party<\/p>\n
foreign<\/p>\n
[Music]<\/p>\n
from<\/p>\n
let's pray<\/p>\n
father in heaven we thank you so much<\/p>\n
for the opportunity today to look at<\/p>\n
your word in the book of habakkuk<\/p>\n
father we pray that you would in your<\/p>\n
grace<\/p>\n
give us hearts<\/p>\n
that are full of fear and trembling to<\/p>\n
understand who you are<\/p>\n
more and more and father in your grace<\/p>\n
that you would give us<\/p>\n
hearts that are full of fear and<\/p>\n
trembling<\/p>\n
to look at those things in ourselves<\/p>\n
that we wish not to look at<\/p>\n
that we might put away and pretend<\/p>\n
that's not there that you would work in<\/p>\n
us to save us from ourselves<\/p>\n
in jesus name we pray amen<\/p>\n
okay<\/p>\n
so<\/p>\n
the context of today's passage is that<\/p>\n
israel<\/p>\n
god's chosen people is facing an<\/p>\n
unpleasant<\/p>\n
in fact it's more than unpleasant it's<\/p>\n
catastrophic<\/p>\n
after bearing with israel's rebellion<\/p>\n
for so long god's patience has run out<\/p>\n
god will punish israel for her<\/p>\n
unfaithfulness and the consequences are<\/p>\n
devastating<\/p>\n
israel will be utterly destroyed and<\/p>\n
god's people taken into exile<\/p>\n
and so what happens in this passage then<\/p>\n
might seem quite unexpected<\/p>\n
for it's a series of taunts from israel<\/p>\n
the oppressed towards babylon the<\/p>\n
oppressor<\/p>\n
the very same oppressor which god has<\/p>\n
used to punish the oppressed<\/p>\n
ki<\/p>\n
it might seem unexpected because in the<\/p>\n
midst of god's punishment<\/p>\n
what a good good night<\/p>\n
by his word of judgment on babylon but<\/p>\n
given to israel<\/p>\n
and what we see in verses 6 to 17 is<\/p>\n
that the shame and suffering that<\/p>\n
babylon has inflicted on others will be<\/p>\n
brought back and done to them<\/p>\n
because in god's righteousness because<\/p>\n
of god's sovereignty god's punishment of<\/p>\n
babylon means that god's punishment of<\/p>\n
israel is limited<\/p>\n
i'm not done<\/p>\n
mercilessly oppress israel indefinitely<\/p>\n
for god will judge babylon's empire<\/p>\n
building efforts<\/p>\n
and so this gives israel hope that one<\/p>\n
day god will remember mercy<\/p>\n
and in addition to this israel is not to<\/p>\n
think babylon's empire building success<\/p>\n
means that babylon's god has triumphed<\/p>\n
over yahweh<\/p>\n
babylon<\/p>\n
israel is not to doubt the lord's<\/p>\n
sovereignty israel<\/p>\n
as we ourselves might tempted to do when<\/p>\n
we see the wicked prosper<\/p>\n
oh when those who profess the name of<\/p>\n
jesus is are ridiculed and persecuted<\/p>\n
but god in his mercy reveals history in<\/p>\n
advance to reassure his people<\/p>\n
that god's kingdom not babylons is the<\/p>\n
kingdom which will prevail forever<\/p>\n
since it by itself is self-destructive<\/p>\n
by its own design for its based on the<\/p>\n
pursuit of idols<\/p>\n
and<\/p>\n
and how is it self-destructive<\/p>\n
well it's self-destructive because<\/p>\n
babylon's empire building is never<\/p>\n
enough it's insatiable<\/p>\n
to empower<\/p>\n
the more they have the more they want to<\/p>\n
have it<\/p>\n
based on greed violence injustice<\/p>\n
is that it's fundamentally based on<\/p>\n
idols<\/p>\n
idols which are speechless unable to<\/p>\n
teach<\/p>\n
lifeless<\/p>\n
and what's the other reason that god's<\/p>\n
kingdom and not babylons will prevail<\/p>\n
well the other reason is one that we've<\/p>\n
already seen through god's judgment of<\/p>\n
judgment of babylon we know that god is<\/p>\n
the living god the one who is life the<\/p>\n
one who sustains a life tonight<\/p>\n
on you who can't<\/p>\n
but although this is the truth<\/p>\n
if we were to be honest with ourselves<\/p>\n
without god our natural inclination is<\/p>\n
to exchange this truth for lies<\/p>\n
because ultimately it's more than just<\/p>\n
the wooden stone metal images that we're<\/p>\n
surrounded by everywhere we go<\/p>\n
because standing behind all these idols<\/p>\n
whether seen or unseen<\/p>\n
is one in whom we are naturally inclined<\/p>\n
to cherish<\/p>\n
by which we seek to secure our own<\/p>\n
comfort and convenience<\/p>\n
tools by which we seek to secure our own<\/p>\n
status and reputation<\/p>\n
our own control and independence<\/p>\n
and so we devote ourselves for<\/p>\n
authority in direct opposition to god's<\/p>\n
authority<\/p>\n
so that we're able to do what we want to<\/p>\n
do<\/p>\n
to do what's right in our own eyes<\/p>\n
without anyone judging us for it<\/p>\n
living as though god didn't exist at all<\/p>\n
and for those whom god has called into<\/p>\n
his family by faith in christ jesus<\/p>\n
christ<\/p>\n
we know that it's only by his grace that<\/p>\n
we're no longer ignorant of god's<\/p>\n
and so i want to suggest today that the<\/p>\n
struggle for us particularly is perhaps<\/p>\n
not so much living as the god didn't<\/p>\n
exist<\/p>\n
although it's sad to say that at times<\/p>\n
this is also the case<\/p>\n
but perhaps our struggle is living as<\/p>\n
though<\/p>\n
we can serve god and still be devoted to<\/p>\n
ourselves at<\/p>\n
and of course this is what israel was<\/p>\n
also guilty of<\/p>\n
and like israel our struggle probably<\/p>\n
has more to do with the fact that we<\/p>\n
want to live in both kingdoms<\/p>\n
our struggle is that we still to some<\/p>\n
degree want to exercise our own<\/p>\n
we still want to be kings over our<\/p>\n
in taking god's opinion into a part of<\/p>\n
our life where we still want to exert<\/p>\n
control over la luna<\/p>\n
how much high energy<\/p>\n
neglect taking god's opinion into a part<\/p>\n
of our life where we still want our own<\/p>\n
independence<\/p>\n
we know when we avoid when we're not<\/p>\n
careful when we reject god's opinion<\/p>\n
into a part of our life where we still<\/p>\n
want<\/p>\n
and so the consequence is that we're<\/p>\n
unable to apply his word<\/p>\n
to allow his sovereignty in that area of<\/p>\n
our lives in that area of who we are<\/p>\n
today<\/p>\n
and so as it it's as though there's a<\/p>\n
room in our house that we don't want to<\/p>\n
let god into<\/p>\n
me<\/p>\n
it's as though there's some closets that<\/p>\n
we don't want to open for god to see<\/p>\n
me like<\/p>\n
and of course there are many<\/p>\n
patterns but one symptom of our desire<\/p>\n
to determine<\/p>\n
what is right in our own eyes<\/p>\n
let alone to take responsibility and<\/p>\n
especially at the cost of exposing our<\/p>\n
weakness exposing our shame exposing<\/p>\n
our embarrassment<\/p>\n
on<\/p>\n
and which in the end exposes our<\/p>\n
prideful dependence of wanting to save<\/p>\n
face above all costs<\/p>\n
to admit our faults and to seek his<\/p>\n
forgiveness in christ<\/p>\n
and so we can live having a foot in both<\/p>\n
kingdoms<\/p>\n
we might even convince ourselves that<\/p>\n
into thinking that we can actually live<\/p>\n
in both kingdoms<\/p>\n
we might rationalize this distortion by<\/p>\n
persuading ourselves that we're still<\/p>\n
serving god<\/p>\n
how can<\/p>\n
well one of the ways we can do this is<\/p>\n
when we seek to do the bare minimum for<\/p>\n
god singing<\/p>\n
sing like<\/p>\n
we want to be generous towards god<\/p>\n
but we shrink back when we have to<\/p>\n
suffer for it<\/p>\n
we want to be good stewards of the<\/p>\n
environment which god has entrusted to<\/p>\n
us<\/p>\n
but not so much when it impinges on our<\/p>\n
convenience of using single-use plastic<\/p>\n
like a moment of concentration<\/p>\n
pursuit<\/p>\n
is inherently self-destructive and those<\/p>\n
who choose to do so are destined for<\/p>\n
destruction<\/p>\n
one computer game that rose to<\/p>\n
popularity in the early 1990s<\/p>\n
the aim of the game was to save these<\/p>\n
small purple creatures called lemmings<\/p>\n
from aimlessly falling to their doom<\/p>\n
lava pit or off the edge of a cliff or<\/p>\n
from other some other danger<\/p>\n
but without your help these creatures<\/p>\n
would inevitably follow each other to<\/p>\n
their deaths<\/p>\n
we're all on a path destined for<\/p>\n
peanut but in some ways we're actually<\/p>\n
much worse than these lemmings<\/p>\n
because unlike them<\/p>\n
we in fact do have a choice<\/p>\n
but yet given this choice we would<\/p>\n
choose ourselves and consequently our<\/p>\n
own destruction<\/p>\n
not only for someone to save us from<\/p>\n
ourselves from this path of<\/p>\n
self-destruction we're all on<\/p>\n
demand<\/p>\n
but there's also a need that for god's<\/p>\n
kingdom to prevail<\/p>\n
there must be a king<\/p>\n
who won't seek after himself<\/p>\n
to do this for us to do that which we<\/p>\n
could never do on our own<\/p>\n
and that this king would be willing and<\/p>\n
able to save us from ourselves<\/p>\n
blessed be the lord god almighty then<\/p>\n
for because of god's incredible love and<\/p>\n
mercy for us<\/p>\n
in jesus these two needs are perfectly<\/p>\n
fulfilled<\/p>\n
forever<\/p>\n
for jesus is both the king who perfectly<\/p>\n
seeks after god and the one who saves us<\/p>\n
from ourselves<\/p>\n
giving himself completely in perfect<\/p>\n
submission to god's plans for redemption<\/p>\n
which require him to suffer the<\/p>\n
humiliation on the cross<\/p>\n
jesus is the one who saves us from<\/p>\n
ourselves<\/p>\n
from giving himself<\/p>\n
in accordance to god's will he has<\/p>\n
opened the way for establishing god's<\/p>\n
kingdom<\/p>\n
god's kingdom building is not achieved<\/p>\n
through oppression or violence inflicted<\/p>\n
to others<\/p>\n
but achieved through oppression and<\/p>\n
violence inflicted on<\/p>\n
who would otherwise choose to live for<\/p>\n
themselves<\/p>\n
brings us into the kingdom he himself is<\/p>\n
building so that we don't need to build<\/p>\n
our own<\/p>\n
that by his spirit we're united with<\/p>\n
christ to be raised on the last day when<\/p>\n
christ returns<\/p>\n
into an internal kingdom where all of<\/p>\n
creation we will acknowledge christ as<\/p>\n
lord house<\/p>\n
where he will rule with perfect justice<\/p>\n
and righteousness<\/p>\n
can you see that god that the kingdom<\/p>\n
god is building is so much better than<\/p>\n
what we could ever build ourselves<\/p>\n
and so as difficult as it is to be<\/p>\n
letting go of our own little kingdoms<\/p>\n
and seeking after god's kingdom<\/p>\n
be encouraged that it's all worthwhile<\/p>\n
keep persevering because ultimately<\/p>\n
we're letting go of what is perishing<\/p>\n
and holding on to what will prevail<\/p>\n
be encouraged when you endure suffering<\/p>\n
for letting go of what is perishing<\/p>\n
for the kingdom we're being prepared for<\/p>\n
will endure forever<\/p>\n
to choose self-denial over selfishness<\/p>\n
to choose to forgive over harboring<\/p>\n
resentment<\/p>\n
to choose to love<\/p>\n
even when it hurts<\/p>\n
so that in all this we would choose<\/p>\n
god's glory instead of our own<\/p>\n
and as hard as it is be encouraged when<\/p>\n
people ridicule you on account of jesus<\/p>\n
remember<\/p>\n
that those who ridicule us ridicules the<\/p>\n
one who stands for us<\/p>\n
the one who will indeed sweep the things<\/p>\n
of this world<\/p>\n
what is a major quad auto thing<\/p>\n
by writing teams all that is based on<\/p>\n
speechless lifeless idols away out<\/p>\n
on you<\/p>\n
when finally the earth will be filled<\/p>\n
with knowledge of the glory of the lord<\/p>\n
as the waters cover the sea<\/p>\n
so let us renew our love and devotion to<\/p>\n
our lord jesus christ<\/p>\n
to be reminded that we cannot profess to<\/p>\n
take part in his kingdom and yet at the<\/p>\n
same time be quietly building and<\/p>\n
nurturing our own<\/p>\n
genuine repentance does not turn from<\/p>\n
one sin while safeguarding others<\/p>\n
loyalty to god in selective areas is no<\/p>\n
longer loyalty<\/p>\n
to repent of disloyalty in select areas<\/p>\n
while preferring disloyalty in others<\/p>\n
is no repentance at all<\/p>\n
god does not ask us to give us this or<\/p>\n
that idol while permitting us to nurture<\/p>\n
several others<\/p>\n
he demands rather that we abandon<\/p>\n
idolatry itself and return to the god<\/p>\n
against whom we have so greatly rebelled<\/p>\n
therefore let us examine our hearts to<\/p>\n
ask the lord to open the eyes of our<\/p>\n
hearts and to ask ourselves the question<\/p>\n
how am i still living in two kingdoms<\/p>\n
let's take a minute to reflect in silent<\/p>\n
reflection to answer this question<\/p>\n
and once we've reflected for a moment<\/p>\n
i'll then pray to the one who is able<\/p>\n
and willing to save us from ourselves<\/p>\n
let<\/p>\n
lord for your grace<\/p>\n
to us in the lord jesus christ<\/p>\n
father we thank you so much<\/p>\n
that he is the one<\/p>\n
who has gone before us<\/p>\n
and chosen to seek after you<\/p>\n
and not himself<\/p>\n
father please help us and encourage us<\/p>\n
to admit<\/p>\n
those areas in our lives in who we are<\/p>\n
that we're we are still refusing<\/p>\n
to bring ourselves under your<\/p>\n
sovereignty<\/p>\n
father help us to look back at the cross<\/p>\n
and see what god that what christ has<\/p>\n
saved us from<\/p>\n
and father we pray that you would help<\/p>\n
us to remind us of your word that we<\/p>\n
would recall your word as easily as we<\/p>\n
recall our own names<\/p>\n
that we would bring your opinion into<\/p>\n
each and every situation<\/p>\n
that in this we would give you the glory<\/p>\n
you<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","original_publish_date":"20211021","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=08GqnPYJlRA","video_id":"08GqnPYJlRA","video_duration":"36:13","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=949"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions\/950"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}