hello<\/p>\n
[Music]<\/p>\n
oh<\/p>\n
foreign<\/p>\n
from<\/p>\n
[Applause]<\/p>\n
father in heaven we thank you so much<\/p>\n
for the opportunity today<\/p>\n
to look at your word in the book of<\/p>\n
habakkuk<\/p>\n
father we pray that you would in your<\/p>\n
grace<\/p>\n
give us hearts that are full of fear and<\/p>\n
trembling<\/p>\n
to understand who you are more and more<\/p>\n
and father in your grace that you would<\/p>\n
give us<\/p>\n
hearts that are full of fear and<\/p>\n
to look at those things in an in<\/p>\n
ourselves that we wish not to look<\/p>\n
at that we might put away<\/p>\n
and pretend it's not there that you<\/p>\n
would work in us to save us from<\/p>\n
ourselves<\/p>\n
in jesus name we pray amen<\/p>\n
okay so the context of today's passage<\/p>\n
is that israel<\/p>\n
god's chosen people is facing an<\/p>\n
unpleasant situation<\/p>\n
in fact it's more than unpleasant it's<\/p>\n
catastrophic<\/p>\n
israel's rebellion for so long god's<\/p>\n
patience<\/p>\n
has run out<\/p>\n
israel will be utterly destroyed and<\/p>\n
god's people taken into exile<\/p>\n
is<\/p>\n
babylon will oppress israel without<\/p>\n
mercy<\/p>\n
babylon<\/p>\n
and so what happens in this passage then<\/p>\n
might seem quite<\/p>\n
unexpected<\/p>\n
for it's a series of taunts from israel<\/p>\n
the oppressed<\/p>\n
towards babylon the oppressor<\/p>\n
the very same oppressor which god has<\/p>\n
used to punish<\/p>\n
the oppressed ki<\/p>\n
it might seem unexpected because in the<\/p>\n
midst of god's punishment<\/p>\n
israel by his word of judgment on<\/p>\n
but given to israel<\/p>\n
and what we see in verses 6 to 17 is<\/p>\n
that the shame<\/p>\n
and suffering that babylon has inflicted<\/p>\n
on others will be brought back and done<\/p>\n
to them<\/p>\n
because in god's righteousness because<\/p>\n
of god's sovereignty<\/p>\n
god's punishment of babylon means that<\/p>\n
god's punishment of israel is limited<\/p>\n
by<\/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<\/p>\n
god will remember mercy let's sing<\/p>\n
it<\/p>\n
and in addition to this israel is not to<\/p>\n
think that<\/p>\n
that babylon's empire building success<\/p>\n
means that babylon's god<\/p>\n
has triumphed over yahweh israel<\/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 prosperous<\/p>\n
when those who profess the name of jesus<\/p>\n
is are ridiculed and persecuted<\/p>\n
but god in his mercy reveals history in<\/p>\n
advance<\/p>\n
to reassure his people<\/p>\n
that god's kingdom not babylons is the<\/p>\n
kingdom<\/p>\n
which will prevail forever<\/p>\n
because no matter how vast babylon's<\/p>\n
empire might become<\/p>\n
babylon no matter how great her mind and<\/p>\n
glory might reach<\/p>\n
it's ultimately short-lived<\/p>\n
since it by itself is self-destructive<\/p>\n
by its own design for it's based on the<\/p>\n
pursuit<\/p>\n
of idols<\/p>\n
because babylon's empire building is<\/p>\n
never enough<\/p>\n
it's insatiable<\/p>\n
the more they have the more they want to<\/p>\n
have it<\/p>\n
based on greed violence injustice<\/p>\n
and oppression<\/p>\n
it's self-destructive because standing<\/p>\n
behind all this<\/p>\n
goku is that it's fundamentally based on<\/p>\n
idols<\/p>\n
and what's the other reason that god's<\/p>\n
kingdom and not<\/p>\n
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
for in god's judgment of babylon we know<\/p>\n
that god<\/p>\n
is the living god the one who is life<\/p>\n
the one<\/p>\n
who sustains life<\/p>\n
on youtube<\/p>\n
the one who is sovereign over all<\/p>\n
creation<\/p>\n
but although this is the truth if we<\/p>\n
were to be honest with ourselves<\/p>\n
without god our natural inclination is<\/p>\n
to exchange<\/p>\n
this truth<\/p>\n
drawn to the deceitfulness of idolatry<\/p>\n
because ultimately it's more than just<\/p>\n
the wooden<\/p>\n
stone metal images that we're surrounded<\/p>\n
because standing behind all these idols<\/p>\n
whether<\/p>\n
seen or unseen passing through<\/p>\n
well isn't it ourselves<\/p>\n
if we were to be honest with ourselves<\/p>\n
wouldn't we say that we<\/p>\n
seek our own well-being<\/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<\/p>\n
and reputation<\/p>\n
and so we devote ourselves for ourselves<\/p>\n
in direct opposition to god's 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
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
authority<\/p>\n
and so i want to suggest today that the<\/p>\n
struggle for us particularly is perhaps<\/p>\n
not so much<\/p>\n
living as the god didn't exist<\/p>\n
although it's sad to say that at times<\/p>\n
this is also the case<\/p>\n
my<\/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
at the same time<\/p>\n
israel wanted the blessings of god's<\/p>\n
kingdom but without the king<\/p>\n
israel<\/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<\/p>\n
kingdoms<\/p>\n
our struggle is that we still to some<\/p>\n
degree want to exercise<\/p>\n
our own authority<\/p>\n
we still want to be kings over our own<\/p>\n
little kingdom<\/p>\n
into a part of our life where we still<\/p>\n
want to exert control over<\/p>\n
murder it is<\/p>\n
we know when we neglect taking god's<\/p>\n
opinion into a part of our life where we<\/p>\n
still want our own<\/p>\n
independence<\/p>\n
how much chinese<\/p>\n
we know when we avoid when we're not<\/p>\n
careful when we reject<\/p>\n
god's opinion into a part of our life<\/p>\n
where we still<\/p>\n
want authority over<\/p>\n
and so the consequence is that we're<\/p>\n
unable to apply his word<\/p>\n
who will to allow his sovereignty in<\/p>\n
that area<\/p>\n
of our lives in that area of who we<\/p>\n
are<\/p>\n
and so as it it's as though there's a<\/p>\n
room in our house that we don't want<\/p>\n
to let<\/p>\n
now one symptom and of course there are<\/p>\n
many<\/p>\n
patterns but one symptom of our desire<\/p>\n
to<\/p>\n
determine what is right in our own eyes<\/p>\n
let alone to take responsibility and to<\/p>\n
seek restitution<\/p>\n
it's seen in our reluctance to admit our<\/p>\n
mistakes<\/p>\n
especially at the cost of exposing our<\/p>\n
weakness exposing our shame<\/p>\n
exposing 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<\/p>\n
above all costs<\/p>\n
and so at the same time god calls us<\/p>\n
to a life of repentance<\/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
and at times we we might even convince<\/p>\n
ourselves that<\/p>\n
into thinking that we can actually live<\/p>\n
in<\/p>\n
both kingdoms<\/p>\n
we might rationalize this distortion by<\/p>\n
persuading ourselves that we're still<\/p>\n
serving god<\/p>\n
well one of the ways we can do this is<\/p>\n
when we seek<\/p>\n
to do the bare minimum for god singing<\/p>\n
and so we put a boundary on god's<\/p>\n
authority over us<\/p>\n
and we put it by by putting a boundary<\/p>\n
on our response to him<\/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
let a<\/p>\n
is inherently self-destructive and those<\/p>\n
who choose to do so<\/p>\n
are destined for destruction<\/p>\n
there was uh there was a one one<\/p>\n
computer game<\/p>\n
that rose to popularity in the early<\/p>\n
1990s<\/p>\n
uh the aim of the game was to save the<\/p>\n
small<\/p>\n
purple creatures called lemmings from<\/p>\n
aimlessly falling to their dome<\/p>\n
and whether it was oh sorry whether it<\/p>\n
was falling for all<\/p>\n
into a lava pit or off the edge of a<\/p>\n
cliff<\/p>\n
or from other some other danger<\/p>\n
but without your help these creatures<\/p>\n
would inevitably follow each other to<\/p>\n
their death<\/p>\n
now in a lot of ways a lot like these<\/p>\n
lemmings<\/p>\n
but in some ways we're actually much<\/p>\n
worse than these lemmings<\/p>\n
because unlike them we in fact do have a<\/p>\n
choice<\/p>\n
we have the choice to choose god and not<\/p>\n
but yet given this choice we would<\/p>\n
choose ourselves<\/p>\n
and consequently our 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<\/p>\n
all on<\/p>\n
god's plans to come to fulfillment<\/p>\n
there must be a king who won't<\/p>\n
seek after himself but after god<\/p>\n
and not only that but this king must do<\/p>\n
this in<\/p>\n
our place let me say cannon<\/p>\n
to do this for us to do that which we<\/p>\n
could never do<\/p>\n
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
for jesus is both the king who perfectly<\/p>\n
seeks after god<\/p>\n
and the one who saves us from ourselves<\/p>\n
perfect submission to god's plans for<\/p>\n
redemption<\/p>\n
plans which require him to suffer the<\/p>\n
humiliation<\/p>\n
on the<\/p>\n
in accordance to god's will he has<\/p>\n
opened the way for establishing god's<\/p>\n
by redeeming us into his kingdom<\/p>\n
god's kingdom building is not achieved<\/p>\n
through oppression or violence inflicted<\/p>\n
to others<\/p>\n
us into the kingdom he himself<\/p>\n
is building so that we don't need<\/p>\n
to build our own<\/p>\n
he has forgiven us he has given us<\/p>\n
an eternal home<\/p>\n
that by his spirit were united with<\/p>\n
christ to be raised on the last day when<\/p>\n
christ returns<\/p>\n
into an eternal kingdom where all<\/p>\n
of creation will<\/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<\/p>\n
is so much better than what we could<\/p>\n
ever build<\/p>\n
and so as difficult as it is to be<\/p>\n
letting go<\/p>\n
of our own little kingdoms and seeking<\/p>\n
after god's kingdom<\/p>\n
keep persevering because ultimately<\/p>\n
we're letting go<\/p>\n
of what is perishing and holding on to<\/p>\n
what will prevail<\/p>\n
forever young<\/p>\n
be encouraged when you endure suffering<\/p>\n
for letting go<\/p>\n
of what is perishing<\/p>\n
and it is hard each of us knows<\/p>\n
just how hard it can be at times<\/p>\n
to choose self-denial over<\/p>\n
to choose to admit our mistakes over<\/p>\n
protecting<\/p>\n
our reputation<\/p>\n
to choose to love even when it hurts<\/p>\n
so that in all this we would choose<\/p>\n
god's glory<\/p>\n
instead of our own party<\/p>\n
and as hard as it is be encouraged when<\/p>\n
people<\/p>\n
ridicule you on account of jesus<\/p>\n
remember that those who ridicule us<\/p>\n
ridicules the 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 outdoor thing by<\/p>\n
writing teams<\/p>\n
all that is based on speechless lifeless<\/p>\n
away<\/p>\n
die let reports show it off by that when<\/p>\n
finally the earth will be filled with<\/p>\n
knowledge<\/p>\n
of the glory of the lord as the waters<\/p>\n
cover the sea<\/p>\n
on top<\/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<\/p>\n
at the same time be quietly building and<\/p>\n
nurturing our own<\/p>\n
situation<\/p>\n
genuine repentance does not turn from<\/p>\n
one sin<\/p>\n
while safeguarding others<\/p>\n
loyalty to god in selective areas is no<\/p>\n
longer loyalty<\/p>\n
but<\/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<\/p>\n
while permitting us to nurture several<\/p>\n
others<\/p>\n
he demands rather that we abandon<\/p>\n
idolatry itself and return<\/p>\n
to the god against whom we have so<\/p>\n
greatly rebelled<\/p>\n
therefore let us examine our hearts to<\/p>\n
ask the lord<\/p>\n
to open the eyes of our hearts and to<\/p>\n
ask ourselves the question<\/p>\n
why<\/p>\n
let's take a minute now to reflect in<\/p>\n
silent uh reflection<\/p>\n
to uh 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
lord for your grace<\/p>\n
to us in the lord jesus christ<\/p>\n
father we thank you so much that he is<\/p>\n
who has gone before us and chosen to<\/p>\n
seek after you and not himself<\/p>\n
father please help us and encourage us<\/p>\n
to admit those areas<\/p>\n
in our lives in who we are that we're we<\/p>\n
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 our christ<\/p>\n
has saved us from<\/p>\n
and father we pray that you would help<\/p>\n
us to remind us<\/p>\n
of your word that we would recall your<\/p>\n
word as<\/p>\n
easily as we 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
in jesus name we pray<\/p>\n
amen<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","teacher":null,"original_publish_date":"20210629","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bS-ZkaXNqA0","video_id":"bS-ZkaXNqA0","video_duration":"38:03","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/982","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=982"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":983,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/982\/revisions\/983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}