When Darwin finished bringing
his message, I took out my notepad and I wrote down a question. I wonder, I wonder what God might do with
a man utterly committed to the gospel. Wonder what God might do with
a congregation of believers utterly committed to the gospel, to his
will, his glory, his son, salvation of his elect. I wonder what he might do. If men and women could unite
around the Son of God, really unite around one another, with
one another around Him for His glory, and never allow petty,
peevish, selfish interest to interfere. Utterly commit themselves
to the cause of Christ. wonder what God might do. Open your Bibles, if you will,
to Revelation chapter 1. Revelation chapter 1. If you want to know what the
book of Revelation is about, You read the first five words
and you'll understand the book. It is the revelation of Jesus
Christ. Not a revelation, not many revelations. The revelation of Jesus Christ. The book is all about the triumph
of Christ and his church over all things by the gospel. That's the whole message of the
book of Revelation. John is given this book in seven
visions. Each vision stands on its own. Each vision begins with the first
advent of our Redeemer and concludes with the second coming of our
Savior, his glorious second advent, proclaiming the sure triumph
of Christ and his church by the gospel. Christ is going to win. Our Redeemer is going to win.
His church is going to win. His gospel is going to win. There's
no question about it. We go through many battles, many
struggles, many deep valleys, many high mountains must be crossed,
much tribulation, much difficulty, but Christ and His church will
triumph at last by the gospel of God's free grace. The revelation
of Jesus Christ which he gave unto him, to show unto his servants
things which must shortly come to pass." Read the word shortly,
either shortly as in matter of time, or suddenly as unexpected. Either way is alright. It's only
been a couple of days since John wrote this. That's right, isn't it? A thousand
years are with God as just a day, and a day as a thousand years.
It's been a couple of days since John wrote this. These things
must suddenly, shortly come to pass. And he signified it by
his angel unto his servant John, who bear record of the word of
God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things
that he saw. Now watch this. Blessed is he
that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy. Blessed are they who read this
book and hear it. Blessed are they who read and
hear the word of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein, who hold them fast, believe them, stand by
them, For the time is at hand. The time is at hand. John to the seven churches which
are in Asia. Grace be unto you and peace from
him which is and which was and which is to come. Grace and peace
be to you from the eternal God. Him which is, which was, which
is to come. And from the seven spirits which
are before his throne. The word seven spirits do not
mean there are seven spirits of God, but rather the word is
given in the plural to show us the perfection of the work and
person of God the Holy Spirit. And from Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, The faithful revelation of God. And the first
begotten of the dead. The first one to be raised from
the dead by his own power. The first one to be raised from
the dead to die no more. The first one to be raised from
the dead as the first fruits of the resurrection. He's raised
from the dead and because he's finished redemption because he's
accomplished the salvation of his people He has been made the
prince of the kings of the earth He earned the right as the God-man
mediator to rule the universe for the glory of God and the
saving of his people unto him, now watch this, that loved us
and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Whenever you read
the book of God, everywhere in this book, everywhere in this
book, Where it speaks of the work of Christ for the salvation
of sinners. Where it speaks of the work of
Christ for the saving of his people. Everywhere it speaks
of it. It speaks of it as being a particular
work for a particular people, effectually accomplished. There's
not a hint, Brother Pledger, anywhere in this book that it
loved anybody but his elect. Or redeemed anybody but his elect.
Not a hint anywhere in this book. Because the glory of God Revealed
in the accomplished work of our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ.
He loved us He washed us from our sins and he did it with his
own blood now watch this and hath made us kings and priests
unto God kings and priests unto God priests who wear a crown
and Kings who have a sacrifice. Kings and priests who do business
with God all the time in the holy place with free access to
God by the blood and righteousness of His Son. Kings made to rule
our own passions by the power of His Spirit reigning in us.
Priests offering sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Watch
this. and His Father. Praise to our
Redeemer and to His Father. To Him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. Why would John write that? Didn't John know that glory and
dominion are His forever and ever? Of course he did. He said,
that's just the way I want it. That's just the way we want it.
He's God our Savior. Verse 7. Behold, He's gonna come
one day soon. Anybody have a Bible reads like
that? Behold, he cometh. He cometh. He's on his way right
now. Behold, he cometh. We should
live children of God every day on the tiptoe of faith, immediately
expecting the glorious appearing of our God and Savior. Serving
him with the anticipation of his immediate appearance How
often you've heard folks say, uh, you know, would you like
to be doing this? Would you like to be there? How does that be
found there when the lord comes? Oh god, give me grace. Oh god. Give me grace to live every day
Serving my redeemer expecting him to walk through the heavens
right now serving him wholeheartedly. Behold, he cometh. Every stroke
of the clock, every work of providence, every rising sun, every setting
sun is but the announcement, behold, he cometh. He comes with
the clouds and when he appears Every eye shall see him and they
also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of him Even so amen That's just the way I want it That's just the way it ought
to be our lord jesus says verse 8 I am alpha and omega The beginning
and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and
which is to come, the Almighty. What does all that mean? That
means I'm the beginning and the end of everything, and everything
in between. I am God Almighty. Everything
that is is of me, and through me, and to me, for the glory
of me. That's exactly what he's saying.
I'm God Almighty. It's right that everything should
serve my will. It's right that everybody should
serve my interest. It's right that everything redound
to my glory. Verse 9. Now John gives us his
first vision, the first of those seven visions of the sure triumph
of Christ and his church by the gospel. It goes from verse nine
through the end of chapter three. I, John, who also am your brother
and companion, I'm your brother and companion in tribulation
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. I'm your brother,
I'm your companion in tribulation, but remember my tried brother,
my tried sister. In the midst of our tribulation,
we're brothers and companions in the kingdom and patience of
Jesus Christ. I was in the isle that is called
Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I've been exiled because of the
gospel I preach, but I'm where God put me, in tribulation for
the kingdom and patience of Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's
day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet. I heard
I heard God speaking and this is what I heard him say. I am
Alpha and Omega the first and the last What thou seest write
in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia
unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna and unto Pergamos and unto Thyatira
and unto Sardis and unto Philadelphia and unto Laodicea Verse 12. And I turned to see the voice.
That's a strange language, isn't it? He understood he was hearing
the voice of a man. A man who is God the Almighty,
the Eternal One. I turned to see the voice that
spake with me. And being turned, this is what
I saw. I saw seven golden candlesticks. Seven golden candlesticks. Kind
of like the lampstands in the tabernacle and in the temple.
Saw seven golden candlesticks. Seven huge, beautiful, exquisitely
made candelabras holding lights in darkness. And in the midst
of the seven candlesticks, I saw one likened to the Son of Man.
Same one that Nebuchadnezzar saw in that burning and fiery
furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. One like the Son
of Man. the same one on whose breast
he had leaned when he walked on this earth. I saw him clothed
with a garment down to the foot, a garment of perfect righteousness,
a garment that he himself had made by his own obedience to
the Father, clothed from head to foot, and girded about the
patch with a golden girdle, a great priest with a garment fit for
God's presence. And his head and his hairs were
white like wood. He's the ancient of days. Song
of Solomon describes his hair as black, like a raven. Here,
white like wool. Black, full of life and strength.
White, full of age and wisdom. His hair is white like wool,
as white as snow, pure. And his eyes, his eyes, this
man, this man who is God, walking in the midst of these seven golden
lampstands, his eyes were like a piercing flame of fire. And
his feet like unto fine brass, as if they had been burned in
a furnace. And his voice was as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars. And out of his mouth
went a sharp two-edged sword. You're holding it right here
in your hands. Word of God. And his countenance was as the
sun shining in his strength. What a vision. What a vision.
This mighty one, this mighty, wise, ancient one, full of might,
full of power, full of discernment, piercing eyes of fire, tried
feet, firm as brass in a furnace. This one out of whose mouth goes
the Word of God, the sharp, piercing Word of God. And to look at him
was like opening your eyes wide open and staring at the noonday
sun. Now watch what happened. And when I saw him, I felt his
feet as dead. I expect I would too. And he
laid his right hand upon me saying, no need to be afraid of me. No need to be afraid of me. Fear
not. I'm the first and the last I
am he that liveth and was dead and behold I'm alive forevermore
Amen, and I had the keys of hell and death. Oh My are you on our
side? No need to fear That's exactly
what Joshua said when he saw him is I saw him with a sword
in his hand Are you for us or for our enemies? I'm for you
I'm glad for that I'm glad for that. He's sure to conquer. He's
sure to prevail. I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of
hell and of death. What on earth does that mean?
What on earth does that mean? Mark, you have a set of keys
to your shop down there? That means he's the one in charge.
The man who carries the keys, he's either the janitor or he's
the one in charge, one of the two. Our Lord Jesus is the one
in charge of heaven, earth, and hell. He's the one in charge
of life and death, and everything included in heaven, earth, and
hell, and life and death. I am he that liveth. I am the
keys of death and hell. Now watch this. Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, the things
which shall be hereafter. What is that, Lord? The mystery
of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and
the seven golden candlesticks. Let me explain to you the picture
you see. The seven stars are the angels
of the seven churches. And the seven golden candlesticks,
the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Now the title of my message tonight
is the mystery of the seven stars and candlesticks. Our Lord here
explains it for us. He says the seven stars you saw
in my right hand, they are the angels of the churches. And the
seven lampstands, the seven golden candlesticks, they are the seven
churches in which I continually walk all the time. Now these
seven churches that are mentioned again in the next two chapters
were those distinct letters written to them by our Lord Jesus. They
literally did exist in Asia Minor in the days of the Apostle John.
These letters were literally addressed to them. But those
seven churches and the angels of those churches are given here
for us to learn for ourselves because this word is written
by God for us. And when you read the book of
Revelation, understand that it is an allegorical picture of
that which our Lord is giving us, an allegorical revelation
of Christ, our Redeemer, the sure triumph of Christ and his
church by the gospel. So that these seven churches
in Asia Minor are given in the number seven because seven represents
throughout scripture perfection and completion. They represent
all of us who are God's churches. They represent Sovereign Grace
Fellowship San Diego, California. And they represent Grace Baptist
Church, Taylor, Arkansas. And Lincolnwood Baptist Church,
Houston, Texas. And even Grace Baptist Church,
Denver, Kentucky. And they represent God's pastors
over those churches. David Blanchard, Eric Richards,
Darwin Pruitt, and Don Fortner. They are the angels of the churches
spoken of here. Now, before I give you the lessons
from this picture, let me make a couple of statements, three
or four statements by way of introduction. And really, the
bulk of my message will be in this. Brother David made essentially
the same statement last night. The greatest blessing God can
ever bestow upon any community is to establish in its midst
a local church where men and women gather in the name of Christ
and worship Him. Did you hear what I said? The greatest blessing God can
ever bestow upon any community is to establish in its midst
a gospel church where men and women gather to worship Christ,
promote his glory, proclaim his word, and serve his interest. A local church is a congregation of saved sinners
United to one another in Christ It's the most noble most blessed
most important thing on the earth That's truth in the pastor Most noble most blessed, most
important thing on the earth. Oh, what God has done for you. Oh, what God has done for you. In this place, God's people come
together, seeking his glory, obeying his word, his doctrine,
his ordinances, proclaiming his gospel, singing his praise, seeking
his sheep. Number two, the greatest blessing
the Lord God can ever or will ever bestow upon any local church
is to give that church a pastor after his own heart. A faithful gospel preacher who
will feed his people with knowledge and understanding. Ever since y'all started meeting
together, I've come out here twice a year, about every year,
and I have read in your midst a text of scripture that you
became very familiar with over the years. This is God's promise. He said, I will give you pastors
according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge
and understanding. I heard you pray for that for
years. I heard you beg God to give you that for years. Now
he has. Now he has. As our brother told
us last night, pastors are the ascension gift of our Lord Jesus
to his church. They are God's teachers in his
church. Brother Fletcher made it very
clear last night. He gave pastors teachers. the pastor teacher of San Diego
Grace Fellowship sitting right there. He is THE pastor teacher. Well, but we have our gifts.
I talked to Cora, Dathan, and Byron before I started bragging
about that too much. I talked to them real plainly.
Pastor teacher. The man responsible for the teaching
of this congregation. From this day forward is the
man God put here as your pastor teacher. That means that he speaks
with God's authority as he preaches to you the word of God. Well,
he's not perfect. Who pretended he was? Who imagined that he was? But
he is God's pastor given to you. That means you shut up and pay
attention. Now, I'm being as plain to you as I can possibly
be. When you've got an objection, just zip your mouth. Just shut
up and pay attention. Well, I don't agree with him.
Who said you had to? Who said you had to? I don't
like the way he dresses. Who said you had to? But listen
to what he teaches and follow his direction. Follow his guide. He's your pastor, teacher. Given
for the perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of the body
of Christ. Hold your hands here in Revelation and turn to 1 Thessalonians
chapter 5. I'm going to tell you some things
tonight and probably tomorrow if God will let me prepare the
message I'm working on. That pastors always are reluctant
to say to their own congregations for fear of being misunderstood. And we shouldn't be reluctant
to say things for fear of being misunderstood when our motives
are right and we're declaring the Word of God. Pastors are
to be known, loved, and highly esteemed by God's church for
their work's sake. Look at 1 Thessalonians 5, verse
12. Paul writes to these Thessalonian
saints and says, We beseech you, brethren, to know them which
labor among you. Know them. Know their labor. Know their burden, know their
care, know their need. I said to Brother Pledger driving
home last night, this has got to be the most rewarding, thankless
work in the whole world. Know your pastors. They labor
among you. Faithful men do. Faithful men
do. They labor in the word. They
labor in doctrine. They labor over your souls. And
they are over you in the Lord. Over you in the Lord. They're
called overseers because they're over you in the Lord. and admonish
you, admonish you from the word of God. Now, and to esteem them,
esteem them, have high thoughts, high regard for them. Esteem
them very highly in love for their work's sake. Oh, if you only knew what's involved
in this work. You would esteem your pastor
very highly and love him for it, if you even had a clue what's
involved in it. And you can't. You can't. There
sits Pat Pledger. She's been that man's wife for
longer than Shelby's been mine. What did you say? 42 years, is
that right? 57. Wow, 57. That's right. Shelby's
been mine for 45, and we're not near as old as they are. Be careful. but she really doesn't know what's
involved in that work. And you know it better than most
anybody else does, but she really doesn't know. The only ones who
really know what's involved in that work are the men engaged
in it. Nobody else can know the burden.
Nobody else can know the care. Nobody else can know the weight.
Nobody else can know the labor. Nobody else. Esteem them very
highly in love for their work's sake. And I'll make you a promise. I'll make you a promise. You'll
find yourself dwelling together in peace. And be at peace among
yourselves. Be at peace among yourselves.
Pastors are to be obeyed as those who watch for your souls, as
our brother told us last night. Obey them that had the rule over
you. I have made this comment to lots
of folks at home, here, and other places. I was coming down for the first
meeting here back when Amy and Eric first moved here, the very
weekend they moved. I got a note notifying me, I
think Eric sent it to me, sent to all of you fellas asking that
you get a suit or sport coat and tie and dress appropriately.
And I wrote to Eric and I said, buddy, you might lose that battle. This is California. And I don't
think a man in that church has got a suit. They just don't wear
them out there. And I came up out here, drove
up first night, and there came everybody with suit and tie and
sport coat. And I thought, oh God, maybe,
maybe, maybe, maybe there's some people who will follow their
pastor's guide. Not because they necessarily
think it best to wear the suit to church, but because this is
what my pastor wants. That speaks volumes for folks.
That speaks volumes for folks. Well, I ain't gonna do it. Well,
okay, what do you Blue Jays think? That'd be alright. That'd be
alright. But if you want to serve God, you serve God under the
direction of a man. And you seek to please God as
you work together with that man. The single most important aspect
of your life as a believer, the solitary most important aspect
of your life as a believer, is this assembly right here. Most
important thing. Private prayer, very important.
Private study, very important. But this is where Christ promises
to meet with his people. This is where Christ speaks by
his word. This is where men and women come
together as one to worship and serve the Redeemer. And this
is that place where God has established his name and his worship. See
to it that you devote yourself to this cause. Here's another statement. I want
you to hear me now. Those who despise God's servants
despise God. And those who seek to divide
God's church bring upon themselves the judgment of God. Sandel was feeling sorry for
himself because folks had rejected him. And God said, Samuel, they
haven't rejected you, they rejected me. They rejected me. Last week, I preached to our
folks from Second Kings on the usefulness of salt. And Elisha
had taken up Elijah's mantle, said, where is the Lord God of
Elijah? And God showed himself to be Elisha's God. And he healed
the bitter waters in the place where he was, casting in some
salt. This man who obviously has God's
hand on him. This man who's obviously speaking
for God. This man by whom God works wonders. This man by whom God shows himself
glorious. And you walk along the way and
a bunch of kids come out. A bunch of kids come out and
start poking fun at him. I can just picture them. I can
just picture them shaking their fingers, thumbs in their ears,
wagging their tongues. Go up, thou bald head. Look at you, the prophet of God.
You know where they got that, Darvin? They got that at Sunday
dinner when mom and daddy were talking about God's prophet.
That's where they got it. Things were at such a low ebb
in Judah. that the people of God held God's
prophet in contempt and dared spend their time speaking ill
of God's prophet and they sent their children to hell by despising
God and his prophet. See that you don't do it. See
that you don't do it. What happened to those 42 children?
The prophet of God, in the name of God, cursed them and bears
came out of the woods and devoured 42 of them. Read it for yourself. and that by the curse of God.
Mama and Daddy, by speaking lightly of God's prophet, by despising
God's prophet, brought upon their own children the judgment of
God. And so will you. So will you. The Son of God places such high
value on his servants That he considers anything done to them
done to him He places such high value on his church that he considers
anything done to his church Done to him and this is what that
means That means brother eric brother darvin brother david
brother don We must be very careful how we deal with god's people
Treat them like god's people Treat them like God's people.
You love them. You serve them. You devote yourself
to them. You don't use them. You don't
abuse them. You don't speak ill of them.
I was Darwin's pastor for a number of years. I've been Amy's pastor
all her life. I'll tell you something, that
lady, her family, her granddaddies, one of our deacons, just grandmothers,
they've been in church, everybody's not been there. They've never
heard me say a bad word about anybody in that congregation.
Not one. Not one. How come? Because they're gods. They're
gods. That's why. You've never heard me speak ill
of another faithful pastor. Not a word. How come? He's God's servant. He's God's
servant. They're God's. Be careful how
you treat God's people. And it means also that churches
must be careful in their treatment of God's pastors. Both God's
servants, gospel preachers, and his churches are under his constant
care. Now let me give you seven things
very briefly, and I will be very brief, but this is very important.
Number one, as our Lord explains this vision of the seven golden
candlesticks and the angels in his right hand, understand this
first. Each of the seven churches has
its own angel, its own messenger from God. It's amazing to me how God puts
people together. A pastor and a people. Prepares
a man all his life to labor in a specific area. Gifts him specifically
for that congregation because he's God's angel to that church. The messenger by whom God reveals
himself to his people. The messenger by whom God conveys
his word to his people. There are always as many local
churches in the world as are needed to fulfill the Lord's
purpose. Just as many and no more. There are seven of them. And
there are always just as many preachers, pastors, as are needed
in the generation in which we live. We tend to fret. These other preachers may not.
I expect they do. I'm 63 years old and my days Had been appointed
since before I drew my first breath, but I recognize that
my life in ministry is rapidly coming to an end. What's gonna
happen when I'm gone? Exactly what God intends. Exactly
what's gonna happen. Who's gonna step in? Exactly
the man God intends. When? Exactly when God has purposed
it. Exactly so. For their good or
their ill. if they're His for their good.
That's exactly right. God always has in this world
seven churches and seven pastors. Exactly as many as are needed. Exactly as many as He's purposed
to use. All true gospel preachers are
described here as being in our Savior's right hand. That means
they're where they are being placed there by Him. They're
where they are protected by Him, where they are provided for by
Him. Oh, God, teach us that. Teach
us that. I'm in the Savior's hands. Why
should I fear anything or any man? I'm in his hands. Why should I think maybe something
is not going to be supplied that I need for his service? I'm in
his hands. Why should I ever imagine that
anything gonna stand in my way? I'm in his hands. Why should
I ever think that anything is going to cause the gates of hell
to prevail against his church? It ain't gonna happen. Faithful
pastors are here compared to stars. Stars are made by God,
preaches two. Stars give out light in the midst
of darkness, preaches two. Stars burn, preaches two. burn with the light of the glory
of God, burn with the word of God in their hearts in this dark,
dark world. Every faithful gospel preacher,
every true pastor is the angel of God to the church where he's
sent. Ministers. Ministers. That's a good word. Word servants. Servants of Christ to serve your
souls. sent forth to minister to those
who shall be heirs of salvation. Messengers sent with a message
from God, the gospel of His grace. Now, look at the candlesticks. Here's the second thing. Every
true local church is a candlestick. A candlestick to hold forth the
light. Your only reason for existence I've chosen my words deliberately.
Your only reason for existence as a local church in San Diego,
California in 2014, the only reason you're here is to hold
forth the light of the gospel. Not to entertain folks, not to
be a social club, not to be a gathering place, not to be a networking
place, just here to hold forth the light of the gospel. Anything
that holds forth the light, do it. Anything that doesn't, tear
it down. Stop it. That's the whole purpose
of a local church. We're not inventors of light,
but holders of light. That is, we are to declare the
light God has given us in this book, just like God gave it. Just like God gave it. The light
of truth. Light of truth. Now, I know there's
a lot of debate about that. Let me tell you how to spell
truth. Have you got a pencil handy? You probably never spelled
it this way before. Why don't you write it down?
They say spell truth. T-U-L-I-P. That's exactly right. Total depravity. Unconditional election. Limited
atonement. Irresistible grace. Perseverance
of the saints. That's where our fellowship is,
and where folks differ with that, we have no fellowship. That's
where our union is, and where folks differ with that, we have
no union. As far as I'm concerned, in every spiritual relationship
I have, in every relationship I have with preachers, in every
relationship I have with other churches, it's tulip or termination. Either preach this or get out
of the business. Don't call yourself a preacher.
Don't call yourself a church. We hold forth the light of divine
truth. Each local church is called a
golden candlestick. Now my wife has some candlesticks
at the house, and she gets them out on special occasions. If
you come visit us and there's candles lit at the table, you're
somebody. You're somebody. Once in a while,
she'll get them out just for me, because I'm somebody. You
might not have known that, but I am too. And it's a special
occasion. But there ain't a gold one in
the house. They're not even crystal. They're plastic and glass. I
think we might have some that have some silver on them, but
none gold. This is a golden candlestick
because of its incredible value to God and to the souls of men
and to the cause of Christ. Here's the third thing. All true
gospel churches, being united to Christ, have Christ in the
midst of them all the time. Zachariah has a picture of our
Lord riding on a white horse in the middle of the myrtle trees
in a valley. But wherever you find God's church,
you find Christ in the midst of His churches all the time.
The head of every true church is Christ. The absolute loyalty
to the Son of God is the responsibility of every church and every believer.
And all of us in Christ are one in Him. One in Him. We have a small family. Shelby and I do. We just have
one daughter. That means we've got one son-in-law,
thankfully. Two grandchildren. Small family. And we've not been
through much. Not had many difficulties. I
don't know what most parents know raising children. I've not
had those difficulties. But whatever strains may have
arisen over the years, nobody knows anything about them except
that woman, this man, and our God. Nobody else. Nobody else. That's how it all
be in God's church. The relationship is family, a
family unit. We're one in Christ. Here's the
fourth thing. Understand this no local church
in this world is perfect Each has its own excellence and its
own defects Its own dangers and its own duties, but none are
perfect I've often thought when I see folks willing to abandon
the church, you know, they get mad at the preacher. That's always
the reason. Somebody, they got mad at the preacher. Let me say
something else. They got mad at the preacher because he, I'll use myself as
an example. I've had folks get mad because
I won't let kids running in and out. If the kids get running
in and out of our place, the second time, they'll get sat
down by me. If daddy ain't got enough gumption
to set him down, I will. I'll set him down. And sometimes folks
go, well, I'm not going to go listen to preachers like that.
Well, go ahead. That's the way it's going to be around here. That's just the
way it's going to be. And it's not going to change.
But churches aren't perfect. None of them. Not this one. And
if you're in it, that means it's not perfect. That means it's
not perfect. Do you know our Lord spent three
and a half years preaching to a congregation of folks that
had a devil in them. And he was head of the church
and knew the devil. And stayed with him, stayed with
him. The churches at Corinth, and Galatia, and Colossae, oh
my soul, you talk about a mess. You talking about a mess? Corinth? Anybody want to go?
I've seen some churches named Corinth Baptist Church because
the community they were in named Corinth. I would have named it
anything but Corinth Baptist Church. Anything else? Corinth? But Paul called them God's saints,
didn't he? He told them to love each other and forgive each other
and care for each other. That's what families do. Galatia? Man, they were full of legalists
and Judaizers. You think we have legalists around
here? Read the epistles of the Galatians,
just read it. Colossae? They thought knowledge was everything.
But they were churches in Christ, under God, serving his interest
and his kingdom. As we read our Lord's letters
to these seven churches in chapters two and three, you find one wavering
and another strong. One on fire, another losing his
first love. One in great reputation, though
dead. Another in great poverty, though
rich in grace. One abounding in every good work,
another fast asleep. In the churches most full of
life, some were dead. And in the churches most dead,
some were full of life. That's the way it is with local
churches. Loyal and faithful men and women don't abandon the
ship when it's in trouble. They rally to save it. Did you hear me? Loyal and faithful
men and women. Don't abandon the ship when it's
in trouble. And Mike, you're gonna have your
troubles here. You're gonna have your troubles. You can bake on
it, you're gonna have your troubles. What do you do when you have
trouble? I don't like what, I don't like what Eric did. I don't like
what his wife did. I don't like the way his son
clips his fingernails. And it gets down to being just that
ridiculous. Just that petty. I'm not gonna go to church there
anymore. Take my marbles and go home. Not if you're loyal. Not if your
interest is the glory of God, the gospel of God, the truth
of God and the souls of men. And if you're just interested
in your marbles, take them and go home. Is that plain enough? That's just the way it is. Christ
walks in the midst of the churches. I wanna walk where he does. Number
five. The Lord Jesus reveals himself
to his churches. He manifests himself to his churches. And he does that not just to
make us feel good, but to meet our needs. To Ephesus, the Lord
revealed himself as he that walketh in the midst, to observe and
correct. To Smyrna, he shows himself as
the living one who gives the crown of life. To Pergamos, he
comes with a sharp sword to sever and slay, divide and destroy
from her all that would destroy her. To Thyatira, his eyes are
like a flame of fire, seeing all and seeing through all to
consume all that draws. To Sardis, the Savior comes as
he who has seven spirits of God to quicken, revive, give life,
raising his church from her spiritual death. To Philadelphia, Christ
appears as he that hath the key of David, to open to the faithful
all the bountiful treasures of God's house. To Laodicea, he's
the faithful and true witness, who exposes her pride and sin,
and calls us to repentance, who chastens and corrects his fallen
and his languishing people. Six. The Lord Jesus, who walks
in the midst of his churches, preserves and keeps them. He preserves them. He keeps them. And yet, he expects and requires
of every local church, and every person in it, faithfulness, loyalty,
and perseverance, no matter what their differences are. Darwin,
that's what he requires of you and me, that's what he requires
of our folks, that's what he requires of this congregation.
Faithfulness, loyalty, perseverance, no matter what. He constantly
assures us that his grace is sufficient, his love is immutable,
his faithfulness is sure, his intercession prevails, his hand
is strong, and he has us in his hand. Whatever your trial or
temptation is, Christ is greater. He'll sustain you in it, cling
to him. One last thing. Look at Revelation
chapter two, verse five. The Lord God will preserve or
remove this candlestick or any other. He will preserve
or remove Lincolnwood Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He
will preserve or remove Grace Baptist Church, Denver, Kentucky.
He will preserve or remove Sovereign Grace Fellowship, San Diego,
California. He will preserve or remove Grace
Baptist Church, Taylor, Arkansas, according to our fidelity, our
infidelity to Christ and his gospel. He said that's not what it says.
Revelation 2 verse 5. Remember therefore from whence
thou art fallen and repent and do the first works. Or else I
will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of
his place. Accept thou repent. This church has nothing to fear. Nothing to fear in this community,
in this city, in this state. You folks will forgive me, I
refer to California as the left side of the world. Because it is. Nothing to fear from all that.
Nothing to fear. But we have such perversity and
degradation and nothing to fear. Nothing to fear. You have nothing
to fear except indifference to Christ and his gospel. Oh, God, keep me from that. God,
keep me from that. If this local church is to be
preserved and to persevere in the service of Christ, every
member must overcome those things that hinder disobedience and
impede faithfulness to the Redeemer. This is the mystery of the seven
stars and the seven golden candlesticks. I wonder, oh, I do wonder what
God might do with a man utterly committed to Christ, the gospel
of his grace. Wonder what God might do with
a church utterly committed to Christ, the gospel of his grace. I'd sure like to find out in
San Diego, California. And if I were you, I'd be part
of it. If I were you, I'd latch on to
this thing. If I were you, I'd commit myself
to this cause. It's worthy of everything. Amen.