WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.060 If you have your Bibles this morning, I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 11. 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:14.939 Genesis chapter 11, it appears that when people come together and act corruptly, that God 00:00:14.939 --> 00:00:18.660 scatters them, that He breaks them up. 00:00:19.940 --> 00:00:21.660 You see it again and again in Scripture. 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:29.000 There's a term that is often used in the Old Testament about people who come together and 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:30.660 act corruptly. 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:41.320 In Numbers 10 verse 35, Moses prayed that God would scatter or disperse their corrupt enemies. 00:00:42.019 --> 00:00:48.439 And the word there that's used in Numbers 10 verse 35 is the word in Hebrew puts. 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:50.039 It don't mean puts. 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:51.700 That's how you pronounce it. 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:57.820 And a variation of that word is used again and again in the same circumstances. 00:00:57.820 --> 00:01:03.799 In Deuteronomy chapter 4, Moses tells God's people that if they go after the idols, that 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:06.460 God will scatter or He'll disperse them. 00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:12.700 And they would be left, quote, few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:13.060 you. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:17.420 He tells them that again in Deuteronomy chapter 28. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:25.820 In 1 Samuel chapter 11, when Saul led the Israelites against the Ammonites and spent the night striking 00:01:25.820 --> 00:01:32.040 down the Ammonites in their own camp, God scattered the Ammonites. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:39.299 Later when the Chaldeans invaded Jerusalem, they captured King Zedekiah. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:44.359 They massacred his sons in front of him and then put his eyes out. 00:01:45.539 --> 00:01:54.819 In 2 Kings 25 verse 5, in that same scripture, it says all his army was scattered from him. 00:01:55.739 --> 00:02:01.459 The prophet Jeremiah warns God's people that God will scatter or disperse them among the 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:01.879 nations. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:07.420 In other words, they will lose their centralized power and lose their land. 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:12.699 The prophet Ezekiel uses the term more than anybody else in scripture. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:20.680 19 times he mentions how God will scatter his people when they go into exile. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:29.300 And then in Genesis chapter 10 and chapter 11, we see that same word used for scattered. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:32.759 Used for the first time in scripture in Genesis. 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:40.599 And it is used about a people who were full of themselves, that wanted to be great, and 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:42.939 were willing to do whatever it took. 00:02:43.679 --> 00:02:45.919 And because of that, God responds. 00:02:46.739 --> 00:02:48.060 And you might have guessed how. 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:50.299 Let's learn from it. 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:55.539 Genesis chapter 11, beginning verse 1, it says, 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:58.939 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:06.239 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled 00:03:06.239 --> 00:03:06.599 there. 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:11.859 And they said to one another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:16.280 And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar. 00:03:16.959 --> 00:03:22.719 Then they said, Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its tops in the heavens. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:29.819 And let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed, that's that same word there, folks, 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:32.659 over the face of the whole earth. 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:38.800 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of man had built. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:45.860 And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.900 And this is only the beginning of what they will do. 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:53.420 And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 00:03:53.539 --> 00:04:00.680 Let us go down and there confuse their language so that they may not understand one another's speech. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:07.800 So the Lord dispersed, same word, dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:12.259 and they left the building, left off building the city. 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:20.860 Therefore, its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth, 00:04:21.099 --> 00:04:26.360 and from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:31.099 There's a lot to unpack here, and so let me fill you in for just a moment. 00:04:31.719 --> 00:04:36.719 After the flood, the earth was to repopulate, and it was repopulated. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:43.240 And instead of multiplying the earth as God had instructed them to do, they became city folks. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:49.240 City folks that gathered up together and didn't do anybody any good. 00:04:49.640 --> 00:04:52.100 They become wayward and wrong together. 00:04:52.260 --> 00:04:58.040 It was their hope to build such a colossal city that they would be invincible, 00:04:58.780 --> 00:05:03.140 that they would be unbeatable, that they would be completely satisfied, 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:05.700 that no one could compete against them. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:07.500 There they would reign. 00:05:08.039 --> 00:05:09.420 No one could break them up. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:16.699 In the midst of that city, they would build a huge structure with the intent of using it for idol worship. 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:19.579 They did it in defiance of God. 00:05:20.159 --> 00:05:21.939 They did it without God's leadership. 00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:25.019 And they actually did it to oppose God. 00:05:25.659 --> 00:05:29.899 They were self-made, independent, even defiant. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:39.039 And they ignored how God had told them to multiply in the earth because they wanted to be great. 00:05:39.779 --> 00:05:41.599 Now, don't misunderstand me. 00:05:42.239 --> 00:05:44.339 There's nothing wrong with greatness. 00:05:45.239 --> 00:05:51.599 Unless your effort to be great is the wrong way or for the wrong reasons. 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:54.919 What was wrong with what they did? 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:57.699 Well, first they had the wrong mentality. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.379 God is great, and if you want to be great, you better include him. 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:03.480 And they didn't. 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:08.780 They talked about it themselves, but they didn't bring the Lord into the conversation. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:16.559 And when prideful, self-seeking people pool their ignorance together, you got a big pool of ignorance is what you got. 00:06:16.979 --> 00:06:21.439 And they came up with the wrong way to reach their goals. 00:06:22.099 --> 00:06:23.879 They should not have left God out. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:26.459 They should have been led by God. 00:06:27.359 --> 00:06:30.799 And we have it easier than they did, quite honestly, because we have the Word of God. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:32.699 God's given us His Word. 00:06:32.859 --> 00:06:34.879 God's given us everything that we need to know. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:38.300 Everything that He wanted us to know is found in His Word. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:46.040 And if we ignore His Word and go about our way with our own plans, off observations that we make, 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:51.159 or off the opinions of other short-sighted people, things are going to run askew for us. 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:56.319 It leads to leaning on the wisdom of God instead. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:57.459 Excuse me. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:03.800 It leans to leaning on the wisdom of people instead of on the wisdom of God. 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:05.100 And you know what that is? 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:05.980 It's humanism. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:08.680 It leads God out. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:09.660 It leaves God out. 00:07:10.280 --> 00:07:13.180 And things are going to go sideways when you do. 00:07:14.400 --> 00:07:15.660 They needed God. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.120 You need God. 00:07:18.780 --> 00:07:20.040 I need God. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:21.800 We need God. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:26.800 And to leave Him out is a wrong mentality. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:30.379 Not only that, but they also had the wrong materials. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:36.779 It says they made their structure out of stone, bricks, and pitch. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:38.899 Now, don't misunderstand me. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:40.139 The martyr is not wrong. 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:43.360 But the attitude behind it is. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:49.899 You see, they wouldn't even use the stones that God had given them. 00:07:50.159 --> 00:07:51.839 But instead, they made their own. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:55.139 Now, to us, that does not seem odd. 00:07:55.479 --> 00:08:00.519 Because most of our homes have some kind of brick or block or something. 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:04.819 But it's obvious from the text that they didn't want God's help. 00:08:05.419 --> 00:08:07.419 They would do this themselves. 00:08:08.679 --> 00:08:11.419 So they tear down the way that God made the stone. 00:08:12.179 --> 00:08:14.699 And they make it back their way. 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:21.759 It is an effort to rely upon their own ability instead of upon the Lord. 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:26.420 Now, to see this and to understand the significance of this, 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:31.339 I want you to compare this to how the temple was built later. 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:35.240 Because when the temple was built, they leaned on God. 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:38.919 And God provided every need they had. 00:08:39.439 --> 00:08:41.939 And they knew where the temple was to go. 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:45.780 And they knew that that temple ground was holy. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:54.380 So the stone that they used on the temple was not shaped or chiseled on site. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:09:00.940 Instead, it was shaped and chiseled off site at a quarry. 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:05.480 1 Kings tells us in 1 Kings 6 and 7. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:13.480 Therefore, not any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built. 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:17.019 It was holy ground. 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:20.100 It was God ordained. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:23.000 It was God provided. 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:26.139 It was God honored. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.180 Now, I'm going to tell you something, folks. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:32.279 It's fun to be a part of a project like that. 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:41.019 I mean, when God's all over something, and God started it, and God provided it, and God honors it, 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:44.799 that's the way you do something as a people of God. 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:49.939 Let us never restore or build anything for us. 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:57.420 Because, listen, folks, we're not doing anything that we do for our cause. 00:09:58.280 --> 00:09:59.260 It's for Him. 00:10:00.400 --> 00:10:03.700 And if it's not for Him, we better not be doing it. 00:10:04.540 --> 00:10:06.060 It's not from selfishness. 00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:08.420 It's not from short-sightedness. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.600 It's for God. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:18.840 God, and He'll provide, and He'll lead, and when He leads, we follow His lead. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:21.139 Use His materials. 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:23.340 Do it His way. 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:25.840 They used the wrong materials. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:28.220 They did what they wanted to do. 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:31.659 But not only that, they also had the wrong motive. 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:34.120 In verse 4, it says, 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:38.039 Come, let us build ourselves. 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:48.699 The American dream is to work hard and to reach a level of prestige that you no longer have to work hard. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:56.120 And the problem with that is that a lot of people want it without working for it to start with. 00:10:56.120 --> 00:11:02.539 And then many that work for it get there and quit. 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:09.799 They don't take that opportunity that God's given them in their hard effort to serve others. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.580 Instead, they start serving themselves. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:17.799 And the reality is they should have been serving God the whole time. 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:21.860 And, folks, that don't stop until He takes our last breath. 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:29.460 Some think that if we have plenty, that we'll have joy. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.120 But I got news for you. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.820 Joy does not come in self-service. 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:38.180 Solomon was probably the richest man to ever live. 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:40.180 And he had a problem. 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:42.720 He began with a lot. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.220 He worked hard. 00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:45.279 He was good at it. 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.600 And he made a bunch. 00:11:47.300 --> 00:11:49.539 I mean, you name it, and he had it. 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:51.740 He talks about it in Ecclesiastes. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:57.340 He had everything that he wanted, and he experimented with everything that you can imagine. 00:11:58.180 --> 00:12:03.879 Combined with that, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:10.360 I'm like the little kid that said Solomon loved women and animals. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.940 And somebody said, excuse me? 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:17.539 Said he had 700 wives and 300 porcupines. 00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:21.759 I think he loved animals. 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:26.439 But you know what? 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:28.120 In the end, he returned to his roots. 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:32.879 And he said the way to happiness is not by having all those things. 00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:34.759 The way to happiness is obedience to God. 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:38.459 It's doing it God's way. 00:12:39.439 --> 00:12:42.559 I want you to look at the motive of these builders. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:48.619 It says, let us make a name for ourselves. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:54.859 We live in a day when everybody wants to be heard. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:57.639 And few want to listen. 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:01.159 We are in days of rage. 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:04.800 And there's a lot of emphasis upon self. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:08.560 Everybody wants to make a name for herself. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:11.940 Or everybody wants to make a name for himself. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.220 Or for themself. 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:15.000 Or whatever. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:19.639 Or maybe they just need a little attention. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.740 Somebody, please look at me. 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.879 Please look at me. 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.220 It's what it seems like the world's crawling out to. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:30.740 Instead of our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:32.480 Thy kingdom come. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.500 Thy will be done. 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.139 It's become its hallowed be my name. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.159 My kingdom come. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.039 My will be done. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:39.179 It's all self-centered. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:42.980 It's what John calls the pride of life. 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.740 But I want you to be clear. 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:51.480 The proverb writer said, in Proverbs 16, 18, pride comes before destruction and a halty spirit before a fall. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.440 If you think I've left my text, I haven't. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:57.580 What is the motive for them building? 00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.920 It is themselves. 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:08.000 And Psalm 127, 1 says, unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. 00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:09.980 They had the wrong mentality. 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:12.840 They had the wrong materials. 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.980 They had the wrong motive. 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:17.300 And they had the wrong method. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:24.480 They said, we'll build ourselves a city and tower with its top in the heavens. 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:32.180 They were seeking to reach God instead of understanding that God was reaching down to them. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:36.620 They wanted a tower with its top in the heavens. 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.740 You know what that means? 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:47.419 When you look at the testimony of the Old Testament throughout, what that means is they wanted a high place. 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:50.960 In the Old Testament, you'll find it again and again. 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:56.019 There's kings that come to the throne who tried to do right. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:15:08.639 But many times in Scripture, the way they speak of the weakness of that reign of that king is to say, but they did not remove the high places. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:11.460 They failed to take away the high places. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.439 You know what that's talking about? 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:17.399 That is places that they put up in the mountains for idol worship. 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:23.299 They always had a place to go to turn to another god and they never backed away from that. 00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:27.859 With very little reform, they never backed away from that. 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:32.099 They wanted high places with their tops in the heavens. 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:34.959 Why did they want that? 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.159 I'll tell you why. 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:39.299 So they could read the stars. 00:15:42.479 --> 00:15:48.559 They were not literally trying to reach to God as some would suggest. 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:50.679 They knew better than that. 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.799 They built this on sea level. 00:15:55.779 --> 00:16:06.679 And the reality is they could have went to the top of a mountain and built it to try to make it even higher, to somehow get above the clouds, to somehow reach God, if that was their intention. 00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:14.599 But the ancients of Babylon and the ancients of Assyria built ziggurats. 00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:18.839 Not cigarettes, ziggurats. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:23.120 And they are Terence-style pyramids. 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:25.560 Some of them got much higher than the one you see on the picture. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:38.399 Archaeologists have found, when they went to the top levels of these ziggurats that they've dug up, they have found astrological charts on top of them. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:46.079 So the top of these towers was no more than an observatory. 00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:49.259 Now, I love the beauty of the stars as well. 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:54.480 And we enjoy a good starry night when we had a little glimpse of northern lights and all those things. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.340 Nothing wrong with that. 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:57.420 There's more to this. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:03.780 The very meaning of the word astrology means that there's a word in the stars. 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.460 It's the word of the stars. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:12.840 And so some people look to the word of the stars when they need to be looking to the word of God. 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:17.899 Now, astrology uses zodiac signs. 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:24.699 And zodiac signs have been found on top of some of the ziggurats. 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:34.920 Now, if you move that thought to Egypt and you mix in their animism, which is a worship of inanimate things, 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:39.740 you mix in their polytheism, which is a worship of many gods, 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:45.000 you're going to get into a real religious, godless mess. 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.840 I want you to think about the Sphinx. 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.559 Not the gas station. 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.019 The structure. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.799 The most famous pyramid. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:57.139 And when you look at that, it's got the head of a woman on it. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.399 That's Virgo. 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.319 It's got the body of a lion. 00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:04.200 That's Leo. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.899 Virgo is the first sign of the zodiac. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:12.659 Leo is the last sign of the zodiac. 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:16.700 And the placement of the Sphinx, they're close to the Nile River. 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.899 A lot of religious overtones there. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.720 They felt like the Nile provided life. 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:23.799 That it was a life water. 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:30.500 And close to the Nile, thought of as supernatural area among Egyptian pagans. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:36.500 They say that's supposed to be the meeting points of the zodiac. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:40.559 The first and the last. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:44.579 The beginning and the end. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:51.500 With that thought, that all of life starts on the banks of the Nile, 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:55.960 the Sphinx is a pivotal point of life. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:19:03.680 And when you read Genesis 11, that's exactly where these people are bowling. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.180 That's where they're at. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:09.360 They called it Babel. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:16.399 When we think of Babel, it's when somebody talks too much and ain't making a lot of sense. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.899 They're just babbling. 00:19:18.959 --> 00:19:21.959 But in reality, the word in the original language, 00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:24.459 Bab means gate. 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.579 El means God. 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:29.779 Literally, it was a place, the gate of God. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:37.259 They were making this to be a gate for their own man-made gods. 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:48.319 And their man-made gods and our man-made idols will lead us all down a highway to hell. 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:51.599 God's not silent about those things. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.420 God's not asleep on this. 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:57.039 Notice in verse 5, it says, 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:59.560 And the Lord came down, and don't pick up, 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:01.580 I hope you pick up on the irony here. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:07.180 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of man had built. 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:12.920 Man's greatest efforts to reach out to God, 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:15.460 to somehow get to his level, 00:20:16.560 --> 00:20:18.940 could only be seen when God came down. 00:20:19.820 --> 00:20:23.580 Their greatest attempt of self-exaltation 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:27.159 doesn't come close to an omnipotent God. 00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:28.819 And in verse 7, 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:31.199 it says that God said, 00:20:31.939 --> 00:20:33.939 Come, let us go down. 00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:36.039 So here we see in Genesis, 00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.519 we've already seen it in the garden, 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:39.839 but here we see in Genesis again, 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.299 point to the Trinity. 00:20:43.199 --> 00:20:45.039 The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.799 Right there in the very beginning. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:50.740 And don't be concerned when you read about God saying 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:52.659 nothing will be impossible for them. 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:54.600 You know what that really is saying? 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.480 He's saying they think they can do anything, 00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:59.779 and if they think they can do anything, 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:04.580 they'll continue on this bad, wrong, demonic path 00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:06.720 that this shows. 00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:07.980 He said, 00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:10.019 So therefore I will scatter them. 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:13.160 They were wrong in many ways. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.519 They had the wrong mentality. 00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:17.660 They had the wrong materials. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.759 They had the wrong motive. 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:20.660 They had the wrong method. 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:25.000 Do you remember what God told them to do after the flood? 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.240 After the flood in Genesis 9 verse 1, 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:28.640 He said, 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:31.819 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.700 God gave a command after the flood 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.779 to refurbish the earth. 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:39.579 That man were to spread out, 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.599 to grow out, 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.359 not up. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.740 And instead, 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.799 they wanted it their way. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.159 They didn't spread out. 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:49.339 They stuck together 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:50.819 and 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.839 became a problem. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:55.139 They believed that if they stuck together 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:56.299 and tried their best, 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.539 they could find security apart from God. 00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.579 And anytime 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:02.839 you're selfishly motivated, 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.619 anytime 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:06.659 what you do is filled with pride, 00:22:08.179 --> 00:22:08.579 anytime 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:10.559 what you do is going against God, 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.599 your efforts 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:14.939 are going to be just the opposite 00:22:14.939 --> 00:22:16.619 of what you hope for. 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.559 The great towers 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.699 of accomplishments 00:22:19.699 --> 00:22:22.759 still leads to loneliness, folks. 00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:25.879 Because we can't do it on our own. 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.399 We wasn't made to do it on our own. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.539 And when we do it, 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.460 God will respond. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.919 So if you've done it wrong, 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:36.500 you look at your life 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.240 and you see things 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.620 that you built in your life 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:40.400 and you feel like 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.200 you've done it wrong, 00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:44.400 trying to build your life up 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.460 in the wrong way, 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.259 the question is, 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:48.300 is there any hope? 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.480 Because this passage 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:51.019 kind of leaves us hopeless. 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.000 So unlike other passages, 00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:55.000 we're not blessed with 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.940 the angel guarding 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.900 a forbidden way, 00:22:58.060 --> 00:22:58.800 protecting it, 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.460 keeping us from doing harm. 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:02.240 We don't see what we saw earlier 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.460 with a rainbow covenant, 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.980 a promise that God 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.900 would lift his wrath 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.500 from the earth. 00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:09.840 There seems no ray of hope here. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.860 There seems no token of grace 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:13.640 as we've seen before. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.259 But I want to be clear 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.279 about something, folks. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.819 Where God is, 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.799 there's always hope. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.259 There's hope. 00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:22.059 I want you to notice 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.000 that when humanity 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:24.319 used all their efforts 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.140 to come together 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.460 and to go up, 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.200 God stepped down 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.720 and scattered their efforts. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.880 And the world was scattered 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:33.620 and the languages became many. 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.140 What could ever 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:39.000 unite that together again? 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:42.799 Well, this is in Genesis chapter 11. 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.860 When you turn the page 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:47.640 and look at Genesis chapter 12, 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:51.100 God begins to build one nation 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.680 which will become 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.860 his channel of blessing. 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:57.799 It's a foreshadowing 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:00.039 of what we see later 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.079 in the New Testament 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:03.000 that develops it 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.779 that much fuller. 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.240 You remember what happened 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.919 in the book of Acts? 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.500 The end of the Gospels, 00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.799 Jesus dies. 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:16.119 Three days later, 00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:17.559 he rose again on the earth 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.219 40 days 00:24:18.219 --> 00:24:19.119 and then he ascended. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.179 And before he ascended, 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.839 he promised 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:22.559 that the Holy Spirit of God 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.079 would come. 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:25.279 Christ had promised 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.199 after his ascension 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:26.960 that the Holy Spirit 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.480 would come. 00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:29.039 And in Acts chapter 2, 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:29.939 verse 1 through 6, 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.779 we see that happen. 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.980 I want you to notice 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.539 what happens. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.339 It says, 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.819 When the day of Pentecost arrived, 00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:35.599 they were all together 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.379 in one place. 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.279 And suddenly there came 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.740 from heaven 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.960 a sound like a mighty 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.000 rushing wind. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.599 And it filled the entire house 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:45.000 where they were sitting. 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.339 And divided tongues 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.439 as of fire 00:24:48.439 --> 00:24:49.359 appeared to them 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.859 and rested on 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.799 each one of them. 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:53.399 And they were all filled 00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:54.339 with the Holy Spirit 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.159 and began to speak 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.919 in other tongues 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.339 as the Spirit gave them 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.339 utterance. 00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.220 Now there were dwelling 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.919 in Jerusalem Jews, 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.639 devout men 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:05.379 from every nation 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.019 under heaven. 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.279 Get this now. 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.259 And at the sound, 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.099 the multitude came together 00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:13.240 and they were bewildered 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:16.039 because each one 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.960 was hearing them speak 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:21.500 in his own language. 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:26.400 What sin had scattered 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.960 in Genesis chapter 11, 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.440 the Spirit of God 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:34.400 brought together in Christ 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.920 in Acts chapter 2. 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.660 What was scattered 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.640 that made many languages, 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:44.080 what spoke a common language 00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:45.500 was the hope 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.220 that's found 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.960 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:50.340 That's what life 00:25:50.340 --> 00:25:51.480 in Christ does, folks. 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.420 What is scattered 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.160 and confused 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.040 becomes united 00:25:55.040 --> 00:25:55.560 and clear. 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.880 Jesus Christ 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.320 changes everything. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.020 And you just wait 00:26:01.020 --> 00:26:01.780 until we get to heaven. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.100 Because what's broken 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:07.140 shall be fixed. 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:10.040 in all the languages 00:26:10.040 --> 00:26:10.740 of the world, 00:26:11.280 --> 00:26:13.360 there's only one name 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:15.640 that is above 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.640 every other name 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.480 and that's Jesus. 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.460 As Scripture tells us, 00:26:20.540 --> 00:26:21.320 every tribe, 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.420 every tongue, 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.320 every nation, 00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:28.640 Jesus is Lord of all. 00:26:30.020 --> 00:26:31.000 All are united, 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.200 not in self-efforts, 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.640 all are united in Christ. 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.900 So the question is this, 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:39.480 what are we building? 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.740 As individuals 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.620 for our life, 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.660 what are we building? 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.720 Are we building status? 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.980 Are we building position? 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.080 Are we trying 00:26:52.080 --> 00:26:53.500 to work our way to God? 00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:57.160 If any of that is true, 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.720 it's a vain attempt 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.280 that leads to confusion. 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.380 If you really want 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:04.180 to reach God, 00:27:04.300 --> 00:27:05.120 do you know how to do it? 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:07.620 Go to the Word of God. 00:27:08.060 --> 00:27:09.100 Go to the Word of God. 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.340 Luke chapter 9, 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.400 verse 23, 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.360 Jesus said, 00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:13.880 if anyone would come 00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:14.500 after me, 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:17.220 let him deny himself. 00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:18.100 Just the opposite 00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:18.660 of what they did 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.320 in Genesis 11. 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:20.740 Let him deny himself 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.580 and take up his cross 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.840 daily and follow me. 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.960 It's just the opposite 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.080 they were doing in Babel. 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:29.060 Don't build yourself up. 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.340 Lift Jesus up. 00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:33.519 Don't live for you. 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.420 Live for him. 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:38.220 Don't be defiant 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.160 in your ways. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.940 Surrender your life 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.539 to Christ. 00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.840 That's where the hope is. 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:47.039 That's where the joy 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.700 comes in. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.340 That's where things happen 00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:52.180 that make a difference 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:53.900 for all of eternity. 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.220 With every head bowed 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:56.900 and every eye closed, 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.539 I want to ask you 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.259 something this morning. 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:03.539 has there ever been 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.660 a time in your life 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:07.680 when you've surrendered 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.579 your life to the Lord 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.379 Jesus Christ? 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.279 When you've asked him 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.859 to forgive you 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:14.059 of the things you've done wrong? 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.539 When you've asked him 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.500 to change your life 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.299 and you've surrendered 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.539 your life to follow him? 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:22.519 If you've never done that, 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.259 I'm telling you, 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.899 you'll spend your life 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.059 in a tower of confusion 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:28.899 trying to build something 00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.779 that you'll never be able 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.559 to accomplish, 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:34.480 trying to find a peace 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.279 that you won't find 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.220 outside of Christ. 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:39.860 Our only hope is Christ. 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:42.940 He made the ultimate sacrifice 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:44.400 so that we wouldn't have to 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:44.920 and we could spend 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.799 eternity with him. 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.140 You come to Christ today. 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:50.880 Maybe you've done that privately, 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.079 but you've never acknowledged 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.559 that publicly through baptism. 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.920 I encourage you to come 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.360 this morning. 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.620 We're baptizing next week. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.519 I encourage you to come 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.240 and obey God 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.180 as he speaks to your heart 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:01.600 and life. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.720 And maybe you're here 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.480 and God's leading you 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.680 to be a part of this church. 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.240 Will you follow his will 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.759 and his way? 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.819 Just do what he tells you to do 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:12.000 and trust him with the rest. 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:13.240 Or maybe there's matters 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.940 in your life, 00:29:14.100 --> 00:29:15.259 burdens in your life, 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.880 decisions in your life 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:21.319 that you're struggling with today. 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.240 Will you lay that 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.960 before the Lord? 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.279 Don't try to build 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.539 your own way out of it. 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.779 Trust him with it. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.700 You can do that 00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.559 where you'll stand 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:35.200 or you can do that 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.140 with a pastor praying 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:36.660 for you 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.280 or you can do that 00:29:37.280 --> 00:29:37.780 at this altar. 00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:39.840 I just want you 00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:40.200 to leave here 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.980 knowing that you've done 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.640 everything that God 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.420 told you to do. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.400 That you've been obedient 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.259 and you've followed him. 00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:46.960 Lord Jesus, 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:47.620 I love you 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.300 and I thank you 00:29:48.300 --> 00:29:48.880 for your word. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.620 I thank you, Lord, 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.600 for what you show us, 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.100 dear God. 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:52.640 Through the confusion, 00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:55.440 through the mismanagement, 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.500 through the bad decisions 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.020 of others. 00:29:57.780 --> 00:29:58.900 Help us learn, Lord, 00:29:58.960 --> 00:29:59.800 not make the same kind 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.140 of decisions. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.160 Help us do it right. 00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.759 Not for our glory, 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.559 but for your glory, 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.000 oh God. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.079 Lead us, Lord, 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:08.579 I pray, 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.920 right now 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:11.119 to simply be obedient 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.680 as you speak 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.660 to our hearts and lives. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.759 In Jesus' precious name, 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:15.660 amen. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:15.799 Amen. 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.740 Thank you. 00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:26.460 Thank you.