Okay, turning your bottles, if you will, to the Book of Revelation chapter one. I'm going to continue our study on the Book of Revelation. And we're going to spend a lot of time on the Book of Revelation. Revelation chapter one, verse four. You say we've been there before, yeah, I know, if we have. Revelation chapter one, verse four, John, to the seven churches which are in Asia. grace be unto you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits or before his throne. Can anybody hear me by the way? If you can't let me know I'll turn speaker on. Sometimes these things are a little bit noisy but if you can't hear me let me know otherwise we'll continue. And And then, on down if you will, let's see here, in verses, oh, let's see, where do I want to go? Verse 11. Saying, I am Alpha, and I'll make of the first and the last. And what thou seeest right in a book, and send it unto the seven churches, which are in Asia, unto Ephesus and Smirna and Pergamus. by a tyra, a sardis, filled up yet and allowed to see it. You might wonder why the Lord wanted to pick these churches out in Asia. I'm going to try to answer that question this morning. Also, there's a couple other things we need to point out. To every church, Jesus said, I know thy works. He knows our works. He knows everything that you and I do. He knows if you're serving him, he knows if you're not. He knows if you trust him. He knows if you're not. He knows if you have faith or not. He knows everything. Another thing he said was to every church, first of all, he said, I know thy works to every church he said, who so ever overcome it, he would give this and give that and give that. And then another thing he said to every church, he had an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayeth unto the churches. He that hath an ear, let him hear. So you wonder why we try to teach the Bible because God said to do that. He that hath an ear, let him hear. So we're going to answer the question this morning and then when we get done with all of the seven churches, we're going to spend time on the seven churches, we're going to look at their doctrine, what they taught, and then when we're all done, we're going to go back and take a look at some of the promises that God made to the Church. He said, I'll give you to eat of the Tree of Life. We're going to try to answer the question, what is the Tree of Life? If the Lord promised me eternal life and ever lasting life, then once I get into heaven, do I have to eat of the Tree of Life? So we're going to answer that question and a lot of other questions. What is the crown of life? What is the crown of life? And so we're going to go back when we get through with all these churches and answer those questions. So we're going to spend a lot of time on a book of Revelation. I know you'd like to get into the heart of Revelation and see what all the terrible plagues that are going on. Well, be patient, it'll be somewhere down the road. So turn in your Bible, if you will, we're going to take a little bit closer look at the church at Ephesus, which was the capital of Asia and why God chose the seven churches throughout Asia to give us the warnings in the book of Revelation. There's a reason for that. So turn in your Bibles to the Book of Acts chapter 19 and then we'll get back on to the seven churches once again. Why did the Lord Jesus Christ choose the seven churches throughout Asia. The reason is simply, as an example, they were the best example that he could find. In Acts chapter 18 verses 19 to 21, we see that Paul is in Ephesus. He spent three years in Ephesus teaching them, teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ. Did he teach him? Well, he certainly didn't teach him the New Testament. There wasn't any. There was no New Testament. He taught them everything about the Lord Jesus Christ. So let's begin if you will. And well, we're going to just cover a few verses, if you will. In Acts chapter 19, verse 1, it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper borders post, came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples. We're going to skip that and I want you to go to verse 8. While Paul was in Ephesus in verse 8 and he Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. And when divers or some were hardened and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude. He departed from them and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the School of One, Tarenus. And this continued for the space of two years. So pay attention to this verse, if you will, underline it, do whatever. And this continued for the space of two years, so that all they who dwelt in Asia, that's the seven churches in Revelation. Plus, the entire continent of Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. There's the reason Paul the Apostle chose the churches in Asia. They were a perfect example. And all they who dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. You know, the Lord couldn't say that about me. If he did, he'd say, not hardly anybody in Madison, heard the word of the Lord from Dan. That's probably what he'd say. Not very many. A few here and there were not many. But when he came to call the apostle, everybody heard the word. The entire conversation. Everybody. In verse 11, and God brought special miracles by the hands of Paul. I'm reading these for some reasons, by the way, so I want you to pay attention. And God brought special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Why did God draw special miracles by the hands of Paul? There's a simple answer. Prove that he was God. The proof that God was behind all these things that were going on. Do we have the ability to use these verses today? No. If you see a TV preacher or somebody they also will you just write me and I'll send you this little prayer cloth and it'll heal you. It's a lie. It's one of Satan's lies. They didn't have the New Testament. Thank you very much. Now let's prove this. So go in your Bibles to the book of Mark 16th chapter, the very last chapter. Now remember in the book of Acts this was a brand new thing. We're beginning the church, right? The church age is starting, but no new testament. In Mark chapter 16, verse 15, and he, the Lord said unto them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And then on down, verse 19, so then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God, and they went forth and preached everywhere. the Lord working with them and confirming the Word with signs following Amen. Back to the Book of Acts. Let's read verse 11 one more time. Now remember he told him to go preach the gospel, right? So in verse 10, the last part of the verse and heard the word of Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks, everybody in Asia, and God wrote special miracles by the hands of Paul. Didn't we just read that in Mark Chapter 16, very last verse, sure he brought special miracles with signs following. Why would he do that, confirming the Word? So that from his body that Paul were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs, not for today preachers, not for today, why the Bible is complete? No more need for all these special things that took place. down in verse 17. Now we could read a lot of things from verse 12 through 17, but you can read that for yourself. This is about some bag of bond exercises and so forth. Verse 17, and this was known to all the Jews and Greeks, also dwelling at Ephesus, and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. You know what's a sad thing? The Lord Jesus, the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified, And now that we have a Bible, it is hardly ever magnified, isn't it? It's pretty sad. And then in verse 18, I want you to pay close attention to this verse. You might look at this verse and read it. Not paying attention to it, but I want you to pay close attention. And many of that believed, stop right there. Look up here for just a minute. What happens when you believe? You're saved, right? Didn't know what the Bible said. you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you believe he died with buried and rose again you believe that you are saved that salvation now let's read on down if you will and many that believed came and confessed and showed their deeds what does that mean that's your service isn't there a difference between salvation and service if you confess and show your deeds that's your service for price but you know how many people never do a lot of people get saved and they go their own way and they don't want anybody to even know it I want to go out and drink a party with the boys I don't want them to know I'm saved and even if I do I'm not going to tell anybody oh I just don't want to get into that rut you know but that's the difference between salvation and service many that believed saved, came and confessed and showed their deeds. That's my service. You don't run down an aisle and confess Christ to get saved. That's a lie. Right straight out of hell. You don't confess Christ in order to get saved if you do, then he lied. But I don't think he did. On down, if you will, let's go if you will to chapter 20. I'll go over here if you will to chapter 20. By the way hold your place and let's go over to chapter 26 if you will. To book the back, chapter 26. And let's go to verse 20, as long as we're here. Those were on the subject of salvation and service. I don't know how we got on a subject. Yeah, I do. I did it. Verse 20. After the Lord Jesus Christ gets through talking to Paul, then Paul speaks up in verse 20 and he says but showed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coast of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God. Hold it right there and look up here for just a minute if you will. What does that mean by the way? Right. Change your mind. Does it mean turn from sin? No. It means repent and turn to God from your false religion that you believe that you're getting to heaven by doing this, doing that, repent, change your mind, turn to God. What do I do when I turn to God? Well let's go back up if you will, the verse 18, verse 18, the words of Christ, to open their eyes, now he's telling Paul, I'm sending you here, Paul, to open their eyes and to turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive forgiveness of sins, that salvation, right? I receive salvation, I receive forgiveness of sins when I change my mind and turn to God instead of my good works for salvation. Now look at the rest of that verse and do works meet or fit for repentance what does that mean? That's my service. The first of all I repent turned to God put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I'm saved. Then he says to do good works meet for repentance. In other words if you really change your mind and you're really saved then do good works to show that you've changed your mind. Do you understand that? I hope you do. Now then back to chapter 20 of the book of Acts, if you will. Chapter 20. Oh, let's see here. Where do we want to go? In chapter 20, let's see here. Let's go to verse 20, if you will. All the Apostle depends himself. He's ready to leave Ephesus. Ephesus in the center of Asia. The first church mentioned in the Booker Revelation, the same church that fall wrote, called Ephesians, same church, the capital of Asia, where the Temple of Diana was, no matter if they had temples to Diana all over the place. And he said in verse 20, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God. What does that mean? Change your mind and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 24, last part of the verse, which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more. Paul was getting ready to leave Ephesus. He'd been in Ephesus preaching the Lord Jesus Christ's salvation by grace through faith. How easy it really is. Don't trust your own good words. Don't trust some preacher. Don't trust anything but the simple gospel believing the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. And then in verse 28, Paul says, take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made you overseers, to feed the Church of God with she had purchased with his own blood. Let me ask you something, who do you think this warning was written to you? Yes, Christians. This warning was written to you. Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock. Over which the Holy Ghost had made you overseers to feed the church, which he had purchased with his own blood. He died for us. He purchased us. Take heed. the warning is take heed. Never sail a different course other than Jesus Christ shed his blood for your sins. Never take another route. You did not die on the cross for your sins. You cannot pay for your sins. I don't care what you do. I don't care what church you attend. I don't care what denomination you call yourself. I don't care if you're a Baptist, a Methodist, a Lutheran, a Democrat, a Republican. I don't care you cannot pay for your own sins. Yeah. First, 29. Listen, he continues the warning, so pay attention. For I know this, he didn't say, no, I think or I wonder, he didn't say that he said, I know this, no, pay attention. That after my departing, shall previous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. That's the warning. Also of your own self shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Look at the next verse, the very first therefor watch. Therefore, you know what's going to happen when I'm dead and gone? Two things are going to happen. They're going to come in grievous wolves from without and they're going to come in grievous wolves from with them and they're going to do everything they can to destroy this little church market now who's gonna say who's gonna protect it you hope you better yeah you better you better protect how do you protect it by the way yeah you stay in the truth absolutely remember what he said in the book of Ephesus in Revelation he said you have left your first love what is your first love the truth it better be the truth I hope it's not yourselves because if you love yourselves you've got a problem your first love had better be the truth you better love the why why because it's the truth that got you saved isn't it it's the truth that forgave your sins when you put your faith faith in trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. And so Paul gave the warning. And then he wrote Ephesians, but you know if you read the book Ephesians, he never really had to correct the church at that point in time, but the Lord Jesus Christ did later. Back to the Bible here, if you will. I remember talking to a preacher one time. I probably told you before, but he said, when he built a church, we had a big church in St. Ruth. He built it and started it, and we had a little conflict. We were talking, and he said, he never realized that when he set up his ammunition to protect his church, he said he had his ammunition pointed everywhere, but he didn't stop to realize that you had to set your guns up inside the church. He said, I never thought about that. his church became destroyed from within. He never thought about that. He said, I know this that after my departing grief shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things who draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember that for the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. And then he goes on down and I have shown you all things how that so laboring you ought to support the week and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. And then in verse 36 he knelt down and prayed and so forth and he departed from Ephesus. Now back to Revelation, if you will, chapter 1. Hold you, we're going to spend a lot of time in Revelation. Excuse me, Chapter 2 Revelation, unto the angel, messenger of the Church of Ephesus, right. These things say of he that holds at the seven stars in his hand, right hand, who walk at the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, the seven churches, I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience and how that doubt cannot bear them who are evil and it's tried them who say they are apostles look up here for a minute how did they put them on trial how did they do that yes who said that yeah you test them with the truth the Bible you know whenever you see any doctor any any church any organization. You compare it to the Bible and if it doesn't compare, there's something wrong. I don't care what organization it is. First of all, every false church will do either one or all three of these things. They will deny that Jesus Christ is God. They will deny salvation by grace. It'll all can't be that easy. You got to do this. You got to do that. And I'm talking about the Baptist, the Methodist, Lutheran Catholic every one of them. It's not that easy. Billy Graham said you've got to make a commitment. You know you're a liar Billy Graham. I'm sorry. You lied. You're a good preacher Billy but you lied. You don't have to make a commitment. The Bible says believe in Lord Jesus Christ and now shall be saved. Doesn't say anything about commitment. Does it? You lied Billy. Always try on with the word of God. and then on down if you will and we will close with this. Remember what Paul said. He said, Grebus Wolves are going to come in from outside and then the people that are inside, they're going to distort your thinking in all these things. Verse 6, on down in verse 6. The Lord said in verse 5, remember from where there are fallen, they fall from the truth, they fell from the truth, so they were starting to slide backwards you see. And then in verse 6, but this thou hast that thou haitest the deeds of the Nicolayetans, which I also hate. Remember what we said to the Nicolayetans were? The word Nicco means overcome. Remember the word overcome it? To him that overcome it comes from the Greek word Nicola. The word Nicolaetans means overcomer. The Nicco means overcome. Laity means people. Overcomers of the people. One more person and we'll close. I'm gonna go back to the book of Acts. You don't have to do this if you don't want. Chapter 20. Remember, the overcomers of the people in verse 30, Acts chapter 20, and also of your own self, shaman arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them, the Nicolayatins, the overcomers of the people. You know how not to be overcome by someone you go to the Bible? Who's word of God? If you go to the Bible, the word of God and you keep it in perspective and you keep it honest and truthful, you cannot be overcome by false doctrine. You cannot be overcome by the Nicolayitans because they're going to be everywhere. I can give you a hundred examples but I know a church where they tell people among other things that they have to give a certain amount every month and if they don't they'll go so far as to kick them out of the church. I guess they don't want to be eating their wafers what's they pay for. I don't know what to do. I would call those people Nicolay at this, over-comers of the people, in closing we'll get back on Revelation here next week, somehow or other, I don't know how, but anyway the Bible says, we're all sinners, doesn't it? This hand represents me, this represents my sin. I can go to and pay for my own sin, or the Bible says very simply Christ died on the cross was buried and rose again, and the Bible says all I have to do is believe it. The word believe, the Greek word pistilio, and it means to have faith in, to trust, and to give one credit for. Look it up in the original Greek someday. Give one, do who I give credit for my sins, Jesus Christ paid for my sins. I have faith in the fact that he paid for my sins. Now you don't have to do that, but hell is a pretty hot place, isn't it? Let's have word of prayer and we will close. That's really burning. Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, the way you thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ, if you hear this morning and you don't know you're going to heaven when you die right now before we close just between you and the Lord, just say, Lord, I believe you died on a cross for my sins and then just thanking for it. And if you've already done that, then just remember, he wants us to serve him by faith. He wants us to witness for him, Acts chapter 1 verse 8. He wants us to tell others how easy it is to have eternal life. The reason he wants us to do that is because Satan does want anybody to go to heaven. He wants everybody to go to hell and be with him for all eternity. It's up to you and I to tell him how easy it is to go to heaven. so they don't have to go to hell and dear Lord we thank you for the opportunity to be with us for you and dear Lord we thank you for dying on the cross for our sins in Christ's name amen