DEALING WITH SINS WE TOLERATE - Bro.JON GLOCK

I just like to introduce our speaker for today. It is brother John Glock. I met him a couple of years back and it was really good meeting him and listening from the word as he spoke in Amir's charcoal. John Glock, brother John Glock was born in Chicago, Illinois and was raised by parents who have impact even my life because late Mr. Dave Glock was one of my professors and I know if you tell him, Malayalam is one of those operatives who was there in that, you know, he's a grandpa figure who was there in Emmaus and he's impacted a lot of lives and his wisdom from the Bible and the wisdom he has to give you is brilliant but we remember him at this time too. And so brother John Glock was finished with the graduates from Emmaus Bible College and after that he did his MA in biblical studies in Dallas, the Old Higley in Seminary after which he was involved in both youth ministries and adult ministries. He speaks in different places at camps, at different conventions or youngsters and other conferences. Currently he is the trust officer for believers to worship services. That's again in Dubuque, Iowa. He's married to Katie and he has two children whose names are Anna and Jonathan, both 13 and 11 and he's also a proud owner of a labrador, if you do not know what a labrador is, I've not seen one in India. It's a mix of labrador and food. So it's a bigger version of food, just some information. So he's a great fan and known for, known as GeForce because he loves to travel together and is a dedicated fan of Chicago, Cubs and Green Bay Packers. I'm sad I didn't hear a Chicago Bulls. But that's Mr. brother John Glock and I'd like to give him this rest of this time to share from the world and also to show us how to deal with since we tolerate. Oh, do you prefer the John Glock? - Thank you, Godly. Thank you so much and good evening to each of you. It is, let me just say it's an honor and it's a privilege to be able to join you today when Godly reached out on behalf of streams of water and invited me to be a part of this. I was thrilled to have an opening in my schedule that would allow me to join you and to talk about really an important subject matter for us today. So many thanks to the leadership of this particular ministry, streams of water and many thanks for the opportunity to be with you. This is an honor for me, I'm thrilled. And so thanks so much. Thank you for the technology that allows us to do this today. Our subject matter for today, as you've heard and as you perhaps saw the promotional video, is this idea of dealing with sins we tolerate. Dealing with sins we tolerate. We understand, I think, and would agree that sin is wrong and we all sin, but there are some sins that we tend to not take seriously. Some sins that even have been described as respectable sins. There's a book I would highly recommend entitled "Respectable Sins" written by a man named Jerry Bridges. And it has everything to do with our subject matter for today. "Confronting sins that we tolerate." "Respectable sins confronting sins that we tolerate by Jerry Bridges, our theme for today is dealing with sins that we tolerate." I mentioned to you as we promoted this with a brief video that we're going to look today at a group of people who were doing this very thing. They were tolerating sin. They thought everything was okay and it was really time for them to face the music. And we're going to look at their circumstances. We're going to see how God once did deal with sin and how we need to deal with sins we tolerate as well. I've mentioned the phrase "space the music" a couple of times now. At the end of our session together, we're going to look at the meaning behind that phrase. Maybe you heard that expression, "space the music." Well, I hope today that happens that we are willing to honestly become before the God who knows all things and see all things and address in and are not just the obvious sins that often are talked about, but sins that we tolerate and sometimes refer to these days as respectable sins. I sure hope you have your Bibles. And if you do, I invite you to turn with me to Revelation chapter three, Revelation chapter three. And as you're turning there, would you just allow me a few brief moments to remind you a little bit about this book, the book of Revelation. It's one revelation, the whole book. It's not the book of revelations that are filled with a variety of revelations or unveilings or disclosures. It's one big revelation, a big revelation that is given to one of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, the disciple John. And in chapter one, no need to turn there, but in chapter one of the book of Revelation, and Revelation in chapter one, in verse 19, we have an outline for the whole book. To outline the whole book, and let me just remind you of this. So we get the right understanding of the group of people that we're gonna be looking at today, a group of people that again were tolerating sin, were practicing unfortunately respectable sins. And we're gonna look at this group of people in just a moment. But in verse 19 of chapter one of Revelation says this, right there for, and this is being written to John, the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, to just cycle that the Lord Jesus loved deeply, and he says to John, write these things. Right there for the things which you have seen. And that's everything to do with chapter one. So in this verse is a nice little outline for the whole book of Revelation. So chapter one, for John, the one who received this revelation is what is referred to as the things with you have seen. Chapter two and chapter three is the second part of this outline where it says, and the things which are, there were literally seven churches that existed in these cities that are identified in chapter two and chapter three. And for John that indeed is what Jesus was referring to here as the things that are, the things that are. Currently that was the case for John. These churches obviously are long gone, but they existed and were real churches made up of believers, and John has something to communicate to each of these seven churches. And that's what chapter two and chapters three are all about. And then from chapter four, for the rest of this revelation, are things which shall take place after these things. Simply stated, chapter four, through the end of the revelation, these things haven't happened yet, my friends. These things are still to come, yet to come. These are future events. But today we have the privilege of looking at one of the seven churches in Revelation chapter three, if you'll turn there with me, you're not already there. One of the churches that was being addressed in chapters two and three. Now I want to share with you a pattern. Maybe you've done a study of the seven churches. Maybe you have not, but there's a pattern that you can see in each of these seven churches that's important for us to see and understand. There's a lot of structure and familiarity to each of these letters. Every one of them, you'll notice if you study these letters to the seven churches, every one of these deals with some attribute or characteristic, if not several, of the Lord Jesus Christ. It starts that way. The church is identified. Today's church is the church at Leia de Sia that we will look at together, but the church is identified. And right after that immediately following that in this pattern, something is said about the Lord Jesus Christ. All these things were already said in chapter one, but they're emphasized and repeated for each of the seven churches and it really relate to the condition of each of the churches as well. And so in chapter, in each of the letters in chapters two and three, it begins with characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then often, not always, and that is actually the case for us today. When we look at the seventh church, the church that we lay at the sea, but often you'll find something positive set. A commendation. Something the Lord Jesus says about this church that they are doing well and he wants them to continue to do that. So you see characteristic to the Lord Jesus Christ. To begin the letter, often you see a commendation, something that is said very positively about this local church that existed in these cities back in the day. And then you'll find a condemnation or a criticism. Something that was going on in this particular church that was wrong. Something that that church needed to work on and something that needed to be addressed. So a commendation often is found except not in this one in the church at Laidissia, then a condemnation or a criticism is found. And we'll see several things that that this church was doing wrong and they have it has everything to do with sins that they were tolerating. They didn't think anything was wrong. They thought everything was golden. That life was good and they had nothing to be concerned about. And yet there were things that they were respect, the respectable sins or sins that they were tolerating that we tend to do the same thing. And so we're going to see an example of literally a group of people that met in a church in a city called Laidissia that were tolerating sin. A condemnation is again something you'll see in these letters. The previous letter, Philadelphia, excuse me, a couple letters prior to Laidissia, nothing negative is said. It's all positive, but that's not the case for our church today. So be reminded by review, characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ. It starts that way. A condemnation, something positive said, if there's something positive to say condemnation or a criticism, what were they doing wrong that they need to deal with in the dress? And then you're going to find the way to deal with that sin. I mentioned in the promotional video that we're going to see what God has to say about sins we tolerate and how we are to deal with these sins. It's time for us to face the music. It was time for the church in Laidissia to face the music, to realize what their condition really was like and how they they were so wrong thinking that they were really just fine when really they were not and we'll see what God has to say about that in just a moment. So in each of these letters, after the common condemnation or criticism, you find how to fix things, instruction or exhortation or teaching on how you can deal with what is wrong and make right. And then finally, the letter closes with some promises, promises to believers. These are written to save people all these letters and they're written to believers and these are promised that we can claim today and we'll see some of those promises together as well. So we're going to be together today at Revelation chapter 3 verses 14 through the end and we're going to be looking again at a group of people who had respectable sins and needed to confront sins they were tolerated. And again today, at how we deal with how we deal with sins that we tolerate. I'd love to pray again with you as we open God's word and ask that you would pray also and pray this with me if you wouldn't mind. And that we today, we today would all face the music we be willing to look at our own lives and ask and answer the question are we tolerating sin. Are there sins that we respect or view as okay in the culture in day in which we live. This is a very encouraging passage but I want to tell you it's also very convicting and so may we humbly come before God asking him to convict us and encourage us as we face the music. Pray with me again please. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you that you have made yourself known to us in very special way. We thank you for the unveiling and the disclosure of truth that you have provided us for your word, especially this revelation that we'll look at today. We thank you for chapters two and three where we can look at churches that existed long ago, made up of believers who would gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and we can learn from their circumstances. And so we pray that you would help us as this each letter closes that those of us who have ears to hear that we might hear what is being said by the spirit to these churches. And so we ask that you would take away distractions today. We ask and pray that you would teach us what you want us to learn. Father, I pray that you would convict us like crazy if we need conviction and that we would deal with respectable sins that we would confront sins that we tolerate. And there are many and we'll talk about a few today. Father, we pray that you would encourage us as well. May we see how we can how we can appropriately deal with this sin in our lives and how we can benefit from the promises that's for leaders that are given to this church lay it this year. So help us we pray. Help us we pray even now in Jesus worthy name we ask these things and pray these things. Amen. Amen. We don't have a lot of time my friends. I would love to take hours to look at this particular church with you the church at lay in the sea. I want to tell you just a little bit about the city of lay with the sea and what was really popular for this region this part of the country and what this church was very familiar with. So so three things are our famous about this particular city lay and to see it lay and to see them they had three three areas of their lives that they were doing so incredibly well. Number one was in the area of economics or commerce, baking and industry of the life they were a very very wealthy city. They knew what it was like to be financially successful and sound they were they were advanced in this particular area and they thought and they had a reason to think that they were wealthy because it was a very wealthy city. Number one known for its economic strength and surplus was the city of lay and to see a second it was the city that was known for the production of clothing. And so this again was a very economically successful city and so this city was was not only wealthy and advanced in the area of banking and commerce but it was also a city that produced fine clothing and fine garments and maybe that maybe that's something that that you can appreciate these days. Maybe that's not your thing but think about a city that was wealthy and think about a city that materially was blessed and especially in regards to the clothing industry. Thirdly, they were well advanced in the area of medicine, they were medically advanced and had produced a an ice have an appointment if you will for the eyes that would help people with their ability to see. And so medically they were advanced and isn't an entropy that our culture today and I know what you're your your culture and it's to mine as well. This is an international reality that we play so much emphasis on these three things that the city of lay and to see was so successful it we play so much emphasis on on finances and banking and commerce. We play so much emphasis on material listings and having all that the world has to offer clothing again was there circumstance and we play so much emphasis and and we can understand why on medical advancements and and that feel or profession. And so that was true of lay and I wanted you to understand the backdrop of why the Lord Jesus said what you'll notice in just a little bit that when he talks about their sins they were tolerating these respectable sins for the church that lay at his he up he makes reference to the things that they were so advanced in. And so we're also talking about banking and and material blessing product clothing and medicine and and we'll see that together in just a moment. In verse 14. not only addresses the church that he is referring to, the church at Leia de Sia and to the angel of the church in Leia de Sia, right? But then he describes the Lord Jesus Christ in three different ways. You'll notice these three different ways are found in chapter one of this revelation as well. But these three things all have something in common. Let me reference them, the amen, the faithful and the true witness, the beginning of the creation of God says this. So what is instead about those three descriptions or characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ? Let me summarize them all in this way. It has everything. They have everything to do with this. The Lord Jesus Christ knows how it actually is. When we say amen at the end of a prayer or even in conversation, we're saying so be it. That's the way it is. I agree with that. And the Lord Jesus is described here as the amen. He knows exactly how it is. It's as if the Lord Jesus is saying, here's how it is church. Here's what you really like. The one who knows all things and sees all things and examines the conditions of our hearts since I know. And here it is. Here is the statements. Here's the declaration of what your lives really look like. Secondly, he's the the faithful and true witness. If you want to have a witness to the court of law, you want to know. You want to have a witness that is eyewitness someone that knows exactly how it went down. Someone who knows the fact someone who really thought and can tell you exactly what transpired and exactly how things are. And again, that's how Jesus is. It's crazy encouraging to know that the Lord Jesus knows all things, but it's also very convicted. The same and these attributes are all true of God as well. The same is true of our great God. Isn't it crazy to think that that God knows all things. There's nothing that we can get away with. These sins that we tolerate. These acceptable or respectable sins. He knows. Those exactly what we're thinking, what we're saying and what we're doing. And that's what all these syrups about the Lord Jesus convey. He's the amen. So be it. This is how it is. That's what he's saying. Secondly, he knows he is a bleakly and consistently faithful as a true witness. It's no fooling him. Time to face the music. He knows. And then the beginning of the creation of God again establishes the fact that he has been and always is. He's the maker creator of God and he knows exactly what creation is up to. These attributes of our God, all three of them simply tell the church at Laidicia. And by way of application for us that there's no fooling down. There's no fooling the little Jesus. There's no. There's no tricking or pulling the wool over his eyes. He knows he is the authority. He's the amen, the faithful and true witness. He's the maker and creator of it all and of us all and how encouraging that is yet how convicting it is. And notice what he says in the next verse, verse 15, if you're following along with me. Anyway, I don't know if you have Duncan Donuts. That's the question I want to answer. If you have Duncan Donuts in India, I'm taking this up now. If you don't mind. One my favorite. What does the Lord Jesus say to this church and what does he say to us by way of application? Very convicting and encouraging words. He says, I know your deeds. I know your deeds. May I say to you all who have gathered on this call today. May I say this to you. No, he knows everything that we say everything that we do everything that we think everything that we see everything that we tweet everything that we post. He knows it all. There's no fooling him. And so even in areas of respectable sins since that we tolerate. It's so important to realize that the Almighty, the Almighty is well aware. He's well aware. And in this verse, he says to the church at Leah, this year, I know your deeds. And then he does something amazing. Watch what he does with me in verse 15. He uses an illustration that for them would be crystal clear in their thinking. So nearby, nearby there were two cities. Nearby, Leah, this year there was a city known as a rock list and a city known as Colosseum. And so Leah, this year, although they had all the advancements we talked about earlier, one thing that they did not have a an abundance supply of was water. And so they had to build these systems that would bring in water from these cities nearby. But in Colosseum, there was a source of cold water. Don't you let it think about it with me for a moment. When you are very harsh, when you're very thirsty, you've been working hard and sweating like a beast. And you need some hydration and you drink cold water. How refreshing it is. Well, in Colosseum, there was a source of cold water. And in Heropolis, there were hot springs, a source of hot water. And they would build these systems that would bring hot water from Heropolis or cold water from Colosseum to their city in Leah, this year. So when Jesus writes in verse 15, I know your deeds and many uses an illustration of three temperatures of water, understand for them, they got back. They understood what Jesus said when he was referring to something being hot. They understood what Jesus said when he was referring to something being cold. And they also understood what it means to be warm. Because when hot water would get finally to this city, it would be that way. When cold water would finally get to their city, it would be that way. And I wanted cold water for refreshments and hot water for medicinal purposes and the life, but rarely did they get either. And so when Jesus says, I know your deeds and then says, I wish, look at it with me, verse 15. And then you can see your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. Now there's been all kinds of teaching about these two temperatures. And many would interpret and you might think this way that hot needs your own fire for Jesus. And cold means that your heart is stone like and your frozen and as if you have frostbite spiritually. And in life of what was taking place geographically, that doesn't fit. Hot water and cold water are both the temperatures. That's true for us today as well. We know that to be true. And that was the case then as well. And Jesus says, you know what? And if we're going to use temperature to describe your spiritual life, let's talk about two positive ones. I wish I wish that you were either cold. I wish that you were either hot. They're both good temperatures. Verse 15 has said, he says, I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either hot or cold or cold or hot. These are both good temperatures. But here's the deal. The Lord Jesus says you are neither of these in verse 16. He says, here's the honest truth as you are forced church at Lea, Dicea. And as we as the church universal or forced to look at our own spiritual condition is that we are lukewarm. This is a bad temperature. I just drank my coffee and it was neither hot nor cold. And that's not really to my palate. I promise you I've had it for a while this morning. Luke warm is not a temperature you want to be matter of fact. Here's what it says of the Lord Jesus verse 16. So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold. I will spit you out of my mouth again, a drinking illustration. And you can picture it in your own context and setting when you go to get a drink of something very cold or you're prepared to drink something very hot and it is neither. and it's lukewarm instead. What you do want to spit it out and spew it out of your mouth. Isn't it crazy? My brothers and sisters, they hear the Lord Jesus saying to save Christian people in the church at legacy. They are the church. The church literally, a little church that met in from the Jesus to stand. You know what, you make me sit. Your condition makes me want to spit you out of my mouth. You're not hot, you're not cold, you're spiritually in bad shape and you don't even know it. These folks, my friends, we're dealing with respectable sin. These folks, we're dealing with sins that we tolerate. And it would be great for you to think about what are some of those sins? On the brochure, some of those sins were listed. Materialism was listed. This idea of gossiping, how we use the tongue. We can lie, we can slander, we can deceive, we can gossip, we take the Lord's name and vein perhaps or we curse, we're vulgar, we're dishonest. These are all these types of sins that we really don't take nearly as seriously as we all sins that we need to confront as sins that we tolerate. Judging others is another one. Anger and bitterness are similar sins that would fall into this category. The Lord Jesus calls them out as they are being challenged to face the music. And he says, here's what you really like. Remember all the characteristics about the Lord Jesus having to do with the fact that he's the authority, he's the perfect witness, he's the one who made it all and created it all, it didn't, it created it all anyway, excuse me. He says this about them. In verse 17, please follow with me. Here's what it says. Because you say, here was their attitude and here was their mindset. Don't miss this. I'm rich, they were saying, and I'm wealthy and have need of nothing. Can you imagine that? Because of all these things, materialism, wealth and advancement in areas that are highly and sometimes over promoted, medicine and education and wealth in industry, the Lord Jesus says of these people, you think you're okay. You think that you're doing just fine, but the reality is this. You do not know that you actually are wretched. You actually are miserable. The end of verse 17, you're poor, you're blind, you're naked. It's interesting what he says folks. And here's the honest to goodness truth, whether you're willing to do it or not, win the sin. When we sin in areas of overt and obvious sin or even these sins that we're referencing, sin that are more respectable or tolerated, when we are in sin and when we sin, we cannot be as God wanted us to be. We cannot enjoy the abundant and blessed life and we cannot enjoy as the Lord Jesus wants us to a healthy relationship with him because of sin. I had a mentor teach me years ago to pray this way, a short and simple prayer. Let me share it with you and maybe if this is all you can remember and you would pray this way, I think it might change your life a little bit. Here's the prayer. God help me, God help me to hate my sin and love you more. Help me to hate sin and love you more. I challenge you today to pray that way. You see, I think one of the big problems for the church at Leidesia and for us today as well is that we are unwilling to call sin sin and we are unwilling to use sin the way God used sin. I heard years ago sin defined this way, sin is selfishness and we live in a self-earned world, a self-absorbed world and that really is the reality of sin, selfishness. And so this church was in bad shape and they did not even know it. Can you imagine? And maybe that's your story today. Maybe you feel like everything's okay, everything's fine. I'm doing well in this area and that area and all around me, things are good. I know the pandemic doesn't necessarily park into that reality but often that has been the case that we think everything's fine and really it isn't and that's what Jesus says to you and notice how he refers back to the strength of the city. Because you say verse 17, I am rich and have become wealthy, they were strong in that regard. They were saying I have need of nothing, everything secure and everything is fine. And the reality is, based on music, you do not know that you are a wretched miserable or going back to, or going back to monetary realities. They thought they were rich but he said you're poor. Blind, they thought they were advance medically and even created a stab for their eyes and he says you're really blind. You don't see things the way I want you to see things. You think you're advanced materially and have all kinds of clothing and your wardrobe. Guess what? He said, "Reality is spiritually your naked." The end of verse 17, he goes back to the three strengths of this city and the three things that they were finding comfort in and really were evidencing sins of tolerance. Pride and arrogance, self-reliance and self-sufficiency, materialism, all those things were a reality for this sort of sins that they were tolerating and sins that were respectable in their sight and from their perspective. And he says, that's not the case. You're really poor, you're really blind and you're really naked. But guess what? That's the condemnation. Again, to this church in Laid, to see a nothing positive say, not a commendation, but several negative things to say, but he doesn't leave them hanging there. Don't you love that about our merciful God? He doesn't say, "Here's your reality and it stinks to be you." You're just going to have to figure it out and deal with it. That's not how he is. He says, "There's an answer. There's just a solution. There's a way that you can make it right. You stand before the authority, the God who knows, the God who is the witness. He's it exactly as it is in his great faithfulness, the make-print creator of it all." He sees us and he says, "I know what's really life, but he doesn't say, "I'm going to leave you there." There's a solution. There's an excerptation and the excerptation is found in verse 18. Here's what he advises. Here's what he says. Here's how God wants us to deal with sins that we tolerate. Here's how he wants us to deal with sins that we might you as respectively. We need to confront him and he says this, "I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire." You want to talk about riches? You want to talk about wealth? You want to talk about pure gold refined by fire? The Lord Jesus says, "Come to me. I offer you true riches. Come to me for your desire to be wealthy and secure and have all these advancements. You can find those things in me." God, he mentioned that we have two children, annicate, Annie, sometimes we call her 13. Jonathan, David, Johnny, he's 11. And I say to them, "We, my dear wife, my bride, my queen, my sweet, my fair one, Katie, we say to our children this, listen to this phrase, "Doing life God's way is the best way, so obey." Doing life God's way is the best way, so obey. And here's the point behind that statement. Just like Jesus is emphasizing here, you want abundance? You want to have a life where where you have meaning and purpose and joy and satisfaction. Come to me. I will give you the gold that you're looking for refined by fire that you may become rich. The abundant life he offers us. The abundant not life now and glory to come. He wants that, not in a prosperity theology sense, but he wants that for us that we might have what he intended, his blessing, and he says, "Come to me. I advise you to buy, buy from me gold, refined by fire that you may become rich." Next he says, "You know what? You want to be clothed To the nines, if you want to have the clothing you longed for, find it in me, the Lord Jesus sends. And white garments that you may clothes yourself. That's the kind of garments the Lord Jesus offers. Gold we can find riches in him clothing we can find garments of white from him. And then he talks about their next struggle. That the shame of your nakedness may be revealed. We're living in the year 2020. And many, many have emphasized the idea of having 2020 vision, 2020 vision, being able to see the way God's deeds. That's really the descriptions of the Lord Jesus Christ that our emphasize. He sees perfectly our condition. And here he says, you know what, you're really naked. That's your spiritual condition. And I want you to see it the way you need to see it. And that the shame of your nakedness may be revealed. That's an unveiling of disclosing that we might see the way it really is. And I, Saved to your point, excuse me, end of verse 18. And I Saved to anoint your eyes that you may see. Did you notice again, the correction or the instruction, the encouragement has everything to do with the struggles they were facing. Well, come to me for true refine gold clothing come to me, Jesus says, and I will give you garments of white medically being able to see well 2020 vision come to me and I'll give you the eyes out that will help you see the way I see. I love what he says next in verse 19. And this is true of a godly father. We find this true in and he was trapped. Our Heavenly Father and a good father father's day is this coming Sunday. You know what they do because they desperately and deeply love their children. They discipline them. Not always fun to do that, but it's the right thing for a godly father to do and our Heavenly Father does that motivated. You'll see in verse 19, motivated out of love. Those who my love, the Lord Jesus is referenced here is speaking here. Those who my love, I reproof and discipline. It's so hard, my friends, to admit that we're wrong. It's so hard to be shown a an air in our lives, especially in areas that we often don't think as a think of as simple things that we tolerate or respect and and for us to see from God's word or and or from the convicted of the Holy Spirit that you know what. And how it really is here is the reality of your condition and it's hard to admit that but that's what the Lord Jesus does for us. He says those who my love, I reproof or and or discipline. I never liked it when my dad had to say to me, John, you have done something wrong. This is not right and you are going to be disciplined because of it. I don't love staying in that to my children, but if I'm a good father, like our good, good father, we're going to love and discipline and we ought to and that's what is out of the Lord Jesus and our father here. I love I I reproof and discipline. I tell you like it is a faithful and witness the the amen the maker creator of all things. He's saying to the church at Lady, and by way of application, maybe to us that here's what's really like. And so the Lord Jesus says here's what I want you to do zealously I love this work. zealously that is with enthusiastic sincerity zealously therefore be zealously therefore every pen. So that's something we neglect all the time. Whenever we sin, we are supposed to say to our heavenly father and to those that we sin against, I'm sorry. I hate sin and I don't want to sin and I use sin the way God used sin and I asked you to forgive me. That needs to happen vertically and that needs to happen horizontally. And when we sin zealously repent, make things right again, be reminded he's talking to say people he's talking to Christians and he's saying to Christians, you need to own it as a believer when you sin, whether it's a sin that everybody agrees with us in or a sin that we tolerate and respect sometimes own it. So I'm going to say to our maker creator and to our savior, I'm so very sorry. I zealously repaid and you know what happens when we do. Be thrilled about it. He is able to just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all on the right. I have a reference as sins of tolerance or sins that we think are okay or respect, but you know those I would imagine and there are all sorts that fall into these categories and what we need to do is to use in the way God said. To use sin the way God used sin, the way God used sin into addressing God is never sinned nor has son of the Lord Jesus. Amen. So here, but we need to use sin the way God used sin and repent when we sin each and every time I got used to say we need to keep short accounts with God. I think the wrong thing and when I get angry or frustrated or when I'm prideful or self-reliant or when I use my tongue the wrong way or judge others, I need to be willing to say to God, I'm so sorry. I repent, please forgive me and will. And notice how this passage closes. This passage is very familiar and I think often is misinterpreted because it's a group of people that are saved. And so imagine where you attend the church. I know you probably haven't been meeting together bodily but think about the building where you meet and imagine gathering together with saints. Imagine that and you the church together inside and there's a knock at the door and somebody finally goes to the door and guess who's there. This is for illustration purposes, my friends. Yes, who's there is the Lord Jesus. And he says to you to your local church wherever you may gather with the building where you assemble or gather there the Lord Jesus is outside of it knocking at a meeting. He says to you once the doors are open. You know what can I please come in. I want to dine with you and I want you to dine with me. I want to have fellowship that is sweet. So it is not theoretical or wrong to say that's what he does with people who are unsafe knocks at their heart store and says let me in. There's all kinds of scripture that would support this but I would suggest you at least to consider that he's dealing with a saved group of people and he's saying to them things are not right. Because of sin that you are unwilling to see or acknowledge because of your comfort and because of your tolerance of sin. Our relationship is not right. And so Jesus says in verse 20, behold, I stand at the door and off. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him and he with me. Let me say this to you. I have never been to India, but I would love to go sometimes. And if I were to visit you in your country and in your land, you know what I would love to do. I would love to have some authentic Indian food. You don't see all of me right now, but the truth is I love. I appreciate weaver and God's bountiful care provision and actually I need to be careful in regards to how much I consume. I love it. I love it. And what I also love is not just what we eat, but the sweet fellowship of sharing a meal with somebody where we can eat together. My mom used to say, you know what, the most important part of a piece of furniture and someone's house is the table because it's there where we can gather. We've been doing that a ton, especially during all things COVID-19 where we sit together and have fellowship together around the table. And Jesus is saying, I miss that. church that may have been seen. I missed that and we don't have the relationship we should have because of tolerance and accepting of all kinds of sins. Maybe the culture says it's okay, make our world says it's okay but our God doesn't say it's okay and so we need to boost in the way God used to ask God to help us to hate sin and love him more. There's a promise here at the end and it says this, "He who overcomes and that's believers, he who overcomes I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne as I all over came and sat down with my father on his throne." You believe that? How's that for sweet fellowship? That's the art and he who overcomes again, verse 21, "I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne as I also came and sat down with my father on his throne." The wonderful thing to be reminded of what Christ has accomplished and maybe you don't owe Christ as your Savior. So allow me to say to you this, the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, for his sins. He was buried. He was again in Christine so we might have our sins forgiven and might indeed have a relationship restored with him. And once we receive that free gift of salvation, he wants our relationship to grow and grow and grow and to be as healthy and strong as can be and sins of intolerance, sins that we tolerate or respectable sins, the hinder our fellowship with the Savior. So he says, again, "delicently repent." So we can dine together. In one day, you can spend time with me and sit with me, sit down with me on my throne. Verse 22, "Like the end of all seven of these letters," it says, "He who has ears, he who has an ear, he who has an ear, what the Spirit says to the Churches." So I pray that's our case in case that all of us who have ears and can hear physically and spiritually but must stand to a church that existed long ago and is by way of application for us today that we would hear it. And that we would listen to it and that we would respond appropriately to it as well. I've used the phrase "Face the Music" on several occasions today and even in the promotional video and I want to read you in closing the story of this phrase because really that's what the church at Leia just had to do. "Face the Music" and you see what their real temperature was and how it was that way and how they could deal with it appropriately from a loving father who disciplines, takes it zealously repent and admits, "This is how it is and I'm sorry and I'm wrong and I want to have sweet fellowship dining with you, my Savior and looking forward to throne time with you in the future." Here's the story of the phrase entitled "Face the Music." Have you ever heard the expression "Face the Music"? Here's how the phrase came about. Many years ago a man wanted one to play in the imperial orchestra but he couldn't play a note as he was a person of great wealth and influence, however, he demanded to be allowed to join the orchestra so that he had performed in front of the king. The conductor agreed to play and sit in the second row of the orchestra even though he could read music, he was given a flute and when concert would begin he would raise his instrument, pucker her, pucker his lips and move his fingers. He went through all the motions of playing but he never made a sound. This deception went on for two years, can you imagine? Then one day a new conductor took over the imperial orchestra. He told the orchestra that he told the orchestra that he wanted to personally audition all the players to see how well they could play. The audition would lead out all those who weren't able to meet his standards and he would dismiss them from the orchestra. One by one the players performed in his presence. Frantic with worry when it was his turn, the phonies, floutists pretended to be sick. The doctor who was ordered to am in him, however, declared that he was perfectly well. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. Shame, basically, the man had to confess that he was a face. That was the day he had to face the music. Certainly, to see a had a day when they had to face the music. When the Savior said, "I wish that you were hot," or "I wish that you were cold," but the truth is your lukewarm and it makes me sick. And I'll squeeze you out of my mouth. The thing, everything's fine. Everything really is not because you have pride and self-reliance and arrogance and dependent on material blessing and wealth and industrial successes. And the truth is that you really are bored. You're really, really naked and you're really blind. But if you would just realize riches are found in me, the Lord Jesus says, "Gold refined by fire." If you just realized a wardrobe extravagant is found in me, garments of white, you would just realize, "I offer the perfect ISAB that can bring you 2020 vision." They're all found in me. Doing life my way is the best way, so obey. It's time to zealously repent. Zealously repent. And face the music before a loving God who disciplines us. So we might have healthy fellowship with them and look forward to a time when we have grown time with him literally as well. I pray that those of us who have years to hear might hear and might respond accordingly. It's time to face the music. Thank you for the privilege of being with you today. Thank you, brother. I was on the block. That message was, was for me, I should say, more than anything else. Many times we don't look at our own lives as we move on. There are times when we need to pray the prayer, Lord. Help me to hate my sin and love you more. And every time day in and day out, I think we need to look at our own lives and see where God is taking us, where God is deeding us. And in what areas that I need to change, because we are not perfect yet. But one day we will be like him. Thank you for sharing those words or wisdom from the word. And I pray that these words will be encouraging to many who have heard this message, both on Zoom and maybe there are many who are going to be out on YouTube later on. I just got the news that our brother in the UAE died because of COVID. And he's a young brother and he has two kids. And we remember the family again and we just remember the times that we are in. And if God has done all these kind of things, he's allowed all this. It is for a reason. It is because of something that we are tolerating in our lives. And I hope and pray that each one of us look at our own lives and change. Before we go to the question on this session, we will do a polling. Polling is basically a feedback that we want from you. Because I just forgot to say that we actually got this topic because of the suggestions that you gave us. So what we're going to do is polling is going to question by the question that we'll be popped up on your screen and you just have to take it. So I request the host to kind of put on the polling. There's only four questions. So the first two questions you can answer either one of them is really one option. And the third and the fourth is multiple options. So we also, since the lockdown is kind of closing up in India and some cities, if you want to know if any other particular day is beneficial for you or any other time is beneficial for you. So just go ahead and do the polling. It won't take it will take probably a hardly 10 seconds. So really help us to do this better. If you finish the polling, I also wanted to do two open-ended questions. You need to find the host, Justice George. And you need to, the first question is what are some future topics you would like to discuss. I would suggest that needs to be talked about. And the second one is any comments on this session. If you have any comments, so number one is what are some future topics you would suggest. And second is comments on this session. So just figure it out as a feedback to the host. So don't do a chat to everyone, but go to the chat option and chat with Justice George. He should be the host and he should be right on top. So I privately chat with him and send him these feedbacks. So while you're doing that, I just like to give you the instructions of a question on session. I think most of you know I have tight some questions. But if you like ask any questions, do the raise hand, just do the raise hand and Joel will get in touch with you. Or type the question pigeonhole or in the zoom chat privately to Noel Wergees and Richard comes. What we do is we will I will be handing over the question on the session Noel and Noel will ask the questions. And if there's anyone who's raised hand, Joel will bring them up out and then we can ask the question directly to the position. I hope I was clear. So the raise hand option is right there. If you go to participants raise hand option will be the right there and also be in the more button, more part raise hand. So I request you to fill in the feedback. What are some topics we like to see in the future to be discussed and number one is comments in the session. So so we move on to the question on the session. I request brother Noel from Kuchee to take over this session. Hi everyone. Hi, well, John. So, godly as mentioned the various steps in which you can ask the question and we have just come by. The questions that have come to us and I'll go directly to the first question. Here's the question. John in an ever changing word since that we taught rate might be a relative term of race. What a legalist considers a sin might be okay for someone else. How do we discern where do we draw the line? Should I just repeat it once again? Sure, let me find. All right. In an ever changing world since that we taught rate might be a relative term of race. It's a very good question and I will I will attempt to be. Short and succinct in my responses, although there's so much that could be said in regards to that question. My my first response would be even though culture is ever changing and so as a perspective is ever changing as well. The word God isn't. The word God is consistently the same. The word of God does not change and the standards that he that we find therein are the same. And so I think it's imperative that we keep our our finger on the page of God's word. God's word is the authority. It is the the blueprint or the map that we are to adhere to and follow. The idea of legalism and the reality is there are there are two extremes to scripture that we are to avoid. And perhaps you on your own can swear we are today and maybe you have evidence is about these things but legal is is something that the least is talks about that is mentioned all throughout scripture legal is a is a perspective that has been I behave this way I can have a certain standing or a certain relationship with God by my a keeper of these rules. And that's that's consistent with how God views us and view us through finished work of his son, the Lord Jesus. But legal is nevertheless we can see this in Philippians as well is a mind that that's just if I keep these rules and if I obey and follow these rules and I'm okay. We know that extreme is wrong but we also know the extreme of licentiousness is wrong as well. Do talks about that all talks about that several of his writings also there's no law there's no standard everybody is doing what is right in their own eyes and there the authority and they say this is my truth and this is what I think is okay or is not okay and I would submit to you the both perspectives and extremes are wrong. Legalism is is another way that we are to live nor is licentious living way we are to live we are to live quiet and peace lives coming before our savior and privacy to follow him to be learners and levers of what Christ thought and so more to be said but keeping our finger on the page of God's words never changes and being consistent in our interpretation of what Scripture says a danger that's very popular today our culture is to say this I think this means this I think this means this and therefore I'm going to live this way it should be that we are consistently interpreting together with is a science and an art and it's a lot good hard work I hope I address your question each part of that more to come I'm sure. All right thanks brother here's the next question how do we help someone else realize he or she is tolerating a sin or sins that he or she shouldn't be tolerating sometimes our approach towards correction could lead the other person to recent us or go astray I just repeat it once again how do we help someone else realize he or she is tolerating a sin or sins that he or she shouldn't be tolerating sometimes our approach towards correction could lead the other person to recent us or go astray. The excellent question as was the previous I would begin by saying that prayer is essential if we are keeping our finger on the page of God's word and we have brothers or sisters love ones friends individuals that are living in a way that we know is inconsistent God's word we need to pray firstly for that individual we need to pray earnestly that the Lord will give us opportunity to address the area of concern and that we would address it in the right way. There's examples in second in secondity where sanctity chapter two or fall is being referred to or refers to believers as as bond servants and and and talks about how we interact with individuals and there are also many passages that evidence that we need to come with humility of mind and deal with sin and deal with the subject matter in a very humble manner Galatians as well the intergalatians talks about how we need to deal very so really when addressing areas it's with other individuals. I have an elder that influenced my life greatly when I lived in Tennessee for over 11 years and he shared this with me and I have found it very very helpful it's this you can say anything to anyone based upon the way you say it you can say anything anyone based upon the way you say I would also say practically and you may not agree with this and that's okay but practically I would I would try to have someone else with you. Matthew 18 talks about individual to individual and then have others involved in so be careful and biblical on how you do that but perhaps having another individual involved would be very beneficial and and again not so I'matically do I say this but often it helps to have gender specific confrontation. I don't have a chapter in verse for that but James the practical reality of the life in which we live that that could through to be helpful as well. So be positive for your consideration. All right. Just wanted to put it forward before I go to next question if you would like to directly interact with brother John and ask the question you could raise your hand and Joel would unmute you. I'll go to the next question. If I belong to a lukewarm church and the church continues to be that way should I leave the church? Jesus wants to spit them out of his mouth. So would this mean continuing there would make me lukewarm. So it's a two part, but since I'll just repeat it again, if I belong to a lukewarm church and the church continues to be that way, should I leave the church? So would me continuing there make me lukewarm. Another good question I would begin by saying this that I would attempt to humbly and appropriately have a conversation with a leader or the leaders of a local church to dialogue and evaluate together. I can humbly and appropriately talking to the leadership and this emptying you expressed your sincere concern. Your desire to not be this way, but your perspective that perhaps the church is this way as well. I think I've been elder and a church for many many years, not clearly because I think I travel too much to serve appropriately in that capacity. But it's a difficult role to be as separate in the local church. So I would attempt to love and respect the leadership and attempt to bring this to their attention and to do purpose as an individual not to be this way. I think an individual can make a difference. I think an individual can be taught or called lukewarm. I would say it would be very challenging but perhaps those are there are individual or an individual that you can influence to be taught or called with you in order to change the temperature of that little church. I would try everything possible first before making a decision to leave a local church. If there is late, late, and obvious sin that is being non-addressed, I think at some point leading a church that is allowing for sin to be part of that has its merit and space. But I would say do not do so lightly. I think leaving a local church should happen very little where the doctrinal compromise, that's a reason for such for perhaps the inability to submit to a group of leaders, whatever reason or the lack of opportunity to give this but really opportunity to leave the church should be few and far in between. So I would say in summary the hotter cold yourself, the health is available through the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ. You can be different even though many around you appear to not be such a temperature. Prely crazy and try to get others to join with you and then respectfully try bringing it to the leadership's descendant hoping they might see a perspective and purpose of bringing about change as well. Remember what was quiet in the local church in Laid-A-Sea? There had to be repentance and mitting something was wrong and jealousy repenting and that's often better for us to do. All right. For the next question, the person has quoted the same verse, Revelation 3 verse 15, "I will see you thee out of my mode." So the question is, "Will God really reject us when we become luquon in our faith?" So the question is, "Will God really reject us when we become luquon in our faith?" It's a good question and a principle of Bible study is this that we should always interpret Scripture in a light of other Scripture. Scripture never contradicts itself. We should interpret Scripture in harmony with what the Master of Scripture says and specifically in regards to one's salvation. We know clearly that the word of my teaching is that those who truly accept the free gift of salvation, John 524 tells us they have passed from death under life. So that's a one-time bill. It's a transaction. He who has life, John writes these things that we might know that we have eternal life. So the assurance of eternal life and the security of the believer, when we look at what Scripture says, indicates that those who are genuinely and truly are saved cannot lose that salvation. And so this verse is not talking about salvation in regard to accepting and rejecting. It's talking about the reaction of the Lord Jesus Christ, the believers that are not living the way that He wants us to live. It saddens Him. It sickened Him. It disappoints Him. And just like when you were hoping for cold water or hot water to consume or drink, and the lukewarm is what you have, often the response is the stew out of that liquid. And so it's an illustration to describe the Lord s reaction to a person who is a believer. I think contextually we have to see the church as believers and how we feel as believers that are living in sin and not willing to admit it. Not willing to do so. Alright, so I just, this question came up now. How to deal effectively without thought life and pursue holiness? So I'll repeat it again. That's a fantastic question. And not that the others work by the way. But a great question. And really that heart of all of I think that should be our heart and I live the window Lord Jesus wants us to live. And how can I pursue holy living? I would say to you that we need to be feeding on the Word of God. I'm not saying this bagadotiously, but many passages that tell us how we can deal with sin and how we can deal with sanctification. So I would want you in the direction of a Roman chapter, verse 1 through 14. I want you in the direction of 2 Peter 1 verses 1 through 11. In summary, I would sit to you in and of ourselves. We are unable to live our lives this way. But because we have the Holy Spirit who dwell within us, it has much to do with walking in the spirit which has everything to do with obedience. Another passage for consideration is 1 John chapter 2 verse 28 through chapter 3 verse 3 where it talks about the importance of binding, remaining continually in God's word to behold what wondrous love the Father has was taught upon us. And when we view the Lord Jesus the right way and when we think about what will happen in the future it says in verse 3 of John 3, we will purify ourselves just as he is pure. Titus chapter 2 verses 11 through 13. For the grace of God that bringing salvation to have the pure, to the man that great does something. It teaches us. It teaches us God's grace that we need to deny on Godliness, in the world of lust and love, and live soberly and righteousness and Godly right now in this present age. Looking for that blessed hoping, glorious appearing of our great God in Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. And so much much more could be said but living ethically and living the whole of life has everything to do with feeding and abiding and staying in God's word and allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in our lives. And I'll say this, it's hard work. It's not something that's like an ADM or a pill we can take that's automatic. It takes discipline and hard work. And the spiritual disciplines of the mind as well. I've mentioned some of those Bible study and prayer. The idea of being in good fellowship with the local church and being influenced positively by other individuals as well. The only question and temptation the right thing. Much more could be said but those are some passages that you can turn to that can help you in the area of progressive sanctification. All right, brother, John, we're just coming to the end of our question and session. So this is one I wouldn't say it as a question, but this has been ordered the highest on this on pigeon hold. So I just put it out to you and maybe you can just conclude by closing remarks on it. I'm guilty of my sins, but then my feet cleave to it. I'm not able to deal with it no matter what. Have cried a couple of times and ask forgiveness, but then that sin is not letting go of me. So this is a statement that the person has put in. Maybe you can conclude with your remarks on it. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate this statement and the honesty of the individual who made such a statement. And I would say to this individual that there is reason to be of great hope. There's reason to be hopeful in the area of sin. And I would also say practically that sometimes there's help needed. I don't know what sin is being inferenced here, but sometimes there's assistance or help that is needed from a local church or from those who might have dealt with this person or might have a good biblical understanding of how to be set free from sins. Often that are habitual, that are hard to to bring free from, but the principles remain the same. Galatians 2.20 comes of mine. I have been crucified with pride. That's a true state. I've been crucified with Christ. Never the last I live. I'm still alive. Yet not I. It's not me doing the living, but it's Christ that lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh, here's how I do it. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. All we tell us in Romans 6, again, I referenced that earlier, but Romans 6, 1 through 14, I would say three words in summary that describe that asage. The first is no. K-O-W, it's intellectual, it's cognitive, it has everything to do with viewing ourselves correctly and viewing ourselves the way God does our identity and position in regards to sin that we've been set free from. No is the first word. The second word is consider. Consider. The idea of personally and emotionally saying not only is it factually true, it's personally true for me. I consider myself to be dead just in and alive to God. Thirdly, it's all about the word present, presentation. It's who we feed. Are we feeding our flesh or are we feeding the Holy Spirit? So no, consider, present is a simple summary of our whole passage and Roman chapter 1 14. But again, I would say to you perhaps there needs to be assistance from a godling individual in your local church or someone in your world. I would suggest that you're saying gender to help you with this area of struggle. And I conclude with a track that not the track, but will reference in the track that I've used where there is extreme sin. The students dealt with or others who have struggled to sin. There are three final things quickly. Number one is extreme amputation. Extreme amputation. That doesn't mean cutting off body parts, but extreme amputation cutting out of your life, anything and everything that brings about the temptation to sit in this area. Extreme amputation. Sincently extreme obedience, obeying whether you feel like it or not. Extreme obedience and thirdly extreme accountability, accountability vertically. Again, with someone that can be trusted, ideally of your gender that's godly and spiritually mature. But only accountability only works when horizontal accountability between person and person is designed to keep us accountable for a holy and righteous God. Extreme accountability. Three extremes. Extreme amputation. Extreme obedience and extreme accountability. Many thanks and many blessings, such a privilege and honor to be with you all today. May God bless you, Rich. Just kind of pray. Be happy to pray. Let's close together. Father, I simply would ask that you would help us all to hate sin and love you more or may we view sin the way you view sin. All of it may we view it the way you view it and may we confess our sins when we have believers sin. May we repent zealously and may we take confidence and comfort and comfort in the fact that when we have believers sin, you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Father, help us not to be lukewarm. Help us not to view sin lightly and to have sins that we would consider respectable or sins that can tolerate it. But to pray that we would view all sin the way you do and that be the Holy Spirit would live in us and through us producing fruit of the Spirit and not the works of our flesh instead or in contrast. Father, help us to yield, help us to abide, help us to walk and help us when we fail to zealously repent experiencing, restore, relationship that we can have through your Son, the Lord Jesus. It's in His name we pray in the middle of it.