1 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,240 Hi and welcome to the Via Zion Sermon Podcast. 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,360 We are a local church based here in Chennai, India. 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,640 We are so glad you are with us and hope that this will 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,200 encourage, inspire and instill fresh faith in you. 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,480 We believe that everyone of us are exiles here on earth while 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,640 our citizenships are in heaven. How we live while in exile 7 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,120 matters a lot to God. Do we live with prayerful hope 8 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:37,720 and joyful expectancy? Let's hear God's word to us and 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,480 allow Him to guide us into an abundantly peaceful and 10 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:45,360 purposeful life. I church such a joy and a 11 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,840 privilege to be bringing God's word to you today. 12 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,480 Even as we step in into hearing what God has to say from His 13 00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,080 Word, I believe God is doing and then something through us, even 14 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:00,520 as we've just coming after a couple. 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,360 Of weeks after the Easter. Sunday, two weeks back, we heard 16 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,640 Tina speak specifically on how God deals with us in this new 17 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,760 season, that he's taking us into spring rain, which means there 18 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,000 are some old roots and attachments that we have which 19 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,960 we need to let go even as we step into this new season. 20 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,480 And even as I was meditating, God took me to the. 21 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,000 Book of Ezra. And as many of you know that 22 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,520 you're already in the season of election in the next entire 23 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,400 month, a little more than a month and a half. 24 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,320 And as you're going through that, I was just reading through 25 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,720 the book of Ezra, Zechariah and Haggai and all that. 26 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:44,400 And I was just seeing that the way in which people entered into 27 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,680 this land of. Exile that God was. 28 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,040 Leading them into and it was. Purely because of the. 29 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,880 Disobedience, and we see that. God was still God. 30 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,000 And even as they were under different rulers over a period 31 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,280 of time, and even today as we take some time to meditate on 32 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,520 God's Word, the title that I've given my sermon today is Exiled 33 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,760 citizens. We are citizens of heaven. 34 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,800 We are citizens of the true king. 35 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,200 Even as we celebrate Easter, there's only one Kingdom that's 36 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:15,640 everlasting, and we are citizens. 37 00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:18,120 Of that because we've accepted. Jesus into our hearts. 38 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,400 But we are. In a sense, living in. 39 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,240 Exile 'cause we are here. In this temporary world, 40 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,240 different countries, different citizenships and all that, but 41 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,440 we are under some form of exile here. 42 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,320 We're living in this world and we're not. 43 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,640 Of this world. And so with that frame of 44 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,920 thought, I just wanted to take some time for us to meditate and 45 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:40,760 see what. God has to tell us. 46 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,360 We see from the book. Of Ezra that the people were. 47 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,920 In exile, and the king of Persia occupies Babylon. 48 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:49,920 We see as a people. Who are there in exile? 49 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:54,000 God has a deep. Calling over their life that 50 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,040 remnant few, He wants them to go back and build the temple and 51 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,320 God moves the heart of the king. And it was a reminder that even 52 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:08,240 as we especially are in this life, temporary life here on 53 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,200 this earth when we are in exile. It's. 54 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,560 God who moves the hearts of people around us. 55 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:17,360 It's not us, it's not our doing. It's God in His might can move 56 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,360 the hearts of people who don't know His name. 57 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:23,400 Who are? Against us for some reason who 58 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,800 are against us probably because of the information that they've 59 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,160 been surrounded by, what they've listened growing up. 60 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:31,600 And this is. Where we see. 61 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,960 God having a distinct assignment for the remnant. 62 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,240 He uses the mouth of the King to in fact. 63 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,080 Decree what he? Wants his people to do. 64 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,200 But even before that. Even when Jeremiah was actually 65 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,440 telling the people. That they had to go into exile. 66 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,640 There was an. Assignment that God gave even in 67 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,920 their fallen state, even as he knew that they had kept 68 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,120 disobeying him, they did detestable things. 69 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,920 They didn't honor him. They desecrated his temple. 70 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,160 And even before they went into exile. 71 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,520 This is what Jeremiah. Tells all those who are. 72 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,120 Heading in and some of the verses that we are appearing in 73 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,000 this, we already probably know. We've claimed it here and there. 74 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,800 But I believe. When we read it in its entirety 75 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,279 context, God is giving us a mandate even when we are in 76 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,760 exile. Jeremiah, chapter 29, verses 4 77 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:19,720 to 14. Says. 78 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:21,720 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of. 79 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,920 Israel says to all those. I carried into exile from 80 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,280 Jerusalem to Babylon. Build houses and settle down. 81 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,320 Plant gardens and eat what they produce. 82 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,800 Marry and have sons and daughters. 83 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,960 Find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage 84 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,800 so that they too may have sons and daughters. 85 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,640 Increase in number there. Do not decrease. 86 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:44,760 Also seek the peace and prosperity. 87 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,080 Of the city to which? I've carried you into. 88 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,480 Exile, pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too 89 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,520 will prosper. Yes, this is what the Lord. 90 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,160 Almighty, the God of. Israel says. 91 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,320 Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. 92 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,600 Do not listen to the dreams. You encourage them to have their 93 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,280 prophesying lies to you in My name I have not sent them, 94 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:09,120 declares the Lord in verse 10. This is what it says. 95 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,160 This is what the Lord. Says when 70 years are completed 96 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,560 for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to 97 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,120 bring you back to this place, for I know the plans. 98 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,440 I have for you and. Declares the Lord plans to 99 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,000 prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope in the 100 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,520 future. Then you will call on me and 101 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,200 come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 102 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,000 You will seek me and find me. You will seek me with. 103 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,560 All your heart. I will be found, declares the 104 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,560 Lord, and will bring you back from. 105 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,800 Captivity, I will gather you. From all the nations and places 106 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,240 where I have banished you, declares the Lord, and will 107 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,280 bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. 108 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:52,320 And this got me thinking many a times today in 2024, when things 109 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,600 don't go our way, we immediately go into this mode of not doing 110 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,920 anything. We immediately go into this mode 111 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,240 of you know what, shutting the doors and just saying, you know, 112 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,960 I want to be all by myself. Yes, God and the fallen state of 113 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:10,880 our nature is always to, you know, close up, and in fact we 114 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,640 see that in the Garden of Eden when God. 115 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,800 Actually dealt with. Adam and Eve, he sent them out 116 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,760 of the garden. He, you know, gave them clothing 117 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:20,320 because. He had. 118 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,280 They had to. Cover their shame, but even as 119 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:23,840 they went out, he said, you know what? 120 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,760 He sent them out and they. Figured out they had to live out 121 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:29,280 the. Curse that was on them. 122 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:34,560 That man had to till the land to bring vegetation and other 123 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,800 things. Eve had to undergo childbirth. 124 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,200 Pains of. Childbirth. 125 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,360 And so as we see, all that there is. 126 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,880 Pain. Associated with exile there is. 127 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,920 A sense of suffering. Associated with exile. 128 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,960 There is a sense of losing freedom. 129 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,400 You're not in your own land. You you have that as one which 130 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:56,840 you're trying to. Figure out God. 131 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,880 Why? Is this happening to us? 132 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,080 Do we deserve this? But God's also gracious. 133 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:03,600 And so today in our. Exile. 134 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,760 What is God? Wanting us to do as we did in 135 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:11,000 Jeremiah, he said build homes, settle down, plant gardens, eat, 136 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:15,960 find wives, increase in number, seek the peace and prosperity of 137 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,600 the land, pray to the Lord. There are these instructions 138 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,800 that are given so. That we will. 139 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,840 Look to him in our exile and not to others around. 140 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,000 And so today, in our exile, are we looking around to find out? 141 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,760 What the future holds? Or are we looking around to know 142 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,280 what what's going to happen in the next couple of months? 143 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,720 Are we looking to because of many? 144 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:37,840 Of course. Today, if we are not. 145 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,400 Careful, our surroundings will control even when we are here on 146 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,120 this temporary assignment on this earth, when we're in exile 147 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,200 and God saying I want to come back to a place, in fact with 148 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,960 Israel going into exile 70 years later when he's bringing them 149 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,800 back. There was a physical place where 150 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,000 God. Wanted to meet with them. 151 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,320 God wanted them to come to a place so that later when they 152 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,520 come, that they're not coming, you know, in smaller numbers. 153 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,000 They're not coming disabled. They're not coming, but they're 154 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,040 coming as a prosperous nation back. 155 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,720 So that through the people. Remnant who came back. 156 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:12,520 He will be able to. Come. 157 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,800 Into this earth so that we'll be able to experience Jesus. 158 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,440 Here on this earth. God has a. 159 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,520 Divine plan. There is a plan for Him to 160 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,840 redeem us. There was a plan when he had 161 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,760 kept us in, when we had sinned and when he had moved out of the 162 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:28,760 Garden of Eden. Even at this time, when he's 163 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,080 sending them into exile, he's sending them there. 164 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,000 But he's saying pray to me but also keep doing what? 165 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,679 You're called to do there. So today, even as we are 166 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:42,320 entering into this, you know, phase of elections and all that, 167 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:46,040 as we don't know what the outcome is, may our eyes be on 168 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,480 Jesus. May our eyes be on Jesus. 169 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,560 May our eyes. Be to the God who has. 170 00:08:50,560 --> 00:08:54,160 Created the heaven and earth. Maybe pray to him because he 171 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:58,200 wants us to still keep doing what He's. 172 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,480 Called us to do. And even as I meditated on this, 173 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,320 I realized. There are two key. 174 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:08,760 Things in which God takes the background and our doing becomes 175 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,480 the forefront of all of this. Especially we are in exile, even 176 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,920 as when we are reading, you know the stories. 177 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,600 Of. Israel leaving Egypt and coming. 178 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,480 We see. As we are reading an. 179 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,840 Exodus the the. Turmoil in which they were 180 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,000 being. Tasked this the heavy yoke. 181 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,480 That was on them. But it's interesting that when 182 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,320 they come out into freedom, even as you're walking through the 183 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,240 wilderness to the promised land, they always recount the food 184 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,080 they ate. They recount. 185 00:09:39,680 --> 00:09:41,920 The the way they live their lives, that they. 186 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:47,000 Recount having a permanent. Roof over their head, God. 187 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,400 Saying and reminding us, do you want to live in freedom where 188 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,560 you'll experience? The the fruit of the land. 189 00:09:55,560 --> 00:09:58,640 Or do you want to live in the freedom where you know that your 190 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,320 sins are forgiven, that you belong to the King of Kings and 191 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,000 here is temporary? So, God, what is my assignment 192 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,600 here on this earth? Because. 193 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,760 God wants. Today to set us apart. 194 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,880 We are citizens of heaven. You're not citizens. 195 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,120 Of this earth we. Belong to a country. 196 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,400 We all have a nationality. We all have a country of origin 197 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,880 but our eternal. Purpose is that we are. 198 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,240 Citizens of heaven, if you've. Accepted Jesus Christ. 199 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,520 As a Lord and personal saviour. And so when we're in. 200 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,640 Exile here our eyes. Have to be looking different and 201 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:38,040 we see here the first thing. That God draws our heart is to 202 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,000 his altar. When God we are. 203 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,200 Exiled to God's altar. We are not exiled. 204 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,920 To the prosperity of the. Land we are exiled to. 205 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,800 God's Altar. Ezra Chapter. 206 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,760 One verses one to four in the first year of Cyprus, King of 207 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,080 Persia in order to fulfill. The word of the Lord. 208 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,320 Spoken by Jeremiah the Lord. Moved. 209 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,920 The heart of Cyprus, King of Persia, to make a proclamation 210 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:01,760 throughout his realm and to put it in. 211 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,320 Writing this is what. Cyrus the King. 212 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,000 Of Persia, says the. Lord, the God of heaven has 213 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,840 given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me 214 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,760 to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem and Judah. 215 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,200 Any of his people. Among you may go up to Jerusalem 216 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,920 and Judah and build the temple of the. 217 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,360 Lord the God of Israel. The God who is in Jerusalem, and 218 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:24,960 may their God. Be with. 219 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,320 Them and in any. Locality where survivors. 220 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,040 May now be living the. People are to provide. 221 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,200 Them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with 222 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,240 free will offerings for the temple of the Lord. 223 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:38,440 So even as we. Read this, we see that. 224 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,320 God moves the heart of the King for his purpose. 225 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,360 God moves the heart of the king. God gives favour. 226 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,480 And so today we. As. 227 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,440 People who are being exiled, you know we are in, living in. 228 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,320 Exile, we will have that. Same favour if we see. 229 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,880 God, if we see God. In Jeremiah. 230 00:11:55,880 --> 00:12:00,160 As I read all that it says, pray to the Lord for it, because if 231 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,360 it prospers, you too will. Prosper and I believe when we 232 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,160 start praying for the lands. That we are part of for the 233 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,920 cities and the states that you're part of. 234 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,560 We will have that undue. Favor that. 235 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:15,760 We do not even need. To have because God is. 236 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,640 Working in our midst, those permissions would come. 237 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,520 Those things that need to be accomplished for His purpose 238 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:24,800 will come. God will make it to. 239 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:29,320 Pass, but will you? And I come to a place of saying 240 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:30,760 God. Let your will be. 241 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:34,600 Done and let not my will be done, because when God moves 242 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,960 certain things, nothing can be shaken. 243 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:38,400 All that. Glory will go back. 244 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,800 To him in Ezra chapter three we read this when the builders laid 245 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,800 the foundation of the temple of. The Lord, the priests. 246 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,800 In their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites with 247 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,560 symbols took their. Places praised the Lord as. 248 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:54,800 Prescribed by David, King of Israel. 249 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:56,880 With. Praise and Thanksgiving they 250 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,160 sang to the Lord. He is good, his love. 251 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,920 Toward Israel endures forever and all the people. 252 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,880 Gave a great shout to the praise of the Lord, because the. 253 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,880 Foundation of the House of. The Lord was. 254 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,160 Laid but many other older priests and levites and family 255 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,520 heads who had seen the former temple wept aloud when they saw 256 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,840 the foundation of the temple being laid, while many. 257 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,960 Others shouted for joy. No. 258 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,200 One could distinguish the sound. Of the shouts of joy. 259 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:29,320 From the sound of leaping because the people made so much 260 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,400 noise and the sound was heard far. 261 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,920 Away what we read. Here happened is the fact. 262 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,080 That the. Foundation stone is being laid, 263 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,480 we see. That Joshua who's? 264 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,440 At that point, the high. Priest Zerubabel, who's? 265 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,560 Coming in to govern the entire thing, Start laying it, and then 266 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:50,920 they start. Singing praise. 267 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:52,760 And even, as I mentioned, we are. 268 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,280 Exiled to God's altar, the. Importance is the fact that. 269 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,960 The altar has to. Be the central theme when God 270 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,000 brought them back, the first command he made. 271 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,320 Was to build their altar. And today, the first command 272 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,640 that we. As his followers have is to 273 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,760 build his. Altar in our own. 274 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,680 Lives today as Jesus. Walked on this earth, he said in 275 00:14:14,680 --> 00:14:17,360 three days. This I will destroy this. 276 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:19,360 Temple and the temple. Will be resurrected. 277 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,240 He was. Talking about himself and today. 278 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,680 We are his. Temple, as we've accepted him 279 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,160 into. Our hearts He resides. 280 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,600 In us so if God brought the remnant out to. 281 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,920 Build the altar first and. Gave him the command. 282 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,920 Specifically to build the altar. It's because he. 283 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:37,800 Wanted them to have a. Place of worship. 284 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,400 That place of worship is. Where we meet with God in the 285 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,480 time that they were living in. They had to offer sacrifices. 286 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,200 There was only one group of people who could. 287 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,440 Do that the. Levites and we see today. 288 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,440 As the redeemed, we all have access to God. 289 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,560 Directly the whale is stone, and so even as a whale is stone, are 290 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,560 we having an altar? Where we take? 291 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,680 Everything to God many a times the altar that we've built today 292 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,360 in 2024. Is. 293 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,160 We've removed all the sanctity around the altar and we've made 294 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,720 it. So casual that we fail to 295 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:16,600 approach God solely. Concentrating and saying God, 296 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:20,280 you alone is what we need. There are so many distractions. 297 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,600 Today, if I have to ask you, what are those? 298 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,120 Times when you actually call on to God, are they intentional or 299 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,280 are they ones where you just. Say God. 300 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:30,440 Just come through and you just leave it and go. 301 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,080 Are you pursuing because God wants to meet with? 302 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,360 You at that altar place? God wanted Israel to come back. 303 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,280 To their first. Love, God is asking us to come 304 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:41,000 back. To that place of altar. 305 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,320 Yes, we are in exile. Yes, we have someone else over, 306 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,120 you know, governing us. But our eyes are on the King. 307 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,120 And he says, the more you cherish me at this altar, the 308 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,120 more I'll be able. To speak to you. 309 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,760 And one of the drawbacks about going back to the. 310 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:57,880 Altars, we can always go back to the old. 311 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,320 Framework, we see it. There were many who are actually 312 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:04,920 living beyond, you know, way before when they saw the old 313 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,080 temple, and they are probably weeping and saying that was the 314 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,920 former glory. But God's. 315 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,280 Telling you know. What? 316 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,360 Is happening now is what is important. 317 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,800 You're coming back. Redemption is happening now. 318 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,480 We live in our moment. Today we are worshipping our. 319 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:24,280 God now no longer can we take refuge in the saying, you know 320 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,640 what, back in 10 years back I was worshipping God with all my 321 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:28,720 heart now. What is God? 322 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Doing right now. Are you able to worship? 323 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,080 God, even in the midst. Of all the hardships. 324 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,000 You're going through in the midst of your loneliness in the 325 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,360 midst. Of your struggles. 326 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,600 In the midst of the despair, in the midst of the. 327 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,320 Grief are you able to are you able to worship God because if 328 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:46,520 your reference. Point is, going back, you will 329 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,520 never. Be able to see God for. 330 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,440 What he is now. We need to worship God for. 331 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,360 Who he is now, because then we'll be able to move into the 332 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:56,800 season that God. Has. 333 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:02,400 If God wants us. To be creating these spaces 334 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,280 where we will be able to have our altar. 335 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,520 That's why it's so important. How do we? 336 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,480 Engage How do we worship God? Today? 337 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:10,800 We worship. God by reading His. 338 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:12,839 Word, because His word helps us to. 339 00:17:12,839 --> 00:17:14,680 See God and we start glorifying Him. 340 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,240 We see Him in different, different buckets. 341 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,359 We see him as a Redeemer, as a king, as a. 342 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:24,119 Father as a shepherd. As our true companion. 343 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,880 We see the Holy Spirit who opens up a whole. 344 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,560 Different arena of the different attributes. 345 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,640 Of God for us to. Hold on to, but are we going to 346 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,000 the altar? Because that's what God wants 347 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,080 us. To do if you. 348 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,400 Read in Ezra chapter three, we see the people around. 349 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,040 These the newly people. Who had come in from the 350 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,280 remnant, who had come in to build, started exercising, you 351 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,520 know, and pushing them around and, you know, bullying them and 352 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,200 you're not trying to get them to intimidate them. 353 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,600 And it says in. Esau chapter three was in 354 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,920 despite the fear of the people. Around them they built an altar 355 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,080 on its foundation and sacrifice burnt offerings of it. 356 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,000 To the Lord both. The morning and the evening, 357 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,840 they just built an altar. At that point. 358 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,400 But they wanted. To give God the. 359 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,160 Glory. And today it's in our. 360 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,680 Altar where we allow fear to go far. 361 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,080 Away it's in that. Altar where we dispel every. 362 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:31,160 Dart the enemy is trying to do. Yes, people around will. 363 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,080 Look at us people. Around will mock us. 364 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,680 People around will be like ridiculing us. 365 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,280 But Lord, I'll go. Back to the altar. 366 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,080 I'll go back to the altar. Because that's where I need. 367 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:41,680 I see you. That's where I find you. 368 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:43,560 That's where I know that you are with. 369 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:47,800 Me today are we crippled by the fear of. 370 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,760 People being around, are we unwilling to do and obey? 371 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,680 Because of the fear that's. Surrounding us. 372 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,560 That's why we need Jesus today in our lives. 373 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,440 That's why we need the Holy Spirit, he said. 374 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,840 I'm sending you a helper the. Helpers with us so today, 375 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,600 wherever it is. If it is in your. 376 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,880 Office where you struggle. Build an altar there. 377 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:13,680 Build an altar there. Altar. 378 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,360 Is where you. Are at this moment you can build 379 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:19,720 it right there. Take it into the areas where you 380 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:24,920 need him the most. Don't leave him outside and try 381 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,600 fighting these battles alone. Take him in, build an altar, 382 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,720 throw everything that is not of him right there. 383 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,000 So today as a. Response to building that altar 384 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,120 is one of unadulterated. Worship, you know we. 385 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:45,480 Just saw the news. Nestle apparently is mixing so 386 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,040 many grams of. Sugar with your cell lack. 387 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,920 And everything. And that's why a lot of kids are 388 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,000 eating it and we see. It is God's. 389 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,680 Asking for an unadulterated. Worship What is the? 390 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,680 Song That's God asking you to sing. 391 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:04,960 What is your posture of worship? That's why I, I I. 392 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:10,240 Struggle when I see people who don't have when they look at. 393 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,320 Worship as. Something they have to put up 394 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,760 with. No worship is God you? 395 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,800 I'm not even worthy to be here. They want worship. 396 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,000 To be comfortable so they they even struggle to stand up. 397 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:23,920 They struggle to lift their hands. 398 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:25,680 They struggle to. You know. 399 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:27,960 Showcase God. This is what? 400 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,560 You mean to me? We've come to what is 401 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:32,760 unalienated. Worship is. 402 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:34,880 I don't worship. Only when I like the song I 403 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:39,360 worship because I'm worshiping the King and God saying would 404 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:43,920 you worship me? At the altar, don't worship. 405 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,640 Everything else that makes the. Altar worship me. 406 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,480 And for a long time in the, I think more than a year, this 407 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:55,000 imagery has always been there of worship for me where I go to the 408 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:56,720 altar. I lay. 409 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,080 Everything there and say Lord, whatever I'm having today here 410 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,520 on this. Earth is because of you if I get 411 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,880 to have a wife. If I get to have my kids, if I. 412 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,320 Get to have things that I. Value the most I lay. 413 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:10,880 All that at the altar, because all these. 414 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,080 Take my affections. I laid at the altar. 415 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,600 But my eyes may be lifted to you and may not be on the altar. 416 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,320 May I not be concerned about all? 417 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:24,120 That I lay there, Lord. And God is wanting that kind of 418 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:25,160 a worship. From him. 419 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,000 As Exiles, can we worship him like that? 420 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,320 So that we will be able to say Lord. 421 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:34,280 Irrespective of what's happening around, you are still seated on 422 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,080 the throne. You are still Lord. 423 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,720 And King fear will not be anywhere. 424 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,360 Close. Fear will not be anywhere. 425 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:46,000 Close we see. That in the season as the people 426 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,160 around, they bribed, they made sure that they didn't work. 427 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,720 They made sure that they didn't. They were not able to work. 428 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,200 They made sure they. Wrote a letter which states that 429 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,400 these are the people. Who will revolt against you? 430 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:57,920 So don't give them the permission. 431 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,280 To do this. We see time and again all these 432 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,960 things rise up to a point where the king says, you know what, 433 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,920 let's, let's stop. And for the next 16 years, they 434 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:12,520 stop building the temple. And I believe when opposition 435 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,360 comes, we still need to look to God. 436 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:20,400 We still need to look to God. We need to have a posture. 437 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,880 And we see the next point when I'm going into that somewhere in 438 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,080 this opposition, they took it. They took a step back. 439 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:29,360 They said God. They didn't. 440 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,160 They didn't see. God, because if they had sought 441 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:32,880 God, God would have. Given them clarity, God would 442 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,840 have given them breakthrough. But God raises another person 443 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:38,200 called Haggai to. Speak. 444 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,720 And the second thing that we see is when we are exiled, God wants 445 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,920 us to be committed to his body. And what does that? 446 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,680 Look like we see that. When the when the existing 447 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,120 remnant who went. Failed to do what? 448 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:54,200 God had called him to do. He raises. 449 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:55,720 Up Haggai. And Haggai says this in the 450 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,520 second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth 451 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:02,000 month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to 452 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,080 Zerubabel son of Shiatil, governor of Judah, and to Joshua 453 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:06,600 son of. Zodiac the High Priest. 454 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,920 This is what the Lord Almighty. Says these people, say the. 455 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:11,640 Time has not yet come to build. A house. 456 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,160 Lord's House. Then the word of the Lord came 457 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,800 through the prophet. It Is it a time for you 458 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,080 yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while the house 459 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,040 remains a ruin. Now this is what the Lord 460 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,320 Almighty says. Give careful thought to your 461 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,200 ways. You have planted much but not 462 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,320 but. Harvested little you eat. 463 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,680 But never have enough. You drink, but you never have 464 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:34,040 your fill. You put on clothes, but you're 465 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,040 not warm. You earn wages only to put them 466 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:39,440 in a purse. With holes in it. 467 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,080 And as we. Read this we see. 468 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:47,320 That somewhere when opposition came, they stopped praying. 469 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:53,960 When opposition rose, when those letters went out, they stopped 470 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,760 seeking God, and God had raised up another. 471 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,400 Prophet Haggai to go back. And instruct them and we see 472 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,400 here. It's obvious because Haggai is 473 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,320 talking. From a place of seeing where 474 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,360 they are at in the next 16 years, that they have built 475 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:09,040 houses, they have settled themselves. 476 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,640 Yet the House of the Lord lies in ruins. 477 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,360 And why did God care much at that time for the temple to be 478 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:17,600 built? Because he wanted his people to 479 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:19,560 worship Him. With all that they had. 480 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,960 And so today you and I are in the same position. 481 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:27,440 But God wants. Us to go back, go back so that 482 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,760 we'll be able to. Worship Him not in silos. 483 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,120 Worship Him not in, you know. Oh, I know. 484 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:35,680 Jesus, I I'll. Just keep it. 485 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,080 No, He wants us to worship him in community. 486 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,040 He wanted God wanted to. Gather the people around. 487 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,760 Obviously would have been content with the altar, no? 488 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:51,160 God starts with the altar. And he moves us to forming a 489 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,080 community. So that we will be able to live. 490 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,640 In unity, in spite of our differences, we come together. 491 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,400 Today, if you have to look at the church as we gather here. 492 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,360 We are in different shape, different sizes, different 493 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:08,320 language, different colour, different backgrounds, different 494 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,640 different in India, if you'd say different caste. 495 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,440 But at the end of the day, we all come together under one 496 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,200 single denominator. Followers of. 497 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:24,520 Jesus, and I believe in today's sermon, if I have to put it, 498 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:28,360 let's say citizens of heaven, because we've acknowledged Jesus 499 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:31,400 Christ as Lord. And so today, why is? 500 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:36,240 This important Why is God calling us to come together in 501 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,880 exile? In that time, God raised up and 502 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,240 Haggai to say bring them so that they'll be able to. 503 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,160 Do this together so that they'll be able to read scriptures 504 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:46,880 together so. They'll be able to meditate. 505 00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:49,760 They'll be able to grow, they'll be able to fulfil. 506 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:53,160 What God has in store. If God is about. 507 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,120 Building today in 2024. If each of us are. 508 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:58,960 He's raising up to build different altars if he's calling 509 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:04,160 us to set up our own altars. He is calling us to build it. 510 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,520 To have that intimacy with Him. But when we come together, we 511 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,200 are building His Kingdom because in the grand scheme of things. 512 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,640 We are a larger body. And God wants us to move 513 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,000 together. We will miss out on what God's 514 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,440 doing globally if you're sitting alone. 515 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,680 We will miss out on what God's doing globally if you're just 516 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,360 confined and not keeping our eyes open. 517 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,960 God wanted. The people of Israel to. 518 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,920 Experience the glory that comes down when they all gather and 519 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:39,200 worship and at that time when they worship was a messy affair. 520 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,480 Sacrifice the trumpets blowing together. 521 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,240 They all lifted, it says. That even as they were wailing 522 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:49,360 and crying and worshipping at a distance, it just heard as 523 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:50,160 noise. They couldn't. 524 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,120 And that's. A beauty about worship. 525 00:26:52,120 --> 00:26:55,160 And we gathered as community. For some, it's a joyful time. 526 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,640 For some it's a time of crying. For some it's a time of 527 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,200 reconciliation. For some, it's a time of 528 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,440 forgiveness, but at the end of it? 529 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,280 That's what worship looks to. God. 530 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,480 It's not one unison of everything. 531 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,960 It is worshipping God. The Father God the. 532 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,960 Son, God the Holy Spirit, and it sounds. 533 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,240 It might sound like noise to us. But to God, it's worship. 534 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:17,560 That's what I've come to understand. 535 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,760 It might sound like noise to. Us, but it is worship. 536 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,600 And so today, if you and I are having are unable to build our 537 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:29,440 own altars individually, we will never respond. 538 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:33,040 We will never succeed in responding to the true. 539 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,440 Call of what's God is. Calling us to build. 540 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:40,720 Together because it's in this. Places of intimacy with him that 541 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,080 he reveals why we need. A corporate body. 542 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:48,640 Today I came, I mean one of our church members who was with us 543 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,640 before and now has moved to another city. 544 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,360 Used to use this world. Called. 545 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:54,040 I'm a corporate. Slave. 546 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:57,280 You know, he used to use one even as I was writing on my 547 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,480 sermon. I just realized the word 548 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,880 corporate Excel today. What is if? 549 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,080 If you have to just find out what that meaning was, it's 550 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,240 usually used to describe employees who work beyond their 551 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,720 job description, who sometimes are are under punishing 552 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,040 conditions, and today if you're not. 553 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:18,720 Careful the world. Will put us under exile. 554 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,280 We the call and mandate for us as a Christian. 555 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,640 Is that we have eternity secure, but we are here. 556 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:30,600 Temporary, which means. That everything that we do here, 557 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,440 we do it faithfully, really well, so that we are. 558 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,120 Ready for eternity when we look in a worldly way. 559 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,240 We'll see that there are. So many ways in which. 560 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:43,000 We might feel like exiles which which are of our. 561 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,320 Own doing. We are probably our death 562 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,960 situation, probably our relationship issues, probably 563 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,160 the way. Things have happened around us. 564 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:53,320 A lot of it could be the consequences of us and God 565 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,000 saying, can you invite me even into that? 566 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:56,800 Because I can change that right here. 567 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,400 You don't have to come to heaven to experience it, but I can 568 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:01,920 bring down heaven here on earth and today. 569 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,960 A lot of us are. Struggling in that same space to 570 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,360 say, God, I'm struggling to give you control, but he's saying. 571 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:11,720 Allow. Me to bring allow me to enter in 572 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,520 allow me to enter into everything. 573 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:17,000 If you're in debt. I'll teach you contentment so 574 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,400 that you'll be able to overcome debt if you're struggling your 575 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:21,200 relationship. I'll teach you how to. 576 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:25,080 Hold on to me and how to forgive and you know, a bit discerning 577 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,480 so that you'll be able to sustain relationships if you're 578 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,040 unable to, you know. Be successful. 579 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,400 In Who you are, I'll give you the strength so that you'll be 580 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,160 an overcomer. You'll exercise self-control. 581 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:39,120 So as we compare. Our lives God's. 582 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:40,760 Calling us to be a Christian exile. 583 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,320 So that we will be. Dependent on his Lordship, we'll 584 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,720 be dependent on him. We'll go to him alone and no 585 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,440 one. Else we will seek. 586 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,680 Him alone and no one else, and so as much. 587 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,840 As we are. Striving here on this earth to 588 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:59,240 make sure ends are met, to make sure things are happening. 589 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:01,360 We should also realize that the God that you. 590 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:04,400 Worship has to be invited into everything that we do because he 591 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,720 reigns over everything. He controls everything. 592 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,600 Paul writes this to the. Philippine Church in 593 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:12,800 Philippines, chapter 3, verse 17 to 21. 594 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,360 Brothers and sisters together follow. 595 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,120 My example and observe those. Who? 596 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:20,280 Live by the pattern we gave you, for there are many of them who I 597 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,000 often told you and now tell you, even with peers who live as 598 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:25,840 enemies. Of the cross of Christ. 599 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,320 Rejecting and opposing his way of salvation. 600 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:31,640 Whose fate is destruction? Whose? 601 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,800 God is their belly, their worldly appetite. 602 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,840 Their sensuality, their vanity, and whose glory is in their 603 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,280 shame, who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. 604 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,360 But we are different because our citizenship is in heaven and 605 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,400 from. There we eagerly await. 606 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:49,800 The coming of the. Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 607 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,640 Who, by exerting that power which enables him even to 608 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:57,000 subject everything to himself, will not only transform, but 609 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,920 completely. Refashion our earthly bodies so 610 00:30:59,920 --> 00:31:03,560 that they will be like his glorious resurrected bodies. 611 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:07,280 So today, even as. We saw we are exiled to God's 612 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,560 altar. We are also exiled to God's 613 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,240 body, you. Can't discount any of these. 614 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:13,400 Two. The two. 615 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:15,440 The the couple of things that we see from the Philippine. 616 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,800 Passage that we read is. We need to identify what are 617 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,680 some of the things that will cause us to move away from this. 618 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:27,000 The first thing is we see is we. Will be If you're not careful, 619 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,360 we can subtly. Become enemies of the cross. 620 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:31,240 What is that? We will. 621 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,320 Suddenly say God this Christian life is too much, I want to just 622 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,560 ditch it right now and just. Be left alone. 623 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:38,480 So that's why we suddenly have a lot of. 624 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:40,480 Skeptics, we have people. Who are like, you know what? 625 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:42,400 This Christian faith doesn't make sense. 626 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:43,920 Suddenly you have these questions. 627 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:48,040 Oh, we worship this God. So only so only bad is 628 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,200 happening, God is. Sovereign. 629 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,480 God doesn't owe us any explanation whether. 630 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:53,640 Good or bad, has to. Happen. 631 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,080 Gordon promises that he's. Created a world where. 632 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,600 There'll be no war. He created mankind, who 633 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:02,240 eventually end up having war. He created mankind who ended up 634 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:03,880 bringing sickness into this world. 635 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:07,840 He ended up creating mankind, who became the problem. 636 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:12,920 So it starts with us. And so he's saying be. 637 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:16,120 Careful of those who will. Be enemies of the cross because 638 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:19,120 they will say you know what a good God won't want? 639 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:24,080 Won't do bad things. And that's very it's a. 640 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:27,080 Very narrow understanding because we think a good father 641 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,480 will only mean good. But a good father also corrects 642 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:31,280 a good father also. Disciplines a good father. 643 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:36,360 Also allows his child to. Find his way with even if it 644 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:38,960 means his son has to go through an hardship and come out. 645 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,400 So. Today, maybe be people who. 646 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:48,240 Realize that this person who's. Talking to me is an enemy of the 647 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,040 cross. I pray for them, but I won't 648 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,200 allow that to influence me the 2nd. 649 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,480 We see is the the things that will distract us. 650 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,120 The things that will distract us from the altar and from his body 651 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,440 are. It says here the God is their 652 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:07,560 belly. You know today if you look with 653 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,240 the amount of. Eateries that have. 654 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:12,480 Happened even with the rise of Swiggy and Zomato and food 655 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:16,600 coming to our doorstep. We are so caught up. 656 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:21,320 In, you know, in making. Sure, our bellies are filled. 657 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,320 In making sure our appetites are filled, in making sure our food 658 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:28,760 is presented such a way, making sure the ambience of a place 659 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:31,600 matters to me so much. So much that it's become an 660 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,680 idolatry. It's so much that it's become an 661 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,680 idol in itself. So much that we make sure that 662 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:41,120 we are meticulous about planning and spending time and being 663 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,880 there and doing all that. And even as I see this point 664 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:47,120 about the food being. More like a God. 665 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:48,520 Like an idol. Is because today. 666 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,880 We have given so much. Time, effort are. 667 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:54,640 We are only. Worried about that? 668 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,400 We are. So bent on pleasing. 669 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,760 Ourselves about that. That has become the central to 670 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,640 be in fact, discount people who we don't want to. 671 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:05,880 Eat with because of. The fact that they don't 672 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,719 appreciate this kind of food. But if? 673 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,320 Food. Is going to be a tool for us to 674 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:12,960 start. Conversations to build 675 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:16,360 relationships to make sure our conversations go down deeper. 676 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:18,560 The water line goes. Deeper we will. 677 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:22,320 Soon realize that we want meaningful things in life. 678 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:28,520 It says here specifically that their worldly appetite, which is 679 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:30,600 regard to. Food and everything it could be 680 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,000 from. Real estate to, cars to. 681 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:36,199 Everything materialistically to the sensuality. 682 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:40,199 To basically the way they. Want to enjoy personal things 683 00:34:40,199 --> 00:34:43,040 for themselves, their bodily pleasure, their vanity. 684 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:47,320 The way they look today. If we're not. 685 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,840 Careful, we'll be so caught up with that that we'll. 686 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:54,719 Miss out on building our altar. We'll miss out on being and 687 00:34:54,719 --> 00:35:00,200 participating as His body. And it goes on to say the third 688 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:02,480 thing is, whose glory is their shame? 689 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:07,760 Today, the world is degrading. Itself in so many ways, values 690 00:35:08,720 --> 00:35:12,640 are been. Brought to a place where the 691 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:14,160 values are so. Shameful. 692 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:15,600 And they're taking glory in that. 693 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:20,240 And so, church, if we need to be impactful today, if we need to 694 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:24,240 be impactful for God here on this earth, we need to hold on 695 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:26,920 to Him. We need to ask him to work in 696 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,680 and through us. The call is not for. 697 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,560 Us to have dual. Citizenship as much as the world 698 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:35,160 talks about you know you can migrate and have dual 699 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:40,080 citizenship no, we are of one citizen our citizenship is in 700 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:43,240 heaven we belong to the king of kings and the Lord of. 701 00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:44,400 Lords. We do not. 702 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:49,280 Take the easy street, we. Do not, we cannot be haters of 703 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:50,040 the. Cross. 704 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,080 We cannot be ones who. Idolize. 705 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:57,160 Things that man is creating, things that man is projecting, 706 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,280 saying this will, this is something you need to enjoy. 707 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:05,240 Things that we think are the ones of value now are shame. 708 00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:09,160 And we are glorifying that pretty God wants us. 709 00:36:09,240 --> 00:36:11,400 So that we'll be able. To walk in the promise. 710 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:15,840 That God has. And what is this promise in 711 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:19,040 Haggai chapter 2, verses 4 to 9? This is what it says. 712 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:21,960 In the message it says. So get to work Zerubabel. 713 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:25,080 God is speaking. Go get to work, Joshua. 714 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:27,920 Son of Jehoshadakai. Please get to work all you 715 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:29,360 people. God is speaking. 716 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:32,200 Yes, get to work for. I am with you. 717 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:34,440 The God of the Angel armies is speaking. 718 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:37,520 Put into action the word I commended with you when you left 719 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:39,680 Egypt. I am living and breathing among 720 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:41,080 you right now. Don't be timid. 721 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:42,560 Don't hold back. This. 722 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:45,080 Is what the God of Angel Army said before you know it. 723 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:47,640 I will. Shake up sky and earth, ocean 724 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:50,000 and fields, and I'll shake. Up all the godless. 725 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:53,280 Nations, they'll bring brushes of wit, and I will fill this 726 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:55,440 temple with splendor. God of Angel army says. 727 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,800 So I own the silver, I own the gold decree, the God of Angel 728 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:00,360 armies. This temple is. 729 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:02,960 Going to end up far better than when it. 730 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,920 Started a glorious. Beginning, but an even more 731 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,480 glorious finish, a place in which I will hand out wholeness. 732 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:15,800 And holiness decree of the God of Angel armies today. 733 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:18,560 What is he decreeing? He's decreeing wholeness when we 734 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:21,840 come to Jesus, when we've built our altar, when we've come into 735 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:25,720 community and we are near building his Kingdom and we've 736 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,120 because. Wherever we gather, we are. 737 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:30,120 Representation of the Kingdom. You will see a sense of 738 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:32,960 wholeness. You know, somehow we think 739 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:39,840 wholeness cannot have its marks, but the Christian wholeness is 1 740 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,400 which will have it's dense, which will have it's tinkering, 741 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:44,280 which will have it's a repainting and all that. 742 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,760 To showcase that it was touched by God. 743 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,280 I don't want wholeness which. I've strived, but I want. 744 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:55,840 Wholeness that comes from God. Because he's repaired areas of 745 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,080 me. And that happens when we are 746 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:03,800 closely moving to see that altar, when we hold on to Him 747 00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:07,400 closely in that alter spaces, and when he moves us to a place. 748 00:38:07,560 --> 00:38:09,480 We are able. To say God, I'm here to worship 749 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:13,200 you for who you are amongst. Others, irrespective of what 750 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:14,160 the. Each one is going through. 751 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:18,680 We are all here to worship you. That's what it says. 752 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:20,320 In John 14, which I want to leave. 753 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,400 With you. Verses 11 to 17. 754 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:24,240 For those of. You who struggling to. 755 00:38:24,240 --> 00:38:26,640 Allow the Holy Spirit. To move in and through you, I 756 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:28,480 want to say. Jesus is here. 757 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:31,280 He. Walked on this earth he needed. 758 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:33,800 The help of the Spirit. And so today. 759 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:36,800 God the Father, God the. Son and God the Spirit are. 760 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:41,760 Willing to walk with us? And work in US even as I read 761 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:43,080 this. Would you believe with me? 762 00:38:43,080 --> 00:38:44,960 Could you raise your hand even wherever you're at? 763 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:49,840 Believe in John 14 verse 11 it says, Believe me that I am the 764 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:52,880 Father, and the fathers in me, or else believe on the account 765 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:56,000 of the works themselves. Truly, I say to you, whoever. 766 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,960 Believes in me. Will also do the works. 767 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,960 That I do, and greater works than these will He do because 768 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:03,600 I'm going to the Father. Whatever you ask. 769 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,080 In my name this I. Will do that the father? 770 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:09,600 May be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my 771 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:12,000 name, I will do it. If you love me, you will Keep my 772 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:14,000 commandments and I will. Ask the father. 773 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:15,600 And he will give you another helper. 774 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:18,960 To be with you forever. Even the spirit of truth, whom 775 00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:21,720 the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows 776 00:39:21,720 --> 00:39:24,960 him, you know him. For he dwells with you. 777 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:28,560 And will be in you and today I want us to be in a place. 778 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:31,360 Where we with raised? Hands are saying, Holy Spirit, 779 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:35,800 we want you. Maybe ask and do what? 780 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,800 Pleases the Father. What is in the will? 781 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:39,960 Of the father, so that. We'll be able to accomplish it, 782 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:45,600 and that happens when we. Are exiled to his altar. 783 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:47,960 And get exiled to his. Body. 784 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:52,920 It's his altar and his body. And Lord, today, even as. 785 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:57,520 We, as we've heard this word I. Just want to pray a prayer of 786 00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:00,360 confession right now. If you've replaced anything 787 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:01,880 else. Lord Jesus, in this altar, if 788 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,520 it's been our work, if it's been our spouse, if it's been our 789 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,920 career, if it's been our riches, if it's been our accolades, we 790 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:11,360 ask for forgiveness. And we seat you, Lord. 791 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:13,880 Jesus Tear. Down everything or tear down? 792 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,200 Everything that's of self pride that you would tear it down. 793 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:20,000 I pray Lord. Even as we move. 794 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,280 Into a space, Lord Jesus. Of understanding that we are not 795 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:26,080 alone is this journey that we will move to a place of. 796 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:29,360 Who all you've called we thank. You that you tore the wheel once 797 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:31,120 and for all. We have access and we thank you. 798 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:33,720 We get to journey with others. I pray. 799 00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:35,920 Lord, in our worship, may you be exalted. 800 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:40,240 In our crying, in our praise, in our joyfulness, may. 801 00:40:40,240 --> 00:40:44,440 You be lifted up. Lord, thank you Jesus. 802 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:47,480 Be lifted up. Be lifted up, Lord, take your 803 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:50,320 rightful place. I pray that Lord, we will 804 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:53,080 always. Be looking forward that we won't 805 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:55,560 look. Back to the glory that God. 806 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:58,840 Came through, but we will look. Forward, Lord, whatever. 807 00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:00,240 You're going to do we will be looking. 808 00:41:00,240 --> 00:41:03,160 Forward, Lord Jesus. We thank you that we are. 809 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:08,200 Exiles in your Kingdom. We are exiles under your 810 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:10,720 lordship, and we are a citizen of heaven. 811 00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:12,960 Lord be with. Us I pray that we all will bless 812 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:14,160 the. Food and water of our home 813 00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:15,920 strengthen us, be with us, I pray. 814 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:18,960 Specifically that you will help us, Lord, to draw closer to you. 815 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:22,040 To see you more clear, your most holy name we pray. 816 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:23,720 Amen. Amen. 817 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:28,440 So, Church, even as you step into this week, I pray may you 818 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:31,600 find that. Altar, which will be a place 819 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:33,240 where you'll be able. To commune with God. 820 00:41:33,920 --> 00:41:37,800 You'll be able to. Lean on him, hold on to him, and 821 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,520 ask Him for his strength. And I pray specifically that 822 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:46,120 even as you move into a place of getting to know. 823 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:49,240 God that you'll also. Move closer to a community. 824 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:54,600 Where you'll be able to. Find him, enjoy the presence of 825 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:57,400 his community. You know you don't need an 826 00:41:57,400 --> 00:41:58,480 invitation. You don't have to be. 827 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:02,240 Told what to do. You automatically. 828 00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:04,200 Do what you're what you've. Been created to do. 829 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:07,920 That's what happens when Jesus is living inside you and I. 830 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:10,680 Pray that you will be able to live out all that he's called 831 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:15,280 you to do, especially in what he's said in that I believe that 832 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:16,840 the. Glory of the present. 833 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:20,400 House will be greater. Than the glory of the former. 834 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:22,720 House that you will. Experience him. 835 00:42:22,720 --> 00:42:25,880 Day after day, week after week, year after year. 836 00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:28,920 Have a blessed week everyone. God bless you all. 837 00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:31,360 Thanks for listening to this message. 838 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:35,200 We hope you were blessed to hear more messages like this. 839 00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:39,520 Make sure to subscribe and check out our podcast channel for past 840 00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:41,880 episodes. If you like what you are 841 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:46,400 hearing, consider rating us, subscribing and even sharing it 842 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:49,000 with friends. That would really help us. 843 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:54,320 For more content from Via Zion and to connect with us, go to 844 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:59,440 Via Zion dot in. Remember, whoever finds Jesus 845 00:42:59,720 --> 00:43:00,440 finds life.