It is going

to be so alive because God is going to quicken you.

Twenty twenty five, it's gonna be a year you're gonna

be a quickened and alive. You're going to be able

to see, truly see. You're going to be understanding what

you really want in your life. Some of you are loss.

It's like I don't know where to go. But suddenly,

right I really now realize why I want to live

in my life. I realize right now what's really really

important for once in your life you feel alive. No,

you're not just chasing for another thing. And see how

I'm saying, you know, feel so dead? Just chase one

and all? How many of you want to feel alive

twenty twenty five, not just to get everything in want,

but you want to feel alive, you know, better to

be alive rather than ten years or just chasing nothing.

You know, behold, I stand at the sorry before that

as many as I love, I rebuild and repent and

chase them. Therefore, our response is what be zealous and repent?

What does zealous mean? Means? What as you flow down

from the hot spring down to the city, God your heart,

write it down zealous and God your heart. Do not

be confirmed by the world. Do not be changed by

the temperature around you. You are in the world, but

not of this world. People. Being lewarm is a choice.

Don't say you're a victim. It's a choice. It's a choice.

It's a very important thing. You know, it's a choice.

You know it's not by coincidence, or it's a choice.

If it's if it's out of your if it's out

of your ability, what would Jesus take be zealous some

of you, if you start last year, it's not coincidence.

You know. I'm not blaming you for anything, you know,

but there is a response that we need to give,

and how there's a responsibility on our side, you know,

to be zealous and to repent, guard your heart and

turn around and behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I

will come in to him and dine in with him,

and he with me. A lot of times we read

this hour with callte the scripture and they say that, yes,

this is the scripture for unbelievers. Read again in the

full context. Who is it for more likely believers? For

believers you know, makes sense or not. It's the believers

who have been changed, you know, who have been looked

warming on. And God is standing out there door there

you in your living room and set up everything. You

think you're so comfortable you don't need God. God is

saying that God is knocking, and God is asking who

will hear hey? And who will open the door, and

I will come into him and dine with him, and

he with me to him who overcomes. Okay, So the

pathway when you come from the hot spring all to

the city. Okay, you must learn to overcome as Christ did.

God were grant to sit, you know, with him on

his throne, and I also, ina, and I also overcome

and sat down with my father on his throne. We

are to follow the footsteps of Christ to overcome the

world as he has overcome. Jesus said before, isn't it

I have overcome the world? So no, we are called

to overcome him as well. Amen, hard lawyer. So come,

let's stand up together today. Let's not just here, but

let's respond. So this is what I'm going to do

in the short while. I want to open up the

order for people to come to be ministered. But I

want to go and read the summary of this scripture

again and I want to plant it. And I hope

that you will receive this seed of word and plant

it in your heart, and you remember what you are

responding to what God is speaking to you too, that

this year twenty twenty five, you're not building another year

just based on another goal. Another thing that is from

the world. Take not the seeds from the world and

plant twenty twenty five, but take the seeds from the scripture.

You know what I'm saying. Now, take the seeds from

the scripture. Who will build? Who will yield beautiful and

spiritual foods in your life? And open up your heart

to make it for And say, God, I want your seats.

I want you to plant in my heart, and I

make it for a town. And that includes our opening

every door in your life, every dream, every expectations, and

you start to begin to say, Oh God, I want

to live for you. Makes sense. I want to live

for you. Come, let's up, open up our hands together,

let's lead with our body. Let's lead with a worship

response or posture. Spend one minute right now here to

reflect the pondolt. Even as I read these scriptures, Father,

we commit to you right now, this moment. We thank

you for your word. Even as we go through, even

as we read through the church about the church in Philadelphia,

we are reminded again and again that Lord, you are holy,

you are true, You are the way, the truth, and

the life, and there is no one like you. It

doesn't matter what the people say, what people blessphe what

people deny. But we know who has the key of David.

And that is you, you who open and no one shuts,

and you who shut and no one open. So Lord

help us right now to remember, and not just to remember,

but to set our hearts on you, not on the

doors that the world opens or closes, but on you.

Some of you may be disappointed because doors have maybe closed.

But Jesus now says is what He's coming alongside your life,

and he's showing you the real door and who holds

the key in your life? Amen, all the doors have

been closed. Right now, I want to encourage you that

Jesus comes along and comforts this year. May your eyes

be opened to see in the spirit the door that

he opens, the key that he holds. That your hearts

will not melt in this world. That your hearts will

not beget this sore discouraged, but your heart begins to realign,

to pilot itself and set your hearts to God, who

holds your future. Right now, I want to declare hope

and comfort over your life. Some of you are going

through difficult times, but set your eyes on Jeezus. Determine

in your heart that no matter what you're going through,

it will never rob your worship. It will never rob

your devotion. You will never rob your faith in God.

The world may close his door, but as you close

your eyes, God opens his arms to you. Amen. Hey,

herlor lawyer, hel lawyer. Father, we also are reminded, Lord, Father,

that you are the Amen. You are the faithful and

true witness. It is because of your work, your faithful world,

all the way to the cross where you rose again,

where you overcome death, and you overcome the world, that

we have a life. We believe that you are the

beginning of the creation of God, that you were there

from the beginning when you created the earth, all creation.

You have remained with God. You are one with God.

And so help us right now, Lord, to remain with you,

right now, wherever you are coming. Let's declare it. Law

twenty twenty five is a year law. I will continually

remain in you. Make this a prayer God. I want

to remain with I don't want to step out, not

even an inch, because I know who is my source.

I know who from whom I draw my breath from.

It is you. It is you. It is you, Lord,

Oh Lord, I pray that as I travel this journey

called life, as I passed through this place called the world,

that Lord, that I will not be changed, that I

will not be tempered, that I will not be acclematized Falloga,

by the by the seasons, by the lures of the world,

no matter what I go through, whether it's winter or summer.

But Lord, I want to remain in you from the

very day the first love. I want to restore that.

I want to come back to that first love until

the day that I draw my last breath. I want

to remain in you lor loawyah Lord. I pray the

Lord that you will not find us look warm fatheroga.

But Lord, we choose. It is a choose. It's as

a choice paper. I choose every day to light up

this fire in my heart. I choose Father lah Goad,

to invite the Holy Spirit to become a minister, to

invite the Holy Spirit to correct me, to invite the

Holy Spirit to guide me in everything that I do.

I pray that Lord, and you not spit us out.

You will not find that we had become arrogant or

self righteous, to think that we had become rich and

have no need of You. Lord. We do not want

to be miserable. We do not want to be wretched,

We do not want to be blind all naked. But Lord,

we take all our resources, all our riches, and we

take up your counsel to buy from you, go refined

in fire. Amen, how many of you will take up

that counsel from the Lord to buy up go refine

in fire? Twenty twenty five. Yes, there'll be fired, there'll

be challenges. But if if you will stay with Christ,

our agent, our merchant, our deliverer, and our redeemer, what

he promises is pure gold, pure gone take up the

council so that you will not just be clothed in

the world, but that Lord, that all of us will

be clothed with white comments, that your shames, that your mistakes,

that your stumblings will not be exposed, but that you

remain with God. And he will give you covering as

he covered Adam. And if He will give you covering,

some of you you are scared, you are shamed, you

are embarrassed. You know, but I won't let you know.

If you will heed this counsel, God is going to

provide you a covering, not a fake covering of the world,

but a truth covering from the world. And last, the

Lord that you will were asked that you will help

us to buy from you solve ointment medicine. Not from

the world to see like the world, to decipher by

the world like the world, but from you. There our

eyes will be open. Some of you you may realize that, Wow,

I started to see things around me. People around me,

situations around me. They are not what they see. It

is the first power of revelation. The second power of revelation.

God reveals is in you who you really are. You

may ask for a healing, but God gives you a revealing.

You say what I'm saying. You ask for a healing,

but God gives you a revealing of who you are.

That's what you need, a revealing of yourself. And as

you do, you start to see what's around you and

inside of you. And if you will humble yourself, you

will keep your how pure and sincere God begins to

reveal himself to you. Blessed are the pure, for there

shall see God. Harla Lujah. Father. Right now we want

to make a prayer, help us to be pure. Lord,

and sincere not pretentious. I'm not here because I have

to I'm here because I need right now. Wherever you are,

let's take the next one minute pray, pray for yourselves.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit as church org. We

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this week is going to be a good week.

I hit for you. God bless