Cornerstone Christian Center
Cornerstone Christian Center
Obadiah, Joel, Nahum | Minor Prophets
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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Well, that was eventful. All those locusts, then the repentance. Quite the emotional rollercoaster, wouldn't you say. At least my target stayed consistent Edom Gone Short, sweet and utterly demolished you could set your sundial by it. Utterly demolished is precisely how I'd describe Nineveh A true cinematic experience.
Speaker 2:Best sequel ever cinematic experience. Best sequel ever. You all had such clear villains Me. I'm still trying to figure out why the righteous suffer. It's like a cosmic improv show frankly.
Speaker 1:Well, habakkuk, when you figure that one out, let the rest of us know that one is quite the head-scratcher, indeed, but one reliable constant the prideful always fall Like gravity, but with more divine wrath. Exactly, nineveh was a stubborn weed, but the cosmic gardener got to it A very satisfying uprooting.
Speaker 2:Well, at least my faith survived the existential crisis. It turns out, even without figs I can still find joy. Small miracles, I guess.
Speaker 3:So today we continue in our series Minor Prophets, and you can hear these prophets complaining to each other as they're kind of having a group session. Now, obviously, this is not a realistic timeline but through the gift of AI, you get to hear from these guys today, and so it's pretty awesome. Today we're also continuing and hearing from different voices. In our community of faith we have many people who've gone on to do their credentialing, to become, in their ministry, credentials. Last week we got to hear from Pastor Celeste. She talked about Micah and what it means to live in the way of God. Today we get to hear from three different voices, the first of which is from Barbara Burke. Barbara is an ordained minister. She, in her very much in her own right right, has been in years and years of ministry, including being our women's director here at Cornerstone. We're excited to hear from her and what God has her to share today. We'll take a look here first about who she's talking about.
Speaker 1:What's up, brothers and sisters in Christ Obadiah, here, live and ready to drop some biblical insights from God's word. Today we're diving into ancient prophecy with vital lessons for us. Let's talk Edom. These guys thought they were untouchable, living in their rock-cut fortresses. Who can bring us down? They boasted. Sound familiar, like someone's pride makes them invincible. Here's the truth. Edom had brothers, judah, and when 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 cousin watching your house burn down and then stealing your TV. But God's justice is sure. Brothers and sisters, the Almighty has decreed it. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your pride will be your downfall, edom. Your allies will betray you. Your treasures will be exposed. No survivor will remain for the house of Esau. And guess who's rising, judah. They'll reclaim their land and Mount Zion will be holy. The kingdom belongs to the Lord. Don't be an Edom.
Speaker 4:Don't be an Edom, don't be an Edom. We're not going to read all of the minor prophets and can anyone say hallelujah? We're not going to read them in their entirety today, but I do want to pick out in just a few minutes some of the main points in Obadiah. And I have a question for you how many people like the game Family Feud? Anyone ever played it. You like it? Well, interestingly, I read on the History Channel and it suggested whether it's correct or not, I'm not sure, but that the famous game pitting families against each other was actually inspired by a real-life family feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys and that they even actually appeared in one of the early games. Can you imagine that game of family feud between the Hatfields and McCoys? Apparently, a horrible fight started between them and it carried through several generations in their families. And when a generational feud goes on and on, sometimes we miss in the succeeding generations what the purpose of the fight was actually about. What was the argument about? But yet the descendants are committed to keeping that fire and that bitterness burning hot. And here that's exactly what we see happening.
Speaker 4:In the book of Obadiah. There was a result of a family feud that ran down through generations. Now, this prophetic book is pretty short. It only has one chapter in it. However, in these few verses there's some very powerful things that hit us where we live today.
Speaker 4:And the beginning of this particular family feud in the book of Obadiah is between the Israelites and the Edomites, and it started way back in Genesis with two unidentical twin brothers that were born, and they were Esau and Jacob. These brothers fought from the very beginning. The Bible says they even tussled one another in their mother's womb, and we find in Genesis a recording of a lot of their accounts. Some of them are famous to us that we know, such as Esau giving up his birthright for a pot of stew from his brother, and it shows the lack of value that he put on his birthright in order for instant gratification of his flesh. And we also see Jacob tricking his father, who had ailing eyesight, into believing he was the older brother, to steal Esau's blessing False pretenses just trying to trick and get what he could right. All in all, a family feud of great proportions which played down through their respective lineages until we end up in Obadiah here and the prophetic vision that God gave to him. See, the family feud was still great in Edom's heart.
Speaker 4:Even though the two brothers at some point reconciled the descendants, the Edomites still held that bitterness in their heart and they were committed to that bitterness. The Edomites still held that bitterness in their heart and they were committed to that bitterness. Jacob's lineage was the Israelites, esau's lineage were the Edomites. And Obadiah had the directive from God, lucky him to tell the Edomites of the coming utter destruction of their nation. And he told them why they would be destroyed, why such a harsh judgment was going to come upon them. There was actually three basic areas that Edom earned that judgment, and the first one is pride.
Speaker 4:Edom was full of pride. So pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, through the achievements of someone else that we're closely associated with, or from qualities or possessions we have that are widely admired. It's an exaggerated sense of self-esteem. Right and commentator.
Speaker 4:I read the commentator Vernon McGee, and he had this. Now listen to what he had to say about pride. He said pride of heart is the attitude of a lie that declares its ability to live without God. Listen to that again. Pride of heart, it's the attitude 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. If we're prideful, god can't do anything with us. It brought down Rome, brought down Alexander the Great and so many others, even Satan, who was Lucifer up in the heavens, it brought him down.
Speaker 4:At some time following God's creation, pride arose up in his heart and in Isaiah 14, his desire is uttered and it says in Isaiah concerning Lucifer for you, 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 above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high.
Speaker 4:See Proverbs 6 tells us that God hates a proud. Look right, how many times do we attempt to run our life as if we were God? Of course we would never say it out loud. Even I know that sounds foolish. I can do it without God, thank you very much. But in reality, we can leave the doors of here, having worshiped and laid all down to God at an altar, and go out and live as if we could do it ourselves. In Obadiah, verses 3 and 4, it says this the pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock whose habitation is high, you who say in your heart who will bring me down to the ground, though you ascend as high as the eagle and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord.
Speaker 4:Part of the reason the Edomites felt pride was their physical location. They were situated quite well in steep mountains and it gave them a great strategic advantage for any kind of defense against attacks, gave them a great strategic advantage for any kind of defense against attacks. It gave them a sense of invulnerability as they looked down on others from their heights and they could see it all. They felt invincible and self-protected. But Edom's loftiness, see, it wasn't only found in its physical location, it crept into their very hearts as well. And God's word is quite clear that pride goes before a fall. And here we see a great fall of Edom because of the judgment of God. Pride God doesn't like. It Puts us against him.
Speaker 4:Secondly, we find Edom walked hand in hand with injustice. Justice, what is that? It can be described as a sense of fairness, virtue, integrity, fair-mindedness, righteousness, honor. These are all qualities that the Edomites did not hold dear. They didn't use those qualities when they dealt with other people around them, especially in 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 speaking to them for violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you and you shall be cut off forever.
Speaker 4:In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried captives his forces, see, they fully saw the struggle and the needs, the desperation of their brother nation. They were never moved to compassion, to help at all. As Judah was slaughtered, edom just sat back and watched. When some from Judah were able to escape, the Edomites even went so far as to cut off those who were fleeing, so that there would be none that could escape. But not only did they not help Judah in their time of need, edom actually joined up with enemies that were attacking Judah.
Speaker 4:While they were being plundered, the Edomites made sure they got theirs. They wanted to make sure they got their spoils. Brother violating, brother, injustice. And as if pride and injustice weren't enough. There was more to be found in the heart of the Edomites Gloating. They actually gloated and rejoiced over the tribulation Judah was enduring. Now I'm sure you say to me oh, I got that one covered. I don't gloat, I don't have any of that in my heart. But we need to actually look at what that is. See, they didn't just stand by and watch destruction. It wasn't enough to just try and gain spoils for themselves at Judah's expense. They reveled and gloated over the calamities of their brother nation. And in verse 12, it says but you should not have gazed on the day of your brother, in the day of his captivity, to rejoice at the suffering of others. It's so contrary to the heart of God. So contrary to the heart of God.
Speaker 4:Now, before we get critical with Edom, we need to see what God has for today Us here, in Obadiah's historic words, we should ask ourselves what's the condition of my heart? Is there pride in my heart? Let's look at David, a man after God's own heart, a friend of God. He did some pretty questionable things right, some pretty sinful things, but he always repented with a true repentance and sorrow in his heart and sought after God Heal me, o God. He knew the condition of his heart, mankind's heart, our hearts here today, that he cried out for God, asking his heart to be searched by the only one who's capable of finding its true condition. The only one that knows the condition of a man or woman's heart is a holy God. Our filter is faulty, but his is clear. So we need to sit before him, not in self-condemnation, but for a holy examination, and say God what is in my heart, reveal if there's anything that I need to change, and then we need to be willing to move on that. When he speaks to us Are there times when I tend to feel more important, more special, more lovable than that person, or just all around better than someone else, letting my heart get puffed up with pride.
Speaker 4:It sounds ugly to say it doesn't. It Sounds pretty ugly, but a prideful heart doesn't start overnight. It doesn't just spring up. It's by the small incremental steps, and the Bible wisely tells us that it's the small foxes that spoil the vine. That fellow Christian that you look at and you say, hmm, they did that and they claim to follow after God. I would never do that. Or they participated in what they said and did what they went where. I would never do that. See, we have not arrived and are never immune to the pull of the flesh on this side of glory. That's why we need our Savior and the Holy Spirit to reveal to us and to empower us to live righteous lives. Help our prideful hearts, oh God.
Speaker 4:And for the gloating that we are sure 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 the needs of others that I simply pass them by? Am I willing to be inconvenienced for the benefit of someone else in need, or is my own agenda, my own need, the thing that's topmost and utmost in my mind? Remember the Samaritan who was beaten. I mean the Samaritan who helped a traveler who was beaten. He's cost his time, his convenience and his wallet to help him. But the Levite and the priest who declared their commitment to God and said they'd follow after him and obey, they just passed by without any consideration at the desperate plight of the man right in front of them. Edom was content to watch their brother nation as they faltered under the weight of attack.
Speaker 4:There's a concept that was written long ago and it says something like the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. What is the condition of my heart? How does my heart react when others fail, stumble or face difficulties? We talked about gloating before. Okay, that person in your friend group, it always seems to have it together, they always have it together.
Speaker 4:And then something happens and you watch them go through a difficulty and you say, oh, I'm praying for them, I'm offering encouragement. But man, now they're among us, normal folk, kind of glad. You see them struggle while the coworker who always gets their way, never held accountable, and then that gets called up. You're like justice. That's gloating. When someone who betrayed you and, let's get real, someone who betrayed you and sent you on a season of pain, you walk through a lot of difficulty and then you see them walk through some difficulty, does your heart do a little pitter-patter of vindication. They got what they deserved. See, that is gloating. What's the condition of my heart? But the encouragement is God is faithful. He was faithful to the Israelites and he's faithful to us today.
Speaker 4:While Obadiah's prophecy ends with the destruction of Edom, it also confirms the faithfulness to the Israelites and the promises that he made. His grace to us offers us the ability to repent of the things in our hearts. Not only do we have the grace to repent, but we have the Holy Spirit to refine our hearts as a refiner's fire that would heat up our hearts, reveal the impurities so that they can be drawn off, so we can have a pure heart. We have that in the power of the Holy Spirit. He's able to do that. We have to sit before God and ask him to do that. We have to sit before God and ask him examine my heart, because it's his craftsmanship that makes it pure. And I will end with this. It says it best this way in Psalms 139. Search me, o God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxieties and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting. So how is your heart today? Thank you.
Speaker 3:Amen. We have a hand for Barb. Great word, barb, praise the Lord. Our next voice that's sharing with us today is Dave Henderson, and Dave and Monica. They serve in leading our closet and pantry out at Mercy House. He's served in a number of different roles, including as our men's director in the past in different places, and very thankful for who Dave is and for his heart after serving the Lord. Today we're going to hear from him, but first let's hear a little bit from the one he's sharing about Shalom friends, it's your humble servant, joel, coming to you.
Speaker 1:Live from. Well, let's just say it's been a minute since things felt. You know, lush. You guys are not going to believe what's happening here in Judah. We're talking zero wheat, zero new wine, zero olive oil, the vines are shriveled, the fig trees are let's just say they're not serving. And the flocks, guys? They are groaning, and the locusts ohaning. And the locusts oh, my word, the locusts. Not just a swarm people, we're talking generations of locusts the gnawer, the swarmer, the hopper, the stripper. They've basically redecorated our 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, not just our garments, fasting, weeping, mourning, getting right with God, because when the Lord roars from Zion, you do not want to be on the wrong side of that hashtag.
Speaker 5:That was a very good example of what took place in Judah. Joel was one of the earliest minor prophets. His ministry begins around 835 to 805 BC. Joel's names mean Yahweh is God. Joel prophesied during a time of great prosperity for Judah. The southern kingdom Judah was full of lush crops, vineyards, date palms, fig trees, apple trees, sheep and cattle. However, judah grew complacent in their sin, causing God's judgment to come upon them.
Speaker 5:In Joel 1, 1 through 7, the word of the Lord came to Joel, the son of Petal. Hear this, you elders, and give ear. All you inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this happened in your days or even in the days of your fathers? Hear this, you elders, and give ear. All you inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this happened in your days or even in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it and let their children tell their children and their children, another generation, what the chewing locusts have left the swarming locusts have eaten. What the swarming locusts have left the crawling locusts have eaten. And what the crawling locusts have left the crawling locusts have eaten. And what the crawling locusts left the consuming locusts have eaten. Awake you, drunkards, weep and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because the new wine for it has been cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up against my land strong and without number. His teeth are teeth of lion and he has fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste to my vine and ruined my fig tree.
Speaker 5:Judah is attacked by four swarms of locusts the chewing, swarming, crawling and consuming locusts. A swarm so large that a day before they struck the sky was darkened. And on top of all the locusts, usually fires follow a locust swarm. In a matter of hours, a plush land is stripped completely bare. Nothing's left. All crops are gone, eaten completely from the ground up. Every leaf on every tree is gone. Even the bark of the trees was eaten. All seed grain needed to grow the next year's crops are gone. Nothing was left untouched by this storm swarm. Even the food Jonah had stored is gone. Judah had stored is gone. The animal feed. There's no wine, there's no oil. But, most importantly, judah lost the ability to offer sacrifices to God, with no grain or oil for offerings or for offerings to God completely stopped.
Speaker 5:Joel's focus is not on the disaster before him or on God's judgment. His focus is on Judah's repentance. Beginning in chapter 2, we find an alarm being sound. 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's judgment.
Speaker 5:Joel prophesies a word from the Lord to his people. The Lord says turn to me with all your heart, with fasting and mourning. Rend your heart before me, not your garments. What God wants is a rending of their hearts, not a superficial tearing of their clothes. God says return to me, return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and full of kindness. All of Judah repents, everyone from the priest. All of Judah repents, everyone from the priests, elders and all the families. God responds with forgiveness, removing the locust, restoring the land, bringing the spring and fall rains, ensuring that the threshing floors will be full. The vats will be overflowing with oil and wine. God will restore the years the locusts have eaten, restoring the blessing back on Judah. In Joel 2.27, god says then you should know that I am in the midst of Israel. I am your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. My people shall never be put to shame.
Speaker 5:Joel prophesies of the coming outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. That God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy. Old men dream dreams. Young men see visions. He will pour out His Spirit on all men's servant and maidservants. God promises to pour out his spirit in those days. These are the days in which we currently live, where the Holy Spirit moves amongst us. In Joel 3, he prophesied a time when God will judge all nations, calling him together in the valley of Jehoshaphat for a final confrontation. The Lord will come forth out of Zion, a roaring lion, defeating the army and vindicating his people. After this judgment, the Lord will restore once again, blessing all his people, and we shall live forever with him in paradise.
Speaker 5:Throughout the book of Joel, we see the judgment of God, a call to repentance and a promise of restoration, and we find a people, judah, who grew complacent about their sin. Even now, thousands of years later, we too suffer from complacency, just like they did. We too are a blessed people and a nation, but if we're not watchful, sin and complacency begin to slip back in and we will find ourselves further from God, with so many things calling out for our attention work, school, family, facebook, tiktok. It's easy not to even notice. We are getting further away from God and God isn't going to force himself on us.
Speaker 5:God's waiting and longing for us to reach out to him. His desire is for you and we must intentionally set time aside to meet with him, quality time. He wants to hear your heart, your praise and your worship, even dance before him, like David did. There is no other place to go when the locusts of life come. You can't reason with a storm and you don't have to. God will. He is the one who can calm the storm. He will even turn the storm and change the damage in your favor If you do your part not focusing on the storm and change the damage in your favor if you do your part not focusing on the storm, but focusing solely on him. Now is the time to come close to him, and with this I'll close. I don't know how many of you know this, but the Bible is a love story from beginning to end. It's a story of man breaking his relationship with God and a loving God and God restoring that relationship with man from Genesis to Revelation. That's love, Thank you.
Speaker 3:Amen. We have a hand for Dave. Thanks, dave. Our third and final voice for today is our friend, angie, and Angie has her ministry credentials with the Symmetries of God. She actually leads our Spanish translation here at Cornerstone and serves as a life group leader, amongst other things. She has an amazing testimony of what God is doing in and through her life and what he's continuing to do in her life. But let's hear first who she's going to share about today.
Speaker 1:What up? Kingdom fam Nahum here feeling super inspired. You know how sometimes you see stuff and it gives you the ick. Yeah, me too. So there's this huge empire, nineveh, assyria's capital, Big flex they think they're untouchable stepping on everyone. Sound familiar. But here's the tea fam. I've been getting some serious downloads from the big man upstairs, some truth bombs to share. It ain't going to be pretty for them. Buckle up.
Speaker 1:Okay, guys, I'm in Nineveh right now. Can you even believe this? Look at all this. So much noise, so much extraness. They're living large, no doubt, but behind all the filters and flexing there's darkness, violence, oppression. They ain't playing fair and God sees it all. Listen up, nineveh. Your arrogance, not a good look. 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 a flood. The thing is, this isn't just about one city, kingdom Fam. This is a message for us all. Are we building on justice or chasing fleeting likes that hurt others? Let's choose the right path. Let's be the community that lifts each other up. Let's make God's love go viral for real.
Speaker 6:So earlier this year, I had the opportunity to go on a missions trip to the philippines. On this trip, I had the opportunity to minister to young girls that were sexually trafficked. Make no mistake, these girls were not victims, they were survivors. As I heard some of their stories, I realized that a lot of their offenders got away with their crimes. Their justice system had failed them, and also because they were not believed by their family members. I didn't understand. I honestly began to get mad and ask God why would they get away with such a thing? Where is the justice? And God being God, would answer in his timing, like he always does. It is he who has the final judgment, not us. This brings us to the book of Nahum. My question is who is this God?
Speaker 6:So Nahum is a small book, just three chapters, but it brings a heavy message to a brutal nation. He's speaking to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians weren't just wicked, they were savage. They were known to decapitate prisoners, skin people alive, cut off fingers and leave heads on stakes at the city gates. God has spared them back in Jonah's time because they answered his graceful call to repent, but they went back to their old ways. They had listened to Jonah and repented and walked with God for a short time about only, rather than committing to God. And here we pick up in Nahum's prophecy. Nahum says enough, but even in judgment God's character is clear.
Speaker 6:Nahum 1.3 says the Lord is slow to anger, but great in power. The Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm. This verse shows us three things about God. One he is patient. Two he is powerful. And he is just. Who is this God? He is patient.
Speaker 6:Let's talk about the first part. The Lord is slow to anger, he is patient. But make no mistake, god is a jealous God. But let's get this straight he is not jealous like our jealousy. Our jealousy is jealousy. A boy, our boyfriend, looking at our girlfriend or at another girl. That's our jealousy. God's jealousy is he doesn't want you to worship other idols. He doesn't want our worship split. It's money, fame, comfort or instant gratification. We live in a culture that wants it all now. We want likes, follows, applause. We want success, but not sacrifice. We want the reward without relationship. And so many people think it's easier to live in sin. There's no cost. Wrong. There's always a cost. There is always a price to pay.
Speaker 6:Nineveh thought they could get away with it forever, but nothing escapes God's eyes. You can fool people, but not God, after they had served God for about 100 years before returning to their old ways. How many times do we get tired of serving God or grow stagnant in our walk and want to give up and turn to our old ways? Two who is this God? He is powerful.
Speaker 6:When Nineveh had wasted its day of grace, god, in all his power, said enough. He has the power to destroy nations. He says in 2.13, behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth and the voice of your messenger shall no longer be heard. Remember, we get too comfortable with God and forget he is a mighty and powerful God. However, when we ask who this God is, our hope is the answer he is just. But here's the good news God doesn't just see wickedness, he sees faithfulness. Nahum 1.7 says the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in him.
Speaker 6:When you're having a hard time, press into God. Remember, he is good and sees you. I know that it can be hard to stay the course, especially if you're going through things. It might seem like now that you are serving Jesus, everything is going down, but those are lies from the enemy. Stay faithful, because he is faithful. I'm not saying it's easy. We live in a time where everyone's posting hashtag live my best life, party pictures, weekend turnips. But can I be real? I don't need to be of the world to be living my best life. My best life started when I began drinking of the river of life. I would rather have a coffee on Jesus' 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. He sees you when you say no to temptation. Open your Bible when you'd rather scroll. Choose purity over popularity.
Speaker 6:Forgive when you've been hurt and, let's be honest, that can be difficult, because when we hurt others, we want to be forgiven, but forgiving others is a different story. Others, we want to be forgiven, but forgiving others is a different story. Galatians 6 9 says let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up, god's grace is greater. Even though judgment came for Nineveh, god offers grace to those who trust him. He's not a harsh punisher, he's a good, good father. He's just. Yes, he punishes sin, yes, but through Jesus he offers mercy. Before wrath At the cross, god judged sin but poured that judgment on his son so we could be set free.
Speaker 6:Nahum 1.3 again says the Lord is slow to anger, but great in power. The Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. Don't test God's patience, treasure it. Don't chase temporary pleasure. Stay the course. Don't believe the enemy's lies that sin is easier. Life with Jesus may not be easy, but it is always worth it. So draw near to him and the impossible will become possible.
Speaker 3:Amen. Draw near to him and the impossible will become possible. Amen, praise the Lord. Today we've heard from these voices of in challenging us about our heart with God and dealing with our pride, dealing with this idea of gloating over someone else and dealing with our pride dealing with this idea of gloating over someone else. And we heard this idea of Joel talking about to rend our hearts, break our hearts, not just show that we're sorry, but really have a heart towards God. And when we do that, we'll find the provision that's only found in God, that he's our restoration, that he is the one that pours out his spirit upon us. And then here, in this last bit, when we hear talking about that God is just, that he's the one that's patient and powerful and that we should seek him with everything we have. Would you say amen to that? Friends? Today it's a challenge for us that we would be those that learn from these prophets of old, that we would apply it to our lives, that we wouldn't have to make the same mistakes that these nations did, that they came to challenge that we ourselves would turn our hearts to God, that we would run towards God with everything. And just as many of these speakers shared that we wouldn't make the small steps that end up taking us away from God, but instead we would make him our priority and that we'd put him first, worshiping him with our whole heart.
Speaker 3:Today we have this opportunity to respond to this message, and maybe you're here and you've yet to ever make a decision to follow Jesus. Today is your opportunity to do so. Each one of us has to answer that question of have you embraced Jesus? And that means to live your life is unto him, to give your life to him and to say Lord, come into my life, forgive me of my sin. I want to give my heart and my life to you. See, for us, as Christ followers, the cross is a symbol of power, and not a symbol of power the way the Romans meant it to be a symbol of power, like we're subjugating you and we'll kill you with this thing. That's terrible. But no, it's a symbol of power to us, because Jesus, he took all of our mistakes, all of our brokenness, all of mine, and he took it and he paid with his life upon the cross so that we could be put in right standing with the Father. See, there's no way for us, as broken people, to approach a holy God. It's not possible. You can't do enough good things. I've met people trying to earn their way in their heaven my whole life, trying to do enough good stuff and hope that they make it Friends. Let me tell you there's only one way to the Father, and that's through Jesus Christ. So today we come with the same message that he comes to us with, which is that we would turn our hearts towards him, the Apostle Paul. He writes to the church at Rome and says this because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified. With the mouth, one confesses and is saved. Today, friends, is your day. It's your opportunity to say yes to Jesus.
Speaker 3:I'm going to ask if everyone is standing to their feet right where they're at, bow your heads. Christians are praying as people are making decisions to follow Jesus. If you're online today, no matter what platform it's at Facebook, youtube, tiktok, instagram, wherever you're at, take a pause, listen to what Holy Spirit wants to do in your life. Today, friends, as heads are bowed, we have this opportunity to respond to God's love. And if that's you and you'd like to make a commitment to Jesus today or maybe you have in the past but you haven't been living it you need to recommit your life to God. If that's you today, if you just raise your hand right where you're at, say, pastor, that's me, include me in this prayer today that I want to commit my life to Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord.
Speaker 3:As people are making decisions to follow God Friends online as well, wherever you're at. Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord. I'm going to ask if everyone would, 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 the cross for my sins. I believe he rose again. Forgive me of my sins. I surrender my life to you In Christ's name. I pray Amen, amen, friends, we would enjoy it. So you make a decision to follow Jesus today.
Speaker 3:Hey, if you're here in this room, connect with us. We want to put some things in your hand. If you're online, connect with us. We want to be able to make that connection. You're not called to do this life after Jesus alone. For us, friends, we have this, this opportunity, to respond to this message and if you're someone who needs more of God's presence, maybe you need him to meet you right where you're at. Maybe you need some guidance, some wisdom. You need his anointing just to face this week ahead.
Speaker 3:We're gonna ask you to come down into this front, make an altar with God. We're gonna ask the people that spoke today in our prayer team, our pastoral team, to come and pray over you, agree with you in this moment, lord. We thank you so much, god, for this challenge that we hear from these prophets. Lord, we thank you that you anointed them, lord, to bring this challenging word to the people of their time, lord, one to turn their hearts back to you, one of correction, lord, one of putting you first and keeping you first. Lord, I thank you for those that were anointed to bring the word today, lord, and I thank you, lord, for their obedience to bring that word to us, lord, that we're called to have hearts after you and that you're a good God who is merciful and loves us and forgives us, but, lord, that we would turn to you and not walk away from your goodness and from your plan for our lives.
Speaker 3:Lord, as we come to this altar today, we do so with an intentionality, lord. We're asking for an impartation of 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. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen. Hey, it's an exciting season we find ourselves in because it's summer and that means that at the 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 give of your time, if you want to give to the program to help kids that are in need have a great back to school, we encourage you to do that now. If you want to give that in kind or in finances, you can, but want to put that as a highlight for you for this week.
Speaker 7:We still have a lot of events this summer. You can go online on the app and check that out. Also, pray for our kids. My prayer for them they're at camp, they're on their way there right now Is that they would come back with such an anointing as we get ready to send them back into school next month that they would be the salt of the earth and the light that shines everywhere they go. So continue praying for them.
Speaker 3:They're going to get touched this week, before we go, we're going to pray this blessing over us. The Lord bless you and keep you. Lord, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. To shine upon you and be gracious to you, lord, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Lord, I pray a blessing upon your church, your people. Lord, you empower us by your spirit to live your love out to those around us. We pray all this in the powerful name that is Jesus Christ. Amen, amen, know this. We love you very much here at Cornerstone. God bless you and have a great week.