WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.339 As we sit, let's bow our heads and pray together. 00:00:05.860 --> 00:00:09.259 Our gracious Father, we thank you for your word. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:09.259 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.679 And Lord, having discerned that word, we pray that in the grace of the Holy Spirit, we might be obedient to your calling in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:56.900 So, there is so much, I think, to thank God for in the life of the churches in Swindon, and in particular, Christ Church. 00:00:56.899 --> 00:01:04.519 I spend a lot of my time, given the number of vacancies that they've been in the deanery, preaching across different churches. 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:09.560 And some of those churches are not even Church of England churches. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:16.659 And I see green shoots of growth everywhere I go. 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:29.879 So, the thing is that if you total up across the 10 plus congregations in this town, 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:40.280 how many people are actually in church this Sunday morning, you would be pushed to find more than 850 people. 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:48.239 And that in a population of around about 23,000 people. 00:01:50.340 --> 00:01:55.840 As Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 00:01:57.520 --> 00:02:04.020 And I've got to talk to you today on the issue of doubt, leaving doubt behind. 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:07.859 And I want to start with a verse from Scripture. 00:02:08.859 --> 00:02:10.460 And it goes like this. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:16.840 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I've been doing. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:23.560 And they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.560 I hope you noticed that. 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:39.659 They, that is, us who are disciples of Jesus, will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:51.360 Now, in very conservative churches, they interpret these greater things as simply the conversion of people throughout history. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:59.360 They say that is the beginning and end of the greater works that Jesus was talking to. 00:02:59.420 --> 00:03:07.260 If you go into churches that we label as charismatic, they're more inclined to take it more literally. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:15.260 And truly believe that God wants to bring signs and wonders to accompany the preaching of his word, 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:23.019 in order that his word is given energy by those signs and wonders. 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:28.679 And then, there are a heck of a lot of churches, neither conservative nor charismatic, 00:03:29.399 --> 00:03:31.699 who quietly ignore this verse. 00:03:34.519 --> 00:03:37.639 You will do even greater things. 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:43.459 Sometimes I think, remember I've had a ministry preaching across the Church of England. 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:46.260 Sometimes I think the Church of England hasn't got the memo. 00:03:48.580 --> 00:03:53.080 I want to talk to you about doubt this morning. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:04:03.340 And throughout history, philosophers, theologians, writers of literature, 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:09.260 have had a rather ambivalent idea of doubt. 00:04:10.260 --> 00:04:13.120 Is it totally a bad thing? 00:04:13.460 --> 00:04:17.939 And I'm just going to put up there three quotes for you now. 00:04:18.460 --> 00:04:22.759 The first is by the prophet Khalil Gibran, who said this, 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:28.340 Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother. 00:04:30.340 --> 00:04:33.100 Kind of neutral position, I would think. 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:38.579 Paul Tillich, the American systematic theologian, wrote this, 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:40.660 Doubt isn't the opposite of faith. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:43.400 It is an element of faith. 00:04:44.580 --> 00:04:47.200 He saw doubt as something very positive. 00:04:49.200 --> 00:04:55.300 And Frederick Buchner, the moral rearmament leader, wrote this, 00:04:55.380 --> 00:04:58.840 Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.060 They keep it awake and moving. 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:06.220 So you can see from those three quotes, 00:05:07.019 --> 00:05:12.300 people are not saying that all doubt is wrong. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:16.759 And therefore, when I saw the title of today's talk, 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:19.199 Leaving Doubt Behind, 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:22.120 it just made me a little wary. 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:29.780 Though in general, I hope we would agree that leaving our doubts behind is a good thing. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:41.199 Jesus, at one point, confronted a child who had been convulsed with an evil spirit. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:45.939 And this is a really reckless boy's life. 00:05:46.019 --> 00:05:50.259 He had frequent seizures and was throwing himself around on the ground. 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:54.800 And Jesus' disciples tried to heal it, heal the boy. 00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:57.480 And they couldn't. 00:05:58.159 --> 00:05:59.879 And in response to that, 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:04.699 Jesus sounds like he's taking a rather harsh line over doubt. 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:06.459 And he says this, 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.759 You unbelieving generation, Jesus replied, 00:06:10.099 --> 00:06:11.879 How long shall I stay with you? 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:14.120 How long shall I put up with you? 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.680 Bring the boy to me. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:18.860 They brought the boy to Jesus, 00:06:19.379 --> 00:06:20.699 and he was healed. 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:27.860 See, Jesus mostly says that doubt, 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:32.459 that a lack of faith is part of our problems. 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:38.339 And then Jesus says some very optimistic words for us, 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:40.219 in Mark 9 and verse 23. 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:42.219 If you can, said Jesus, 00:06:42.779 --> 00:06:45.359 everything is possible for one who believes. 00:06:47.039 --> 00:06:49.539 And then the words of this man, 00:06:49.659 --> 00:06:52.019 who is nameless, we don't know who he is. 00:06:52.859 --> 00:06:54.859 But I suspect he reflects 00:06:54.859 --> 00:06:57.579 where a lot of you are 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:00.659 in relation to faith and doubt. 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:02.439 The man said, 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:03.860 I believe. 00:07:04.700 --> 00:07:06.500 Help my unbelief. 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:10.680 We're not quite sure exactly what he meant, 00:07:10.780 --> 00:07:13.740 but somehow those words seem to enshrine, I think, 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:17.660 where many of us are in our walk of faith. 00:07:19.020 --> 00:07:21.660 And then, of course, we come to dear Thomas, 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:25.260 doubting Thomas, as we call him. 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:30.539 Thomas said to Jesus, 00:07:30.719 --> 00:07:33.399 unless I see the nail marks in his hands 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:36.139 and put my finger where the nails were 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:38.860 and put my hand into his side, 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:41.219 I will not believe. 00:07:42.420 --> 00:07:45.120 And you remember, as John read it to us, 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:49.099 that Jesus allows him that indulgence, 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:50.879 and his immediate response is, 00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:52.920 my Lord and my God. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.520 And interestingly, 00:07:57.860 --> 00:07:59.300 Jesus doesn't give 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:04.100 Thomas a rollicking for this. 00:08:05.400 --> 00:08:07.860 He makes a very general comment, 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:08.600 and he said, 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:11.840 blessed are those who have seen and believed, 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:12.839 but also, 00:08:13.739 --> 00:08:17.560 blessed are those who have not seen and believed. 00:08:19.799 --> 00:08:20.979 In other words, 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:25.000 faith in the Jesus 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.859 that nobody in this house this morning has seen 00:08:28.859 --> 00:08:31.699 is an even greater blessing 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.699 than those disciples of old 00:08:33.699 --> 00:08:37.379 who walked around Judea and Galilee with him 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:41.279 and experienced his physical presence. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:45.560 My own feeling is that 00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:47.040 I'm not sure that we will ever 00:08:47.040 --> 00:08:49.860 totally extinguish doubt of some sort 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:53.340 in our lives this side of heaven. 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:55.639 And in a way, 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.480 that's why we need faith. 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:01.860 We're saved by grace through faith, 00:09:02.280 --> 00:09:05.120 by accepting God at his word 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.460 and living as though we accept him 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:09.720 at his word. 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:12.240 So, 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:16.080 here are some reasons 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:19.220 that I observe for people's doubt. 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:21.639 The first is 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:22.740 the fear 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.820 of feeling let down. 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:27.560 I sometimes think 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:28.360 that many of us 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:30.180 don't like to ask God for too much 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:31.200 because we're not sure 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:31.980 what we'd feel 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:33.300 if God didn't deliver 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:34.440 on what we want. 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:37.960 There are people 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:39.160 and there'll be some people 00:09:39.160 --> 00:09:40.240 in the house this morning 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.620 and I pray God will heal you today 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:47.360 who sit there 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.380 and if they can 00:09:49.380 --> 00:09:51.660 search their hearts, 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:54.540 they know 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:56.760 that they're angry with God. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:00.960 Why did he take away 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:01.840 my husband, 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.480 my wife, 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.220 my child? 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:07.299 How could he let that happen? 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:10.899 My guess is 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:13.019 there are people in this church 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:14.799 for whom those questions 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.439 shine very brightly 00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:18.539 in their hearts. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:20.719 They feel, 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.919 to quote a technical 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:24.259 theological phrase, 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:25.419 God has dealt them 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:26.579 a tough set of marbles. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.360 Then there is 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.139 the fear 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.599 of letting others down. 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:33.819 I've never forgotten that 00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:36.179 I used to be younger 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:37.379 and even brasher 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:38.740 and 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:40.339 I used to 00:10:40.339 --> 00:10:42.000 be in a tiny church 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:42.860 and there was myself 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.719 and two ladies 00:10:43.719 --> 00:10:44.980 who constituted, 00:10:45.099 --> 00:10:45.259 well, 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:45.740 mostly, 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:47.399 most of the congregation actually 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:49.279 but we were the little 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.980 team 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:51.959 that went out 00:10:51.959 --> 00:10:52.980 and prayed with people 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:54.059 on this estate 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:54.720 in Slough. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:56.079 I know. 00:10:57.699 --> 00:10:59.379 And so we go out 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.319 and the first time 00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:00.879 I went out 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:01.980 I remember praying 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.039 with this lady 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:05.620 and I prayed this prayer. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:05.899 I mean, 00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:06.720 it was right out 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.360 of left field. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:10.039 It was extraordinarily 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:11.079 faithful 00:11:11.079 --> 00:11:12.419 and the three of us 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:12.980 said amen 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:13.860 at the end of it 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:14.620 but I suspect 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.539 that that was code 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:16.299 for good luck 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:16.759 with that. 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:20.220 And after it 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:21.559 old Edie said to me 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:21.959 she said 00:11:21.959 --> 00:11:22.399 do you think 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.100 you should pray 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:24.539 so directly to God? 00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:25.699 I'm like, 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:26.340 what do you mean? 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:27.720 She said, 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:28.019 well, 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.159 the lady you were praying for 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.439 might feel very let down. 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.000 See, 00:11:33.079 --> 00:11:33.699 sometimes 00:11:33.699 --> 00:11:34.980 our fear of feeling 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:35.860 let down ourselves 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:36.779 is also a fear 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.980 of letting others down. 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:39.899 I suspect 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:40.519 that's why 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:41.360 there's a lot of 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.319 ambivalence 00:11:42.319 --> 00:11:43.039 in churches 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.340 toward the ministry 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:44.860 of healing. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:47.639 I mean, 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.600 it does seem 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.940 rather selective 00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:50.519 doesn't it? 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:50.820 I mean, 00:11:51.300 --> 00:11:51.580 you know, 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.740 I say we go to doctors 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.139 I mean, 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:54.440 you know, 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:55.200 it's quite a fight 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.039 to see a doctor 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:56.659 these days 00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:57.940 but we go and see doctors 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:00.460 and we don't, 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.019 you know, 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.300 they do a diagnosis 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:03.100 if they got it wrong 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.659 we don't think 00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:03.899 right, 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:04.519 I'm never going 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.100 near a doctor 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.720 ever again. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.419 Most of us 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:09.080 don't think that. 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:11.139 So, 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:12.660 the fear of letting others down 00:12:12.660 --> 00:12:13.520 is a reason 00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:14.440 why some of us 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:14.920 doubt 00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:15.700 whether or not 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:16.540 we can see 00:12:16.540 --> 00:12:17.660 those greater things 00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:18.060 done 00:12:18.060 --> 00:12:20.060 that Jesus speaks about. 00:12:20.400 --> 00:12:21.300 Third thing is 00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:23.060 too many prayers 00:12:23.060 --> 00:12:24.220 out of the left field 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:25.740 I think can create 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.600 a fear in us 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.639 that other people 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.100 might think 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.879 we're fanatics. 00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:32.200 I've never forgotten 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.420 Ken 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:34.400 who was a member 00:12:34.400 --> 00:12:35.360 of the congregation 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.000 in Slough 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.720 who was a 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.000 bus driver. 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:40.320 And I have never, 00:12:40.660 --> 00:12:40.940 I mean, 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:41.340 you know, 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:41.920 it's difficult 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:43.259 to kind of measure 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:44.480 from the outside in 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.840 exactly how much 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.600 faith he had 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:48.000 but by the level 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.780 of his prayers 00:12:48.780 --> 00:12:49.120 I mean, 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.400 this guy was faithful 00:12:50.400 --> 00:12:51.540 and then some more. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.500 Faithful to the power 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.020 of end. 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:56.280 And I remember 00:12:56.280 --> 00:12:57.139 one of his regular 00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:57.920 prayers was 00:12:57.920 --> 00:12:58.700 Lord, 00:12:58.900 --> 00:12:59.259 please, 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.180 would you convert 00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:01.600 everybody in Slough? 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.660 And we'd be like, 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.040 wow. 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:04.879 And then he'd say, 00:13:05.020 --> 00:13:05.300 today. 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:11.180 And a lot of people, 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.040 interestingly, 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:14.660 sidestepped Ken. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.379 It's just a bit, 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:17.960 you know, 00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:18.740 is this guy 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:21.100 a kind of, 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.580 in terms of faith, 00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.820 the sort of equivalent 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:26.780 of a Taliban Christian? 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:28.700 You know, 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.400 is he completely 00:13:29.400 --> 00:13:30.320 over the top? 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.879 And I think a lot of us 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.360 are frightened 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.680 of fearing that. 00:13:34.780 --> 00:13:35.500 Fourth thing is 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:37.000 fearing that I'm 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.000 just not good enough. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:40.279 Why would God 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.039 bother with me? 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:43.759 Surprisingly, 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:46.519 John Wesley, 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:49.299 those you Methodists 00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:49.740 who'll be 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:51.740 feeling aroused now, 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.100 John Wesley 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:55.919 suffered from 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:57.340 quite a lot of doubt 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:58.240 in his life, 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.399 certainly before 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:01.259 his true conversion. 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:04.639 And he doubted 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.679 whether he was 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.259 good enough. 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:08.860 he was plagued 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:09.740 by the idea 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:10.840 of joining this club 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:11.919 called the Holy Club 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:12.559 in Oxford. 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.480 Rather off-putting name, 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:16.120 I might suggest. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.539 But he joined it. 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:19.100 And they were rigorous 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:21.080 in their self-examination 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.480 of themselves 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.539 and of each other. 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.480 And the net result 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.120 of that was, 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.299 I think they didn't have 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:28.139 any assurance 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:29.279 of their salvation. 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:32.139 Wesley worried about that 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:33.139 until God 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.200 touched his heart. 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.860 I wonder 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:39.720 if today 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:42.100 there are some of you 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:42.820 in the house 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:44.940 who aren't sure 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:46.060 whether you're saved. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.860 And I pray 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:48.780 that if that's so, 00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:49.840 God would touch 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.759 your heart. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.740 And then 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.540 there is 00:14:55.540 --> 00:14:56.820 the general fear 00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:57.800 which exists 00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.600 in the kind of 00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.200 post-enlightenment 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.200 hugely true 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.240 of the Church of England, 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.159 but true 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:04.220 of lots of churches. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.159 There is this fear 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:07.120 of talking about 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.279 anything supernatural. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:11.560 You know, 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.200 we believe God 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.180 can work in the world 00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.840 but there are limits. 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.860 And the limit is 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.139 God can only work 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:19.560 within the natural realm. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.259 So of course 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.879 God works 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.940 in the natural realm. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.419 Aren't you like this? 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.960 If you've got appendicitis, 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:26.680 wouldn't you go 00:15:26.680 --> 00:15:27.360 and see a doctor? 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.039 Or would you just 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:29.820 get your friends around 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.759 to pray for you? 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.500 Or even better, 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:34.960 would you get your friends 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.960 around to pray for you 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.100 and go and see a doctor? 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.580 Am I wrong? 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.679 Would you be mad 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.439 not to see a doctor 00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:44.980 if you've got 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:46.360 acute appendicitis? 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.500 Of course you'd go 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.159 to a doctor. 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.939 Because God uses 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.980 natural means 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.100 as well as 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.460 supernatural means. 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.600 You remember 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.779 there's that story 00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:58.960 that sounds disgusting 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.740 to us in the 21st century 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.759 where Jesus 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.840 with a blind man 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:04.420 and Jesus 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:06.120 spits, 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.780 mix up the paste 00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.620 in some mud 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.840 and then applies it 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.980 to these guys' eyes. 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:12.860 This guy's eyes. 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.879 And you think to yourself, 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.139 wow, 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.019 you know, 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.500 I'm not sure 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.920 what I feel about that. 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.620 But at the time 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:24.720 it was thought that 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.820 a mixture of alluvial mud 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.740 and spit 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.879 would heal 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.720 for somebody. 00:16:34.300 --> 00:16:35.240 My gran, 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:35.800 right, 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.879 who brought me up, 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.480 wonderful woman, 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.200 she used to always say, 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:41.899 I was, 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.500 you know, 00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:44.399 every living moment 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.500 I was playing sport 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.480 and we used to play 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.639 in school on the tarmac 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.700 and every day 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.340 I'd go down 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.279 and cut my knees. 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:52.220 And that's why 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.919 in our school 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.500 you couldn't wear 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.139 long trousers 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.559 until you were 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.199 in the fifth floor. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.740 Imagine that. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.120 You've got these great, 00:16:59.179 --> 00:16:59.319 you know, 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.439 six foot two boys 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.019 walking around 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.860 in grey shorts 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.559 in December. 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.339 It's not my point. 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.839 My point is, 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.579 my gran's remedy 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.819 for my cut knees 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.819 was let the dog 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.279 lick it. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:13.720 You know, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.799 even then I'm like, 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.200 are you sure 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.059 about this, gran? 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.420 Anyway, 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:17.899 I mean, 00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:19.240 it really worked on me 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.600 and the only thing is 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:20.980 I dug, 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:21.860 developed a terrible 00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:22.480 bloodlust 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.240 and killed people 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:23.740 in town. 00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:25.120 Just kidding. 00:17:26.320 --> 00:17:26.840 Look, 00:17:27.280 --> 00:17:29.540 we are, 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.420 in many of our churches, 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.200 in this kind of 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.540 post-enlightenment 00:17:34.540 --> 00:17:36.220 cynical era 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.259 in which we live. 00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.120 We've written off 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.019 the supernatural 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:42.540 as a possibility 00:17:42.540 --> 00:17:43.220 for the way 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.019 in which God 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.759 might work. 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:49.160 For the reasons 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:49.720 for doubt, 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.779 God doesn't always 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.160 do what I want 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.559 him to. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.140 I'd imagine 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.420 that's a big one. 00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.500 And let me remind you 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.220 that Jesus, 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.000 when he was in 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.359 the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:01.680 I mean, 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.460 how powerful 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.539 a prayer is this? 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:06.400 He knew what was 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.240 going to happen to him. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:07.920 He'd already been 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.359 beaten. 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.339 He'd already 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:10.859 been up before 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.559 the council. 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:13.000 It was clear that 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.779 they wanted him dead. 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.279 What was Jesus' 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:17.759 prayer? 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.220 Not my will, 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.539 but thy will. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.259 Not my will, 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.599 but thy will. 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.319 See, 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.480 I do think that 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:38.299 if you're a new Christian, 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.720 this is really tough stuff 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.759 and I get that, 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.380 but actually, 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.420 the longer you become 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.019 a Christian, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.660 the more you 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:46.680 are mildly 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:48.800 become familiar 00:18:48.800 --> 00:18:50.180 with the words 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.820 of our Father 00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:51.320 in heaven, 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.140 the more you get it 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.080 that really 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:56.680 prayers need 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.900 to be not selfish. 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.940 James says that 00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.779 in his epistle. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.300 He says, 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.019 when you pray, 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:01.940 when you do pray, 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.420 you pray from selfish 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:03.980 motives. 00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:06.160 You ever done that? 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.080 Don't shout out. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.699 God. 00:19:08.699 --> 00:19:08.799 So, 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:15.939 I want God to do 00:19:15.939 --> 00:19:17.299 what I want him to 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.259 and if not, 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:21.559 I'll take a bad 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.899 attitude towards God. 00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:23.839 Second, 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.039 this is Thomas, 00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:25.460 isn't it? 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.319 The need for 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.919 empirical evidence. 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.839 Empiricism 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.859 means that 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.679 I will only 00:19:32.679 --> 00:19:33.759 accept things 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.379 that I can 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:38.180 observe 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.359 through my 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.240 senses. 00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:41.960 So, 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.879 I believe it 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.980 if I can see it. 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.079 I'll believe it 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:46.240 if I can smell it. 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.519 I'll believe it 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.680 if I hear it. 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.779 And Thomas, 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:53.579 I think like many 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.019 of us, 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:55.119 when he'd not 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.359 seen the risen Christ, 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.240 he'd just been told 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.420 that Jesus is alive. 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.680 And I think 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.320 many of us 00:20:00.320 --> 00:20:00.800 would feel 00:20:00.800 --> 00:20:01.539 a little cynical 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.279 about that. 00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:04.960 And so, 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.680 he says 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:08.700 to Jesus, 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.580 is it really you? 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:12.660 You know, 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.180 I believe that 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.940 if I can put my, 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.500 you remember, 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.500 they put nails 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.500 through Jesus' hands 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.180 so he presumably 00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.279 still had big scars 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.720 there and 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.720 they pushed 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.140 the thing 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.259 through his side, 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.460 spear through his side. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.060 And it's like, 00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:25.779 unless, 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.220 unless I can, 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.880 physically observe, 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:31.000 take note of 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.240 that this really is Jesus, 00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:33.080 I'm not going to believe. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.340 I wonder if any of you 00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:40.300 are like that, 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.640 where you promote 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.900 a kind of 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:44.600 faux intellectualism 00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:46.680 into a kind of 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.740 idol. 00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.779 And you just doubt. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.820 And unless somebody 00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:53.640 can prove to you 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.600 the things of God, 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.340 you're not going to 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:57.800 buy in. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.820 Third thing is, 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.480 the Bible 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.539 is an unreliable 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.180 document. 00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:03.740 Well, 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.860 I can tell you this. 00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:07.460 I think there's 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.539 more in this book 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.519 that rings bells 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.019 with me 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.720 than anything 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.660 I've ever read. 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.180 And I've read 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:12.920 a lot of books. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.680 I think it tells me 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.580 who I am. 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:17.960 It tells me 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.880 what I'm like. 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.000 It tells me 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.860 who God is. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.720 It tells me 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.880 who God is like. 00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:24.300 It tells me, 00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:25.279 having told me 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.060 what I'm like 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:27.120 and told me 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.959 what God's like, 00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:29.099 it tells me 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.059 how I can deal 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.719 with my sin 00:21:30.719 --> 00:21:31.719 in order that I 00:21:31.719 --> 00:21:32.459 can enter the 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:33.479 presence of the 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:33.719 Lord, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.879 ascend the hill 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.519 of the Lord. 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.699 You're saying, 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.019 well, 00:21:40.679 --> 00:21:41.199 it's a bit 00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.939 anti-women, 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.439 isn't it? 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.719 Well, 00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:45.279 I mean, 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.899 I think there is 00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.659 a measure of that 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.019 and yet, 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:47.740 on the other hand, 00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.460 it was Paul 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.220 who's blamed 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.040 to be the kind 00:21:50.040 --> 00:21:50.600 of founder 00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.840 of the patriarchy 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.840 as far as 00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.540 some feminists 00:21:53.540 --> 00:21:54.180 are concerned. 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.440 It was Paul 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:55.900 who said, 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.400 in Christ, 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.000 there is neither 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.180 male nor female. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.220 That was a radical 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.920 statement 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.400 at that time 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.340 for Paul 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.180 to have said that. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.660 When I was a 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.660 kid, 00:22:11.560 --> 00:22:12.400 I was made to go 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.080 to a beach 00:22:13.080 --> 00:22:14.320 mission one day 00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:17.900 and we sang 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.480 this song, 00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.280 the best book 00:22:19.280 --> 00:22:20.140 to read is the 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.500 Bible. 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.980 I sang it, 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.120 I mean, 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:23.640 I'd never read 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.140 the Bible, 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:24.680 as a matter of 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:24.820 fact, 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:25.680 but I sang it. 00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:27.040 It was a good 00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:27.380 tune. 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.380 And I think 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.040 if you doubt 00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:32.759 the truth of 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.519 God's word, 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.340 you are going 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.400 to find progress 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.360 in the Christian 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.280 life very 00:22:38.280 --> 00:22:38.840 difficult. 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.100 Confusion. 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:44.380 This is a really 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:45.180 subtle one. 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.600 In Mark 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.519 chapter 11, 00:22:49.280 --> 00:22:50.780 Jesus is 00:22:50.780 --> 00:22:51.120 with his 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.880 disciples and 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:52.340 they're walking 00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:53.820 past a fig tree 00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.800 which Jesus 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.460 had cursed 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.060 the previous 00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:56.500 day. 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:00.259 And Peter 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.759 notes, 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.400 oh, 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.340 Master, 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:03.300 the fig tree 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:04.160 you cursed 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.380 has perished. 00:23:07.040 --> 00:23:07.340 Funny, 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:07.660 isn't it? 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.300 We're always 00:23:08.300 --> 00:23:09.800 surprised when 00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.500 God does what 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.080 he says he'll 00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.280 do. 00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:14.380 And Jesus 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:15.300 goes off on 00:23:15.300 --> 00:23:15.480 one. 00:23:15.560 --> 00:23:15.860 He says, 00:23:16.040 --> 00:23:16.780 have faith in 00:23:16.780 --> 00:23:17.040 God. 00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:19.080 And in the 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:19.340 Greek, 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.140 the emphasis 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:20.820 in that 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:21.620 sentence is 00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:22.240 on the word 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.620 God. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.120 I think a lot 00:23:23.120 --> 00:23:23.800 of preachers 00:23:23.800 --> 00:23:24.519 put an 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.180 emphasis on 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.540 the word 00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:26.019 faith. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.180 But you 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.400 see, 00:23:28.540 --> 00:23:28.920 we're not 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.500 called to 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.160 have faith 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.220 in faith. 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.460 It's not an 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.340 issue of how 00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:34.040 big is my 00:23:34.040 --> 00:23:34.320 faith. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:34.540 You know, 00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.040 am I big 00:23:35.040 --> 00:23:35.500 enough to 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.120 dare to say 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:36.920 amen to this 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.100 prayer? 00:23:37.300 --> 00:23:37.620 It's not 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:38.120 like that. 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:40.500 faith is 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:40.839 not a 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.519 kind of 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.539 abstract 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.059 matter like 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.679 gas or 00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:45.139 something. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.119 In fact, 00:23:46.199 --> 00:23:46.839 Jesus said, 00:23:46.939 --> 00:23:47.219 didn't he, 00:23:47.459 --> 00:23:47.939 if you have 00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:48.399 faith the 00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:48.859 size of 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.139 what? 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.219 A mustard 00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:51.559 seed. 00:23:52.199 --> 00:23:52.939 How big is 00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:53.379 a mustard 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.779 seed? 00:23:54.459 --> 00:23:55.000 I have never 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.719 grown mustard, 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.659 but I'm told 00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:57.339 it's a very 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.039 small seed. 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.579 So presumably, 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.279 Jesus said, 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.000 you don't need 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.980 a lot of 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:07.559 it, but 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:09.259 presumably, you 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.940 need enough 00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.599 that if you're 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.140 praying for 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.140 something, you 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.039 don't let doubt 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.920 be the kind of 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.500 driving factor of 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:16.900 what you're 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.559 praying for. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.500 And I think a 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.339 lot of people get 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:23.140 confused into 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:24.380 putting their 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.799 faith in faith 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:27.559 rather than in 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:27.839 God. 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.720 It's have faith 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.579 in God. 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.339 That's a 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:32.880 confusion. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.299 And the 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:33.960 final thing 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:35.059 is the 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.500 kind of 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.299 currency of 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.920 our time, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.660 cynicism. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.440 Anything 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.920 that's been 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.819 handed down 00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.279 to me, 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.700 anything that 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.240 comes from 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.920 the past, 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.380 any talk of 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:48.960 our country 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.660 being a great 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.200 country, 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.400 anything like 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:51.980 that, and 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.240 we're not 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.460 going to 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:52.980 believe it. 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.400 In fact, 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.240 it's almost 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.059 as if you 00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.680 feel that if 00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.519 anything is 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.319 what we might 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.200 call traditional, 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:01.940 it's going to 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.579 be junked. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.960 it's going to 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.960 be junked. 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.779 Friends, 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.220 how are we 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.680 going to leave 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.599 doubt behind 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.019 us? 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.539 Well, let me 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.279 say, I don't 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.140 think all doubt 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.660 is bad. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.359 It makes us 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:17.099 inquiring, it 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.680 makes us want 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.200 to think more. 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.759 I get all 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.039 that. 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.960 But I think 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.079 the balance of 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:24.079 our discipleship 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.500 needs to put the 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:27.119 weight on 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.059 confidence in 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.339 God. 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.819 So, four 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:32.000 things that 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.639 we need to 00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:32.879 do. 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.460 And the 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:33.940 first thing I 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.379 want to say 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:34.919 about this, 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.679 really important, 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.919 is that very 00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:37.659 often when 00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:39.099 Jesus castigates 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.679 people for 00:25:39.679 --> 00:25:40.399 their lack of 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.899 faith, he 00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:42.460 doesn't do it 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.299 on a one-to-one 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:43.740 basis. 00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:45.179 He says, 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.539 as that 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.359 first slide 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:48.720 showed, 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.919 a faithless 00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:52.079 generation. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:55.399 Come back 00:25:55.399 --> 00:25:55.819 to that. 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.799 So, I 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.240 think the 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.980 first thing we 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.639 need to do, 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.240 and you can 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.119 start today, 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.079 is to say 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.500 with that 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.419 unnamed man 00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:04.740 of old, 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.379 Lord, I 00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:05.879 believe, but 00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.439 please help 00:26:06.439 --> 00:26:07.259 my unbelief. 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.519 Help me. 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.220 And some 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.859 of us find it 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.539 difficult to 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.019 say that 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.819 terrible four 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.519 letter word, 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.220 help. 00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.819 But maybe we 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.240 should just 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.199 review that. 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.019 Second, 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.619 it's just so 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.180 important. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.519 Together we 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.139 need to tell 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:26.639 stories of 00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.019 God's 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.720 faithfulness. 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.859 I read a 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.259 book some 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.819 years ago 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.819 written by a 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.299 radically 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.139 liberal 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:35.139 American 00:26:35.139 --> 00:26:35.960 theologian. 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.359 Her name 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:37.000 was Elaine 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.660 Padgels. 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.460 And one of 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.879 the good 00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.660 questions she 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.139 asked in 00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.619 that book 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.619 was, what 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.119 did the 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.500 early 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.039 Christians 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.779 do before 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.440 they had 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.500 the Bible 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:46.920 in its 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.799 complete form 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.319 to preach 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:48.539 for? 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.220 And she 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.639 said they 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:52.020 told stories. 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.860 They told 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:54.800 stories of 00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:55.780 the faithfulness 00:26:55.780 --> 00:26:56.259 of God 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.820 and at the 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:58.420 same time 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.360 they told 00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:00.620 stories of 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.300 martyrdom. 00:27:02.800 --> 00:27:03.080 That's what 00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:03.460 kept the 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.480 faith alive, 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.440 says Elaine 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:05.900 Padgels, 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.660 before we 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:06.960 had the 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.740 final canon 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.900 of the 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.160 Old 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.560 Testament 00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:10.120 and in 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.660 particular 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.520 the New 00:27:11.520 --> 00:27:12.020 Testament. 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.440 Do we 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.320 tell enough 00:27:15.320 --> 00:27:16.080 stories to 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:16.560 each other? 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:19.039 have we 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.200 got a 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.819 right 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.559 context 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.279 in order 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.960 that we 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.740 give ourselves 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.480 space to 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.200 tell stories 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:26.720 to each 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.679 other about 00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:27.940 the 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.639 faithfulness 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.139 of God? 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.319 Third, 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.519 I put it 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.099 like this, 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:34.839 make 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.960 faithful 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.899 memories. 00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.220 There's a lot 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.839 of talk these 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.399 days about 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.259 making memories 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.879 which as far 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.359 as I can 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.099 see involves 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.599 Instagram. 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:46.399 what I 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.079 mean is 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:48.559 why don't 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.179 you try 00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:51.019 and put 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.559 yourself 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.319 in a 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.779 position 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.339 whereby 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.839 if you're 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.039 going to 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.759 follow through 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.179 on what 00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:56.419 you've 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:56.839 decided 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.240 you're 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.399 going to 00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.000 need to 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.240 apply some 00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.659 faith. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.659 It might 00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.359 be that 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.099 you've got a 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.519 terrible 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.439 lurking fear 00:28:06.439 --> 00:28:06.859 that God 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.279 might be 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.779 calling you 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.319 to something 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.039 you don't 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.480 fancy. 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:13.220 why don't 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.500 you put 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.019 yourself in 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.519 a position 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.200 where you 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.980 really test 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.380 that with 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:16.680 God. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.440 You might 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.039 be in a 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.839 position where 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.339 you're 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.839 careful with 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.200 money. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.559 Again, 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.259 old 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.799 Protestant 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.360 virtue. 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.420 And maybe 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:31.920 the church 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.420 has a need. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:32.700 Well, you 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.120 heard about 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:33.620 one this 00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.740 morning and 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.079 God 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.480 fleetingly 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.299 touched 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:37.759 your heart 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.120 and said, 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.839 I ought to 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.240 help with 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.579 this. 00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:43.980 Put 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.480 yourself in 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.019 a position. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.259 I'm 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.139 amazed by 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.299 the sheer 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.359 middle 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.240 classness of 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.779 so many 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.299 churches 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.000 these days. 00:28:55.699 --> 00:28:56.459 People will 00:28:56.459 --> 00:28:57.079 tell you when 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.379 there's an 00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.000 appeal out 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.419 for maybe 00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:00.259 another staff 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.779 member in 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.220 a church 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.259 or something 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.079 critical to 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.740 its development. 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.720 People say, 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.399 I'd like to 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:05.740 help, I 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.279 can't afford 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:06.500 it. 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:11.339 here's my 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:11.720 advice. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.639 Don't go 00:29:12.639 --> 00:29:12.959 on two 00:29:12.959 --> 00:29:13.459 cruises. 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.059 Put 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.559 yourself in 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.039 a position. 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.559 Make 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.399 faithful 00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.039 memories. 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.459 And then 00:29:21.459 --> 00:29:21.939 finally, 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.480 faithless 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.299 generation, 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.179 said Jesus. 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:29.299 it really 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.700 is going 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.200 to help 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.320 the work 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:31.860 of God 00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:33.240 in our 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.900 church and 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.360 in this 00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:36.240 town if 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.940 we commit 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.640 together. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:40.860 Jesus 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.580 didn't rip 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:42.360 into Thomas 00:29:42.360 --> 00:29:43.180 and give 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.620 him a, 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.620 you know, 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.440 verbal good 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.080 hiding for 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:47.920 his empirical 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.940 desire to 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.640 get proof. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.700 believe. 00:29:54.020 --> 00:29:54.700 What he 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.300 did was, 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.740 he made 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.320 a comment 00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.759 to a 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.280 community, 00:29:59.480 --> 00:29:59.960 blessed 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:02.040 if you 00:30:02.040 --> 00:30:02.720 believe and 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.160 you've seen 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.540 me, but 00:30:03.540 --> 00:30:05.020 more blessed 00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:05.540 are you 00:30:05.540 --> 00:30:06.700 if you've 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.220 not seen 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.940 me and 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.440 believe. 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.980 I can't 00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.700 believe deep 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.640 down inside 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:19.500 that there 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.040 aren't 00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:21.220 some of 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.060 us, at 00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:22.440 least, 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.540 maybe all 00:30:23.540 --> 00:30:23.960 of us, 00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:25.920 who would 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.380 love to 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:27.040 see those 00:30:27.040 --> 00:30:27.860 greater works 00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:28.340 of God. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.600 Not just 00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:31.259 as something 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.820 that happens 00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:32.660 so rarely 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.320 that a 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:33.800 person can 00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:34.160 write a 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:34.740 book about 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.100 it, but 00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:36.380 it would 00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.180 become so 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.840 much part 00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:38.220 of our 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.900 everyday 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:40.259 experience 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.540 as 00:30:40.540 --> 00:30:41.060 disciples 00:30:41.060 --> 00:30:44.500 that it 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:46.440 could not 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:48.860 could not 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:50.720 if that 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.180 were right, 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.080 sorry, if 00:30:52.080 --> 00:30:52.580 that were 00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:54.640 our life 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.120 together. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.940 It could 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:58.080 only impact 00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:58.880 our community 00:30:58.880 --> 00:30:59.680 positively. 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.299 850 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.980 people in 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.340 church, 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.340 23,000 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:07.000 people in 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.340 town. 00:31:08.820 --> 00:31:09.559 I'm 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:09.900 on to 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.100 it. 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.279 And I'm 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.680 looking for 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.140 people to 00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.640 help me. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.120 Faithful, 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.200 praying, 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.320 people who 00:31:19.320 --> 00:31:20.160 are relegating 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.840 doubt to 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.920 the substitute's 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.740 bench and 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.320 believing 00:31:24.320 --> 00:31:25.680 God's 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.059 word and 00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.740 then living 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.700 as though we 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.720 take him at 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.320 his word. 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.700 Let's pray 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.120 together. 00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:33.220 Amen. 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:41.819 just leave 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:43.360 a few 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.019 moments 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.000 silence 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:48.160 that the 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.819 Holy Spirit 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.799 might bring 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:51.019 us 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:52.079 conviction 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:54.199 of what we need to do. 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:10.960 So Father, I pray for your people 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.939 gathered in your house this morning. 00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:17.339 And Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit 00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:18.899 would touch their hearts. 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:22.840 Lord, I'm thinking of those who feel 00:32:22.840 --> 00:32:25.100 that they've been badly let down by you. 00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:30.360 I'm thinking about those who are frightened 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:32.140 to deploy more faith in you 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.440 because they're frightened that if they did that, 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.900 you might let them down 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:40.400 or they might let others down. 00:32:43.060 --> 00:32:48.880 Father, I pray then for those who are cynical 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:53.760 for those who, with Thomas, 00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:55.600 are looking for the kind of proof 00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:57.000 that actually they'll never get. 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.680 And Lord, we pray that 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:07.240 whatever our strengths 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:09.060 and whatever our weaknesses are 00:33:09.060 --> 00:33:10.020 as a congregation, 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:14.180 we may not be found wanting 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:17.019 in relation to trusting you. 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:21.019 So come, Holy Spirit. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:24.560 Touch the hearts of your faithful people 00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:27.779 and help us as far as we're able 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:30.140 this side of heaven to leave doubt behind. 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:33.240 And we pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.620 And the people said, 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:35.980 Amen. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.180 Amen. 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.180 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.180 Amen.