WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church.

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 Would you turn with me to the book of 1 John, chapter 5.

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 So we've come to the end of our sermon series in the book of 1 John.

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 That's page 959 in the Pew Bible.

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 We're going to be looking at the last section of chapter 5, verses 13 through 21.

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 We'll also have it on the screen when I read it in just a minute.

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 But before we read, before I read for us, let me pray.

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 Father, we ask for the work of your Holy Spirit now as we draw near to your word.

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 That he would come and he would give understanding to our minds,

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 but also a receptivity of our hearts to really receive what it is you're saying to us

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 for our good and for our spiritual benefit.

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 Father, most of all, we want to see Christ, our Savior, in a fresh way

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 and behold him with the eyes of faith

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 and know how wide and long and high and deep is your love for us in him, our Savior.

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 We pray this in his name. Amen.

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 All right.

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 John 5, 13 through 21.

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 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God

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 that you may know that you have eternal life.

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 And this is the confidence that we have toward him.

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 If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

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 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask,

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 we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

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 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death,

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 he shall ask and God will give him life

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 to those who commit sins that do not lead to death.

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 There is a sin.

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 There is sin that leads to death.

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 I do not say that one should pray for that.

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 All wrongdoing is sin,

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 but there is sin that does not lead to death.

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 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning,

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 but he who was born of God protects him,

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 and the evil one does not touch him.

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 We know that we are from God,

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 and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

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 And we know that the Son of God has come

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 and has given us understanding

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 so that we may know him who is true,

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 and we are in him who is true,

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 in his Son, Jesus Christ.

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 He is the true God and eternal life.

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 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

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 So throughout this letter,

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 John has been trying to bolster our confidence,

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 our assurance,

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 that in Jesus Christ,

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 in the biblical gospel,

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 we have eternal life.

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 Like the gospel of John,

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 the first letter of John ends with a purpose statement.

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 John's gospel, you might remember,

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 that we read earlier in the service,

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 John's gospel ends this way.

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 In John 21, 20, 31, we read,

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 these are written so that you may believe

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 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

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 and that by believing,

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 you may have life in his name.

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 In other words, the gospel of John

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 is written to help unbelievers

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 come to faith in Christ

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 and so have eternal life.

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 The letter of 1 John, on the other hand,

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 was written to believers

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 to give them assurance of the eternal life

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 that they have already in Christ.

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 We see that in verse 13.

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 I write these things to you

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 who believe in the name of the Son of God,

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 that you may know

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 that you have eternal life.

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 John wants us to know,

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 to be assured,

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 to be confident

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 that in Jesus,

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 we have eternal life.

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 And this assurance,

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 this confidence,

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 is a good thing.

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 You know, we tend to think

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 that confidence will lead to arrogance,

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 don't we?

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 But proper Christian confidence,

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 assurance,

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 does just the opposite.

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 It leads to humility

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 and joy

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 and love.

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 Because this assurance

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 isn't really a confidence

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 that's rooted in ourselves

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 or our own abilities,

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 not even in our own faith.

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 No, it's a confidence

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 that's rooted

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 outside of ourselves

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 completely

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 in Christ.

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 He's our confidence.

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 So John wants to leave us

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 with an exhortation

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 to live

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 in this confidence.

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 Live

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 in the confidence

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 that in Jesus the Son,

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 you have

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 eternal life.

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 Now, what does this confident

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 life

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 look like?

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 Well, that's what John

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 kind of shows us

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 as he wraps up

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 his letter.

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 First, he says,

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 it means living

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 in the confidence

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 that God hears us.

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 Living this confident

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 life of assurance

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 in Jesus Christ

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 means living

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 in the confidence

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 that God

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 hears us.

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 He hears

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 our prayers.

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 We see this in verses

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 14 through 17.

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 God hears

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 our prayers.

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 Now,

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 nearly every

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 religion,

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 in every approach

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 to spirituality

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 has something

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 to say about prayer,

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 whether it's

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 the meditation

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 of Buddhism

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 or the set

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 prayers of Islam

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 or the Psalms

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 of the Old Testament.

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 In fact,

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 one way to

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 approach the question

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 of the religions

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 and to ask

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 which religion

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 might be true

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 is to ask

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 which one

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 gives the best

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 account of prayer?

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 Which one

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 gives us

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 the greatest

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 incentive to prayer,

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 the greatest

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 freedom in prayer?

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 prayer?

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 Because after all,

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 what is prayer?

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 Prayer is

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 communion

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 and communication

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 with God.

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 It's fellowship

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 with the divine.

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 And if you can

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 find a religion

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 that unlocks

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 that door,

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 perhaps you

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 have found

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 the real one,

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 the true one.

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 prayer.

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 The poet

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 George Herbert

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 in his poem

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 about prayer

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 captures some

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 of the wonder

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 and the promise

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 and the desire

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 that we have

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 as humans

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 for prayer.

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 In one line,

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 he calls it

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 God's breath

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 in man

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 returning

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 to his birth.

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 What a wonderful

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 picture

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 of the intimacy

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 of prayer.

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 God's breath

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 in us

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 returning

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 to our birth.

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 But then

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 in another line,

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 George Herbert

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 calls it,

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 calls prayer

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 reversed thunder.

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 That is something

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 so full of power

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 that it can

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 shake the heavens.

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 Is there any religion

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 that can get us there?

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 Which one opens

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 the door

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 on this most basic

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 of human longings

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 for genuine,

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 real prayer?

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 Well, if you

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 compare religions,

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 you'll start to see,

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 I think,

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 that Christianity

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 sweeps the field.

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 For here's a religion

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 that says,

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 God is utterly

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 holy,

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 beyond words.

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 The God of the Bible

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 is transcendent

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 and mysterious,

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 full of fire

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 and all.

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 But this utterly

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 holy God

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 has come near.

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 He's opened

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 the door

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 of the heavens,

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 he's pulled

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 the curtain back,

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 and he's made a way

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 for flawed

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 human beings

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 to approach

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 his holiness

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 with confidence.

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 The Father

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 has sent

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 the Son

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 to remove

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 the barrier

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 of sin

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 through his death

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 on the cross.

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 And then they've

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 sent the Spirit

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 to cause us

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 to be partakers

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 of the divine nature,

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 members of the divine

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 family.

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 For all who believe

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 in Christ,

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 prayer is now

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 the act

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 of children

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 approaching

00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:26.159
 a loving God

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 who has embraced

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 a sinful world

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 with both arms

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 and yet has not

00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:31.959
 compromised

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 one ounce

00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:33.580
 of his holiness

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 and transcendence.

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 After all,

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 for prayer

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 to really be prayer,

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 don't you need both?

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 Prayer isn't prayer

00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:52.519
 if God isn't

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 holy

00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:54.480
 and transcendent

00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:55.779
 and full of wonder.

00:08:55.779 --> 00:08:55.860
 prayer.

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 The finite

00:08:58.199 --> 00:08:59.539
 touching the infinite

00:08:59.539 --> 00:09:00.759
 is the very thing

00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:01.819
 that prayer speaks of

00:09:01.819 --> 00:09:02.699
 that we want.

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 So any religion

00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:05.939
 that makes God

00:09:05.939 --> 00:09:07.139
 less than perfectly

00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:07.779
 awful

00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:08.539
 in his holiness

00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:09.980
 can't really offer

00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:10.919
 us true prayer.

00:09:14.819 --> 00:09:16.059
 But for prayer

00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:17.220
 to really be prayer,

00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:18.220
 God must also

00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:18.980
 be near

00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:20.600
 and approachable.

00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:22.299
 There must be

00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:22.879
 intimacy.

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.079
 There must be

00:09:23.079 --> 00:09:23.100
 intimacy.

00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:26.459
 But how do you

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 get both?

00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:31.179
 Christianity

00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:32.299
 answers that

00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:32.899
 question

00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:33.860
 like none

00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:34.620
 other.

00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:37.360
 It answers

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.039
 the question

00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:38.779
 of prayer

00:09:38.779 --> 00:09:40.279
 with the cross.

00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:42.740
 At the cross,

00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:43.539
 we see a God

00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:44.779
 so holy

00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:46.120
 that human sin

00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:47.620
 has to be punished.

00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:49.100
 But at the same

00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:49.480
 time,

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.039
 at the cross,

00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:50.740
 we see a God

00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.019
 so merciful

00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:53.159
 that he pays

00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:53.699
 the punishment

00:09:53.699 --> 00:09:54.339
 for sin

00:09:54.339 --> 00:09:55.179
 in his very

00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:56.099
 own being.

00:09:58.979 --> 00:09:59.659
 You see,

00:09:59.759 --> 00:09:59.879
 friend,

00:10:00.079 --> 00:10:01.839
 only the gospel

00:10:01.839 --> 00:10:02.919
 can really

00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:03.799
 give you

00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:05.379
 true prayer,

00:10:06.239 --> 00:10:06.719
 intimate

00:10:06.719 --> 00:10:07.739
 fellowship

00:10:07.739 --> 00:10:09.000
 with a holy

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:09.859
 God.

00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:12.919
 Only Jesus Christ

00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:14.000
 can usher you

00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.939
 into the presence

00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:16.620
 of a blindingly

00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:18.079
 transcendent God

00:10:18.079 --> 00:10:18.839
 and let you

00:10:18.839 --> 00:10:19.639
 be welcomed

00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:20.859
 as a familiar

00:10:20.859 --> 00:10:21.539
 friend

00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:22.599
 or a beloved

00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:23.159
 child.

00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:23.299
 God.

00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:27.480
 And when you

00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:28.379
 come to believe

00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:29.559
 and trust

00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:30.659
 in Christ,

00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.299
 then prayer

00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:33.079
 becomes

00:10:33.079 --> 00:10:34.799
 what Herbert

00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:35.519
 talked about.

00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:36.799
 On the one

00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.240
 hand,

00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:38.799
 God's breath

00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:39.259
 in man

00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.079
 returning to

00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:40.659
 his birth.

00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.079
 The intimate

00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:43.299
 breathing in

00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:43.879
 and out

00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:44.939
 of a beloved

00:10:44.939 --> 00:10:45.959
 creature simply

00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:46.819
 enjoying

00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:47.980
 fellowship with

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:48.600
 our creator.

00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:50.159
 And on the other

00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:50.559
 hand,

00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:51.539
 it's reversed

00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:52.199
 thunder.

00:10:53.079 --> 00:10:54.139
 It is the

00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:54.899
 finite touching

00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:55.419
 the infinite.

00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:56.659
 It's a sound

00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:57.399
 on earth

00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.399
 that rattles

00:10:58.399 --> 00:10:58.959
 the heavens

00:10:58.959 --> 00:11:01.359
 and moves

00:11:01.359 --> 00:11:01.819
 mountains.

00:11:04.339 --> 00:11:05.039
 And look at

00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.379
 what John

00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:05.959
 says in our

00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:06.419
 passage.

00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:07.679
 He says,

00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:08.679
 if you are

00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:09.279
 in the sun,

00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:10.179
 Jesus Christ,

00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:10.859
 verse 14,

00:11:10.979 --> 00:11:11.539
 this is the

00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.319
 confidence that

00:11:12.319 --> 00:11:12.679
 we have

00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:13.299
 toward God.

00:11:14.079 --> 00:11:14.699
 That if we

00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.519
 ask anything

00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:16.159
 according to

00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:16.619
 his will,

00:11:16.819 --> 00:11:17.839
 he hears us.

00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:19.040
 And if we

00:11:19.040 --> 00:11:19.500
 know that

00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.180
 he hears us

00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:20.540
 in whatever

00:11:20.540 --> 00:11:21.060
 we ask,

00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:21.720
 we know

00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:22.460
 that we

00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:23.060
 have the

00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:23.780
 requests that

00:11:23.780 --> 00:11:24.000
 we have

00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:24.440
 asked of

00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:24.600
 him.

00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:26.639
 God hears

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.440
 and answers

00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:27.960
 our prayers

00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:28.639
 as we pray

00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:29.340
 according to

00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:29.759
 his will.

00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:30.820
 We know

00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:31.160
 that he

00:11:31.160 --> 00:11:31.580
 hears us,

00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:32.120
 John says.

00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:33.399
 How could

00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:34.100
 he not

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:34.700
 hear us?

00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:35.940
 God gave

00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:36.259
 his only

00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:36.960
 son for us.

00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:37.540
 God filled

00:11:37.540 --> 00:11:37.800
 us with

00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:38.080
 his own

00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:38.580
 spirit.

00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:39.759
 There could

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.379
 be no more

00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.300
 intimate bond

00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:41.740
 between a

00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.200
 human and

00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:42.620
 God than

00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:42.900
 what the

00:11:42.900 --> 00:11:43.800
 gospel offers.

00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:46.180
 But John

00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:46.440
 says he

00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:47.080
 doesn't just

00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:47.519
 hear.

00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.240
 God answers.

00:11:49.680 --> 00:11:50.060
 He says we

00:11:50.060 --> 00:11:50.500
 know we

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:51.240
 have the

00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.820
 requests.

00:11:53.680 --> 00:11:54.280
 Now of

00:11:54.280 --> 00:11:54.600
 course,

00:11:55.780 --> 00:11:56.100
 the apostle

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:56.740
 John knows

00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:57.259
 that often

00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:57.840
 our prayers

00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.420
 seem to go

00:11:58.420 --> 00:11:59.200
 unanswered.

00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:00.820
 We pray

00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:01.340
 for peace,

00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:02.399
 but often

00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:02.980
 our anxiety

00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:03.480
 remains.

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:04.860
 We pray

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.280
 for a loved

00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:05.620
 one to get

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.019
 well,

00:12:06.780 --> 00:12:07.620
 but so often

00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:08.180
 they remain

00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:08.620
 sick.

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.460
 So how can

00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:10.820
 John say

00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:11.080
 that we

00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:11.780
 have the

00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:12.340
 requests?

00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:14.360
 Well notice

00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:14.740
 on the one

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.100
 hand that

00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:15.639
 John says

00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.000
 we are to

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:16.700
 ask according

00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:17.220
 to his

00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:17.540
 will.

00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.040
 God reveals

00:12:19.040 --> 00:12:19.440
 his will

00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:19.860
 in scripture

00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:20.320
 and as we

00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:20.780
 pray in

00:12:20.780 --> 00:12:21.420
 line with

00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:21.800
 scripture,

00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:22.620
 our prayers

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:22.940
 will be

00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:23.700
 directed toward

00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:24.360
 the ends

00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:24.780
 that God

00:12:24.780 --> 00:12:25.780
 desires and

00:12:25.780 --> 00:12:26.399
 we will see

00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:26.820
 him make

00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:27.600
 good on

00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.160
 his faithful

00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:28.720
 promises.

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:36.940
 God, as

00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:38.300
 our sovereign,

00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.040
 wise,

00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:40.720
 heavenly

00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.300
 father,

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:43.540
 friends,

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.180
 he knows

00:12:44.180 --> 00:12:44.519
 how to

00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.220
 answer our

00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:45.680
 prayers

00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:46.480
 better than

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:46.980
 we do.

00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.899
 We pray

00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.399
 for peace,

00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:51.840
 but peace

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.360
 doesn't seem

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:52.920
 to come.

00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.939
 and yet

00:12:54.939 --> 00:12:55.379
 in those

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.059
 moments of

00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:57.179
 trial and

00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:58.039
 strife when

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.500
 the prayer

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.339
 seems

00:12:59.339 --> 00:13:00.419
 unanswered,

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.679
 our sovereign,

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.679
 wise,

00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:04.459
 loving,

00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:04.860
 heavenly

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:06.299
 father is

00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:06.740
 preparing

00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:07.519
 something greater

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.120
 for us.

00:13:09.719 --> 00:13:10.559
 Something that

00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.399
 if we knew

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.099
 all that God

00:13:12.099 --> 00:13:12.339
 knew,

00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:12.719
 we would

00:13:12.719 --> 00:13:13.500
 agree that

00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:13.939
 God is

00:13:13.939 --> 00:13:14.719
 indeed granting

00:13:14.719 --> 00:13:15.459
 our requests

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.740
 exactly as it

00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.099
 should be

00:13:17.099 --> 00:13:17.579
 answered.

00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:20.759
 And this

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.100
 means we

00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:21.480
 can pray

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.020
 freely

00:13:22.020 --> 00:13:22.860
 and

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.620
 confidently.

00:13:24.900 --> 00:13:25.600
 It means we

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.200
 don't have to

00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:26.759
 get all the

00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.480
 words right

00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:27.900
 when we

00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:28.220
 pray.

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:29.780
 It means we

00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:30.220
 don't have to

00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:30.720
 get all of

00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.460
 our motivations

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.300
 right before

00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:32.900
 we pray.

00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:34.780
 Just pray,

00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:35.280
 Christian.

00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:37.800
 God hears

00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.080
 you,

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.639
 and he will

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.480
 answer in the

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:41.440
 perfect way,

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.080
 at the perfect

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.520
 time.

00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:46.740
 One specific

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.180
 way that

00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:47.480
 John,

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.259
 applies this

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.960
 confidence in

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:49.340
 prayer,

00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:50.560
 is to our

00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:51.020
 praying for

00:13:51.020 --> 00:13:51.800
 one another

00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:52.540
 in verses

00:13:52.540 --> 00:13:53.300
 16 and

00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:53.740
 17.

00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:54.820
 Now,

00:13:54.900 --> 00:13:55.360
 you probably

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.740
 thought when

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:55.920
 we were

00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:56.280
 reading those

00:13:56.280 --> 00:13:56.740
 verses that

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.100
 they were a

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.620
 bit confusing,

00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:58.440
 right?

00:13:58.560 --> 00:13:58.860
 What does

00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.020
 John mean

00:14:00.020 --> 00:14:01.259
 by a sin

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:01.700
 that leads

00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.300
 to death

00:14:02.300 --> 00:14:03.040
 and a sin

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:03.680
 that doesn't

00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:04.080
 lead to

00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:04.420
 death?

00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.100
 It's not

00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:07.139
 100% clear

00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.860
 what exactly

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.500
 John means

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:08.980
 by that.

00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.220
 In church

00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:10.639
 tradition,

00:14:10.780 --> 00:14:11.080
 this has

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:11.740
 sometimes been

00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.900
 explained as

00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:13.360
 a distinction

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.340
 between mortal

00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:15.080
 sins and

00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:15.980
 venial sins.

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:17.340
 mortal sins,

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:17.899
 it is said,

00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:18.159
 are the

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.779
 really bad

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.100
 ones,

00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:19.820
 adultery,

00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:20.500
 murder,

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:20.920
 and the

00:14:20.920 --> 00:14:21.200
 like.

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:22.800
 Venial sins,

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.200
 we're told,

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:23.460
 are the

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.000
 not so bad

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.340
 ones.

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.240
 But that

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.620
 doesn't seem

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.000
 to be what

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.320
 John is

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.000
 saying here,

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.420
 and that

00:14:28.420 --> 00:14:28.800
 distinction

00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:29.360
 doesn't seem

00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:29.940
 to find much

00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:30.360
 support in

00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:30.700
 the rest of

00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:30.899
 the New

00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:31.240
 Testament.

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:31.879
 I mean,

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.240
 after all,

00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:32.800
 King David

00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:33.100
 and the

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.680
 Apostle Paul

00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.279
 both stand

00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:34.639
 out as

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.820
 examples of

00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:36.420
 an adulterer

00:14:36.420 --> 00:14:36.779
 and a

00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:37.519
 murderer who

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:37.840
 are both

00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:38.379
 forgiven and

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:38.659
 healed.

00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:41.699
 So what

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.059
 is this

00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:42.559
 distinction

00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:43.139
 that John

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.699
 makes?

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.039
 Well,

00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:45.259
 in the

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.699
 context of

00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.279
 1 John,

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:46.719
 it would

00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:47.879
 seem that

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.419
 sin that

00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:48.899
 leads to

00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:50.959
 death is

00:14:50.959 --> 00:14:51.360
 the sin

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.299
 of entrenched

00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:54.339
 denial that

00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:55.199
 Jesus is

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:55.919
 the Christ.

00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:57.980
 An

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.559
 entrenched

00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.959
 denial that

00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:01.000
 Jesus is

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.620
 the Christ.

00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:03.759
 Throughout

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.259
 this book,

00:15:04.339 --> 00:15:04.740
 John has

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.299
 been warning

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.439
 against false

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.079
 teachers who

00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:07.439
 have been

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.279
 unsettling the

00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.220
 church by

00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.000
 teaching false

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.720
 things about

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.139
 the person

00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:11.600
 and work of

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.019
 Jesus.

00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.419
 So it would

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:14.839
 seem to make

00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:15.519
 sense that as

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.659
 John wraps up

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.100
 his letter,

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:17.939
 he's offering

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.879
 again some

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.699
 warnings and

00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:20.279
 some direction

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:20.879
 on how to

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.579
 approach this.

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.899
 This sin,

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.899
 this entrenched

00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:26.779
 denial of

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.360
 Jesus as the

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:27.600
 Christ,

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.059
 inevitably leads

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.620
 to death.

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:30.600
 Why?

00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:32.899
 Because in

00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.980
 rejecting Christ,

00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:35.720
 these false

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.259
 teachers are

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.939
 rejecting the

00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:38.259
 only source

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.220
 of God's

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.960
 freely given

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:40.460
 forgiveness.

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.860
 Apart from

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:43.919
 Christ incarnate,

00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:44.720
 crucified,

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.559
 and risen,

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.100
 where will

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:47.740
 they find a

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.419
 substitute for

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.059
 their sins?

00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:51.159
 Where will

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:51.700
 they find a

00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.399
 sin bearer who

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:52.860
 lifts the

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.379
 penalty of

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:53.720
 death?

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:55.899
 Where will

00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:56.419
 they find a

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.179
 righteous record

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.120
 freely,

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.759
 freely given

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.960
 to them so

00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.399
 that they might

00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:01.879
 be right with

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.259
 God?

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.399
 It can't be

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.120
 found anywhere

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.580
 else.

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.460
 And so to

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.820
 actively deny

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:11.860
 Christ is

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.620
 to commit a

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:12.980
 sin that

00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:14.460
 necessarily leads

00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.539
 to death.

00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.360
 But why does

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:19.960
 John say,

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.200
 I do not say

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:21.659
 that one should

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.299
 pray for that?

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.620
 That seems a bit

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:23.879
 odd.

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.139
 Is he saying

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:25.720
 that we shouldn't

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.600
 pray for someone's

00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.000
 conversion?

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:28.879
 I mean,

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.200
 haven't there

00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.080
 been many people

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.899
 who at one time

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.659
 rejected Christ

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.219
 only to have

00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:32.539
 their eyes

00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:34.219
 opened by

00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:34.839
 the grace

00:16:34.839 --> 00:16:35.819
 of the Spirit

00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.360
 and the preaching

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:36.959
 of the gospel

00:16:36.959 --> 00:16:37.559
 and then come

00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:38.000
 to repent

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.459
 and believe

00:16:38.459 --> 00:16:38.839
 in him?

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.439
 Sure.

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.339
 Every Christian

00:16:42.339 --> 00:16:43.000
 in this room

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.559
 that has been

00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:43.860
 true.

00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.339
 So what does

00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:46.000
 John mean?

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.279
 Well, this is

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:48.620
 one of those

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.179
 verses in the

00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:49.600
 New Testament

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.299
 where we can't

00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.319
 be exactly sure.

00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:53.199
 But if I had

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:54.000
 to make a wager,

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.419
 I think what

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.220
 John might mean

00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:56.959
 here is,

00:16:57.839 --> 00:16:58.559
 don't pray

00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.379
 for these people

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.679
 as if they

00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.279
 were believers.

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:04.779
 In the first

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.279
 part of the verse,

00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.059
 John is encouraging

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.740
 us to pray

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.339
 for our fellow

00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:07.799
 believers.

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.799
 To pray for our

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.420
 fellow believers

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.079
 when they're stuck

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.659
 in sin.

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.059
 That God would

00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.980
 grant them life.

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.299
 And that life

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.079
 that God grants

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:17.839
 might look different

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.159
 in different

00:17:18.159 --> 00:17:18.799
 situations.

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.659
 Perhaps life

00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:21.339
 looks like the

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.119
 strength to

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:23.200
 overcome temptation

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.460
 in a particularly

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.599
 stressful season.

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.859
 Perhaps life

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.779
 looks like conviction

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.019
 of sin and repentance

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.779
 when a brother or

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.359
 sister doesn't

00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.519
 see the trap

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.099
 that they're in.

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.039
 Perhaps life

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:35.599
 looks like the

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.399
 joy of breaking

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.339
 free from a

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.159
 destructive pattern

00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:38.759
 of sin once

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.500
 and for all.

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.419
 Our prayers

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.119
 for one another

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.839
 as Christians

00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:44.859
 should include

00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.939
 prayers that we

00:17:45.939 --> 00:17:46.779
 overcome sin

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.719
 in our lives.

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.699
 If our prayers

00:17:49.699 --> 00:17:50.579
 simply stay at

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.819
 the level of our

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.259
 material,

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.399
 physical needs,

00:17:54.199 --> 00:17:54.939
 then we're

00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:55.699
 missing such a

00:17:55.699 --> 00:17:56.579
 big part of our

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.419
 intercession for

00:17:57.419 --> 00:17:57.939
 one another

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.900
 prayer and the

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.580
 freedom that God

00:17:59.580 --> 00:18:00.160
 wants to bring

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.580
 through our

00:18:00.580 --> 00:18:01.320
 prayers for each

00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:01.580
 other.

00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:07.100
 But John may

00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.700
 be saying here

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.120
 that for the

00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:08.779
 person that

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.820
 actively openly

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.880
 rejects Christ,

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:12.480
 perhaps teaches

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.640
 actively even against

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.220
 the truth of the

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.920
 gospel, John's

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.460
 saying our prayers

00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.000
 have to be

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.680
 different in that

00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.100
 case.

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.519
 We can pray for

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.180
 their conversion,

00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.299
 of course, but we

00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:22.059
 can't pray for

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.019
 their sanctification.

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.740
 That is their

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.819
 growth in holiness.

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.059
 By rejecting

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.960
 his son, they're

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.859
 still separated

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.660
 from God.

00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.720
 Friend, if that

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.279
 is you this

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:37.579
 morning, if you're

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:40.099
 harboring rejection

00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.039
 in your heart

00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.119
 towards Christ,

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.619
 will you hear

00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.500
 John's warning?

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.319
 This is a path

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.279
 that leads to death.

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.519
 Now, I don't

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.400
 know why or how

00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:54.980
 you came to

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.440
 think as you

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:55.900
 do about

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.259
 Jesus.

00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:58.500
 Perhaps you've

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.180
 been hurt by

00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.099
 so-called followers

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.759
 of Jesus and

00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.180
 now you want

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.799
 nothing to do

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.180
 with him.

00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:04.500
 Perhaps you've

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.099
 not really spent

00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:05.680
 much time

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.700
 considering Christ

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.420
 and the idea

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.940
 of God taking

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.940
 human nature to

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.559
 die for your

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.139
 sins, it all

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.879
 seems irrelevant.

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.960
 Whatever it is,

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:17.940
 would you look

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.319
 again?

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.319
 Would you look

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.339
 again at Jesus

00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:21.819
 Christ?

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:24.299
 Yes, those who

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.799
 take up the

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.480
 name of Christ

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.660
 often tragically

00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:29.279
 fall short, but

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.980
 he will never

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.980
 fail you or

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.639
 forsake you.

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.680
 Perhaps religion

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.619
 feels irrelevant

00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:38.099
 and boring, but

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.559
 you know, Jesus

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.420
 Christ himself was

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.339
 never accused of

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:41.639
 being irrelevant or

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.000
 boring.

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.740
 Read the Gospels

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.299
 for yourself.

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:45.920
 People had all

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.579
 sorts of things to

00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.139
 say about him.

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.339
 Some people called

00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:49.859
 him crazy.

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.500
 Some people called

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.559
 him demon-possessed.

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.700
 At the end of

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.299
 his life, there

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.720
 were a lot of

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.819
 people recognizing

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.299
 him as a

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.180
 political threat.

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.559
 But no one ever

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.259
 seemed to call

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.279
 Jesus boring.

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.839
 And then there

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.319
 were those who

00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.160
 heard his voice

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:10.440
 and saw in him

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.819
 a mercy and a

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.720
 holiness like

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.460
 nothing else.

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:14.900
 And the more

00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.700
 they spent time

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.680
 with him, the

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.379
 more they were

00:20:17.379 --> 00:20:18.279
 driven again and

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.480
 again to one

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.139
 conclusion.

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.480
 the very conclusion

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.560
 he himself kept

00:20:22.560 --> 00:20:23.360
 telling them and

00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.360
 showing them in a

00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:24.860
 hundred different

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.340
 ways.

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.620
 That he was the

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.120
 Christ.

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:30.060
 God in the flesh,

00:20:30.840 --> 00:20:32.259
 the Redeemer and

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.920
 their Lord, the

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.259
 long-awaited King of

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:37.200
 Israel and the

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.700
 King of all

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.240
 nations.

00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:42.600
 Friend, you can

00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:44.320
 know that you have

00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:45.360
 eternal life.

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.319
 you can know that

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.899
 God hears you and

00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:50.039
 loves you and

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.599
 answers your

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.059
 prayers.

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.099
 How?

00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:54.359
 You can know

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.759
 this in Jesus

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.279
 Christ.

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.639
 This is true for

00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.479
 everyone who's

00:20:59.479 --> 00:21:00.219
 placed their trust

00:21:00.219 --> 00:21:00.759
 in him and it

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.539
 can be true for

00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.219
 you too.

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.019
 That's what John's

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.559
 telling us.

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:08.639
 But this

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.259
 confidence in

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.799
 Christ means

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.679
 that God doesn't

00:21:12.679 --> 00:21:13.759
 just hear us.

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.639
 He also protects

00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.059
 us.

00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:17.859
 He doesn't just

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.299
 hear us.

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.279
 He also protects

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.480
 us.

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.119
 This is John's

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.799
 second point.

00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.059
 We can have the

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.819
 assurance, the

00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:24.000
 confidence that God

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.159
 protects us from

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:26.119
 evil and we should

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.399
 live in this

00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.960
 confidence of God's

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.299
 protection.

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:29.839
 Look again at

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.500
 verses 18 and

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.960
 19.

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:31.859
 John says,

00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.279
 we know that

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.740
 everyone who has

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.519
 been born of God

00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.480
 does not keep on

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.539
 sinning, but

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.339
 he who is born

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.440
 of God protects

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.579
 him and the

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.180
 evil one does not

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.599
 touch him.

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.000
 We know that we

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.799
 are from God and

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.700
 the whole world lies

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.359
 in the power of

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.000
 the evil one.

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.680
 You know,

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.119
 according to the

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.700
 Bible, the world

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:47.500
 is a spiritually

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:49.159
 charged place.

00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:51.680
 There's real evil

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.579
 in the world.

00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:53.740
 There are

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.680
 principalities and

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.940
 powers at work.

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.480
 But there's also

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.420
 real evil in our

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.019
 own hearts.

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.680
 We live in a

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:03.359
 fallen world and

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.099
 we carry this

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.960
 fallen nature

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.279
 inside of us as

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.600
 well.

00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:08.519
 And apart from

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.460
 God's gracious

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:11.039
 intervention, we're

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.100
 captive to those

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.940
 fallen desires.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.759
 You know, we're

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.460
 thrown into life and

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.460
 we think that we're

00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:21.220
 free, but actually

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.240
 we're enslaved.

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.880
 The drive for money

00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.920
 and success or love

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.360
 or power, we think

00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:29.680
 we control it and

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:31.180
 then we find that it

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.039
 controls us.

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.940
 It's like a

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.779
 snowball that keeps

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.980
 gaining momentum as

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.700
 it rolls down the

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.900
 hill, getting bigger

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.220
 and bigger, and

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.380
 suddenly it's out of

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.000
 our control.

00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:43.820
 It's an avalanche.

00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.860
 But God doesn't

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.500
 leave us there.

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:51.000
 God does graciously

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.240
 intervene, and he

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.480
 has intervened in

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:53.880
 Christ.

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.299
 Those who are in

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.039
 Christ, John says,

00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:56.900
 have been born of

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.320
 God.

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.600
 They don't belong to

00:22:58.600 --> 00:22:59.259
 the world anymore.

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.400
 They've been set free

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.599
 from the power of the

00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.359
 evil one that holds

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.339
 sway over the world.

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.759
 And the power of

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.220
 internal sin has been

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.819
 broken in those who

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.440
 have been born of

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.779
 God.

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.119
 John says, everyone

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.140
 who's been born of

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.200
 God does not keep on

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.420
 sinning, but he who is

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.400
 born of God protects

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:16.660
 him.

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.259
 Now this has been a

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.000
 theme throughout the

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.960
 letter of 1 John.

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.640
 And you'll remember

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.680
 that when John says we

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.980
 don't keep on sinning,

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.539
 he means it's not our

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.539
 life anymore.

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:30.440
 That habitual control

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.879
 that sin once had over

00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.960
 us is broken.

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.299
 Yes, Christians will

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.379
 still be tempted, and

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:37.399
 yes, we will still

00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.539
 sadly give in to

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.680
 temptation at times.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.859
 But we don't enjoy sin

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.759
 like we used to.

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.299
 A change has happened.

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.599
 Now we're convicted of

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:48.879
 sin.

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.940
 We want to leave it

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.859
 behind us, and we find

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.700
 that more and more our

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.599
 lives change.

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:57.559
 Never perfectly, never

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.519
 in a straight line.

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.399
 Sometimes not always

00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:03.079
 perceptible to us.

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.799
 Usually through the

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.899
 help of Christian

00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:06.700
 brothers and sisters

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:08.099
 coming alongside of us.

00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:10.879
 But over time, we do

00:24:10.879 --> 00:24:11.419
 change.

00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.720
 How does this happen?

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:16.159
 What keeps us on the

00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:16.759
 new path?

00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:18.419
 What guards us from the

00:24:18.419 --> 00:24:19.559
 old habits and the dark

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.700
 powers that lay behind

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:20.940
 them?

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.240
 John says,

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:26.279
 he who was born of God

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.759
 protects you.

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.380
 What a wonderful

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.039
 assurance.

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.600
 That is, Jesus, the

00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:36.740
 living and risen King,

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:39.059
 the eternal Son of God,

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:42.100
 personally protects you.

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:44.439
 He surrounds you with his

00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:45.539
 sovereign might and his

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:47.379
 tender love, and he

00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:48.459
 won't let anything harm

00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:48.740
 you.

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.619
 Why?

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:54.419
 Because you, Christian,

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.279
 are his beloved.

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.959
 Do you know the old hymn

00:24:59.959 --> 00:25:01.179
 that we sing sometimes?

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:03.699
 The church's one foundation

00:25:03.699 --> 00:25:05.500
 is Jesus Christ, her Lord.

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.919
 She is his new creation by

00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:08.919
 water and the word.

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:10.840
 Do you remember how the

00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:12.660
 second half of that first

00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.259
 verse goes?

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:15.360
 From heaven he came and

00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:17.600
 sought her to be his holy

00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.200
 bride.

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:20.300
 With his own blood he bought

00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:22.259
 her, and for her life he

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.860
 died.

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.640
 Friend, if that is true,

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:29.340
 surely he will keep on

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:31.100
 protecting you to the very

00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:31.539
 end.

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:34.620
 Guarding you, keeping you,

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:37.279
 making sure you arrive safely

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.860
 home in the new

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.799
 heavens and new earth.

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:43.179
 So what is this confidence

00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:43.659
 we have?

00:25:43.699 --> 00:25:44.799
 What is this confidence that

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.240
 John wants to joyfully live

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.939
 out as we leave this

00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.159
 letter?

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.719
 First, that God hears us.

00:25:50.179 --> 00:25:51.479
 Second, that God protects

00:25:51.479 --> 00:25:51.919
 us.

00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:55.699
 And third, that he gives us

00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:57.319
 understanding of what's

00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.639
 really real.

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.759
 We see this in verses 20

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.439
 through 21.

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.799
 He gives us understanding of

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:04.039
 what's true, what's genuine,

00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.259
 what's really real.

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.319
 Let me read those last two

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.119
 verses for us again.

00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.719
 And we know there's that

00:26:08.719 --> 00:26:09.939
 note of confidence that John

00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:10.819
 wants to leave us with.

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.979
 And we know that the Son of

00:26:12.979 --> 00:26:14.599
 God has come and has given us

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:17.759
 understanding so that we may

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.619
 know him who is true.

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.899
 And we are in him who is true.

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:25.139
 In his Son, Jesus Christ.

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:27.759
 He is the true God and eternal

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.239
 life.

00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:32.039
 Little children, keep yourselves

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.559
 from idols.

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:37.180
 You see, the confidence that

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.299
 Christ brings isn't just about

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:40.539
 prayer or spiritual protection.

00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:44.759
 It's about being in touch with

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:48.779
 what's true and genuine and real.

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.639
 We live in an age when it's hard

00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:54.119
 to tell what's real, isn't it?

00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:56.519
 You know, when you can fire up

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:59.159
 chat GPT and almost be led to

00:26:59.159 --> 00:27:00.139
 think you're interacting with a

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:00.620
 real person.

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.900
 Perhaps it's getting harder

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.280
 than ever.

00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:06.840
 But spiritually speaking,

00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:08.259
 counterfeits have always been

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.580
 around.

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.240
 There have always been idols

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.920
 masquerading as the real thing,

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:15.200
 promising power and happiness

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:17.040
 and love, but in the end,

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.200
 never able to deliver.

00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.400
 But Christ is different.

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.759
 He has come and given us

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.600
 understanding.

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:27.539
 Not just that we might know

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.919
 him who is true, but notice,

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.559
 John says, so that we might be

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:32.079
 in him who is true.

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.219
 That's the promise of the

00:27:37.219 --> 00:27:37.639
 gospel.

00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:40.480
 Not just that we know what's

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:43.679
 real, but that we become more

00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:44.980
 real ourselves.

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:48.559
 To be in him who is true.

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:48.619
 true.

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:53.279
 You see, a deep principle of the

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:56.500
 spiritual life is that we become

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.919
 like what we worship.

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:01.720
 If we worship what's transient and

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:03.599
 fake, we will become transient and

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.500
 fake ourselves.

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:07.799
 If we worship a parody of the true

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:10.279
 God, we will become a parody of a

00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:10.859
 true human.

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:14.519
 But Jesus Christ has come.

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:18.000
 And as John says, he is true God

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.079
 and eternal life.

00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:21.500
 In beholding Christ, we behold God

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.839
 in all his reality.

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.879
 And in beholding Christ, the true

00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:28.319
 God, we become truly human, who we

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.420
 were created to be.

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:32.519
 Irenaeus, the church father, is

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:35.779
 sometimes quoted as saying, the glory

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:39.500
 of God is man fully alive.

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:43.859
 In other words, when humanity is

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.619
 recovered from the fall and restored

00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:47.979
 in dignity and beauty and living in

00:28:47.979 --> 00:28:49.419
 the full flourishing that God

00:28:49.419 --> 00:28:51.959
 intended, then we will see how

00:28:51.959 --> 00:28:53.599
 glorious God truly is.

00:28:54.399 --> 00:28:56.019
 When his work of redemption is

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:58.539
 complete, then God's glory will be on

00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:01.579
 display, not just as creator, but as

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.000
 redeemer.

00:29:04.219 --> 00:29:07.039
 God is glorified in us when we are

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:09.000
 most alive in him.

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.000
 God is glorified in us when we are

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.000
 in us when we are in us when we are

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:12.000
 in us when we are in us when we are in

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.000
 us when we are in us when we are in us.

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:17.940
 We must look to Christ.

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:21.160
 He is the true God and eternal life, and

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:24.680
 there are no substitutes and no rivals and

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.559
 none that compare.

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.039
 Everything else is a mere idol.

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.759
 That's why John ends his letter with that

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.920
 seemingly strange, but when you think

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.480
 about it, utterly fitting note.

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:38.039
 Little children, keep yourself from idols.

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:40.180
 The whole letter, he's been trying to

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:42.680
 distinguish for them what's true and

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.460
 what's fake.

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:47.180
 And having exalted the true God in

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:50.599
 Jesus Christ, he says, now go forth and

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:53.700
 stay away from everything that's going to

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:56.440
 lead you from him, from all the cheap

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:59.039
 substitutes and facsimiles that this

00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.860
 world offers.

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:05.679
 So when we want to know what's real and

00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:08.419
 what's lasting, we can have the deep

00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:11.939
 assurance and confidence that when we

00:30:11.939 --> 00:30:14.259
 look to Christ, we see it.

00:30:15.719 --> 00:30:17.479
 This is the assurance that we have in

00:30:17.479 --> 00:30:19.159
 him, that looking to Christ, we see what's

00:30:19.159 --> 00:30:21.099
 most real, what's most genuine, what's

00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:21.839
 most permanent.

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:25.059
 And so, even if we find ourselves as

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:26.959
 Christians out of step with the world at

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:29.759
 times, we don't let that discourage us.

00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:32.779
 The kingdoms of this world are passing,

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.340
 friends.

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.940
 His kingdom is forever.

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:39.299
 It can't be shaken and it cannot fail.

00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:44.680
 And fixing our eyes on him, we know

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:48.140
 that we will be heard when we pray,

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.880
 protected when we walk.

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:54.900
 But best of all, beholding the glory of

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:57.860
 the Lord, we are being transformed into

00:30:57.860 --> 00:31:00.440
 the same image from one degree of glory

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.040
 to another.

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:04.320
 For God who said, let light shine out of

00:31:04.320 --> 00:31:07.780
 darkness, has shown in our hearts to

00:31:07.780 --> 00:31:09.980
 give the light of the knowledge of the

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:13.080
 glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:16.460
 That is the joyful assurance we have in

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.660
 him.

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:19.720
 That is the confidence of knowing Christ.

00:31:20.860 --> 00:31:23.540
 And John says, go church, live it.

00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:26.040
 Let's pray.

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:40.120
 Father, we take a moment and just pause

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:43.840
 quietly before you, asking you to come by

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:49.659
 your spirit, speak to us what needs to be

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:55.099
 spoken, and work these truths down into

00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:56.399
 the corners of our heart.

00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:15.200
 And we humbly ask that you would give us this

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.400
 assurance, this confidence.

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:19.860
 We know that it is a gift from you.

00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:26.000
 And you say that if human parents know how to

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.879
 give good gifts to their children, how much

00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:30.939
 more will you, our Heavenly Father, give the

00:32:30.939 --> 00:32:32.519
 Holy Spirit to those who ask?

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:36.960
 Thank you.

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:52.220
 And that's a good joke.