WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:13.039 practical ways. Hey, everybody, welcome to the Bible Guys, and 4 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:15.480 thanks for tuning in. Here we are we are right here, 5 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.320 We are back. We are on the stage of Heritage Church. 6 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:20.280 Man, oh man, it's gonna be a good one today, 7 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:22.280 Yes it is. We're going to do our best. 8 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:24.679 Yes, and that you know what. I wasn't planning on 9 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:26.839 doing that until you said, But now, why not? I 10 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:28.000 was shooting for mediocrity. 11 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:30.280 Why not just give it the best we got? 12 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:33.640 That's great. Well, Hey, we are in the middle of 13 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:37.520 a series called Dangerous Prayers, and today, actually this whole 14 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:40.960 week our prayers of intercession, right to intercede on someone 15 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:44.320 else's behalf. And before we get into that, we have 16 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:46.039 a segment that desire put together. 17 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:50.799 And this segment is so important to us. Actually, this 18 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:51.960 is it's a dad joke. 19 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:53.320 It's a Dad Joe competition. 20 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:56.000 I haven't looked I haven't looked through these yet, so 21 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:57.039 I'm excited about it. 22 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:00.359 I think I'm messed up. I turned to the wrong scripture. 23 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:01.119 Are we in? Joel? 24 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.079 We are in Joel oh wow. 25 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:06.120 Yeah, okay, so I'm on the wrong I'm I'm on 26 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:07.439 the whole wrong wrong to day. Yeah, I'm on the 27 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:08.400 whole wrong day. I'm on tomorrow. 28 00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:09.159 It's gonna be a rough. 29 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:10.719 I've turned to Second Chronicles. 30 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:11.959 Okay. Oh that's a good one too. 31 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:14.239 Yeah. So for for for those of you who are wondering, 32 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:15.719 we're in Second Chronicles tomorrow. 33 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:17.120 Tomorrow, it's gonna be really great. 34 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:20.560 It's gonna be great. Okay. So Dad Joe competition, So 35 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:21.280 you want to start? 36 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:23.040 Okay, here goes. Ready, here's my first one. 37 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:23.359 Yep. 38 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.920 So we're doing five five we're trying to win. 39 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:27.120 Yeah, we're gonna go. 40 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:30.560 Okay. I told my computer I needed a break. Now 41 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:32.959 it won't stop sending me kitck CAATs. 42 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:36.159 I think I hate it? 43 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:37.239 Yeah, you hate that one? 44 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:39.560 Yeah? How could your computer send you kit cats? 45 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:41.560 I don't know it just Amazon. 46 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:43.920 Oh I guess I could do that. 47 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:44.480 I guess. 48 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:46.280 I totally explained that, and I liked it more. 49 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:48.159 Yeah, okay, yeah, I didn't like it. 50 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.519 Okay, here we go. Uh. I used to be a baker, 51 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:56.560 but I couldn't make enough dough. Now I'm just needing 52 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:57.120 the job. 53 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:02.560 Oh no, that's a rough one. We're over and we're over, 54 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.680 and we are we are No, here go, here's my 55 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:07.200 number two. 56 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:07.560 Yep. 57 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:10.680 What's the best way to watch a fly fishing tournament? 58 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:11.639 Which way? 59 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:13.039 Live stream? 60 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:14.120 Oh? I love it? 61 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:14.800 You like that one? 62 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:15.759 Great? Okah? 63 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:16.319 Really yeah? 64 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.039 Live stream? 65 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.680 Yeah? Okay, okay, okay. 66 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.680 It's great. I mean it made me laugh out loud. No, 67 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:25.319 but it was clever, okay. Number two. I was wondering 68 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:31.680 why the frisbee keeps getting bigger? But then it hit me, I. 69 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:32.400 Like that one, like that. 70 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:34.680 More than yours? 71 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:36.680 Yes, yours was. I'm gonna say you're the winner on 72 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:37.240 I was. 73 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:38.919 Wondering why the frisbee kept getting bigger. 74 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:41.800 Then it hit me there was no winner for one. 75 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:44.599 I think you're the winner on two. Okay, so it's 76 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:48.120 one nothing. What's the skeleton's least favorite room in the house? 77 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:50.560 The living room? 78 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:51.479 Yeah? 79 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:52.919 I see how you did. 80 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:58.759 Okay, I know where you're going with this. All right, 81 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:02.439 there we go. I'm afraid of the calendar. It's days 82 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:08.000 are numbered. But why would he oh, for the calend 83 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:10.879 for the count I'm afraid. I'm afraid for the calendar. 84 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:13.199 It's okay, okay, So it was in your delivery. 85 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.840 It was in my delivery. Yeah, but it's still bad. 86 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:18.319 It was still bad. Okay, so it's still just one nothing. 87 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:21.680 I think, I think, I don't really understand electricity, but 88 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:24.680 I'm shocked by it. Yeah it's rough. 89 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:26.159 Yeah, it's too easy. 90 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:26.680 I don't know. 91 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:28.560 Yeah, yeah, it's too easy. All right. 92 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:30.879 Number four because we like clever dad jokes. 93 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:36.280 We do. Yeah. Yeah, what historical period did people have 94 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.120 the tidiest shirts? 95 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:42.719 What historical period did peter people have the tidiest shirts? 96 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:47.120 I d I e s t tightiest shirts. I don't 97 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:52.719 know the iron age, iron age, so they iron their shirts. 98 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.080 This is rough. Oh my goodness, that's what it means. 99 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:58.479 So I just read ahead, and this one's worth. 100 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:00.599 It can't be worse than that with the one I 101 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:01.080 just read. 102 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:05.199 What do you call a fruit that magically shows up? 103 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:07.599 Okay? 104 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:08.800 Pair? 105 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:12.919 Oh my word? Like a peer peer? 106 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:14.080 Yeah yeah, peary. 107 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.439 Yeah, that is such a rough one. That is such 108 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:18.519 a stretch. 109 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:22.199 It's a rough one. Dude, we got we got one? 110 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:24.199 I think out of ten? What's your what's your fifth? 111 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:25.360 I wanted to crawl in a hole. 112 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:26.560 Yeah, this is really all right? 113 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:31.079 Here we go, ready? I asked for twelve bees. Oh, 114 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.759 I like this one. This is a good one. Okay, yay, 115 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:37.639 we have a good one, lady and gentlemen. Okay, okay, 116 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:45.839 I all right, here we go, Okay, here we go. 117 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:51.000 I asked for twelve bees, but hang on, okay, I 118 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:54.720 asked for twelve bees, but the bee keeper gave me thirteen. 119 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:02.360 He said, it's a freebie. Okay, that's a good one. 120 00:05:03.079 --> 00:05:08.560 That's a good one. Okay. I think I think I 121 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:10.000 like it because we had one laugh. 122 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:11.959 Oh, this was great. 123 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:12.480 Okay. 124 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:16.399 I think this is a great joke. It's a free beat. 125 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:19.720 See, it's the surprise good dad jokes, and you always have. 126 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:24.040 To I cannot wait to tell Toy this year. 127 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:27.600 Okay, so so so okay, So I think you're the 128 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:28.160 winner today. 129 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:28.720 I am. 130 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.319 I'm just I'm just going to concede. 131 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:33.480 Well, you know what, we don't have any control over this, Jeff. 132 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:35.439 We just get to vote. Desiree is the one who 133 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:36.000 picks these. 134 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:36.600 That's correct. 135 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:42.120 And sometimes I wonder if she, excuse me, well, yes 136 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:42.399 I do. 137 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:44.680 It's a little dark outside, but I don't. 138 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:47.680 I sometimes wonder, I really do. Sometimes I never asked her, 139 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.000 but I sometimes wonder if she chooses bad ones. On 140 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.600 purpose to get our reaction. 141 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:54.759 In order to get the one really great one. 142 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:56.920 Yeah, you know, so that so we could laugh on 143 00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:57.600 one and be like. 144 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.160 We're appalled on the other one, I think so. 145 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:03.199 Or does she just like say, hey chat, GPT, give 146 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:06.079 me some jokes and then just tosses them in there. Well, 147 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.439 she doesn't care about her job or her salary or 148 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:09.399 hair search you. 149 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:12.160 Or me exactly. Well, so, so right now we're supposed 150 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:14.319 to be saying nice things about her, which is not true. 151 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:16.480 We're supposed to be saying nice things about her, correct, 152 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:21.399 But she is in my office fantasy football league. Oh 153 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.439 and we're going head to head this week and right now, 154 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.439 so our office of our office fantasy football league has 155 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:32.000 two teams. Yes, so that the league you're in and 156 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:33.759 the league I'm in. So it's not two teams, it's 157 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:37.079 it's two league teams. There's two leagues, right, So there's 158 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.839 a league you're in, there's the league I'm in, and 159 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.079 Des is in my league. And right now she's the 160 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:46.560 only undefeated person on our entire heritage staff. Wow. Right, 161 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.720 she's beaten everybody up and so I have to play 162 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:53.279 against her this week. Yeah. Yeah, And so while by 163 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.120 the time people hear this, I will have already beaten her. 164 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:58.839 You have, Oh, I was gonna say you have already lost? 165 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:02.639 Well, very likely the way it's been going. The way 166 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:04.879 it's been going. So I think you're gonna have to 167 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:07.399 say nice things about her, but I just I can't today. 168 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:12.279 Okay, all right, yeah, well that that is something. 169 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.800 Yeah, okay, so we are in I'm not even going 170 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:17.800 to try to transition this. Oh talking about saying nice 171 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:19.040 things for people? 172 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:19.480 All right. 173 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:23.040 So there's a call to repentance, and then God promises 174 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:27.480 to restore in Joel chapter two, verse twelve. And for 175 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:30.279 our short time listeners, if you just started listening, Chris 176 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:33.000 and I we went through every highlight passage in the 177 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.560 entire Old Testament, and we covered the Book of Joel. 178 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:39.879 I don't know, maybe one hundred episodes ago or more. 179 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.600 So maybe go back and check that out if you're in. 180 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:44.720 Nice said, But here's what it says. In Joel chapter two, 181 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:49.160 verse twelve. It says, that is why the Lord says, 182 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.279 turn to me, now while there is time, give me 183 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:55.879 your hearts. Come with fasting and weeping and mourning. Don't 184 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.639 tear your clothing and your grief. But tear your hearts. Instead, 185 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.480 return to the Lord, Lord your God, for his merciful 186 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:04.959 and compassionate slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. 187 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.560 He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows. 188 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:11.480 Perhaps he'll give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing 189 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:13.800 instead of this curse. Perhaps you'll be able to offer 190 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:17.439 grain and wine to the Lord your God. As before, 191 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.879 blow the rams horn of Jerusalem, announce the time of fasting. 192 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:24.879 Call the people together for a solemn meeting. Gather all 193 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.160 the people, the elders, the children, and even the babies. 194 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.720 Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from 195 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:32.039 her private room. Let the priests who minister in the 196 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:34.879 Lord's presence stand and weep between the entry room to 197 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:37.919 the temple and the altar. Let them pray. Spare your people, Lord, 198 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:40.759 don't let your special possession become an object of mockery. 199 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:43.879 Don't let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, 200 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:46.320 has the God of Israel left them? And then the 201 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:49.759 Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor 202 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:52.320 of his land. The Lord will reply, look, I am 203 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.639 sending you grain and new wine and olive oil enough 204 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:57.960 to satisfy your needs, you will no longer be an 205 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.960 object of mockery among the surrounded nations. Well there you go. 206 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:07.679 There it is. Wow. What a prayer. Yeah, and some 207 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:12.240 parts of it are very specific, like grain and things. 208 00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:15.000 We don't deal with grain. You and me. You don't 209 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:15.759 deal with grain, do you? 210 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:20.799 I mean we eat bread and pizza. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 211 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:21.399 so that's stuff. 212 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:23.639 You don't harvest grain. Do you harvest grain in the 213 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:24.320 farm growing up? 214 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.320 No, we didn't. You have to have a special license 215 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.159 to grow like wheat and barley and those things. The 216 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:30.039 government controls that. 217 00:09:32.200 --> 00:09:35.080 But besides that, the rest is pretty relevant. Right. So 218 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:37.320 this is what the Lord says, turn to me now, 219 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:41.360 while there is still time, give me your hearts, come 220 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:44.639 with fasting, weeping and morning. Don't let your clothing. Don't 221 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.399 tear your clothes. Okay, so so it's going on good. 222 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:50.440 By the way, tearing your clothing was a common thing 223 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.039 back then. They would tear their clothing. 224 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.000 There was a demonstrative. How upset I am. 225 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:58.039 Yes, I'm in sorrow. I'm warning. It was a demonstration. 226 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.120 So if somebody was walking around with clothing that was torn, 227 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.919 you knew that they were in mourning. So anyway, but 228 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.960 it turned to me while there's still is time and 229 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.559 turned to me with weeping and fasting and mourning. That 230 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:13.320 is a request, isn't it. 231 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:17.000 Yeah, So the whole first chapter is in the first 232 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:20.080 half of the second chapter is God saying listen, people 233 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:23.399 of Judah, turn back to me. Remember at this point, 234 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.480 the kingdom is divided, so there's the northern Kingdom Israel 235 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:30.080 and the southern Kingdom Judah. Northern kingdom walked away from 236 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:33.600 God way before Judah did, and they were just following 237 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.279 after idols and wickedness and all kinds of things, and 238 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:39.200 God brought judgment on them regularly, but Judah prospered. But 239 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.120 then over time Judah began flirting with the same things 240 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:45.519 and eventually started going their own way, rebelling against God, 241 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:49.919 starting to worship idols and things and God now through 242 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.480 Joel is warning them saying, listen, judgment is coming and 243 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.080 it's going to be really, really horrible if you guys 244 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:58.399 don't come back to me. And so then Joel starts 245 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:01.159 so in verse two or chapter two, at the beginning, 246 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.120 he says, sound the trumpet in Jerusalem, raise the alarm 247 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.600 in my holy Mountain. Let everyone tremble in fear because 248 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.679 of the day of the Lord is upon us. So 249 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:11.679 Joela is like, listen, people, judgment is not coming. Judgment 250 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:14.679 is here. We have to turn away, turn away from 251 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:16.879 our sin and come back to God. And then that's 252 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:18.720 where we picked up in verse twelve. That's why the 253 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.159 Lord says, come back to me, and yeah, because I 254 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.600 want to be slow to judgment. I don't want to. 255 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:26.360 I don't want I don't hate you, right, I'm willing 256 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.480 to discipline you like a parent needs to discipline a 257 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:31.000 child in order to get their attention to do the 258 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:32.960 right thing instead of the wrong thing. He says, I 259 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:35.960 love you. What is the one verse he just said 260 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:41.480 a minute ago? Uh? He for he is merciful and compassionate, 261 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:44.480 slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. He 262 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:48.120 is eager to relent and not punish. Right right, God's 263 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.799 not delighting in the fact that punishment is coming. He's 264 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:54.360 really eager to relent and not punish. He's full of 265 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.679 mercy and unfailing love. If the people would just turn 266 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:59.440 from their sin and turn to God, and that same 267 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.879 prince is available to you and me today, that's. 268 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:09.519 Awesome, and I love how it's a cull to repentance. 269 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:13.480 And what he's really saying is is he's saying, who knows, 270 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:16.159 perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a 271 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.919 blessing instead of a curse. And really what he's saying 272 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.159 is is it's never too late, right, It's never too late. 273 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:25.279 So it doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter 274 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.840 if you think, like, hey, I've crossed the line of 275 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.919 no return. You know, there's no way that God can 276 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:34.120 forgive me. Judgment is coming. You know, there's a lot 277 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:36.480 of people what they do is they make mistakes and 278 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:40.240 then they find themselves in the midst of consequence, you know, 279 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:42.120 and then all of a sudden, everything around them starts 280 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:45.919 crumbling or relationships start to get severed, and it's just 281 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:49.320 like it's almost like they've held their position of non repentance, 282 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:55.000 and people just somehow think that, you know, uh, they're 283 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:57.840 just going to hang on to their view. But you 284 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:59.879 know what, I think that even in the midst of 285 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:02.600 I mean, even if judgment were to come, is what 286 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.919 I'm issuing. That's sort of where my mindset is. It's like, 287 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.759 even if judgment were to come and even if you 288 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:11.759 know there was some sort of a big judgment coming, 289 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:16.559 there's still a repentance factor that will allow God to 290 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:19.120 bless you even in the midst of the valleys, right, 291 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:21.879 Because doesn't God still bless in the midst of the valleys. 292 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:25.919 Doesn't he still grant mercy even when there's earthly consequences 293 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:26.840 to our bad choices. 294 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:32.879 So the way that the prophets talked, no, so when 295 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.960 once judgment is unleashed, the only thing that turns it 296 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:41.080 back is full repentance. That's it, right, So there's no 297 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.960 I'm judging you and blessing you simultaneously. It's the gloves 298 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:48.320 are off and judgment is here now, and it's going 299 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:53.000 to be really really bad until you repent. And I 300 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.000 was having a conversation with a guy who's been going 301 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:58.799 through some really really difficult things as a result of 302 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:02.960 his own bad choices. He lost so much in his life. 303 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.120 He lost his home, he lost his marriage, he lost 304 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:10.559 so many things, and he was so hateful and resentful 305 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:14.360 for a while towards others. He was demanding all this 306 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:17.679 justice and things as he felt, but he was the 307 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:20.720 one who pulled his life down around him. Other people 308 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:25.840 participated perhaps and made it worse. And then finally, as 309 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:28.679 we were going through this conversation, the Bible says God 310 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:32.519 opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. 311 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.799 And I asked him, I said, so, are you still 312 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:38.559 wanting revenge on everybody else? Do you want your enemies 313 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:42.039 to suffer all these things? He started crying. He said no, 314 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.519 not anymore. I said, well, what change? He said, I 315 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:47.559 have nothing as I have is my books. He started crying. 316 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.600 He said, I wouldn't even want my enemies to live 317 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.720 this life. And I said, You're in exactly the right 318 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:55.559 place now for God to begin to bless you, right, 319 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:59.399 because you have nowhere else to turn. And that's usually 320 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:04.840 what God does once judgment comes, it's unrelenting until we repent, 321 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:07.039 and that's what he was doing in that moment. He 322 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:10.519 was repenting, going, no, you're right, I've done this to myself, 323 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:15.440 and I alls I have is God's mercy to help 324 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.759 me out from that. So, yeah, I see what you're saying. 325 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.879 I understand what you're saying. I think that that when 326 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:24.039 you read the minor prophets like this, judgment is unrelenting 327 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:28.080 until repentance, and the repentance means that I have to 328 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.720 get to the point where I'm the one who caused 329 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:34.360 this the consequences. I can remember one time. My parents 330 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:39.240 were spankers. They spanked me always under under control and discipline, 331 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.879 so they weren't beaters, you know, they didn't just beat me. 332 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:46.240 It was very disciplined and orderly, and my dad would 333 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:50.240 always make me, uh sit alone for a while while 334 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:52.279 he calmed down, you know, so he'd never spank me 335 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.960 when he was angry. He come and say, listen, why 336 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:59.159 why is this going to happen? And maybe because I lied, 337 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:01.399 or I stole or I disobeyed, they did whatever, right, 338 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:06.519 And I think it's the same thing with God. You know, 339 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:09.799 in Hebrews, he says, if if you don't get disciplined 340 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:15.039 by God chastened is the word, then you're an illegitimate child, 341 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:17.960 you're not one of his own. So God does that, 342 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:20.080 And it's not that God's being mean, It's that our 343 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:23.000 own behavior isn't going to turn without a certain amount 344 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.600 of pain sometimes and God knows when that moment is 345 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:27.360 in our life, and so he'll bring it to us. 346 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:30.480 But the second we repent, and this is why it 347 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:33.639 says he's eager to relent and not punished God is 348 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:36.720 he's just waiting for the first hint of repentance. God, 349 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:39.399 I did this to myself. I deserve it. Would you 350 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:41.759 forgive me? This is what happened with that guy yesterday, 351 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:44.840 the tax collector says, God, have mercy on me a sinner. 352 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.360 Yeah. 353 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:45.639 Right. 354 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:50.159 So I had a very early ministry experience early on, 355 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:53.039 like within my first seven years of being in ministry 356 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:59.639 full time, and I had a staff member who had 357 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:03.919 a more failure. And then I left that church and 358 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.400 then went to another church in the area, stayed there 359 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.920 for another three years, and then I was moving from Atlanta, 360 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:13.400 Georgia to Michigan. Well, he had heard that I was 361 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:17.079 leaving the state. So we hadn't talked since this big 362 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.519 conflict and everything else. So he said, why don't you, 363 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.599 Why don't we meet. It's it's high time that we 364 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.680 met since this big falling out. And I said, okay, 365 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:31.720 that's fine because I'm interested in reconciliation obviously. But this guy, 366 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.359 by the way, was like six foot three and like 367 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:37.839 two hundred and fifty pounds and could destroy me. And 368 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:40.079 he goes, oh, let's meet in the best by parking lot, 369 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.200 and I said, best by parking lot. That's where I 370 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:45.759 would have my cousin meet somebody that with brass knuckles, Yeah, 371 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:48.039 with brass knuckles, and put a head on him. And 372 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.480 he goes, fine, where do you want to meet? And 373 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.400 I said, I said that's fine. I said, let's just 374 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.400 meet in the best you know, best by parking lot. 375 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:56.480 That's fine. So we met there and and I remember 376 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.720 him grabbing my truck and you know, my truck had 377 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:01.079 like these like rails on. He grabbed my truck and 378 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:02.599 he was shaking it. He was so mad and he 379 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:04.400 was and the whole truck was shaking. I'm thinking, man, 380 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:07.759 this guy's strong. He could he could kill me, right, 381 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.400 but he didn't. It was a it was a it 382 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:13.599 was a fine meeting. But in that meeting, I just said, 383 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:20.519 I said, why didn't you just admit it? He went 384 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:25.119 through he I mean, the church split everybody just, I 385 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:29.279 mean just the consequences kept coming and coming and coming, 386 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.079 and they just and and which is why I sort 387 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.759 of even brought it up, because because it was like, 388 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.480 it was like, so, yeah, it was coming. The judgment 389 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:40.119 was there, right, you had this moral failure, You did 390 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:43.440 all these different things he did like three things and uh, 391 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:46.160 and and anyway, it's a long story, but I but 392 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:51.400 I just said, why didn't you just say, Okay, fine, 393 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:55.039 I did those things and and yes, the consequences could 394 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:57.480 have still come right and and and maybe the end 395 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.599 result could have been the same. 396 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:02.480 Well, if he had confessed and repent, the consequences would 397 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:04.799 have been far less. That's what I'm meaning. Yeah, yeah, 398 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.759 that's what I was trying to mean. Because he's he's 399 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.960 slow to get angry and he's filled with unfailing. 400 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.759 Yeah, that's why I said, like true repentance, and then 401 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:13.599