WEBVTT

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 I'm most of you aware that I've spent the last three weeks up in Katoomba with about 5,000 teenagers.

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 Always a joyous experience.

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 And we've been looking over those three weeks at the book of Revelation.

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 And what a joy it has been to revisit this book.

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 It is pretty clear as you look at Revelation that Jesus is the victorious king.

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 He's the ruler, the Lord of all.

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 He is the one who has all the power.

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 He deserves all the praise, all the glory.

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 He is the one who has victory over Satan.

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 One of the things we'll remind of particularly that Satan cannot get to Jesus in any sense.

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 Demons cannot move an inch without his authority and without his word.

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 He has everything in the palm of his hand and in control.

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 It's been a great reminder to see that he is indeed the victorious king over all the universe of all that is.

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 Jesus.

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 And this is the God that we've come to join together this morning.

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 To worship.

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 To honour.

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 To praise.

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 In humble submission.

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 As Revelation 4 says,

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 Jesus is the king.

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 The king.

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 He is the king.

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 But if he is, why is it that Christians are often sidelined and squeezed out in our world if Jesus is our king?

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 If he is God and king and ruler and Lord of all that is, then you'd expect Christians to reign triumphantly in society.

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 But they don't.

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 You'd expect Christians to be the first ones consulted on their opinions on things.

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 But they're not.

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 You'd expect people would look to Christians for guidance on how to live well and how to raise their kids and how to shape society.

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 But they don't.

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 Instead, Christians are pushed to the edge in society and mocked.

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 In some countries, they are killed, certainly financially squeezed.

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 If you're a Christian and you express a Christian opinion in the Sydney Morning Herald, you'll be mocked more than anyone else.

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 If you go to university or TAFE and you stand up as a Christian, you'll have caught abuse on campus more than anyone else.

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 The common voice is that the Christian church is a spent force.

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 That's the common voice of our society.

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 I mean, one of the reasons for it is that, frankly, Satan can't get to Jesus.

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 And so he has a crack at his people instead.

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 He can't get to Jesus, the victorious king.

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 He's going to do everything in his power to make us a bunch of apathetic losers.

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 But I wonder how you feel when people say Christianity is a spent force.

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 Maybe they're right.

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 Maybe we are done for.

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 Maybe being a follower of Jesus actually is old hat.

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 That what we're doing here this morning is just not worth doing anymore.

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 But then again, people have said this sort of thing all along.

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 It's not the first time that God and his people have been written off.

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 In fact, I guess people have always done it.

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 And we see it here in the book of Obadiah.

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 People who have made exactly the same mistake of writing off God and his people just a little bit too soon.

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 Obadiah is an unusual prophet because he tells us basically nothing about himself.

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 He just launches straight into it.

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 And so what we've got to do is we've got to get some of what Vandal was referring to about understanding the bigger picture of the Old Testament.

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 We've got to pull some of that pictures together to put the jigsaw puzzle pieces in so that we can understand a little bit of Obadiah.

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 So let's put some of those jigsaw puzzles in, those pieces in, and let's jump right to the beginning of Genesis where it tells us that we are living in a world that was good in the beginning.

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 But it is now broken.

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 Broken because we have all decided to go it alone, ignore God the creator.

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 We have chosen to live, to relate, and to rule his world our way without his word being our authority.

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 If we pick and choose what is right and wrong, we make the decisions, not God.

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 And so basically the vast majority of the Old Testament is about the mess that we make when we try to live and rule and relate with our God at the center of our lives.

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 But in the middle of that mess, God makes some very big promises.

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 From Abraham, he says, he's going to become a special nation, a special people, and God's going to give these special people a land called the promised land.

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 And that from these people in this nation, from their blessing will spread to all of the world.

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 But along with the promises come warnings.

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 God says, if you're going to be my special people and I'm going to give you special land, then you need to treat me like God.

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 If you don't treat me like God, I will punish you.

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 And the major punishment you're going to receive is I'm going to throw you out of the land.

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 I'm going to throw you away from my presence.

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 And they didn't listen.

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 They were eventually thrown out.

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 A huge army from Babylon marches into Jerusalem in one occasion.

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 And if you weren't slaughtered in the first attack, you were carted off into slavery into Babylon.

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 Jerusalem, the capital, was reduced to rubble because the people of God chose to not be the people of God.

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 God said, I will give you the land, but if you go off chasing idols, if you go off being unfaithful to me, then there will be consequences.

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 And so the consequences came, and that's the way it was for 70 years.

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 Maybe you don't need to go and do that college course.

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 I think I maybe just summed up the whole Old Testament just there.

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 Let's pray and finish right now.

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 We need to know this before we make any sense of Obadiah.

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 Because this prophecy that came from Obadiah was delivered after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

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 God had warned them that this was going to happen, and it did.

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 There are two main parts to this prophecy.

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 Verses 1 to 16 are directed against Edom and the descendants of Esau, who lived next door to the southeast across the other side of the Dead Sea.

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 And verses 17 to 21 focus on the vindication of Israel and the final establishment of God's kingdom on earth.

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 The main point, I think, of the prophecy seems to be that God's oppressed people should take courage because he is still king.

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 He is still master of the universe.

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 He has not lost control.

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 How do we know that?

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 How do we know that he's the master of the universe?

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 Well, he could not proclaim this judgment upon Edom if he was not their God and king.

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 So as God punished his people for obedience, what was Edom doing?

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 It's pretty simple, really.

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 Edom had written off the people of God and written off their God.

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 Edom had taken advantage of the situation.

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 They had seen Israel's calamity, and they thought,

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 Excellent opportunity to boot some people while they're down and to rub some salt into the wounds.

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 But they'd made a mistake.

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 God had not finished yet.

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 He isn't done for.

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 His promises still stand.

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 He is still king.

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 And he still rules.

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 So let's pick it up.

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 Vision of Obadiah.

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 I want you to have your Bibles open.

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 Page 895.

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 If you're using a pew Bible.

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 If you're not, then it's...

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 Obadiah is between Amos and Jonah.

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 So take it easy.

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 You'll flick straight past it if you don't take it slowly.

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 Between Amos and Jonah.

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 So let's launch straight into it.

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 Verse 1.

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 The vision of Obadiah.

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 This is what God says about Edom.

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 We've heard a message from the Lord.

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 An envoy was sent to the nations to say,

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 Rise up and let us go against her for battle.

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 Edom is about to be in some very serious trouble here.

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 There is an old saying,

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 Pride comes before a fall.

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 And this is what's about to happen to Edom.

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 See it there in verse 2.

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 See, I will make you small among the nations.

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 You will be utterly despised.

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 In spite of how it looks,

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 God is going to reverse it all.

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 Israel looks like nothing at the moment.

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 And Edom looks like the grand, you know,

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 poobah of the world.

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 But God said he's going to all change.

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 Edom thought they were on top of the pile.

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 That they were untouchable.

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 They were in the big league.

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 No one can bring them down from the big league.

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 Oh, how many times over world history have we heard that sort of thing before?

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 And God's response is there in verse 4.

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 Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars,

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 from there I will bring you down.

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 They are suffering from the self-deception of pride.

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 When a person is in bondage to pride,

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 they take whatever opportunity that they can to exalt themselves over others.

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 Nations, adults, even children all have one thing in common.

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 Apart from the grace of God,

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 apart from God working in us

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 and changing us to be more like Jesus,

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 we will derive our pleasure from other people's failures.

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 It's the heart of sin.

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 It soothes our inadequacies

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 and it magnifies our successes.

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 And God says to not just to nations,

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 but to adults and to children from there,

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 I will bring you down.

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 I will bring you down.

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 And so from verses 5 to 9,

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 there is a terrible picture of what the future holds for Edom.

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 It's going to be so bad that they wish they had just simply been robbed

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 and everything that they had was just done away with

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 and they were just destitute.

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 Verse 5,

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 If thieves came to you,

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 if robbers of the night,

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 oh, what a disaster awaits you.

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 Would they not steal only as much as they wanted?

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 If grape pickers came to you,

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 would they not leave a few grapes?

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 You see, the point is that the land of Edom

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 will have nothing left.

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 It's heading for extinction.

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 God is saying here

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 that a thief would be more merciful than I will be for you.

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 You know, when,

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 I've never heard a story when someone's been robbed,

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 their house has been robbed or something like that,

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 that they've come home

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 and everything's gone.

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 My underwear is gone.

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 My socks are gone.

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 The curtains are gone.

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 The knives and the forks are gone.

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 Everything's gone.

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 My goodness, they've flogged the dog kennel as well.

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 Everything's gone.

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 And the dog that's in it.

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 It's like, I've never heard that story.

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 They take the valuables

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 and they leave the rest.

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 And God says,

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 I won't be like that for you, Edom.

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 I won't be like that.

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 I will destroy everything.

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 Down to verse 7.

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 All your allies will force you to the border.

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 Your friends will deceive and overpower you.

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 Those who eat your bread will set a trap for you,

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 but you will not detect it.

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 Even their friends are going to turn against them

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 and stab them in the back

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 and they won't even see it coming.

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 And why is this going to happen?

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 Why is Edom going to disappear from the map?

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 The reason is there in verse 10 to 14.

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 And it all came down to what Edom was doing

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 when Israel was facing God's punishment

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 for their unfaithfulness.

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 In these verses,

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 Israel is called Jacob and God says to Edom,

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 because of the violence against your brother Jacob,

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 you will be covered in shame.

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 You will be destroyed forever.

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 On that day,

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 you stood aloof

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 while strangers carried off his wealth

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 and foreigners entered his gates

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 and cast lots for Jerusalem.

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 You were like one of them.

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 A terrible picture of how Edom took advantage

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 of Israel's day of disaster.

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 They looted with the looters.

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 They waited at the crossroads

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 as Israelites attempted to escape

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 from the Babylonians.

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 The Edomites were there with their swords

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 cutting down those who were trying to escape.

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 And those they didn't cut down,

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 they captured them,

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 handed them back to the Babylonians.

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 Because,

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 Edom has made a terrible mistake

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 because it was the people of God.

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 And even though they are being punished

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 for their disobedience,

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 they are still the people of God.

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 And so,

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 God says to the Edomites in verse 15,

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 the day of the Lord is near

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 for all nations.

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 All nations.

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 All nations,

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 including Edom,

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 those nations around Edom,

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 and every nation since,

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 and every individual since,

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 as you have done,

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 so it will be done to you,

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 your deeds will return

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 upon your own head.

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 And just like you drank

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 and parted in your victory

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 on my holy hill,

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 so all the nations

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 will drink continually.

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 They will drink and drink

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 and be as if they had never been.

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 They're going to face the consequences.

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 Every nation that looks so strong

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 will be destroyed.

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 Amen?

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 Don't give me any nukes you've got.

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 Don't give me any troops you've got.

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 Don't give me what your economy's like.

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 Every nation that looks so strong

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 will be destroyed.

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 Obadiah says that God

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 has far from finished with Israel.

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 He is still God.

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 He still rules.

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 He won't be defeated,

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 nor his purposes thwarted.

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 And that is how the shortest book

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 of the Old Testament finishes up.

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 Edom has been gloating

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 because Israel has done it tough.

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 But the tables are about to be turned.

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 Edom is going to end up as nothing

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 and the kingdom of God

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.720
 will still flourish.

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.240
 There will be no survivors

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.899
 from the house of Esau.

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:38.659
 But, in verse 21,

00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:39.659
 it says this,

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.600
 deliverers will go up on Mount Zion

00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.740
 to govern the mountains of Esau

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.840
 and their kingdom

00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:47.980
 will be the Lord's.

00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:51.360
 Obadiah,

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:53.139
 these words from Obadiah

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.720
 were fulfilled in a surprising way.

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.519
 He says that Edom will disappear

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.600
 and it has.

00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.500
 I've got a world map

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.399
 sitting on my desk.

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.600
 There's no Edom

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:02.540
 on my world map anywhere.

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.480
 It's gone.

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.800
 It was overtaken so many times

00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:09.300
 that not even a trace

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:10.800
 of it exists anymore.

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.639
 Not even a trace

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.480
 of it exists anymore.

00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.860
 But there is another kingdom

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.040
 that has grown and flourished

00:15:20.040 --> 00:15:20.659
 all over the world.

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:22.560
 Verse 21 says that it's God's kingdom.

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.940
 When Jesus came,

00:15:26.040 --> 00:15:27.519
 his first public words were,

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.680
 the kingdom of God

00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:30.860
 is at hand.

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.840
 The kingdom of God

00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.460
 is at hand.

00:15:33.540 --> 00:15:34.720
 The deliverer has come

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.420
 as Jesus walked up

00:15:36.420 --> 00:15:37.879
 that hilly road

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.800
 to Jerusalem.

00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:39.840
 People were there

00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.379
 waving palm branches

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.000
 and laying them

00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.120
 at his feet

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.399
 because they recognized

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.000
 the king

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.920
 and the deliverer

00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:46.879
 has arrived

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.620
 at his city.

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.240
 But Jesus brought deliverance

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.220
 in an unexpected way.

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:53.519
 You see,

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.960
 the crown that Jesus wore

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.160
 was a crown

00:15:56.160 --> 00:15:57.540
 with thorns in it.

00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:00.420
 The deliverer

00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:01.720
 was nailed to a cross

00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.379
 as a criminal

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.340
 and he dies there

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:04.180
 as a substitute.

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.620
 A perfect sacrifice

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.080
 for the sins of the people.

00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:08.779
 Opening the way

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.100
 for us to be right for God.

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.100
 Right with God.

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.600
 Opening the way

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.440
 for us to be forgiven

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:15.019
 for all of our apathy

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.139
 and unfaithfulness.

00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.279
 And then he rose,

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.019
 he ascended,

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.620
 and he rules with God

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.460
 over a kingdom

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:24.120
 that has no borders.

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.579
 And frankly,

00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:27.059
 it's a kingdom

00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.019
 that doesn't look

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.039
 like much.

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.840
 If you're not convinced

00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.360
 by that,

00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:35.480
 have a look around you.

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:42.360
 Just ordinary people

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.480
 have taken Jesus' claim

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.659
 to be king seriously.

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.539
 It's a kingdom

00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.700
 that people laugh at.

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.519
 Certainly plenty

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.000
 who have laughed

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.700
 at this king.

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:55.420
 People take delight

00:16:55.420 --> 00:16:56.480
 in sidelining

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.560
 Christians

00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:58.519
 as irrelevant people

00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.159
 of the past

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.000
 and some of that

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.019
 is actually justified.

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:05.019
 Obadiah got it right

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.480
 when he said

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.039
 to the Edomites,

00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:07.059
 you can laugh, guys.

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.940
 You can mock.

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.139
 But God's kingdom

00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:10.240
 is going to stand forever.

00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:13.039
 He's going to still be here

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.259
 when you're all gone.

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.619
 When we're all gone.

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.799
 When all of our vain

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.000
 attempts to immortalize

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.740
 our lives

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.099
 have long been demolished.

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.879
 God's kingdom

00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:23.139
 will still stand.

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.420
 Long after the great powers

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.099
 of this world

00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.799
 have come

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.900
 and gone,

00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.180
 his kingdom

00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.139
 will still stand

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.440
 because he is

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.460
 the sovereign king

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:34.160
 of all that is.

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.180
 Friends,

00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:38.800
 can I just

00:17:38.800 --> 00:17:40.620
 implore with you

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:40.940
 a moment

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:42.380
 and just bear with me

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:42.820
 for this one.

00:17:43.520 --> 00:17:45.000
 We need to get this.

00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:48.080
 We need to get this,

00:17:48.280 --> 00:17:48.640
 right?

00:17:49.540 --> 00:17:50.660
 We need to get this

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.460
 day by day.

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:53.140
 God is not just

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:54.240
 our king

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.900
 here at St. Paul's

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.500
 or the king

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.500
 of the Christian church

00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.020
 in Sydney

00:17:58.020 --> 00:17:58.780
 or the world.

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.980
 He's the king

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:00.759
 of all

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.960
 the universe.

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.579
 He's the God

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.420
 of all

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.519
 the universe.

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.319
 There may only

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.879
 just be

00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:08.700
 a handful

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.500
 of us here

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.339
 and thousands

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.000
 out there

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.599
 at the moment

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.379
 at Chatswood,

00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.399
 but he is their God.

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.559
 They may not know it,

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.740
 but he is their God.

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.000
 He is their king.

00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:20.839
 He is their ruler.

00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:24.099
 So brothers and sisters,

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.379
 we should not

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.619
 listen to the world

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.599
 that says

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.539
 that we are done for.

00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.519
 We should not believe

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.519
 the lie of Satan

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.459
 that it's all

00:18:33.459 --> 00:18:34.659
 just too hard

00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:36.319
 and so just

00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:36.980
 shrink back

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.579
 in apathy

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.379
 and hang on tight

00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:38.899
 and just hope

00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:39.599
 to the end.

00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:43.759
 We should never

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.619
 shrink back

00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.859
 and say

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.779
 it's just too hard

00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.619
 to hold the gospel

00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.319
 out there.

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:52.839
 But have we?

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.419
 When we see

00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:54.939
 the task

00:18:54.939 --> 00:18:55.339
 of bringing

00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:55.779
 the kingdom

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.240
 of God

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.919
 to Chatswood,

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.559
 does it make you weary?

00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:00.939
 Does it make you

00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.759
 downcast?

00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.759
 Do you feel defeated?

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.379
 Do you feel like

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.099
 one of the Israelites

00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:05.839
 there

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.220
 being cut down

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.039
 on the roadways

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.480
 and just think,

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:08.799
 oh look,

00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.159
 hang on,

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.319
 look,

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.960
 I've got heaven

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.659
 so that's good.

00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:11.919
 You know,

00:19:13.179 --> 00:19:13.960
 stuff the rest.

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.460
 As long as I know

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.019
 where I'm going,

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.639
 that's awesome.

00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:21.639
 Do you feel defeated

00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.779
 before you even begin?

00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:25.279
 My understanding

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.220
 is we're three years

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.740
 into a vision

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.819
 here at St. Paul's

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:32.220
 and are you tired

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.799
 of it already?

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.579
 Are you tired

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:34.960
 of it?

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.299
 Are you tired

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.099
 of it as if

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:37.839
 we were fighting

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.339
 a battle

00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.119
 of flesh and blood?

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.039
 Let me remind you

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.679
 that Jesus

00:19:42.679 --> 00:19:44.919
 is their king too.

00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:47.139
 He is their God too.

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.680
 The message of judgment

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.440
 that over die

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.040
 proclaimed

00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:50.780
 was proclaimed

00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:51.580
 to a king,

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.300
 to a people,

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.100
 to a nation

00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:54.640
 that did not recognize

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.720
 their God and king

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:58.580
 and he called them

00:19:58.580 --> 00:19:59.060
 to repent.

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.180
 One of the ways

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.540
 that I think

00:20:01.540 --> 00:20:02.240
 Christians reveal

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.860
 their weariness

00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:04.140
 in the battle

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.820
 is what we tend

00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:05.240
 to do

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.680
 is we,

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.480
 you know,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.540
 batten up the windows

00:20:08.540 --> 00:20:10.020
 and down the hatches

00:20:10.020 --> 00:20:11.560
 and we put on

00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:12.360
 bulletproof vests

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:12.640
 and,

00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:13.680
 you know,

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.580
 we become a Christian

00:20:14.580 --> 00:20:15.200
 subculture

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.880
 within the culture.

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.420
 We hang on

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.160
 for dear life

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:17.380
 and,

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:17.960
 you know,

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.700
 we've got heaven

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.940
 and that's going

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.640
 to be fantastic

00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.920
 and we're just

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.539
 going to hang on.

00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.299
 We're just going

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.960
 to hang on

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.440
 and so we fight

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.000
 about the things

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.539
 that are in here

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.160
 as we batten

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.860
 down our hatches,

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.539
 we start fighting

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.000
 about the things

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.559
 within the building

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.080
 and other things

00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:32.480
 like that.

00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.860
 We do Christian stuff

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:36.039
 but in the end

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.799
 the world can go

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.759
 to hell in a handbasket.

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.460
 We become proudly

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.299
 self-righteous

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:41.940
 and confident.

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.960
 We are the people

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.519
 of God.

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.319
 We've been forgiven.

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.460
 They haven't.

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.159
 And we enjoy

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.099
 totally relevancy

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:55.419
 and we get judged

00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.240
 for the things

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.599
 that Israel

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.440
 was judged for.

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:00.579
 Friends,

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.440
 that's why Israel

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.159
 was judged.

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.419
 That's why the Israels

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.000
 were judged.

00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:05.659
 They were told

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.240
 to be a blessing

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.440
 to all the earth.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:10.539
 No, no,

00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.519
 we've got sacrifices

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.100
 to make.

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.460
 We've got songs

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:14.799
 to sing.

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.340
 We've got temples

00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:15.860
 to build.

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.799
 We haven't got time

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.259
 to be a blessing

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.840
 to the world.

00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:22.700
 I wonder what

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.279
 your response

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.000
 has been to the vision

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.880
 set by St. Paul's

00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:25.900
 leaders a few years ago

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.220
 to see a thousand

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.220
 people giving glory

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.380
 to God in this place.

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.080
 Do you think

00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:30.660
 it's ambitious?

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.620
 Do you think

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.100
 it's ambitious?

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.400
 Do you think

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.320
 it's not possible?

00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:37.140
 Do you think,

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.440
 I mean,

00:21:37.560 --> 00:21:37.920
 seriously,

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.460
 come on.

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.220
 Do you think

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.080
 it's not possible?

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.360
 Maybe you've heard

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:42.800
 the mocking,

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.240
 the laugh,

00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:43.840
 the ridicule,

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.240
 you've read

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.340
 the Sydney Morning Herald

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:47.360
 and you've written

00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.980
 this world

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.520
 that is written

00:21:49.520 --> 00:21:50.200
 of God

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.720
 and his people.

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:53.080
 Maybe you've

00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.000
 forgotten the word

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.460
 of God

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.740
 that clearly

00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.420
 proclaims

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.060
 that he rules

00:21:57.060 --> 00:21:57.600
 the world.

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.420
 He didn't just,

00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.020
 he's not just

00:21:59.020 --> 00:21:59.820
 the ruler of Eden

00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:00.580
 back in history

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.220
 but he rules

00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.060
 the world now.

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.460
 He's the king now.

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:04.880
 He's the one

00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.820
 who holds the stars

00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:06.780
 in the sky now.

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.539
 He's the ruler

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.399
 of every life

00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:09.379
 out there in Chatswood

00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:10.160
 right now.

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.160
 They can't even

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.019
 draw a breath.

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.819
 They can't even

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:14.019
 raise a mocking hand

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.940
 or humble,

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.019
 sorry,

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.619
 or mumble

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:18.460
 a blasphemous curse

00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.379
 under their breath

00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.099
 without the God,

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.500
 the king,

00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.139
 allowing them

00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.680
 to give them

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.519
 that breath itself.

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.399
 He is their king.

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.500
 He is their God.

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.660
 They might not know it

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.379
 but one day

00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.039
 they will.

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:35.259
 one day calamity

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.720
 is coming

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.339
 and friends

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:38.899
 we're going to do

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.619
 everything we can

00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:39.960
 to make sure

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:41.039
 that does not happen.

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.779
 He is the God

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.940
 who turns the course

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.619
 of nations

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.619
 and history

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.940
 and lives

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.299
 as he pleases.

00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:50.579
 No Christian

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.379
 should ever have

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:51.799
 the jitters

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.599
 that this world

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.740
 is careering

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.559
 out of control

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.039
 towards a meaningless end

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.119
 or that the task

00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.420
 that God has given us

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.620
 to reach disciples

00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.620
 of all nations

00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.380
 is impossible.

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:07.300
 We must never forget

00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:07.900
 that we're involved

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.500
 in a war

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:10.800
 and that means

00:23:10.800 --> 00:23:11.779
 wartime lifestyle.

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.140
 It's pretty obvious

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.740
 if the Christians

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.320
 around you

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.000
 are getting killed

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.600
 as they are

00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.360
 in many parts

00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:18.779
 of this world

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:20.320
 it's pretty obvious

00:23:20.320 --> 00:23:21.100
 them were involved

00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:21.779
 in a fight.

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.860
 I'm not so sure

00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:23.360
 in Australia

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.100
 that we realise

00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.800
 they're in a fight

00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:26.039
 with all our creature

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.519
 comforts,

00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.080
 our achievements,

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.820
 our laziness

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.659
 and our busyness

00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.980
 that we realise

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.819
 that we're actually

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.319
 a war.

00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:33.799
 A war

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:35.460
 that we are told

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.720
 to take the fight to.

00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:38.519
 A fight to them.

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:40.859
 Not,

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:41.980
 you know,

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.419
 let's all go

00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:43.379
 and get gun licences

00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:43.740
 and,

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.119
 you know,

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.919
 and buy some rifles.

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.159
 I mean,

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.339
 I'm a strong believer

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.980
 in that personally

00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.240
 but,

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:52.000
 not that we're encouraged

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.599
 to do that.

00:23:53.179 --> 00:23:54.119
 But we fight

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.500
 with different weapons.

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.700
 We fight

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.619
 with different weapons,

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.379
 not the weapons

00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.219
 that they use.

00:23:59.319 --> 00:23:59.679
 We fight

00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.500
 with different weapons.

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.339
 We are called,

00:24:01.719 --> 00:24:01.899
 friends,

00:24:01.979 --> 00:24:02.639
 to pray.

00:24:02.979 --> 00:24:03.539
 We are called

00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.599
 to proclaim Jesus

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.459
 and persevere

00:24:05.459 --> 00:24:06.119
 in godliness.

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.419
 That is the fight.

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:07.979
 We fight

00:24:07.979 --> 00:24:08.739
 with prayer,

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.500
 with proclaiming Jesus

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.039
 and persevering

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.579
 in godliness.

00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:13.899
 We must realise

00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.459
 that the fight

00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:14.919
 is on

00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:15.500
 but Jesus

00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.279
 is the victor.

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:17.199
 Satan prowls

00:24:17.199 --> 00:24:18.319
 around like a lion

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.839
 wanting to devour us,

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:20.979
 wanting to distract us,

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.599
 to move us

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.359
 into apathy,

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.339
 to move us

00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.399
 into ungodliness.

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.220
 Do we believe

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.900
 for a moment

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.480
 that God,

00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.060
 that Jesus

00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:28.759
 is victor

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.880
 and that for any moment,

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:31.140
 at any point in history,

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.600
 that if he so chooses

00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:34.340
 he could but stamp his foot

00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:35.500
 and the nations

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.400
 will bow to him

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:36.900
 in worship?

00:24:38.040 --> 00:24:39.140
 Do we actually

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.920
 believe it?

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:44.380
 Well therefore,

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.759
 do we pray for it?

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:48.200
 Not qualified prayers

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.480
 but do we pray for it?

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.160
 Do we pray

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.960
 and preach

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.240
 and persevere

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.840
 in godliness

00:24:52.840 --> 00:24:53.660
 and give

00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.539
 and administer

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.460
 and plan

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.380
 and order

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:57.800
 our church life

00:24:57.800 --> 00:24:58.400
 as if

00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.720
 we believe it?

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.300
 I'm expecting therefore

00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:08.259
 that we'll have more people

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.840
 at four o'clock

00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:09.340
 this afternoon

00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:09.860
 prayer meeting

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:11.359
 than maybe we've had

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.979
 in the past.

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.279
 He is God.

00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:17.439
 He is King.

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.919
 He is Lord.

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.199
 He has the victory

00:25:20.199 --> 00:25:21.859
 through the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:23.539
 He commands the winds

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.299
 and they obey.

00:25:24.459 --> 00:25:25.500
 He places the stars

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.099
 in the sky

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.779
 and continues

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.359
 to hold them

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.039
 in the sky.

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:29.359
 He knows the depths

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.079
 of the universe.

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.539
 He speaks but a word

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:33.479
 and the world

00:25:33.479 --> 00:25:34.659
 is formed

00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:37.240
 and he is our God.

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:39.179
 He is our King.

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:43.259
 God is not finished

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.140
 with St. Paul's

00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:45.880
 but he's also

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.380
 not finished

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.539
 with those 30,000 people

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:47.900
 out there

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.480
 in our neighbourhood.

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.980
 So let's take up

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.519
 the weapons

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.340
 that he's given us.

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.140
 2 Corinthians 10.

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.720
 We don't fight

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.220
 with the weapons

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.840
 of this world.

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.380
 We don't fight

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:56.799
 with the weapons

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.160
 of this world.

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.700
 Let's take up

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.320
 the weapons

00:25:58.320 --> 00:25:59.740
 that he's given us

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.600
 of proclamation,

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.000
 of prayer,

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:02.720
 of perseverance

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.339
 and godliness

00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:04.019
 and get into

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.500
 the battle.

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.559
 Jesus is the King

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.940
 of all of Chatswood.

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:08.779
 Amen.