WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.660 Let's pray. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:10.820 Heavenly Father, we worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe. 00:00:11.939 --> 00:00:17.059 Lord Jesus, we worship you, Savior and Lord of the world. 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:23.500 Holy Spirit, we worship you as the convictor of sin and the sanctifier of the people of God. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:29.859 So we give you glory to you, Father, to you, Jesus, and to you, Holy Spirit. 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:35.259 Heavenly Father, we pray that we might live today in your presence and please you more and more. 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:40.340 Lord Jesus, we pray that we will take up our cross and we will follow you. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:48.159 And Holy Spirit, we pray that today you will fill us with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in our lives. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:55.840 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:00.420 So have mercy on us now, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:01:01.040 --> 00:01:07.300 And be our teacher as we open your word for your praise and glory. 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:08.400 Amen. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:18.700 And so we finish our series on prayer today looking at three basic kinds of prayer to God. 00:01:19.100 --> 00:01:22.560 And you've hopefully got a sermon outline in front of you. 00:01:22.660 --> 00:01:29.700 If you haven't, stick your hand up and our welcomers will gladly get one to you to give you an idea of where we're going today. 00:01:29.700 --> 00:01:34.320 Very briefly, there is upward awe prayer. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:37.760 Praise and thanksgiving that focuses on God himself. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:41.060 Then there is inward intimacy prayer. 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:51.480 It's self-examination and confession that brings a deeper sense of sin and in return, a higher experience of grace and assurance of love. 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:59.960 And finally, there is outward prayer, which is petitions that focuses on our need, the needs of others in the world. 00:02:00.800 --> 00:02:08.879 And this prayer requires perseverance and often involves struggle, as our Luke 11 passage indicates. 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.859 So firstly, upward awe, praising God's glory. 00:02:13.799 --> 00:02:17.859 Now, praise of God is where prayer starts. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:24.159 It is, in fact, the motivation for the other two forms of prayer. 00:02:24.900 --> 00:02:33.680 The more we grasp God's perfect holiness and his justice, the more that we will see our own flaws and we will confess them. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:44.840 And the more we sense his majesty and the more we realize our dependence on him, the more readily we will go to him for every one of our needs. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:54.180 In our overall prayer life, praise and adoration of God has the prime place. 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:58.400 It's the starting point and it has the prime place. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:10.520 It seems, however, if you dig into it a little bit deeper, that a little egocentric that God would call us to praise him. 00:03:11.379 --> 00:03:17.800 Like it's like God is there saying, right, guys, the way you pray is tell me how great I am. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:20.200 You know, that's a starting point. 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:21.780 You just tell me how great I am. 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:24.780 It seems a little egocentric. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:35.639 So is praise of God just simply about God or is there, biblically speaking, a gift enough for us? 00:03:36.500 --> 00:03:40.240 Is praise for us as much as it is for God? 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:47.800 Well, what I want to declare is that praise and adoration of God, in fact, changes us. 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:56.920 Praise of God is the only form of prayer that directly develops love for God. 00:03:58.480 --> 00:04:00.500 Directly develops love for God. 00:04:01.100 --> 00:04:02.880 It changes us. 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:07.460 St. Augustine was a fifth century Christian theologian and philosopher. 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:14.820 And he taught that what we love is basically what we are. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:18.079 What we love is what we are. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:26.480 Our most fundamental identity and life behavior is a function of what we love. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:38.400 All people seek happiness, even in the fifth century, and they attach themselves to things that they believe will make them happy. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:49.620 However, when you throw sin into that mix, into that equation, what we do is we misidentify what will make us happy. 00:04:50.220 --> 00:04:51.660 That's our biggest problem. 00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:56.140 Our biggest problem in life is that we have disordered loves. 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:02.360 We either love what we ought not to love or we fail to love what we ought to love. 00:05:02.640 --> 00:05:07.380 Or we love more what we should love less or love less what we should love more. 00:05:09.140 --> 00:05:14.220 For instance, if a person loves making money more than doing justice, 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:21.640 So if money is more important to them than justice, then they will exploit their employees. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:32.980 If they love their career more than they love family, then their children, their family relationships will ultimately feel neglected and will break down. 00:05:32.980 --> 00:05:42.879 The ultimate reason for our misery, according to the Bible, is that we do not love God supremely. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.319 As Augustine so famously put it in a prayer, 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:56.520 You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:09.859 So that means quite simply, if you love anything at all in this world more than your creator, God, 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:21.199 Whatever you love more than God will ultimately crush you under the weight of expectations and it will eventually break your heart. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:22.959 Augustine wrote, 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:30.060 Wherever the soul of man turns, unless towards God, it cleaves to sorrow, 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:38.680 Even though the things outside God and outside itself to which it cleaves may be things of beauty themselves. 00:06:41.659 --> 00:06:47.899 To change in the deepest sense, we must change what we worship. 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:58.579 We must love God supremely and that can be cultivated only through praise and adoration of God. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:05.419 Now, thanksgiving is a subcategory of praise. 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.699 Thanksgiving is praising God for what he's done, 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:14.039 While praise is adoring God for who he is in and of himself. 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:17.139 So Psalm 135 just read out to us. 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:21.139 Psalm 135 calls us to praise God. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:30.399 Psalm 136 gives thanks to God for specific things that make him praiseworthy. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:37.019 So Psalm 135 praises God for having delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:42.279 And Psalm 136 praises God for being loving and good. 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:47.459 And those things, praise and thanksgiving, are intimately connected. 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:54.279 Thanksgiving for a blessing automatically draws our mind towards the attributes 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:59.259 and the loving purposes of the God to whom the blessing has come, 00:07:59.339 --> 00:08:00.500 from whom the blessing has come. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.500 Praise for God for being loving and good. 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:02.500 Praise for God for being loving and good. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:13.959 Praise for God's love and his goodness transforms effortlessly into thanksgiving for all the examples of his goodness in our life. 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:22.000 And yet, neither praise nor thanksgiving comes easily. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.000 Go to any prayer meeting. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:24.279 Go to any prayer meeting. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.319 And praise and thanksgiving is often the shortest little bit, 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:30.740 the bit with the most amount of silence, 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:33.740 whereas the petition stuff is where it all flows. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:46.700 Confession and repentance are driven by our circumstances too often. 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:55.220 We fail and we are burdened with guilt and shame and so we pray, driven by circumstances. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:02.720 Petitions, supplications, asking God for stuff is driven by circumstances. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:09.840 A friend or a family member gets a diagnosis of cancer or their career looks like it's about to turn really bad 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:11.399 and so we pray. 00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:15.560 That is, it's driven by circumstances. 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:23.600 When good things happen to us, you would expect that it too would be driven by circumstances 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:30.860 and that good things happening to us would naturally provoke us to thanks and praise 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:37.680 in the same way that when bad things happen to us, we are naturally driven towards confession and petition. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:40.940 But it doesn't. 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:46.639 Why do we not automatically flow over in thanksgiving and praise? 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:55.179 In Romans 1 verses 8 to 21, Paul is describing the character of human sin. 00:09:56.220 --> 00:09:57.319 And he writes this, 00:09:57.319 --> 00:10:06.960 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God, nor gave thanks to him. 00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:13.580 Ingratitude to God is the essence of sin. 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:22.160 Cosmic ingratitude is the illusion that we are spiritually self-sufficient. 00:10:24.160 --> 00:10:28.580 Cosmic ingratitude is taking credit for something that was in fact a gift. 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:33.020 It's the belief that we know best how to live. 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:35.360 And it's a dangerous delusion. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.800 We do not create ourselves. 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:44.240 We cannot keep our lives going for even one second without his upholding power. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:52.639 And we, by nature, hate the idea that we are utterly and completely dependent upon God. 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:56.100 Because when we do, when we admit that we are, 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:59.100 we are obligated to him, 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:02.740 and we are not able to live as we wish. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:10.080 We would, in fact, have to defer to the one who gives us everything. 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:16.580 And so the sin in our heart makes us desperate to keep control of our lives 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:18.860 and to live the way we want to. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:23.800 And so we cannot acknowledge the magnitude and the scope of what we owe him. 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:25.599 When good things come to us, 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:30.279 we do everything possible to tell ourselves that we accomplished it 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:31.839 or that we deserve it. 00:11:32.719 --> 00:11:35.899 When our lives are simply going along pretty smoothly, 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:44.359 we don't live in quiet, amazed, thankful consciousness of God's blessing. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:51.519 We have a problem with gratitude and praise. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.000 We do it in all of our life. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:01.180 We are way more critical than we are thankful. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.659 We are way more critical of our kids than we are affirming and giving them thanks. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:10.279 We are way more critical of governments for the mistakes they make 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:13.339 and rather than affirming them for the good things that they do do. 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:20.879 We have a problem with gratitude and praise, 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.860 and yet praise is the one kind of prayer 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:31.299 that properly motivates, energizes, and shapes all of our prayer life. 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:34.079 You've got a problem with praise and thanksgiving. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:36.240 You've got a problem with your entire prayer life. 00:12:39.560 --> 00:12:41.080 So how do we turn it around? 00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:47.420 Multiple ways, but broadly speaking, 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:52.879 it's developing the habit to turn every gift of God into praise of God. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.840 I would encourage you, if you've got a problem in this area, 00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:58.919 which virtually all of us do, 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:04.019 is to stop petitions and start praise. 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:06.840 Get your shopping list of petitions. 00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:13.679 Put it to one side and write a list of everything that you are thankful to God for 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:15.559 and pray over it and over it and over it 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:17.340 and keep adding to it and keep adding to it 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:25.320 and keep adding to it until you start to feel the emotions well up 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:27.540 of thanksgiving and gratitude to God. 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:32.460 Gratitude says, 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:37.820 this is a little bit more than just even a shopping list of thanksgiving, 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:40.460 a little bit more of a shopping list of things you're thankful for. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:42.280 Gratitude says, 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:46.259 God, you are so good to give me this. 00:13:47.959 --> 00:13:49.360 Praise says, 00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:52.639 what kind of God would give me this? 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.299 See the difference? 00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:55.939 Gratitude says, 00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:56.939 thank you God for that. 00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:58.480 Praise says, 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.799 who are you that you would give me this? 00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:06.399 The Westminster Catechism says, 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:10.799 a person's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:15.139 And many suggest that they are in fact exactly the same thing. 00:14:15.859 --> 00:14:20.059 To fully enjoy is in fact to praise. 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:23.439 In commanding us to glorify him, 00:14:24.339 --> 00:14:28.159 God is inviting us to enjoy him. 00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:30.740 And enjoying him, 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:34.379 it's the only love that won't crush us. 00:14:35.099 --> 00:14:36.059 The only one. 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:39.699 Secondly, 00:14:39.839 --> 00:14:40.439 intimacy, 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.759 finding God's grace. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.619 Us modern people, 00:14:44.739 --> 00:14:48.299 we often have a one dimensional view of God as a spirit of love. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.559 Therefore, 00:14:50.359 --> 00:14:56.199 the free forgiveness of God through Jesus on the cross doesn't seem that remarkable at all, 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:56.659 because, 00:14:57.099 --> 00:14:57.239 well, 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:57.639 in fact, 00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:58.799 that's God's business. 00:14:59.259 --> 00:14:59.459 You know, 00:14:59.579 --> 00:15:00.679 he's in the business of loving, 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.119 he's in the business of forgiving. 00:15:02.239 --> 00:15:03.859 That's what he's meant to do. 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:09.519 And so we struggle with passages like Exodus 34, 00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:10.399 six and seven, 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:15.580 which makes two startling assertions about God. 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:20.620 It says that God maintains love to thousands and gives, 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.960 forgives wickedness, 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.320 rebellion and sin. 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:27.800 And yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:29.699 That is, 00:15:29.859 --> 00:15:32.019 we struggle with this concept that God, 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:33.139 as it says there, 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:33.859 is loving, 00:15:34.359 --> 00:15:36.139 but he's also holy, 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:40.199 and he cannot let injustice and wickedness go unpunished. 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:42.219 How do you hold those together? 00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:43.740 That is, 00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:49.139 God's forgiveness in the Bible is neither simple to the modern mind or expected. 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:52.799 So the conundrum of Exodus 34, 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:58.039 verses six and seven is actually the tension that drives the entire plot of the Old Testament. 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:10.399 The history recorded in the Bible is an account of individuals and communities continually breaking their promises and obligations to God. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:16.539 And you would just expect that this God would do as we would do is, 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.220 frankly, 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.279 I've had enough of this, 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:19.699 cut you off. 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:24.039 And yet there are numerous statements throughout the Old Testament, 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.620 like Jeremiah 31, 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.620 Ezekiel 36, 00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:29.740 that somehow, 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:39.139 God will nevertheless remain faithful and that he will forgive and he will restore the rebellious. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:44.360 And then you get to the New Testament and Romans 3, 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:48.419 25 and 26 point out the answer to the riddle. 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:56.240 God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:01.680 And he did this so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith, 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:03.759 those who have faith in Jesus. 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.180 You see, 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.120 when Jesus died on the cross, 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:20.839 he took our curse for our unfaithfulness so that we could receive the blessing that he earned through his perfect faithfulness. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:23.220 In Jesus, 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:31.720 God can be both just towards sin and yet merciful in justifying the sinner. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:38.079 It means that because of Jesus' atoning sacrifice, 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.579 no sin, 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.980 according to Romans 8, 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:45.720 can be brought up and condemn those who have faith in Jesus. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:58.380 And so God's free forgiveness is the foundation of all inward intimacy and confession and repentance. 00:17:58.380 --> 00:18:04.680 But when we forget the free grace of God in Christ, 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:11.180 when we aren't totally convinced that God loves us in Jesus, 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:18.700 then confession and repentance becomes just another way of trying to keep God on our side. 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:26.900 It's a self-righteous attempt to atone for my own sin. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.000 Jesus has suffered for our sin. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:37.840 We do not need to make ourselves suffer to merit God's forgiveness. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:42.340 We simply receive the forgiveness earned by God. 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:55.159 How confident can we be that God's love will exist in such a way that my sins are continually going to be dealt with? 00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.259 Well, 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:04.139 God forgives us not just because he's merciful, 00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:05.240 which he is, 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.839 but because he is just. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:14.220 It's because of his justice that we can be confident of his mercy and his love. 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.699 The apostle John writes, 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.000 and we'll read this a little bit later, 00:19:19.199 --> 00:19:21.819 that if we confess our sins, 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.119 it says, 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.699 God is faithful and just 00:19:25.699 --> 00:19:28.619 and will forgive us our sins. 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:31.179 John 1, 1, 9. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:36.740 It doesn't say God is loving and will forgive us our sins. 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:39.880 It says he is just and will forgive us our sins. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:46.240 Our confidence in that verse is that he is just. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.640 That is, 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:53.160 it would be unjust of God to deny us forgiveness 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:57.279 because Jesus has already earned our acceptance. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:03.000 All those who are in Christ must and will be forgiven 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.019 because Jesus has taken the punishment. 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:09.079 He has paid the debt for our sins. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:15.559 It would be unjust of God to receive two payments for the same debt. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:22.700 And this profound assurance and security 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.839 transforms repentance 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:28.619 from being a means of atoning for our sin 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:30.980 into the means of honoring God 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:33.779 and realigning our lives with him. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:39.179 Without a firm, firm grasp of free justification, 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:43.900 we will admit wrongdoing only under great duress. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.600 We will focus on our behavior and itself 00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:52.539 and be blinded to just the deeper issues 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:55.320 of our attitudes and our self-centeredness. 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:58.660 We will also take as little blame as possible 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.940 for anything that we've done. 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:03.740 We will recite every possible mitigating circumstances 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.160 to ourselves and to others. 00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:08.000 And we will never ever experience 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:11.880 the release and the relief of resting in Jesus' forgiveness. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:15.920 The more that we know that we are forgiven, 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.960 the more that we repent. 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:20.080 The faster we will grow, 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.980 the quicker we will change, 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:25.080 the deeper our humility and the deeper our joy 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:28.620 and greater will be our praise and our thanksgiving. 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:38.740 But that doesn't mean we take our sin lightly. 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:43.860 We must not make the mistake 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:46.640 of taking forgiveness lightly because it is free. 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:50.740 Our great debt and sin against God 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:54.000 required the ultimate infinite payment. 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:57.460 And the only way God could forgive us 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:59.600 was to bear it himself. 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:05.600 God the Father sent God the Son to take our punishment, 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:09.759 who with the Father sent God the Spirit into our hearts, 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:17.140 both to show us and to help us receive that costly forgiveness. 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:22.920 If we forget the costliness of sin, 00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:25.440 our prayers for confession, 00:22:26.040 --> 00:22:32.120 our prayers of repentance will simply be shallow and trivial. 00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:39.500 They will neither honor God nor will they change our life. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:42.539 So praise changes our life. 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:45.660 Confession changes our life. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:48.240 Repentance changes our life. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.259 You see, 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:50.599 confessing our sin 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:54.119 implies the forsaking of those sins. 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:56.859 So can I just ask you, 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:59.199 I'm not asking for a show of hands here at all. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:04.539 How many are still doing and confessing the same sins 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:08.199 year after year after year after year? 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:13.419 How many know that experience deep in your heart? 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:23.460 It's because there's a problem with our confession and repentance. 00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:30.519 We must be inwardly grieved and appalled enough by a sin 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:36.200 to the point that it loses its hold over us. 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:39.319 There's a kind of false repentance 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:42.339 where we may admit our sin, 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:46.259 but we're not really sorry for the sin itself. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:51.339 We're sorry about the painful consequences of the sin. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:55.079 We're sorry about the guilt that we feel. 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:59.279 We want the pain to stop. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.920 And so we end the behavior momentarily. 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:08.879 There hasn't been any real change to our wrong beliefs, 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.599 to our wrong hopes, 00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:13.779 to our disordered loves 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:18.539 or mistaken self-perceptions that cause the sin. 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:25.079 The only way to get real and genuine change in our lives, 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:28.740 to actually defeat the sin, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:33.799 to, as English theologian John Owen said, 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.819 to mortify our sin, 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.240 the mortification of our sin, 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.980 to kill it, 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:40.640 is to keep looking to the cross 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.839 and asking yourself, 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.539 how can I treat Jesus like this? 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:48.120 The one who died so I would never be punished? 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:55.679 Is this how I treat the one who has brought me into this unconditional loved state? 00:24:56.639 --> 00:25:01.219 Is this how I treat him after all that he's done for me? 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:05.380 If I failed to forgive when he died to forgive me? 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:13.579 Will I be anxious over the loss of my money when he gave himself to be my security and my eternal wealth? 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:19.199 Will I nurse my pride when he emptied himself of his own glory to save me? 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:25.000 The gospel truth, 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.759 Jesus' dying love, 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:28.279 his unconditional commitment to us, 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:30.000 his costly sacrifice, 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.900 our adoption into his family, 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:35.039 is the powerful instrument of change. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:39.519 Beating yourself up, 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.940 doing good works, 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:46.180 can't eradicate the sin or bring change. 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.700 Only Jesus can do it. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.159 Only the gospel can do it. 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:55.799 We must stop trying to cleanse ourselves through self-punishment 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:58.740 or to get a sense of cleanliness 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:02.000 by living in denial about our sin. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:05.819 Instead, we must go to him in prayer, 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:09.920 looking to his work on the cross 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:15.799 and both admit and forsake our sin. 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.799 Thirdly, outward struggle, 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:22.460 asking God's help. 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:26.460 Third form of prayer is asking God for things, 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:28.299 for yourself, for others and for the world. 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:32.619 Now, compared to the other two forms of prayer, 00:26:33.419 --> 00:26:37.579 this kind of prayer looks rather simple and straightforward. 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.180 Most of us would tick the box and go, 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.579 well, I know how to do the petition thing 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.399 because frankly, 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:44.299 my whole prayer life is consisting of a shopping list, 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.659 asking God to do stuff. 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:49.539 And yet, if you look at James chapter 4, 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.419 verses 2 and 3, 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.319 he says this, 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:56.579 You do not have because you do not ask God. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.659 And when you ask God, 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:02.819 you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:08.099 that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:13.419 You ask with wrong motives. 00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.500 It's about you. 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.759 It's like a story I heard, 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:19.460 a young lad who mounted a campaign 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:21.279 to get himself a skateboard for Christmas. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.559 He went to his mother 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:25.279 and his mother suggested to him, 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:27.140 she confused Santa with Jesus, 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:30.279 but suggested that he writes a letter to Jesus 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:33.220 and tell Jesus how good he's been 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:35.079 and that in fact he deserves 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.860 to get this skateboard for Christmas. 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:40.319 And so the boy grabs a piece of paper and a pen 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:42.100 and sits down at his desk, 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:44.860 Dear Jesus, I've been good all year. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:47.359 He's realized, 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:49.419 well actually that's a bit of an overstatement. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:51.599 So he stops and screws up the piece of paper 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.259 and throws it on the floor 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.599 and grabs another piece and starts again. 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.439 Dear Jesus, 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:56.339 I've been good for the whole month. 00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:59.859 Realizes there was that incident or two 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.500 with his sister 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:04.419 and at very least the poor lad's a realist 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:05.819 and so he screws up that piece of paper 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.719 and throws it down 00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:07.740 and he says, 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.539 Dear Jesus, 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.259 I've been good all week. 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:13.500 And again he realizes, 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:15.640 ah, that's just not true. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.420 It's so frustrating. 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.960 He throws the piece of paper down 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.640 and he goes downstairs, 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.539 storms downstairs, 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.920 walks up to the mantelpiece, 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:24.079 goes to the nativity scene 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:26.539 and grabs Mary out of the nativity scene, 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:28.299 walks back upstairs, 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.920 sits down at his desk, 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.759 plonks Mary down on the desk, 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:33.299 grabs his piece of paper, 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.220 Dear Jesus, 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:36.940 if you ever want to see your mother again, 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:41.559 Now, 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:45.380 James 4 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:48.660 suggests that 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:51.220 petitionary prayer 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:54.140 can be just another way 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.180 of us saying, 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:57.380 my will be done. 00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.779 My will be done. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:03.160 We are prone to telling God 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.620 in no uncertain terms 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:06.539 how he should run the universe. 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:09.380 And what he should do for us. 00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:13.820 And it is quite easy 00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:16.059 in asking God 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.860 for his help 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:18.559 in the wrong way. 00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:21.539 It's also possible 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:24.279 to be too timid 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.880 in asking God. 00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:28.460 Prayer is not just upward 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.220 and inward, 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.700 it's also outward. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:33.039 And prayer is a way 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:35.200 to participate with God 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.160 and his work 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:37.000 in the world. 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.759 Prayer has been referred to, 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.380 in fact, 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.980 as rebellion 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:43.080 against the world's 00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:45.080 evil status quo. 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.660 I love that. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.340 Prayer is a rebellion 00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:50.299 against the world's 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.539 evil status quo. 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.400 And the Bible 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:55.380 is filled with promises 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:57.360 about the power 00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:58.380 of prayer 00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.440 in the affairs 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.120 of history. 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:02.000 James 5.16 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.839 says that Elijah 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.599 was a man 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:07.019 just like us. 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:08.719 And he prayed 00:30:08.719 --> 00:30:10.039 away the rain 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.099 in Israel 00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:12.879 and then prayed 00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.739 it back 00:30:13.739 --> 00:30:15.219 as a way 00:30:15.219 --> 00:30:16.299 to confront 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.519 a corrupt ruler. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:21.159 And James concludes 00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:23.919 that prayer 00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:25.399 can have great power 00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.339 and produce 00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.739 wonderful results. 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:32.039 John Calvin, 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.220 the famous theologian, 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.120 famous especially 00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.980 for his views 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.880 of predestination 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.759 and God's sovereignty, 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.559 makes some 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.140 remarkable statements 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:42.180 about prayer 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.599 based on James 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.819 chapter 5 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.660 verse 16. 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.319 He wrote this, 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:51.419 It was a notable 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.439 event for God 00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:53.259 to put heaven 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.899 in some sense 00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:56.879 under the control 00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:58.539 of Elijah's prayers 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.259 to be obedient 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:02.220 to Elijah's requests. 00:31:03.659 --> 00:31:05.179 By his prayers, 00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.399 Elijah kept heaven 00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:07.519 shut for two years 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.179 and a half. 00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:09.819 Then he opened it 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:11.559 and made it 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:13.099 suddenly pour 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:14.720 with great rain 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:17.179 from which we may see 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.519 the miraculous power 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.240 of prayer. 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:22.580 So Calvin there 00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.980 is both bold 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.299 and careful. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.860 He says that prayer 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:31.019 is in some sense, 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:33.320 that Elijah's prayer 00:31:33.320 --> 00:31:34.019 in some sense 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.960 affected the weather 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.120 conditions in Israel 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:37.420 for two and a half years. 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:40.320 In the ultimate sense, 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.539 God is in charge 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.080 of everything 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:42.880 that occurs. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.799 Our prayers 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:45.279 could not possibly 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.500 take control 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.579 of any part 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.160 of the universe 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:49.200 away from God. 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.319 However, 00:31:50.619 --> 00:31:51.319 it is part 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:52.299 of God's goodness 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:54.079 that he allows 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.200 the world 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.079 to be 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:57.099 susceptible 00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:58.799 to the prayers 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.379 of the faithful. 00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:02.559 How he maintains 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.879 control of history 00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:05.619 and yet still 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:07.139 makes human prayer 00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:08.059 and action 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.059 responsible 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.420 within history 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.700 is one of the 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:13.259 most practical 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.240 mysteries of the Bible. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:18.160 our prayers 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.640 matter 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:19.740 and yet 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:21.299 God's wise plan 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.099 is sovereign 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:23.299 and infallible. 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.839 These facts, 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.099 two facts, 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.259 are true 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.940 at once, 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.420 however that 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.220 is possible 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:33.599 is a mystery 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.059 to us 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:35.259 but not to God. 00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:36.019 It's easy. 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.620 But just think 00:32:39.620 --> 00:32:40.140 for a moment 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:41.299 of how wonderful 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:41.859 and practical 00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:42.559 this is. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.039 You see, 00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.700 if we believe 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.099 that God 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.779 was in charge 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.639 of our actions 00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:48.319 and that our actions 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:48.839 meant nothing, 00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:49.319 if we believe 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:49.579 that God 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:49.980 was totally 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.299 sovereign 00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:50.899 and our actions 00:32:50.899 --> 00:32:51.559 meant nothing, 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:53.000 it would lead 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.259 to a discouraged 00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:54.859 passivity 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.639 in our world. 00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:58.059 If, 00:32:58.159 --> 00:32:58.899 on the other hand, 00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.879 we really believe 00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:00.659 that our actions 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:01.519 and our prayers 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.819 change God's plan, 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:04.819 God's plan 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:06.039 like, 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.159 in that he 00:33:07.159 --> 00:33:08.919 vacated his sovereignty 00:33:08.919 --> 00:33:10.480 and his purposes 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.960 and changed his mind 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.200 based on our prayers, 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.399 it would lead 00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.299 to paralyzed 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.279 fear 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:18.480 because we cannot 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.500 see the full picture 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.439 and what course 00:33:20.439 --> 00:33:20.879 of action 00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:21.779 we might be putting 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.259 in motion 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.019 through history 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.720 because we 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.779 simply do not 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.639 know best. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:29.280 But if both 00:33:29.280 --> 00:33:29.740 are true, 00:33:30.520 --> 00:33:32.040 we have the 00:33:32.040 --> 00:33:33.080 greatest incentive 00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:34.280 for diligent effort 00:33:34.280 --> 00:33:35.720 and yet, 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:37.259 we can always 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.360 sense that God's 00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.560 everlasting arms 00:33:39.560 --> 00:33:40.680 are around us. 00:33:41.520 --> 00:33:42.180 In the end, 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:43.360 we cannot frustrate 00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.300 God's good plans 00:33:44.300 --> 00:33:44.860 for us. 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.440 It's a tremendous 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.120 truth. 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.180 God 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:52.660 bends his ear 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:54.580 and delights 00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:55.620 to hear our prayers. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.080 He allows 00:33:59.080 --> 00:33:59.720 the world 00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.519 to be, 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.860 in some sense, 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.800 under the control 00:34:03.800 --> 00:34:04.460 of the power 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.000 of prayer. 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.079 That's why 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.139 James declares 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.659 that prayer 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.340 is powerful 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:10.880 and effective. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.159 So it's possible 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.519 to ask wrongly, 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.659 selfish motive, 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.800 my will be done, 00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.340 and it's also 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.840 possible 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:21.039 to be too 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.579 timid 00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:23.079 in asking 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.799 of God. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.079 So how do we 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.739 proceed? 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.440 To put it 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:29.860 simply, 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:31.980 we are to 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.739 lift our 00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:33.719 desires to 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.179 God 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:35.299 with a view 00:34:35.299 --> 00:34:35.779 to his 00:34:35.779 --> 00:34:36.219 wisdom. 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:37.739 The Westminster 00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:38.739 Shorter Catechism 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.340 puts it like 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:39.819 this, 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.079 prayer 00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.079 is an 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.739 offering up 00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:43.039 of our 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:43.579 desires 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.519 unto God 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:45.559 for things 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.340 agreeable 00:34:46.340 --> 00:34:47.119 to his 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.559 will. 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.659 In the 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.159 name of 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:49.619 Christ, 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.759 with confession 00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.179 of our 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:51.679 sins 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.779 and thankful 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:53.399 acknowledgement 00:34:53.399 --> 00:34:53.879 of his 00:34:53.879 --> 00:34:54.579 mercies. 00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.399 We are 00:34:58.399 --> 00:34:59.219 to ask 00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:00.039 God to 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:00.719 fulfill 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:01.639 the desires 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:01.980 of our 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.599 hearts. 00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:04.980 However, 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:06.879 as a 00:35:06.879 --> 00:35:07.239 guard 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:07.899 against 00:35:07.899 --> 00:35:08.739 both 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.299 selfish 00:35:09.299 --> 00:35:09.980 motives, 00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:10.839 as well 00:35:10.839 --> 00:35:11.460 as our 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:13.619 short-sightedness, 00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:15.159 will be 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:16.400 to ask 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.339 God to 00:35:17.339 --> 00:35:17.880 fulfill 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.179 our 00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.739 request 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:19.400 with 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:19.920 things 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.159 agreeable 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:21.559 to 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.019 his 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.599 will. 00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:25.619 Instead 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:25.960 of a 00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.559 shopping list 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:26.940 of things 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.619 we want, 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.819 we should 00:35:28.819 --> 00:35:29.440 reflect 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:30.500 on what 00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:31.380 we want 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.659 in light 00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:33.980 of all 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.380 that we 00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:34.859 know 00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:36.199 from the 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:36.480 Bible 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.000 about the 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.579 things that 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.420 delight and 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:39.420 grieve God, 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:40.519 in light 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:40.880 of what 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.400 we know 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:42.260 about how 00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.280 his salvation 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:44.400 works and 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:44.840 what his 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:46.019 plan is 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:47.139 for the 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.639 universe. 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.240 So if we 00:35:50.240 --> 00:35:50.920 find, 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.039 if we ever 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.680 find in our 00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.940 prayers that 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:56.099 we cannot say 00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:57.159 something along 00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:58.119 those lines, 00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:01.420 in terms of 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.139 being agreeable 00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:02.700 to God's 00:36:02.700 --> 00:36:02.920 will, 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.539 if we find 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.559 our prayers 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.420 are not 00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.800 prayers that 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:07.920 are shaped 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.340 by the 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:08.760 scriptures, 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.220 God's 00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:10.560 eternal 00:36:10.560 --> 00:36:11.200 plan, 00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:12.060 then it's 00:36:12.060 --> 00:36:14.140 possible that 00:36:14.140 --> 00:36:14.560 we are 00:36:14.560 --> 00:36:15.420 dealing in 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:15.980 that moment, 00:36:16.100 --> 00:36:16.539 in that 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:16.980 prayer, 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:17.860 with one of 00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.860 the disordered 00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:20.680 loves of 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:21.300 our life, 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:21.820 a heart 00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.300 idol, 00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:23.400 a rival 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.019 for God 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.980 himself in 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.900 our innermost 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.500 being. 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:29.400 I remember 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:29.840 sitting in a 00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:30.200 prayer meeting 00:36:30.200 --> 00:36:30.660 once, 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.200 where I 00:36:32.200 --> 00:36:33.080 was making 00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:35.519 a bunch of 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.240 changes and 00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:36.620 things, 00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:37.860 and someone 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:38.180 in the 00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:38.840 prayer meeting, 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:39.780 their simple 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.240 prayer was 00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:40.600 this, 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:41.820 dear God, 00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:42.920 I don't 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.580 like what 00:36:43.580 --> 00:36:44.340 Steve is 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:44.720 doing, 00:36:45.240 --> 00:36:46.000 please change 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.700 his mind, 00:36:47.200 --> 00:36:47.539 amen. 00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:53.300 As it turns 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:53.620 out, God 00:36:53.620 --> 00:36:53.980 didn't. 00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.039 Changed my 00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:56.240 mind. 00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.440 And in 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.100 moments like 00:37:00.100 --> 00:37:00.620 that, what 00:37:00.620 --> 00:37:01.240 should happen, 00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:02.740 it should 00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:03.480 trigger a 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.420 great deal 00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:05.000 of self 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.700 examination. 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:08.920 prayer is 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:09.380 not just 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.200 hard work, 00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:10.580 it is 00:37:10.580 --> 00:37:11.680 heart work. 00:37:13.160 --> 00:37:13.519 Prayer is 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:14.060 a struggle, 00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:15.160 and for 00:37:15.160 --> 00:37:15.600 too many 00:37:15.600 --> 00:37:16.019 of us, 00:37:16.080 --> 00:37:16.380 we just 00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:16.980 simply give 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.220 up, 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.019 we just 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.980 slide into 00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.760 despondency, 00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.019 we slide 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.700 into mere 00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:22.060 duty, 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:22.700 and just 00:37:22.700 --> 00:37:22.980 get, 00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:23.700 here's the 00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:24.340 shopping list. 00:37:25.680 --> 00:37:26.460 Our heart 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:27.019 is not 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:27.780 engaged, 00:37:28.160 --> 00:37:28.640 it's just 00:37:28.640 --> 00:37:29.180 our mind. 00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:30.759 God's 00:37:30.759 --> 00:37:31.179 need. 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:32.519 So, if 00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:32.919 that is 00:37:32.919 --> 00:37:33.299 you, 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:34.719 there's this 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:35.279 famous 00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:35.819 prayer, 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.039 parable of 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.460 prayer in 00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:38.679 Luke 18, 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.379 where Jesus 00:37:39.379 --> 00:37:40.519 tells of an 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:40.899 oppressed 00:37:40.899 --> 00:37:41.519 widow who 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.779 kept coming 00:37:42.779 --> 00:37:44.399 to a judge 00:37:44.399 --> 00:37:44.879 with a plea, 00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.379 grant me 00:37:45.379 --> 00:37:45.940 justice against 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.559 my adversary, 00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:47.000 and Jesus 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.579 concludes, 00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:48.519 and will 00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.079 not God 00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:49.679 bring about 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:50.500 justice for 00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.099 his chosen 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:52.059 ones who 00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:52.799 cry out to 00:37:52.799 --> 00:37:53.279 him day 00:37:53.279 --> 00:37:54.000 and night? 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.500 And the 00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.059 point of 00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.460 Jesus' 00:37:56.639 --> 00:37:57.159 parable is 00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:57.840 twofold, 00:37:58.199 --> 00:37:58.500 we should 00:37:58.500 --> 00:37:59.019 be confident 00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.460 that God 00:37:59.460 --> 00:37:59.860 will hear 00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:00.159 us, 00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:00.599 first of 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:00.840 all, 00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:01.840 and secondly, 00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:02.579 we should 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:03.139 also be 00:38:03.139 --> 00:38:03.900 extremely 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.840 patient with 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:05.239 God's 00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:05.579 timing. 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:06.860 We should 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:07.280 be willing 00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:07.760 to pray 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:08.500 with boldness 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.000 and with 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.559 perseverance, 00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:10.599 waiting months, 00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.239 waiting years, 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:11.739 waiting a 00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:12.960 lifetime for 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.440 God to 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:14.079 answer some 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:14.559 prayers, 00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:15.519 because our 00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:16.420 perspective on 00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.559 timing and 00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:19.579 wisdom is 00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.840 compared to 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:22.099 Betty's with 00:38:22.099 --> 00:38:22.880 a two-year-old. 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.780 They just 00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:25.360 don't compare. 00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.239 We know 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.940 God will 00:38:31.940 --> 00:38:32.940 answer us 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.760 when we 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:34.219 call, 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:35.519 because one 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.460 terrible day 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.980 he did not 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.719 answer Jesus 00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:39.099 when he 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:39.400 called. 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:43.159 Jesus prayed 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:44.000 in Gethsemane 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.840 that the cup 00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:45.559 of suffering 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:46.300 on the cross 00:38:46.300 --> 00:38:47.139 would be 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:48.019 taken away 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:48.659 for him, 00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:49.300 but he says, 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:49.860 not my will, 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:50.380 but your will 00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:50.880 be done, 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:51.659 and God 00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.360 the Father 00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:52.480 said, 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.179 it is my 00:38:53.179 --> 00:38:53.500 will that 00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:53.699 will be 00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:53.940 done. 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:55.599 Your request 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.059 is turned 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.420 down. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:57.420 And on 00:38:57.420 --> 00:38:57.860 the cross 00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:58.320 he cried 00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:58.739 out in 00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:58.940 Matthew 00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.440 27, 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:00.079 46, 00:39:00.780 --> 00:39:01.619 my God, 00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:04.699 but he 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.139 received 00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:06.420 silence for 00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:06.860 the first 00:39:06.860 --> 00:39:07.260 time in 00:39:07.260 --> 00:39:07.699 his life. 00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.840 How could 00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:11.320 that be? 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:12.820 How could 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:13.300 it be? 00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:16.039 Jesus was 00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:16.599 the perfect 00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:17.119 man. 00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:18.039 He served 00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:18.579 God with 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:18.900 all his 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.420 heart and 00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:20.000 soul and 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:21.019 mind and 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.579 loved his 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:21.840 neighbors 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:22.300 himself, 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:22.820 according to 00:39:22.820 --> 00:39:23.519 Mark 12, 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.519 God 00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.199 and so 00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:26.920 completely 00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:28.360 fulfilled the 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:29.039 law of the 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.880 God. 00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.099 How could it be 00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:30.460 that God did not hear his prayer? 00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.639 Psalm 66, 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.960 verse 18 says, 00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:35.280 if I had cherished sin in my heart, 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:37.579 the Lord would not have listened. 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:42.159 Sinners deserve to have their prayers go unanswered. 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:53.819 And Jesus was the only one in all of history who deserved to have every single one of his prayers answered because of his perfect righteousness and obedience to the law of the Lord. 00:39:53.820 --> 00:39:58.019 And yet he was turned away as if he was turned away as if he was a sinner. 00:39:59.720 --> 00:40:00.280 Why? 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:00.360 Why? 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:10.019 Well, the answer is at the heart of the Christian faith and the reason why we have prayer and why it's possible for us. 00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:21.000 God treated Jesus as we deserve so that when we believe in him, God can treat us as Jesus deserved. 00:40:21.340 --> 00:40:28.659 When Christians pray, they have the confidence that they will be heard by God and answered in the wisest way. 00:40:28.659 --> 00:40:32.379 And so Jesus taught his disciples to pray. 00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:35.259 In Luke 11, 00:40:35.859 --> 00:40:37.599 he gave them this illustration. 00:40:38.139 --> 00:40:39.079 Which of you fathers, 00:40:39.219 --> 00:40:41.259 if your son asks for a fish, 00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:42.899 will give him a snake instead? 00:40:43.359 --> 00:40:45.799 Or if he asks for an egg, 00:40:45.839 --> 00:40:47.299 you're going to give him a scorpion. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:48.960 If you then, 00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:50.719 though you are evil, 00:40:51.319 --> 00:40:53.339 know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:40:53.339 --> 00:40:57.940 how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 00:40:59.179 --> 00:41:00.659 And Jesus' point here 00:41:00.659 --> 00:41:06.480 is that there has never been a parent on the face of the earth 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:09.879 who wants joy for their children 00:41:09.879 --> 00:41:14.179 as much as your father in heaven wants joy for you, his child. 00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:18.319 There has never been a parent 00:41:18.319 --> 00:41:22.099 who wanted to answer his child's petitions 00:41:22.099 --> 00:41:25.139 as much as God wants to answer yours. 00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:30.179 God is not only loving but holy and just. 00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:33.059 Jesus got the scorpion. 00:41:34.259 --> 00:41:35.940 Jesus got the snake 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:39.099 so that we could have food at the father's table. 00:41:40.099 --> 00:41:44.859 He received the sting and the venom of death in our place. 00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:52.120 We know that God will answer us when we call my God 00:41:52.120 --> 00:41:56.940 because he did not answer Jesus when he called my God. 00:41:56.940 --> 00:42:00.980 when he made that same petition on the cross. 00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:05.300 So we should ask God for things with boldness. 00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:08.420 We should ask him with specificity, 00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:09.360 with ardor, 00:42:09.500 --> 00:42:11.920 with honesty and diligence. 00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:15.679 And yet with patient submission 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:18.539 to God's will and his wise love. 00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:23.500 because prayer is all because of Jesus 00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:26.139 and it's all in his name. 00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:34.400 And so 1 John 2 verses 1 and 2 says 00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:35.699 that if anyone sins, 00:42:36.639 --> 00:42:38.400 we have an advocate with the Father, 00:42:39.079 --> 00:42:40.800 Jesus Christ the righteous one. 00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:44.659 He is the toning sacrifice for our sins. 00:42:44.659 --> 00:42:47.619 At the heart of the Christian life 00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:50.460 is an active trust in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:42:50.460 --> 00:42:52.099 and his sacrificial death for us. 00:42:53.399 --> 00:42:55.480 And to finish up in our time of prayer, 00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:57.460 we're going to just take the Lord's Supper together 00:42:57.460 --> 00:43:00.460 because this is an outward and a visible sign 00:43:00.460 --> 00:43:02.079 of God's grace to us in Jesus. 00:43:02.759 --> 00:43:05.319 It's a reminder that we have full access 00:43:05.319 --> 00:43:06.440 to God the Father. 00:43:07.699 --> 00:43:11.259 As we participate in this symbolic meal together, 00:43:11.859 --> 00:43:12.639 we are confronted.