WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.459 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:17.440 Good morning to you all, Southwood Presbyterian Church. You all are doing well? 00:00:19.539 --> 00:00:21.800 Alabama won. You should be excited. Come on. 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:31.579 I'd like to thank the session for this invitation. It's been since 2009, since I've preached here. 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:36.240 I was 100 pounds lighter. I mean, yeah, 100 pounds heavier since then. 00:00:36.260 --> 00:00:41.280 But it's a privilege to be back here worshiping here with Southwood Presbyterian Church. 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:43.840 And thank you all for this invitation. 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.620 If you have your Bible, please open it to Jonah chapter 2. 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:51.500 Jonah chapter 2. We'll be looking at verses 1 through 10. 00:00:51.799 --> 00:01:09.079 There is a lesson that the church in America can learn from politics in America. 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:11.459 Do you know what it is? 00:01:12.759 --> 00:01:17.719 It's this. The church's voice can become a clinging symbol. 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:23.459 We can talk. We can make noise. We can entertain. We can make promises. 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:25.299 We can create programs. 00:01:26.039 --> 00:01:29.680 But people can stop listening and start turning away. 00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:33.140 And her voice can become irrelevant quickly. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:37.500 We can start sounding like the adults on the Charlie Brown cartoon. 00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:39.719 Wah, wah, wah, wah. 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:41.200 A clinging symbol. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:46.840 And that's what the church's voice is slowly becoming within our culture. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:51.120 Now, the church, she speaks in many voices today. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:52.680 Many voices. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:54.520 Do you know them? 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:56.040 Any of them? 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:01.379 But there is one voice that's most important out of them all. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.780 It is her prophetic voice. 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:08.180 The church's prophetic voice. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:13.439 In fact, this one voice is on the decline within the American church. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.639 In some part, she's basically dead. 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:24.619 When you look at the church in America, across all denominations, cultures as well, 00:02:25.239 --> 00:02:31.039 do you see a prophetic church with a prophetic voice, with a prophetic witness? 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:35.139 America needs this type of church. 00:02:36.799 --> 00:02:37.939 A prophetic one. 00:02:38.339 --> 00:02:39.899 She needs it even though she doesn't believe it. 00:02:40.079 --> 00:02:41.019 Even though she hates it. 00:02:41.079 --> 00:02:42.219 Even though she may persecute it. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:43.799 She needs this type of church. 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:49.480 And so my question for you, Southwood Presbyterian Church, is what type of church do you want to be? 00:02:50.820 --> 00:02:52.380 What type of church are you? 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:55.719 Do you want to be prophetic? 00:02:56.880 --> 00:02:57.719 In voice? 00:02:58.439 --> 00:02:59.120 In witness? 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:05.880 And there is only one way that the church in our great country will ever become prophetic, 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:07.220 and it's through brokenness. 00:03:08.660 --> 00:03:12.220 She will have to be broken in order for that to happen. 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:14.460 She needs to be broken. 00:03:15.020 --> 00:03:17.639 Just like the prophet Jonah needed to be broken. 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:25.159 Because he had issues as well when it came to being a prophetic witness to the people that God called him to go witness to. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:31.819 So if you have your Bible, please open it to Jonah chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:37.719 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:41.800 I called out to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:45.939 Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.560 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea. 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:51.360 And the flood surrounded me. 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:54.039 All your waves and your billows passed over me. 00:03:55.139 --> 00:03:58.180 Then I said, am I driven away from your sight? 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:01.080 Yet, I should look at your holy temple. 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:04.140 The waters crossed over me to take my life. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.719 The deep surrounded me. 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:08.500 Weaves wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountain. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:12.200 I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:15.100 Yet you brought my life up from the pit. 00:04:15.659 --> 00:04:17.439 Oh, Lord, my God. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.899 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, 00:04:20.960 --> 00:04:23.120 and my prayer came to you into your holy temple. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:28.180 Those who paid regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:30.459 But I, with a voice of thanksgiving, 00:04:30.780 --> 00:04:33.379 with sacrifice to you what I vowed I would pay. 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:36.180 Salvation belongs to the Lord. 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:38.579 And the Lord spoke to the fish, 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:42.259 and it vomited Jonah out upon dry land. 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:44.240 This is God's holy word. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:46.300 Please pray with and for me. 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:49.500 Father, as we come to your truth, 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.060 we need your spirit. 00:04:54.019 --> 00:04:58.540 Preaching has no power apart from the moving of your spirit. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:01.519 The man in the pulpit is just a man. 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:03.379 That is all he is. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:04.879 That is all he's ever going to be. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:07.680 So, Holy Spirit, we need you to come. 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:10.780 We need you to move in our hearts. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.019 We need you to bring encouragement. 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:14.740 We need you to bring conviction. 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:18.199 If you don't move, lives are not changed. 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:20.500 We're just going to go out and do what we do. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:22.800 Holy Spirit, come. 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:25.480 I pray for myself, my pride, 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:27.399 and my need for man's approval, 00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:29.780 my need for attention. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:31.480 I pray that you move those things aside, 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:32.899 and I would just disappear. 00:05:33.840 --> 00:05:35.019 You would take over 00:05:35.019 --> 00:05:37.480 and bring a word, Lord. 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:39.259 Bring a word. 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:42.060 You know everyone here. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:44.560 You know what they're dealing with. 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:46.240 You know their families. 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:47.800 You know the issues. 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:52.920 So, minister to the people of God in the places where they truly live. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:55.600 Pray for all this in your son's name. 00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:56.900 Amen. 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:05.040 Jonah chapter 10 is Jonah recounting the time in which he was broken. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:09.400 It's him looking back over the time when the Lord broke him. 00:06:10.080 --> 00:06:10.800 It's a prayer. 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:12.180 It's a psalm of reflection. 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:14.900 It's him looking back at what happened to him. 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:17.280 So, the obvious question is, what happened to Jonah? 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:19.220 What happened to him? 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:25.880 Well, he was hurled into the sea by some pagan sailors towards the end of chapter 1. 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:29.560 He was left in the water, floating all along. 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:32.220 And the sea took Jonah through a lot of things. 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:34.080 A lot of horror things. 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:35.220 And guess what? 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:36.660 This is not a fairy tale. 00:06:37.260 --> 00:06:39.960 What happened with Jonah and the whale is true. 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:42.560 It is not a fairy tale. 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:43.580 Not a Disney movie. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.140 It is truth. 00:06:46.320 --> 00:06:48.260 And the Coast Guard was not coming to save him. 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:50.720 He was in the ocean alone. 00:06:50.940 --> 00:06:56.040 Unless the Lord supernaturally intervened into Jonah's situation, he was doomed. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:58.800 And the Lord does come. 00:06:58.900 --> 00:06:59.960 The Lord does intervene. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:04.040 Jonah 1.17 highlights the Lord's intervention. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:07.400 It says, the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:12.319 And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:15.840 So, when did the Lord send the fish? 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:19.780 When did he send the fish? 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.320 Have you ever asked yourself that question? 00:07:23.280 --> 00:07:25.500 Did he come as soon as Jonah was thrown overboard? 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:27.439 Or did some time pass? 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:31.000 Did he float around in the ocean for a time? 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:32.800 What do you think? 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.900 He floated in the ocean for a time. 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:38.740 Floating around alone. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:44.400 So, there was a gap between God's appointment of the fish and Jonah being hurled into the sea. 00:07:44.700 --> 00:07:47.120 And it's in this middle part that Jonah was broken. 00:07:47.640 --> 00:07:49.400 It's in this middle part that he was broken. 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:52.280 And brokenness is not condemnation. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.320 It is not abuse. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.300 It is not abandonment. 00:07:56.300 --> 00:08:00.280 Brokenness brought Jonah to the end of himself. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:02.099 And it led him to repentance. 00:08:03.659 --> 00:08:05.279 And it does the same for you. 00:08:06.299 --> 00:08:07.439 It does the same for me. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:10.259 And it's going to do the same thing for the church in America. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:13.899 For she needs to be a broken church. 00:08:13.899 --> 00:08:18.719 Now, the Lord appointed this fish to save Jonah after he was broken. 00:08:18.859 --> 00:08:20.199 After he called out for help. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:21.939 After he repented of his sin. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:24.319 The fish came and swallowed him up. 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:26.699 Then he stayed in this fish for three days. 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:28.099 In the belly of the fish for three days. 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:29.039 Reflecting. 00:08:29.239 --> 00:08:29.679 Meditating. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:31.379 Praising God. 00:08:31.599 --> 00:08:33.220 He even offered up this prayer. 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:35.259 In chapter 2. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:39.019 Thanking God for saving him from his doom. 00:08:40.660 --> 00:08:42.960 He prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish. 00:08:43.160 --> 00:08:44.540 That's from a place of brokenness. 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:46.860 Remember, this is prayer. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.820 It's a one of thanksgiving. 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:48.899 It's a one of gratefulness. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:49.879 It's a one of praise. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:50.899 It's a one of repentance. 00:08:51.920 --> 00:08:54.220 The prayer recounted Jonah's time in the sea. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:55.620 It filled in the gap. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:08:59.960 And in this prayer, he approached God differently. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.700 And if you read chapter 1. 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:05.940 You don't see a Jonah who approaches God in a way that's relational. 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:09.680 But here in chapter 2, you have a different Jonah. 00:09:11.140 --> 00:09:13.640 He approached God in a relational way. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:16.940 He calls out to him. 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.000 He calls out to him. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.820 Yahweh Elohim. 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:26.379 That's the first time that he calls out to the Lord that way. 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:27.879 In this book. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:31.620 Because before then, he wasn't broken. 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:34.320 He wasn't broken. 00:09:34.800 --> 00:09:37.640 He had chances to call out to the Lord when he first rebelled. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:38.440 But he didn't. 00:09:38.920 --> 00:09:41.700 He could have called out to the Lord when the storm raged upon the sea. 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:42.680 But he didn't. 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:45.300 He could have called out to the Lord when he was calling to sin. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.340 But he didn't. 00:09:47.040 --> 00:09:52.020 It wasn't until he was hurled into the sea that he called out on Yahweh Elohim. 00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:55.120 Because the sea broke him. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:55.819 The sea broke him. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:57.860 The sea broke him. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:04.560 And here's the thing is you can acknowledge sin simply because you get caught in it. 00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:07.060 But acknowledgement is not repentance. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.680 Being convinced of sin is not repentance. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:13.419 You have to be broken into conviction. 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:15.799 That leads to repentance. 00:10:16.319 --> 00:10:17.860 That is what happened to Jonah. 00:10:18.099 --> 00:10:20.039 That is what's going to happen to us. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:21.219 Jonah prayed. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:22.819 I cried out to Yahweh. 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:24.279 Out of my distress. 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:25.559 And he answered me. 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:27.699 Out of the belly of Shaul I cried. 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:29.120 And you heard my voice. 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.919 You heard my voice. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:36.879 He's looking back over the time when she was broken. 00:10:37.599 --> 00:10:39.599 And he called out to Yahweh for help. 00:10:39.959 --> 00:10:41.000 A call for mercy. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:42.439 It's a call for deliverance. 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:43.639 A call of repentance. 00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:47.120 When was the last time you called out to Yahweh? 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.599 Out of your distress. 00:10:51.099 --> 00:10:52.919 Out of brokenness. 00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:55.719 When was the last time? 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.959 Who do you run to? 00:10:59.819 --> 00:11:01.259 When it's all falling apart. 00:11:02.819 --> 00:11:04.879 He cried out of distress. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:05.639 Out of brokenness. 00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:07.319 Because he's a broken prophet now. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.019 Crying out in a voice of brokenness. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:11.159 Brokenness has a voice. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.000 It's calling out to Yahweh. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.000 I need you. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.459 Help me. 00:11:20.339 --> 00:11:21.399 Because I can't do it. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.039 These words. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.779 It brings you into the emotional state of Jonah. 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:28.959 He experienced personal affliction. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:31.059 Real distress in the sea. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.719 Before he was hurled into the sea. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.240 He had no distress. 00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:37.959 He had no affliction. 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:42.939 Even when the powerful storm raged upon the sea. 00:11:43.439 --> 00:11:44.919 He was now afflicted. 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.199 The pagan sailors were. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.719 They were scared. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.779 They thought they were going to die. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.620 Their life was in jeopardy. 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:56.139 But now Jonah feels the same thing they felt. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:58.940 As the sea raged upon him. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:00.820 As the waters raged upon him. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:02.820 You see. 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:04.060 When he was on the ship. 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:05.600 As the sea raged. 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.919 Jonah was sleeping beneath the deck of the ship. 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:09.259 Sleeping. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:13.139 That was not a sign of someone who was in distress. 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:15.879 If you have a hurricane raging upon the sea. 00:12:15.939 --> 00:12:16.500 And you sleep. 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:18.980 You're not in distress. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:21.019 But now he is. 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.419 Out of the belly of Sheol. 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:24.360 I cried to Yahweh. 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:28.480 Sheol is a place where people go before death. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:29.620 It's where they go at death. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:29.960 But nowhere. 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:31.259 At nowhere point of return. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:32.840 So it represented death. 00:12:33.819 --> 00:12:34.740 This is what Jonah is saying. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:35.580 I'm hopeless. 00:12:35.819 --> 00:12:37.179 I'm helpless now. 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.839 I'm in Sheol. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.339 He's in despair. 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.799 I know what you're asking. 00:12:45.719 --> 00:12:47.079 What did Jonah do. 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:49.500 To be lost at sea. 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.500 What in the world did he do. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:55.859 What brought him to such despair. 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.799 I mean he's in the belly of a fish. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.559 Crying out loud. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.179 I don't know about you. 00:13:00.239 --> 00:13:01.679 But I've never been in the belly of a fish. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.519 But I'm pretty sure it's not pleasant. 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:08.220 So what did he do. 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.360 He's a prophet of Yahweh. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.579 A prophet of Yahweh is in the belly of a fish. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.579 Crying out. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.460 You see Jonah made some bad decisions along the way. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.879 He made some choices that led him to the condition that he's in. 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:31.379 And it all started when Yahweh called Jonah to go to Nineveh. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:33.600 He called Jonah to go to Nineveh. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.540 Be a prophetic witness to the people of Nineveh. 00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:37.080 Call out against them. 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:39.320 For their sin has come up before me. 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:41.019 I want you to go to them. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.980 But Jonah didn't want to go. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.300 He didn't want to go to Nineveh. 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:49.460 He basically said, I'm not going. 00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:50.300 No. 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.920 If you're a parent, you have small kids. 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:53.879 You know how to rebel against you. 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:54.159 No. 00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:55.560 I don't want to do it. 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.279 I don't want it. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.340 This is Jonah. 00:13:57.420 --> 00:13:58.860 I'm not going to Nineveh. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.560 He doesn't go. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.460 He turns his back on the Lord. 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:07.160 I mean, he turns his back on him and heads to Tarshish. 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:11.900 And the Lord lets him go. 00:14:13.400 --> 00:14:15.700 Have you noticed that about Jonah's life? 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.560 The Lord lets him go. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.580 He doesn't run behind Jonah's coattail. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:23.040 Please, Jonah, don't go. 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.780 Don't go, Jonah. 00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:27.320 If you leave Jonah, my plans are going to fail. 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.340 Jonah, don't go. 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:30.320 The Lord doesn't beg. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.240 He commands, but he never begs. 00:14:32.780 --> 00:14:34.640 He lets Jonah go to Nineveh. 00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:37.140 He lets Jonah find the ship to go to Tarshish. 00:14:37.300 --> 00:14:38.640 He lets him get into the water. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.340 And Jonah thinks he's going to get away. 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:45.660 And then the Lord says, well, it's about time I show Jonah who's boss. 00:14:47.260 --> 00:14:48.540 The storm comes. 00:14:50.280 --> 00:14:51.580 The storm comes. 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:57.100 And that is how the Lord works even with us. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:02.160 He may let us go often in rebellion, but eventually he will intervene. 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.320 Eventually he will come. 00:15:06.800 --> 00:15:08.259 Eventually he will send a storm. 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:13.059 And so the Lord intervenes into Jonah's rebellion. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:17.419 There was a storm that raised upon the sea. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.580 The storm caused great fear to fall upon the sailors. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.840 The storm prevented Jonah from going to Tarshish. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.159 He never made it there. 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.179 He never made it. 00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:31.799 And eventually his rebellion was found out and he was hurled into the sea. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:34.919 The American church is Jonah. 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:38.779 Traveling down the same path. 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:45.339 Not wanting to go to Nineveh to be the prophetic witnesses that we are called to be. 00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:52.419 There is only one group of people who can be prophetic witnesses of Jesus. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.859 And it's not the American government. 00:15:55.699 --> 00:15:56.679 It is the church. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:03.159 We are the only ones that can be prophetic witnesses of the gospel that saved us. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:04.719 No one else can do that. 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.620 No one else has that calling. 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:08.979 And no one else will ever have that calling. 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.919 It is our calling. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.399 Speaking with a prophetic voice. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.779 Do we do it? 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.579 Sometimes we have the Tarshish. 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.919 Or our own version of Tarshish. 00:16:22.339 --> 00:16:26.659 Like Jonah, every church, every believer is called to be this prophetic witness. 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.559 With a prophetic voice. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:32.819 Do you know once you come to saving faith in Jesus? 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:37.379 Once Jesus pulls you out of your sin and redeems you. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:39.539 Brings you into the family of God. 00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:42.179 You are not God's child. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.899 But you are also Jesus' witness here. 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:47.359 You are his family. 00:16:47.459 --> 00:16:48.259 You are his sons and daughters. 00:16:48.339 --> 00:16:51.179 But you are also his prophetic witness. 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:53.259 In American culture. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.240 We are. 00:16:55.240 --> 00:17:01.460 We have to understand that great commission is a call for the church to be such witnesses. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.860 With a prophetic voice. 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.859 But we're not. 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.400 Instead we speak in other voices. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.539 We tend to be prophetic witnesses to other things and to other people. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:18.059 And these other voices represent what I call the different versions of Christianity in America. 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:20.899 You have consumer Christianity. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.720 Where I come to consume but never give. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:27.099 You have health and wealth Christianity. 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:30.940 Where it's all about getting my crown now but not later. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.940 You have celebrity Christianity. 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.960 We're familiar with that. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.599 Celebrity Christianity. 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:37.819 Cultural Christianity. 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:39.399 Materialistic Christianity. 00:17:39.399 --> 00:17:39.439 Individualistic Christianity. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.259 Individualistic Christianity. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.799 Political Christianity. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.359 National Christianity. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.919 All these things go on and on and on and on. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:56.820 And the church is becoming more of a system of strategies and techniques and programs and property and marketing and entertainment. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.779 Simply to get people in the pews. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.019 That's what the church is becoming. 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:07.940 We are a first world church. 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:11.279 And we are not a broken church. 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.180 We're privileged. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:17.160 We're privileged. 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:22.139 The church in America is privileged and a little high maintenance. 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:26.359 Ask some of your elders and pastors. 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:32.859 This is true of every church regardless of the denomination, race, or culture. 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:34.159 Southwood is that way. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.359 The village church is that way. 00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:37.879 Don't let our location fool you. 00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:39.759 My church is high maintenance and privileged too. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.919 Think about it for a moment. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:47.279 When we have the privilege of religious freedom in America. 00:18:47.479 --> 00:18:48.279 Freedom of speech. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:51.819 We can gather here each week and don't have the fear of losing our life. 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:54.879 I mean pastors even get a housing allowance. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.700 That's a tax benefit to being a pastor. 00:18:56.800 --> 00:18:57.580 Can you believe that? 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.700 I can't find that in scripture. 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.560 But I have it. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.000 All pastors do. 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:05.160 We have our radio stations. 00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:05.940 We have movies. 00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:06.760 We have conferences. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.960 We have seminaries. 00:19:09.020 --> 00:19:10.440 The list goes on and on. 00:19:10.540 --> 00:19:12.960 We are privileged and we cannot deny it. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.880 And can we be real for one moment? 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:19.320 That you can answer if you want to be real. 00:19:20.020 --> 00:19:20.360 Wow. 00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:22.700 We can be real for one moment. 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:24.300 Let's take off the mask for one moment. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.620 You see, I love being a Christian. 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:29.060 But you know what I love more? 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.980 I love being a Christian in America. 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:33.100 And those are two different things. 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:37.120 I love being a Christian in America. 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.420 You know why I love it? 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:41.180 Because I can go to Starbucks and get a latte and work on my sermon. 00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:41.780 I'm good. 00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.700 It's comfortable. 00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:44.700 It's easy. 00:19:44.760 --> 00:19:46.560 It doesn't cost me anything. 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.720 At all. 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.900 And I enjoy the privileges. 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.900 No. 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.820 I worship them. 00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.420 They are an idol. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.380 They are an idol for me. 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.920 What about you? 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.920 Do you worship them? 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.180 I think you do. 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.000 We all do. 00:20:09.340 --> 00:20:14.060 The American church worships and loves the privileges we get from being in the United States. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:19.720 And the functional confession of faith for the American church is this. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:23.460 We love and believe in Jesus in America. 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.700 Our country. 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.700 Tis of thee. 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:27.159 Sweet land of liberty. 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:29.879 That's our functional confession of faith. 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:32.220 We love Jesus in America. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.639 Because it's easy. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:34.799 It's comfortable. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:37.599 But here's the reality. 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:42.480 A privileged church would never be a prophetic church. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:45.399 Because she does not know how to suffer. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.359 She does not know how to suffer. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:56.000 A privileged church would never be a prophetic church. 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:02.279 The Lord is going to have to throw us into the sea of brokenness for that to happen. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:04.039 And it's going to happen. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.460 It is happening. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.639 And the brokenness isn't combination. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.779 The brokenness isn't abandonment. 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.279 The brokenness is not abuse. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:20.819 The brokenness is going to pull you to the throne of grace where you repent of our idol worship of American culture and our privileges for being American believers. 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:27.539 Broken church calls out to the Lord like Jonah. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:30.839 A broken church knows its neediness. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.899 Its weakness. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.379 A privileged church doesn't. 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:41.500 A broken church knows there will be times and seasons when we will experience affliction and distress. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:44.599 A privileged church hides for such things. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:51.079 A privileged church flees from her prophetic responsibilities because it will cost you something. 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:54.259 It will cost you something. 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.279 It will cost you something. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:59.019 The call will always interrupt your life. 00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:08.379 One of my favorite authors says the cross that saves us also slays us. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.639 Know that. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:15.039 It saves you, but it's going to slay everything about you too. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:18.220 That's the part of the cross we don't like. 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:22.000 Because that cross demands everything. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:24.500 All I have belongs to Jesus. 00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:28.059 Not just my heart, but even my stuff. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.980 Even my time. 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.759 Even my resources. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:37.579 So the Lord intervenes in our fleeing from the call just like he did for Jonah. 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:39.220 And Jonah learned this the hard way. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:41.039 And verse 3 shows us that. 00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:44.339 It shows us Jonah's reflecting over his personal distress. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:50.960 As he looked back over his brokenness, Jonah saw something that he didn't see when he was going through the brokenness. 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:54.339 He saw Yahweh's hand over it. 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.959 And this is what we usually do. 00:22:56.159 --> 00:23:00.319 When you come out of brokenness, it's only then when you see God's hand in it. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:03.220 It's hard to see his hand when you're going through it. 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:08.579 So just understand that when you're thrown into the sea of brokenness, you're going to feel like he's not there. 00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:10.319 But he's there. 00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:12.839 It's just hard to see it. 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.099 He's there. 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.779 And Jonah acknowledged it. 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:22.740 He says, you, Yahweh, cast and hurl me into the deep, into the heart of the sea. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:24.400 Do you notice what he's saying there? 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.700 The sailors actually threw him overboard. 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.700 He told him to. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.480 But now he's saying, Yahweh, you did it. 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:34.120 You hurled me into the sea. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.120 It was your hand. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.799 The human element wasn't the only element involved. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:43.940 The divine element had a role as well in Jonah's brokenness. 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:50.200 And the sea that he was hurled into was not still waters. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:52.960 Trust me, this is not Psalm 23. 00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:56.559 Jonah was not experiencing Psalm 23. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.819 The waters were not calm. 00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.980 The waters were not still. 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:04.380 He said, the flood surrounded me. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.819 The current and tide confound me. 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.000 It bounded him. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.519 He was enclosed by water. 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.539 No life jacket. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.539 No lifeboat. 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:14.559 This is Old Testament time. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:18.980 The flood that surrounded him was not by accident. 00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.019 It wasn't my chance. 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:21.480 It wasn't bad karma. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:24.220 It was the sovereign hand of Yahweh. 00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:26.759 Look at what he said. 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:29.399 All your waves and your billows passed over me. 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:33.379 The waves and billows were crushing down upon him, pulling him underwater. 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.899 And it was Yahweh's hand doing it. 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.119 This is what he's saying. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:40.779 Your ways, Yahweh, rushed over me. 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:43.579 Your billows, Yahweh, crushed down upon me. 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:45.639 He was being broken. 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:47.819 Broken into repentance. 00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:59.960 Luther said, Jonah felt in his conscience that the sea with its waves and billows was a servant of God and of his wrath to punish sin. 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.720 This is Luther's words. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.879 Those waves and billows was discipline. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.220 They were discipline. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:11.519 Psalm 119 says, 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.620 Before I was afflicted, I went astray. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:19.400 Jonah went astray when he fled from the call to be a prophetic witness to Nineveh. 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:24.960 When he fled from the presence of the Lord and everything has finally called up with him. 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:28.339 Jonah finally felt the weight of his sin. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.579 That the wages of sin is death. 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:32.000 He says in verse 4, 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:34.779 I'm being driven away from your sight, Lord. 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.680 That's what he felt like. 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:39.320 In verse 1, he fled from the Lord. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.980 He didn't care that he fled. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.340 He didn't care that he was away from the Lord's sight. 00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:49.140 But now in brokenness, now that his circumstances are hard, now that he's experiencing distress, 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:51.960 he feels like the Lord is driving him away. 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:54.600 And sometimes brokenness can feel that way. 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:57.000 But our feelings are not reality. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:00.339 They are not reality. 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:02.359 When you've been broken by the Lord. 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:11.420 The term that, the Hebrew verb that is used here is the same one that's used in Genesis 3.24. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:14.160 What happened in Genesis 3.24? 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:17.400 Adam and Eve was driven out of the garden by the Lord. 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:19.740 That is what Jonah feels like. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:22.019 The Lord is driving me out of his presence. 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.519 In my brokenness. 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.519 In my suffering. 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.720 But he's not. 00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:30.700 The brokenness is meant to lead you to repentance. 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.420 To lead you back to him. 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.000 Verses 5 and 7. 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.299 He said, 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:39.700 The waters closed in over me to take my life. 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.339 The deep surrounded me. 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:44.299 The weeds wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountain. 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:47.740 I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever. 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:50.220 The message translation says, 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.900 The ocean gripped me by the throat. 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:53.059 I love that. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:56.159 The ocean gripped me by the throat. 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:58.319 The ocean had man hands. 00:26:58.399 --> 00:27:00.039 That's for you Seinfeld fans. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.819 Around Jonah's neck. 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.700 Holding him down. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.000 He was drowning. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:11.299 All these, this word picture that Jonah is giving you is a picture of a man who's drowning. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.679 In a watery grave. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.500 Hardest day afloat. 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.799 He was battling for his life. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.519 The weeds wrapped around his head. 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.279 He was at the foot of the mountain. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:27.839 Going down and down and down to a place that he cannot flee from. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:32.519 When you think about what Jonah went through. 00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:34.919 Do you think he deserved it? 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:43.019 Was it unloving by Yahweh to throw Jonah into the sea of brokenness? 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:46.559 Was Yahweh unjust? 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.440 Is this un-Christian? 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.660 Was it anti-gospel? 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:56.019 Look at what's happened to Jonah. 00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:58.579 Again, this actually happened to him. 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:02.859 Was it unloving by Yahweh to do this to him? 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:08.500 The church in America doesn't value the prophetic books. 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.500 Because we're a New Testament church. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:15.919 See, we only value them as long as they point to Christ. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.719 Which it does. 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.679 They all do. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.459 That's very important. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.879 That's very important. 00:28:21.979 --> 00:28:25.959 But we don't value or take serious the prophetic warnings in the prophetic books. 00:28:25.959 --> 00:28:27.459 The prophetic challenging. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.259 The prophetic rebukings. 00:28:29.659 --> 00:28:31.519 We think, well, that's just for Israel. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:35.420 Those warnings and those prophetic things are just for them. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.200 But no, it's for us as well. 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.539 Because the church is the New Israel. 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.339 They apply to us as well. 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:43.680 All of God's word apply to us. 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:47.359 Even the parts of the word we don't want to hear. 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:49.960 Even the parts of the word that is hard to hear. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.460 Let me ask you a question. 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:59.200 Whose sin caused the storm to rage upon the sea? 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:02.140 You can answer. 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.279 Whose sin? 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:06.819 I can't hear you. 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.620 Jonah's sin. 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.600 It wasn't the pagans. 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:15.259 It wasn't their sin. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.759 Those pagan sailors, they were helping Jonah out. 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:21.059 And I'm pretty sure in hindsight, they would say, 00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.720 Brother, you're going to have fun. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.360 You're going to have another ship. 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:25.799 They didn't know they were going to be sailing dirty 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:27.799 where a bearless prophet would need the deck of the ship. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.399 They didn't know that. 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.740 They were just helping him out. 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:36.459 And because of him, they get caught up in a storm 00:29:36.459 --> 00:29:37.759 that was caused by Jonah. 00:29:41.199 --> 00:29:44.539 James Boyce says, old pastor at 10th Presbyterian Church, 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:49.039 says, the disobedience of one of God's servants 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:53.139 always involves others in peril, even innocent people. 00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:56.960 We must not smug at the point and lowly blame the settlers. 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:59.319 So remember, the trouble that came upon them 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:01.359 have come because of Jonah. 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:05.000 This means that in some situations, at least, 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:07.119 problems come to the world 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:10.599 because of God's judgment on his own children. 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:27.619 How much of it is our fault 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:31.199 because we are not pervaded witnesses? 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.980 How much? 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:42.079 I often see signs on churches that say, 00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:46.500 repent America or God's going to judge you. 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:50.740 America's already been judged. 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:54.259 Those who are unbelievers have already been judged. 00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:58.220 Already been judged because they don't know Jesus. 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:03.620 But for the church, the church in America, 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:06.000 that's what we should be concerned about. 00:31:06.979 --> 00:31:09.379 What direction are we going? 00:31:10.459 --> 00:31:12.199 What direction are we heading? 00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:14.819 I hope you realize we're headed the same, 00:31:14.959 --> 00:31:17.639 down the same path of the church in England. 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.699 It's making the same mistakes, 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.639 heading down the same, 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:23.419 heading down the same steps. 00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.719 Because the church there is dead 00:31:24.719 --> 00:31:26.899 and we're slowly heading there. 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.559 That's where we're headed. 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:34.159 We're years behind them, 00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:35.899 but that's where the church is headed. 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:39.000 There are storms raging. 00:31:40.139 --> 00:31:41.659 Racial storms, cultural storms, 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:43.720 political storms, and many others. 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.500 And where is the church? 00:31:46.399 --> 00:31:48.599 Are we beneath the deck of the ship sleeping? 00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:52.519 Peacefully, as if our hands are clean. 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:56.980 Our prophetic voice needs to be waken up. 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.539 It is a sleeping giant, 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.339 and it needs to be awakened. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:03.639 And Yahweh is going to wake us up. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.639 And He's going to break us to do it. 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:09.420 I know this sermon is hard to hear. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.660 It was hard to write. 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:14.319 And you might not ever want me to come back 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:14.940 because of it. 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.819 But it's okay. 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.980 It's a word that God gave me, 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.619 and I'm going to preach it. 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:21.199 And I preach the church at the village church as well. 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.839 And see, there's a reason that a, 00:32:24.459 --> 00:32:26.500 there's a reason we have to be broken out by privilege. 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:29.319 There's a reason that a privileged church 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:30.839 would never be a prophetic church. 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:33.259 It is because underneath the privilege, 00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:34.539 there's something else that's underneath, 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.779 and it's entitlement. 00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:38.199 That's what's underneath our privilege. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:41.259 Because when you start taking away the privileges, 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.799 entitlement comes out. 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:45.659 We start thinking we are owed 00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:47.359 and deserve certain rights. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:50.099 We are entitled to religious freedom. 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:52.599 I'm entitled to my housing allowance. 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:54.699 I'm entitled to my nonprofit status. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.179 Where is that in the Word of God? 00:32:58.639 --> 00:33:01.459 We get those things because we are in America. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.899 And those things can be taken away, 00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:06.419 and God will still love us 00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:09.559 if they go away. 00:33:09.959 --> 00:33:11.019 Does it mean He doesn't love you? 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.159 It means He may be breaking you. 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:14.399 It means He may be taking things away 00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:17.179 to wake us up. 00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:19.239 We don't see it. 00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:23.019 The enemy deceives us with our privileges, 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:25.779 makes us weak and not prophetic. 00:33:27.059 --> 00:33:27.699 Because when we take, 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:30.099 because a privileged church becomes entitled, 00:33:30.219 --> 00:33:32.859 because when you lose the entitled privileges, 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:35.659 you start fighting to hold on to them. 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:38.259 You don't want to lose them. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.320 You don't want to lose them. 00:33:43.820 --> 00:33:46.620 A privileged church exists for one purpose, 00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:49.720 and it's not Great Commission. 00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:52.320 It's self-preservation. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:56.859 We don't want to exist just for self-preservation. 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:01.419 Holding on to what was 00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:03.139 and fighting to keep what we may lose. 00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:05.460 I love my religious freedom. 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.939 I love my housing allowance. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:09.159 I love going to Starbucks and all that stuff. 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:11.860 But those things can be taken away, 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.219 and Jesus will still love me. 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:15.799 He will still love me. 00:34:17.839 --> 00:34:19.439 And He may take them away. 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.480 We have to remember, 00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:26.519 the inception of Christianity 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:28.679 was not a privilege. 00:34:29.459 --> 00:34:31.939 It was not an entitlement or self-preservation. 00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.319 It wasn't top-down. 00:34:33.419 --> 00:34:34.480 It was bottom-up. 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:37.079 Was Jesus born into privilege? 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.579 Was Jesus entitled? 00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:42.139 Did Jesus exist for self-preservation? 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:45.880 Jesus was born into poverty. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:48.079 He was broken. 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:50.039 He was persecuted. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.460 And He died a criminal's death. 00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:55.400 But we want what He never had. 00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:58.559 We want the American culture to accept us. 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:01.519 Do you realize that if Jesus was alive today, 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.980 He would not be accepted. 00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:04.240 He would be crucified. 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.139 But still, 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:07.659 and many of us would be said, 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:08.840 crucify Him. 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.679 Because we're privileged, 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:13.059 we don't see our sin that way. 00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:15.480 But this is us. 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.240 We're them. 00:35:21.240 --> 00:35:23.440 We have to have these things taken away. 00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.340 Jesus was died. 00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:26.860 He suffered. 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.480 He was buried. 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:30.380 But He was resurrected in power as well. 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:33.840 And He can do the same for us. 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.380 Once we're broken. 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:38.099 Psalm 23 says, 00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:51.719 That's the Lord's hand on Jonah. 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:53.359 That's the Lord's hand on us. 00:35:53.879 --> 00:35:56.679 To bring us to repentance. 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:03.119 We have a national day of prayer for the church. 00:36:03.359 --> 00:36:05.059 We don't have a national day of repentance. 00:36:05.259 --> 00:36:05.399 Why? 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.219 Because we're privileged. 00:36:06.899 --> 00:36:08.319 We don't see ourselves that way. 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.779 We don't have anything to repent of. 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.419 But we do. 00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:14.139 This is the church corporately. 00:36:14.439 --> 00:36:15.579 Not just one individual church. 00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:16.500 I'm talking about every church, 00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:17.980 every denomination in our country 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:19.380 needs to have a day of repentance. 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.420 When we say, 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:20.880 You know what? 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.159 That's on us. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.300 And we acknowledge it. 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:24.559 And we repent of it. 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:28.360 That's when things will change. 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:30.420 When the church lives out of brokenness 00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:31.139 and not privilege. 00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:35.659 But do we believe it? 00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:39.119 But do we believe it? 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:43.379 Jonah reflected on his repentance in verse 7. 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:43.619 He says, 00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:45.779 When my life was fainting away, 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:48.099 when I was losing my life, 00:36:48.859 --> 00:36:50.019 I remembered Yahweh 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:53.559 and my prayer came to you in your holy temple. 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:56.859 He still had hope in his sea of brokenness. 00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.880 And so can you. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.860 You can still have hope 00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:01.340 because Yahweh is still your hope. 00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:03.900 He was standing face in the death. 00:37:04.140 --> 00:37:05.700 He was standing death in the face. 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.320 And he says, 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.440 I'm still going to hope in Yahweh. 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.539 I still believe. 00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:10.640 I'm going to look upon your holy hill again. 00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:12.539 That you're not going to abandon me 00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.880 into this sea of brokenness. 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:15.880 You're going to come and rescue me. 00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:18.420 And he did. 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.960 He remembered that Yahweh 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:23.860 is a God ready to forgive. 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.760 Do you believe that? 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:27.300 He believed Yahweh was gracious 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:27.960 and merciful 00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.300 and slow to anger 00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:30.720 and abounded in steadfast love. 00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:31.840 Do you believe that? 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.460 In your brokenness. 00:37:33.560 --> 00:37:35.020 It's easy to say that in privilege. 00:37:35.260 --> 00:37:36.500 But when you're in your brokenness, 00:37:36.540 --> 00:37:37.840 when you're in the sea of brokenness, 00:37:38.100 --> 00:37:39.320 do you still believe it? 00:37:40.600 --> 00:37:41.700 Will you believe it? 00:37:43.560 --> 00:37:44.420 Jonah repented. 00:37:44.540 --> 00:37:45.740 He surrendered to the Lord. 00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:48.420 Surrendered to the call. 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.880 He says in verse 2, 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:52.660 I call out to the Lord out of my distress 00:37:52.660 --> 00:37:53.680 and you answered me. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:55.399 And the Lord came. 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.539 He sent the fish 00:37:57.539 --> 00:38:00.539 when Jonah repented of his sin. 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:03.579 And he will send the same for you. 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:05.299 He wants you to repent. 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:07.119 That's what he wants. 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:08.440 That's what he wants you to do. 00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:10.879 Psalm 49, 15 says, 00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:12.799 But the Lord ransomed my soul 00:38:12.799 --> 00:38:13.819 from the power of Sheol. 00:38:13.919 --> 00:38:15.559 He will receive me. 00:38:15.819 --> 00:38:17.079 And he did that for Jonah. 00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:18.519 He rescued Jonah. 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:21.119 He rescued Jonah. 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:22.719 Jonah says, 00:38:22.799 --> 00:38:23.759 I went down to the land 00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:25.539 whose bars are closed behind me forever. 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:28.219 Yet you brought up my life 00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:29.339 from the pit. 00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:32.519 Can I get an amen? 00:38:32.759 --> 00:38:33.619 I hear something. 00:38:33.839 --> 00:38:34.980 I mean, come on. 00:38:35.819 --> 00:38:36.699 Some amens. 00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:39.819 He stared death in the face 00:38:39.819 --> 00:38:40.880 and God came. 00:38:41.139 --> 00:38:43.579 This was not Jonah being improved. 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:45.559 It was Jonah being resurrected. 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:48.039 It was an improvement. 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:49.980 It was resurrection. 00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:52.400 His covenant keeping God 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:54.019 finally came to him 00:38:54.019 --> 00:38:55.579 and brought his life up 00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.119 from the pit. 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:57.619 And God would do the same 00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:59.000 for each and every one of you. 00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:00.179 God would do the same 00:39:00.179 --> 00:39:01.400 for the American church. 00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:04.360 Our hope is still 00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:05.340 but nothing less. 00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:07.980 For Jesus' blood 00:39:07.980 --> 00:39:08.639 and his righteousness. 00:39:09.279 --> 00:39:10.340 Even in brokenness. 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.799 Even in the sea of brokenness. 00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:15.380 And after he prayed. 00:39:15.720 --> 00:39:17.100 After he thanked God. 00:39:17.640 --> 00:39:19.340 The fish vomited him up 00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:20.180 onto the land. 00:39:21.620 --> 00:39:22.220 Jonah's hope 00:39:22.220 --> 00:39:22.660 is the hope 00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:24.060 of the American church as well. 00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:26.740 Even in the sea of brokenness. 00:39:26.820 --> 00:39:27.920 The ones that we're currently in 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:28.860 and the ones that may come. 00:39:29.140 --> 00:39:30.300 He would still be our hope. 00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:32.300 If we lose all the privileges 00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.140 that we have 00:39:33.140 --> 00:39:34.560 as American believers. 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:36.500 We are still blessed. 00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:39.240 We are still blessed. 00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:42.039 God still loves us. 00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:44.559 God will still provide for us. 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:46.840 Our hope will not fail. 00:39:49.219 --> 00:39:50.440 Still in Jesus. 00:39:50.659 --> 00:39:51.599 If we lose it all. 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:54.059 He is still our God. 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:56.420 Still faithful. 00:39:57.960 --> 00:39:59.199 The God who breaks us 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.559 also resurrects us. 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.460 You gotta know that. 00:40:03.779 --> 00:40:04.940 Our theology has to be 00:40:04.940 --> 00:40:06.480 more than just words on a page. 00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:08.699 He is sovereign over your life. 00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:09.639 And that means something. 00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:11.859 Even in brokenness. 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.719 So we can repent 00:40:15.719 --> 00:40:17.619 of our worship. 00:40:17.900 --> 00:40:18.639 Of our privileges. 00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:22.900 When that sea of brokenness come 00:40:22.900 --> 00:40:24.259 do you know what's gonna rise 00:40:24.259 --> 00:40:25.000 out of the ashes 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.980 of our brokenness? 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:27.519 In America. 00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:28.859 It's gonna be 00:40:28.859 --> 00:40:31.000 a truly prophetic church. 00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:33.879 A truly prophetic church. 00:40:34.019 --> 00:40:35.019 One that is broken. 00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:37.059 One that ministers 00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:38.380 on the margins of life 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:39.759 not from fame and celebrity. 00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:43.219 One that embraces 00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:44.739 the sojourner status. 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:46.659 That my true home 00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:47.880 lies over there. 00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:49.320 And my crown lies 00:40:49.320 --> 00:40:50.159 on the other side. 00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:51.400 Not in this life. 00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:54.159 A church whose flag 00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:54.800 is the cross 00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:55.699 not the red, 00:40:55.780 --> 00:40:56.300 white, and blue. 00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:58.759 A church who stands 00:40:58.759 --> 00:40:59.659 in relationships 00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:00.460 with other people 00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:01.679 for the sake of justice. 00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:03.139 A prophetic church 00:41:03.139 --> 00:41:04.819 who speaks 00:41:04.819 --> 00:41:05.839 when it needs to speak 00:41:05.839 --> 00:41:06.559 and silent 00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:07.699 when it needs to be silent. 00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.739 A prophetic church 00:41:09.739 --> 00:41:10.359 that strives 00:41:10.359 --> 00:41:11.039 for reconciliation 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.379 with all people. 00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:14.000 Racial reconciliation, 00:41:14.759 --> 00:41:16.019 political reconciliation, 00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:18.119 economical reconciliation, 00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:19.699 that God has called us 00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:20.440 to reconcile 00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:21.839 with one another. 00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:25.800 That's a prophetic church 00:41:25.800 --> 00:41:27.019 where Jesus 00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:28.500 is truly 00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:29.720 the center 00:41:29.720 --> 00:41:31.100 of it all. 00:41:32.120 --> 00:41:32.920 Because if he's 00:41:32.920 --> 00:41:34.100 the center of it all, 00:41:35.260 --> 00:41:36.140 then I can walk 00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:36.920 and be in relationship 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:37.840 with anybody 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.980 because of the cross. 00:41:39.120 --> 00:41:40.300 Because if the cross 00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:42.460 isn't powerful enough 00:41:42.460 --> 00:41:43.900 to blame black people 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:44.519 and white people 00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:45.420 and Asian people together, 00:41:45.880 --> 00:41:46.360 ain't nothing 00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:47.200 ever gonna do it. 00:41:49.140 --> 00:41:49.800 Nothing's ever 00:41:49.800 --> 00:41:50.480 gonna do it. 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:52.240 A prophetic church 00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:54.139 loves and benefits 00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:56.059 broken, messy people. 00:41:57.679 --> 00:41:59.059 We're all messy. 00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:00.840 We're all broken. 00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.719 You're broken. 00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:02.679 You just hide it. 00:42:04.300 --> 00:42:05.400 But a prophetic church 00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:06.159 embraces it. 00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:08.860 A prophetic church 00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:10.059 loves people 00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:11.340 more than property 00:42:11.340 --> 00:42:12.159 and programs. 00:42:12.920 --> 00:42:13.860 That's a prophetic church. 00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:16.079 A prophetic church 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:17.539 repents 00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:18.599 and owns 00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.579 her sin. 00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:21.179 That's a prophetic church. 00:42:21.719 --> 00:42:22.480 A prophetic church 00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:23.239 preaches the word 00:42:23.239 --> 00:42:24.299 and lives the word. 00:42:24.659 --> 00:42:25.400 A prophetic church 00:42:25.400 --> 00:42:26.579 takes the gospel 00:42:26.579 --> 00:42:29.460 to broken places, 00:42:29.779 --> 00:42:30.599 to their neighbors, 00:42:31.360 --> 00:42:32.119 to their neighborhoods, 00:42:32.380 --> 00:42:33.340 to their sports teams. 00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:35.719 A prophetic church 00:42:35.719 --> 00:42:36.559 is a prophetic 00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:37.559 witness 00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:38.480 of Jesus. 00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:41.079 The Republican Party 00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:41.900 is not that witness. 00:42:42.239 --> 00:42:43.079 The Democratic Party 00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:43.759 is not that witness. 00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:44.599 You are. 00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:46.940 If you don't do it, 00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:47.759 God will raise up 00:42:47.759 --> 00:42:48.559 somebody who will. 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:50.039 But he gives you 00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:50.679 the honor 00:42:50.679 --> 00:42:52.779 to be his prophetic witness. 00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:53.679 It's an honor 00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:54.360 to do that. 00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:55.579 To say, 00:42:55.819 --> 00:42:57.380 I'll represent Christ 00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:57.860 to a dying 00:42:57.860 --> 00:42:58.639 and broken world. 00:42:59.019 --> 00:43:00.139 And I have a message 00:43:00.139 --> 00:43:01.719 that no one else has 00:43:01.719 --> 00:43:03.259 that can deliver them 00:43:03.259 --> 00:43:04.480 from their brokenness, 00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:06.179 their spiritual brokenness, 00:43:06.259 --> 00:43:07.480 and that is the gospel. 00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:11.440 And you are the only ones 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.320 that can take that. 00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:14.099 This community, 00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:14.880 this community, 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:15.980 this Carl Jones area, 00:43:16.179 --> 00:43:17.179 is your community 00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:18.400 to be prophetic witnesses 00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:18.840 to Jesus. 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:19.719 But will you do it? 00:43:21.579 --> 00:43:22.159 Because there are a lot 00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:22.940 of dying people 00:43:22.940 --> 00:43:24.440 in this area of town, 00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:25.480 not just over in Lincolnville, 00:43:25.559 --> 00:43:26.280 it's right here 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:27.099 on Carl Jones. 00:43:28.559 --> 00:43:29.820 Will you be their witness 00:43:29.820 --> 00:43:30.400 for Christ? 00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:31.980 Will you be that prophetic 00:43:31.980 --> 00:43:33.280 voice for them? 00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:34.619 Will you be salt 00:43:34.619 --> 00:43:35.539 and light for them? 00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:38.639 Out of brokenness. 00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:41.079 Not privilege. 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:43.760 Out of brokenness. 00:43:49.880 --> 00:43:50.880 So Southwood, 00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:52.840 brothers and sisters, 00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:53.579 hope you still love me. 00:43:53.840 --> 00:43:54.280 I love you. 00:43:55.740 --> 00:43:56.659 What type of church 00:43:56.659 --> 00:43:57.240 do you want to be? 00:43:59.539 --> 00:43:59.900 Elders, 00:44:00.340 --> 00:44:00.940 your deacons, 00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:02.280 what type of church 00:44:02.280 --> 00:44:03.500 do you want to be? 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:05.699 But more than that 00:44:05.699 --> 00:44:06.340 for you guys, 00:44:06.340 --> 00:44:07.680 what type of pastor 00:44:07.680 --> 00:44:09.039 do you want to be here 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:10.360 when he gets here? 00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:11.600 A privileged one 00:44:11.600 --> 00:44:13.059 or a broken one? 00:44:14.420 --> 00:44:15.640 Pray for brokenness 00:44:15.640 --> 00:44:16.780 for the future leader 00:44:16.780 --> 00:44:17.400 of this church. 00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:18.980 Pray for him. 00:44:19.559 --> 00:44:20.360 Pray for his family. 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:21.720 Pray for your elders. 00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:23.120 Pray for your deacons. 00:44:23.800 --> 00:44:24.360 Let us pray. 00:44:26.780 --> 00:44:27.640 Father God, 00:44:27.640 --> 00:44:31.200 I thank you that 00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:33.799 even though you throw us 00:44:33.799 --> 00:44:35.259 into the sea of brokenness, 00:44:35.539 --> 00:44:37.279 you don't abandon us there. 00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:39.779 You never leave us 00:44:39.779 --> 00:44:40.579 as orphans. 00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:42.819 You never leave us 00:44:42.819 --> 00:44:43.799 to fight alone, 00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:45.899 but you are sovereign 00:44:45.899 --> 00:44:47.159 over us, Lord. 00:44:48.259 --> 00:44:49.460 Sovereign over us. 00:44:50.139 --> 00:44:51.399 That you will bring us out. 00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:52.079 You will bring us 00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.639 to repentance. 00:44:53.639 --> 00:44:54.500 And out of that fire, 00:44:54.619 --> 00:44:55.339 out of the brokenness, 00:44:55.419 --> 00:44:55.619 Lord, 00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:57.239 is to be more 00:44:57.239 --> 00:44:58.179 prophetic believers 00:44:58.179 --> 00:44:59.119 in the places 00:44:59.119 --> 00:45:00.119 that you called us to be. 00:45:00.779 --> 00:45:01.559 So my prayer 00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:02.679 for my brothers and sisters 00:45:02.679 --> 00:45:04.719 of Southwood Presbyterian Church 00:45:04.719 --> 00:45:05.339 that, Lord, 00:45:05.420 --> 00:45:06.440 you will remind them 00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:07.299 of your faithfulness 00:45:07.299 --> 00:45:07.759 to them 00:45:07.759 --> 00:45:09.819 in their own brokenness. 00:45:10.759 --> 00:45:11.519 Even right now, 00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:11.759 Lord, 00:45:11.799 --> 00:45:12.359 as a congregation, 00:45:12.500 --> 00:45:13.000 if they continue 00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:14.559 to look for a pastor, 00:45:14.719 --> 00:45:17.659 I pray for this man 00:45:17.659 --> 00:45:19.299 that he will be one, 00:45:19.299 --> 00:45:19.639 Lord, 00:45:19.799 --> 00:45:20.759 who is broken, 00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:22.400 who loves you. 00:45:23.699 --> 00:45:24.779 I pray for his family, 00:45:25.400 --> 00:45:25.619 Lord, 00:45:26.239 --> 00:45:27.359 that you'll watch over them. 00:45:27.880 --> 00:45:28.779 I pray you give wisdom 00:45:28.780 --> 00:45:30.460 to the search committee, 00:45:30.640 --> 00:45:30.740 Lord, 00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:31.260 as well. 00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.180 You, Lord, 00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:35.120 are a faithful God. 00:45:35.860 --> 00:45:36.760 And you will be faithful 00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:37.640 to this little body 00:45:37.640 --> 00:45:38.360 of Christ here. 00:45:38.980 --> 00:45:39.860 I pray you draw them 00:45:39.860 --> 00:45:40.940 closer together in unity. 00:45:41.680 --> 00:45:42.660 I pray they will keep 00:45:42.660 --> 00:45:43.360 short accounts 00:45:43.360 --> 00:45:43.920 with one another. 00:45:44.320 --> 00:45:45.200 I pray that they will 00:45:45.200 --> 00:45:46.380 love one another, 00:45:47.160 --> 00:45:48.500 value one another, 00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:49.780 Lord, 00:45:51.120 --> 00:45:52.260 and that you, Lord, 00:45:52.320 --> 00:45:53.400 will use this church 00:45:53.400 --> 00:45:54.860 to be salt and light 00:45:54.860 --> 00:45:55.960 to this community. 00:45:55.960 --> 00:45:58.199 I pray for all these things 00:45:58.199 --> 00:45:59.720 in your son's wonderful name. 00:46:00.539 --> 00:46:00.800 Amen. 00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:06.159 For more information, 00:46:06.539 --> 00:46:07.460 visit us online 00:46:07.460 --> 00:46:08.760 at southwood.org.