WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.080 All right, let's read together from the New Testament. 00:00:04.060 --> 00:00:06.179 Matthew 6, verses 9 to 13. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:07.140 This is the Lord's Prayer. 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:09.199 Jesus said, 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:11.560 Pray then like this, 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:14.679 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.960 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:21.299 Give us this day our daily bread, 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:25.619 and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:29.700 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:00:30.380 --> 00:00:30.679 Amen. 00:00:33.079 --> 00:00:36.460 So tonight we are continuing with Jesus, 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:39.399 preaching his sermon on the mount. 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.839 He is up a mount preaching to many people. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:48.719 And recently we've been thinking about what Jesus says on the mountain about prayer. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:52.799 And Ryan helped us last week think about how prayer, 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:59.179 how our talking to God ought to be a regular practice in our heart and in our mind 00:00:59.179 --> 00:01:04.540 where we know that God is the one that we pray to. 00:01:05.099 --> 00:01:07.180 In prayer, you know, we find it so difficult. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:11.980 I think as Christians we find it so difficult to do. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:21.539 It's just about speaking simply and often to our God who is always ready and able to help us. 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:25.320 So what about the content of our prayer? 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:27.080 That's what Jesus gives us now. 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:30.440 This is probably the most famous prayer in the world. 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:36.060 Likely been said hundreds, maybe thousands of times across the world today. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:41.120 And Jesus gives us this prayer as a model. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:47.659 This is the model prayer given to steer our thoughts and help us to speak about God. 00:01:47.740 --> 00:01:53.000 Last week we were saying Ryan was helping us see that it's not about the eloquence of our words. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:02:01.760 Now we see that at the same time there is a guide which helps us to pray well. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:09.080 If you have younger children or grandchildren, I think this is quite easy to see. 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:17.759 If your child or grandchild has fallen out with their brother or sister or friend, whoever it is, 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:22.000 if they've trapped their finger in the door, if they've fallen over, 00:02:22.799 --> 00:02:28.620 you're probably quite used to them running to you in tears, just bubbling, 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:30.959 getting all the words at 100 miles an hour. 00:02:31.739 --> 00:02:36.519 And you probably just about know what's going on. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:40.299 But you need to take control of the conversation. 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:44.060 Where were you? What did they say? What did you say? 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:46.919 You hurt yourself. You know we can do something about that. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:53.259 It takes you, the grown-up, to give that conversation a bit of a meaningful shape. 00:02:56.060 --> 00:03:01.060 You might understand everything clearly, but you want to help your child calm down 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:03.679 and see things more clearly. 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:05.479 They need you to make sense of it. 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:06.899 And we find that as adults as well. 00:03:06.959 --> 00:03:10.500 If you've had an awful day at work, you come home and you tell your flatmate, 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:13.560 your husband, your wife, whoever it is, how awful a day you've had. 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:16.259 And what does it take but for them to say, no, hold on. 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:20.180 Let's slow down a minute and think things through more clearly. 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:27.180 When you look at the Lord's Prayer, this model is there not to repeat word for word only, 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:32.719 but it's there to give your conversation with God a meaningful shape, it's been called. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:43.960 So, you know, perhaps this week you can say, I feel alone and I feel lost. 00:03:44.699 --> 00:03:48.479 Well, Jesus says, God is your Father. 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:50.520 So I can praise Him. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:51.780 I can adore Him for that. 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:58.939 I don't know how exactly I'm going to cope with what I'm going through this week, this month. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:04.840 Well, God promises to give you just enough for today, and then He'll do the same tomorrow. 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:06.300 So I should pray for that. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:16.079 Tonight, maybe you could say, I feel awful about what I've said to this person or how I have acted. 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:18.339 But, well, God says there is forgiveness. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:22.019 So I can run and ask Him for forgiveness. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:29.919 We are children who feel so anxious and upset and down and way down. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:33.159 And some days, you know, some days we hardly know what to pray about. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:34.719 We hardly know what to say to God. 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:38.599 And we are like children running to their parents. 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:45.379 Because we need someone to give our conversation a meaningful, meaningful shape when we come to Him. 00:04:45.460 --> 00:04:47.379 We don't need eloquence and loads of words. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:51.200 God knows exactly what you need, what we need. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:59.900 But at the same time, we are helped by this model to see clearly who He is and what we should pray for. 00:04:59.900 --> 00:05:02.200 So, just this first line tonight. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.460 Jesus says, pray then like this. 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:09.939 Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:16.079 The focus here in this first line, these first two lines, is on adoring God. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:24.019 When you come to God in prayer, however often you do it, do you understand who you're coming to? 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.459 That's what Jesus wants us to think about. 00:05:28.579 --> 00:05:30.959 Let your heart dwell on that reality. 00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:33.500 So, let's just look at these three points. 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:37.699 When you pray, you pray to God who is your Father. 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:39.019 He's in heaven. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:45.319 And so, we should pray, you should pray for His name to be hallowed. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:48.740 So, when you pray, you pray to your Father. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:49.720 What does that mean? 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:52.319 It's a word that we use all the time. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:56.319 Our minister prays to our Father. 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:58.779 When you're at home, you probably pray to your Father. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:06.799 You probably hear it so often that you don't register when you hear someone pray to the Father. 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:11.159 In John 5, Jesus meets this paralyzed man. 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:12.500 He's been paralyzed for years. 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:14.299 And he's lying on a mat. 00:06:15.059 --> 00:06:18.399 And he heals him just by speaking to him. 00:06:18.979 --> 00:06:20.259 The man is healed. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:22.579 He gets up, picks up his mat, and walks. 00:06:23.099 --> 00:06:33.199 And it's a kind of funny scene because the Jews, the religious people of that day, aren't so fazed at the fact that this man has been healed. 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:36.339 But what really annoys them is that Jesus has done this on the Sabbath. 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:38.959 And so, they get up. 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:40.219 They chase after Him. 00:06:40.459 --> 00:06:41.159 They find Jesus. 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:42.060 They interrogate Him. 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:45.339 They say, you know, how dare you do this on the Sabbath? 00:06:45.599 --> 00:06:46.680 How dare you heal this man? 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:48.860 How dare you perform this miracle? 00:06:48.860 --> 00:07:18.840 How dare you heal this man? 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.139 In the Greek, just two seconds on Greek. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:26.739 In the Greek, the word is pater, father, pater, where we get paternal from. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:37.479 And that word was a very normal word used for your biological father, a very everyday word in the sense that you could be in your bedroom and you shout, Dad. 00:07:37.859 --> 00:07:38.779 And he'll come to you. 00:07:38.919 --> 00:07:39.939 Or maybe he won't. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:42.839 But it's the same sort of word. 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:46.759 Everyday common language. 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:49.500 How dare he call God father? 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:51.660 That's the thought. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.300 Who does he think he is that he's allowed to say that? 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:06.800 Well, even worse than that, now Jesus, a wee while later in Matthew 5 or Matthew 6, is saying, it's not just me who can call him father, but you can call him father as well. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:36.779 You can do it as well. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:38.059 It doesn't work like that. 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:41.199 Don't be cold with your words. 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:43.359 Don't be impersonal thinking you learned something. 00:08:43.459 --> 00:08:48.459 No, when you pray, realize that you're coming to your father. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:51.000 You're coming to your father. 00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:59.420 The last two or three weeks, we have heard about German philosophers and German theologians. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:02.940 And I think last week we might have got a German lesson on some words. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:07.280 So I'm going to jump in and give you someone else who's a German footballer. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.639 Thomas Muller. 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:16.339 This week, he's been playing for Bayern Munich for around 17, 18 years. 00:09:16.839 --> 00:09:18.319 He was in the youth team before that. 00:09:18.439 --> 00:09:19.759 So 20-something years. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:23.480 There were reports that he planned to stay for one more season. 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:27.059 This week we found out that his contract is not getting renewed. 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:29.039 He's not going to stay with them for one more season. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.219 And just like that, his career is over. 00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:33.639 He'll probably be gone by the summer. 00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:37.539 Whatever he is thinking is probably frustration. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:41.459 He has dedicated his whole career to this club. 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:42.919 He's trained and trained and trained. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:45.039 And he's given his life to Bayern Munich. 00:09:45.959 --> 00:09:47.919 And with one year to go, they decide to end it. 00:09:48.079 --> 00:09:49.299 You know, he's too old. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:53.000 Maybe he's being paid too much. 00:09:55.099 --> 00:09:57.079 But you see what it is. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:01.139 Even for a legend like Muller, it's completely cost-benefit. 00:10:04.599 --> 00:10:05.699 And so he's left thinking. 00:10:06.359 --> 00:10:10.459 Either he is left thinking, I did not deserve this. 00:10:11.479 --> 00:10:13.579 I've won 32 trophies with this team. 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.419 I've trained and trained and trained for these guys. 00:10:17.199 --> 00:10:18.259 And now they're letting me go. 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:23.679 Or he is thinking, I'm in trouble because I'm too old and I'm not pulling my weight anymore. 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:27.919 I haven't worked hard enough to keep my place. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:31.240 When Jesus says, don't heap up empty phrases. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.279 Just call him Father. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:38.299 He's saying that this relationship that you have as a Christian with God 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:41.379 is not based on you training harder and harder and harder. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:45.919 Earn in your place with big fancy words. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:50.339 This is simply about knowing that you are a child of God. 00:10:52.339 --> 00:10:57.979 God looks at every believer and he says, son and daughter. 00:10:57.980 --> 00:11:03.940 Tim Keller makes the point that if you pray just because you want something, 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:07.399 or you pray just because in the moment it's the right thing to do, 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:13.159 and you don't get what you want, or things go wrong, 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:15.320 you're in the same position as Thomas Muller. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:21.200 Either you're left thinking, I did not deserve this because I've done my job. 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:21.960 I've done my duty. 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:23.800 I've prayed hard and I've prayed well. 00:11:24.920 --> 00:11:31.980 Or you think, I am in trouble and this is what I get for not pulling my weight. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:38.259 But when you come like a child to a father, 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:42.379 things might not always be how you want them to be. 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:45.040 You might not always get what you want, 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:50.799 but you know that the father, your father is full of fatherly love. 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:55.099 You can't earn that. 00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:57.099 You cannot earn that. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:02.459 Is this a relationship where you train and work hard for your place, 00:12:02.599 --> 00:12:05.120 or is this a family, a family relationship? 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.980 Here's some clarity for you, Jesus says. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:11.360 Think about who you're coming to. 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:15.679 When you come to pray, think simply about who you're coming to. 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:18.779 He doesn't want cold, clinical words. 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:20.440 You can't earn anything from him. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.720 No, you are coming to your father. 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:30.299 You're coming to your father who counts you as treasure, Malachi says. 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:38.079 You are coming to your father who will never, ever, ever be ashamed of you, Hebrews says. 00:12:38.319 --> 00:12:39.679 Do you believe that? 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.299 If you are a Christian, do you believe that? 00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:47.199 That's how he sees his people, his children. 00:12:47.339 --> 00:12:50.519 However insignificant you feel tonight, 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:55.019 the God who made all of creation looks at you and says, 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:59.039 my treasure, my jewel, my son, my daughter. 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:04.719 Okay, who gets to call him father? 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:07.699 Then Jesus had the right to call him father. 00:13:07.959 --> 00:13:10.439 The people didn't understand that in John 5. 00:13:11.339 --> 00:13:13.039 The people didn't see that. 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:16.000 But as the son of God by nature, he had that privilege. 00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:19.399 How then can anyone else call God father? 00:13:20.359 --> 00:13:22.459 Is God father to everyone? 00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:25.120 And another question that we could ask, 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.519 which gets of the same thing is, 00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:30.039 what does it mean to be a Christian? 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:33.159 And one thing we could say is, 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:36.859 this is all about adoption. 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.879 It means being adopted. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.219 The Bible makes clear over and over that, 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.399 you know, if you read it and you turn page to page, 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:53.259 you'll quickly realize that no one is a child of God by nature. 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:56.759 Actually, Paul in Ephesians calls us the exact opposite. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:59.580 He says, every single human is a child of wrath. 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:02.279 He says, we are children of wrath. 00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:10.039 And humans ever since Genesis 3 have shaken their fists at the Creator 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:12.220 and have said that they want nothing to do with Him. 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.919 And, you know, perhaps you don't think of it that way, 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:18.479 but Paul says, without Christ, without faith in Christ, 00:14:19.079 --> 00:14:20.279 without belief in Him, 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.500 that's exactly what we are doing. 00:14:22.599 --> 00:14:26.919 Our lives are defined by the fact that we look at God our Maker 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.819 and shake our fists 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:30.120 and say we want nothing to do with Him. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.559 So calling God father 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:35.179 is not a human right. 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:37.539 You know, tonight you might be curious 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.980 about Christianity tonight. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.759 You might believe that there is a God 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.439 who is your Maker. 00:14:44.579 --> 00:14:46.839 That doesn't give you the right to call God your Father. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.899 What gives you the right to call God Father? 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:52.980 Adoption. 00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:54.740 Adoption. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.740 Spiritual adoption. 00:14:56.459 --> 00:14:58.519 By nature, we are not His children. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.839 By the act of adoption, 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.819 God says, you are my child. 00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:04.919 You are my child. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:07.620 In Galatians 4, Paul says this, 00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:09.979 but when the fullness of time had come, 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:12.199 God sent forth His sons 00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:16.899 so that we might receive adoption as sons. 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:20.299 The only person 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:23.039 who ever had the right to call God Father 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:26.899 came and lived and died 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:29.179 in order to clear your debts. 00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:31.419 You know, no longer are you defined 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:33.500 by the fact that you've shaken your fist at God. 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:36.599 That slate is wiped clean. 00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:38.120 You can call Him Father 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:42.519 because Christ died for sinful, broken people 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.839 like you and like me. 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.120 The night before He died, 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.219 Jesus was in the garden 00:15:47.219 --> 00:15:48.979 in Gethsemane. 00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:51.620 And you know what He prays? 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.620 He says, 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.000 Abba, Father. 00:15:55.319 --> 00:15:56.139 Abba, Father. 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.479 He just says Father twice 00:15:57.479 --> 00:15:59.819 in Aramaic and then in Greek. 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.260 He's hours away, 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:06.060 hours away from being mocked by the crowds, 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.220 from being abandoned by His friends, 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:10.080 from being hung on the cross. 00:16:10.140 --> 00:16:10.840 He cries out. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:13.820 And now, because He suffered, 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.800 you can cry the exact same cry. 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.000 Abba, Father. 00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:20.860 The Son of God suffered 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:24.440 so that we could be called sons of God. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:28.680 His cry can be our cry. 00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:30.180 Who can call God Father? 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.440 Those who are adopted. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.860 How were you adopted? 00:16:34.880 --> 00:16:36.400 You received Jesus 00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:37.760 and all that He's done. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.580 John 1, verse 12. 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:41.040 But to all who did receive Him, 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:43.020 who believed in His name, 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:46.540 He gave the right to become children of God. 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:50.740 Will you receive Christ 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.519 if you have not? 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.919 Will you believe in your heart 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:57.059 that Christ can save you 00:16:57.059 --> 00:17:01.059 and call you His brother or sister, 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:03.000 no longer lost, 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.680 but a child of God? 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:10.480 Will your prayer simply be, 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.859 Father, Abba, Father. 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:13.980 Father. 00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:18.059 Some things, 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.180 just maybe a couple of things 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.079 to think about this week 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.839 before we go on to our second point. 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.200 We don't always, 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.680 when we pray, 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:26.759 we don't always have to call God Father. 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:28.000 We don't have to say that. 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:30.799 You know, we say God, Lord, King. 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.440 This is a model prayer. 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:36.059 The point is that in your heart, 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.740 in your heart, 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.839 you know who you're coming to. 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:43.359 You're coming to a Father who loves you. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.599 You don't need to fix yourself up. 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.279 That's one thing. 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:49.920 No, this is about knowing in your heart 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.779 that you're a child, 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:52.039 a child of God. 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.899 God looks at every believer 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.259 and says, 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.619 Son and daughter. 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.000 He counts you as treasure. 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:00.500 Know in your heart 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.960 who you are coming to. 00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:05.039 Equally, on the other end of that, 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.619 it's probably fair to say 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.119 that we don't, 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.740 or we're not struck 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.519 by what it means 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.579 to be called God Father. 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:15.059 I'm not enough. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.099 Would you pray this week 00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:19.039 that it would strike you 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:21.759 to know that you're praying 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.419 to your Father? 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.740 The God who walked in the garden 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.859 with Adam and Eve, 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.679 the God who came to Moses 00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:29.619 in the burning bush, 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.939 who gave his people food 00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:32.179 and water in the wilderness, 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:35.680 the God who put the stars 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.340 in the sky 00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:37.299 just by speaking, 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:39.000 just by speaking, 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.400 he stoops down 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.180 and hears your faint cries 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:42.920 like a father 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.980 bending to a child. 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:48.140 He inclines his ear to you. 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.160 Would you come, 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.039 would you fix your heart 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.759 on that this week 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.259 as you pray? 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.259 Okay, secondly, 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.660 he's our Father, 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:59.120 and he is in heaven, 00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.540 it says. 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:00.160 He's in heaven. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.060 And again, 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:05.200 that means a lot. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.680 He is our Father 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.360 in the deepest, 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:09.120 nearest sense. 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.940 At the same time, 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.140 he is eternal, 00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.940 he is infinite, 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.500 he is unchanging. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.540 Moses, 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.460 in Exodus 33, 00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:17.540 Moses is up the mountain 00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:18.680 and he asks God 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.440 if he can see him. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.560 He says, 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.800 can I see your glory? 00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.259 Can I see something 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.060 tangible here? 00:19:24.540 --> 00:19:25.259 And God says, 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:25.600 never, 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.639 never, 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:28.159 you cannot see me 00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:29.399 and live. 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.659 God is too glorious, 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.299 too mighty, 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:34.480 too wholly different from us 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:37.299 that we could never 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.199 handle seeing him. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.199 As our Father, 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.099 he is so near, 00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.539 so close to us, 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.459 and yet, 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.579 as creator, 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.659 as maker, 00:19:45.219 --> 00:19:46.240 as God, 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.399 he is too powerful, 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.819 too vast 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:51.000 for us to understand. 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.859 You know, 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.539 we're so finite 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.639 and we are so weak 00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.939 as creatures. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.179 That we couldn't 00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:56.959 handle knowing 00:19:56.959 --> 00:19:58.419 what God is like 00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:58.959 in himself. 00:19:59.339 --> 00:19:59.619 And so, 00:19:59.699 --> 00:20:00.439 when we say that God 00:20:00.439 --> 00:20:00.939 is in heaven, 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.740 we're not talking, 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:04.119 we're not talking about 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:04.939 God being in a different 00:20:04.939 --> 00:20:05.419 place. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:07.159 We're talking about God 00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:10.079 existing on a completely 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.299 different level to us. 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.699 God is always ready 00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:15.879 to hear our faint, 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.679 weak cries, 00:20:17.199 --> 00:20:18.619 and at the same time, 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:20.419 he is completely 00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:21.559 separate from us. 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:27.919 God is so far above us 00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:29.240 that we could never 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.700 know him 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:31.460 if we tried to reach up. 00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:33.179 Just one takeaway. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:36.019 That means that God 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:38.339 is free from every 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.480 single struggle 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.359 and weakness 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:43.099 and temptation 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:45.099 that we are so prone 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.059 to as finite 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.019 creatures. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:50.000 I know, 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.420 you know, 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.200 when you come to a verse 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.599 like this, 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.599 it speaks about God 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:54.160 being our Father. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.519 I know that 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:58.379 fatherhood doesn't 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.460 fill us all 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.160 with the same amount 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.619 of joy 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:02.099 or fondness. 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.779 Some of us 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.519 here, 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.039 you know, 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.700 some of us here 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.119 maybe 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.720 have gone our whole 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.599 lives with absent 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.039 fathers. 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.379 We've gone most of 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.139 our lives with our 00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:16.279 dads who have left 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:16.779 our homes 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.619 or distanced 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.500 themselves from us 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.940 or perhaps we have 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.599 grown up with a 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.700 father in the house 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.940 but who has let us 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:28.279 down in so many ways. 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:28.500 You know, 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.539 they lack interest 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.480 in our interests. 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.680 They don't support 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.480 us emotionally. 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.579 They have seriously 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.579 high expectations 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.279 that we can never 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:36.559 meet. 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.539 They are critical 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.240 of every single 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:38.960 thing that you do. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.519 The idea of a father 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.339 who does not fill 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:43.720 us all, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.019 you know, 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.539 with joy 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:47.119 fills us with 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.700 disappointment 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.960 or even resentment 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.440 and all that we 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.220 want to say to 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:53.659 that is that 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:55.879 for every weakness, 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:58.539 for every way 00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.139 that your dad 00:21:59.139 --> 00:21:59.859 has failed you, 00:22:01.139 --> 00:22:02.119 for every memory 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:03.659 you have of your 00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:04.519 dad neglecting 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:04.859 your good, 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.700 that loss 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:08.099 and disappointment 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:10.339 is healed 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.519 in having God 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.039 the creator 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.960 as your father. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:19.119 what a promise 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.259 I think that is. 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.379 You know, 00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:23.119 we might feel grief 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:23.720 and disappointment 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.680 for a long time. 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.539 We might never 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.700 lose that experience. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:31.299 Here's what one 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.920 Christian writer 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.659 tells us to do. 00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.980 Dwell on the fact 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.339 that there is no 00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.119 better father, 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:39.200 no parent 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.220 more deeply committed 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.079 to his children's 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.500 welfare 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.680 than God 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.259 the creator. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.579 You know, 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.859 if your picture 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.660 of fatherhood 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:49.720 is influenced 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.319 by your own 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.339 experience, 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.000 would you think 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.460 about that? 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.920 The God of heaven 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.559 is completely, 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.579 he is completely 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.140 opposed 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.660 to every single 00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.819 hurtful act 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.200 or word 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.539 that you've 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.039 experienced. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:04.799 he loves you 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.720 so deeply 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.599 and he is 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.200 completely 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.659 committed 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.279 to your good. 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.440 Maybe, 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.460 maybe on the 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:13.759 other end 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.039 of that, 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.399 and I hope 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:15.099 I don't get 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.359 in trouble 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.799 for saying 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.039 this, 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.480 but maybe 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:16.940 on the other 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.339 end of that, 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:17.720 you've had 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.059 a great 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.359 father. 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.279 I don't 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.159 want to get 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:21.399 in trouble 00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:21.779 for saying 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.019 that your 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.359 dad's not 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.940 perfect either. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:25.620 if you think 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:25.960 about your 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.320 dad 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:28.120 and 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.320 who has 00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:29.759 loved you 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.059 well, 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.400 who has 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:30.799 disciplined 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.380 you fairly, 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.720 who has 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.240 taught you, 00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:32.860 who gives 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.240 you good 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.880 things in 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.259 life, 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:37.080 who really 00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:37.559 does care 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:37.960 for you, 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.920 thank God 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.380 for that 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:41.860 and know, 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.920 know that 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.519 when you look 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.039 at your dad 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.620 and see those 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.240 good things, 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.019 know that 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.139 those good 00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:50.160 things are 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.299 fully realized 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.720 in God 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.160 the Father. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.660 He loves 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.619 you so much, 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.039 he hears 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.639 every cry, 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.240 he knows 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.339 every need, 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.440 he knows 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.799 how to 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.139 correct you 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.299 in the 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.039 most loving 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.400 way. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.319 He gets 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:07.680 it right 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.460 every single 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.799 time, 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.299 even more 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:09.599 than your 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.079 father down 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.299 here. 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.200 Would you 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.920 take joy 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.599 knowing that 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.000 the God 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.460 of heaven 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:16.279 is so high 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.799 above us 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.240 in every 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.819 single way, 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.700 stoops down, 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.700 calls us 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.099 children, 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.639 and loves 00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.700 us completely. 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:27.740 Last point, 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.680 really quickly, 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.700 Jesus tells 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.339 us to pray 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.879 that God's 00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.200 name would 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.740 be hallowed. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:33.960 Thomas Watson, 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.599 he was a 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.539 17th century 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.000 preacher, 00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.180 minister, 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.119 he gave 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.799 about 20 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:41.680 ways in 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.159 which we 00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:42.579 can hallow 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.139 God's name, 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.720 so this was 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.399 almost a 00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:45.079 23 point 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.480 sermon. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:47.220 one simple 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.539 way, 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.360 one simple 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:48.799 way out 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.299 of many 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.279 that you 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:50.759 can hallow 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.640 God's name 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.319 or make 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:52.900 holy his 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.220 name, 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.200 would be 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.920 to set 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.500 God high 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.839 in your 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.259 thoughts 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.779 and really 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.880 deeply 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:03.779 trust him. 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.319 We hallow 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.920 God's name, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.559 we lift him 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.140 high in our 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.500 thoughts 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:10.220 by really 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.819 believing in 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.360 our hearts 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:12.160 that God 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:12.920 is infinitely 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.360 good. 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.560 We honor 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:16.019 God when 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.440 we dwell 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.680 on the 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.039 fact that 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.060 he is not 00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:18.980 far off, 00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:19.640 he is not 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.460 uninterested, 00:25:22.060 --> 00:25:24.080 he doesn't 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:24.860 drop us as 00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.279 soon as we 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.860 mess up. 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.220 And now 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.039 this week, 00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:32.460 this week 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.960 or month 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.779 might be an 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.600 especially hard 00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:35.340 time to think 00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:35.759 about that. 00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.560 You know, 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.660 God is 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:39.100 infinitely good. 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.859 I don't 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.459 see that 00:25:41.459 --> 00:25:41.919 right now. 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.259 Earlier 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.619 on this 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:44.839 week, 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:45.379 I saw 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:45.779 this short 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.059 video, 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.480 it was 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.759 just of 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.399 an older 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:48.039 man talking 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.299 about 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.879 Christianity 00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.679 and not 00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:50.039 a famous 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.279 guy, 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.599 I don't 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.119 know who 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.379 he is, 00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:51.619 he just 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.039 came up 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.359 on my 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:53.740 phone, 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.740 but he's 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.039 obviously 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.379 been going 00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:55.740 to church 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.119 for many 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.480 years, 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.719 and I 00:25:57.719 --> 00:25:58.039 don't know 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.699 his whole 00:25:58.699 --> 00:25:59.159 experience, 00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.779 but I 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.039 just want 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.259 to read 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.519 a few 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.819 words, 00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.359 this is 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:01.639 what he 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:01.980 said, 00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.339 no health 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:03.639 prayers 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.139 answered, 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.279 no career 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.639 prayers 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.079 answered, 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.179 no spousal 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:08.519 prayers 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:08.980 answered, 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:11.019 not a 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.339 single 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:11.699 prayer 00:26:11.699 --> 00:26:12.240 answered 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.899 in 60 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.419 years. 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:14.779 Is this 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.519 what following 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.259 Jesus is 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.740 all about? 00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.319 What a 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:18.839 mistake. 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.579 That's what 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:20.919 he says, 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.480 what a 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:21.939 mistake. 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.719 When you 00:26:24.719 --> 00:26:25.159 receive 00:26:25.159 --> 00:26:25.659 Christ 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:27.459 and 00:26:27.459 --> 00:26:29.019 believe in 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.199 him, 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.500 and you 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:29.959 become an 00:26:29.959 --> 00:26:30.279 adopted 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.779 child of 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.059 God, 00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.559 you don't 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.459 get everything 00:26:33.459 --> 00:26:34.099 you want. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:36.959 Don't be 00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:37.519 like Thomas 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.019 Muller who 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.639 trains and 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:38.519 trains and 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.160 trains and 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.579 trains and 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.160 gets dropped 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.460 at the 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.039 last season. 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:43.259 Your life 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.599 is not 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.359 founded on 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:44.799 you earning 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.440 a reward 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:47.539 for doing 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:47.859 the right 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.440 things and 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.039 praying really 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.400 hard. 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.660 It's founded 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.200 on God 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.619 being your 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:51.980 father, 00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:53.539 Christ being 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.059 your brother, 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.379 the one who 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:55.980 died for you. 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.579 That will 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.279 never change 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.920 and it's a 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.420 test of 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.720 faith. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.839 It really 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.700 is a test 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.160 of faith 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.620 to pray 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.180 that God's 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.540 name would 00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:07.100 be hallowed. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:07.660 We pray 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.779 that we 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.300 and those 00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:10.000 around us 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.720 would learn 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.279 to lift 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:12.680 him high 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:12.960 in our 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.340 hearts 00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:15.259 and trust 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.820 him even 00:27:15.820 --> 00:27:16.820 though the 00:27:16.820 --> 00:27:17.500 world comes 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.160 crashing down 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.080 around us. 00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:19.800 This theme 00:27:19.800 --> 00:27:20.200 will come up 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.420 again in the 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.880 Lord's Prayer 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.480 later on, 00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:23.220 so we won't 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.620 say much 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:23.880 more, 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.820 but we can 00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.200 close with 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:26.380 this. 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.300 Our greatest 00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:31.020 need is to 00:27:31.020 --> 00:27:31.900 have more 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.480 of God 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.640 and to 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.380 know more 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.080 and more 00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:35.900 that he is 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.380 our father. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.280 If right 00:27:40.280 --> 00:27:40.600 now, 00:27:40.760 --> 00:27:41.360 if tonight, 00:27:42.020 --> 00:27:43.920 if God 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.400 gave you 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.200 everything that 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:45.740 you wanted, 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:46.940 would you 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.540 ever run 00:27:47.540 --> 00:27:48.040 to God 00:27:48.040 --> 00:27:48.480 your father 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:48.860 again? 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.720 Would you 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.240 ever cry 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.640 father? 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.680 The valley 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.440 in Psalm 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.920 23, 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.840 it's a place 00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.360 of despair 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:56.779 isn't it? 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.459 It's a place 00:27:57.459 --> 00:27:59.199 of job 00:27:59.199 --> 00:27:59.879 insecurity 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:00.819 and poor 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.359 health. 00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:03.419 It's a place 00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:03.919 of broken 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.699 relationships. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.339 God takes 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.039 his children 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.659 through the 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:10.199 valley for 00:28:10.199 --> 00:28:10.839 us to learn 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.559 that all we 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.459 have, all 00:28:12.459 --> 00:28:14.259 we have is 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.779 our father 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:18.079 and eventually 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.139 we will be 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:19.500 with him. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.439 Set him high 00:28:20.439 --> 00:28:20.719 in your 00:28:20.719 --> 00:28:21.000 heart. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.639 Trust him 00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.119 for your 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.339 good. 00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:24.959 You can't 00:28:24.959 --> 00:28:25.519 earn anything 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.339 but you 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.299 your life 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.240 is the 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.599 way it 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:28.939 is. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.619 And you 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:30.919 will be 00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.559 kept safe 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.119 even in 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.339 trouble 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.319 because Christ 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.899 who is your 00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.480 brother has 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.119 died for you 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:36.359 and risen 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:36.799 again. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.740 And because 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.299 the God of 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:41.019 heaven who is 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.539 your father 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.879 hears your 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.480 cries, 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.179 stoops down 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.960 and who loves 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.539 his treasure. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:51.000 Will you cry 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.259 Abba Father? 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.060 Will that be 00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:55.380 enough for you? 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.580 Let's pray. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.600 Father, 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:03.420 we acknowledge 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.000 tonight who 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.460 we are coming 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:04.799 before. 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.500 We thank you 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.940 that you're a 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.039 father who 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.759 stoops down, 00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.440 who hears our 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:09.940 cries. 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.620 and we 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.000 think of 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.799 ourselves and 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.420 our friends 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.120 who are being 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.700 brought through 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.200 valleys. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.600 We pray 00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:18.880 that they 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.480 would remember 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:19.920 that the 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.420 God of 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.000 heaven who 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.320 is their 00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:21.860 father is 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:22.460 free from 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.100 all weakness 00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:24.140 and he is 00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:25.000 infinitely good. 00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:26.799 And so 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.080 when we 00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:29.019 can only ask 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.220 why things 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.620 are the way 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:30.940 that they 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.320 are in 00:29:32.320 --> 00:29:32.840 our lives 00:29:32.840 --> 00:29:33.320 in this 00:29:33.320 --> 00:29:33.640 world, 00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:33.960 Lord, 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.440 would our 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:34.759 cry, 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.100 would our 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:35.559 prayer be 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:35.980 Abba, 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.839 Father. 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.779 Make that 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.140 our prayer 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.539 this week, 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.140 we ask for 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.380 Jesus' 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:39.759 sake. 00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:40.420 Amen.