June 30, 2025 • 43 mins
Pride, locusts, and divine justice take center stage as three voices from our community unpack powerful lessons from the Minor Prophets. Far from being footnotes in Scripture, these ancient messengers offer timely warnings that speak directly to our modern hearts.
Barbara Burke begins by examining Obadiah's pointed message to Edom. What happens when generational bitterness festers into active hostility? The Edomites—descendants of Esau—not only refused to help their brother nation during invasion but actively participated in their destruction and gloated over their downfall. Their pride became their undoing. As Barbara powerfully reminds us, "Pride of heart is the attitude of a lie that declares its ability to live without God." How often do we walk out of worship only to live as if we can handle everything ourselves?
Dave Henderson brings Joel's message to life, describing waves of locusts that stripped Judah bare—a divine wake-up call that eliminated even their ability to offer sacrifices. Yet God's message wasn't merely judgment but invitation: "Rend your hearts, not your garments." When genuine repentance followed, God promised restoration beyond imagination: "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten." For those feeling stripped bare by life's difficulties, Joel offers hope that nothing is beyond God's restorative power.
Angie concludes with Nahum's prophecy against Nineveh, revealing God as patient, powerful, and just. Though temporarily spared after Jonah's reluctant preaching, Nineveh returned to brutal practices and faced divine judgment. Yet even in pronouncing judgment, Nahum reminds us that "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in him."
These prophetic voices collectively challenge our spiritual complacency and the small, incremental steps that gradually lead us away from God. Our culture prioritizes instant gratification—likes, follows, success without sacrifice—but the Minor Prophets remind us that temporary pleasure pales compared to lasting relationship with our Creator. As Angie perfectly summarizes, "Life with Jesus may not be easy, but it is always worth it."
Have you examined your heart lately? What pride, injustice, or complacency might be keeping you from experiencing God's restoration? Draw near to Him today, and watch the impossible become possible.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, that was eventful.
All those locusts, then therepentance.
Quite the emotionalrollercoaster, wouldn't you say.
At least my target stayedconsistent Edom Gone Short,
sweet and utterly demolished youcould set your sundial by it.
Utterly demolished is preciselyhow I'd describe Nineveh A true
cinematic experience.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Best sequel ever cinematic experience.
Best sequel ever.
You all had such clear villainsMe.
I'm still trying to figure outwhy the righteous suffer.
It's like a cosmic improv showfrankly.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Well, habakkuk, when you figure that one out, let the
rest of us know that one isquite the head-scratcher, indeed
, but one reliable constant theprideful always fall Like
gravity, but with more divinewrath.
Exactly, nineveh was a stubbornweed, but the cosmic gardener
got to it A very satisfyinguprooting.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, at least my faith survived the existential
crisis.
It turns out, even without figsI can still find joy.
Small miracles, I guess.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
So today we continue in our series Minor Prophets,
and you can hear these prophetscomplaining to each other as
they're kind of having a groupsession.
Now, obviously, this is not arealistic timeline but through
the gift of AI, you get to hearfrom these guys today, and so
it's pretty awesome.
Today we're also continuing andhearing from different voices.
In our community of faith wehave many people who've gone on
(01:24):
to do their credentialing, tobecome, in their ministry,
credentials.
Last week we got to hear fromPastor Celeste.
She talked about Micah and whatit means to live in the way of
God.
Today we get to hear from threedifferent voices, the first of
which is from Barbara Burke.
Barbara is an ordained minister.
She, in her very much in herown right right, has been in
(01:45):
years and years of ministry,including being our women's
director here at Cornerstone.
We're excited to hear from herand what God has her to share
today.
We'll take a look here firstabout who she's talking about.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
What's up, brothers and sisters in Christ Obadiah,
here, live and ready to dropsome biblical insights from
God's word.
Today we're diving into ancientprophecy with vital lessons for
us.
Let's talk Edom.
These guys thought they wereuntouchable, living in their
rock-cut fortresses.
Who can bring us down?
They boasted.
(02:15):
Sound familiar, like someone'spride makes them invincible.
Here's the truth.
Edom had brothers, judah, andwhen Judah was in crisis, edom
stood by Worse.
They cheered on the destruction, they looted.
They even handed over survivors.
That's like your own cousinwatching your house burn down
and then stealing your TV.
But God's justice is sure.
(02:37):
Brothers and sisters, theAlmighty has decreed it.
As you have done, it will bedone to you.
Your pride will be yourdownfall, edom.
Your allies will betray you.
Your treasures will be exposed.
No survivor will remain for thehouse of Esau.
And guess who's rising, judah.
They'll reclaim their land andMount Zion will be holy.
(02:58):
The kingdom belongs to the Lord.
Don't be an Edom.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Don't be an Edom, don't be an Edom.
We're not going to read all ofthe minor prophets and can
anyone say hallelujah?
We're not going to read them intheir entirety today, but I do
want to pick out in just a fewminutes some of the main points
in Obadiah.
And I have a question for youhow many people like the game
Family Feud?
Anyone ever played it.
(03:24):
You like it?
Well, interestingly, I read onthe History Channel and it
suggested whether it's corrector not, I'm not sure, but that
the famous game pitting familiesagainst each other was actually
inspired by a real-life familyfeud between the Hatfields and
the McCoys and that they evenactually appeared in one of the
(03:46):
early games.
Can you imagine that game offamily feud between the
Hatfields and McCoys?
Apparently, a horrible fightstarted between them and it
carried through severalgenerations in their families.
And when a generational feudgoes on and on, sometimes we
miss in the succeedinggenerations what the purpose of
the fight was actually about.
(04:07):
What was the argument about?
But yet the descendants arecommitted to keeping that fire
and that bitterness burning hot.
And here that's exactly what wesee happening.
In the book of Obadiah.
There was a result of a familyfeud that ran down through
generations.
Now, this prophetic book ispretty short.
It only has one chapter in it.
(04:28):
However, in these few versesthere's some very powerful
things that hit us where we livetoday.
And the beginning of thisparticular family feud in the
book of Obadiah is between theIsraelites and the Edomites, and
it started way back in Genesiswith two unidentical twin
brothers that were born, andthey were Esau and Jacob.
(04:51):
These brothers fought from thevery beginning.
The Bible says they eventussled one another in their
mother's womb, and we find inGenesis a recording of a lot of
their accounts.
Some of them are famous to usthat we know, such as Esau
giving up his birthright for apot of stew from his brother,
and it shows the lack of valuethat he put on his birthright in
(05:16):
order for instant gratificationof his flesh.
And we also see Jacob trickinghis father, who had ailing
eyesight, into believing he wasthe older brother, to steal
Esau's blessing False pretensesjust trying to trick and get
what he could right.
All in all, a family feud ofgreat proportions which played
(05:41):
down through their respectivelineages until we end up in
Obadiah here and the propheticvision that God gave to him.
See, the family feud was stillgreat in Edom's heart.
Even though the two brothers atsome point reconciled the
descendants, the Edomites stillheld that bitterness in their
(06:02):
heart and they were committed tothat bitterness.
The Edomites still held thatbitterness in their heart and
they were committed to thatbitterness.
Jacob's lineage was theIsraelites, esau's lineage were
the Edomites.
And Obadiah had the directivefrom God, lucky him to tell the
Edomites of the coming utterdestruction of their nation.
And he told them why they wouldbe destroyed, why such a harsh
(06:25):
judgment was going to come uponthem.
There was actually three basicareas that Edom earned that
judgment, and the first one ispride.
Edom was full of pride.
So pride is a feeling of deeppleasure or satisfaction derived
from one's own achievements,through the achievements of
(06:47):
someone else that we're closelyassociated with, or from
qualities or possessions we havethat are widely admired.
It's an exaggerated sense ofself-esteem.
Right and commentator.
I read the commentator VernonMcGee, and he had this.
Now listen to what he had tosay about pride.
He said pride of heart is theattitude of a lie that declares
(07:11):
its ability to live without God.
Listen to that again.
Pride of heart, it's theattitude of a lie that declares
its ability to live without God.
God hates the proud.
He doesn't hate the people.
He hates the pride.
He hates pride.
(07:31):
If we're prideful, god can't doanything with us.
It brought down Rome, broughtdown Alexander the Great and so
many others, even Satan, who wasLucifer up in the heavens, it
brought him down.
At some time following God'screation, pride arose up in his
heart and in Isaiah 14, hisdesire is uttered and it says in
(07:57):
Isaiah concerning Lucifer foryou, have said in your heart, I
will ascend into heaven.
For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven.
I will exalt my throne abovethe stars of God.
I will also sit on the mount ofthe congregation on the
farthest sides of the north.
I will ascend above the heightsof the clouds.
I will be like the most high.
(08:18):
See Proverbs 6 tells us that Godhates a proud.
Look right, how many times dowe attempt to run our life as if
we were God?
Of course we would never say itout loud.
Even I know that sounds foolish.
I can do it without God, thankyou very much.
But in reality, we can leavethe doors of here, having
(08:40):
worshiped and laid all down toGod at an altar, and go out and
live as if we could do itourselves.
In Obadiah, verses 3 and 4, itsays this the pride of your
heart has deceived you, you whodwell in the clefts of the rock
whose habitation is high, youwho say in your heart who will
(09:01):
bring me down to the ground,though you ascend as high as the
eagle and though you set yournest among the stars, from there
I will bring you down, says theLord.
Part of the reason the Edomitesfelt pride was their physical
location.
They were situated quite wellin steep mountains and it gave
them a great strategic advantagefor any kind of defense against
(09:24):
attacks, gave them a greatstrategic advantage for any kind
of defense against attacks.
It gave them a sense ofinvulnerability as they looked
down on others from theirheights and they could see it
all.
They felt invincible andself-protected.
But Edom's loftiness, see, itwasn't only found in its
physical location, it crept intotheir very hearts as well.
And God's word is quite clearthat pride goes before a fall.
(09:45):
And here we see a great fall ofEdom because of the judgment of
God.
Pride God doesn't like.
It Puts us against him.
Secondly, we find Edom walkedhand in hand with injustice.
Justice, what is that?
It can be described as a senseof fairness, virtue, integrity,
(10:09):
fair-mindedness, righteousness,honor.
These are all qualities thatthe Edomites did not hold dear.
They didn't use those qualitieswhen they dealt with other
people around them, especiallyin the relationship with their
brother nation, israel.
They didn't use any of that.
In verses 10 and 11 in Obadiah,it tells us, as God was
(10:31):
speaking to them for violenceagainst your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you and youshall be cut off forever.
In the day that you stood on theother side, in the day that
(10:52):
strangers carried captives hisforces, see, they fully saw the
struggle and the needs, thedesperation of their brother
nation.
They were never moved tocompassion, to help at all.
As Judah was slaughtered, edomjust sat back and watched.
When some from Judah were ableto escape, the Edomites even
went so far as to cut off thosewho were fleeing, so that there
(11:15):
would be none that could escape.
But not only did they not helpJudah in their time of need,
edom actually joined up withenemies that were attacking
Judah.
While they were being plundered,the Edomites made sure they got
theirs.
They wanted to make sure theygot their spoils.
Brother violating, brother,injustice.
(11:38):
And as if pride and injusticeweren't enough.
There was more to be found inthe heart of the Edomites
Gloating.
They actually gloated andrejoiced over the tribulation
Judah was enduring.
Now I'm sure you say to me oh,I got that one covered.
(12:01):
I don't gloat, I don't have anyof that in my heart.
But we need to actually look atwhat that is.
See, they didn't just stand byand watch destruction.
It wasn't enough to just tryand gain spoils for themselves
at Judah's expense.
They reveled and gloated overthe calamities of their brother
nation.
And in verse 12, it says butyou should not have gazed on the
(12:28):
day of your brother, in the dayof his captivity, to rejoice at
the suffering of others.
It's so contrary to the heartof God.
So contrary to the heart of God.
(12:48):
Now, before we get critical withEdom, we need to see what God
has for today Us here, inObadiah's historic words, we
should ask ourselves what's thecondition of my heart?
Is there pride in my heart?
Let's look at David, a manafter God's own heart, a friend
of God.
He did some pretty questionablethings right, some pretty
sinful things, but he alwaysrepented with a true repentance
(13:09):
and sorrow in his heart andsought after God Heal me, o God.
He knew the condition of hisheart, mankind's heart, our
hearts here today, that he criedout for God, asking his heart
to be searched by the only onewho's capable of finding its
true condition.
The only one that knows thecondition of a man or woman's
(13:31):
heart is a holy God.
Our filter is faulty, but hisis clear.
So we need to sit before him,not in self-condemnation, but
for a holy examination, and sayGod what is in my heart, reveal
if there's anything that I needto change, and then we need to
(13:51):
be willing to move on that.
When he speaks to us Are theretimes when I tend to feel more
important, more special, morelovable than that person, or
just all around better thansomeone else, letting my heart
get puffed up with pride.
It sounds ugly to say it doesn't.
It Sounds pretty ugly, but aprideful heart doesn't start
(14:13):
overnight.
It doesn't just spring up.
It's by the small incrementalsteps, and the Bible wisely
tells us that it's the smallfoxes that spoil the vine.
That fellow Christian that youlook at and you say, hmm, they
did that and they claim tofollow after God.
(14:33):
I would never do that.
Or they participated in whatthey said and did what they went
where.
I would never do that.
See, we have not arrived andare never immune to the pull of
the flesh on this side of glory.
That's why we need our Saviorand the Holy Spirit to reveal to
(14:58):
us and to empower us to liverighteous lives.
Help our prideful hearts, ohGod.
And for the gloating that we aresure we're over and don't have,
is there a lack of compassion,empathy and a willingness to
help others?
Am I so numb and callous to theneeds of others that I simply
(15:19):
pass them by?
Am I willing to beinconvenienced for the benefit
of someone else in need, or ismy own agenda, my own need, the
thing that's topmost and utmostin my mind?
Remember the Samaritan who wasbeaten.
I mean the Samaritan who helpeda traveler who was beaten.
He's cost his time, hisconvenience and his wallet to
(15:43):
help him.
But the Levite and the priestwho declared their commitment to
God and said they'd followafter him and obey, they just
passed by without anyconsideration at the desperate
plight of the man right in frontof them.
Edom was content to watch theirbrother nation as they faltered
under the weight of attack.
(16:04):
There's a concept that waswritten long ago and it says
something like the only thingnecessary for evil to triumph is
for good men to do nothing.
What is the condition of myheart?
How does my heart react whenothers fail, stumble or face
difficulties?
We talked about gloating before.
Okay, that person in yourfriend group, it always seems to
(16:30):
have it together, they alwayshave it together.
And then something happens andyou watch them go through a
difficulty and you say, oh, I'mpraying for them, I'm offering
encouragement.
But man, now they're among us,normal folk, kind of glad.
You see them struggle while thecoworker who always gets their
(16:51):
way, never held accountable, andthen that gets called up.
You're like justice.
That's gloating.
When someone who betrayed youand, let's get real, someone who
betrayed you and sent you on aseason of pain, you walk through
a lot of difficulty and thenyou see them walk through some
(17:12):
difficulty, does your heart do alittle pitter-patter of
vindication.
They got what they deserved.
See, that is gloating.
What's the condition of myheart?
But the encouragement is God isfaithful.
He was faithful to theIsraelites and he's faithful to
us today.
While Obadiah's prophecy endswith the destruction of Edom, it
(17:37):
also confirms the faithfulnessto the Israelites and the
promises that he made.
His grace to us offers us theability to repent of the things
in our hearts.
Not only do we have the graceto repent, but we have the Holy
Spirit to refine our hearts as arefiner's fire that would heat
(17:57):
up our hearts, reveal theimpurities so that they can be
drawn off, so we can have a pureheart.
We have that in the power ofthe Holy Spirit.
He's able to do that.
We have to sit before God andask him to do that.
We have to sit before God andask him examine my heart,
because it's his craftsmanshipthat makes it pure.
And I will end with this.
It says it best this way inPsalms 139.
(18:21):
Search me, o God, and know myheart, try me and know my
anxieties and see if there isany wicked way in me, and lead
me in the way of everlasting.
So how is your heart today?
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Amen.
We have a hand for Barb.
Great word, barb, praise theLord.
Our next voice that's sharingwith us today is Dave Henderson,
and Dave and Monica.
They serve in leading ourcloset and pantry out at Mercy
House.
He's served in a number ofdifferent roles, including as
our men's director in the pastin different places, and very
(18:58):
thankful for who Dave is and forhis heart after serving the
Lord.
Today we're going to hear fromhim, but first let's hear a
little bit from the one he'ssharing about Shalom friends,
it's your humble servant, joel,coming to you.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Live from.
Well, let's just say it's beena minute since things felt.
You know, lush.
You guys are not going tobelieve what's happening here in
Judah.
We're talking zero wheat, zeronew wine, zero olive oil, the
vines are shriveled, the figtrees are let's just say they're
not serving.
And the flocks, guys?
They are groaning, and thelocusts ohaning.
(19:31):
And the locusts oh, my word,the locusts.
Not just a swarm people, we'retalking generations of locusts
the gnawer, the swarmer, thehopper, the stripper.
They've basically redecoratedour entire landscape.
So what's the takeaway here?
This isn't just a bad harvest,friends.
This is a wake-up call.
We need to rend our hearts, notjust our garments, fasting,
(19:54):
weeping, mourning, getting rightwith God, because when the Lord
roars from Zion, you do notwant to be on the wrong side of
that hashtag.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
That was a very good example of what took place in
Judah.
Joel was one of the earliestminor prophets.
His ministry begins around 835to 805 BC.
Joel's names mean Yahweh is God.
Joel prophesied during a timeof great prosperity for Judah.
(20:25):
The southern kingdom Judah wasfull of lush crops, vineyards,
date palms, fig trees, appletrees, sheep and cattle.
However, judah grew complacentin their sin, causing God's
judgment to come upon them.
In Joel 1, 1 through 7, the wordof the Lord came to Joel, the
(20:46):
son of Petal.
Hear this, you elders, and giveear.
All you inhabitants of the land.
Has anything like this happenedin your days or even in the
days of your fathers?
Hear this, you elders, and giveear.
All you inhabitants of the land.
Has anything like this happenedin your days or even in the
days of your fathers?
Tell your children about it andlet their children tell their
children and their children,another generation, what the
chewing locusts have left theswarming locusts have eaten.
(21:08):
What the swarming locusts haveleft the crawling locusts have
eaten.
And what the crawling locustshave left the crawling locusts
have eaten.
And what the crawling locustsleft the consuming locusts have
eaten.
Awake you, drunkards, weep andwail, all you drinkers of wine,
because the new wine for it hasbeen cut off from your mouth.
For a nation has come upagainst my land strong and
(21:30):
without number.
His teeth are teeth of lion andhe has fangs of a fierce lion.
He has laid waste to my vineand ruined my fig tree.
Judah is attacked by four swarmsof locusts the chewing,
swarming, crawling and consuminglocusts.
A swarm so large that a daybefore they struck the sky was
(21:53):
darkened.
And on top of all the locusts,usually fires follow a locust
swarm.
In a matter of hours, a plushland is stripped completely bare
.
Nothing's left.
All crops are gone, eatencompletely from the ground up.
Every leaf on every tree isgone.
(22:13):
Even the bark of the trees waseaten.
All seed grain needed to growthe next year's crops are gone.
Nothing was left untouched bythis storm swarm.
Even the food Jonah had storedis gone.
Judah had stored is gone.
The animal feed.
There's no wine, there's no oil.
But, most importantly, judahlost the ability to offer
(22:36):
sacrifices to God, with no grainor oil for offerings or for
offerings to God completelystopped.
Joel's focus is not on thedisaster before him or on God's
judgment.
His focus is on Judah'srepentance.
Beginning in chapter 2, we findan alarm being sound.
(22:58):
In Zion, god's holy mountain,the locusts are likened to a
mighty army.
Although being in the millions,a locust move is one.
Nothing hinders him, not fences, walls, houses.
They are God's army, god'sjudgment.
Joel prophesies a word from theLord to his people.
(23:19):
The Lord says turn to me withall your heart, with fasting and
mourning.
Rend your heart before me, notyour garments.
What God wants is a rending oftheir hearts, not a superficial
tearing of their clothes.
God says return to me, returnto the Lord, your God, for he is
(23:41):
gracious and merciful, slow toanger and full of kindness.
All of Judah repents, everyonefrom the priest.
All of Judah repents, everyonefrom the priests, elders and all
the families.
God responds with forgiveness,removing the locust, restoring
(24:01):
the land, bringing the springand fall rains, ensuring that
the threshing floors will befull.
The vats will be overflowingwith oil and wine.
God will restore the years thelocusts have eaten, restoring
(24:22):
the blessing back on Judah.
In Joel 2.27, god says then youshould know that I am in the
midst of Israel.
I am your God and there is noother.
My people shall never be put toshame.
My people shall never be put toshame.
Joel prophesies of the comingoutpouring of the Holy Spirit in
Acts 2.
That God will pour out HisSpirit on all flesh, your sons
(24:42):
and daughters shall prophesy.
Old men dream dreams.
Young men see visions.
He will pour out His Spirit onall men's servant and
maidservants.
God promises to pour out hisspirit in those days.
These are the days in which wecurrently live, where the Holy
(25:03):
Spirit moves amongst us.
In Joel 3, he prophesied a timewhen God will judge all nations
, calling him together in thevalley of Jehoshaphat for a
final confrontation.
The Lord will come forth out ofZion, a roaring lion, defeating
the army and vindicating hispeople.
After this judgment, the Lordwill restore once again,
(25:26):
blessing all his people, and weshall live forever with him in
paradise.
Throughout the book of Joel, wesee the judgment of God, a call
to repentance and a promise ofrestoration, and we find a
people, judah, who grewcomplacent about their sin.
Even now, thousands of yearslater, we too suffer from
(25:49):
complacency, just like they did.
We too are a blessed people anda nation, but if we're not
watchful, sin and complacencybegin to slip back in and we
will find ourselves further fromGod, with so many things
calling out for our attentionwork, school, family, facebook,
tiktok.
It's easy not to even notice.
(26:11):
We are getting further awayfrom God and God isn't going to
force himself on us.
God's waiting and longing for usto reach out to him.
His desire is for you and wemust intentionally set time
aside to meet with him, qualitytime.
He wants to hear your heart,your praise and your worship,
(26:32):
even dance before him, likeDavid did.
There is no other place to gowhen the locusts of life come.
You can't reason with a stormand you don't have to.
God will.
He is the one who can calm thestorm.
He will even turn the storm andchange the damage in your favor
If you do your part notfocusing on the storm and change
the damage in your favor if youdo your part not focusing on
(26:54):
the storm, but focusing solelyon him.
Now is the time to come closeto him, and with this I'll close
.
I don't know how many of youknow this, but the Bible is a
love story from beginning to end.
It's a story of man breakinghis relationship with God and a
(27:16):
loving God and God restoringthat relationship with man from
Genesis to Revelation.
That's love, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Amen.
We have a hand for Dave.
Thanks, dave.
Our third and final voice fortoday is our friend, angie, and
Angie has her ministrycredentials with the Symmetries
of God.
She actually leads our Spanishtranslation here at Cornerstone
and serves as a life groupleader, amongst other things.
She has an amazing testimony ofwhat God is doing in and
through her life and what he'scontinuing to do in her life.
(27:53):
But let's hear first who she'sgoing to share about today.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
What up?
Kingdom fam Nahum here feelingsuper inspired.
You know how sometimes you seestuff and it gives you the ick.
Yeah, me too.
So there's this huge empire,nineveh, assyria's capital, Big
flex they think they'reuntouchable stepping on everyone
.
Sound familiar.
But here's the tea fam.
I've been getting some seriousdownloads from the big man
upstairs, some truth bombs toshare.
(28:17):
It ain't going to be pretty forthem.
Buckle up.
Okay, guys, I'm in Nineveh rightnow.
Can you even believe this?
Look at all this.
So much noise, so muchextraness.
They're living large, no doubt,but behind all the filters and
flexing there's darkness,violence, oppression.
They ain't playing fair and Godsees it all.
Listen up, nineveh.
Your arrogance, not a good look.
(28:38):
All this power won't last.
The clapback is coming.
Justice is going to be trending.
Trust me, you didn't listen.
Kept double tapping on cruelty.
Now look around.
Silence, emptiness.
The Lord's judgment came like aflood.
The thing is, this isn't justabout one city, kingdom Fam.
This is a message for us all.
Are we building on justice orchasing fleeting likes that hurt
(28:58):
others?
Let's choose the right path.
Let's be the community thatlifts each other up.
Let's make God's love go viralfor real.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
So earlier this year, I had the opportunity to go on
a missions trip to thephilippines.
On this trip, I had theopportunity to minister to young
girls that were sexuallytrafficked.
Make no mistake, these girlswere not victims, they were
survivors.
As I heard some of theirstories, I realized that a lot
of their offenders got away withtheir crimes.
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Their justice system had failedthem, and also because they
were not believed by theirfamily members.
I didn't understand.
I honestly began to get mad andask God why would they get away
with such a thing?
Where is the justice?
And God being God, would answerin his timing, like he always
does.
It is he who has the finaljudgment, not us.
(29:53):
This brings us to the book ofNahum.
My question is who is this God?
So Nahum is a small book, justthree chapters, but it brings a
heavy message to a brutal nation.
He's speaking to Nineveh, thecapital of Assyria.
The Assyrians weren't justwicked, they were savage.
They were known to decapitateprisoners, skin people alive,
(30:18):
cut off fingers and leave headson stakes at the city gates.
God has spared them back inJonah's time because they
answered his graceful call torepent, but they went back to
their old ways.
They had listened to Jonah andrepented and walked with God for
a short time about only, ratherthan committing to God.
(30:40):
And here we pick up in Nahum'sprophecy.
Nahum says enough, but even injudgment God's character is
clear.
Nahum 1.3 says the Lord is slowto anger, but great in power.
The Lord will not leave theguilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind andthe storm.
This verse shows us threethings about God.
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One he is patient.
Two he is powerful.
And he is just.
Who is this God?
He is patient.
Let's talk about the first part.
The Lord is slow to anger, heis patient.
But make no mistake, god is ajealous God.
But let's get this straight heis not jealous like our jealousy
(31:24):
.
Our jealousy is jealousy.
A boy, our boyfriend, lookingat our girlfriend or at another
girl.
That's our jealousy.
God's jealousy is he doesn'twant you to worship other idols.
He doesn't want our worshipsplit.
It's money, fame, comfort orinstant gratification.
(31:49):
We live in a culture that wantsit all now.
We want likes, follows,applause.
We want success, but notsacrifice.
We want the reward withoutrelationship.
And so many people think it'seasier to live in sin.
There's no cost.
Wrong.
There's always a cost.
There is always a price to pay.
(32:12):
Nineveh thought they could getaway with it forever, but
nothing escapes God's eyes.
You can fool people, but notGod, after they had served God
for about 100 years beforereturning to their old ways.
How many times do we get tiredof serving God or grow stagnant
in our walk and want to give upand turn to our old ways?
(32:32):
Two who is this God?
He is powerful.
When Nineveh had wasted its dayof grace, god, in all his power,
said enough.
He has the power to destroynations.
He says in 2.13, behold, I amagainst you, declares the Lord
of hosts, and I will burn yourchariots in smoke and the sword
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shall devour your young lions.
I will cut off your prey fromthe earth and the voice of your
messenger shall no longer beheard.
Remember, we get toocomfortable with God and forget
he is a mighty and powerful God.
However, when we ask who thisGod is, our hope is the answer
he is just.
But here's the good news Goddoesn't just see wickedness, he
(33:17):
sees faithfulness.
Nahum 1.7 says the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of
trouble.
He knows those who take refugein him.
When you're having a hard time,press into God.
Remember, he is good and seesyou.
I know that it can be hard tostay the course, especially if
you're going through things.
(33:38):
It might seem like now that youare serving Jesus, everything
is going down, but those arelies from the enemy.
Stay faithful, because he isfaithful.
I'm not saying it's easy.
We live in a time whereeveryone's posting hashtag live
my best life, party pictures,weekend turnips.
But can I be real?
(34:00):
I don't need to be of the worldto be living my best life.
My best life started when Ibegan drinking of the river of
life.
I would rather have a coffee onJesus' day anytime, or maybe
even an energy drink on Jesus'day, than a hangover any day.
Stay the course, my friends.
The world offers vast pleasure,but God promises eternal joy.
(34:22):
He sees you when you say no totemptation.
Open your Bible when you'drather scroll.
Choose purity over popularity.
Forgive when you've been hurtand, let's be honest, that can
be difficult, because when wehurt others, we want to be
forgiven, but forgiving othersis a different story.
Others, we want to be forgiven,but forgiving others is a
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different story.
Galatians 6 9 says let us notgrow weary in doing good, for at
the proper time we will reap aharvest if we do not give up,
god's grace is greater.
Even though judgment came forNineveh, god offers grace to
those who trust him.
He's not a harsh punisher, he'sa good, good father.
He's just.
Yes, he punishes sin, yes, butthrough Jesus he offers mercy.
(35:07):
Before wrath At the cross, godjudged sin but poured that
judgment on his son so we couldbe set free.
Nahum 1.3 again says the Lord isslow to anger, but great in
power.
The Lord will not leave theguilty unpunished.
Don't test God's patience,treasure it.
Don't chase temporary pleasure.
(35:28):
Stay the course.
Don't believe the enemy's liesthat sin is easier.
Life with Jesus may not be easy, but it is always worth it.
So draw near to him and theimpossible will become possible.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Amen.
Draw near to him and theimpossible will become possible.
Amen, praise the Lord.
Today we've heard from thesevoices of in challenging us
about our heart with God anddealing with our pride, dealing
with this idea of gloating oversomeone else and dealing with
(36:02):
our pride dealing with this ideaof gloating over someone else.
And we heard this idea of Joeltalking about to rend our hearts
, break our hearts, not justshow that we're sorry, but
really have a heart towards God.
And when we do that, we'll findthe provision that's only found
in God, that he's ourrestoration, that he is the one
that pours out his spirit uponus.
And then here, in this last bit, when we hear talking about
(36:22):
that God is just, that he's theone that's patient and powerful
and that we should seek him witheverything we have.
Would you say amen to that?
Friends?
Today it's a challenge for usthat we would be those that
learn from these prophets of old, that we would apply it to our
lives, that we wouldn't have tomake the same mistakes that
these nations did, that theycame to challenge that we
(36:45):
ourselves would turn our heartsto God, that we would run
towards God with everything.
And just as many of thesespeakers shared that we wouldn't
make the small steps that endup taking us away from God, but
instead we would make him ourpriority and that we'd put him
first, worshiping him with ourwhole heart.
(37:06):
Today we have this opportunityto respond to this message, and
maybe you're here and you've yetto ever make a decision to
follow Jesus.
Today is your opportunity to doso.
Each one of us has to answerthat question of have you
embraced Jesus?
And that means to live yourlife is unto him, to give your
life to him and to say Lord,come into my life, forgive me of
(37:26):
my sin.
I want to give my heart and mylife to you.
See, for us, as Christfollowers, the cross is a symbol
of power, and not a symbol ofpower the way the Romans meant
it to be a symbol of power, likewe're subjugating you and we'll
kill you with this thing.
That's terrible.
But no, it's a symbol of powerto us, because Jesus, he took
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all of our mistakes, all of ourbrokenness, all of mine, and he
took it and he paid with hislife upon the cross so that we
could be put in right standingwith the Father.
See, there's no way for us, asbroken people, to approach a
holy God.
It's not possible.
You can't do enough good things.
I've met people trying to earntheir way in their heaven my
(38:10):
whole life, trying to do enoughgood stuff and hope that they
make it Friends.
Let me tell you there's onlyone way to the Father, and
that's through Jesus Christ.
So today we come with the samemessage that he comes to us with
, which is that we would turnour hearts towards him, the
Apostle Paul.
He writes to the church at Romeand says this because if you
(38:32):
confess with your mouth thatJesus is Lord, believe in your
heart that God raised him fromthe dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart, onebelieves and is justified.
With the mouth, one confessesand is saved.
Today, friends, is your day.
It's your opportunity to sayyes to Jesus.
(38:55):
I'm going to ask if everyone isstanding to their feet right
where they're at, bow your heads.
Christians are praying aspeople are making decisions to
follow Jesus.
If you're online today, nomatter what platform it's at
Facebook, youtube, tiktok,instagram, wherever you're at,
take a pause, listen to whatHoly Spirit wants to do in your
life.
Today, friends, as heads arebowed, we have this opportunity
(39:19):
to respond to God's love.
And if that's you and you'dlike to make a commitment to
Jesus today or maybe you have inthe past but you haven't been
living it you need to recommityour life to God.
If that's you today, if youjust raise your hand right where
you're at, say, pastor, that'sme, include me in this prayer
today that I want to commit mylife to Jesus Christ.
Thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.
(39:40):
Thank you Lord.
As people are making decisionsto follow God Friends online as
well, wherever you're at.
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord.
I'm going to ask if everyonewould, if they'd pray this
prayer out loud after me.
Lord, thank you for loving me.
Thank you for sending Jesus.
I believe Jesus died on thecross for my sins.
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I believe he rose again.
Forgive me of my sins.
I surrender my life to you InChrist's name.
I pray Amen, amen, friends, wewould enjoy it.
So you make a decision tofollow Jesus today.
(40:24):
Hey, if you're here in this room, connect with us.
We want to put some things inyour hand.
If you're online, connect withus.
We want to be able to make thatconnection.
You're not called to do thislife after Jesus alone.
For us, friends, we have this,this opportunity, to respond to
this message and if you'resomeone who needs more of God's
presence, maybe you need him tomeet you right where you're at.
Maybe you need some guidance,some wisdom.
(40:46):
You need his anointing just toface this week ahead.
We're gonna ask you to come downinto this front, make an altar
with God.
We're gonna ask the people thatspoke today in our prayer team,
our pastoral team, to come andpray over you, agree with you in
this moment, lord.
We thank you so much, god, forthis challenge that we hear from
these prophets.
Lord, we thank you that youanointed them, lord, to bring
(41:07):
this challenging word to thepeople of their time, lord, one
to turn their hearts back to you, one of correction, lord, one
of putting you first and keepingyou first.
Lord, I thank you for thosethat were anointed to bring the
word today, lord, and I thankyou, lord, for their obedience
to bring that word to us, lord,that we're called to have hearts
after you and that you're agood God who is merciful and
(41:28):
loves us and forgives us, but,lord, that we would turn to you
and not walk away from yourgoodness and from your plan for
our lives.
Lord, as we come to this altartoday, we do so with an
intentionality, lord.
We're asking for an impartationof your spirit, your anointing,
your power, lord, your focus,lord, your direction.
All those things we ask for,and more, as we seek your face.
(41:49):
We pray this in the powerfulname of Jesus Christ, amen.
Hey, it's an exciting season wefind ourselves in because it's
summer and that means that atthe end of July is our back to
school with Mercy House.
So I want to encourage you that, if you want to get involved
with that, if you want to giveof your time, if you want to
give to the program to help kidsthat are in need have a great
(42:09):
back to school, we encourage youto do that now.
If you want to give that inkind or in finances, you can,
but want to put that as ahighlight for you for this week.
Speaker 7 (42:17):
We still have a lot of events this summer.
You can go online on the appand check that out.
Also, pray for our kids.
My prayer for them they're atcamp, they're on their way there
right now Is that they wouldcome back with such an anointing
as we get ready to send themback into school next month that
they would be the salt of theearth and the light that shines
(42:38):
everywhere they go.
So continue praying for them.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
They're going to get touched this week, before we go,
we're going to pray thisblessing over us.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Lord, make his face to shineupon you and be gracious to you.
To shine upon you and begracious to you, lord, lift up
his countenance upon you andgive you peace.
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Lord, I pray a blessing uponyour church, your people.
Lord, you empower us by yourspirit to live your love out to
those around us.
We pray all this in thepowerful name that is Jesus
Christ.
Amen, amen, know this.
We love you very much here atCornerstone.
God bless you and have a greatweek.
Well, that was eventful.
All those locusts, then therepentance.
Quite the emotionalrollercoaster, wouldn't you say.
At least my target stayedconsistent Edom Gone Short,
sweet and utterly demolished youcould set your sundial by it.
Utterly demolished is preciselyhow I'd describe Nineveh A true
cinematic experience.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Best sequel ever cinematic experience.
Best sequel ever.
You all had such clear villainsMe.
I'm still trying to figure outwhy the righteous suffer.
It's like a cosmic improv showfrankly.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Well, habakkuk, when you figure that one out, let the
rest of us know that one isquite the head-scratcher, indeed
, but one reliable constant theprideful always fall Like
gravity, but with more divinewrath.
Exactly, nineveh was a stubbornweed, but the cosmic gardener
got to it A very satisfyinguprooting.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, at least my faith survived the existential
crisis.
It turns out, even without figsI can still find joy.
Small miracles, I guess.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
So today we continue in our series Minor Prophets,
and you can hear these prophetscomplaining to each other as
they're kind of having a groupsession.
Now, obviously, this is not arealistic timeline but through
the gift of AI, you get to hearfrom these guys today, and so
it's pretty awesome.
Today we're also continuing andhearing from different voices.
In our community of faith wehave many people who've gone on
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to do their credentialing, tobecome, in their ministry,
credentials.
Last week we got to hear fromPastor Celeste.
She talked about Micah and whatit means to live in the way of
God.
Today we get to hear from threedifferent voices, the first of
which is from Barbara Burke.
Barbara is an ordained minister.
She, in her very much in herown right right, has been in
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years and years of ministry,including being our women's
director here at Cornerstone.
We're excited to hear from herand what God has her to share
today.
We'll take a look here firstabout who she's talking about.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
What's up, brothers and sisters in Christ Obadiah,
here, live and ready to dropsome biblical insights from
God's word.
Today we're diving into ancientprophecy with vital lessons for
us.
Let's talk Edom.
These guys thought they wereuntouchable, living in their
rock-cut fortresses.
Who can bring us down?
They boasted.
(02:15):
Sound familiar, like someone'spride makes them invincible.
Here's the truth.
Edom had brothers, judah, andwhen Judah was in crisis, edom
stood by Worse.
They cheered on the destruction, they looted.
They even handed over survivors.
That's like your own cousinwatching your house burn down
and then stealing your TV.
But God's justice is sure.
(02:37):
Brothers and sisters, theAlmighty has decreed it.
As you have done, it will bedone to you.
Your pride will be yourdownfall, edom.
Your allies will betray you.
Your treasures will be exposed.
No survivor will remain for thehouse of Esau.
And guess who's rising, judah.
They'll reclaim their land andMount Zion will be holy.
(02:58):
The kingdom belongs to the Lord.
Don't be an Edom.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Don't be an Edom, don't be an Edom.
We're not going to read all ofthe minor prophets and can
anyone say hallelujah?
We're not going to read them intheir entirety today, but I do
want to pick out in just a fewminutes some of the main points
in Obadiah.
And I have a question for youhow many people like the game
Family Feud?
Anyone ever played it.
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You like it?
Well, interestingly, I read onthe History Channel and it
suggested whether it's corrector not, I'm not sure, but that
the famous game pitting familiesagainst each other was actually
inspired by a real-life familyfeud between the Hatfields and
the McCoys and that they evenactually appeared in one of the
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early games.
Can you imagine that game offamily feud between the
Hatfields and McCoys?
Apparently, a horrible fightstarted between them and it
carried through severalgenerations in their families.
And when a generational feudgoes on and on, sometimes we
miss in the succeedinggenerations what the purpose of
the fight was actually about.
(04:07):
What was the argument about?
But yet the descendants arecommitted to keeping that fire
and that bitterness burning hot.
And here that's exactly what wesee happening.
In the book of Obadiah.
There was a result of a familyfeud that ran down through
generations.
Now, this prophetic book ispretty short.
It only has one chapter in it.
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However, in these few versesthere's some very powerful
things that hit us where we livetoday.
And the beginning of thisparticular family feud in the
book of Obadiah is between theIsraelites and the Edomites, and
it started way back in Genesiswith two unidentical twin
brothers that were born, andthey were Esau and Jacob.
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These brothers fought from thevery beginning.
The Bible says they eventussled one another in their
mother's womb, and we find inGenesis a recording of a lot of
their accounts.
Some of them are famous to usthat we know, such as Esau
giving up his birthright for apot of stew from his brother,
and it shows the lack of valuethat he put on his birthright in
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order for instant gratificationof his flesh.
And we also see Jacob trickinghis father, who had ailing
eyesight, into believing he wasthe older brother, to steal
Esau's blessing False pretensesjust trying to trick and get
what he could right.
All in all, a family feud ofgreat proportions which played
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down through their respectivelineages until we end up in
Obadiah here and the propheticvision that God gave to him.
See, the family feud was stillgreat in Edom's heart.
Even though the two brothers atsome point reconciled the
descendants, the Edomites stillheld that bitterness in their
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heart and they were committed tothat bitterness.
The Edomites still held thatbitterness in their heart and
they were committed to thatbitterness.
Jacob's lineage was theIsraelites, esau's lineage were
the Edomites.
And Obadiah had the directivefrom God, lucky him to tell the
Edomites of the coming utterdestruction of their nation.
And he told them why they wouldbe destroyed, why such a harsh
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judgment was going to come uponthem.
There was actually three basicareas that Edom earned that
judgment, and the first one ispride.
Edom was full of pride.
So pride is a feeling of deeppleasure or satisfaction derived
from one's own achievements,through the achievements of
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someone else that we're closelyassociated with, or from
qualities or possessions we havethat are widely admired.
It's an exaggerated sense ofself-esteem.
Right and commentator.
I read the commentator VernonMcGee, and he had this.
Now listen to what he had tosay about pride.
He said pride of heart is theattitude of a lie that declares
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its ability to live without God.
Listen to that again.
Pride of heart, it's theattitude of a lie that declares
its ability to live without God.
God hates the proud.
He doesn't hate the people.
He hates the pride.
He hates pride.
(07:31):
If we're prideful, god can't doanything with us.
It brought down Rome, broughtdown Alexander the Great and so
many others, even Satan, who wasLucifer up in the heavens, it
brought him down.
At some time following God'screation, pride arose up in his
heart and in Isaiah 14, hisdesire is uttered and it says in
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Isaiah concerning Lucifer foryou, have said in your heart, I
will ascend into heaven.
For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven.
I will exalt my throne abovethe stars of God.
I will also sit on the mount ofthe congregation on the
farthest sides of the north.
I will ascend above the heightsof the clouds.
I will be like the most high.
(08:18):
See Proverbs 6 tells us that Godhates a proud.
Look right, how many times dowe attempt to run our life as if
we were God?
Of course we would never say itout loud.
Even I know that sounds foolish.
I can do it without God, thankyou very much.
But in reality, we can leavethe doors of here, having
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worshiped and laid all down toGod at an altar, and go out and
live as if we could do itourselves.
In Obadiah, verses 3 and 4, itsays this the pride of your
heart has deceived you, you whodwell in the clefts of the rock
whose habitation is high, youwho say in your heart who will
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bring me down to the ground,though you ascend as high as the
eagle and though you set yournest among the stars, from there
I will bring you down, says theLord.
Part of the reason the Edomitesfelt pride was their physical
location.
They were situated quite wellin steep mountains and it gave
them a great strategic advantagefor any kind of defense against
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attacks, gave them a greatstrategic advantage for any kind
of defense against attacks.
It gave them a sense ofinvulnerability as they looked
down on others from theirheights and they could see it
all.
They felt invincible andself-protected.
But Edom's loftiness, see, itwasn't only found in its
physical location, it crept intotheir very hearts as well.
And God's word is quite clearthat pride goes before a fall.
(09:45):
And here we see a great fall ofEdom because of the judgment of
God.
Pride God doesn't like.
It Puts us against him.
Secondly, we find Edom walkedhand in hand with injustice.
Justice, what is that?
It can be described as a senseof fairness, virtue, integrity,
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fair-mindedness, righteousness,honor.
These are all qualities thatthe Edomites did not hold dear.
They didn't use those qualitieswhen they dealt with other
people around them, especiallyin the relationship with their
brother nation, israel.
They didn't use any of that.
In verses 10 and 11 in Obadiah,it tells us, as God was
(10:31):
speaking to them for violenceagainst your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you and youshall be cut off forever.
In the day that you stood on theother side, in the day that
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strangers carried captives hisforces, see, they fully saw the
struggle and the needs, thedesperation of their brother
nation.
They were never moved tocompassion, to help at all.
As Judah was slaughtered, edomjust sat back and watched.
When some from Judah were ableto escape, the Edomites even
went so far as to cut off thosewho were fleeing, so that there
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would be none that could escape.
But not only did they not helpJudah in their time of need,
edom actually joined up withenemies that were attacking
Judah.
While they were being plundered,the Edomites made sure they got
theirs.
They wanted to make sure theygot their spoils.
Brother violating, brother,injustice.
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And as if pride and injusticeweren't enough.
There was more to be found inthe heart of the Edomites
Gloating.
They actually gloated andrejoiced over the tribulation
Judah was enduring.
Now I'm sure you say to me oh,I got that one covered.
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I don't gloat, I don't have anyof that in my heart.
But we need to actually look atwhat that is.
See, they didn't just stand byand watch destruction.
It wasn't enough to just tryand gain spoils for themselves
at Judah's expense.
They reveled and gloated overthe calamities of their brother
nation.
And in verse 12, it says butyou should not have gazed on the
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day of your brother, in the dayof his captivity, to rejoice at
the suffering of others.
It's so contrary to the heartof God.
So contrary to the heart of God.
(12:48):
Now, before we get critical withEdom, we need to see what God
has for today Us here, inObadiah's historic words, we
should ask ourselves what's thecondition of my heart?
Is there pride in my heart?
Let's look at David, a manafter God's own heart, a friend
of God.
He did some pretty questionablethings right, some pretty
sinful things, but he alwaysrepented with a true repentance
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and sorrow in his heart andsought after God Heal me, o God.
He knew the condition of hisheart, mankind's heart, our
hearts here today, that he criedout for God, asking his heart
to be searched by the only onewho's capable of finding its
true condition.
The only one that knows thecondition of a man or woman's
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heart is a holy God.
Our filter is faulty, but hisis clear.
So we need to sit before him,not in self-condemnation, but
for a holy examination, and sayGod what is in my heart, reveal
if there's anything that I needto change, and then we need to
(13:51):
be willing to move on that.
When he speaks to us Are theretimes when I tend to feel more
important, more special, morelovable than that person, or
just all around better thansomeone else, letting my heart
get puffed up with pride.
It sounds ugly to say it doesn't.
It Sounds pretty ugly, but aprideful heart doesn't start
(14:13):
overnight.
It doesn't just spring up.
It's by the small incrementalsteps, and the Bible wisely
tells us that it's the smallfoxes that spoil the vine.
That fellow Christian that youlook at and you say, hmm, they
did that and they claim tofollow after God.
(14:33):
I would never do that.
Or they participated in whatthey said and did what they went
where.
I would never do that.
See, we have not arrived andare never immune to the pull of
the flesh on this side of glory.
That's why we need our Saviorand the Holy Spirit to reveal to
(14:58):
us and to empower us to liverighteous lives.
Help our prideful hearts, ohGod.
And for the gloating that we aresure we're over and don't have,
is there a lack of compassion,empathy and a willingness to
help others?
Am I so numb and callous to theneeds of others that I simply
(15:19):
pass them by?
Am I willing to beinconvenienced for the benefit
of someone else in need, or ismy own agenda, my own need, the
thing that's topmost and utmostin my mind?
Remember the Samaritan who wasbeaten.
I mean the Samaritan who helpeda traveler who was beaten.
He's cost his time, hisconvenience and his wallet to
(15:43):
help him.
But the Levite and the priestwho declared their commitment to
God and said they'd followafter him and obey, they just
passed by without anyconsideration at the desperate
plight of the man right in frontof them.
Edom was content to watch theirbrother nation as they faltered
under the weight of attack.
(16:04):
There's a concept that waswritten long ago and it says
something like the only thingnecessary for evil to triumph is
for good men to do nothing.
What is the condition of myheart?
How does my heart react whenothers fail, stumble or face
difficulties?
We talked about gloating before.
Okay, that person in yourfriend group, it always seems to
(16:30):
have it together, they alwayshave it together.
And then something happens andyou watch them go through a
difficulty and you say, oh, I'mpraying for them, I'm offering
encouragement.
But man, now they're among us,normal folk, kind of glad.
You see them struggle while thecoworker who always gets their
(16:51):
way, never held accountable, andthen that gets called up.
You're like justice.
That's gloating.
When someone who betrayed youand, let's get real, someone who
betrayed you and sent you on aseason of pain, you walk through
a lot of difficulty and thenyou see them walk through some
(17:12):
difficulty, does your heart do alittle pitter-patter of
vindication.
They got what they deserved.
See, that is gloating.
What's the condition of myheart?
But the encouragement is God isfaithful.
He was faithful to theIsraelites and he's faithful to
us today.
While Obadiah's prophecy endswith the destruction of Edom, it
(17:37):
also confirms the faithfulnessto the Israelites and the
promises that he made.
His grace to us offers us theability to repent of the things
in our hearts.
Not only do we have the graceto repent, but we have the Holy
Spirit to refine our hearts as arefiner's fire that would heat
(17:57):
up our hearts, reveal theimpurities so that they can be
drawn off, so we can have a pureheart.
We have that in the power ofthe Holy Spirit.
He's able to do that.
We have to sit before God andask him to do that.
We have to sit before God andask him examine my heart,
because it's his craftsmanshipthat makes it pure.
And I will end with this.
It says it best this way inPsalms 139.
(18:21):
Search me, o God, and know myheart, try me and know my
anxieties and see if there isany wicked way in me, and lead
me in the way of everlasting.
So how is your heart today?
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Amen.
We have a hand for Barb.
Great word, barb, praise theLord.
Our next voice that's sharingwith us today is Dave Henderson,
and Dave and Monica.
They serve in leading ourcloset and pantry out at Mercy
House.
He's served in a number ofdifferent roles, including as
our men's director in the pastin different places, and very
(18:58):
thankful for who Dave is and forhis heart after serving the
Lord.
Today we're going to hear fromhim, but first let's hear a
little bit from the one he'ssharing about Shalom friends,
it's your humble servant, joel,coming to you.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Live from.
Well, let's just say it's beena minute since things felt.
You know, lush.
You guys are not going tobelieve what's happening here in
Judah.
We're talking zero wheat, zeronew wine, zero olive oil, the
vines are shriveled, the figtrees are let's just say they're
not serving.
And the flocks, guys?
They are groaning, and thelocusts ohaning.
(19:31):
And the locusts oh, my word,the locusts.
Not just a swarm people, we'retalking generations of locusts
the gnawer, the swarmer, thehopper, the stripper.
They've basically redecoratedour entire landscape.
So what's the takeaway here?
This isn't just a bad harvest,friends.
This is a wake-up call.
We need to rend our hearts, notjust our garments, fasting,
(19:54):
weeping, mourning, getting rightwith God, because when the Lord
roars from Zion, you do notwant to be on the wrong side of
that hashtag.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
That was a very good example of what took place in
Judah.
Joel was one of the earliestminor prophets.
His ministry begins around 835to 805 BC.
Joel's names mean Yahweh is God.
Joel prophesied during a timeof great prosperity for Judah.
(20:25):
The southern kingdom Judah wasfull of lush crops, vineyards,
date palms, fig trees, appletrees, sheep and cattle.
However, judah grew complacentin their sin, causing God's
judgment to come upon them.
In Joel 1, 1 through 7, the wordof the Lord came to Joel, the
(20:46):
son of Petal.
Hear this, you elders, and giveear.
All you inhabitants of the land.
Has anything like this happenedin your days or even in the
days of your fathers?
Hear this, you elders, and giveear.
All you inhabitants of the land.
Has anything like this happenedin your days or even in the
days of your fathers?
Tell your children about it andlet their children tell their
children and their children,another generation, what the
chewing locusts have left theswarming locusts have eaten.
(21:08):
What the swarming locusts haveleft the crawling locusts have
eaten.
And what the crawling locustshave left the crawling locusts
have eaten.
And what the crawling locustsleft the consuming locusts have
eaten.
Awake you, drunkards, weep andwail, all you drinkers of wine,
because the new wine for it hasbeen cut off from your mouth.
For a nation has come upagainst my land strong and
(21:30):
without number.
His teeth are teeth of lion andhe has fangs of a fierce lion.
He has laid waste to my vineand ruined my fig tree.
Judah is attacked by four swarmsof locusts the chewing,
swarming, crawling and consuminglocusts.
A swarm so large that a daybefore they struck the sky was
(21:53):
darkened.
And on top of all the locusts,usually fires follow a locust
swarm.
In a matter of hours, a plushland is stripped completely bare
.
Nothing's left.
All crops are gone, eatencompletely from the ground up.
Every leaf on every tree isgone.
(22:13):
Even the bark of the trees waseaten.
All seed grain needed to growthe next year's crops are gone.
Nothing was left untouched bythis storm swarm.
Even the food Jonah had storedis gone.
Judah had stored is gone.
The animal feed.
There's no wine, there's no oil.
But, most importantly, judahlost the ability to offer
(22:36):
sacrifices to God, with no grainor oil for offerings or for
offerings to God completelystopped.
Joel's focus is not on thedisaster before him or on God's
judgment.
His focus is on Judah'srepentance.
Beginning in chapter 2, we findan alarm being sound.
(22:58):
In Zion, god's holy mountain,the locusts are likened to a
mighty army.
Although being in the millions,a locust move is one.
Nothing hinders him, not fences, walls, houses.
They are God's army, god'sjudgment.
Joel prophesies a word from theLord to his people.
(23:19):
The Lord says turn to me withall your heart, with fasting and
mourning.
Rend your heart before me, notyour garments.
What God wants is a rending oftheir hearts, not a superficial
tearing of their clothes.
God says return to me, returnto the Lord, your God, for he is
(23:41):
gracious and merciful, slow toanger and full of kindness.
All of Judah repents, everyonefrom the priest.
All of Judah repents, everyonefrom the priests, elders and all
the families.
God responds with forgiveness,removing the locust, restoring
(24:01):
the land, bringing the springand fall rains, ensuring that
the threshing floors will befull.
The vats will be overflowingwith oil and wine.
God will restore the years thelocusts have eaten, restoring
(24:22):
the blessing back on Judah.
In Joel 2.27, god says then youshould know that I am in the
midst of Israel.
I am your God and there is noother.
My people shall never be put toshame.
My people shall never be put toshame.
Joel prophesies of the comingoutpouring of the Holy Spirit in
Acts 2.
That God will pour out HisSpirit on all flesh, your sons
(24:42):
and daughters shall prophesy.
Old men dream dreams.
Young men see visions.
He will pour out His Spirit onall men's servant and
maidservants.
God promises to pour out hisspirit in those days.
These are the days in which wecurrently live, where the Holy
(25:03):
Spirit moves amongst us.
In Joel 3, he prophesied a timewhen God will judge all nations
, calling him together in thevalley of Jehoshaphat for a
final confrontation.
The Lord will come forth out ofZion, a roaring lion, defeating
the army and vindicating hispeople.
After this judgment, the Lordwill restore once again,
(25:26):
blessing all his people, and weshall live forever with him in
paradise.
Throughout the book of Joel, wesee the judgment of God, a call
to repentance and a promise ofrestoration, and we find a
people, judah, who grewcomplacent about their sin.
Even now, thousands of yearslater, we too suffer from
(25:49):
complacency, just like they did.
We too are a blessed people anda nation, but if we're not
watchful, sin and complacencybegin to slip back in and we
will find ourselves further fromGod, with so many things
calling out for our attentionwork, school, family, facebook,
tiktok.
It's easy not to even notice.
(26:11):
We are getting further awayfrom God and God isn't going to
force himself on us.
God's waiting and longing for usto reach out to him.
His desire is for you and wemust intentionally set time
aside to meet with him, qualitytime.
He wants to hear your heart,your praise and your worship,
(26:32):
even dance before him, likeDavid did.
There is no other place to gowhen the locusts of life come.
You can't reason with a stormand you don't have to.
God will.
He is the one who can calm thestorm.
He will even turn the storm andchange the damage in your favor
If you do your part notfocusing on the storm and change
the damage in your favor if youdo your part not focusing on
(26:54):
the storm, but focusing solelyon him.
Now is the time to come closeto him, and with this I'll close
.
I don't know how many of youknow this, but the Bible is a
love story from beginning to end.
It's a story of man breakinghis relationship with God and a
(27:16):
loving God and God restoringthat relationship with man from
Genesis to Revelation.
That's love, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Amen.
We have a hand for Dave.
Thanks, dave.
Our third and final voice fortoday is our friend, angie, and
Angie has her ministrycredentials with the Symmetries
of God.
She actually leads our Spanishtranslation here at Cornerstone
and serves as a life groupleader, amongst other things.
She has an amazing testimony ofwhat God is doing in and
through her life and what he'scontinuing to do in her life.
(27:53):
But let's hear first who she'sgoing to share about today.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
What up?
Kingdom fam Nahum here feelingsuper inspired.
You know how sometimes you seestuff and it gives you the ick.
Yeah, me too.
So there's this huge empire,nineveh, assyria's capital, Big
flex they think they'reuntouchable stepping on everyone
.
Sound familiar.
But here's the tea fam.
I've been getting some seriousdownloads from the big man
upstairs, some truth bombs toshare.
(28:17):
It ain't going to be pretty forthem.
Buckle up.
Okay, guys, I'm in Nineveh rightnow.
Can you even believe this?
Look at all this.
So much noise, so muchextraness.
They're living large, no doubt,but behind all the filters and
flexing there's darkness,violence, oppression.
They ain't playing fair and Godsees it all.
Listen up, nineveh.
Your arrogance, not a good look.
(28:38):
All this power won't last.
The clapback is coming.
Justice is going to be trending.
Trust me, you didn't listen.
Kept double tapping on cruelty.
Now look around.
Silence, emptiness.
The Lord's judgment came like aflood.
The thing is, this isn't justabout one city, kingdom Fam.
This is a message for us all.
Are we building on justice orchasing fleeting likes that hurt
(28:58):
others?
Let's choose the right path.
Let's be the community thatlifts each other up.
Let's make God's love go viralfor real.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
So earlier this year, I had the opportunity to go on
a missions trip to thephilippines.
On this trip, I had theopportunity to minister to young
girls that were sexuallytrafficked.
Make no mistake, these girlswere not victims, they were
survivors.
As I heard some of theirstories, I realized that a lot
of their offenders got away withtheir crimes.
(29:31):
Their justice system had failedthem, and also because they
were not believed by theirfamily members.
I didn't understand.
I honestly began to get mad andask God why would they get away
with such a thing?
Where is the justice?
And God being God, would answerin his timing, like he always
does.
It is he who has the finaljudgment, not us.
(29:53):
This brings us to the book ofNahum.
My question is who is this God?
So Nahum is a small book, justthree chapters, but it brings a
heavy message to a brutal nation.
He's speaking to Nineveh, thecapital of Assyria.
The Assyrians weren't justwicked, they were savage.
They were known to decapitateprisoners, skin people alive,
(30:18):
cut off fingers and leave headson stakes at the city gates.
God has spared them back inJonah's time because they
answered his graceful call torepent, but they went back to
their old ways.
They had listened to Jonah andrepented and walked with God for
a short time about only, ratherthan committing to God.
(30:40):
And here we pick up in Nahum'sprophecy.
Nahum says enough, but even injudgment God's character is
clear.
Nahum 1.3 says the Lord is slowto anger, but great in power.
The Lord will not leave theguilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind andthe storm.
This verse shows us threethings about God.
(31:02):
One he is patient.
Two he is powerful.
And he is just.
Who is this God?
He is patient.
Let's talk about the first part.
The Lord is slow to anger, heis patient.
But make no mistake, god is ajealous God.
But let's get this straight heis not jealous like our jealousy
(31:24):
.
Our jealousy is jealousy.
A boy, our boyfriend, lookingat our girlfriend or at another
girl.
That's our jealousy.
God's jealousy is he doesn'twant you to worship other idols.
He doesn't want our worshipsplit.
It's money, fame, comfort orinstant gratification.
(31:49):
We live in a culture that wantsit all now.
We want likes, follows,applause.
We want success, but notsacrifice.
We want the reward withoutrelationship.
And so many people think it'seasier to live in sin.
There's no cost.
Wrong.
There's always a cost.
There is always a price to pay.
(32:12):
Nineveh thought they could getaway with it forever, but
nothing escapes God's eyes.
You can fool people, but notGod, after they had served God
for about 100 years beforereturning to their old ways.
How many times do we get tiredof serving God or grow stagnant
in our walk and want to give upand turn to our old ways?
(32:32):
Two who is this God?
He is powerful.
When Nineveh had wasted its dayof grace, god, in all his power,
said enough.
He has the power to destroynations.
He says in 2.13, behold, I amagainst you, declares the Lord
of hosts, and I will burn yourchariots in smoke and the sword
(32:55):
shall devour your young lions.
I will cut off your prey fromthe earth and the voice of your
messenger shall no longer beheard.
Remember, we get toocomfortable with God and forget
he is a mighty and powerful God.
However, when we ask who thisGod is, our hope is the answer
he is just.
But here's the good news Goddoesn't just see wickedness, he
(33:17):
sees faithfulness.
Nahum 1.7 says the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of
trouble.
He knows those who take refugein him.
When you're having a hard time,press into God.
Remember, he is good and seesyou.
I know that it can be hard tostay the course, especially if
you're going through things.
(33:38):
It might seem like now that youare serving Jesus, everything
is going down, but those arelies from the enemy.
Stay faithful, because he isfaithful.
I'm not saying it's easy.
We live in a time whereeveryone's posting hashtag live
my best life, party pictures,weekend turnips.
But can I be real?
(34:00):
I don't need to be of the worldto be living my best life.
My best life started when Ibegan drinking of the river of
life.
I would rather have a coffee onJesus' day anytime, or maybe
even an energy drink on Jesus'day, than a hangover any day.
Stay the course, my friends.
The world offers vast pleasure,but God promises eternal joy.
(34:22):
He sees you when you say no totemptation.
Open your Bible when you'drather scroll.
Choose purity over popularity.
Forgive when you've been hurtand, let's be honest, that can
be difficult, because when wehurt others, we want to be
forgiven, but forgiving othersis a different story.
Others, we want to be forgiven,but forgiving others is a
(34:45):
different story.
Galatians 6 9 says let us notgrow weary in doing good, for at
the proper time we will reap aharvest if we do not give up,
god's grace is greater.
Even though judgment came forNineveh, god offers grace to
those who trust him.
He's not a harsh punisher, he'sa good, good father.
He's just.
Yes, he punishes sin, yes, butthrough Jesus he offers mercy.
(35:07):
Before wrath At the cross, godjudged sin but poured that
judgment on his son so we couldbe set free.
Nahum 1.3 again says the Lord isslow to anger, but great in
power.
The Lord will not leave theguilty unpunished.
Don't test God's patience,treasure it.
Don't chase temporary pleasure.
(35:28):
Stay the course.
Don't believe the enemy's liesthat sin is easier.
Life with Jesus may not be easy, but it is always worth it.
So draw near to him and theimpossible will become possible.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Amen.
Draw near to him and theimpossible will become possible.
Amen, praise the Lord.
Today we've heard from thesevoices of in challenging us
about our heart with God anddealing with our pride, dealing
with this idea of gloating oversomeone else and dealing with
(36:02):
our pride dealing with this ideaof gloating over someone else.
And we heard this idea of Joeltalking about to rend our hearts
, break our hearts, not justshow that we're sorry, but
really have a heart towards God.
And when we do that, we'll findthe provision that's only found
in God, that he's ourrestoration, that he is the one
that pours out his spirit uponus.
And then here, in this last bit, when we hear talking about
(36:22):
that God is just, that he's theone that's patient and powerful
and that we should seek him witheverything we have.
Would you say amen to that?
Friends?
Today it's a challenge for usthat we would be those that
learn from these prophets of old, that we would apply it to our
lives, that we wouldn't have tomake the same mistakes that
these nations did, that theycame to challenge that we
(36:45):
ourselves would turn our heartsto God, that we would run
towards God with everything.
And just as many of thesespeakers shared that we wouldn't
make the small steps that endup taking us away from God, but
instead we would make him ourpriority and that we'd put him
first, worshiping him with ourwhole heart.
(37:06):
Today we have this opportunityto respond to this message, and
maybe you're here and you've yetto ever make a decision to
follow Jesus.
Today is your opportunity to doso.
Each one of us has to answerthat question of have you
embraced Jesus?
And that means to live yourlife is unto him, to give your
life to him and to say Lord,come into my life, forgive me of
(37:26):
my sin.
I want to give my heart and mylife to you.
See, for us, as Christfollowers, the cross is a symbol
of power, and not a symbol ofpower the way the Romans meant
it to be a symbol of power, likewe're subjugating you and we'll
kill you with this thing.
That's terrible.
But no, it's a symbol of powerto us, because Jesus, he took
(37:47):
all of our mistakes, all of ourbrokenness, all of mine, and he
took it and he paid with hislife upon the cross so that we
could be put in right standingwith the Father.
See, there's no way for us, asbroken people, to approach a
holy God.
It's not possible.
You can't do enough good things.
I've met people trying to earntheir way in their heaven my
(38:10):
whole life, trying to do enoughgood stuff and hope that they
make it Friends.
Let me tell you there's onlyone way to the Father, and
that's through Jesus Christ.
So today we come with the samemessage that he comes to us with
, which is that we would turnour hearts towards him, the
Apostle Paul.
He writes to the church at Romeand says this because if you
(38:32):
confess with your mouth thatJesus is Lord, believe in your
heart that God raised him fromthe dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart, onebelieves and is justified.
With the mouth, one confessesand is saved.
Today, friends, is your day.
It's your opportunity to sayyes to Jesus.
(38:55):
I'm going to ask if everyone isstanding to their feet right
where they're at, bow your heads.
Christians are praying aspeople are making decisions to
follow Jesus.
If you're online today, nomatter what platform it's at
Facebook, youtube, tiktok,instagram, wherever you're at,
take a pause, listen to whatHoly Spirit wants to do in your
life.
Today, friends, as heads arebowed, we have this opportunity
(39:19):
to respond to God's love.
And if that's you and you'dlike to make a commitment to
Jesus today or maybe you have inthe past but you haven't been
living it you need to recommityour life to God.
If that's you today, if youjust raise your hand right where
you're at, say, pastor, that'sme, include me in this prayer
today that I want to commit mylife to Jesus Christ.
Thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.
(39:40):
Thank you Lord.
As people are making decisionsto follow God Friends online as
well, wherever you're at.
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord.
I'm going to ask if everyonewould, if they'd pray this
prayer out loud after me.
Lord, thank you for loving me.
Thank you for sending Jesus.
I believe Jesus died on thecross for my sins.
(40:03):
I believe he rose again.
Forgive me of my sins.
I surrender my life to you InChrist's name.
I pray Amen, amen, friends, wewould enjoy it.
So you make a decision tofollow Jesus today.
(40:24):
Hey, if you're here in this room, connect with us.
We want to put some things inyour hand.
If you're online, connect withus.
We want to be able to make thatconnection.
You're not called to do thislife after Jesus alone.
For us, friends, we have this,this opportunity, to respond to
this message and if you'resomeone who needs more of God's
presence, maybe you need him tomeet you right where you're at.
Maybe you need some guidance,some wisdom.
(40:46):
You need his anointing just toface this week ahead.
We're gonna ask you to come downinto this front, make an altar
with God.
We're gonna ask the people thatspoke today in our prayer team,
our pastoral team, to come andpray over you, agree with you in
this moment, lord.
We thank you so much, god, forthis challenge that we hear from
these prophets.
Lord, we thank you that youanointed them, lord, to bring
(41:07):
this challenging word to thepeople of their time, lord, one
to turn their hearts back to you, one of correction, lord, one
of putting you first and keepingyou first.
Lord, I thank you for thosethat were anointed to bring the
word today, lord, and I thankyou, lord, for their obedience
to bring that word to us, lord,that we're called to have hearts
after you and that you're agood God who is merciful and
(41:28):
loves us and forgives us, but,lord, that we would turn to you
and not walk away from yourgoodness and from your plan for
our lives.
Lord, as we come to this altartoday, we do so with an
intentionality, lord.
We're asking for an impartationof your spirit, your anointing,
your power, lord, your focus,lord, your direction.
All those things we ask for,and more, as we seek your face.
(41:49):
We pray this in the powerfulname of Jesus Christ, amen.
Hey, it's an exciting season wefind ourselves in because it's
summer and that means that atthe end of July is our back to
school with Mercy House.
So I want to encourage you that, if you want to get involved
with that, if you want to giveof your time, if you want to
give to the program to help kidsthat are in need have a great
(42:09):
back to school, we encourage youto do that now.
If you want to give that inkind or in finances, you can,
but want to put that as ahighlight for you for this week.
Speaker 7 (42:17):
We still have a lot of events this summer.
You can go online on the appand check that out.
Also, pray for our kids.
My prayer for them they're atcamp, they're on their way there
right now Is that they wouldcome back with such an anointing
as we get ready to send themback into school next month that
they would be the salt of theearth and the light that shines
(42:38):
everywhere they go.
So continue praying for them.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
They're going to get touched this week, before we go,
we're going to pray thisblessing over us.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Lord, make his face to shineupon you and be gracious to you.
To shine upon you and begracious to you, lord, lift up
his countenance upon you andgive you peace.
(43:02):
Lord, I pray a blessing uponyour church, your people.
Lord, you empower us by yourspirit to live your love out to
those around us.
We pray all this in thepowerful name that is Jesus
Christ.
Amen, amen, know this.
We love you very much here atCornerstone.
God bless you and have a greatweek.
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