WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:10.460 Morning, church. How are we doing? Buckle down. Are we ready for this? Well, what a great 00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:16.920 reading this morning. I'm just going to invite you to imagine that this morning you have 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:23.859 picked up your news sheet or you have heard at the door or whether you've heard in the 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:33.119 notice is that the Methodist and Anglican church have decided that we should all have an extra tax 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:43.719 placed on it. It's called CAT, church added tax. And the good thing about they've decided for us that 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:50.799 this tax will be collected each week and there'll be people on the doors as you arrive to collect 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:57.199 this extra tax from each and every person. But don't worry if you don't come on a Sunday 00:00:57.199 --> 00:01:04.420 because they will charge you double the next week when you come. Or if you don't happen to appear for 00:01:04.420 --> 00:01:10.019 a few weeks, they'll come around and knock on your door. And they've decided that it's going to be 00:01:10.019 --> 00:01:19.519 somewhere around about £70 a week from each of us, which would actually involve just to cover a few 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:26.959 extra expenses. And the people who collect it will actually have a bit of a rake-off of that as well. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:37.539 So, sounds equitable? Sounds good? Sounds fair? No, I don't think so. It certainly doesn't sound 00:01:37.539 --> 00:01:43.539 godly. And if I was hearing this news this morning, I'd be thinking, do you know what, I'm a little bit 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:50.820 miffed about that. No, no, actually, I think, no, I'm actually quite angry. No, no, actually, I think, 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:58.900 I'm really angry about that. But what am I going to do about it? Well, welcome to this morning's reading. 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:07.200 Welcome to this morning's reading because this is what everyday people in Jerusalem were faced with 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:14.800 in our gospel story. This is what was taking place. This was the injustice, greed, and hypocrisy 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:22.539 that they were faced with day by day by day in the name of God. Jesus, like many others, were observing 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:29.039 the way that the temple was running and that the temple was being run not for the Lord, not for Jesus, 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:37.519 not for God's purposes, but for the needs of just a few under the guise of religion, worship, and 00:02:37.519 --> 00:02:46.199 commitment. And Jesus doesn't ignore it. Jesus actually does something about it. And when we read 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:54.399 scripture, oh my goodness, it's shock horror. Jesus actually does something about it and seizes our 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:01.140 attention. The very people, the temple priests who were supposed to be serving the people and caring 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:09.360 from them, was fleecing them left, right, and center. The temple had become more like a first century 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:16.300 theme park like no other. Get inside and we'll charge you double. Sorry if you run a theme park. 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:24.099 But that's the way it happens. People had come to experience the sense of God. And what were they met with? 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:34.960 All they were met with was greed and injustice and deceit. The law, the law, the law required people 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:42.200 to come and make a sacrifice. And the sacrifice doesn't, it's, you brought things which were 00:03:42.200 --> 00:03:49.580 according to your financial status. But still it was costly. And in those days, if you brought, 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:56.320 if you brought a pair of doves, that would cost you roughly in today's money about 4p. But in their 00:03:56.320 --> 00:04:03.580 money, that was a week's wages. So effectively, that was a huge sacrifice. But of course, inside the 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:13.480 temple, surprise, surprise, these doves were being sold for 75p. But of course, when you came, you were 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:22.240 being charged an outrageous price for giving a large cut, not only to, not to the Lord, you were giving 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:28.060 it actually to the temple authorities, to the priests, and those were taking a rake off from it. 00:04:29.219 --> 00:04:35.000 Franchised church. These people were paying to actually be within the temple courts to take their 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:43.459 rake off from what it was. And here's the sting. Even if you brought your own doves. So I've 00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:51.859 brought my own doves from home. You've guessed it. There was a temple inspection tax. And so there 00:04:51.859 --> 00:05:00.359 was inspectors inside the temple that would charge you a penny to inspect whether your doves were good 00:05:00.359 --> 00:05:08.759 enough for sacrifice. And you've guessed it again. Not many got through. So you had to buy the more 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:14.480 expensive ones that were expensive ones that were on the inside. And also as well, there wasn't all. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:21.300 Sounds like a manifesto, doesn't it? You may have heard of those recently. There's even more. What 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:27.360 happened was, is your well-earned money that you have brought to pay the temple taxes, because there 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:35.259 was temple taxes, apart from your sacrifice, was you couldn't accept your money inside of the temple. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:43.920 Because your money wasn't good enough. It was unclean. So you could only use temple money. 00:05:44.659 --> 00:05:52.899 And you've guessed it. Inside there were money changers to move your money into temple money, 00:05:53.099 --> 00:06:00.819 of which there was another tax as well. It's no wonder really that tax collectors didn't get a trust 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:08.079 pilot five star. And that they don't really get a good write-up within scripture. The whole thing 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:16.680 was verging on corruption. And Jesus couldn't bear to see those whom he loved treated in this way 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:21.600 and deceived his children misused. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:29.939 God's wrath is something that we fail to major on, maybe in evangelical circles. 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:35.840 What would Jesus do? What would Jesus do? Well, would Jesus give us a nice cuddle and a hug? 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:44.400 Oh, isn't he loving? But no, Jesus saw injustice and decided this day enough was enough. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:52.859 And he had to seize people's attention because God doesn't ignore injustice and will act and often 00:06:52.859 --> 00:07:00.959 calls us to come and challenge the injustice that we see. So it's important in scripture to look back 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:08.319 as we think about this idea of the prophetic of what Jesus was doing within the context of this scripture. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:23.339 The prophets who had again and again and again, as you read the Old Testament, had remind God's people 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:31.420 of where they had gone wrong, of where they actually weren't engaging with the message that they were giving. 00:07:31.420 --> 00:07:43.460 And the temple authorities again had failed time and time and time again to engage with what was the message of God. 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:49.819 And in our scripture, Jesus draws not only on past prophecy, which of course he would have known 00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:55.340 and the people would have learned, but he also gives this prophecy that the temple would fall 00:07:55.340 --> 00:07:58.720 within three days. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:06.340 All four gospels record this event. This was obviously a significant event in Jesus's ministry, 00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:15.540 but what does it say for us today? What would Jesus do in prophecy and moving in the prophetic? 00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:22.140 You see, way back, Malachi, when you read the book of Malachi, Malachi was telling people, 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:24.340 you're bringing God your second best. 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:30.000 And I don't know about you, when I read that, when I read that for myself, I often think, 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:38.000 Lord, am I bringing you my second best in my time, in my gifting, in the way in which I use my life? 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:44.720 Why am I not bringing you the first fruits of what I do and how I live my life? 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:48.059 How am I doing that? Can I do that more and more? 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:54.879 No wonder the chief priests and the scribes who heard Jesus's teaching and action squirmed 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.519 and sought to destroy him. 00:08:57.619 --> 00:09:02.979 Because I would suggest that the majority of those that were around Jesus and heard this 00:09:02.979 --> 00:09:08.239 and watched this event were saying, yeah, too true. 00:09:09.119 --> 00:09:12.519 Come on, let's bring this on, more of this, 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:16.480 because we need somebody to stand with us and for us. 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:20.019 No wonder the authorities saw Jesus as such a threat. 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:27.120 And in the gospel reading, in the same incident, Mark fuses together Isaiah and Jeremiah, 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:29.759 and he was teaching them and saying to them, 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:33.059 is it not written, as Jesus says, is this not written, 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:37.460 that my house should be called a house of prayer for all the nations? 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:39.960 But you have made a den of robbers. 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:45.480 My goodness, say it as it is, rather than hedge your own. 00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:53.360 Jesus is drawing on that prophetic message from the past to say it in the here and now. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:10:00.480 What is Jesus saying to us to give the highest message to a waiting world in the here and now? 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:08.519 What is that message that we have today to share with our friends and our families into a waiting world? 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.680 The first quotation comes from Isaiah 56, 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:16.080 which belongs to Isaiah's vision of a restored Jerusalem. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:20.940 He wanted to see this coming, this opportunity. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:24.240 And in Isaiah, backwards and forwards all the time, 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:28.360 Isaiah is pointing to this coming king, 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:30.600 this king who will come, 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:35.919 this person who will come and restore all things and bring justice. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:40.340 Jesus is clearing the temple for all people, 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:45.480 for you and me and for all people. 00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:50.139 Praise God that we are here and able to worship. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:11:00.679 In Isaiah 7, 1, in the passage, God instructs Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the God's house 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:03.120 and deliver a scathing denunciation. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.500 This is way back before Jesus comes. 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:07.500 Thus says the Lord of hosts, 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:12.860 amend your ways and your deeds and I will let you dwell in this place. 00:11:13.699 --> 00:11:16.399 Do not trust in these deceptive words. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:22.439 This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord. 00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:27.360 Saying it three times, there is a reminder that this is about God. 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.439 This is what we come for. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:30.939 This is what it's about. 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:35.840 And you know, what do you think is the vital elements? 00:11:35.959 --> 00:11:39.000 What do you consider the vital elements of being in church today? 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:44.100 So often we've focused on mission, rightly. 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:47.940 We've focused on great teaching. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:53.779 We've also focused on pastoral care, looking after each other. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:58.220 But where somehow did we lose moving in the prophetic? 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:01.580 Because the prophetic is so important. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:06.120 Words may be that stir us and engage us, 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:08.440 that seize people's attention. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.879 That grabs people. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:14.600 You know, do we listen for the prophetic word of God? 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:17.860 Do we, I think in these turbulent times, 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.440 times where the Church of England, 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.279 you know, for personally from a denomination, 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:24.279 I feel the Church of England is being led 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:26.720 in a very dangerous direction at the moment. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.379 Maybe we need to return to scripture 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:31.320 and listen to the word of God 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:34.460 to bring us back to a place where we are safe 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:37.299 and we know that Jesus is known and held 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:38.919 and scripture is upheld. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:44.219 I recall many years ago in a church, 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:48.419 there was a very, very prayerful lady 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.419 who will know who she is. 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:55.559 And this message that was brought to this church, 00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:57.979 the church basically, 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.120 she brought a prophetic word 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.819 that came through prayer 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:05.460 and to repent, 00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:06.860 for the church to repent 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:09.640 as a church that would have been wrapped 00:13:09.640 --> 00:13:11.040 in a critical spirit. 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:15.820 Honestly, this prophetic word 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:17.200 was absolutely spot on. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:20.200 And this word, 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:22.240 if you'd went to a church meeting, 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.660 if you went to a church AGM, 00:13:25.260 --> 00:13:26.900 it was like a bloodbath, 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.919 I can tell you. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.840 You know, people would sit 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.079 on either side of the church 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:32.379 and not talk to each other. 00:13:32.699 --> 00:13:34.959 And that was just the leader's wives. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.439 You know? 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:38.840 Well, sadly, 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:42.240 she brought this amazing prophetic word, 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:42.899 really courageous, 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:45.139 and bringing that to the leadership, 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:46.279 she was sent packing. 00:13:47.079 --> 00:13:48.860 Leadership didn't want to acknowledge it, 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.379 didn't want to accept it, 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.120 didn't want to know it. 00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:51.919 I'll tell you, 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:54.299 that prophetic word is as fresh today 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:55.839 is the day that it was given. 00:13:57.059 --> 00:14:00.079 For a church that hasn't seen growth, 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:02.179 hasn't seen a healing, 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.859 hasn't seen a repentance, 00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:06.699 and hasn't come back and repented 00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:08.939 and broken the critical spirit. 00:14:09.959 --> 00:14:11.839 You know, come back to the Lord, 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:12.779 kneel, repent, 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.019 put on sackcloth, 00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:15.079 whatever it needs, 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:17.819 but listen to the word of God 00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:19.879 to come back. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:23.199 What does it take for people to listen? 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:26.740 That's what was in the heart 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.719 of the scripture today. 00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:28.779 We may get shocked 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:30.759 that Jesus turned over a few tables. 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:33.859 What does it take for people to listen? 00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:38.219 Because sometimes it has to be that stark 00:14:38.219 --> 00:14:39.939 for people to understand. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.939 They prophesied that a saviour would come. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.279 He had come. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:45.979 He had come. 00:14:46.079 --> 00:14:46.659 He was there, 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:48.120 right in front of them. 00:14:48.219 --> 00:14:49.279 Isaiah 42, 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.039 Here is my servant, 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.299 whom I uphold, 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.339 my chosen one, 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:54.839 in whom I delight. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.699 I will put my spirit on him, 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.120 and he will bring justice to the nations. 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:02.019 He will not falter or be discouraged. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:05.339 He will not falter or be discouraged. 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:08.159 If there's one thing to take from us today, 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:11.279 he will not falter or be discouraged 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:16.079 until he establishes justice on earth. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:18.639 And we are part of that. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.379 The list goes on and on. 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:24.560 I can read the list. 00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:28.460 The Messiah would be given vinegar to drink on the cross. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:30.980 Psalm 69 came true. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:33.280 The Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.259 Psalm 22, 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.740 it came true. 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:38.660 The Messiah's bones would not be broken. 00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:40.120 Psalm 34, 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.360 it came true. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.919 The Messiah would be buried with the rich. 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:45.539 Isaiah 53, 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.860 it came true. 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:50.060 It says that the Messiah would speak in parables. 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.600 It says that in Isaiah, 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.740 it came true. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:56.080 The list goes on and on and on. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.940 We need to move more and more in the prophetic people. 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:05.100 We need to listen more and more to the word of God. 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:07.360 Jesus' words would invoke the understanding 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:10.759 of Jeremiah's wider context, 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:15.399 this criticism and his prophecy of a future temple 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.740 and the way it should be. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.120 Jesus' actions, 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:21.039 both inside and outside of the temple, 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:25.639 were very clear demonstrations of what it would be. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:28.559 Again, Jesus talked about trees and fruit, 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:32.379 those that would bear fruit and those that didn't. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.919 He was very clear in his wording 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:36.200 and people understood. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.720 People saw it. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.740 People knew what he was talking about 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:41.120 within the context, 00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:43.040 but the temple didn't. 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:46.200 The leaders in charge of God's chosen people 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.639 just didn't get it. 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:52.019 So the question for us this morning is, 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:54.180 what's the significance of this scripture? 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.899 What's there for us? 00:16:56.899 --> 00:17:00.879 Jesus taught and prophesied about three days 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.459 and rebuilding the temple. 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.519 He did it. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.980 And we see it. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:10.619 Because it's about the cross once and for all. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.960 It was all about the cross. 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.900 The disciples in our reading got it after the event. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.879 Yeah, yeah, we get now the three days. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.680 We get exactly what he was talking about. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.259 This rebuilding. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.940 This is what it's going to be. 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:30.220 Jesus crucified, died and buried and raised again for us. 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.080 For us. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.960 Did somebody say hallelujah? 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.120 I think they did. 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:40.420 You know, the temple curtain was torn in two. 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:44.000 We see the significance of things being exposed, 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.620 things being brought into the light, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.539 being shown for what they are. 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:52.960 New life, not just for a few, but for all. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.259 Not just for the few. 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.519 What would Jesus do? 00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:02.940 Everything that was said and prophesied about him. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.779 That's what he does. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.180 You know, people who say, 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:09.440 oh, I don't bother with the Old Testament anymore. 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.299 You're missing the story. 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:14.659 The old looks to the new. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.200 The new looks to the old. 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.740 It measures up. 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.840 It is the truth. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.600 What would Jesus do? 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.640 Jesus came to fulfill his promise to each and everyone 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.980 who turns to him and receives salvation in his word. 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:30.200 How do we respond to such love? 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:32.819 How do we respond to prophecy? 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:37.200 How do we respond to the sheer obvious and gracious action 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:42.400 spoken down the years and fulfilled through Jesus Christ? 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.759 How do we do that? 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:44.779 How do we do that? 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.480 We give our lives. 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:50.120 Because it's worth it. 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.759 The disciples saw it. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:59.000 The disciples were so empowered by this that they had known. 00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.240 They had known the scriptures. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.480 They knew the prophecy. 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:03.000 They knew the prophecy. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:07.319 And they went out and they prophesied over people. 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:12.039 What seizes people's attention for you today? 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:15.119 As we go out and share God's love with people, 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:20.259 I've never really argued anybody into the kingdom. 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:22.000 I don't know whether you have. 00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:25.339 You know, I find it's... 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.559 Some people want to do that. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:32.740 But when people start seeing signs and wonders and words given to them, 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.940 it seizes their attention. 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:46.400 Maybe, maybe, maybe we're in a season where we're being called into a season more and more as a prophetic church 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:52.080 to seize people's attention with words and messages and scripture. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.379 Maybe it's time to hold fast to the words of scripture, 00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:00.279 to hold fast to the prophecy that was given, 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:03.759 the prophecy that we know is true as we move forward, 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.259 to the truth revealed in his holy word, 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:11.339 to turn some tables of those who would seek to weaken God's will 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:15.259 and bring undue influence in our church 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:19.619 to rewrite or try to rewrite the truths. 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:28.720 Maybe a time to stand alongside Jesus in his truth 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:32.839 as we dispel this woke culture. 00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:40.059 But most of all, as I was reading this, I thought, 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:43.919 Jesus said, I am the light of the world. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.460 And what did he do that day? 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:52.319 In turning a few tables, he shone the light into the darkness. 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:56.399 And people saw it for what it was. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.839 People saw it for what it was. 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.779 Jesus said, I am the light of the world. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:08.200 Very truly, said Jesus, I tell you, 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:12.920 whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:17.039 has eternal life and will not be judged, 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:21.259 but is crossed over from death to life. 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:23.640 Oh, what a savior. 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.319 Oh, what a savior. 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:33.440 So what tables need to be turned? 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:37.860 What tables do we need to turn in our own lives? 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.900 What tables do we need to turn over 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:42.240 where we're seeing injustice at the moment? 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.799 Where do we need to speak into? 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.220 Where do we need to stand? 00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:50.279 Praise God that this is our gift. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:54.019 Praise God that this is our promise. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:57.000 Praise God that this is our hope 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.900 in our message, 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:02.500 our message to a waiting world. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.039 Jesus is for all people 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.680 and certainly for justice. 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.339 And the people said? 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.779 Amen. 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.859 Amen. 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.880 Worship team, would you like to come up? 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:21.599 Should we just pray together? 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:21.720 Amen. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:21.759 Amen. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:21.799 Amen. 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:21.839 Amen. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:21.880 Amen. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:30.720 Lord, as we listen to your word, 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:33.880 would you help us to share that with others? 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:37.559 Lord, would we move more and more 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.059 in the sense of the prophetic? 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:44.859 Would you give us words and pictures for people? 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:50.380 Lord, would you give us words and pictures for people, 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:52.099 Lord, that encourage them 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:53.599 and build them up in the everyday? 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:59.939 And Lord, where we have turned our eyes away from you, 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.919 would you turn our eyes back to you? 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.119 Giver of hope, 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.299 giver of life, 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.959 bringer of light, 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.500 bringer of justice. 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:15.379 Holy Spirit, would you come now 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:17.279 and would you encourage your church? 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.740 Empower us and encourage us, 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:23.419 enthuse us and excite us, we pray. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:25.599 In the power of your Holy Spirit 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.339 and of your word. 00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:29.859 Amen. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.439 Amen. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:32.719 Thanks, Tim.