WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.940 Good morning. 00:00:07.540 --> 00:00:08.939 Welcome to Church of the Advent. 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:09.660 My name is Tommy. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:14.640 I'm the rector here and delighted to be together this morning. 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:20.140 We are continuing to look this week at the book of Nehemiah, and the text is printed 00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:22.059 in your bulletin if you'd like to follow along. 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:26.539 We started a series last week in the book of Nehemiah. 00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:33.299 Now, looking at this man that God has called to do quite an amazing thing, God has called 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:40.060 Nehemiah to do two things at the same time, to physically lead in the rebuilding of God's 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:45.820 city and to also lead in the spiritual rebuilding of God's people. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:48.560 Both are in need of renovation. 00:00:48.980 --> 00:00:53.899 And we find ourselves in a similar place in the life of our church here at Church of the 00:00:53.899 --> 00:00:54.179 Advent. 00:00:54.179 --> 00:01:00.539 We are physically renovating a building at 5th and Q Northwest so that it can become 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:05.959 a home for us, a home for worship and spiritual formation and ministry to the wider community. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:11.819 And at the same time, this is a year of spiritual renovation and renewal. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.719 We as a community are preparing for this next season of life. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:21.560 We've been through a lot of challenges over this past couple of years as a church, and 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:23.920 we are in transition and change is hard. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:24.840 It's always hard. 00:01:25.219 --> 00:01:30.659 And we're looking ahead and asking what kind of, not only what kind of building do we hope 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:34.359 to inhabit, but what kind of people will we be when we inhabit that building? 00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:36.200 And will that be good news for the community? 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:38.960 So this is a year for us to reflect on all of that. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:42.180 So we're seeing what we can learn from Nehemiah. 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:44.719 And here's the thing that we're going to look at this week. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:50.120 Nehemiah is often celebrated as an example of effective leadership. 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:56.560 And to some extent that's true, although as we will see, he is by no means perfect. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:04.640 People often overlook what I believe is the most important quality in Nehemiah, which is 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:05.900 not his leadership style. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:08.360 It's his prayer life. 00:02:09.420 --> 00:02:14.800 It's the fact that Nehemiah was a man of prayer above everything else. 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:20.500 In fact, we have nine recorded prayers from Nehemiah in this book. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:25.580 And so we're going to be looking at that first prayer that he prays in the opening verses 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:27.060 this morning. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:29.340 But let me ask you this question as we dive into this. 00:02:29.980 --> 00:02:34.800 How would you answer someone if they were to ask you, how is your prayer life? 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:36.980 What would come to mind? 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:37.800 What would you say? 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:42.140 What would you feel if somebody were to ask you, how is your prayer life? 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.140 I love the writer Anne Lamott. 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:45.340 I love her honesty. 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:47.020 And she has a saying. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:52.540 She says, the two best prayers I know are help me, help me, help me, and thank you, thank 00:02:52.540 --> 00:02:53.000 you, thank you. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:58.640 And I think probably for many of us, that would encapsulate our prayer life, right? 00:02:58.640 --> 00:03:03.740 You get to a point where you're sort of desperate and all else has failed. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:06.120 And so you're crying out to God, help me, help me, help me do something. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:10.080 And then times when you feel like God comes through, you say, thank you, thank you, thank 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:10.700 you, you know. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:13.159 Not so with Nehemiah. 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:16.740 Nehemiah has a rich prayer life. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:22.320 And we see here in chapter one that the way Nehemiah prays has a distinct shape to it. 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:27.640 There are distinct elements to his prayer that, as I reflect on my own prayer life, I think 00:03:27.640 --> 00:03:32.360 are often missing from my spontaneous prayers when I pray to the Lord. 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:38.060 And this is the same general shape that we see in the Lord's prayer that Jesus explicitly 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:41.120 gives to us as his disciples to teach us how to pray. 00:03:41.920 --> 00:03:45.040 This is essentially going to be prayer 101. 00:03:45.720 --> 00:03:47.500 This is spring training for prayer. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:51.800 But if you're anything like me, this is something that I constantly need to come back to again 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:52.920 and again and again. 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:58.120 And what we're going to see in the shape of Nehemiah's prayer is a pattern that the people 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:00.260 use different ways of remembering this. 00:04:00.259 --> 00:04:06.620 Often you come across this when people use the acronym ACTS, A-C-T-S. 00:04:07.139 --> 00:04:11.560 That as we look at Nehemiah's prayer, we see four distinct elements. 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:17.019 Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and then finally supplication. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.339 A-C-T-S. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:19.860 And so we're going to look at this. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:23.939 And I want to say right off the bat, this is not a magic formula. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:27.699 This is not something that we have to follow rigidly. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:35.000 On the other hand, if we regularly include all of these elements in our prayer life, 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:39.819 our prayer will not only have the potential to change the world, but it will actually have 00:04:39.819 --> 00:04:41.620 the power to change us. 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:43.500 So let's look at this. 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:46.000 And we're going to ask God to help us as we open His Word together. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:55.680 Lord, we come to You in prayer knowing that You desire and You delight to converse with us. 00:04:56.019 --> 00:05:04.139 Lord, that You have spoken through Your Word and Spirit, and You invite us to respond to You, 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:04.680 Lord. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:06.560 And You delight when we come to You. 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:08.199 You delight when we listen to You. 00:05:08.400 --> 00:05:12.180 You delight when we bring our supplications to You, Lord. 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:18.439 And so even as we pray, we know that You're a God who above all desires a relationship with us. 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:22.259 And we pray that this morning we would learn more of what it means to have a relationship 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:25.740 with You, Lord, to belong to You as we do. 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:29.680 And we pray that if there are people here who have never prayed in their lives, 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:32.860 they've never even thought about praying, they don't think they knew how to pray, 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:39.720 we pray that this morning You would encourage those of us to maybe tentatively reach out to 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:40.600 You for the first time. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:43.220 And we ask that You would respond, Lord. 00:05:43.900 --> 00:05:47.139 We are here to encounter You, and it's in the name of Your Son, Jesus, that we pray. 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:47.960 Amen. 00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:57.540 So first of all, as we look at Nehemiah, we see that just the context of this is that 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:00.680 Nehemiah has just heard devastating news. 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:04.420 He's just heard news that God's city lies in ruins. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.920 He's just heard that God's people are destitute. 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:09.860 And it breaks his heart. 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:14.939 And it breaks his heart so much that it says he falls to the ground and he weeps. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:20.000 And the first thing he does is to pray. 00:06:20.340 --> 00:06:24.160 I mean, it's worth noting that for Nehemiah, prayer is a reflex. 00:06:24.819 --> 00:06:26.519 It's a natural instinct. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:31.519 He falls to the ground and he weeps, and what comes out of his mouth is prayer. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:35.719 Now look at where he begins when he prays. 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:43.079 If something this bad happened in my life, if I got the kind of news that made me immediately 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:48.579 collapse to the ground and start weeping, my first impulse, to be totally honest, would 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:51.099 probably be to say to God, how could you? 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:53.159 How dare you? 00:06:54.919 --> 00:06:55.859 Where were you? 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:57.579 Why me? 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:58.279 Why this? 00:06:58.399 --> 00:06:58.919 Why now? 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:04.199 Those are the kinds of prayers that would reflexively come out of my mouth, along with a whole lot 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:04.779 of other stuff. 00:07:04.779 --> 00:07:13.419 Nehemiah pauses long enough to shift his attention away from the crisis, away from the pressing 00:07:13.419 --> 00:07:20.079 issues, away from himself, away from his needs, which are very real, and he shifts his attention 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.459 for a moment just to focus on God himself. 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:27.039 He begins by praising God for his character. 00:07:27.619 --> 00:07:33.479 He's just heard horrible news, and yet he begins by praising God for his character and 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:34.180 his faithfulness. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:40.379 He says in verse 5, O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:44.620 and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. 00:07:45.860 --> 00:07:53.660 See, this is so important because it immediately grounds prayer in what is true and real. 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:59.819 Nehemiah is beginning, he's grounding his prayer in what is true and real. 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:07.180 By pausing to reflect on who God is, what that does when we do that is by pausing to reflect 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:13.420 on who God is, it immediately reminds us that God is God and I am not. 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:19.019 I'm immediately saying, you're God and I'm not God. 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:22.659 You're the great one, not me. 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:26.860 You're the awesome one, not me. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:30.280 You're the one who keeps your promises. 00:08:31.080 --> 00:08:32.940 I don't always keep my promises. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.019 You're the one whose love remains constant and steadfast. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.519 My love can be fickle and conditional. 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:49.879 It reminds us that we're not the ones here to judge what can happen or should happen. 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.879 It reminds us that we're entirely dependent on him. 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:57.539 It immediately grounds his prayer in what is true and real. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:03.139 It reminds us of something that is extremely important to remember when we face crisis. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:08.879 And that is that we can't always understand God's motives. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.679 We will not always be able to understand God's motives. 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:15.899 But we can always trust God's character. 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:22.919 We're not always going to understand God's motives, but we can always trust his character. 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:35.319 And a relationship with God based on faith doesn't ultimately depend on our ability to understand a God whose ways are higher than our ways. 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:42.040 It hinges on whether or not we trust him, even when we don't understand the why. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.620 And Nehemiah, that's where he starts his prayer. 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:54.620 And I've often found that when I'm feeling anxious about something, if I'm sort of getting worked up and anxious and I'm feeling stressed, 00:09:54.620 --> 00:10:04.600 if I just spend a few minutes simply praising God for his attributes, that will immediately start to bring my anxiety down. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:11.419 Because a lot of our anxiety is simply the result of us trying to control things that we can't control. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:14.440 And we're trying to get a grip or a grasp. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:16.100 We're trying to manage this thing. 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:17.879 And we can't. 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:19.000 And it causes anxiety. 00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:24.580 And by pausing to remember who God is, it reminds us, oh, I don't have control over that. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.379 But God does. 00:10:26.040 --> 00:10:27.120 And I trust his character. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:38.100 But even if there were no tangible benefits to this, the more you grow in your faith, the more you grow in maturity, 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:44.040 the more you realize that the point of prayer is not whether it benefits us or not. 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:47.519 The point of prayer is connection with God. 00:10:48.579 --> 00:10:58.159 And what Nehemiah does is he begins in a place of praising God partly because he knows that God alone is worthy of our praise. 00:10:58.319 --> 00:11:00.059 God alone is worthy of our adoration. 00:11:01.319 --> 00:11:05.559 And if we were to do nothing in our lives but praise God and praise his attributes, 00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:09.339 we would only be giving God what he is owed. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:14.340 So this is the first element of Nehemiah's prayer. 00:11:14.660 --> 00:11:18.660 He pauses long enough to praise God for his character. 00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:20.639 And then what we see is this. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:30.980 After you spend time reflecting on God's character, that naturally then turns your attention to seeing your own character by contrast. 00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:31.800 Right? 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:34.300 So Nehemiah's attention then turns to himself. 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:38.979 And this is a principle that we come back to again and again and again in the Christian life. 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:43.899 The more clearly we see God, the more clearly we are then able to see ourselves. 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:52.000 That's why prayer is really one of the only entryways we have into true self-knowledge. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:12:01.000 Because prayer leads us into a kind of self-knowledge that is rooted in something objective and real. 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:07.000 When we see who God is, we can then begin to see ourselves more clearly by contrast. 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:17.100 So Nehemiah praises God for his faithfulness, and then he immediately becomes conscious of his own unfaithfulness and that of God's people. 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.100 He says in verse 6, 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:26.940 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel, your servants, 00:12:27.540 --> 00:12:31.779 confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.940 Even I and my father's house have sinned. 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:41.420 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded by your servant Moses. 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:49.299 Now what's striking about this, what's striking about his confession is that it is not only personal, 00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:53.559 I and my father's house have sinned, but it's also corporate. 00:12:54.699 --> 00:12:56.240 It's a corporate confession. 00:12:57.699 --> 00:13:00.959 He confesses on behalf of the sins of Israel. 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:08.819 Now this is a concept that's been debated a lot recently because of the conversations around racial injustice in our country 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:19.300 and to what extent do white Americans bear collective responsibility for the injustice that has been committed in our past and present. 00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:25.040 And what we've seen is that Western people in general have little to no concept of corporate evil. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:30.879 Western people, some actively oppose the idea of corporate evil. 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:35.480 This is something that makes immediate sense in other cultures that are more communal. 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:44.779 But we tend to be so individualistic in the West that we have a hard time with the notion that we might actually be held accountable for things that we didn't personally do wrong. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:50.800 The thing is though, this idea shows up again and again and again in Scripture. 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.659 So it's something that we can't get around. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:54.500 We have to figure out how to make sense of it. 00:13:55.300 --> 00:14:01.340 In Joshua chapter 7, Achan sins by stealing things that don't belong to him. 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:04.340 But his whole family is held responsible. 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.560 In Daniel chapter 9, it goes further. 00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:17.080 Just like Nehemiah, Daniel repents not only on behalf of himself or even his family, but on behalf of his entire race, 00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:22.240 on behalf of the nation of Israel, his ancestors. 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:26.759 In Romans chapter 5, Paul goes a step further. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:32.379 Paul goes way beyond the idea that you're responsible for what other members of your family have done. 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:37.399 And he goes beyond the idea that you're responsible for your culture or ethnicity or your ancestors. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:45.200 The Apostle Paul says that we are responsible and we are condemned for what our first ancestors did. 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:47.100 Adam and Eve. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:50.819 He says we're responsible and guilty because of their sin. 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:55.160 By virtue, in other words, by virtue of being a member of the human race, 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:59.100 we are responsible for things that we didn't individually do. 00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:03.280 And the point is, there's a couple points here. 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:11.160 Number one, we are not simply the product of our individual choices made in a vacuum. 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:15.200 As much as we would like to think that we are that independent, 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:18.740 to a large degree, you and I, we are shaped by our family. 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:21.080 We are shaped by our ethnicity. 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.740 We are shaped by our ancestors. 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:26.860 I just dug up an Ancestry kit, Ancestry.com kit, 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:29.240 that somebody gave me, I don't know, like two years ago. 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.759 And I just, I lost it. 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.980 And I didn't think about it again. 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:34.759 And we were doing some cleaning before the start of the fall. 00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:37.139 And found it, came across it. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.980 And so I just sent it in. 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:40.320 And I'm waiting on the results. 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.940 And as I'm waiting on the results, 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:44.460 I started trying to fill out my family history. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.480 Something that my mom has always been into, 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:49.060 but I've never really had much interest in until now. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:55.899 And I've started kind of tracing these lines of lineage back to the 14 and 1500s. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:59.200 And I'm seeing all kinds of things, all kinds of people. 00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:04.519 And it's had me really reflecting on to what extent do I not know it, 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:09.519 but to what extent am I a product of things that have happened over time 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.180 in all of these families, dynamics, right? 00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:15.379 The places they occupied in society 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:18.399 and how that impacted their children and their children and their children, right? 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.620 And it's got me reflecting a lot on that. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:25.239 We are the product of our families and our ancestors to a great degree. 00:16:25.359 --> 00:16:27.039 We're a product of the culture that we live in 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.000 and the place that we occupy within that culture. 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.759 But we have to go beyond that. 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:34.659 When we look at what the apostle Paul is really saying, 00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:37.599 he's saying, listen, we all live inside systems, 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:41.800 within systems, within systems that are all corrupted by sin. 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:45.580 And beyond family and culture, 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:48.740 we are all guilty by virtue of being a part of the human race. 00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:51.740 We've inherited sin. 00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:56.019 We've inherited culpability for sin that on our own we can't deal with. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.519 And here's why this matters for our prayer life. 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:02.040 If you spend time reflecting on that, 00:17:02.040 --> 00:17:06.640 it will deepen and it will intensify your confession of sin. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:10.059 Because, again, this is just me, 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:12.919 but I think you're probably maybe at least able to resonate with this. 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.439 If I sit down and I confess, 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:18.000 say I confess during daily prayer 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.740 or during the Sunday worship service, 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.299 during that time of confession, 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:25.579 I am very tempted to only think of the things 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:29.379 that I know I did wrong over the last maybe 24-hour period. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.659 And I will confess those things. 00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:36.039 But if I'm only confessing the things that I know I've done wrong, 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:38.460 then that makes it much easier 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:41.559 for me to continue believing what my heart wants to believe, 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.799 which is that I'm mostly a good person, 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.980 but I occasionally mess up. 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:48.539 That's what I want to think. 00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:50.319 That's what I want you to think about me. 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.779 But God knows better. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.039 Right? 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:56.039 Corporate confession reminds me 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:59.460 that sin is inescapable apart from Jesus. 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:04.240 It is hardwired into me on a genetic level 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.840 in a way that I cannot escape. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:10.980 It touches and it corrupts every aspect of my life, 00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:12.900 even when I think I'm at my best 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:18.019 and my most altruistic, selfless, loving version of myself. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.900 Sin is warping that to some extent. 00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:21.980 Sin is warping that to some extent. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.560 That's the kind of confession we need. 00:18:26.300 --> 00:18:27.780 Because the good news is this. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.140 Not only is there such a thing as corporate sin, 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:33.280 there's such a thing as corporate salvation. 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:37.440 See, not only are we held responsible for sin 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.900 we didn't personally commit, 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:41.640 we are also saved by righteousness 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:43.460 that we didn't personally earn. 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.340 And when it comes to that, 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:50.780 our only hope is to allow somebody to represent us. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.420 Right? 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:54.119 Not only in sin, but also in salvation. 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:57.619 We're saved simply by being associated with Jesus Christ. 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:00.759 His righteousness is transferred to us. 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:03.940 It's not a result of anything that we personally did, 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:07.720 but we are beneficiaries of it regardless. 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.299 Right? 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.220 So here's how it works. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.899 The more seriously we take sin in our lives, 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:15.519 the more powerfully we will experience grace and forgiveness. 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.920 And there are a lot of people 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.639 who are sort of sleepy Christians, 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:22.720 sleepy, nominal, half-awake Christians, 00:19:23.560 --> 00:19:25.920 who it's been a very long time 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:29.160 since they've experienced any real sense of God's grace or love, 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:31.140 and that's because it's been a really long time 00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:33.480 since they've ever really reflected on the sin in their lives. 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:37.880 And if you want to experience this in your own life, 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.100 if you want to experience spiritual revival, 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.220 one of the first things you can do 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:44.840 is to spend time in confession. 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.100 Really confessing. 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.619 Right? 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.559 This is why, 00:19:48.699 --> 00:19:50.919 if you look at all the great revivals throughout history, 00:19:52.679 --> 00:19:54.079 if you look at all the great revivals, 00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:56.919 they all have lots of things that are very unique to them. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:59.679 Like, each revival is kind of different and unique in a lot of ways. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.819 One thing they all share in common, 00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:04.179 they all were preceded 00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:09.079 by a great spirit-driven movement of repentance. 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:13.439 They're all preceded by God's people being heartbroken over their sin 00:20:13.439 --> 00:20:15.399 and crying out to God for mercy. 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:18.939 And then the Holy Spirit floods in and revival happens. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.299 So that's confession. 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:25.240 So we have adoration, we have confession. 00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:28.259 Then we see Nehemiah move to thanksgiving, 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.039 clinging to God's promises. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.279 So just to remind you, here's where we are. 00:20:32.919 --> 00:20:34.439 There is a crisis in Jerusalem. 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:37.519 Nehemiah is heartbroken and he's weeping. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:40.460 And yet he has not even mentioned it in his prayer. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.900 After taking time to praise God 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.539 and then to confess his own sin 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.960 and the sin of his people, 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.700 he then turns his attention 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.100 to give thanks for God's deliverance 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:53.960 and to give thanks for God's promises. 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:57.620 He's saying, God, remember these wonderful promises 00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.820 that you've given your people. 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:01.740 And this may seem counterintuitive. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.279 You know, when you're facing a crisis, 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.759 the first thing you do is to turn to God and say thank you. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:10.380 But it's exactly what we need in times of crisis. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:14.500 Because a lot of us, when we are facing stress, 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.720 when things are getting hard, 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:17.099 we're facing hardship and adversity, 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:20.059 most of us instinctively shift 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:23.099 into what we can think of as a scarcity mindset. 00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:26.480 You know, you're stressed out and you're overwhelmed 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:28.299 and you immediately circle the wagons 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:31.359 and you immediately pull in your resources 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.460 and you immediately hunker down 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:36.019 and you shift into a scarcity mindset. 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.779 What does that mean? 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:40.720 It means you start to become more and more preoccupied 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.960 with the things that you perceive that you lack. 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:46.819 So you start focusing on not having enough time, 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:49.000 not having enough money, 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.659 not having enough resources. 00:21:52.379 --> 00:21:54.599 You know, so you start thinking a scarcity mindset. 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:57.119 You're thinking, you know, I don't have enough time 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.899 to do my job well and to be a good parent. 00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:02.259 And I'm failing at both. 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.859 You know, I just don't have enough time in the day. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:08.939 And so I'm failing in my job and I'm failing as a parent. 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.559 Or you focus on, you know, 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:15.579 I don't have enough money to even make a dent in this debt. 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:18.799 So what's the point of even trying to pay it down? 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:24.119 Or I'm not capable enough to do what's being asked of me, 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.899 so why even try? 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:29.180 There's no way I would ever be able to succeed at that, 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:31.659 so why even put my name in the hat, right? 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:34.460 And of course, the more we think this way, 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.480 the worse we feel, right? 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:39.339 We begin thinking in hopeless, trapped ways, 00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:41.879 and that leads to feelings of hopelessness, 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.359 feelings of being trapped. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.819 And then we act out of those feelings 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:47.839 and we do things that reinforce it, right? 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.939 And people who get stuck in a scarcity mindset, 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:53.779 they tend to be people who compare themselves 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:55.379 constantly to other people. 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:58.919 People who they perceive have more than them 00:22:58.919 --> 00:23:00.000 in these various ways. 00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:02.740 They tend to feel threatened when their friends 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:06.500 or people around them, their peers, are successful. 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.699 They're threatened by that 00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:09.500 because it highlights their scarcity. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.619 They tend to be very stingy with their money 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.639 and with their time 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:15.480 because they don't feel like they have enough of it. 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:18.079 They tend to struggle with feelings of anxiety 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:22.460 and depression caused by these loops of thinking, right? 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.980 This defeatist way of thinking. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.099 And you ask again, 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.299 well, what does this have to do with prayer? 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:30.779 Well, the single number one best way 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.680 to break out of a scarcity mindset 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.980 is gratitude. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.099 It's gratitude. 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.400 It's gratitude. 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.920 It's taking a moment 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:42.599 to look at all of the things in your life 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:44.819 that represent God's blessing 00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:47.360 and God's provision for you. 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.759 The fact that you woke up this morning. 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:52.240 The fact that you have breath in your lungs. 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:54.860 The last meal that you ate. 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:58.720 The people closest to you in your life. 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.960 You know, there was a study done recently 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:06.059 in which people were asked to spend one week, 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:07.100 just one week, 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.440 where over the course of that week, 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:12.279 they would take five minutes a day 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:15.019 to write down three things they're thankful for. 00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:18.579 So just one week, five minutes a day, 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.700 write down three things you're thankful for. 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:23.259 They didn't have to be big things. 00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:24.420 They didn't have to be epic things. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:26.559 They just had to be concrete and specific. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:29.740 So I'm thankful for the delicious Thai takeout 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.660 I had last night. 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:33.859 You know, I'm thankful that my daughter gave me a hug. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:36.559 I'm thankful that my boss actually noticed 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.359 and complimented my work. 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:40.079 You know, whatever it may be. 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:42.779 The point is it had to be three specific things 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.980 each day for one week. 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:47.480 A month later after this was concluded, 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.620 the researchers followed up 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:50.519 and they found that those who practiced gratitude 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.039 were significantly happier 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.980 and less depressed than the control group. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:57.579 Incredibly, after six months, 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.359 those effects remained. 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:01.940 So six months later, 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.359 after just spending one week, 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.880 five minutes a day doing that, 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.259 six months later, 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.039 the effects remained. 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:10.039 And the researchers had to explain this 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:12.319 and the simplest explanation is this, 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:16.279 that the simple practice of giving thanks each day 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.480 over the course of a week 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:19.960 primed their minds 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:22.839 to focus on the good things they have 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:25.720 rather than on the things they think they lack. 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:29.000 It got them out of the scarcity mindset. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.740 It just, it refocused their attention 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.779 away from the lack and the scarcity 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.960 and it refocused their attention 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:37.160 toward the things that they have. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.819 So they just started noticing 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:40.440 the blessings and provision 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:42.079 rather than the absences. 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.380 That's the only difference. 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:47.059 So this is just five minutes a day for one week. 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:49.359 Imagine how different our lives would be. 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:51.920 Imagine how different your outlook would be 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:54.759 if we did this every time we prayed. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:58.099 If we simply took some time to thank God 00:25:58.099 --> 00:26:00.400 for the things that He has given us. 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:04.700 And again, it's wonderful that this is beneficial. 00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:08.460 But even if it weren't beneficial, 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.099 even if there were no psychological 00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:11.879 or emotional benefits at all, 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.779 the truth is, 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:15.279 we should be thanking God 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:17.400 every single day continually 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:19.660 because everything that we have comes from Him. 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:20.619 Right? 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.019 This is all His. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.199 He's entrusted things to us as stewards, 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.500 but it belongs to Him. 00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:29.699 So we have adoration. 00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:30.719 We have confession. 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.959 We have thanksgiving. 00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:36.639 Now finally we come to Nehemiah's request. 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.500 Supplication. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.619 Which simply means bringing our needs 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:43.479 and requests before the Lord. 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.939 Now I want you to do an experiment. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.979 You don't have to do it right now. 00:26:46.479 --> 00:26:47.699 Sometime over the next few days, 00:26:47.939 --> 00:26:48.859 here's what I want you to do. 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.879 The next time you sit down to pray, 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:53.240 and if you've never prayed before, 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.059 try sitting down to pray. 00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:57.240 The next time you pray, 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.419 before you pray, 00:27:00.219 --> 00:27:00.459 right? 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.039 And this works especially well 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:03.859 if you know what you're praying for. 00:27:03.959 --> 00:27:05.199 Maybe there's a test coming up 00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:06.559 or a big presentation you have to give 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:08.199 or something that you're waiting on, right? 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:09.939 And you want to pray about it. 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:11.039 Before you pray, 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:13.139 take out a little piece of paper 00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:15.179 and write down all of the things 00:27:15.179 --> 00:27:16.299 that you're going to ask God for. 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.659 All your supplications. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.599 Write that out first. 00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:20.139 Then put that to the side. 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:23.139 And then spend some time 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:25.139 adoring and praising God 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.740 for His character, 00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:28.219 confessing your sin 00:27:28.219 --> 00:27:30.159 on as deep a level as you can, 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.299 and then thanking God 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.019 for all the ways 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.639 that He has blessed 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.539 and provided for you. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.439 And then come back 00:27:37.439 --> 00:27:38.740 to supplication. 00:27:39.199 --> 00:27:41.359 And see if there isn't a shift 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:44.000 between what you would have said, 00:27:44.639 --> 00:27:46.099 what you would have asked God for, 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.959 if you just went right into it, 00:27:48.219 --> 00:27:49.679 versus where your heart is now. 00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:51.599 You will be surprised 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:54.119 how often what you end up 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:55.419 asking God for 00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:57.119 changes significantly 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:59.000 if you take time 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.039 to do these other things. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.879 And I think maybe 00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:03.419 that's why Nehemiah prays 00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:05.459 such a massive, bold prayer. 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:07.879 Nehemiah asks God 00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:08.980 to give him favor 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.819 with this pagan king 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.399 who could have him tortured 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.740 and killed like that. 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.740 And he asks God 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.540 to give him favor 00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:17.940 so that this pagan king 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.160 will let Nehemiah 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.120 leave the court, 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.720 take Persian money 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.460 and resources, 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.440 and go lead 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.220 in the rebuilding 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:26.019 of the city of Jerusalem, 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:28.100 which represents a nation 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:29.620 that the Persians dominate. 00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:31.440 He's saying, 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.720 God, make it possible 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.320 that this king 00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:34.560 will simply hear this request 00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:34.960 and say, 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.860 sounds good, 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.660 instead of having him 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.519 flayed and killed. 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:41.120 To even suggest such a thing 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:43.419 puts Nehemiah's life in danger. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.099 We're going to look more 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.959 at that next week. 00:28:45.979 --> 00:28:47.139 But here's the thing I think. 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.719 I think Nehemiah knows 00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:50.079 that our God 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.519 is someone to whom 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.199 we can bring 00:28:52.199 --> 00:28:54.019 any and every supplication 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.919 no matter how big or small. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:57.579 Right? 00:28:57.679 --> 00:28:59.259 Sometimes you will spend time 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.779 adoring, confessing, 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.639 thanking God, 00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.339 and then you realize, 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.399 I don't actually need 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:04.579 to ask God for anything 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:07.139 because all I needed 00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:07.919 was to be reminded 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.719 of who God is. 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.399 And now that I remember 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.060 that I trust Him, 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.100 I don't even need 00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:12.800 to ask for anything. 00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.519 Other times it might 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.280 be the opposite though. 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.540 Other times you might do that 00:29:16.540 --> 00:29:17.140 and you might say, 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.140 the thing that I was going 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:19.000 to ask God for 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.280 is way too small. 00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:22.000 Why do I think God 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.660 is so limited 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.380 in what He can do? 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.200 Now that I've reflected 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.980 on who He is 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.700 and all that He's done 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.180 in history, 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.960 my prayers need to get 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.580 a whole lot bigger. 00:29:29.040 --> 00:29:29.780 And I think that's what 00:29:29.780 --> 00:29:30.940 happens here with Nehemiah. 00:29:32.040 --> 00:29:32.940 And Nehemiah realizes 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.220 you can bring any prayer 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.640 to God, 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.580 any supplication, 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.820 no matter how big or small. 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.540 Because when you pray 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:38.360 to the God of the Bible, 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:40.579 you're not asking God 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.539 to do something for you 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.759 on the basis of your merit. 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:45.000 You're asking God 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.859 to do something for you 00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:47.599 on the basis of His mercy. 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:50.259 And there is a vast difference. 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.219 And this is something 00:29:52.219 --> 00:29:53.159 we need to be reminded of 00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:53.839 again and again and again 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.059 because I think a lot of times 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:57.819 we default into an approach 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:59.439 to God that assumes 00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:00.719 it's based on our merit. 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:03.600 So maybe you come to God 00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:04.019 and you say, 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.360 God, 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:07.500 I've done all these things 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:07.940 for you. 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.460 I've gone to church faithfully. 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.480 I serve at the homeless shelter. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.940 I give 10% of my money 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:15.799 away to mission and ministry. 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.180 I pray every day. 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.000 The least you could do 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.700 for me is this. 00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:23.400 I've done all these things 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.000 for you, God. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.140 The least you could do. 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.339 Can you please just give me this one? 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.220 I've never asked you 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.880 for anything, God. 00:30:29.280 --> 00:30:30.040 This is the only thing 00:30:30.040 --> 00:30:30.860 I'll ever ask you for 00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.660 and I've done all this for you. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.180 Give it to me. 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.240 That's coming to God 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.980 on the basis of merit. 00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:36.120 Or we might also say, 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.780 God, I know I've been 00:30:37.780 --> 00:30:38.580 a horrible Christian 00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:39.580 and I know you're really 00:30:39.580 --> 00:30:40.220 fed up with me. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:42.360 And I know I don't go to church. 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.000 I don't pray. 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.040 I don't do any of that. 00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:45.240 If you do this thing, 00:30:45.300 --> 00:30:46.120 I'm so sorry 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:47.340 and if you do this thing for me, 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.500 I promise that from now on 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.400 I'll go to church every week. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:50.920 I'll pray. 00:30:51.820 --> 00:30:52.880 I'll give my money away. 00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:57.000 That's also a merit-based request, right? 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:59.140 God, on the basis of my merit, 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.380 on the basis of my goodness, 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:02.240 please give me X, Y, Z. 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:06.740 But our God, unlike other religions, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.680 doesn't deal with us 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.819 according to our merit. 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:11.559 I mean, if He did, 00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.359 we wouldn't have any hope. 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.759 God deals with us 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.819 on the basis of mercy. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.799 And here's the difference, right? 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.619 Merit, and this is how 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:22.579 virtually all other religions work, 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.819 ancient or modern. 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:27.079 Merit-based prayer says this. 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:29.799 God, give me what I deserve 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:31.119 because of my goodness. 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.399 Give me what I deserve 00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:34.119 because of my goodness. 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.980 Give me what I'm owed. 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:38.539 Mercy-based prayer says, 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:40.460 God, give me what I don't deserve 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:42.559 because of Your goodness. 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:46.980 It's completely opposite. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:50.399 And God's goodness has no limits. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:53.740 If I'm asking on the basis 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.460 of what I've done, 00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:56.259 I don't have a right to ask. 00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.620 If I'm asking God 00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:58.780 on the basis of His goodness, 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:01.060 there's no limit to what I can ask. 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.259 There's no limit 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:04.259 because His goodness is limitless. 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.700 So there's no request 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.640 that is too small. 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:08.600 God, help me find a parking place. 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.440 I do pray for that. 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.560 You live in D.C.? 00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:12.880 I do pray for that. 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.620 And I will tell you, 00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:14.860 the most consistent answer 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:15.680 of prayer in my life 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.820 is probably parking spots. 00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:18.859 I experience God goodness 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:20.919 every day on the streets of D.C. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:24.119 But there's no request too big. 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:25.899 You know, I love that. 00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.579 I love that phrase 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.319 that comes out of the 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.960 Harvard Business Review 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.439 or something. 00:32:29.659 --> 00:32:30.579 You know, I can't remember 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:31.279 who first coined it. 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:31.859 Y'all probably do. 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:34.599 Big, hairy, audacious goals, right? 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:36.119 That we should always set 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:37.559 these big, hairy, audacious goals 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.500 for our businesses, right? 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.819 I love the idea 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:41.200 of a big, hairy, audacious prayer. 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:45.000 Just the biggest, craziest prayer 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.480 you could possibly think to pray. 00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:47.700 Why not? 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.439 God's goodness is limitless. 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.579 It doesn't mean 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.419 He's going to give it to you. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.700 God doesn't give us 00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.700 everything that we ask for. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.619 He gives us the things 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.639 we would ask for 00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:57.960 if we knew everything He knows. 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.460 But here's the thing. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.759 Every time you come to God 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.759 with your supplications 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.200 because you know He's good, 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.319 you honor Him. 00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:08.740 You honor His goodness. 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.359 It glorifies His name 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.119 when you come to Him 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:13.079 with your supplications. 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:14.460 Every single time. 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.279 It delights Him. 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.720 And how much more 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.639 are these things true 00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.200 for those of us 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.099 who know Jesus Christ? 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.839 We have access to God 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:25.039 in a way that Nehemiah 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:27.399 never could have imagined. 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:30.000 Jesus says, 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:31.159 because of what He's done, 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.159 when we come to God, 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.619 we can say, 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.919 oh Lord, oh awesome one, 00:33:34.139 --> 00:33:34.659 that's great, 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:36.039 but Jesus says, 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:37.460 no, call Him Father. 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.079 Every time you pray, 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:40.980 you're crawling 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:42.059 into the arms of your Father. 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.539 and He delights, 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.799 He delights in that. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:47.159 When we confess our sin 00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:47.799 to this God 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.480 because of Jesus, 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.879 we're confessing to a God 00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:51.539 who has already forgiven that sin. 00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.799 He's already paid the price for it. 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.659 He's already dealt with it. 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.159 When we give thanks, 00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.119 we're giving thanks 00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:59.039 not only for the blessing 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.240 and provision we see in our lives, 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.079 but we're looking back 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:01.720 and we're giving thanks 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.259 for the cross, 00:34:02.639 --> 00:34:05.440 which secures our safety, 00:34:05.639 --> 00:34:07.240 secures our belongingness to God, 00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:08.299 secures our future. 00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:09.980 And ultimately, 00:34:10.140 --> 00:34:11.400 when we bring our supplications, 00:34:11.660 --> 00:34:12.720 we're bringing our supplications 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.220 to a God 00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:14.380 who has already secured 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.360 our eternal inheritance, 00:34:15.680 --> 00:34:16.460 who's already told us 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.519 how the story's gonna end. 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:20.700 So we have an access to God 00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:21.280 that Nehemiah 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:22.160 could never even imagine. 00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:25.980 I thought it was extremely important 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:27.360 for us to talk about prayer 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.539 and I'm so delighted 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:30.000 that Nehemiah chapter one 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.220 brings us immediately 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.920 into one of his prayers 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.940 to help us do that 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:35.519 because this year, 00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.600 above all else, 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:38.819 my hope and my prayer 00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:40.079 is that this is a year 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:41.159 of prayer for us. 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.679 Prayer is always an emphasis 00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:43.400 in our church, 00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:44.659 as it should be, 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.900 but this year, 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:47.440 we're going to be calling 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:49.039 all of you to join together 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:51.839 to make this a year of prayer. 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.039 First of all, 00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:56.599 just as a direct ask, 00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:57.299 I wanna ask that 00:34:57.299 --> 00:34:58.019 if you're a regular part 00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.559 of this church, 00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.819 that you would commit 00:34:59.819 --> 00:35:00.920 to praying every day 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:03.559 and that part of your prayer 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.279 would be praying 00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:05.219 for this community 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:06.819 and praying for where we are 00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:07.459 and where we're going, 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.739 that we would just be praying 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:10.000 together every day. 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:12.239 In addition to that, 00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.739 I'm gonna invite you 00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:14.319 if you would like, 00:35:14.419 --> 00:35:15.279 Nehemiah prays 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:16.219 and he fasts 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.459 and we didn't have time 00:35:17.459 --> 00:35:18.339 to get into fasting, 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.839 but we are gonna be sending out 00:35:20.839 --> 00:35:21.419 some resources 00:35:21.419 --> 00:35:22.500 on fasting this week. 00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:24.379 The clergy, 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.299 the pastoral team, 00:35:25.399 --> 00:35:26.399 we have been already, 00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.399 because it's been 00:35:27.399 --> 00:35:28.259 a challenging year 00:35:28.259 --> 00:35:29.000 and because we feel like 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.419 there's a lot 00:35:29.419 --> 00:35:30.179 of spiritual warfare, 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:31.699 we actually committed 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.500 some time ago 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:34.159 to fasting on Fridays 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:36.399 from either lunch 00:35:36.399 --> 00:35:37.519 or breakfast and lunch 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.919 or the whole day, 00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.539 but to fasting together 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.199 on Fridays 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.940 and to using that time 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:44.079 to intercede 00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.259 for our church. 00:35:45.379 --> 00:35:46.099 So every Friday 00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:47.399 we fast and we pray. 00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:48.379 And so I would just like 00:35:48.379 --> 00:35:49.239 to extend the invitation 00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:49.719 to you, 00:35:49.879 --> 00:35:50.519 if you would like 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.159 to start practicing 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:52.019 a weekly fast 00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:53.219 and you wanna do that 00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:54.219 on Fridays with us, 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.239 please join in. 00:35:55.879 --> 00:35:57.919 If that day doesn't work, 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.899 but you wanna pick another day, 00:35:58.900 --> 00:35:59.680 that's great too. 00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:01.240 You don't have to do it, 00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:02.380 but we would like 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.220 to call our church 00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:04.300 to fast and pray 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:06.420 throughout this year, 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.139 this year of preparation. 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.320 And then there, 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.059 in addition to that, 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.539 there's gonna be 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.639 monthly opportunities 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.700 to do prayer walks 00:36:12.700 --> 00:36:14.059 in the Shaw neighborhood. 00:36:14.780 --> 00:36:15.280 So every month 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:15.900 there'll be an opportunity 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:16.780 to go and to walk 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.619 not only around the building, 00:36:17.680 --> 00:36:18.360 but around the neighborhood 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.180 and just praying 00:36:19.180 --> 00:36:21.079 for what God might do, 00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:21.980 praying for what God 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.840 is already doing. 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.200 And then we're gonna be 00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:25.720 sending out a prayer guide, 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.539 sort of a prayer 00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.539 and devotional guide 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:29.400 that's based on Nehemiah, 00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.440 that's gonna help us 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.659 take some of these themes 00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:33.599 and pray through them together 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:35.340 as a church community. 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.559 So I hope, 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:39.279 this is an encouragement to you, 00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:40.820 and I hope you know 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.980 how much I've been praying 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:43.139 for you. 00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:43.840 And I would, 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.940 and last thing I'll say, 00:36:45.139 --> 00:36:46.539 I would really greatly appreciate it 00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:47.380 if you would pray for me 00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:49.820 and pray for our team 00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:51.360 because we feel it 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.259 and we need it 00:36:52.259 --> 00:36:54.219 and we are grateful for it. 00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:55.500 Let's pray. 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:57.920 Lord, we thank you 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.739 for your word 00:36:58.739 --> 00:36:59.559 and we thank you 00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.920 for this example of Nehemiah 00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:02.500 and we thank you 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.420 ultimately for Jesus, 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.659 the true and better Nehemiah. 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:07.360 Lord, and we pray 00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:09.300 that even as this city 00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:10.059 and this people, 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.639 they were rebuilt 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:13.400 through prayer. 00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:15.000 Lord, we pray 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:16.139 that we would be rebuilt 00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:17.219 and reconstituted 00:37:17.219 --> 00:37:18.519 through prayer, 00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.420 that you would meet us 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.079 in our prayers, 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:22.719 that in our times of prayer, 00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.880 we would encounter you 00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:24.519 in powerful, 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.640 maybe new ways. 00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:27.579 We pray for your Holy Spirit 00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:30.840 to bring a fresh life 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:31.559 and vitality 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.240 to our community. 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:34.480 We pray that in our prayers, 00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:35.400 we would come to see you 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:35.940 more clearly, 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.320 come to see ourselves 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:37.940 more clearly. 00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:40.059 Lord, that we would be convicted, 00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:41.240 but that also we would be 00:37:41.240 --> 00:37:41.940 washed clean 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:43.640 with your grace 00:37:43.640 --> 00:37:45.260 in ways that maybe go beyond 00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:47.039 what we've ever experienced before. 00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:48.960 We pray that this would be 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:50.220 a praying community, 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.840 that this would be something 00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:53.120 that we're known for, Lord, 00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:55.300 that we are on our knees 00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:56.039 interceding. 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:57.980 Lord, we pray that this would be 00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:59.260 a work of your Spirit 00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:00.220 and something that ultimately 00:38:00.220 --> 00:38:01.140 glorifies you 00:38:01.140 --> 00:38:03.340 and recognizes that you are the one 00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.840 upon whom we depend 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:05.539 for all things. 00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:07.039 We pray this in your Son's 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:07.480 holy name. 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:07.980 Amen. 00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:08.079 Amen. 00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:08.100 Amen. 00:38:08.100 --> 00:38:08.140 Amen. 00:38:08.140 --> 00:38:08.160 Amen. 00:38:08.160 --> 00:38:08.180 Amen. 00:38:08.180 --> 00:38:08.200 Amen. 00:38:08.200 --> 00:38:08.220 Amen. 00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:08.260 Amen. 00:38:08.260 --> 00:38:10.200 Amen. 00:38:10.200 --> 00:38:10.220 Amen. 00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:10.260 Amen. 00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:10.280 Amen. 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:10.300 Amen. 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:10.340 Amen. 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:10.360 Amen. 00:38:10.360 --> 00:38:10.380 Amen. 00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:10.860 Amen. 00:38:10.860 --> 00:38:10.880 Amen. 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:10.900 Amen. 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:10.920 Amen. 00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:10.960 Amen. 00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:10.980 Amen. 00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:11.400 Amen. 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:11.880 Amen. 00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:11.960 Amen. 00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:11.980 Amen. 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.019 Amen.