WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.700 I don't know about you, but if you look around you at the world we live in, it's very easy to ask the question, is God not concerned for his own glory? 00:00:15.700 --> 00:00:21.920 ! Where exactly is God in the world that we live in? 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:31.820 I mean, it's wars and rumors of wars and climate change and political upheaval and all kinds of things. 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:39.680 And as Paul prayed just now, the most horrific atrocities that we see in the world. 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:49.680 And I think it's a quite legitimate question to ask ourselves, is God not concerned for his glory that these things are happening in the world? 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:55.100 Sometimes we joke about it. 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:01.200 One of the other things that make me wonder about that is Arsenal's form over the last couple of years. 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:04.980 But, you know, sometimes humor is all we've got. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.740 But these things we do to each other are bad enough, aren't they? 00:01:14.320 --> 00:01:21.840 What's fundamentally even worse than that, I think, is that the world seems to be turning its back on God. 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:25.939 And that was true for Israel in their days and it's true for us today. 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:31.000 We see it in the UK that we live in now, don't we? 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:37.820 Just a couple of things that happened over the last couple of weeks and months that made me wonder, 00:01:38.740 --> 00:01:43.040 is God concerned for his glory in our time, in our country? 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:55.260 Last year, the Church of England said regular Sunday attendance fell 3% to 756,000. 00:01:55.360 --> 00:01:59.540 Now that might sound a lot, but that's about 1% of the population. 00:02:01.860 --> 00:02:04.020 People's lives are too busy, they said. 00:02:04.100 --> 00:02:06.100 That's why that number fell. 00:02:06.099 --> 00:02:18.699 There's a vicar of a church in Blackpool who spends her Sunday mornings at a prayer tent at a nearby car boot sale to address worshippers there. 00:02:18.699 --> 00:02:21.560 I wonder what they're worshipping exactly. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:31.639 And she also holds her Sunday service at 4.30 in the afternoon, so people can attend after taking their children to sports or doing their shopping. 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.959 That's more like the Lord's half day, it sounds. 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:44.059 Norwich Cathedral recently put in a helter-skelter, so people can see the roof more clearly. 00:02:44.060 --> 00:02:47.860 And Rochester Cathedral put in a mini-golf course. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:50.479 The Reverend Cannon there said, 00:02:50.580 --> 00:03:00.099 We hope while playing adventure golf, visitors will reflect on the bridges that need to be built in their own lives and in our world today. 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:03.319 Because, of course, that's what happens when you play mini-golf. 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:08.000 The Daily Mail was a bit more tongue-in-cheek about that. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:17.379 They said, Holy in one, worshippers at a medieval cathedral are being asked to put their faith in God on a crazy golf course in the nave. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:23.500 And, I mean, we laugh, but it's actually quite sad. 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:28.319 Now, just in case you get the wrong idea, this isn't to bash the Church of England. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:32.460 Less than 5% of the whole nation goes to church regularly. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:37.039 And many churches do much worse than that. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:42.400 I mean, don't get me started on the prosperity gospel and what people get told there. 00:03:43.620 --> 00:03:48.799 And what it comes down to for those priests, vicars, ministers, is, 00:03:49.359 --> 00:03:50.399 Are people going to come? 00:03:51.859 --> 00:03:53.280 Are our numbers up? 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:54.780 How does it look? 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:58.079 Are they looking at our beautiful roof? 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:04.019 People are more concerned about their own glory than about God's glory, it seems. 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:12.680 And Micah warns us about this, and he tells us about a time in Israel's history when it was basically just the same, isn't it? 00:04:13.160 --> 00:04:20.079 Now, he's the last of the first six of these minor or shorter prophets at the end of the Old Testament. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:26.219 And the first half of them is just all about the sin of Israel and the nations. 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:30.259 And it's filed up, and this is the height of it. 00:04:31.039 --> 00:04:35.219 And he brings together all those themes, and he says, you know, Israel's sin is like prostitution. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:38.680 Turning away from God after something else, after other gods. 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.660 And they're spiritually lethargic. 00:04:42.220 --> 00:04:43.360 They can't be bothered. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:45.400 And they're weak. 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:48.100 And it's about wealth and amassing wealth. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:53.259 And they're mistreating refugees and committing social injustice all over the place. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.579 And they're cold towards nations who need to hear about the Lord. 00:04:57.579 --> 00:05:07.579 But the priests cry peace when they've got something to eat, and declare war against people who put nothing in their mouths. 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:09.319 That's what they're concerned about. 00:05:10.219 --> 00:05:14.279 And we read there, don't we, at the end of chapter 3, about how corrupt these leaders are. 00:05:14.539 --> 00:05:18.259 How they actually tell people what they want to hear. 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:21.519 They give them the message they want to hear, and the price is right. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.699 Basically telling them their horoscopes. 00:05:25.919 --> 00:05:28.199 Making up the kind of prophecies that it sells. 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:34.419 And they're super, super confident they've got God on their side. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.459 Because look at verse 11. 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:40.620 Yet they lean on the Lord and say, is not the Lord in the midst of us? 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:43.519 No disaster shall come upon us. 00:05:45.459 --> 00:05:47.839 But God doesn't let things stand. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:54.419 I mean, basically they think God needs them more than they need Him. 00:05:56.339 --> 00:05:59.959 But God doesn't depend on us, and that's really what they were counting on. 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:04.799 They were counting on the fact that if His temple is with them, if His temple is among them, 00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:08.839 if they were going through the motions of serving God, 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:13.079 then He wouldn't desert them because He needs their worship. 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:19.359 And because they've earned His favor that way. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:24.779 Now, it's, you know, again, easy, you know, we can read that and think, well, that sounds ridiculous. 00:06:25.099 --> 00:06:30.519 But, you know, do we sometimes hear people say things like, 00:06:30.599 --> 00:06:34.799 I think I've done enough, that God won't be too cross with me? 00:06:36.219 --> 00:06:37.740 Or something along those lines? 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:44.259 I think if we're brutally honest, we've probably all thought along those lines to some extent at some point. 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:53.540 And God is telling us here, and Israel is telling us, no, He doesn't need us to be God. 00:06:54.759 --> 00:07:01.420 To be utterly perfect and utterly holy and utterly complete in Himself, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 00:07:02.340 --> 00:07:04.199 Glory be to Him forever and ever. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:09.979 And that's a sobering thought to realize that, that God doesn't need us. 00:07:10.779 --> 00:07:12.379 That He can't be manipulated. 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:18.719 And especially not by people who should be leading God's people spiritually. 00:07:19.740 --> 00:07:23.560 These priests and prophets who were telling people what they wanted to hear. 00:07:24.659 --> 00:07:28.959 That is such a warning in our time as well. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:33.159 And God sent other nations to destroy this temple they relied on. 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:35.980 This temple, it was their security blanket, wasn't it? 00:07:36.820 --> 00:07:38.820 The end of chapter 3 there, verse 12. 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:45.620 Because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooden height. 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:52.300 God sent other nations to come and destroy the temple in Jerusalem. 00:07:53.400 --> 00:07:57.200 Now, if you're an Israelite, and you hear that this is going to happen, 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:06.439 that is like the gut punch that makes you want to curl up in a fetal position under the table and cry for your mommy. 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:10.959 Because the temple is what made them. 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:14.199 It's what made them different to all the other nations. 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:17.579 Where God was meant to be with them. 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:26.919 But they've gone from being more in awe of God's glory, to being more concerned with their own glory. 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:34.679 And this is the turning point that we come to in this chapter here, at the end of chapter 3 and chapter 4. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:39.319 That is God's judgment on them. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:45.000 And for an Israelite, that is the worst thing that could possibly happen. 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.739 The worst message you could probably hear. 00:08:48.819 --> 00:08:51.179 And then, here at the beginning of chapter 4, 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:55.859 we see that you don't have to be in a car crash to get whiplash. 00:08:56.979 --> 00:09:00.620 Because if you read Micah, and you read through chapters 1 and 2 and 3, 00:09:00.979 --> 00:09:05.599 and you go into these depths, and you get to this height of God's judgment on them, 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:09.620 your temple will be destroyed, and the symbol of me living with you won't be there anymore. 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:12.139 Then chapter 4 starts, doesn't it? 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.019 It shall come to pass in the latter days, 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:17.599 that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established, 00:09:17.959 --> 00:09:20.019 as the highest of the mountains. 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:24.379 And it shall be lifted up above the hills, and people shall float to it. 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:29.600 And you hear that, and you think, well, wait, wait just a minute. 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:34.319 Didn't we just, like, literally in the previous verse, 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:37.259 hear how the mountain Zion shall be like a field, 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:40.819 and Jerusalem ruins, and the mountain of the house, 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:42.460 nothing more than a wooded hike? 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:46.600 And now suddenly, it shall be established as the highest of the mountains. 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:50.519 And lift it up above the hills, and people shall float to it. 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:53.840 Now that is just phenomenal. 00:09:55.060 --> 00:09:59.700 That reversal in those, from verse 12 to verse 1 there, 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:03.080 it is an incredible, complete about turn, isn't it? 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:05.259 It's really quite breathtaking. 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:11.799 It is an earthly Jerusalem that meant everything to Israel will be destroyed, 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:15.319 and yet somehow, a new Jerusalem, 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:18.399 the mountain of the house of the Lord, will be established. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:20.720 What's going on? 00:10:21.819 --> 00:10:25.019 Well, today I want us to see one thing, really. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.899 It's a bank holiday, and it's hot. 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:32.360 It's one thing, about God's desire for his own glory, 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:33.939 and it's this. 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:39.139 What God was showing Israel through this vision that Micah has right here. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:40.500 And it is this. 00:10:40.959 --> 00:10:46.799 God's desire for his own glory is greater than the problem of our sin. 00:10:47.479 --> 00:10:50.139 And it means he's more gracious than our sin deserves. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:55.620 God's desire for his glory is greater than the problem of our sin. 00:10:56.439 --> 00:10:59.059 And it means he's more gracious than our sin deserves. 00:10:59.839 --> 00:11:01.799 No three points, no alliteration. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.299 Just this one thing. 00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:07.240 And God's glory is greater than we think, 00:11:07.339 --> 00:11:09.679 because God is greater than we can imagine. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:12.139 I think it's the one thing we see here, isn't it? 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:13.759 See, when the temple was destroyed, 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.620 it seemed like God's glory had been lost. 00:11:16.979 --> 00:11:18.299 Israel's not a people anymore. 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.399 They're going into exile. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.919 The temple's no more. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.559 The temple that was the symbol of God being with them, 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.559 of them being special, God's chosen people. 00:11:26.979 --> 00:11:31.799 But here's what God tells to these people who are about to go into exile. 00:11:33.479 --> 00:11:40.719 It's not a logistical message of, 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:42.120 this is how it's going to work, 00:11:42.219 --> 00:11:43.319 and this is how long it's going to be, 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.319 and you're going to return, 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.300 and this is how it's going to be, 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:46.860 a functional message of, 00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:49.640 I will restore you to this land of something. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:56.360 God gives this incredible vision of this total about turn of what he's done, 00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:59.260 and even more, isn't it? 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.620 He tells them, 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:01.879 my glory is heavenly. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.960 My glory is not earthly. 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:05.420 You have it all wrong. 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:09.040 My glory is not limited to this temple that's here with you, 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.959 to these things that you do, 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.899 the worship that you give me here at this temple. 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:15.759 My glory is so much greater than that. 00:12:17.099 --> 00:12:19.939 And they're symbols of much, much greater things. 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:22.659 And I think, 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.839 with it unplanned, 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:28.059 I think it ties in with something that Paul said this morning as well. 00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:31.779 We can think things through so much to the nth degree 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:35.759 that we lose the feeling of what it is meant to give us 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.979 when we read a vision like this in the Bible. 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:43.000 So I'm not going to go through each of the little images and dig into them, 00:12:43.079 --> 00:12:47.919 but I want us to feel this weight of this glory that God gives them in this vision. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.579 And he tells the people who are about to go into exile, 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:54.619 the people who look at the world around them and say, 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:56.580 where is God and what is happening? 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.159 He tells them, 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.820 look at what I am doing for my glory. 00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:03.740 Not what you can see in front of your own eyes now. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.960 And he does what is impossible. 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.940 I don't know if you've noticed, 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:13.100 but Micah describes something that actually sounds like it's impossible, isn't it? 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:16.960 Things flow downhill, generally speaking. 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:19.960 And since we've worked out gravity, 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:21.759 we understand why that is. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.779 Things flow downhill, 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:25.399 not up a mountain. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:32.439 So when they tried to determine the origin of the River Nile, 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:35.659 and with David Livingston, 00:13:35.839 --> 00:13:36.899 and John Hannity Spake, 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:37.879 and Richard Burton, 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:38.699 and those guys, 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.419 the whole point was, 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:42.939 they tried to work out 00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:46.480 the highest point at which water flows into that system 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.899 must be where the system starts. 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:50.600 That's how they thought about it. 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:53.519 Because they know things flow downhill, 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:54.680 not uphill. 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:56.340 You know, 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.759 it's a fascinating story, 00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:59.560 that if you've never kind of looked into it, 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.259 about all the adventure and misadventure, 00:14:02.060 --> 00:14:02.840 and human drama, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.700 and all the jealousy, 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.460 and survival, 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.980 and tribes that want to kill them, 00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:06.480 and malaria, 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:07.759 and all kinds of things. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.120 But they had this right. 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.480 Things flow downhill, 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.259 not uphill. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.279 Water doesn't flow uphill. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:21.179 And just like water doesn't flow uphill, 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.819 people don't naturally 00:14:22.819 --> 00:14:24.919 come to God. 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:27.740 It's impossible 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:29.939 for us to just do that on our own. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.740 People don't naturally come to God saying, 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:33.419 yeah, 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.979 let's learn from His Word. 00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:36.620 Let's learn from God 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:38.059 how He wants us to live. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:40.799 How He wants us to direct our lives. 00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.120 In fact, 00:14:42.219 --> 00:14:43.500 from the Garden of Eden, 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:44.019 isn't it, 00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:45.699 we've done the exact opposite. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:51.360 But God's glory is greater than our sin, 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.000 because He does the impossible. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.879 people who rejected Him. 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.980 Peter says in Acts 2, 00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.080 he says, 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.620 this man was handed over to you 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:02.460 by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge, 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:03.279 and you, 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.100 with the help of wicked men, 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.240 put Him to death 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.659 by nailing Him to the cross. 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.259 And just for the avoidance of doubt, 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:15.039 that's you and me too included in there 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.679 before we were saved. 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.460 And our sin wasn't to break down 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:20.379 a physical building 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:22.139 where God had dwelled with His people. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.100 We killed God dwelling with His people. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.000 And despite that, 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.720 because God's concern for His glory 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:33.580 is greater than our sin, 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:36.120 He turns our hearts back to Him. 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:40.179 We forget when we read about the nations 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:40.720 in the Bible, 00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:42.340 we are those nations. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.700 Flowing uphill to this heaven is I. 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:50.360 And that started at Pentecost, 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.759 when this vision of Micah started to come true, 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.200 isn't it? 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:57.540 And we don't see all the wars ended yet, 00:15:57.660 --> 00:15:59.520 and we don't see a world 00:15:59.520 --> 00:16:01.620 where everyone has enough from their own labour, 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.240 and enough to eat, 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:03.920 and enough to, 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:06.360 a place to sleep, 00:16:07.020 --> 00:16:09.320 and all these things that Micah describes here. 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:12.379 And we don't see those swords and spears 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:14.340 having become flowershares, 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.620 and pruning hooks, 00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:19.260 and the peace that He looks forward to. 00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:22.780 But the real peace we need, 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.320 peace with God, 00:16:25.020 --> 00:16:27.420 is available now when we come to Him, 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:30.460 when we come to this heavenly Zion 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:32.320 that Micah describes. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.440 When we have that, 00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:36.480 the rest starts to follow. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.020 But here's the question, 00:16:39.160 --> 00:16:41.379 how is God doing this? 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:44.200 How is God making the nations 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:46.160 flow to Him, 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:50.000 to this heavenly Zion that He describes, 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:53.300 to come and ask to be instructed by the Lord? 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:58.679 And we have this strange reason given, 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.899 at the end of verse 2, 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.240 don't we? 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:06.139 For out of Zion shall go forth the Lord, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:10.480 and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:15.139 Because God's word is going out 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:17.059 to these nations. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.419 God's law, 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.579 God's instruction, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.079 God's word. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.139 And when God's word goes out to the world, 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.000 the miraculous happens. 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:32.059 We shouldn't lose confidence 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:34.559 in God's word going out into the world 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.720 and doing the impossible. 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:38.939 Nations coming to God 00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:40.359 in the most spectacular way. 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.339 And the effect is astounding. 00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:47.299 The gospel has gone out to places 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.480 that were unimaginable 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.879 when Micah gave these prophecies. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.199 Places they didn't even know existed. 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:57.279 And it continues to go out to them. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:59.500 And the nations continue to come 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.460 to God 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.799 after his heavenly Zion. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.319 You might know, 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.359 you might have heard 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.099 the kind of statistic 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.460 that more Muslims 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.899 have converted to Christianity 00:18:09.899 --> 00:18:11.059 in the last, say, 00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:12.079 20 years 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:12.519 than in 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:15.000 4,200 years before that. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.140 since the start of Islam. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:19.960 Astounding. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.559 China may already be 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.880 the most Christian nation 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.519 in the world 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.200 in terms of 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.579 the number of believers. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:30.059 We don't think about it that way. 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.119 Whole communities 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:33.940 in places like the Middle East 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.980 are coming to God. 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.500 And turning to God 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:39.200 and repenting of their sins 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.900 and putting their trust in Jesus 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.180 because the word of the God 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:42.900 is going out 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:44.019 in incredible ways 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.800 to these corners of the world 00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:48.380 that Micah didn't even know about. 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.540 And it's incredible. 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.240 But, 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.700 I want to tell you a story 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.320 about the nations 00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:56.120 coming to God 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:56.460 where 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.860 it looks 00:18:57.860 --> 00:19:00.300 like exactly the opposite. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:02.460 some of you might know 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.680 that I spent some time 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.139 this summer 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:05.019 in China 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.359 and North Korea. 00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.079 Pyongyang 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.879 was called 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:11.619 the Jerusalem of the East 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:13.139 kind of early 00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.000 20th century. 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.480 There was revival. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.799 Welsh missionaries 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.519 had gone there 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.500 and others. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.519 And, 00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:22.460 there were so many churches there 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.639 that it was called 00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.980 the Jerusalem of the East. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.700 And now the government 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.659 has been stamping out 00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:29.819 any trace of Christianity 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.159 there for 70 years. 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.480 It is, 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:34.119 it is really incredible 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:36.000 to see how totally 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.819 they've 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:39.599 imposed this ideology 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.559 on a country 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.460 in just 70 years. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.359 You'd think that kind of thing 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.559 would take 300 years 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:43.839 but 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:45.500 70 years. 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:47.179 Indoctrinating people 00:19:47.179 --> 00:19:48.099 and forcing people 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:49.279 to report on each other 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.319 and inform on each other. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.339 You don't know 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.059 who you can trust. 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:53.099 You can't trust your neighbor. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.700 Limiting people's access 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.579 to anything outside 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.319 of North Korea. 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.159 I kid you not, 00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.980 when you go in, 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:02.040 your bags are searched, 00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.800 every piece of printed 00:20:03.800 --> 00:20:04.880 material you have 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.779 is catalogued 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.580 and it's got to go out again. 00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:09.400 Every electronic device 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.080 is searched 00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:11.580 and catalogued 00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:12.880 and it's got to go out again. 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.519 You can take the Bible 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.400 in English 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:17.700 but it's got to go out again. 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:21.040 They go to 00:20:21.040 --> 00:20:23.620 the most extreme lengths 00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.320 you can imagine 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.839 to stop anybody 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.839 from finding out 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:27.679 about Christianity. 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.419 But here's the thing. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.740 Despite that 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.899 total control 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:34.659 that they're 00:20:34.659 --> 00:20:35.919 exerting over 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:37.000 people's thinking 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.279 from the moment 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.460 they can put 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.960 two words together 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.379 and despite the fact 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.139 that people can go 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.019 to prison camps 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.899 if they're caught out 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.960 if they're fortunate 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:50.179 there are Christians 00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:50.939 in North Korea 00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:51.899 and people are coming 00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.400 to faith 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.320 as we speak. 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.340 Christians who go there 00:20:56.340 --> 00:20:57.360 have to find other reasons 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:57.960 to go in. 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.880 You can't go in 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.440 as a missionary. 00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:00.280 I'm not going to get 00:21:00.280 --> 00:21:01.160 a missionary visa 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.500 to go to North Korea. 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:04.120 So, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:06.100 some places in the country 00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:07.759 allow foreign investment 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.340 like in the north 00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:10.900 there's a zone 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.019 where people can invest. 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.360 So, 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.360 that's what missionaries do. 00:21:14.800 --> 00:21:15.740 You find yourself 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.140 running 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.700 a factory. 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:19.100 you know, 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:20.900 you go to seminary 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:21.559 and you end up 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.080 running a shoe factory 00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:24.000 or something like that. 00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:24.680 But that's how you 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.640 get in long term 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.920 and have sustained 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.500 contact 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.720 with North Korean people. 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:32.080 And if they get to 00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:33.019 know you well enough 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.539 and you can build up 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.559 and have trust with them 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:37.400 that they know 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.000 you're not going 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.680 to report them 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.319 and they're not going 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.019 to report you 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.799 if you have a gospel 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.500 conversation, 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.720 those conversations 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.200 happen. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.100 And people are 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.039 coming to faith. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.420 Even though it looks 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.319 like this is a country, 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.539 this is the country 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.660 where God's glory 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.920 is nowhere to be seen. 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.440 And someone I spoke to 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.160 who works there 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.180 finally managed to 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:58.240 speak to one of their 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.319 employees alone 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:01.259 after many years 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.960 outside 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.019 because the buildings 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.620 are bugged 00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:06.460 and the government 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.539 listens in to everything. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.160 And it's an employee 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.220 who was terminally ill 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:13.100 and she told him 00:22:13.100 --> 00:22:14.140 well it's important now, 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.000 you have to make 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.480 a decision. 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:19.000 Jesus is the only way 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.819 to get to heaven. 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.279 You have to make a choice 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:24.039 and there is no other way. 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.160 And he looked at her 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.940 and he smiled 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:29.319 and he said, 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.900 don't worry, 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.440 Jane or whatever 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.059 her name is, 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:35.420 I'm already on that train. 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.480 Now that sounds odd 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.640 but it turns out 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.259 there's an old 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.339 Korean hymn about 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:43.559 being on the train 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.079 to heaven. 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.659 And where did he 00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:48.319 hear the gospel? 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.159 I don't know. 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.339 Some people 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.959 have reports 00:22:52.959 --> 00:22:54.459 from Muslim countries 00:22:54.459 --> 00:22:54.980 about people 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.720 seeing visions 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.519 of Jesus, 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.039 the word 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.919 coming to them. 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.459 They could be 00:23:01.459 --> 00:23:02.019 having dreams 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.519 or visions. 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:04.940 but I think 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.000 in many cases 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.619 more likely 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.539 it is that people 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.220 are literally 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.720 risking their lives 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.240 to tell their children 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.139 about God. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.940 To tell their children 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.740 about Jesus. 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.099 Anybody who knows 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.519 children, 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.359 you don't have to have 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.720 your own, 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.500 even though children 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:21.539 can say 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.539 unfortunate things 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.819 at unfortunate times. 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.319 It is a risk 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.139 to tell your child 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:27.079 about Jesus there. 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.099 And it's just 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.019 incredible to me 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.000 that here 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.879 people don't want 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.319 to take their 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.079 children to church 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:34.700 because they don't 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.819 want to risk 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.799 them being upset 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.480 and they want them 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.259 to discover it 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.960 for themselves. 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.440 Psalm 48 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.200 that we read 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:41.740 at the beginning 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.119 talks about how 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.839 we tell our 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.559 children about 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.139 the faith. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.480 And these people 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.180 are risking their 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.160 lives to do that. 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:52.099 And I dare say 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.759 there might be 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.799 more glory given 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.359 to God 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.440 on that last day 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:57.519 for people 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.220 from places 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.039 like North Korea 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.500 who have come 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.159 to that heavenly 00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:01.200 Zion with us 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.019 than we can think. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.319 Here's the point. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.359 God is never 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.279 going to allow 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.019 His glory 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.799 to be limited 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:11.099 or diminished 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.359 or destroyed 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:14.339 by our human sin 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.720 or even just 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.680 our inability 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.379 to see past 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.159 our limited 00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:19.960 circumstances. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.039 Not Israel's sin. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.379 Not the North 00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:24.559 Korean regime's sin. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.639 Not your sin 00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.339 or my sin. 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:32.859 The Westminster 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.220 Shorter 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.480 Catechism starts 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.779 with 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.039 what's the chief 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.859 end of man? 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.579 And the answer 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.019 is 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:42.259 glorify God 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.199 and enjoy Him 00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.679 forever. 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.480 Isn't it? 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.599 The world we live 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.399 in don't think so. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.720 You ask someone 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.159 on the street 00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:48.839 what's our main 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.519 reason for 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.039 existing. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.980 You might get 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.619 some strange 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.480 looks first. 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.459 And if you get 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.079 an answer it 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.440 might be 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.019 something like 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.700 make money 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.140 enjoy yourself 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.100 or even 00:24:59.100 --> 00:24:59.740 be a good 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.279 person. 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:01.980 But it's not 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.259 going to be 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.259 to glorify God 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.940 and enjoy Him 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.299 forever. 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.740 But God's 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.519 concern for His 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.180 glory means 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.200 He's so gracious 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.000 that He involves 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.660 you and me 00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:12.400 and calls us 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.900 His people 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:15.039 so we can 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.559 bring glory 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:15.980 to Him. 00:25:16.340 --> 00:25:17.019 It's certainly 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.480 incredible. 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.400 It really is. 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.100 But God is 00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:21.900 asking you and me 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.200 tonight, 00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:23.140 do you believe 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.500 that? 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:27.020 How often 00:25:27.020 --> 00:25:27.460 have you and 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.060 I this week 00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:29.340 thought to 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.440 give glory 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.080 to God? 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.380 From the 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:33.980 most mundane 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.620 things in 00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:35.140 our life 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:36.420 everything we 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.120 have is from 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:37.380 Him 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:39.640 to praying 00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.080 that He's 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:40.980 glorified by 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.440 doing the 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.960 impossible 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.800 that He's 00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.440 glorified by 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:44.900 the nations 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.500 coming to 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.100 faith and 00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:47.100 streaming to 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.500 Him like 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:47.980 we have. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.480 Tonight 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.980 after the 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.380 service when 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:50.820 we pray for 00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.420 Holiday Bible 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.000 Club we can 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.960 pray that 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.279 God's 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.360 glorified by 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.500 bringing 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.500 people to 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.400 us next 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.420 week who 00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:59.180 otherwise might 00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.700 never have 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.259 come to Him. 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.440 Do we 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.400 realize that 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:03.920 we need 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.840 nothing more 00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.720 than for 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.279 God to be 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.920 glorified? 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.019 I think we 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.539 can be so 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:09.840 easily 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:10.620 complacent. 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.299 We can be 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.100 so focused 00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:13.400 on the 00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.799 state of 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.880 affairs in 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:15.360 the here and 00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:15.860 now that we 00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.460 settle for 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.019 less than we 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.279 could. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.279 God, it's 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.879 good and 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.500 right to 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.619 be praying 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.920 for the 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.460 world we 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.039 live in and 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.500 for big 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.019 things like 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.559 peace and 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:25.899 the people 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.519 we love and 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.799 for our 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.660 daily needs 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:30.259 and everything 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.859 that is 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.559 happening in 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.200 our week to 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.539 come. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.879 But we 00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.779 can become so 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.480 used, I 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:36.839 think, to 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.619 God having 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:38.180 done this 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.720 incredible 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.440 miracle in 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.819 our own 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.599 lives and 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:40.940 what He's 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.599 doing all 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.000 over the 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.599 world right 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.480 now, even 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:43.940 in places 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.460 like North 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:46.320 Korea, but 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:46.860 we think it's 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.539 all about us 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:47.960 and not all 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.400 about Him. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.279 And in 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.640 some ways 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.019 it's a bit 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.580 like C.S. 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.039 Lewis who 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:52.440 said about 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:52.880 us being 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.880 satisfied with 00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:55.660 building mud 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.440 pies because 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:56.880 we can't 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.440 imagine what 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:57.820 a holiday 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:58.440 by the sea 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.059 looks like. 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.080 And I 00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:02.000 think we 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.840 should all 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.460 be more 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.120 permanently 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.860 like deer 00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:05.460 caught in 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.080 the headlights, 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.759 astonished at 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.420 God's glory 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.860 and what He's 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.440 doing in the 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:09.840 world to 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.660 glorify Himself. 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.340 God's answer 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.059 to Israel 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.619 at this 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.819 absolute 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.740 low point 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.119 in their 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.559 history, when 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:18.959 the temple 00:27:18.959 --> 00:27:19.480 is about to 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:19.980 be destroyed 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.240 and they're 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.619 about to 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:20.959 go into 00:27:20.959 --> 00:27:21.779 exile is 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:23.639 when I 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.459 am glorified 00:27:24.459 --> 00:27:24.980 by doing 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.559 more than 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.199 you're asking 00:27:26.199 --> 00:27:27.539 for and 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:27.899 more than 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.159 you can 00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:29.199 imagine and 00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:29.579 more than 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:29.859 you can 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.720 conceive of, 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.059 then you 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.459 will be 00:27:32.459 --> 00:27:32.980 strong and 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.359 restored. 00:27:34.179 --> 00:27:34.879 Just look 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.399 up and see 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:35.759 what I'm 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.059 doing. 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.240 God's glory 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.779 is greater 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.240 than the 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.839 predicament of 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.220 our sin 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.339 and it 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.839 means He's 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:43.139 more gracious 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.160 than our 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.360 sin 00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:44.920 deserves. 00:27:45.780 --> 00:27:46.400 For Israel 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:46.960 it was 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.500 hard to 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.920 take this 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.400 message on 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.740 board in 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.280 some ways. 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.580 They had 00:27:51.580 --> 00:27:53.200 the exile to 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.660 look forward 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.940 to and hope 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.500 was a distant 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.980 promise. 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.320 But here's 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:57.700 what we 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.100 have. 00:27:59.040 --> 00:27:59.759 We've seen 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.380 that glory 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:00.940 of God 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.240 lifted up. 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.220 We've seen 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.800 that glory of 00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:04.480 God lifted up 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:04.980 on the cross, 00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:05.500 haven't we? 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:07.560 And Hebrews 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.340 12 tells us 00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.040 how this vision 00:28:09.040 --> 00:28:09.600 that Micah 00:28:09.600 --> 00:28:10.480 has was 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.259 fulfilled even 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.900 more in 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.480 these latter 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.220 days in 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.900 our time. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.259 Hebrews 12 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.700 22 says 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.099 But you've 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.400 come to 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:17.940 Mount Zion 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.420 and to the 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:18.779 city of 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.119 the living 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:20.500 God, the 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.759 heavenly 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.960 Jerusalem, and 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.700 to innumerable 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.359 angels in 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.099 festal gathering, 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.099 and to the 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:25.680 assembly of 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.279 the firstborn 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.619 who are 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.220 enrolled in 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.279 heaven, and 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.019 to God, the 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.879 judge of all, and 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.460 to the spirits 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.220 of the righteous, 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.700 made perfect. 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:34.039 You have 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.379 come to 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.140 Mount Zion. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.940 That's where 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.500 we are when 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:38.960 we come to 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.980 God in 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.340 worship. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.160 And it 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.600 gets even 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.120 better than 00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:43.559 that. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.120 We won't 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:46.660 say that 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.860 way, that 00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:50.319 the Mount 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.600 Zion is a 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.640 heavenly place 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.240 while we're 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.279 on earth, the 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.579 heavenly 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.059 Jerusalem. 00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.420 See, just 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.940 like heaven 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.420 came to 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.840 earth when 00:28:57.840 --> 00:28:58.400 Jesus was 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:01.240 born, this 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.779 heavenly 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.720 Jerusalem will 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.360 come to 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.720 earth again. 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.340 Revelation 21 00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:08.079 tells us there 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.600 will be a new 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.199 heaven and a 00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:10.240 new earth and 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.659 the holy 00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.980 city, the 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.699 new Jerusalem, 00:29:12.959 --> 00:29:13.299 and it 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.899 will come 00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:14.980 down out of 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:16.259 heaven from 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.039 God, and 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.740 God's dwelling 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.559 place will be 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:18.879 with his 00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.980 people, and 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.539 he'll be with 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.919 us himself, and 00:29:21.919 --> 00:29:23.039 we, all 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.919 these nations, 00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:25.639 will be his 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:25.959 people. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.179 I think 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:29.319 Micah 4 calls 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.799 us to pray 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.879 for what Paul 00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:33.519 prays for the 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.240 Ephesians in 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.639 his letter. 00:29:36.439 --> 00:29:37.039 I'll end 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:37.559 with that in 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.199 Ephesians 1. 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.799 See, I pray 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:41.039 that the eyes 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.779 of your heart 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.159 may be 00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:43.000 enlightened in 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.619 order that you 00:29:43.619 --> 00:29:44.539 may know the 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.419 hope to which 00:29:45.419 --> 00:29:45.980 he has called 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.279 you. 00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:47.839 Christ from 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.480 the dead, and 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.099 seated him at 00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:49.819 his right hand 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.319 in the heavenly 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.859 realms, far 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.839 above all rule 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.419 and authority, 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.559 power and 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.719 dominion, and 00:29:55.719 --> 00:29:56.719 every name that 00:29:56.719 --> 00:29:57.919 is invoked, not 00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.379 only in the 00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:59.659 present age, but 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:01.119 also in the 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.559 one to come. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:02.659 Amen. 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.659 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.100 00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:33.079 Thank you.