Reflecting on the Final Days of Jesus to Cultivate Everlasting Hope | Matthew 24:1-14 | Pastor Ben Burnett

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation that took an unexpected turn into deeper waters? That's where we're headed as we journey through Matthew's account of Jesus' final days in Jerusalem, reflecting on moments that challenge our comfort zones. As your host, I invite you to walk with me and the disciples through the highs and lows—from the cleansing of the temple to the profound confrontations with religious authorities. Mixing scriptural insights with stories from my own life, we'll navigate these tales of transformation and see ourselves in the questioning eyes of those who followed Jesus.

Confronting hard truths can feel like being caught between two battling giants, especially when what we've held dear starts to crumble. In this episode, we grapple with the emotions of Jesus' disciples as they face the unthinkable—the destruction of their sacred temple. As we discuss the disciples' internal turmoil, akin to that of a child amidst quarreling parents, we'll also consider our own reactions to the institutions and beliefs we encounter today. Drawing from both the past and present, we seek to understand disillusionment and find strength in the midst of it.

As we culminate our discussion, hope takes center stage despite the backdrop of uncertainty and suffering. Recalling advice from my grandfather, Papal Joe, about how preparation and mindset can help us through life's prickliest moments, we'll explore the encouragement and resilience found within the pages of Scripture. Concluding with a heartfelt prayer, this episode is an offering of solace—a reminder that through trials and tribulations, the teachings of Christ illuminate a path of redemption and everlasting hope. Join us as we reflect on these eternal truths and the power they have to transform hearts and minds.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

The following resource is brought to you by Real Life Community Church in Richmond, Kentucky. We hope you're both challenged and encouraged by this message.

Speaker 2: 0:15

Today is, as you heard me pray, this one's a tough one. You know, we've been in this section of Matthew for a little while now, where you know Jesus. He comes into Jerusalem and he's riding on the cult of a donkey and man. From that point forward it's on right. We just got out of the last chapter, which was the woes of the Pharisees and the scribes or these religious leaders, and I don't know about you all, but when I come to some of these passages sometimes and maybe I shouldn't do this, but it was a comprehension strategy I learned in elementary school, so I do it I kind of put myself into the story, I try to figure out what does this mean and how can I best kind of take it in, how do I internalize this thing? And so today, as we come to our passage, it just seems like the disciples feel a little awkward. Have you ever been in one of those situations where you just kind of feel awkward and you do something to, I don't know, to lighten the mood a little bit or something like that? Well, excuse me, if you know me for any length of time, you've probably, if you hang around me enough, will hear me change the subject when things get tense or awkward or whatever, and typically I utilize something that's random, just around us in the environment. You know I'll go oh look, there's an exit sign over there and people look at the exit sign and then you change the subject. It gives you this weird segue, but if it's already awkward, you might as well make it a little more awkward to make it a little less awkward. That's what I do. That was actually born out of my time as a college student, where and I'm going to tell you this story and I hesitated to tell it, but I'll just tell it because it's real life and it's transparent it was born out of a time when I was a college student where I had this leadership team. While I was on this leadership team, I was a student at this point, we had this leadership team and one of our girls was engaged to be married.

Speaker 2: 2:21

And how many of you know that, as your wedding day draws near and near, oftentimes people aggravate the young bride or the young groom, or well, soon to be bride or groom, in ways that aren't quite wholesome. We'll just say it that way, right? You aggravate each other about you know what's to come, so to speak. Well, that's what they did. They would, good-naturedly, kind of aggravate her and as time went on, you know, it just got a little more awkward and a little more awkward. And man, my campus pastor, he was like guys, I just need you to keep that under control. And he just got. And so finally, and the problem with it, and how many of you know this, when you aggravate somebody and their face goes red, man, that makes it all worth it. You want to do it more and so her face would just get beat red and they would aggravate her more and aggravate her more. But she actually was the first one to do this.

Speaker 2: 3:12

We had this, you know, those nice like artwork paintings. You know what I'm talking about. Well, this one was probably from oh, I don't know the 80s or the 90s, and it was a picture of one of those. I'm going to call it a pirate ship, because that's what it makes me think of. It really wasn't a pirate ship. It was one of those, you know, the sailing vessels with the big sails, you know, very regal, and as her face would turn more and more red, finally, one day she just she looks over at the wall and she points and she says there's a boat on the wall and you know it's like this big regal sailing ship, so it made us all laugh. Well, that proceeded to be the thing that we did long after she had graduated, long after. I don't even really have contact with her anymore and I still do this thing where I just I look and I say, oh, look at the whatever the lights around the thing, and people look at them and then it changes the subject. It's one of those things that allows me to fill an awkward moment with something that's just off kilter enough to change the subject to make me feel better and hopefully make others around me feel better, and to segue into something else.

Speaker 2: 4:18

This passage feels that way because, again, if you've been with us, we've seen several things in the last months of us being in Matthew. Going through this passage, we see Jesus who rides again into into Jerusalem on the cult of a donkey. Then Jesus makes a whip out of cords and stops temple worship for a while as he overturns the table, the money changers and how many of you know that when that happens, it's on right? Jesus stops temple worship because it is so heretical and is so not what God had intended. Then he curses a fig tree for his lack of fruit. He fends off attacks on his authority and his character. He calls out the leading religious leaders of the day with parables about their relationship with God or their lack of relationship with God. And since plain language is easiest understood, he called them out in chapter three with seven woes related to their character and their actions.

Speaker 2: 5:19

It's been a hectic time for Jesus and I don't know, this is just my opinion, but when I read our chapter today, I feel like the disciples may just feel a little awkward, and so they do this thing that we will read about right now. So if you would stand with, stand to your feet with me on the honor of the reading of the word of God. We are in Matthew 24. Should have told you that before I ever started the intro. We're in Matthew 24. Hopefully it'll be on the screen in just a moment.

Speaker 2: 5:45

We're starting in verse one, matthew 24. Verse one says Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them. You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately saying tell us when would these things be and what will be the sign of your coming At the end of the age? Jesus answered them. See that no one leads you astray, for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. You will hear of wars, rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed for this mistake place, but the end is not yet, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray, and Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved, and this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a Testimony to all nations. And then the end will come. You may be seated.

Speaker 2: 7:21

So, again, it's my opinion that the disciples have just come out of this really awkward moment, and if you don't remember last week, I'll just read from the last little section of the former chapter 29. It says this it says woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous saying if we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them and shedding the blood of the prophets. Thus you witness against yourselves this you're the sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers, you serpents, you brood of vipers. How are you to escape being sentenced to hell? No, whoo, that's rough, y'all that's rough.

Speaker 2: 8:08

If I and one of the disciples and I'm following my master, who is Jesus, it starts to get a little awkward, because I've been taught all of my life that these Pharisees, they sit in the seat of mothers and so I should listen to them. They speak with the very authority that God speaks with, and so I should hear them and do what they say. And Then I get called to follow this rabbi, who I now believe is the Messiah, the one that God would send to restore the kingdom to Israel. And Now he's telling me that the people that I should have always listened to, the people that I should have always trusted, the people that speak with the authority of God, are a brood of vipers and they're going to hell. Whoo, that's awkward. It's awkward. It's like when mom and dad fight and you're a little kid, you're going. Whoa, I don't know what to do here. It's awkward and I feel like I don't know. This is, again, just my opinion, but they walk out of Jerusalem, because that's what it says in 24.

Speaker 2: 9:08

Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. I feel like they're going. We got to say something and I don't know what to do. I mean, you know, daddy's mad and that's a problem. So we're gonna go to Jesus and we're gonna say something hey, jesus, look at the buildings of the temple. That's pretty safe, right? If he's the Messiah, I mean he's gonna love the temple because that's where the presence of God dwells. And so I feel like they come to him and I don't know again, I'm spitballing, but I feel like they come to him and they they bring up something safe. Hey, jesus, check out this temple, man, it's awesome.

Speaker 2: 9:48

And then what does Jesus say? Well, jesus says this. He says you see all these this is verse two, do you not? Truly? I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another. It will not be thrown down. And y'all ever hang out with somebody that you just feel like is a Debbie Downer? Just whatever happens. It just seems like nothing makes them happy. That is not Jesus here, by the way. That's not what I'm saying. That's not Jesus. And here's why it's not Jesus. This is not Jesus, because Jesus is about to give them, is about to give them, some very hard truths. If you're taking notes today, by the way, usually I say this up front, but today I'm really going to be talking about three things. I'm going to be talking about number one, the hard truths Of the end. I'm going to be talking number two, about helpful tips for the end. And then, lastly, I'm going to be talking about hopeful times. In the end, jesus is going to give them some hard truths. And, man, this temple being destroyed for them would have been unthinkable. That's a hard truth for them.

Speaker 2: 10:52

This is again, if you didn't hear me before, this is where the presence of god dwells In the nation of israel. This is where. This is the place where we go to meet with god. This is the place where we and everything about my life centers around this place. If I sin, I go there to get cleansed. So if the temple goes away, no more cleansing. I go there for all of my social event. Well, not all of my social events, but I go there for a lot of my social events. Once a year I make a pilgrimage there. There's all this stuff, all that stuff, all that social stuff goes away. The temple gets destroyed. Where do I go for spiritual guidance? Where do I go in the hard times, when things Just seem too difficult to bear? Where do I go? Jesus gives us hard truths.

Speaker 2: 11:40

And, man, if you're in the the disciples shoes today, if, if you've been sitting here for the last three years, whether it's in this church or at home, and you're here today, I'm so glad you're here, by the way, um, and if you're going, I just don't know how to respond to the world around me. That's what the disciples would have felt like. If you're going. I thought I could trust and I'm sorry to go here, but I'm going to thought I could trust my government or my Education system or my fill in the blank, whatever, and you don't feel like you can't anymore. I understand where you're coming from and, more than that, the, the disciples, really understand where you're coming from Because everything, the one thing that is solid and and supposed to be unchanging, is this temple and all of a sudden Jesus is going to say it's going to be destroyed. It's funny about that temple. Um, I get them pointing it out.

Speaker 2: 12:35

If you go back and you look at antiquity, the temple was one of those really amazing things of the ancient world. Thomas Hale and his applied New Testament commentary. He says the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was one of the biggest and most magnificent buildings in the ancient world. Around it were many colon odds and courtyards and smaller buildings. The temple area Get this was one sixth of the city of Jerusalem. So imagine real life community church one sixth of the city of Richmond Big place. Its front was covered with gold. Some of its stones now listen to this were 30 feet long and 12 feet wide. So that means they were about the same area as a school bus give or take and somehow, some way, a group of people because they loved God, put those things together. How in the world could one of those giant stones not be left upon another?

Speaker 2: 13:35

It's hard truth, and Jesus is going to say that this thing that they've put their trust in will no longer be there soon enough. And so the disciples, they come to Jesus in verse 2 and they ask him really two questions. If you look, they say you see, or no, well, I'm sorry, they come to him. Verse 3, rather, it says he sat on the Mount of Olives. The disciples came to him privately saying tell us when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Now some people will say, ben, that's three questions. It's really two, because number one, what will be the sign of your coming? That's number one. That was pretty clear. And then the next one what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age is really and this again, this is my opinion, but really kind of one thing.

Speaker 2: 14:21

If you're one of the disciples at that point you know you could be thinking oh well, maybe when Jesus, at the end of the age, after he's restored the kingdom to Israel and everything and everything else kind of passes away. Maybe that's when the temple will be destroyed because we won't need it anymore and you know, all of the earth will go away and we'll go to heaven. You know, it was kind of one of those things the Pharisees believed in, a resurrection, kind of like we do. It was a little different but close enough. Maybe that's what they were thinking. You know they're going, hey, maybe there's a logical reason why this thing's going to happen. It's not something that's so hopeless. And then Jesus is going to give them a little more hard.

Speaker 2: 14:55

Truth, verse four. It says in Jesus answered them see that no one leads you astray, for many will come into my name saying I'm the Christ. They will lead many astray and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. And see that you are not alarmed for this mistake place. But the end is not yet, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are about the beginning of the birth pains. Be blessed and encouraged. We'll see you next week. No, I know you're sitting there going. Man, this sounds hopeless. I promise it will get better. I promise, just stick with me.

Speaker 2: 15:34

Jesus gives them hard truths about the end, but he also is going to give them some helpful tips, and we've just talked about a few of them. So let me kind of break this passage down just a little bit so we can see some of the helpful things that Jesus is going to give us. He says Jesus answered them. See that no one leads you astray. Helpful tip number one see that no one leads you astray, for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. He's saying don't be duped. These things happen. False Christ's, false prophets will come, but but keep your eyes on me. Jesus answered and see that no one leads you astray.

Speaker 2: 16:10

Verse six he says and you'll hear wars and rumors of wars. See that you're not alarmed. So number one see that you're not led astray. But number two see that you're not alarmed. I don't know about you guys, but that's kind of the hard one for me. I just told you all the bad stuff. Right, you're going. How can you tell me not to be alarmed? Promise it's going to get better, I promise. Jesus says see that you're not alarmed for this. This must take place, but the end is not yet Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes. All these are by the beginning of the birth pains, verse nine. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and lead many astray, because lawlessness will be increased. The love of many will grow cold, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. Number three, he's going to tell you don't be led astray. Number two don't be alarmed. Number three endure to the end. You'll ever have one of those moments where you know something's coming.

Speaker 2: 17:24

When I was a kid I don't know what it is about your childhood, I don't have children, so I'm sure that you parents out there can answer this question very easily, or you nurses for that matter but when I was a kid it seemed like every other day I was going to the doctor to get some kind of shot. You know, it was like flu vaccine or I don't know. It was just like every time I went to the doctor and it seemed like that was really often I got a shot and I hated that. I mean, nobody's going to like shots, right, but I didn't really did not like shots, like it was one of those things I'd get like antsy couple of weeks before, even if I found out I was going and I was like I'm going to get a shot.

Speaker 2: 17:59

I don't like it. You know they give you that little lollipop when you left the doctor's office. That was cool, but like that was no consolation for me. Like I was going to get a shot and that was not good and so I'd be worried, and you know all of these things. And one day I'm talking to my grandfather and it was my mom's dad, it's Papal Joe. I was talking to Papal Joe. I said Papal, I'm about to get a shot and I don't like it.

Speaker 2: 18:22

And he said hey, he said think about it. Like this. He said you got a week to prepare yourself for this thing. Like what do you mean prepare myself for this thing? Like am I going to like I don't know. Like am I going to give me some of that, like that numbing cream? He's like no, he's like this gives you a week to process through. You're going to have some pain, he's like. But think about it. How long does the shot last? And I was like well, it's. He's like the last, like first, second. Come on, ben. He said think about it. He said last for a second. He said then it's over.

Speaker 2: 18:53

And he said the better you handle it, the more proud of you. Your mom is and I am and and you know mom's probably going to take you someplace not like you know, like in my, when I was a kid. You know someplace nice. It's like McDonald's. Mom's probably going to take you. Like McDonald's, you get a happy meal in the toy and you know like they're going to give you that little lollipop and you know we'll be so proud of you, know you, for being so brave and all this stuff. And it changed my perspective, because I was a big tough man as a four year old kid. I was going to do this thing right, and so I thought about it and I thought about what? What do I do when I get a shot? I breathe really hard. So let's do the opposite and I'll hold my breath. So I went in and I got my shot and I held my breath. I don't know if they're not honestly, but just that that little bit of mindset change helped me deal with the coming pain.

Speaker 2: 19:51

I believe, if nothing else, jesus gives us helpful tips like don't be, let history, don't be anxious, or persevere to the end, because lets us know that, yeah, there's gonna be some pain one day. There's gonna be some what the Bible sometimes calls light momentary affliction, but if you know it's coming, at least you can prepare for it right? Here's one more thing, and this is man. This is gonna lead me into my final point, and I love, love, this part of this passage. If you look at verse 13, he does say but the one who endures to the end will be saved, and this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. You know what that tells me? They're gonna persecute me and they're gonna kill me out, and all this bad stuff is gonna come. But you know what it also tells me? It tells me that this gospel, this thing that I've given my life for, doesn't stop. It tells me that my life has a purpose and a meaning, and it tells me that all the bad stuff that I go through it's for a reason, helps me, helps me understand that my life isn't just a vapor and that my God doesn't care about me. It helps me to know that my God does care about me, that I don't give my life for no reason.

Speaker 2: 21:19

Jesus tells me don't be alarmed. And how do I not be alarmed? I'm not alarmed because my God is bigger. He's not done with me yet. He's not done with you yet. He is worthy of it all, including the suffering and the sacrifice. He's bigger than my pain and my problems.

Speaker 2: 21:44

And so if you're out there today, you're going. I don't know if I could handle that. You can, because your God's big enough to help you handle it. If you're out there today and you're going, I don't know if I can hang on, even today, in this moment, because it just seems like everything's hopeless. I watched the news and is China gonna blow up and attack us all? Are we gonna be in World War 3 because of this Russia thing? Are we gonna get another disease that would wipe us all off the map? I don't know if I can handle this. Guess what. You can because your God is big enough. You can because God tells you don't be anxious. You can because he is the God who made all things. And so, if you're in the place where I feel like the disciples were in this moment, where they're so anxious, don't be anxious. That's what God, the creator of all things, who knows the end from the beginning, tells us Persevere to the end. It's a simple and funny statement, but somebody asked once how do you eat an elephant, one bite at a time? How do you, who feel so anxious, how do you deal with this? One day at a time with Jesus?

Speaker 2: 23:04

Philippians 4 is probably one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. It says this. It says do not be anxious for anything. That sounds like something Jesus said Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, Prayer, supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God.

Speaker 2: 23:32

Bob and I were talking about that song. You're not done with me yet. And how does it start, bob? It says how could I have forgotten the great things you've done? Is that how it starts, man? How can we forget the great things that God has done? How can we forget the fact that I remember a time when I was so hopeless and I wanted my life to end because I didn't see a point.

Speaker 2: 23:57

I remember those times where I drove fast and used my road rage because I kind of hoped that wrecked a little bit. I remember those times when I looked at all of my friends who seemed like they were self-medicating with everything in the whole world and I thought there is no point to existence. And then God stepped in. Man, I remember the good things he's done. I remember the times when he's brought me out of afflictions. I remember the times when he's healed my body. I remember the times when he's healed the bodies of my friends and loved ones, and I remember the times when he was merciful enough to take some of them on.

Speaker 2: 24:41

I remember the times that God has been good and faithful. He's not done yet, and so I can look at a passage like this that says bad times are coming and I can know that God is in control. And so when I look at these things, yeah, I see hard truths and, yeah, I see helpful tips for the end. But you know what I see most of all out of this passage? I see hope. In the end, I see a God who can't be beaten and can't be thwarted, and his gospel will be proclaimed to the end of the earth, and then the end will come. I see a point to my existence, and that is to give God everything that I have. And here's the deal. My life could be amazing for the rest of my days, and I may never see this thing, and my life is still worth everything that I can give him to spread the gospel, because there are people out there that are lost and dying and going to hell and my life could be the worst thing that has ever happened.

Speaker 2: 25:41

For the rest of my days, pastor Hunter said we've been in the book of Job for daily reading and man, the book of Job Dean, and I have been talking about it. It's not real encouraging, is it? Wife, what? Yeah, all of his kids die and all of his stuff is taken, destroyed, all the above. He's covering boils and he sits in an ash heap and scrapes himself with a piece of pottery Boy. That sounds great. Thank you for your encouragement, ben. But you know what Job helps me with, helps me know that sometimes suffering comes and God speaks up. At the end of Job, he's not done. It may not be what I want, but he's not done. That's what this passage tells me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is hope for the end.

Speaker 2: 26:32

Can I give you just one little, just fun thing, just to kind of reinforce the point. There is prophecy that you see in Scripture all over the place. That's what Jesus is doing here. He's prophesying that, for instance, the temple is going to be destroyed. Did that happen, as you might know? Did you know that was a year 8070. Yep, or 70 CE for those people who don't measure it by. Jesus' life and death Temple was destroyed in 8070, along with Jerusalem. Let me give you just a couple things.

Speaker 2: 27:04

Let me give you a couple things I was reading in Josephus this week about. He was a historian that actually lived almost exactly during this time of the temple being destroyed and from Josephus' work it's called the War of the Jews. He writes this. But Titus, who was the Roman general, said although the Jews should get upon that holy house and fight us thence, yet ought we not to revenge ourselves on things that are inanimate? In other words, I don't want to destroy the temples. What are you saying Instead of the men themselves? He said in that he was not in any case for burning down so vast a work as that was talking about the temple, because this would be a mischief to the Romans themselves as it would be an ornament to their government while it continued. But Titus, the Roman general who is in charge of destroying Jerusalem, said was I don't want to destroy the temple because it's so magnificent. It would be like a feather in our cap, like this is a part of our empire. This is awesome. That's what Titus says, the Roman general.

Speaker 2: 28:04

And then Josephus goes on to tell us why the temple was destroyed. God's plans can't be thwarted. He says this, he said, and, by the way, josephus did not believe in Jesus, he was just a Jewish guy who wrote all this stuff down, he said. But as for that house, again talking about the temple, god had for certain long ago doomed it to the fire, and now that fatal day was come. According to the revolution of ages, it was the 10th day of the month of something upon, which is the. It was formerly burnt by the king of Babylon, although these flames took their rise from the Jews themselves and were occasioned by them. For, upon Titus is retiring as in, he took a break from battle, the seditious lay still for a little while and then attack the Romans again, and when those that guarded the holy house fought with those that quenched the fire that was burning the temple, they ceased it to be put out.

Speaker 2: 28:51

What that means is the Romans were actually not going to destroy the temple that Jesus prophesied would be destroyed. You know, you always think these big, bad Romans are and they were bad. Don't get me wrong, but what's funny about it is that this was God's plan, so much so that the Romans had set this place on fire to try to get the Jews to stop defending it, because they're going to destroy Jerusalem and take all these people captive. I get it, I'd not want them to do that either. But what I would call kind of by accident, the Romans are actually putting people out there to put out the fire, and these Jewish people are like oh, the Romans are coming, let's fight them. And the problem was those people that they're fighting are actually the ones who were trying to save the temple by putting the fire out. God's plan can't be afforded. What's also funny about that thing is that fire would actually melt all this gold that, remember, we were talking about, that covers the temple, to the point that it would sink down in the cracks of these stones and in between things and all kinds of stuff. So the conquerors, after they were finished, gave this whole thing to this guy who was supposed to plow Jerusalem under, basically make it a big open field, and he was like, hey, there's gold in them, the earth stones. So he started overturning these stones. He actually threw them off one of the walls, and you can go today and see where archeologists have dug up these stones of the temple that are all in this giant heap, and again they're like the size of school buses. They overturned this, literally took every stone off of another so they could get to the gold. Jesus knew exactly the details of this thing. God knows what he's doing.

Speaker 2: 30:27

Let me give you one last one, just for fun. Isaiah 45, verse one, says thus the Lord said to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him, that gates may not be closed. He says I will go before you and level the exalted places. I will break in pieces of the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you treasures of darkness and the hordes and secret places that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by name For the sake of my servant, jacob and Israel, my chosen. I call you by your name. I name you Though you do not know me. I am the Lord and there is no other. I am the Lord this is verse five, and there is no other besides me. There is no God. I equip you, though you do not know me that people may know from the rising of the sun and from the West that there is none besides me. I'm the Lord. There is no other.

Speaker 2: 31:23

That Cyrus guy, by the way, was not a Jewish person at all. He was a king from another nation and God was actually pronouncing judgment on Babylon because they conquered the Jews. The Cyrus guy is going to come along and conquer Babylon. That's an Isaiah 45. Why is that so important? That's what will be born for another 100, 200 years. God calls the man by name, and you can verifiably look this up in history. Cyrus was the guy.

Speaker 2: 31:52

God knew what he was doing, and so, as the worship team comes to, just kind of give us some something to process by, I'll say it that way when are you at today? Are you in the place where you just need a touch from God? He's available. Are you going? Man, I don't know that God could fix my problem. Well, he knows the name of Cyrus 200 years before he's born, and he knows the exact events of the destruction of the temple. He knows what he's doing. The funny thing about that is, not only does he know what he's doing, but he's the one who sets things in motion. He's the one who's not surprised by anything that's going to happen to you in your lifetime. And though you may go well, ben, I don't like some of the things that go on in my lifetime God's still there to help you through it. It doesn't always get us around things, but he helps us get through things, amen. And so if you're here today and you just need time to process, I get it.

Speaker 2: 33:01

This is a heavy passage, y'all. I wasn't going to preach it. I was going to preach something else because Chris told me I could. And then, man, this thing just kept coming up over and over and over again. So here's what I'll tell you to close.

Speaker 2: 33:14

There's hope for you today. If you don't know Jesus man, you may feel like all hope is lost. You may feel like there is nothing good in your life and there is no point to existence, like I did. There is His name is Jesus. He's the son of the living God, the Messiah, the one who would come to die in your place for your sins. Jesus would say things like repent, believe the gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God, the good news that God has a plan and a purpose for you and that if you'll submit to Him, if you'll make Him Lord, he'll save you from sin and death and set you on a path that's so much greater than anything you've ever known. It may not be easy, but it'll be great.

Speaker 2: 34:06

If you're there today and you want to know more about this, jesus, I'm going to be standing over here on the left. It'll be your right. If you're there today and you're going, I just need to sit and just soak this in for a minute. You can sit. You don't have to stand. You may need to process, and that's okay. And if you need to process at the altar man, this side's going to be there for you just to be left alone, because I get it sometimes. You just need to process with God and let Him do what he wants to do with you.

Speaker 2: 34:37

As we sing, I'm going to just say a quick prayer and I'm going to let the Lord do His work again. If you need something, our elders are doing this. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come in the name of Jesus and we thank you for your word, god. Your word gives us hope in times when things seem hopeless. You can't be beaten and you can't be thwarted. Your gospel will continue to the end and nothing no persecution, no famine, no army, no anything can stop it. You give us hope in what seems like hopeless times, and so today, as we come before you, lord, I pray for every person that's here. I thank you for them and I pray that you would help them this day to know that you're God, to know that you're there. Then they can ask for help and you'll answer. Thank you, jesus, for your word and your grace. Amen God, your word.