WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.020 Good morning. Sorry, it's me not leaning in close enough. 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:08.179 Good morning. It's good to be here with you. 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:12.080 This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:19.339 and this past week I realized I actually preached on Transfiguration Sunday last year, 00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:21.559 and so for a hot second I thought, 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.760 I'm going to just bring out my old sermon and just recycle it, 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:30.500 but I didn't. I have something different on my mind for this Sunday. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:33.740 Ash Wednesday is this coming week. 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:37.719 I made a joke earlier that it's on a Wednesday this year, 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:40.679 which we should all keep in mind, and it's the start of Lent. 00:00:41.540 --> 00:00:45.100 Lent is one of my favorite seasons, which actually sounds a bit odd. 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:50.180 Advent is my other favorite season because I love the sense in Advent 00:00:50.180 --> 00:00:53.780 that Jesus is coming into the world and it's all going to be okay. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:59.420 But I love Lent because for me it's become a season of going deep with the Lord. 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:04.920 Lent for me is definitely about repentance and definitely about giving something up, 00:01:05.320 --> 00:01:10.359 but more than that, it's about deeply meditating on Jesus' death on the cross 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:12.400 and what he accomplished on the cross. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:18.560 And deeply meditating on the cross is profoundly linked for me with going deep with the Lord. 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:22.980 There are some really beautiful liturgies that were developed for the occasion of Lent. 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:27.219 So I'm going to talk about intimacy or going deep with Jesus. 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:34.900 And intimacy or being deep with Jesus is one of the most important things that we can experience as human beings. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:40.240 Intimacy with Jesus is knowing Jesus as a real person and not just about him. 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:45.120 It's knowing what his presence is like, what it's like when he speaks to you, 00:01:45.420 --> 00:01:47.219 or when you are hearing from him. 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:54.420 And so this morning, to prepare us for Lent, to prepare us maybe for a season of going deeper with Jesus, 00:01:54.819 --> 00:01:56.319 of being more intimate with the Lord, 00:01:56.739 --> 00:02:02.019 I want to lead us through a kind of walkthrough of two different keys 00:02:02.019 --> 00:02:08.060 that are a little bit meditative in nature to help us with being closer and going deeper with Jesus. 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:10.479 So key number one, identity. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:16.259 So it's so important to have a heart level knowing of who we are. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:20.159 We all carry many identities all at the same time. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:23.500 Maybe it's parent, daughter, son, sibling. 00:02:24.359 --> 00:02:26.799 Maybe it's an identity related to our skin color. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.060 Maybe it's a work-related identity. 00:02:29.339 --> 00:02:30.739 Maybe it's about where we're from. 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:31.740 Maybe it's a work-in-law. 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:36.219 The identity that we need, though, that we need our hearts to be anchored in, 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:39.540 is a multifaceted identity that's revealed in Scripture. 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:44.640 So we'd all probably say that we know we're made in the image of God, 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:47.180 we're loved by God, that we're a child of God, 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.939 and these are all true and powerful and are not to be dismissed. 00:02:52.140 --> 00:02:55.520 But I want to read through some Scriptures about your identity 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:57.660 that you may not be as familiar with, 00:02:57.660 --> 00:02:59.340 but they're definitely there in Scripture. 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:03.340 So this is going to be a little bit of a participation moment. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:04.560 I'm going to read these Scriptures, 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:09.719 and I'd like to ask you to, as I read them, to try and receive them. 00:03:10.020 --> 00:03:15.159 I want to ask you to notice how you react inside when you hear these things. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:16.800 What do you feel? 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:19.920 What comes to mind when you hear these things? 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:22.599 Does any of what I read feel true? 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:25.300 And what maybe doesn't feel true, and why? 00:03:26.480 --> 00:03:28.219 So I'm going to read through these. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:31.319 I'm not going to stop to say book and chapter and verse, 00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:32.419 because that's going to get clunky, 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:35.879 but just know that everything I'm reading is all Scripture. 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:43.120 So settle in, and let me read these words from Scripture about who you are. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:49.240 Before the creation of the world, God knew you and loved you. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:54.280 God chose you in Christ from before the foundation of the world 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:57.460 to be holy and blameless before him in love. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:02.860 In love, he predestined you to be adopted as his beloved son or daughter. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.740 When God formed you and brought you into the world, 00:04:06.900 --> 00:04:08.420 he made you in his image. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:11.219 So you are of him, and you resemble him. 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:17.319 Jesus died for your sin because you're valuable and loved by him. 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:21.039 And yet more, you are crucified with Christ. 00:04:21.419 --> 00:04:24.139 You are dead to sin, dead to the world, 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:28.099 and with Christ you've died to the elemental spirits of the universe. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:29.639 That's Paul. 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.199 Your old self is crucified with Christ. 00:04:33.659 --> 00:04:36.800 You are raised up with Christ, a new creation. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:39.000 The old is gone. 00:04:39.539 --> 00:04:40.560 The new has come. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:43.419 You are God's workmanship, 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.419 created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:49.000 prepared beforehand for you to walk in. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:51.219 Before the creation of the world, 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:52.620 you are in God's presence, 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:54.519 and you are good and meant to do good. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:58.659 You are seated in Christ in the heavenly places, 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:00.959 far above all rule and authority, 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:02.959 and power and dominion, 00:05:03.019 --> 00:05:04.779 in this age and the one to come. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:07.799 You have authority over the demonic. 00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:10.500 You are in Christ, 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:13.180 and Christ is in you, the hope of glory. 00:05:14.219 --> 00:05:15.740 You are united with Christ, 00:05:15.859 --> 00:05:17.180 and one with him in spirit. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:21.199 Nothing can separate you from the love of God, 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:23.159 which is in Christ Jesus the Lord. 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:26.100 That means you are loved by the Lord, 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:27.400 forgiven by the Lord, 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:29.060 accepted by him. 00:05:29.200 --> 00:05:30.120 You belong to him, 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:31.340 and you are safe in him. 00:05:34.460 --> 00:05:35.700 Now, I could go on. 00:05:35.940 --> 00:05:37.560 The scriptures have so much to say. 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:40.140 The Lord has so much to say about who you are. 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:43.460 And it's easy to think that one of these other identities 00:05:43.460 --> 00:05:44.520 that I mentioned earlier 00:05:44.520 --> 00:05:46.420 is our truest and deepest identity, 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:47.220 but it's not. 00:05:48.080 --> 00:05:51.280 What I read is who you truly and most deeply are. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:56.559 Having this key in your hand 00:05:56.559 --> 00:05:58.619 is the first key to intimacy with the Lord. 00:05:59.179 --> 00:06:01.000 It is the Lord's words, 00:06:01.179 --> 00:06:03.039 the Lord's truth about who you are, 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:04.659 and being grounded in that 00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:08.159 is an important part of being grounded in him. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:11.319 And as much as he has to say about who you are, 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:14.239 he also has a lot to say about how he feels about you, 00:06:14.539 --> 00:06:15.699 and that's the second key. 00:06:15.799 --> 00:06:16.839 So let me turn to that. 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.239 There's something about story 00:06:20.239 --> 00:06:21.639 that speaks to our hearts 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:23.919 in a way that direct speech just doesn't. 00:06:24.179 --> 00:06:25.459 And I think it's why Jesus 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:28.179 spoke in parables and analogies so much. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:30.019 You can say to somebody, 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:31.639 God loves you, and that's true, 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:33.559 and those words can go deep into the heart, 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:36.419 but those words don't fully capture 00:06:36.419 --> 00:06:38.239 the intensity of God's love for you. 00:06:39.719 --> 00:06:41.259 There's a story that came to mind 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:42.259 as I was preparing this. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:44.099 It's the story of the prodigal son. 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:46.260 We all know this story. 00:06:46.460 --> 00:06:48.420 It's much loved, much preached about, 00:06:48.700 --> 00:06:50.060 lots of books written about it. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:52.840 But there's this one part in the story 00:06:52.840 --> 00:06:55.480 where the younger son's coming up to the house, 00:06:55.980 --> 00:06:58.200 coming up the road towards his father's estate. 00:06:58.540 --> 00:07:01.320 He's uncertain of how he will be received 00:07:01.320 --> 00:07:03.560 given how deeply he's rejected 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:04.860 and humiliated his dad, 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:07.680 how much he sinned with his dad's inheritance 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.240 and life's work that was gifted to him 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:10.960 before he left. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:12.740 He has nothing left. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:14.939 He hopes only to be a servant 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:17.160 because he thinks being a son is over 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:18.780 and will never be possible again. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.160 The dad's response is everything. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:23.939 He sees his son, 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:25.620 and when he does, he starts running to him. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.000 When he gets to him, he hugs and kisses him, 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.860 overjoyed that his son is back safe with him again. 00:07:31.960 --> 00:07:34.960 The intensity of the dad's love is visible. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.079 The dad is compelled by this emotional love 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:40.540 and tenderness and grace. 00:07:40.540 --> 00:07:42.980 He can't help his reaction, 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:44.900 and he doesn't even try and hide it, 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:46.740 and he probably couldn't if he tried. 00:07:47.700 --> 00:07:51.220 He has an overwhelming emotional love for his son, 00:07:51.220 --> 00:07:56.140 and that is exactly how the father feels about you, 00:07:56.640 --> 00:07:59.920 who knew you and loved you from before the foundation of the world, 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.620 and he's wanted nothing more than to have you back with him again this whole time. 00:08:05.200 --> 00:08:06.400 He's not mad at you. 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:09.260 He aches to have you with him. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:12.120 Jesus, everywhere he went, 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:16.180 was compelled by his love to stop and heal and teach and forgive 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:18.699 and cast out demons and many, many other things. 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:22.959 One of my favorite stories is when Jesus was at a synagogue, 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.740 and he saw this woman bent over for 18 years, 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:28.620 and he knew that to heal her during the service 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:30.980 would make the leaders of the synagogue angry at him 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:32.940 and would energize opposition to him. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.980 He could have said to her, you know, 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:36.340 come up quietly to her and said, 00:08:36.560 --> 00:08:39.460 look, you've waited 18 long years 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:41.940 and another 45 minutes won't kill you. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:43.560 Meet me behind the synagogue 00:08:43.560 --> 00:08:45.200 and I'll take care of this. 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:46.840 But he didn't. 00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:48.720 He couldn't hold himself back. 00:08:49.180 --> 00:08:51.580 He was compelled by an overwhelming love 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:55.460 to reach out and set her free right then, right there, 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:56.820 even at cost. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:01.480 And that is exactly how Jesus feels about you 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:03.660 when you come to him with your pain. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:08.080 So these two keys, your identity, 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:10.420 knowing how Jesus feels about you, 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:11.860 what happens when they come together. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:14.020 I'm going to be a little bit personal here. 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:14.960 I'm going to take a risk. 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:18.820 This is some of what I've experienced, 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:20.320 so I'm going to share it. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.620 I'm a little nervous to do so. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:24.780 But here, these two keys, 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:26.820 identity and knowing in your heart 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:28.280 how Jesus feels about you, 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:31.020 unlocks a place of intimacy with the Lord. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:34.420 When I'm anchored in who I am 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:37.480 and in how the Lord feels about me, 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:39.379 I become incredibly sensitive 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:41.800 to the Lord's presence and his voice. 00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:44.500 My heart opens to the Lord 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:47.780 and I invite him to come in more and more. 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:52.199 My prayers flow with the leading of the Spirit. 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:58.120 I find myself able to go to what has been described by others 00:09:58.120 --> 00:09:59.799 as a secret place of worship. 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:03.980 It's a place where you're able to go with the Lord in worship, 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:06.120 a deep place in his presence. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:11.539 It's a place of greater and greater surrender and yieldedness 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:15.700 as the Lord and his presence does something to my heart. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.899 Tears come in this place. 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:20.840 Not sad tears, not happy tears. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.200 That sometimes can happen. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:25.419 But what people have described as spirit tears. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:30.539 Praise and tears pour out at the feet of the one who loves me 00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:32.000 and gave himself for me. 00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:34.479 And I know myself in that place 00:10:34.479 --> 00:10:37.899 in a way unlike any other way in those moments. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:42.339 So, to be a little bit practical, 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:46.939 what do you do to know Jesus more intimately? 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.479 What do you do with all this stuff? 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:53.659 So, first, ask to know him. 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:56.120 This sounds ridiculously obvious, 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:58.700 but it's surprising how this one gets missed. 00:10:59.300 --> 00:11:01.340 Ask Jesus to make you to know him. 00:11:01.920 --> 00:11:03.279 Like, to really know him. 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.600 What he is like. 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:05.879 What he cares about. 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:07.039 What his heart is like. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:11.379 Ask Jesus to make you to want to know him. 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:14.460 To long for his presence and his voice. 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:18.759 Ask him to make you familiar with his voice and his presence 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.800 so that you know that you know when he's speaking to you 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:24.700 and when you're hearing from him. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.540 Ask Jesus to show you how he feels about you. 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:29.900 Take the risk. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:33.040 Ask him, honestly, how do you really feel about me, Jesus? 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:35.440 I remember in seminary, 00:11:35.900 --> 00:11:41.780 someone told me about how God sees us through the lenses of Jesus. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.180 And I remember thinking, that's horrible. 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.960 Have I ever shared this? 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:48.480 I felt like God was wearing Jesus goggles. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.840 And the thought was, God's wearing these Jesus goggles. 00:11:53.060 --> 00:11:55.139 And if the goggles, and he sees me through Jesus, 00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:57.379 and therefore I'm loved and I'm accepted. 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:59.480 He doesn't see me, the sinner. 00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:03.639 And my thought was, if those goggles ever slip off, I'm done. 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:05.379 But that's false. 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:06.420 That's bad theology. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.600 That's not how God feels about you. 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:14.560 Ask Jesus to tell you how does he actually feel about you. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:16.060 No goggles involved. 00:12:17.420 --> 00:12:22.240 You'll be amazed at how many times in Scripture the Lord answers his disciples' questions. 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:24.560 And think about this. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.279 If you're a parent, 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:31.439 how do you feel when your daughter or your son come to you and says, 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:33.620 they want to know how you feel about them. 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:36.279 They want to know if you love them. 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:38.399 And how do you feel in that moment? 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:41.079 You love to tell them that you love them. 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:47.639 And if your mom or your dad didn't seem to delight in telling you how they felt about you, 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.659 it probably wounded you. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:52.579 We're wired to hear the Lord tell us how he feels about us. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:57.639 And we're wired to tell people, the ones we love, how we feel about them. 00:12:58.319 --> 00:13:01.399 And it is your father's delight to do that for you. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:08.459 So I want to ask you, this is another participation moment. 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:09.720 Try something with me. 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:10.759 It will take less than a minute. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:13.500 I want you to pray quietly inside. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:15.240 And I want you to say, 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.480 whether you address God as father or Lord, 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:20.779 you address God how you do, 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:22.399 father or Lord, say this, 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:24.279 I accept your love for me. 00:13:24.959 --> 00:13:26.939 I choose to be the one you love. 00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:31.460 I choose to be your precious beloved daughter or son. 00:13:31.900 --> 00:13:33.300 So close your eyes and try that. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:44.700 Notice again how you felt when you said those things. 00:13:45.160 --> 00:13:46.300 Was it hard to say? 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.720 Did it feel true for you that maybe God could feel this way for you? 00:13:52.280 --> 00:13:55.060 Did it stir up anything that you want to pray about? 00:13:56.940 --> 00:14:01.660 The second action point, 00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:05.020 feed your heart on the scriptural words of your identity. 00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:08.800 Meditate on the verses like the ones I read this morning. 00:14:09.380 --> 00:14:12.380 Ask the Lord to help your heart receive those truths. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.280 We've all been wounded in life. 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:16.340 Our trust receptors get damaged. 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:18.460 Ask the Lord to heal those 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:21.540 so that you're able to hear and receive his words of love. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.980 Practice what we did this morning. 00:14:25.140 --> 00:14:26.380 Read those verses out loud. 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:28.800 Say things like, make it a conversation. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.800 Thank you, Lord, 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:32.200 that I am united with you, 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.540 one with you in spirit. 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:36.240 Thank you that you are in me and I am in you. 00:14:36.640 --> 00:14:37.340 Thank you, Father. 00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:38.760 I'm a new creation in Christ. 00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:41.240 Let those scriptures become the start 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.060 of a conversation you have with the Lord 00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:44.620 and see where he takes it. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.960 One other thing I've found helpful over the years 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:56.200 is to get with people who know Jesus' presence and voice. 00:14:56.200 --> 00:15:04.820 I remember one time I would volunteer at these healing prayer conferences 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:07.860 and I always wanted to be the prayer minister. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.940 I wanted to be the person that prayed with people 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.720 and I would see God do powerful things. 00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:14.140 But I kept going to these 00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:16.280 and I kept getting assigned to be the catcher. 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:18.939 So if you've ever gone to these kinds of conferences, 00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:20.679 this is where, you know, 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.139 the prayer minister says, 00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:23.399 anybody who wants prayer, 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.959 come forward and people line up. 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:28.179 And the prayer minister walks down the line 00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:30.500 and briefly stops and prays for people. 00:15:30.699 --> 00:15:32.740 And the catcher is behind the line 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.659 because when the spirit, 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:37.259 if when the spirit falls on that person, 00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:38.620 the person goes down 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.639 and the catcher catches. 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.379 So I was like, 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:44.199 why do I got to be the catcher? 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:46.199 Like, I'm like in the back row. 00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.559 I don't want to catch people. 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:49.000 And honestly, 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.799 I was a little conflicted at times, right? 00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:52.179 Because, you know, 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.500 I would stand behind somebody 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:56.059 and I remember standing behind this really big dude 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:57.500 and I was so conflicted. 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:57.779 I was like, 00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:59.720 Lord, I want him to experience your spirit, 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:01.759 but I don't want to die in the process. 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.539 Like, so it's like, 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:04.500 do you like just like, 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.759 like, like middle, 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:08.480 like give him like a middle dose or something? 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.819 Anyway, so I remember, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.339 so I was kind of grumpy, right? 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.259 And afraid for my life at points. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.279 But as I started to, 00:16:16.459 --> 00:16:16.620 you know, 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.899 you have to kind of keep pace 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.799 with the prayer minister 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.759 and I started to notice something happening. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.980 I would stand behind somebody 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:24.019 and I would kind of like, 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:24.539 you know, 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.759 anchor myself 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:27.179 and then, 00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:28.599 and the prayer minister would pause 00:16:28.599 --> 00:16:28.919 and there's, 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.439 you know, 00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:31.759 there's one prayer minister in particular 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.199 that I was the catcher for 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:33.800 a few times 00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:35.879 and she would pause and listen 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.660 and, 00:16:36.780 --> 00:16:38.300 and I would start to get these pictures 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:40.180 and I would start to get these thoughts 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:42.420 and about things that were going on 00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.360 in the person's life. 00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:45.340 And then the prayer minister 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.220 would start to pray 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:47.400 all those same things. 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:49.900 And I realized after a while 00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:51.440 that being the catcher 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.460 was actually me being schooled 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.200 by the spirit 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.680 and how to hear from the Lord. 00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:57.000 I didn't know, 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:58.080 I didn't recognize 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.160 what was coming to me 00:16:59.160 --> 00:17:00.560 in pictures and words 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.359 until I heard 00:17:01.359 --> 00:17:02.859 the seasoned prayer minister 00:17:02.859 --> 00:17:03.619 who I knew 00:17:03.619 --> 00:17:04.940 could hear from the Lord 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.879 saying some of the same things. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.259 And I started to realize 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.779 that's how the Lord sounds. 00:17:10.419 --> 00:17:11.099 This is what it, 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.139 this is what it's like 00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:12.940 when you get a picture. 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.759 So get with people 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.460 that you know 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.559 can hear from the Lord 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.819 and they can help you learn 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:19.039 how to hear too. 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.480 My last practical point, 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.639 trim your spiritual sails 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:26.519 and expect the Lord to show up. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.799 So what do I mean by that? 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:30.079 So an analogy I once came across 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.460 was from sailing. 00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:33.819 We are all like, 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:37.059 in sailing you have ships 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.519 that are out on the ocean 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.839 and when they hit a dead calm 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.899 there's no wind, 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.799 there's no waves. 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.119 The ship just sits there, 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.079 can't move, 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:44.899 can't do anything. 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.940 And living by the spirit 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.460 is being like a sailing ship. 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.279 We have sails 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.399 and we want to catch wind. 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.039 But sometimes we're in a season 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.940 where there's just no wind at all. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.940 So what do you do? 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:58.500 Sailors never quite knew 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.160 what to do either 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.120 so they would always keep 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.880 the sails up 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.279 ready to catch any wind. 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:04.039 They would keep the sails trimmed. 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.380 And you remember Jesus' analogy 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.500 about the Holy Spirit 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.460 from John 3 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.820 being like the wind. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.039 You never see where the spirit 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.320 comes from or where it goes. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.420 It just comes. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.900 So keeping your sails trimmed 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.820 by the sailors 00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:18.880 was an act of expectant faith. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.720 So how do we keep 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:23.000 our sails trimmed? 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.279 When I'm in a dead calm, 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:27.200 some of the things I turn to 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.680 are some of the spiritual disciplines. 00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.680 These come from Scripture 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.720 and the early church. 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.799 My go-to are prayer, 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.259 Scripture, Eucharist, 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:37.259 fasting, worship. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.799 And these are the things you do 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.220 to keep your sails trimmed, 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.640 ready for the Holy Spirit, 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.559 the wind to blow. 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.920 So I use the morning office 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:47.200 from the Book of Common Prayer. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.619 It gives me words 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.720 to pray in Scriptures. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:53.960 I fast to cultivate a heart 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.200 that hungers for the Lord, 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.039 that's repentant and surrendered. 00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:58.819 And I worship. 00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:02.360 One of my favorite people 00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:04.140 who writes on the spiritual life 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:05.339 is a guy named Graham Cook. 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.839 And he talks about seasons 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.839 of manifest and hiddenness. 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.500 Seasons of manifest 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.360 is when God shows up all the time. 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.519 He's active 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.339 and it's easy to feel his presence 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.240 and hear his voice. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.740 And the hidden seasons 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.440 are the opposite. 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.779 Prayer is dry. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.539 The Eucharist doesn't feel special. 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.519 The question's not 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.339 where is God, 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.160 but what's he doing? 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.000 And in those seasons of hiddenness, 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.279 the Spirit does a deep, deep work in us. 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.579 And the spiritual disciplines 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.339 are the ways 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.940 that I actively seek 00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:34.940 to align myself 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:36.640 with what the Lord is doing 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.519 deep inside of me 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.779 even when I can't see it. 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.640 And it positions myself 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.099 in expectant faith 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.799 for when the wind's going to blow. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:47.039 So I ask you to remember 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.399 these two keys of intimacy 00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:51.480 and knowing how Jesus feels about you 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:54.099 and how they can unlock together 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:56.940 your closeness 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.940 and your ability 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.039 to go deep with the Lord. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.779 Remember these practical steps 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.099 because they'll help you 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:04.859 when things feel dry 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:07.259 and help you position yourself 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:09.200 to have for the Lord 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.139 when he wants to 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:12.720 share his presence with you 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.440 and speak to you. 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.839 And if you want to talk 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.500 about any of this, 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:15.860 of course, 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.259 I'm always happy to do that. 00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:18.460 And there's lots of us here 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.039 who would be happy 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.799 to pray with you 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.960 and talk with you about that. 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.740 So let me pray. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.019 Lord Jesus, 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.480 Lord, as we go into Lent, 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:31.839 I ask that you visit us 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.400 powerfully by your Spirit 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:35.980 to speak to us, 00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:37.819 to show us how 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:39.740 to best connect with you, 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:43.299 show us what tools, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:43.599 Lord, 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.400 we can use 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:46.200 to position ourselves 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.920 before you, 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.940 to make our hearts 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:50.500 open before you, 00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:50.779 Lord, 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.440 so we can have more of you 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.400 and your Spirit. 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:54.839 Lord, 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:56.079 so that we are more receptive 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.500 to you 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.200 and the deep work 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.859 of transformation 00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:59.359 that you want to do in us. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.220 Lord, 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.920 I ask that 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.420 this season of Lent 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.099 would be 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.140 an amazing season 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.920 for all of us 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.700 of quiet, 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.259 deep moments with you, 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:10.619 of hearing your voice 00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.799 and knowing your presence 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:13.619 in fresh and new ways 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.259 that we'd never 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.519 experienced before. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.440 Lord, 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.640 show us who we are 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.519 in deeper ways 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.180 and speak your love 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.660 to us, 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.460 to each of us 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.640 in the depths of our heart 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.799 so we really, 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.299 really know 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.420 how you feel about us. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.579 I thank you, Lord. 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.720 Amen. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:29.779 Amen. 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:29.819 Amen. 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:29.819 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:31.819 Amen.