WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.379 Right, okay. 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:07.620 Morning, everyone. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:09.359 Morning. 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:10.279 Good to see you all. 00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:13.839 It's good to be here. 00:00:14.019 --> 00:00:14.419 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.240 Lord, would you steady our hearts, calm our minds. 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:37.100 We come for you. 00:00:38.219 --> 00:00:39.019 And only you. 00:00:47.019 --> 00:00:48.519 Thank you, Lord. Amen. 00:00:49.879 --> 00:00:52.100 Hey, so we've been going through this series on prayer. 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:55.079 I'll tell you, it's been hard. 00:00:55.079 --> 00:01:02.379 And, you know, I realized doing the same thing is much easier than changing it up and doing something different. 00:01:03.519 --> 00:01:06.980 It would have been so much easier just to keep going with the standard service. 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:08.560 Hey, sing some songs. 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:10.799 Do a little talk. 00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:12.000 Prayer again. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:12.400 Finish. 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:13.259 And we're all good. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:14.719 We all high-five each other and we go. 00:01:15.039 --> 00:01:17.579 But just trying this was like, oh, my goodness. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:19.739 This feels so out of control. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:20.620 It feels so chaotic. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:23.060 But I've been learning. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:23.900 I hope you have, too. 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:26.800 I've been really been blessed by this time. 00:01:26.880 --> 00:01:28.260 The first week we did the simple prayer. 00:01:28.380 --> 00:01:29.400 That you just pray what you've got. 00:01:29.600 --> 00:01:30.380 The ABC prayer. 00:01:30.660 --> 00:01:31.420 It doesn't really matter. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:33.760 It doesn't really matter if your thoughts are all over the place. 00:01:33.820 --> 00:01:37.260 It doesn't matter if you are praying like a child because you have needs. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:37.960 That's okay. 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:38.860 You just pray it out. 00:01:39.360 --> 00:01:42.439 And the hope is that we will be childlike and not childish. 00:01:43.460 --> 00:01:44.219 And that was the first prayer. 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:44.960 It was the simple prayer. 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:46.780 Then last week we did the prayer of surrender. 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:50.660 Which is, hey, the Lord builds the house. 00:01:51.660 --> 00:01:53.420 If we just do it, we do it in vain. 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:54.420 And so we surrender. 00:01:54.540 --> 00:01:55.379 Our children, we surrender. 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:56.480 Our building projects, we surrender. 00:01:56.579 --> 00:01:57.379 Everything, we surrender. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:00.820 And actually, it's not perfect. 00:02:00.939 --> 00:02:04.280 And, of course, as proven to you by me last week, it wasn't perfect. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:07.620 Even your pastor says wrong words in the scriptures. 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:09.719 Oh, man. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.780 And then it made me feel, isn't that what this is about? 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:14.159 Just grace. 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:25.180 This week I've been thinking, you know, our understanding of prayer is actually based on our understanding of the gospel. 00:02:26.140 --> 00:02:29.719 If we don't understand the gospel, then we don't really understand prayer. 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:33.460 If we don't truly appreciate the gospel, then we won't need to pray. 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:34.840 Does that make sense? 00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:40.840 So actually, what we need to do is actually understand why it is that we even pray and what it is even about. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:45.060 And this, to this psalm today, actually really hammers home that point. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:52.180 The last two weeks we've been doing Lectio Divina where we've been learning to read, learning to reflect, learning to respond, and then learning to rest. 00:02:52.480 --> 00:02:56.560 We won't speak too much on this today, but we will read this four times. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:57.860 But I'm going to mix it up a little bit. 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:03.680 Instead of reading the same version four times, we're going to read the same verse, same passage, but different versions. 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:06.319 Just to, again, just to mix it up. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:12.760 So if you've been using the body prayer, if you've been using ABC prayer, if you've been using whatever it is, I encourage you, take it, use it. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:15.260 When you get bored of it, twist it, make it, adjust it. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:20.120 Whatever you need to do to keep you just constantly yearning for Him. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:22.759 So we're going to read it again, Psalm 130. 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:23.659 We're going to read it four times. 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:30.719 So I just invite you, invite you just to ask the Lord to share with you what is on His heart today for you. 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:36.420 Psalm 130. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.800 Lord, we read your word knowing that it is these words that give us life, that guide us. 00:03:47.420 --> 00:03:49.800 Out of the depths I cry out to you, O Lord. 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:52.560 O Lord, hear my voice. 00:03:53.480 --> 00:03:56.960 Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:03:57.980 --> 00:04:02.039 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.159 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.780 I wait for the Lord. 00:04:09.700 --> 00:04:12.099 My soul waits, and in His word I hope. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:15.819 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:17.379 More than watchmen for the morning. 00:04:18.259 --> 00:04:18.719 Of Israel. 00:04:19.219 --> 00:04:22.079 Hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love. 00:04:23.219 --> 00:04:25.180 And with Him is plentiful redemption. 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:29.399 And He will redeem Israel from all His iniquities. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:40.979 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord. 00:04:41.779 --> 00:04:42.759 Lord, hear my voice. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.519 Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 00:04:47.219 --> 00:04:50.339 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 00:04:50.339 --> 00:04:56.299 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:58.339 I wait for the Lord. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:04:59.539 My whole being waits. 00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:01.799 And in His word I put my hope. 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:05.799 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. 00:05:06.219 --> 00:05:07.959 More than watchmen wait for the morning. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:11.099 Israel, put your hope in the Lord. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:15.099 For with the Lord is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption. 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:19.580 He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. 00:05:27.020 --> 00:05:30.240 For a third time we read from the NLT. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:40.620 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:42.960 Hear my cry, O Lord. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:45.539 Pay attention to my prayer. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.419 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.479 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:57.560 I'm counting on the Lord. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:59.079 Yes, I'm counting on Him. 00:06:00.539 --> 00:06:02.000 I put my hope in His word. 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:04.359 I long for the Lord. 00:06:05.419 --> 00:06:07.019 More than centuries long for the dawn. 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:09.019 Yes, more than centuries long for the dawn. 00:06:10.039 --> 00:06:12.279 O Israel, hope in the Lord. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:15.060 For with the Lord there is unfailing love. 00:06:16.419 --> 00:06:17.739 His redemption overflows. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:22.699 He Himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin. 00:06:26.259 --> 00:06:29.399 And one final time from the message. 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:33.919 Help God. 00:06:33.919 --> 00:06:36.679 I've hit rock bottom. 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:40.579 Master, hear my cry for help. 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:42.379 Listen hard. 00:06:44.039 --> 00:06:45.079 Open your ears. 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:48.019 Listen to my cry for mercies. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.839 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:56.399 As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit. 00:06:57.099 --> 00:06:58.179 And that's why you're worshipped. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:00.259 I pray to God. 00:07:00.679 --> 00:07:01.459 My life a prayer. 00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:03.659 And wait for what He'll say and do. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.159 My life's on the line before God, my Lord. 00:07:07.419 --> 00:07:08.959 Waiting and watching till morning. 00:07:09.359 --> 00:07:11.059 Waiting and watching till morning. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:13.920 O Israel, wait and watch for God. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:15.699 With God's arrival comes love. 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:18.199 With God's arrival comes generous redemption. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:20.019 No doubt about it. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:21.319 He'll redeem Israel. 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:25.120 Buy back Israel from captivity to sin. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.579 This is the word of the Lord. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:38.480 So as we try these different ways to pray, to really seek to hear God's voice, 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:42.560 this week I wanted to introduce you to another friend of mine. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.120 He's called Paul. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:45.959 Can we just give him a round of applause? 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:46.759 I'm going to bring him up here. 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:56.000 You may have noticed Paul on the worship team normally. 00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:58.279 He's also on Spotify if you want to check him out. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:01.759 He's a dear friend. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.639 He's been part of this church longer than I have. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.939 And he's been just faithfully worshipping and leading that. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:11.639 And so I just wanted to bring him up because actually him and I were having a great time this week 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:12.620 and just talking a little bit. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.680 And he shared a little bit about his practice with me that I thought, man, that's cool. 00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:18.579 We need to hear about that from you. 00:08:18.719 --> 00:08:20.539 So, Paul, let's start with the first question. 00:08:20.599 --> 00:08:23.399 We sang a song, Heart of Worship, earlier at the beginning, 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.279 which is kind of saying, hey, it's more than just singing. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:29.120 But, of course, your career is music and it is singing. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:32.779 How do you keep that posture and that heart for worship 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:35.279 when it's something that you do just all the time? 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.679 Just give us some insight into that. 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:38.460 Yeah. 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:48.120 I think it sometimes can be difficult just because, like, you're thinking, okay, 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:53.400 this is what I do to try and, like, actually have a profession. 00:08:53.680 --> 00:08:59.060 But then at the same time, I'm using this to try and serve and then it's not about me. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:08:59.500 Right? 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:08.460 But I think it's really to try and keep that, it really comes down to, for the most part, 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:12.899 doing that in my own private life as well. 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:19.159 So, I think if all my, like, worship here is just, like, public and that's it, 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:26.500 I think that's going to be very hard to maintain really what I do any worship for. 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:36.819 So, having that time of personal worship and even understanding then not just, like, 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:47.480 how I use music in a very, like, obvious church setting but just how I want to live out all areas of my life. 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:54.340 That has to be for God and not, like, compartmentalised so much. 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:56.879 But all of it is, yeah. 00:09:57.320 --> 00:10:01.160 That difference between private and public is actually key. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:05.320 And actually, a long, long time ago, I was on the worship team when the standards were a lot lower. 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:11.000 And I remember saying to people, actually, there's a difference between practice and rehearsal. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:15.300 Practice is what you do on your own so you can learn that song and get to know all the parts 00:10:15.300 --> 00:10:18.740 and rehearse is when you get together and actually practice together. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:25.980 But for a musician, there's another stage before that, the practice, which is actually musicians in worship teams will know this. 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:29.040 You end up just playing the songs that you're going to sing this weekend 00:10:29.040 --> 00:10:33.760 and you don't have that time where you pray and worship God just yourself without any agenda, 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.460 without any preparing for anything. 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:37.259 And so there's another step that you do. 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:39.639 And so I want to pick a little bit more about your private life 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:43.319 and what's prayer look like for you and what things have you tried? 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:44.819 Yeah. 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:48.759 Obviously, like, some weeks, some days are better than others. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:55.480 So I don't want to be up with any pretense that I've, like, got it down, firstly. 00:10:55.480 --> 00:11:07.600 But, yeah, so, but usually I'll try and spend some time in worship in some devoted prayer just myself. 00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:18.159 And, like, and then also, so having some dedicated time but then also trying to do, like, pray through the day. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:24.519 So through different things as I'm going because I think we can't just do one or the other. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:27.620 It's like this is a God time, then it's everything else time. 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:33.579 But at the same time, we need that space as well just for focus. 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:49.879 So some things I'd like to do because I'm actually, I find it difficult just to, you know, have that focus even for, like, half an hour of, like, this is just like me and God. 00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:56.360 So trying to, might be writing out prayers or just spending that time worship. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:13.800 And one thing I've tried, just started doing this year is just writing out some psalms and then just being able to, like, pray through that, which I found is helpful because, you know, when I'm not inspired, then we've got, like, scripture that's already inspired. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:17.659 So I don't have to, like, come up with my own inspiration. 00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:22.620 I found that's something that I did at the beginning of the year, which actually just writing out scripture. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:27.700 Even if I'm not truly absorbing it and thinking it, and we've all read scripture and it's gone in one ear and out the other. 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:28.679 We've all done that before. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:38.460 But even just soaking in it and just writing it and just knowing that this is good, this is God's word, and this will bless me whether I'm intellectually stimulated or not is helpful. 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:43.320 And, of course, even just writing down your prayers has been a blessing to you. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:43.620 Is that right? 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:44.580 Like, what does that look like? 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:47.740 Do you write, like, for half an hour or do you write for five minutes? 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.460 What does that look like? 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:52.080 I'm about to release a few volumes of just, like, no. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.379 No. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:13:01.720 I think, yeah, it's sometimes, like, I just find that really helpful because there are a couple of things. 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:08.899 One is just, like, you know, if I lose my train of thought, then I can just come back to this. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:15.480 And I don't have to be so on, oh, like, it's easier to not be distracted. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:21.240 But then also I think it's, like, similar to a degree in just, like, we might lift our hands in worship. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:24.779 It's not a magical thing, writing it out, but it just helps. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:30.740 Having some sort of, like, physical connection just helps with our heart as well. 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:32.200 It helps our heart get in the right place. 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:36.920 And then sometimes it's, like, might be at home. 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:43.379 But also more recently I've just tried as well just at lunch or something. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.860 So it's just, like, I have, like, lunch with friends or something. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:53.560 So I've just tried, well, I'm just going to have lunch, lunch with God, write out prayers, I have lunch. 00:13:54.220 --> 00:14:00.000 And that might, you know, I'm eating and I'm, like, let's chat. 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:03.860 And it's, like, trying to have that space as well. 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:10.320 Like, that as well gives me space where I'm not, like, just writing but also can be listening and reflecting. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:13.100 So I find that helpful too. 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:13.800 Thank you. 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:15.040 Hey, we're going to talk more about that. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.200 And you'll notice there's a piece of paper and a pen near you. 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:20.300 If you don't, see if you can find one near you. 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.300 We'll be trying a little bit of that out later. 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.260 But thank you, Paul. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.160 Thank you for coming up. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.580 And let's give him a round of applause. 00:14:25.660 --> 00:14:25.980 Thank you. 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:35.620 I'm exactly the same as Paul in the sense that I try to pray for people. 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.560 And I start with my family. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.720 And I'm, like, God, pray for Christina. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:40.539 I lift her up to you. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:44.759 And then within 30 seconds or so, I've drifted off a little bit. 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.820 I've thought about something else. 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:51.659 And so as I go down the list, even of my family, I mean, Micah never gets prayed for because my mind's just somewhere else now. 00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:53.480 So I started writing them. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:57.920 But actually writing out the prayer was something that was helpful for me. 00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.100 And maybe it will be helpful for you. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:10.279 This psalm here, Psalm 130, it's one of the most well-known psalms to be used for a different kind of prayer, which is the breath prayer, which is you pick one sentence. 00:15:11.060 --> 00:15:13.879 And then when you breathe in, you think half the line. 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:17.759 And then when you breathe out, you think the rest of the line. 00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:21.379 And you just keep basically meditating on that. 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:25.299 So if I give you an example, if you look at Psalm 130 with me, if you've got your Bibles, feel free to have a look. 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.620 Actually, Eunice might put it up. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.279 You can put the ESV version, Eunice. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:34.460 So it's when I breathe in, it'll be like, out of the depths, I cry to you. 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.159 Lord, hear my voice. 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:43.379 Out of the depths, I cry to you. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:46.259 Oh, Lord, hear my voice. 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:51.200 And so this kind of prayer, this breath prayer has been going on for hundreds of years. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.799 People have done this throughout the whole day. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.659 And I've known people who have picked different lines, different verses every day. 00:15:57.939 --> 00:16:03.960 And throughout the day, when you're walking, when you're working, you just breathe it in and then you pray it out. 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:08.660 And the whole idea is just to meditate on it day and night, just as Psalm 1 says. 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:09.960 How can you just have it? 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:13.200 Now, you can't do a whole chapter or a whole book, but you can do one line. 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.840 And that's just one way to pray. 00:16:16.160 --> 00:16:20.300 This prayer, this psalm here is an interesting one because it goes, 00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:22.180 Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.379 Oh, Lord, hear my voice. 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:27.440 Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:36.280 We're going to talk about an interesting topic today, one which the church doesn't really like to talk about that often because it doesn't really feel that good. 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:38.480 At least at the beginning, it doesn't feel good. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:42.300 And that is addressing this issue of sin and confession. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:46.620 When he says, Lord, save me, I am out of my depth. 00:16:46.760 --> 00:16:47.740 I am overwhelmed. 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.880 I am drowning. 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:52.180 And I'm crying to you for mercy. 00:16:52.520 --> 00:16:53.180 What is mercy? 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.200 Mercy is, can you spare me from what I deserve? 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.080 If grace is, can you give me something that I don't deserve? 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.340 Mercy is, can you spare me from something that I do deserve? 00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:02.820 What is that? 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.480 That is sin. 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.440 That is going, God, I have picked my own way. 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:11.759 And now I'm drowning in my own sin, in the consequences of my sin. 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:14.100 And I need you to save me. 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:16.680 How often have we prayed that prayer? 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.600 If we ordered each other's prayers, we'll have prayers about, hey, can you grant us health? 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.759 Can you help us with this project? 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.700 Can you do this? 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.519 Can you help us with this? 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:30.240 But how often have we gone to a place where, God, would you save me? 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.460 And that is the gospel. 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:40.319 If we're to pray like this, we need to understand the gospel. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.900 I preached on Acts 2 a couple months ago. 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:45.579 That early church that was just booming. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.819 And people were devoted to all these things. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.039 What's the requirement for that? 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:56.779 Just before that, in Acts 2.37, it says, Peter preached the gospel and they were cut to the heart. 00:17:56.899 --> 00:18:01.599 That group of people were devoted to all these things because they were cut to the heart. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:08.619 If we're honest with ourselves, how often are we cut to the heart because of our own depravity, because of our own sin? 00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:11.959 Just a quick definition of what sin even is. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:14.079 I mean, S-I-N, I is right in the middle. 00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:17.879 If you put yourself in the middle of your life, that is sin. 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:26.160 And we know that when we put ourselves in the middle, we do all kinds of stupid things, which means we have the consequences of sin. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:28.600 And ultimately, the wages of sin is death. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.340 And we know that. 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:34.100 We, I think, now the Catholic Church are great at this. 00:18:34.800 --> 00:18:39.780 I think the church as a whole is weak at this, which is we have lost the art of confession. 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:42.099 Confession of saying sorry. 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:44.940 I know that Canadians like to say sorry a lot. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.879 How do you guys say it? 00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:47.220 You don't say it in the normal accent way. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:48.879 Sorry. 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:49.859 Sorry. 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:55.700 When was the last time you said sorry to God? 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:59.339 I think we've lost the art of confession. 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:02.579 We're in a day and age where you're not supposed to be sorry for anything. 00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:03.399 Right? 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.960 You are who you are. 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.639 You do you. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.220 You be you. 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.099 You be true to yourself. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.399 No one can tell you that you're wrong. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.519 You don't need to apologize. 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:14.460 You are who you are and do not have any regrets because of it. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:18.200 Of course, if you're married, then you will learn that sorry is a very important word. 00:19:18.280 --> 00:19:22.980 I mean, I say sorry on a daily basis, often for things I don't even know I'm sorry for. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:25.800 But I say sorry first anyway. 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.440 But to God. 00:19:30.060 --> 00:19:31.500 Do we say sorry to God? 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:34.460 Do we confess regularly? 00:19:34.540 --> 00:19:36.460 And that word confession is so hardcore. 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.300 It's so religious. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.100 But my goodness, it is so beautiful. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.000 Do we understand what that means? 00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:46.200 Because we need to understand what the gospel is. 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:50.640 That the gospel is basically grace as a free gift to us. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:55.320 And because of that, we pray. 00:19:57.320 --> 00:20:00.640 Prayer mirrors the gospel, is what Paul Miller says. 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:04.500 Your prayer life mirrors your understanding of the gospel. 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.780 Do we truly have that? 00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:09.740 Ephesians 2 says, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:13.980 We were following the course of this world and the prince of the air, and we were dead. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:16.319 But God being rich in mercy. 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:21.220 Jeremiah 17 says, the heart above all things is deceitful. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.259 I don't know what your heart is like. 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.940 My heart is constantly deceiving me. 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:27.839 Constantly telling me things that I should be thinking and feeling, and I know it's wrong. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.759 Do you have that? 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.400 Jesus knew that. 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:34.299 And John 2, he said, hey, he knew what was in the heart of man. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:41.000 Do you understand what is actually going on inside you? 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.140 1 John says this. 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:44.119 Hey, if you don't think you've sinned, I don't know. 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:46.539 Maybe we all sat here and we feel pretty good about ourselves. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.480 You know, I'm a pretty good person. 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:52.799 If you don't think that you've sinned, then actually what you're doing is you're deceiving yourself, is what John 1 says. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:56.799 Now, but not to be just somber here. 00:20:57.779 --> 00:21:00.860 And I want to, as you can see from this psalm, it doesn't end that way. 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:03.220 But sometimes I don't think we even start this way. 00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:11.740 And we go to God as though we have no problems, that we're actually completely okay and that we deserve to be here and we're entitled to ask for things that we're asking for. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:15.099 But no, this psalm starts off with, God, I am drowning. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.860 I am overwhelmed. 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.980 I am out of my depth. 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:20.980 I'm asking for your mercy. 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:22.240 And we're going to try that today. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:27.480 But I guess for us, I just wanted to make sure that we understand what the gospel is. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:31.380 Because if you don't understand the gospel, then actually prayer isn't that important to you. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.339 Because Jesus is an add-on anyway. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:35.079 Because you don't really think that you need him. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:38.200 And if you don't think that you need him, then you won't really talk to him. 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:46.019 But when we go through trials, when there are health issues that are out of our control, 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:51.359 when people are not behaving the way we want them to behave, and suddenly we're losing and our lives are falling apart, 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:58.299 it's only at that moment when you realize that Jesus is all you have, is that's when you realize that Jesus is all you need. 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:00.299 And that's where prayer comes in. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:05.240 Where we talk to him knowing that he is here for us. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.440 That's what we're going to try and do today. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:10.140 Because the verse that really stuck out to me this week was this. 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:16.559 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.680 This is Romans 3.23. 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:23.620 This is, hey, everyone all fall short of the glory of God. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:28.700 If God walked in here and all his glory came in here, I don't know what you'd be doing, but I would be face flat on the floor. 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:37.660 If the Lord counted the things that we did wrong, we wouldn't be able to stand. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.059 And this is where confession really comes in. 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:48.019 St. Augustine was actually the first one, actually his masterpiece was his book called Confessions. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:54.240 And he said this, in failing to confess, what we're actually doing is that actually I, he says, 00:22:54.240 --> 00:23:01.380 In failing to confess, Lord, I am not really hiding you, I am hiding you from me, but not really me from you. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:05.259 What he means is when we don't confess, what we're actually doing is this. 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:10.140 God, you're not here, I don't, you don't see me, you don't see me. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:15.779 When we don't confess, we're basically saying, God, I can't see you, I can't see you. 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:18.519 But really God can see us this whole time, is what he's saying. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:22.900 But you know that feeling when you've done something wrong. 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:28.440 When you are doing something wrong, where you're just like, God, please don't look at me, please don't see me. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.620 Well, I can't see you, so that means you must not be there. 00:23:32.280 --> 00:23:36.040 But Augustine says that's a pointless pursuit, because God can see you. 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:40.840 But the thing that we don't understand is that God loves us. 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:46.220 Oh Lord, who should mark iniquities, oh Lord, who could stand? 00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:48.000 But with you there is forgiveness. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.759 If we don't understand that forgiveness, then we won't confess. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:56.880 Because when we think about confession, we think, I don't want to fess up to this, because when I do, I'm going to get into trouble. 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:57.500 Right? 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.480 I want to be punished. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.960 But God's saying, confess. 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:04.160 Confess not because you're going to get into trouble. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.140 Not because I am a judgmental, harsh God. 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:09.599 But confess because I love you. 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:13.359 And I want to remove this painful thing from you. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.159 That is sin. 00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:16.959 Something that we're doing to ourselves that is destructive. 00:24:19.699 --> 00:24:21.039 Christina was sharing with me the other day. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:24.299 She's been, we have different plants around our house. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.259 Some of which I killed over the summer. 00:24:27.659 --> 00:24:32.319 When I wasn't around, and Stephen was the one who kind of inspired us and taught us how to use, how to look after plants. 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:35.240 But then she came back, and of course I got into trouble because they were all dead. 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:40.660 But then she started pruning them, and she started to cut out the bits that were unhealthy. 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.640 And then this last week, she was overjoyed. 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.720 Well, maybe overjoyed is a bit of an exaggeration. 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.680 She was like, oh, that's, because why? 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:53.380 Because when you prune the unhealthy ones away, healthy ones grow back out. 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:57.960 And I was like, oh, isn't that what really confession is? 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:00.559 Isn't that what really God is trying to do with us? 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.319 He's saying, surrender. 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:04.140 Get rid of those unhealthy things. 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:07.560 Not because I want to inflict pain on you so I can punish you and ground you. 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:09.640 Get rid of them because they're not good for you. 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:13.720 And if you let me get rid of them, then you will grow. 00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.500 And you will be healthy. 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:16.220 And you know that. 00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:19.060 You know whatever sin that you've got going on in your life, you know it's not good for you. 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:21.259 And somehow you just still keep holding on to it. 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:32.000 God is often described as the great physician or the surgeon who comes in incisively and tries to get rid of the thing that isn't good for your body. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:34.319 It's going to be painful. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.920 But we need it. 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:44.799 So often when we think of grace, we think of this great, beautiful blessing where we finally just receive love, even though we don't deserve it. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:50.640 What we do ignore, though, is this fact that actually grace, at the very beginning at the very least, hurts. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.539 Because grace comes with healing. 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:56.279 Healing does come with hurting sometimes. 00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:00.460 Because we have to get rid of those things that are destructive to us. 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:08.899 So in order for us to have that kind of freedom, to have that kind of redemption, we need to go through this process of healing and hurting. 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.740 And how do we get there? 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:11.599 We start with confession. 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.839 That's why we confess. 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:17.579 The question then becomes, how do we confess? 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:20.799 And one way we do it is actually a different kind of prayer. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:23.159 Richard Foster calls this prayer the prayer of examine. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:27.839 Where you basically go, God, examine me. 00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:31.199 Do a body check. 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.619 Do a heart check on me. 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:35.139 Because the things that I don't know exist in my body. 00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:38.720 The things that I don't know about in my soul. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:46.339 This prayer is the one where you open up your hands and you go, God, search my heart. 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.680 Test my thoughts. 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:55.220 If there is any anxious or offensive way in me, lead me in the way everlasting. 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:58.120 The Psalm 139. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:02.500 What I want us to do today is to practice a little bit of that. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.360 Is that okay? 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.900 Now, it's going to be a safe space. 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:11.060 Because when we're talking about sin and when we're talking about confession, I know there's a lot of us are, well, I don't even know the person next to me. 00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:13.800 I'm not going to confess all the little things. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.640 And I respect that. 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:23.180 Of course, if you're actually devoted to and part of this community right here, I would encourage you. 00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:24.720 Confess your sins and be healed. 00:27:26.580 --> 00:27:28.340 Confess your sins to someone else who loves you. 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.000 Who knows you. 00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:31.480 Who can hold you accountable. 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.880 And you will feel the freedom that comes. 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:37.580 If you've got this monkey on your back, if you're chasing the shadow, you can't do it on your own. 00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.840 Confess it to people. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.920 But first start by confessing it to God. 00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:44.520 Now, so this is our time today. 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:46.640 If you're here for the first time, welcome you. 00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:48.120 We're not usually this somber. 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:51.060 But this is part of the prayer for us today. 00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:53.320 Because I think we've also lost the art of this. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.700 Because we've lost our understanding of the gospel. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:58.900 And when you truly understand that there is a freedom that comes from it. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:01.299 When that unhealthy part of the plant is trimmed off. 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.720 Or when that tumor is taken out. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:05.360 Suddenly you feel freedom and you feel health. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.920 And that's my prayer for all of us. 00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:10.680 That's why God says, come to me with all of your burdens. 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:14.080 Because in me there is forgiveness. 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:17.839 But before I do that, I wanted to read you one of my favorite, favorite stories. 00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:21.980 That I think I actually have read before. 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.500 It's from the Chronicles of Narnia. 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.579 And it's from the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.819 And it's one of my favorite stories. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.240 Some of you will have heard this before. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:32.659 Because it's just this beautiful picture of what grace truly is. 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:35.679 And how grace and healing can bring hurt. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.039 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:38.720 Does anyone know what I'm about to share? 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.559 The story I'm about to share? 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.179 I think Ellen will. 00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:42.619 Now this is a story. 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.439 Oh yes, Annabelle. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:46.039 So, in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:48.740 They've got these four kids who go into this wardrobe. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.539 That's Narnia. 00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:51.860 And then they have this cousin. 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:56.000 This cousin is selfish and obnoxious and arrogant. 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:59.700 And so he constantly causes trouble throughout the whole story. 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.400 There's one moment where he runs away. 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:03.759 And he runs into a dragon's cave. 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:05.700 And when he sees the dragon's cave, there's loads of treasures. 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.420 And so he's overcome with greed. 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.880 And so he takes all the treasures. 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.240 And he puts on this bracelet. 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.440 And then he falls asleep. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.299 And without knowing, when he wakes up, he's now a dragon. 00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.320 Okay? 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.480 And he's terrified. 00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:18.240 He doesn't know why he's become a dragon. 00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:19.500 And so he goes out. 00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:20.360 And he meets his cousins. 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:25.120 And they try everything to try and help him stop being a dragon and become a human being again. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.360 But they couldn't do it. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.400 And so that's the premise of this story. 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.680 And I'm going to read the rest of you. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:31.100 Do forgive us. 00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:33.400 This is a little bit of kind of older English here. 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:40.620 Because despite all his attempts to try and shed the skin of this dragon, he can't do it. 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:43.240 And then one night, Aslan shows up. 00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:44.400 Who's Aslan? 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.779 Aslan is the lion. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:48.700 And these stories represents God. 00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:49.299 Okay? 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.759 So, and here's the story. 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:52.740 So just, it'll take two minutes or maybe. 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.980 So just embrace it. 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:56.139 And if you need to close your eyes, whatever it might be, you can do this. 00:29:56.619 --> 00:30:01.279 So, Eustace himself retells the story of his encounter with Aslan. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:06.379 I was just going to say that I couldn't undress because I hadn't any clothes on. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:11.180 When I suddenly thought that dragons are snakey sort of things and snakes can cast their skins. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.960 Of course, thought I, that's what the lion means. 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:17.859 So I started scratching myself and my scales began coming off all over the place. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.619 And then I scratched a little deeper. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:24.099 Instead of just scales coming off here and there, my whole skin started peeling off beautifully. 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.839 Like it does after an illness. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:27.059 Or as if I was a banana. 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:29.680 In a minute or two, I just stepped out of it. 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:32.519 I could see it lying there beside me looking rather nasty. 00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:34.259 It was a most lovely feeling. 00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:36.740 So I started to go down into the well for my bath. 00:30:37.820 --> 00:30:46.000 But just as I was going down to put my feet into the water, I looked down and saw that they were all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly. 00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:47.720 Just as they had been before. 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.820 Oh, that's all right, said I. 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:53.180 It only means I had another smaller suit on underneath the first one. 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.600 And I'll have to get out of it too. 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.860 So I scratched and tore again. 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:59.219 And this underskin peeled off beautifully. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:04.319 And out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bath. 00:31:05.479 --> 00:31:07.819 Well, exactly the same thing happened again though. 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:11.879 And I thought to myself, oh dear, however many skins have I got to take off? 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:14.379 For I was longing to bathe my leg. 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:19.519 So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:22.659 But as soon as I looked at myself in the water, I knew it had been no good. 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:27.400 Then the lion said, but I don't know if it spoke. 00:31:27.560 --> 00:31:28.640 You'll have to let me undress you. 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:32.460 I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. 00:31:32.600 --> 00:31:35.160 So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:41.200 The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:45.779 And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:50.940 The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:58.359 You know, if you've ever picked the scab of a sore place, it hurts like Billy-O, but it is such fun to see it coming away. 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:04.279 Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off, just as I thought I'd done it myself the other three times. 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.480 Only they hadn't hurt. 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:11.680 And there I was lying on the grass, only ever so much thicker and darker and more knobbly looking than the others had been. 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:16.400 And there was I, as smooth and as soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.980 Then he caught hold of me. 00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:23.720 I didn't like that much, for I was very tender underneath now, that I had no skin on, and threw me into the water. 00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:26.640 It smarted like anything, but only for a moment. 00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:29.060 After that, it became perfectly delicious. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:33.620 And as I soon started swimming and splashing, I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.620 And then I saw why. 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.460 I turned into a boy again. 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:42.460 The symbolism in this scene is so powerful. 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:46.840 Because Eustace tries time and time again to get rid of the layers himself. 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.759 It doesn't hurt as much, mind you. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:51.920 But he keeps trying, and it goes off for a bit. 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:56.259 And then he realizes there's more, and it's still just as ugly, and it's still just as rough. 00:32:56.700 --> 00:33:00.660 It's only when Aslan comes in and pierces much deeper 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:05.660 does he experience the true liberation and freedom and redemption that comes. 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:08.740 That is confession. 00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:15.019 Psalm 139, when it says, search my heart, test my thoughts, what you're saying is, God, examine me together. 00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:20.779 Because I'll tell you what, when you do it yourself, when you just examine yourself and just review yourself, 00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:24.779 what will end up happening is either excessive blame or excessive praise. 00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:26.500 You either jump to your own defense. 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:30.420 When you're defending yourself, you're like, oh yeah, James, give yourself a break. 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:34.900 It's okay, that person was being obnoxious, so that's why you were justified to say what you had to say. 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:37.000 And I'm like, it's okay, and that person doesn't know. 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:40.880 And so you have all these thoughts that go into your mind if you just review your own sin. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:45.259 Or you go the other way, and if you review your own sin, you end up just wallowing. 00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:48.400 You're like, I am such a terrible person. 00:33:48.540 --> 00:33:50.700 I will never get out of this slump. 00:33:51.320 --> 00:33:52.460 I deserve to be here. 00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:53.340 I am nothing. 00:33:53.540 --> 00:33:54.259 I am worthless. 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:57.300 And honestly, both those extremes are not good. 00:33:57.299 --> 00:34:02.579 When we invite God in to examine with us, we're saying, God, show me. 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.919 Walk with me in this. 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:07.919 Highlight to me anything that is in my heart that isn't of you. 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:10.420 And then help me get rid of it. 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.199 And I know it might hurt. 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:15.079 But I know that hurt leads to healing. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.880 And that healing leads to redemption. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:22.559 That's what we're going to try to do today. 00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:24.340 And I'm going to invite Kelly just to jump on the keys. 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:29.019 And we're going to do it this way. 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:32.579 You have a piece of card there. 00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:36.599 And just as Paul shared with us about how he does it, 00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:41.039 we're going to use this card just as a sample, as an example for you. 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.820 You don't have to share it. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:43.720 You don't have to give it to anyone unless you want to. 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.940 Write out a confession. 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:53.380 Well, first of all, just open up your heart and your mind to God. 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:56.079 And go, God, is there anything that's actually even I don't realize I'm doing? 00:34:56.960 --> 00:35:00.079 Any sin in my life that actually is really tearing me apart? 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:02.000 But I've become so used to it. 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:03.059 I've become numb to it. 00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:05.240 And now I'm hurting people with it. 00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:07.900 Invite him in. 00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:11.220 But remember, when you invite him, he does not come with judgment. 00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:12.260 He comes with a sword. 00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:14.300 But that sword isn't to destroy. 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:20.140 That sword is to come and take away the hurt, to take away the unhealthy, 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:24.440 just like a surgeon would, just like a gardener would. 00:35:25.080 --> 00:35:26.400 And let's open ourselves to him. 00:35:26.580 --> 00:35:32.360 And when you've reflected, then actually, right, it might be a confession to God. 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:35.560 Maybe it starts off with, God, I'm sorry. 00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:39.539 Maybe it's a confession to someone. 00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:46.279 In which case, feel free to write that and also pass it to that person at your own time as well. 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:49.619 But let's spend a bit of time in that confession space. 00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:52.259 And this is, again, we're not going to be able to cover everything here, 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:55.320 but it's, at least I hope for us, a start. 00:35:55.320 --> 00:36:01.980 Why don't I start with a word of prayer just to help us enter into that space. 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:04.840 And maybe before we even write, can I invite you to open up your hands? 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:14.220 What I actually really wanted to do was to invite us all to kneel and bow. 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:17.400 But I think with the room constraints, we're not going to do that. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:22.539 But if you feel compelled to do it, there's something so beautiful about kneeling and bowing. 00:36:22.700 --> 00:36:25.100 It's just a complete act of surrender and opening to God. 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:30.860 Our culture is one that is more conservative, so I know that's not always easy, 00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:35.319 but consider this your permission if you actually feel the need to bow. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:38.119 But right now, Lord, we open up our hands. 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.799 We trust you. 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:47.159 We know that you are good. 00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:52.139 We know that you bring healing. 00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:57.539 But we know that healing sometimes comes with hurting. 00:37:02.819 --> 00:37:03.900 Would you search our hearts? 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:09.159 Would you test our thoughts? 00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:16.980 If there is any anxiety or anything offensive that isn't of you, 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.859 would you give us the strength to confess it? 00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:24.980 To surrender it to you? 00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:42.139 When you're ready, feel free to just start journaling and writing on your card. 00:37:42.139 --> 00:38:00.879 I think we've lost the art of confession because we've lost the knowledge of who God truly is. 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.639 Holy and righteous. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.960 To be feared. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:12.179 But in him there is forgiveness. 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:15.780 I'm reminded of the story in Exodus where the Israelites, 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:17.920 they've seen miracle after miracle after miracle. 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.400 And then Moses heads up to the mountain. 00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:22.240 And then they mess up. 00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:26.380 And they have a little calf that they start to worship instead. 00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:30.099 And Moses comes down and slams the tablets and breaks them. 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.519 He goes back up again. 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:36.099 And at that moment, can you put yourself as an Israelite? 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:37.400 Oh my goodness. 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:39.480 We have messed up. 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:41.159 Big time. 00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:46.440 The God who parted the sea is now going to send a lightning bolt and destroy us all. 00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.559 This is it. 00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:48.460 This is our last day. 00:38:50.500 --> 00:38:51.500 And then what does God say? 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:57.239 We should never, ever take for granted what God says in that moment to Moses in Exodus 34. 00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:02.980 The Lord descends in the cloud after the mistake and stood with him and then said this. 00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:11.280 The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 00:39:11.559 --> 00:39:16.079 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, 00:39:16.740 --> 00:39:19.179 but who will by no means clear the guilty. 00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:21.539 Can you imagine that? 00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:28.139 I confess, I'm pretty sure my kids don't feel that when they make a mistake. 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:33.019 They're like, oh man, dad's going to, dad's going to come down hard on me now. 00:39:34.779 --> 00:39:43.239 And I don't say, children, I, your father, am slow to anger, gracious and merciful. 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:50.320 I think our lost art of confession is because we've forgotten who God truly is. 00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:51.620 And that's God's message to us. 00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:55.700 Come to me, even with your hurt, even with your sin. 00:39:55.800 --> 00:40:00.539 It is so much bigger than that teeny mistake that you've made that you think is incredibly big. 00:40:02.100 --> 00:40:02.800 Come to me. 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:04.559 I'm gracious. 00:40:05.600 --> 00:40:06.440 I'm compassionate. 00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:08.500 I'm slow to anger. 00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:11.100 I'm abounding in steadfast love. 00:40:12.780 --> 00:40:14.900 My redemption is plentiful. 00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:18.180 You've been finding different things to redeem yourself in. 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:20.679 Maybe relationships that help you feel better about yourself. 00:40:20.879 --> 00:40:24.099 Maybe you throw yourself into your career because that will help you feel better about yourself. 00:40:24.339 --> 00:40:27.960 Maybe there's people who you want to hear their voice because they will help you feel better about yourself. 00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:31.679 Those things have limited redemption. 00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:35.059 But in him there is plentiful. 00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:36.699 And he says, I've got this. 00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:39.960 I've covered you completely. 00:40:40.219 --> 00:40:41.279 Would you just come to me? 00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:44.920 And this is where it lifts up and finishes on a nice note. 00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:47.800 Because when we take that confession, there's a few things that happen. 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:48.980 And then we just wait. 00:40:52.580 --> 00:40:54.080 But wait expectantly. 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:56.320 Like watchmen wait for the morning. 00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:59.019 Because you know that the morning is coming. 00:40:59.019 --> 00:41:06.920 Maybe the remotely similar thing that we experience is when we're feeling jet lag and we're like, oh, can it just be morning? 00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:09.179 But you know morning is coming. 00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:11.559 And you know redemption is coming. 00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:13.639 That's why you can confess easily. 00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:16.579 Because you know redemption is coming. 00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:17.960 So you wait. 00:41:18.219 --> 00:41:19.440 You wait expectantly. 00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:21.179 And you wait in community. 00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:22.280 He says, oh, Israel. 00:41:22.280 --> 00:41:26.440 When he's talking after talking to God, he then turns and says, oh, Israel. 00:41:27.060 --> 00:41:28.200 We're in this together. 00:41:29.800 --> 00:41:31.019 And we wait in community. 00:41:32.740 --> 00:41:34.320 Oh, Israel, hope in the Lord. 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:35.820 For with the Lord there is steadfast love. 00:41:38.180 --> 00:41:39.240 And that's why we gather. 00:41:40.080 --> 00:41:42.800 Because we are sinners in need of a Savior. 00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:45.900 And there is a Redeemer. 00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:48.280 In Ecclesiastes 7, it says this. 00:41:48.780 --> 00:41:51.260 Surely there is no one righteous on this earth who never sins. 00:41:51.260 --> 00:41:52.580 And I agree. 00:41:52.680 --> 00:41:54.780 There is no one righteous on this earth that never sins. 00:41:54.900 --> 00:41:57.660 There is no one righteous in here who never sins. 00:42:00.180 --> 00:42:01.960 But we so happen to know there was one. 00:42:02.520 --> 00:42:03.180 There is one. 00:42:05.580 --> 00:42:09.760 Who was righteous and who is righteous and who will ever be righteous who never sinned. 00:42:10.420 --> 00:42:13.480 Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:19.920 So let us carry whatever sin that we have and we release it. 00:42:21.260 --> 00:42:26.720 Knowing that it is just a part of the journey where God is just pruning so that we would grow. 00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:33.559 If you have written a card and it is for God, then please fold it, keep it to yourself. 00:42:34.139 --> 00:42:36.359 Continue on this as you go home. 00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:42.799 If you have written a card and it is actually to someone, I pray that you will have the courage just to take it to them. 00:42:43.439 --> 00:42:45.899 And just go, this is all the Lord showed me. 00:42:45.900 --> 00:42:49.460 And I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. 00:42:51.960 --> 00:43:00.220 A couple of years ago, one of the pastors that I grew up watching and really admiring from afar, he had a big scandal and he fell. 00:43:00.219 --> 00:43:05.899 As with so many church leaders and that's something that terrifies me often. 00:43:07.399 --> 00:43:12.559 He's recently come back out and him and his wife did a podcast and they were sharing about their journey of redemption. 00:43:13.419 --> 00:43:18.559 And there's one thing that just his wife just said, I haven't watched all of it, but there's one thing his wife said that just really just struck me. 00:43:18.559 --> 00:43:24.539 And she was talking to the people who are caught in sin, who are caught in infidelity. 00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:34.619 She's like, she's saying, confess, confess, not because you need to be judged and because you need to be punished. 00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:38.500 Confess because there's something beautiful on the other side. 00:43:40.380 --> 00:43:44.039 Confess because there's something beautiful on the other side. 00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:49.259 And as someone who had gone through it, she still stood there saying, confess because it is so freeing. 00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:50.820 It is so beautiful. 00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:55.440 That is the prayer of confession. 00:43:56.340 --> 00:43:57.699 That we would go there daily. 00:43:58.300 --> 00:44:01.059 Because I don't know about you, I confessed something last week. 00:44:02.380 --> 00:44:05.279 But I'll need to confess it again today and tomorrow. 00:44:06.259 --> 00:44:06.920 Every day. 00:44:08.759 --> 00:44:11.179 Because the heart is deceitful above all things. 00:44:11.179 --> 00:44:13.079 But then we wait. 00:44:13.359 --> 00:44:14.279 In expectancy. 00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:16.119 In community. 00:44:17.819 --> 00:44:19.000 Because we have a redeemer. 00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:25.559 Jesus, we thank you. 00:44:28.079 --> 00:44:30.159 That you come and you make all things new. 00:44:35.019 --> 00:44:36.299 That you are our redeemer. 00:44:36.300 --> 00:44:41.340 And your redemption is plentiful. 00:44:41.620 --> 00:44:44.220 You take away the sins of the world. 00:44:47.480 --> 00:44:48.580 And so we confess. 00:44:52.140 --> 00:44:53.940 Knowing that grace and mercy awaits us. 00:45:01.060 --> 00:45:01.760 Thank you, Lord. 00:45:02.860 --> 00:45:03.920 In your name we pray. 00:45:05.080 --> 00:45:05.440 Amen. 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.460 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:36.440 Thank you.