Raw Conversations: The 5 Woes of Babylon
Message Date: 10/29/23
Speaker: Pastor Renee Hidalgo

**Homophone: **word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and/or spelling.

Examples:
Flower & Flour
Bare & Bear
Dye & Die
Woe & Whoa

Woe: expression of grief, sorrow, distress, and indignation
Whoa: expression used to tell someone to stop, wait, pause, or reconsider

The 5 Woes of Babylon:

Woe #1: Greed
Woe #2: Deception
Woe #3: Violence
Woe #4: Drunkenness
Woe #5: Idolatry

“Judah was morally and spiritually corrupt, worshipping Baal on the high places, offering child sacrifices to the god Molech, dedicating horses to the sun god, and allowing the Temple, where the very presence of God was made manifest, to fall into ruin.” —–ESV Study Bible, Habakkuk

Matthew 7:3
Why do you see the

that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the

Reveal Answer

that is in your own eye?

Woe #1: Greed

Habakkuk 2:6
“

to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?”

Greed: intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth or power

Luke 12:15
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of

.”

Does greed have any place in my life?

Woe #2: Deception

Habakkuk 2:9
“

to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!”

Where am I being less than honest about something in my life?

Woe #3: Violence

Habakkuk 2:6

“

to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!”

Matthew 5:21-22

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not

, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

Do I have any unchecked

in my life?

Habakkuk 2:14

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Woe #4: Drunkenness

Habakkuk 2:15

“

to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!”

Ephesians 5:18

“Do not get

on wine, which leads to

Reveal Answer

indiscretion.”

Am I allowing anything to have control over me? Or to help me control or take advantage of another person?

Woe #5: Idolatry

Habakkuk 2:18-19
“Of what value is an

carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.”
“

Reveal Answer

to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”

Idolatry: Extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone; to the
point that your life revolves around that thing…

Am I elevating anything to a wrongful place in my life?

Habakkuk 2:20

“But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”

1 John 1:8-9

If we claim to be without

, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we

Reveal Answer

oursins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our

Reveal Answer

and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 Corinthians 11:28

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

Would you read the Bible Plan, Living Reconciled, with us?
https://bible.com/p/61896913/aff767745ff86b120252ffd3212cd0e7