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00:00:02 today's passage is taken from The Book of Daniel chapter 5 reading from the NIV 2011 version King Bazar gave a great banket for a thousand of his Nobles and drank wine with them while belshazzar was drinking his wine he gave all this to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem so that the king and his Nobles his wives and his concubines might drink from them so they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in
00:00:34 Jerusalem and the King and his Nobles his wives and his concubines drank from them as he drank the wine they praised the gods of gold and silver of bronze iron wood and stone suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall near the lampstand in the Royal Palace the king watched the hand as it wrote his face turned pale and he was so frightened that his leg became weak and his knees were knocking the king summoned the enchants astrologers and divers then he said to
00:01:13 these wise men of Babylon whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck and he will be made the third highest ruler in the Kingdom then all the king's wise men men came in but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant so King Baza became even more terrified and his face grew more pale his nobles were baffled the queen hearing the voices of the king and his Nobles came into the banquet hall May the King live
00:01:50 forever she said don't be alarmed don't look so pale there is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the Holy gods in him in the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the Gods your father King Nebuchadnezzar appointed him chief of The Magicians enchantis astrologers and divers he did this because Daniel whom the king called Bazar was found to have a keen mind and a knowledge and understanding and also the ability to interpret dreams explain riddles and
00:02:28 solve difficult problems for Daniel and he will tell you what the writing means so Daniel was brought before the king and the King said to him are you Daniel one of the Exiles my father the king brought from Judah I have heard that the spirit of the Gods is in you and that you have Insight intelligence and outstanding wisdom the wise men and en chances were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means but they could not explain it now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult
00:03:04 problems if you can read this writing and tell me what it means you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck and you will be made the third highest ruler in the Kingdom then Daniel answered the king you may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else nevertheless I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means your majesty the most high God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and Splendor because
00:03:39 of the high position he gave him all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him those the king wanted to put to death he put to death those he wanted to spare he spared those he wanted to promote he promoted and those he wanted to Humble he humbled but when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride he was deposed of his Royal throne and stried of his glory he was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox
00:04:15 and his body was drenched with the Dew of Heaven until he acknowledged that the most high God is Sovereign over all kingdoms on Earth and sets over them anyone he wishes but you Baza his son have not humbled yourself though you knew all this instead you have set yourself up against the Lord of Heaven you had the goblets from his Temple brought to you and you and your Nobles your wives and your concubines drank wine from them you praise the gods of silver and gold of bronze iron wood and stone which cannot see or hear or
00:04:56 understand but you did not honor The God Who holds in his life your your life and all your ways therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription this is the inscription that was written man man Teel Parson here is what these words mean man God has numbered the days of your Reign and brought it to an end toal you have been weighed on the skills and found wanting peress your kingdom is divided and given to the mees and Persians then at baz's command Daniel was clothed in purple a gold chain was
00:05:38 placed around his neck and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the Kingdom that very night Baza King of the Babylonians was slain and Darius the me took over the Kingdom at the age of 62 this is the word of God thank you well good morning church so this is the next week's sermon schedule I will be preaching on the first of the servant songs of uh Isaiah Bruce Reed uh next after that will be John Lee a nursing mother and then brother Arnold Lim on speaking Truth and Love part two now if you remember this
00:06:19 that passage is one of the most iconic passages in the Bible that even a non-Christian will know about the writing in the wall what it means so it's uh going to be an exciting passage and today instead of having one of us old people come up and share with you about this we're going to take a perspective from a young person uh you remember marimo who was with us pastor marimo and he's gone off to start the gospel City Church uh somewhere in the mega mall I believe uh and then gospel City network is an organization for
00:06:54 planting churches instead of getting maso to preach with us again we've decided to bring one of his young preachers from his church which been brought up and he's also a bible college student uh with the Malaysia Bible uh Baptist Theological Seminary used to be working for a honglong bank uh and then he he saw the light when the full-time Ministry instead uh looking to plant a church in Damansara Heights if anybody here is working or living there that would be a good place to join one day uh his name is is Wong Yen I want you to
00:07:32 welcome him as well his lovely wife Emily who is also a lawyer can you please stand up right please speak to them after the sermon uh so it's a good to have a change young preachers like Yen also I'm sure you've enjoyed preaching and Ministry from William Yao as well so we thought thought all the people who we invite should be all young all right come let's give him a warm welcome wow after a welcome like that uh there is absolutely no pressure thank you Dr Peter uh it's very good to be here uh don't worry if you
00:08:13 haven't seen the light like me so to speak uh your work has value all right uh please be invested in your work absolutely love it and if you do quote unquote see the light and want to come into ministry as well uh please consider it carefully uh just just a note I want to say uh brother Cino and uh rodora I think uh I you know I'm not from FBC but if just to hear your testimonies this morning I'm very glad I came thank you for sharing so FBC subang it's really good to be here I'm glad to be able to open up the
00:08:46 Bible with you I've been in this Hall a few times never for Sunday service forgive me um so this is a first uh thank you for to Dr Peter and the elders for having me as well I do bring greetings from gospel City Church and I know some of you know members in GCC personally I assure you we are Baptist even though we don't have Baptist in our name all right uh and I also have the privilege of serving as an elder there so uh today we're going to be looking at Daniel 5 I will periodically make references from the ESV version um but
00:09:20 thank you for reading the scripture as well uh let me give a bit of context as we move ahead um like do Dr Peter said uh there is this writing on the wall that is so well known in Daniel 5 that it has even become a phrase in the English language the writing is on the wall right and what that usually refers to is the fact that something is coming to an end right you say oh that company the writing was on the wall anyway it was always going to close down right um and so it's it's such a popular passage
00:09:52 and in a sense what we're talking about today is uh God's imminent judgment is coming on this King Bel Bazar uh and we're going to be able to contrast this King Bazar who is Arrogant with Daniel this godly man and how they interact with one another and what it looks like to live in light of a coming judgment all right so I'll give us uh a bit of the background the Book of Daniel uh it recounts the events of the Babylonian exile and this happens sometimes towards the end of the 6th century and this is where Jerusalem had
00:10:27 fallen to the Babylonians and a large number of Israelites were taken captive out of their land to Babylon uh which is a polytheistic culture uh this book focuses on the character of Daniel it's got a lot of Visions which is really fun and often not easy to understand and also his friends who fight to remain loyal to God in a polytheistic culture and in the chapter just preceding chapter 5 uh the previous arrogant King Nebuchadnezzar we see that he's drastically humbled by God God humbles him brings him low and the chapter ends with
00:11:03 King Nebuchadnezzar's words praising God and admitting his loneliness so the question we're left asking as we enter the story in chapter 5 is has King Bazar Nebuchadnezzar's son learned the lesson of his father is King Bazar an arrogant king or is he a humble King and that's what we're going to see today so uh now you've got some idea of the context uh will you join me as we pray Our Father we thank you that you have spoken in your word I thank you that we can that for centuries your church has opened your
00:11:50 word heard it been changed by it and been driven to share this beautiful gospel with the world we ask today that as we hear your word as we meditate that by your spirit you will do what you have done in your church for centuries that you would change us more and more to become like Jesus and I pray Lord that as we leave here today we will love you more and worship you more deeply than we did before we walked in speak to us Lord and we ask for your help by your Holy Spirit in in Jesus name amen there is a term in military history
00:12:36 called Victory disease Victory disease is what happens when a military commander having experienced some measure of success or Victory makes arrogant decisions that lead to heavy losses or defeat often he may drastically underestimate his enemy's capabilities uh one such example happened in World War II where Germany in ated the Soviet Union coming off the back of successive victories in Poland and France Hitler ordered the offensive to keep pushing on Into the Heart of the Soviet Union however the German troops
00:13:12 were uh well they underestimated Soviet resistance but more importantly they were really ill equipped for the cold harsh Russian winter in the end they failed they were repelled and the failed German invasion of the Soviet Union proved to be one of the main major turning points in World War II ultimately contributing to Germany's downfall and defeat Victory disease in our text today we're going to see how King Bazar is a case study of a kind of Victory disease and that's what gives birth to his
00:13:48 arrogance except that King belshazzar's opponent is just a god of the universe whom he proceeds to Mock and belittle but on the other hand we're going to see how Daniel models true devotion true worship to this great and awesome God so as we contrast these two characters we'll learn three things uh we're not going to be able to cover everything in this chapter there are many different sermons that could come of this one chapter we're just going to preach we going to hear one today all right so we're going to learn three
00:14:18 things number one beware of mocking God number two pursue true devotion and point three last the long haul all right beware pursue and persevere last long haul okay let's look at beware of mocking God in verses 1 to 4 we are confronted with an extravagant party that is clearly clearly ungodly right the author conveys this vividly he he writes that Bazar quote unquote if you look in your Bibles verse two tasted the wine that's a Hebrew metaphor to say that Bazar and his subjects were pretty drunk all right we
00:14:57 also learned that Bazar is POL polygamous and he's Shameless about it right it's very public that he has his wives plural and his concubines doing his best Solomon imitation uh commentators conclude that the author is trying to paint for us a picture of one massive disgusting drunk and the word that is used is an orgy but belshazzar's ungodliness doesn't stop there uh drunk people don't necessarily make rational decisions he orders the goblets or the vessels of gold and silver that were taken from
00:15:32 God's temple in Jerusalem to be brought out now what were these objects they were objects that are set apart specifically for worship in God's Temple and you know what B says let's drink wine from them this is open Defiance open Defiance but but it doesn't stop there verse four tells us that they rank but at the same time they praise the gods of gold and silver bronze iron wood and stone so Bazar takes the things to be used in worship of God and uses them while he worships a multitude of false gods and what he does is he reduces The
00:16:18 Sovereign God Of Heaven and Earth and he says this Israelite God is just like any other God just like any other God is what he's saying now where do you think this idea came from this is Victory disease in action he probably thought he could control God because after all maybe he was thinking well surely this God can't be that powerful right after all I'm holding the Israelites captive in Babylon oh why haven't they been freed from my grip didn't we conquer Babylon did my father conquer uh conquer
00:16:57 Jerusalem how could this God be that powerful uh let's pause for a moment and consider baz's conduct with the words of his father King Nebuchadnezzar at the end of chapter 4 where Nebuchadnezzar says now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and EXO and honor the king of Heaven for all his works are right and his ways are just and those who walk in Pride he is able to Humble Bazar clearly hasn't learned this lesson but friends let's also reflect on ourselves what basa does is the first thing he does is he mocks God by
00:17:41 trivializing God's holiness the things that are meant to be devoted to the worship of God he treats irreverently he doesn't actually think much of God's holiness and therefore he doesn't really care what God calls holy and set apart so let me ask us what are the things in our lives that are supposed to be devoted to the worship of God Paul answers us clearly in Romans 12:1 he says I appeal to you therefore brothers and sisters by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God
00:18:23 which is your spiritual worship and Paul goes on to say do not be conformed to this world the point is we have been redeemed so that we might serve God and Obey him with all that we are with our bodies so don't use your body to sin like you used to we are set apart and you realize why this is so serious you know why this is a mockery of God because in 1 Corinthians 6 Paul says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and the language of Temple is a way of saying that God now dwells in us so when
00:19:08 we use our bodies to sin we are mocking God by saying that God is okay with sin we are saying that where God is sin can dwell also and that is not true God hates sin and so when we use our bodies to sin we are mocking God we are saying that God can dwell with sin and that is not true it is not an exaggeration to say that to take God's holiness lightly and to entertain sin is to mock God don't trivialize his Holiness secondly don't mock God by trivializing his sovereignty don't bring God down to the
00:19:57 the level of the other priorities in your life Bazar mock God when he regards him as this God of the universe just on the same level as these mute death and false gods and we can easily do the same and we do that when we treat our faith as simply one section one part of our Lives because what we're doing is we are in essence rejecting God's Sovereign Authority and his claim over every area of Our Lives friends if God is this Sovereign King and ruler of the universe there is not one part of our lives that he does not lay claim
00:20:46 over think of it this way imagine a conversation between a recovering alcoholic and a counselor so the counselor says listen you need to dramatically lower your alcohol intake or things are going to get really bad bad for you healthwise now imagine the alcoholic response by saying ah yes I I'll promise I I'll quit wine whiskey and some of you are just like oh man and rum but he says but counselor I really appreciate my beer so would it be okay if I only ever got drunk on beer now of course we're all chuckling
00:21:25 because that's ridiculous right this just shows that the alcoholic never intended to leave alcoholism behind he was just looking for a loophole and here's the thing if you refuse to give God Authority in every area of your life you're doing the same thing to refuse God's Authority in one area of your life is to show that you never intended to completely submit to him at all don't mock God's sovereignty as the ruler and King of the universe if he is The Sovereign God of all he must have not just the final say but the only say
00:22:08 in every area of Our Lives don't trivialize God's sovereignty don't mock God don't don't make small don't belittle his Holiness and don't belittle his sovereignty now let's move on in the narrative what happened happens next uh he's gone about his whole show of mockery well God is God Is Not mocked guys God's announcement of judgment is just as public I love this just as public as belshazzar's mockery a human hand appears and starts writing on the wall and the author is very careful to point out next to the lampstand no less
00:22:51 so that everyone can see it clearly very very public and the King goes pale he could probably feature in a Johnson and Johnson's commercial and the author basically tells us that Bazar pees himself uh the the word that his knees knocked together is a is a metaphor for saying he peed himself and he calls the best and brightest of Babylon to interpret the writing and he adds a bit of incentive you know the next highest Post in the Kingdom or the third highest and great richest whoever can interpret
00:23:21 it but alas no one can interpret it finally the queen uh probably the queen mother so the the wife of of Nebuchadnezzar uh comes in and recommends Daniel because they have no other choice uh they have no other option so I guess it's down to Daniel to interpret the words of his own God so as we look at point two as we look at Daniel's actions we're going to see how to pursue true devotion now the events of chapter 5 are happening a few decades after the events of chapter 4 and in this time it seems
00:24:00 that Daniel has sort of been forgotten uh Bazar has clearly never met him he says you know I've heard of you but doesn't know him personally but look who can blame the guy he's desperate So Daniel will have to do and Bazar makes Daniel the same offer of status and riches that he made to the wise men of whom none of them could interpret God's words what do we learn from Daniel's response the first thing we learn is is that true Devotion to God looks like uncompromising Holiness what a contrast to Bazar did you notice how in verse 13
00:24:38 Daniel had to be quote brought in before the king you see Daniel was nowhere to be found in this huge and Unholy party he didn't want any part of it and furthermore in verse 17 Daniel says let your gifts be for yourself and give your rewards to another not only will Daniel refuse to participate in open sin Daniel will not be bought there will not be even be a hint that Daniel was paren in his interpretation of God's words he is determined to speak for God and God alone but here's the thing these aren't
00:25:27 just oneoff occasions but this is part of a consistent pattern in Daniel's life in Daniel chapter 1 Daniel refused to eat the King's food to avoid defiling himself and then come our events in chapter 5 and in chapter six Daniel famously continues to pray to God openly defying legal restrictions let me say that again defying legal restrictions and gets thrown into the lion's then Daniel lived a life of uncompromising Holiness even or you might say especially when it will be costly whereas Bazar made a trivial
00:26:13 matter of God's holiness Daniel treasured it obeying God's law even in Exile in a foreign land where he where he didn't have a place to worship by the way there was no Temple no temple in Babylon but that Daniel says I treasure God's holiness and his words I will obey I will keep my Holiness my friends don't compromise even if you are in a situation where you are the minority as a follower of Jesus or maybe in a situation where you are the only Christian don't compromise I know that that's easy to
00:26:55 say much harder to do Daniel probably had in mind Old Testament text like Exodus 19:6 where God said about the nation of Israel you shall be to me as a king a kingdom of priests and a holy nation see even in midst of a foreign and hostile Kingdom Daniel remembered his true citizenship he was in a citizen ultimately of Babylon he wasn't a Babylonian he was part of God's kingdom he was part of God's Nation this holy nation called to be set apart to God and we are called the same in First Peter priests set apart for God in his
00:27:42 kingdom in situations where you are tempted to compromise remember the Holiness of God and remember God's kindness in calling you I love it in Colossians 1:13 Paul says the Apostle Paul says out of the kingdom of darkness we have been called into the kingdom of his beloved Son out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of what sort of Kingdom a kingdom ruled by his beloved Son Who Loved Us don't switch allegiances remember your citizenship and remember the kindness of this holy God who rather than punishing us Reigns
00:28:28 over us Us in Love by his son the same way Daniel remembered the kingdom that he was part of the nation that he was a part of in the most dire of circumstances where it didn't seem like there was any sign of the hope of his Nation they were in captivity that is uncompromising Holiness and the second thing we learn about true Devotion to God is Daniel's bold humility whereas the first 12 verses of chapter 5 are full of references to polytheistic worship many different false gods and and all about the
00:29:05 belittling of the one true God what a refreshing contrast it is when in verses 18 to 21 Daniel calls God the most high God whereas Bazar belittles God's sovereignty and Reign Daniel ascribes to God the full measure of honor and worship that he is due he is not just one God alongside many other gods he is the most high God and verse 18 is so striking just look at it in one sentence Daniel positions himself under layers of authority and yet challenges belshazzar's arrogance look at it he says oh King the most high God gave
00:29:54 Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and Glory glory and Majesty your translations might say Splendor you see in one stroke he admits that he is under belshazzar's Authority as the king maybe not a king he likes but a king nonetheless and yet he boldly says to Bazar that it is his God the most high God who gave his father Sly also saying him kingship greatness glory and Majesty he is saying you have no idea how great my God is there is nothing your father had that was not given to him by my
00:30:40 God and later in verse 23 he he calls out Bazar arrogance along with the entire party absolute boldness I wonder if he was afraid of being executed on the spot but you know what there was not a hint of smugness or moral superiority as Daniel speaks to Bazar not a bit you know how often has someone Sinn against you and you immediately to think you immediately begin to think you know what sort of person are you just you wait you're going to get it one day right right is anyone here saying I've never done
00:31:22 that liar right how easy would it have been for Daniel to walk into that party and look at this arrogant King now turn terrified and say this is what you get for conquering us and oppressing us for years and years see your time has come but Daniel doesn't do that there's not a hint of his Personal Agenda there's not a hint of moral superiority or smartness because before he even interprets the literal writing on the wall he recounts the story of neb Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance and downfall but notice
00:32:00 this Daniel does so purely by using God as the reference point he never uses himself or the Israelites as the reference point he doesn't talk about how much the Israelites have been oppressed and taken captive but he focuses on how Bazar has wronged God how Bazar has put himself against God and what we have is a picture of for man of stunning character because he has reverence for God who he knows is the most high God therefore he boldly calls out sin and yet in humility Daniel doesn't do it by
00:32:40 thinking of all the ways that he has been wrong and all the Israelites have been wrong but he understands that sin is ultimately committed against God because God is the highest Authority he is showing us what it looks like to live out an understanding of Deuteronomy 32 where God says vengeance is mine you just think about Jesus casually saying to people in the gospels I forgive you people are like who are you to forgive sin he's God God forgives sin because all sin is ultimately against God friends how beautiful would it be if
00:33:19 members of FBC would be known for this kind of posture not shying away from telling the truth about Sin the bad news its consequences and yet not doing so without any sort of personal or moral superiority even when the wrong was committed against you friends how beautiful would that be could we do that again easier said than done but Daniel shows us that true devotion looks like uncompromising Holiness and acknowledging the Holiness of God remembering our citizenship and remembering the sovereignty of God
00:34:06 boldly speaking the truth around us to the people around us in humility this is true devotion but he proceeds to Simply interpret the words that God has written on the wall the literal words and he says which means something like numbered numbered weighed divided and the message in summary to Bazar is your time is up your time is up the writing is on the wall your Reign is coming to an end and as we look at the closing three verses we'll learn about lasting the Long Haul and our starting point here is very
00:34:49 simple is there any sign that Bazar realizes the error of his ways and decides that hm I should probably repent not at all he seems dead set on defiance because even though Daniel has already said he has no desire for status of riches he said I I'll I'll do this job for free right I'll tell you what's on the wall I'll you know don't don't give me anything Bazar insists on giving Daniel the promised rewards notice how look in verse 29 Bazar is the active party and how Daniel is the passive party being acted upon Bazar gives the
00:35:28 command and Daniel is clothed this is not Daniel having a change of heart but this is Bazar confirming his unrepentance well the author has a sense of humor doesn't he he says you know no sooner has Bazar shown his unrepentance in verse 29 that we read Bazar the Chalan king the king of Babylon was killed that's it next king guess he wasn't so mighty after all he was only worth one sentence gone God ends belshazzar's arrogant Reign unrepentant Reign using the midle Persian army who had already invaded the Babylonian
00:36:14 Empire and while this King was busy partying his arrogance was so great he didn't even realize the Army was knocking at his door but friends I want us to consider this why is this about lasting the Long Haul you see Bazar and Babylon are a picture of Earthly rulers and kingdoms there will always be another unrepentant ruler who defies God does not obey him does not follow him and oppresses God's people there will always be another one you didn't need me to tell you that we are in one sense here in the
00:36:51 clang Valley in Babylon even today all around us Christians live under the rule all over the world Christians live under rulers who are hostile to Christianity and suppress the gospel and on one hand we can know for sure like Daniel that their time will come and for us we can know that Jesus will return in judgment and Deliver us once and for all but in the meantime we are called to choose like Daniel true Devotion to God we must remain uncompromising on Holiness we must boldly stand against sin speak the truth of the Gospel in all
00:37:39 humility and persevere in it I'm sure many of you know that it's very difficult to live this way consistently whether at your workplace or among just a group of friends who have very different values to you or maybe you are the only Christian in your entire family and you dread going home after church on a Sunday or you dread that funeral or wedding most of the times it's funerals where you have to choose between difficult ethical decisions maybe it's the mockery from people around you it's difficult and you know what
00:38:26 happens we live live inconsistent lives or to put it in language of Daniel chapter 5 at times it seems like we are very much like Daniel and at other times it seems we are well on our way to becoming like Bazar at times we are doing well in our Holiness and other times we realize we're mocking God's holiness when we give into the simplest form of Temptation at times we humbly submit every area of Our Lives to God and other times we mock God's Authority where we limit where he has a say in our lives
00:39:00 and we're left asking am I holy or am I not am I humble or am I arrogant am I imitating Danel or am I falling into Bazar sin and ultimately we left asking am I actually inviting God's judgment or am I truly living as part of his kingdom that's the tension isn't it so how are we to live are we supposed to just try our best and hope that our inconsistent efforts are good enough to satisfy God no not good enough for a completely holy God okay that's not going to work um do we live in Perpetual fear and hope that by the pain of our
00:39:53 fear and being driven to fear that we could please God and say God I'm I I know you're sovere I'm so terrified of you no that's no way to live well then how do we become people of true devotion or put it in another way how could God possibly receive us inconsistent of an Unholy arrogant people who by our sin mock him how could we be received into his kingdom receive his citizenship we are right to think that for our mockery of God by our sin and arrogance that we should not be part of God's people that we should not enter God's
00:40:34 kingdom but you know what the point is our hope is not in ourselves in Matthew chapter 26 we read that Jesus Christ God most high came to Earth in human flesh and he is spat on and he slept the god of the universe is spat on in the face and slapped and as he goes to the Cross he is ridiculed by all those around him he is mocked he's nailed to the cross the ultimate symbol of helplessness mocking his claims to power they say free yourself why wouldn't you free yourself he's made to wear a crown of thorns pointing out and mocking his
00:41:29 claim to kingship you say you're a king we'll give you a crown and receives a crown of thorns rather than a true and beautiful crown he deserves Jesus is executed like the worst of criminals although he alone in all of human history was perfectly and consistently holy and devoted to God the one person in all of human history who has a perfect track record but he is dismissed killed executed like the worst of criminals hung up for all to see we should have paid the price of our mockery of God's holiness and his power
00:42:16 we are right to think that we should not enter his kingdom but Jesus Jesus pays the ultimate price of our mockery of God's holiness and his power in Jesus God comes not in power and judgment on us but in weakness and humility in human flesh allowing himself to be mocked and executed in order that by his death in our place we might be received into God's kingdom and given honor it is Jesus's true devotion all the way to the end to the cross and to death in our place that assures us that we are not rejected by God for our lack
00:42:59 of devotion we are given the honor and privilege of being God's people and we have given the Assurance of God's grace oh how we do not deserve it and yet it's true and friends this is how to persevere in our devotion amidst the pressures of the world around us sure we will be inconsistent in our character sure we will fall into to sin we know that but we don't have to live in fear and the answer is not to live our lives in such a way to try and balance the moral scales to please this holy God because
00:43:37 we could never do it the way to persevere in our devotion is to fix our eyes on Jesus to let him and all he has done fill our vision in Romans chapter 2:4 the Apostle Paul beautifully says it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance when our vision is filled with Jesus Christ and his grace for us our hearts are filled with gratitude and we will be invited to repent we will not be arrogant in face in the face of the king of the universe the most high God come in human flesh who allowed himself to be spat on in the
00:44:21 face an experience that many of us will never know in our lives for us let's gaze at him now and for the rest of our lives let's pursue true Devotion to our god until we see him face to face let's pray father we thank you that you didn't leave us on our own you drew near while we were still Sinners sending your son in human flesh we Mock You by our sin the ways that we trivialize your holiness and your sovereignty and your kingship and Reign and we should not be your people and yet and yet we can say with full
00:45:07 Assurance today that we are your people because you sent your son to be mocked for the mockery we deserve for making trivial who you are thank you for redeeming us thank you for loving us first we love you Lord in Jesus name amen before we do the closing song today I think the word of the Lord is telling us about uncompromising faith bold humility I want to just share a short story you know it's a bad economy I'm an architect for those of you who don't realize and uh recently I got a job which I need
00:45:51 because company struggling so the the contract was done in stages and the first stage I got it I oh very happy was in the chat group they say congratulations after that the consultant gave me the job send me a text you know what the guy who gave the job is expecting some Kickback now you might sure what do you want me to do you know and I was quite stunned and I needed to work so I didn't reply the guy so I think what we want to do is come with vulnerability and authenticity these are real issues all of us face
00:46:27 where is it's your job or whether it's your family so before we sing this song we heard from our dear brother but the God we serve the God we serve was spat on was crucified for our sins and every day we walk off we Face challenges as Sovereign as people are strangers in this world I do not know what to say on one hand I can't afford to lose a job I need to pay my bills on the other hand I can also be very tempted to tell him I'm a Christian I don't do this and I have no bold humility but I'm sure my struggle is
00:47:09 something all of you have and so right now we're going to sing and that's what we we we spoke on last week what I spoke about Ephesians 5:18 you're going to sing to one another do not get drunk on wine which is quite interesting which is what did but be filled with the spirit sing to one another and as you sing sing for your brother who is struggling sing for your sister who is stuck who has to go back and make very hard decisions sing Let the Lord be with them the earlier song We sang today Christ be
00:47:58 magnified if I go through the fire you are there with me I'm going to let a brother take us through this song firstly thank you to our Preacher Brother eeken for the message and Elder Arnold as well for closing us uh with this with this sharing can we all rise to uh respond in song be thou my vision oh lord of my heart not be all to me say th though my best thought by day or by Night waking for sleeping thy presence my life be my wisdom and all my true word I ever with thee and th with me Lord my great
00:49:33 father and I the true s th with me dwelling and I with [Music] be riches I need not no manty praise now my inheritance now and now and the only first in my heart I king of my treasure th [Music] High King Of Heaven my victory War may I reach heaven Joy oh Bright Heaven son Heart of My Own heart [Music] whatever still be my vision oh ruler of [Music] all may Our God of Peace May our god of love may our god of faith be with us and as we depart from here this morning let us be light and soul of the world to the world out there
00:51:36 for us have a good Sunday and blessed week ahead service is this missed [Music] [Music] you [Music] [Music] it I thought more like you going to do want [Music] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] for [Music] [Music] h [Music] [Music] [Music] la oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] h
