WEBVTT

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 As we sit, let's bow our heads and pray together.

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 Our gracious Father, we thank you for your word.

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 And we thank you, Lord, that you taught us that your word is truth

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 and that your truth can set people like us free.

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 And Father, we pray for that freedom as we hear your word and discern your truth.

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 And Father, we pray that prayer in the hope that we might become free

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 to be the people that you call us to be in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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 In Luke chapter 5, we read these words,

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 The power of the Lord was present for Jesus to heal the sick.

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 In 2012, you will recall that the Olympics took place in London.

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 And before the Olympics, there was quite a lot of haroush about

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 how do you get tickets and what do you do.

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 And my PA at the time was very keen to go to the Olympics.

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 And somebody had told her, apply for loads and loads of tickets

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 because the more you apply for, the more likely you are to get awarded some.

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 She also claimed that somebody told her that if you get awarded a lot,

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 you don't have to pay for them.

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 So she put in her application and amazingly,

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 she got 1,800 pounds worth of tickets.

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 And then she discovered that actually she did have to pay for them.

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 And even more amazing,

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 well, she'd rather hope that she might get, you know,

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 the 100 meters final or one of the cycling races or something.

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 She got, in fact, five days of synchronized swimming.

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 Now, I am not here in any way to mock synchronized swimming.

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 It looks to me strange,

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 but it also looks to me to be really skillful.

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 And I can understand why it is an Olympic sport.

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 The problem with it is, as far as I can best tell,

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 I have never met anybody outside of the Olympics

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 who's told me they're off today to go and watch synchronized swimming.

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 I've never known that.

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 So I imagine that what there is,

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 there is a small number of people

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 who are very excited about synchronized swimming.

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 Then there are the rest of us who aren't quite sure what to make of it.

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 And there are some,

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 and I've heard comedians stand up and mock it.

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 Today, we're going to be talking about

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 the church's ministry of healing.

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 Having been a minister for 50 years,

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 more,

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 I've discovered that there are some people

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 who are very excited about the healing ministry.

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 Sometimes, I wonder if they're a bit overexcited,

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 but I'll come back to that.

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 Then there is the rest of us who might be persuaded,

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 but we're not sure.

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 We've all heard stories about prayers we prayed,

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 and the person who we prayed for didn't get healed.

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 So we're not quite sure.

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 Is this just unreasonably lifting people's expectations?

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 And then there are some,

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 call themselves cessationalists,

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 who believe that

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 all the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in Romans chapter 12

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 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12

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 ceased the moment the last apostle of Jesus died.

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 It seems to me that is wrong and severe,

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 and if you are a cessationalist,

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 I do apologize to you,

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 but my reading of Scripture would lead me to believe

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 I can't agree with that position.

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 In 1984,

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 a man called John Wimber

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 arrived on these shores.

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 His presence heralded quite a lot of publicity,

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 most of it good,

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 and his big message was that

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 alongside the preaching of God's Word,

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 God wishes to do signs and wonders.

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 And John Wimber, I think,

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 had a remarkable ministry.

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 I had the privilege of going to his church

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 in Anaheim in Los Angeles

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 on Easter Sunday

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 when a crowd of 5,000 people

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 gathered in a warehouse

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 to listen to the Easter message

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 and to receive healing,

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 if that's what they wanted.

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 Well, I'm here to tell you this morning

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 that I think the healing ministry

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 is an integral part of the life of the church.

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 And I want to give you four reasons now

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 why I think it's so important.

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 The first thing is,

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 Jesus did miracles.

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 Jesus prayed for healing.

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 And he encouraged his disciples

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 to do the same.

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 Some of you may have read that amazing verse

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 in John chapter 14,

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 verse 12, I think it is,

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 where Jesus says this.

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 He said,

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 I tell you the truth,

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 anyone who has faith in me

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 will do what I have been doing.

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 Imagine that.

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 Will do what I have been doing.

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 And then John goes on.

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 He says this,

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 he will do even greater things than these

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 because I'm going to the Father.

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 In other words,

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 what Jesus is saying here

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 is that when he goes to the Father,

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 he's leaving behind

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 a new community of people,

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 you and me,

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 who are supposed to continue

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 his work here on earth.

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 That work,

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 quite clearly,

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 as we observe in the New Testament,

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 involves the ministry of healing.

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 It's important because Jesus healed

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 and encouraged his disciples

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 to play their part.

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 Two,

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 we need to have

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 a bigger understanding

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 of salvation.

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 The word in the New Testament,

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 I mean,

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 I don't know what you think

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 when you think of the word salvation.

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 I've heard people say,

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 oh, God has saved me from myself

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 and there's a measure of truth in that.

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 I've heard many of you say,

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 God has saved me

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 from the consequences of my sin

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 and there's nothing wrong with that.

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 But in the New Testament,

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 the concept of salvation

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 is better understood

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 on a much broader plane

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 than simply

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 the forgiveness of sins,

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 though in my case,

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 that would be enough.

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 No,

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 it's about wholeness.

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 It's about the integration

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 of body,

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 mind,

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 soul,

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 and spirit.

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 And salvation embraces

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 all those ideas,

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 which clearly

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 must take into account

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 body,

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 as well as mind,

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 soul,

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 and spirit.

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 So the ministry of healing

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 is important

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 because it is

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 part of what salvation

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 is meant to deliver.

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 In Romans,

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 in chapter 6,

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 and verse 23 onwards,

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 we read these words.

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 He said,

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 now you have been set

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 free from sin,

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 have become slaves to God.

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 The benefit you reap

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 leads to holiness,

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 wholeness,

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 holiness,

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 and the result

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 is eternal life.

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 For the wages of sin

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 is death,

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 but the gift of God

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 is eternal life

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 in Christ Jesus,

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 our Lord.

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 A right standing

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 of salvation

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 is an understanding

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 of God's concern

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 to free us

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 in every area

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 of our lives,

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 body,

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 mind,

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 soul,

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 and spirit.

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 Salvation

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 carries with it

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 this profound idea

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 of wholeness.

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 And wholeness

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 can also be described

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 as holiness.

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 First Thessalonians,

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 Paul tells us that

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 we're called to holiness.

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 The third thing is,

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 healing is a sign

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 of the coming kingdom.

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 In Luke chapter 4,

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 we read these words.

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 In verses 18 to 21.

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 Sorry about this.

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 My eyesight can't pick

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 the numbers of the verses.

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 Jesus talks about,

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 in Mark chapter 4,

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 verse 21,

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 the idea

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 that the coming kingdom

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 is about bringing

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 this wholeness

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 to each of us.

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 I'll come back to that

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 in just a moment.

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 And the fourth thing is,

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 healing is a gift

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 of the Holy Spirit.

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 What I want to teach you

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 today is

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 that we all,

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 if you're a follower

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 of Jesus Christ,

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 we all have a part

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 to play

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 in the healing ministry.

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 Within that,

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 there are some people

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 who are particularly gifted

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 with gifts of healing.

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 healing.

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 It's what we're told

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 in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

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 In that great list

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 of gifts that Paul says

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 are spiritual gifts,

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 we are all called

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 to play our part

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 in the healing ministry.

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 Second thing I want

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 to teach you about

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 this morning is that

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 I think if we're going

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 to understand

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 healing ministry

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 in our churches,

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 we need to understand

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 the role of faith

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 in the ministry

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 of healing.

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 You can find

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 several occasions

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 in the New Testament

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 where Jesus

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 commends people

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 for their faith.

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 Remember,

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 there was a

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 woman

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 in Mark chapter 5

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 and verse 34

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 who touched,

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 she'd had a

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 serious

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 gynecological

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 plane for years

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 and she touched

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 the hem of Jesus

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 and was healed.

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 And there's no

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 apparent statement

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 of faith from her

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 or anything like that.

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 She just touched

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 his robe

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 and she was healed.

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 And Jesus says

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 to her,

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 mysteriously,

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 your faith

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 has made you well.

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 There are plenty

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 of occasions

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 where it says

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 that Jesus

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 healed people

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 because of their faith,

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 but there are

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 occasions too

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 when Jesus

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 told people

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 that they were healed

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 even though

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 they expressed

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 no faith.

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 The healing

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 of the

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 gathering swine

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 which you read about

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 in Mark chapter 5.

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 Remember where

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 Jesus meets this man

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 severely tormented

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 by evil spirits.

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 And Jesus

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 takes the evil spirits

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 and casts them

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 into a

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 herd of pigs

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 which run into

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 the water

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 and drown.

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 There's never

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 no sign

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 whatsoever

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 that the man

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 who was disturbed

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 had any faith.

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 In fact,

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 the only people

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 who recognized

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 Jesus in that story

00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:20.740
 were the evil spirits

00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.639
 that dwelt

00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:22.280
 within him.

00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:24.780
 Faith

00:12:24.780 --> 00:12:25.639
 is

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.480
 mysterious.

00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:28.700
 And what I mean

00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.460
 by that is

00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:30.639
 it would be great,

00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:30.980
 wouldn't it,

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.780
 if we could write

00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.700
 some mathematical

00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:33.500
 formula.

00:12:34.640 --> 00:12:35.440
 So me

00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.780
 plus my faith

00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:38.100
 equals miracle.

00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:40.839
 Sadly,

00:12:41.839 --> 00:12:42.659
 we're mostly

00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:43.720
 too grown up

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.459
 to know

00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:45.480
 that that's not true.

00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:46.579
 It doesn't mean

00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:48.419
 that people like me

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.379
 and people like you

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:50.240
 wouldn't benefit

00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.579
 if we had more faith.

00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.459
 Of course not.

00:12:54.199 --> 00:12:55.079
 On the other hand,

00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.100
 Jesus did say,

00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:56.659
 didn't he,

00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.959
 and this is mystery

00:12:57.959 --> 00:12:58.559
 as well,

00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:00.319
 is that if you have

00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:01.419
 faith the size

00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:02.500
 of a mustard seed,

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.600
 you can go and say

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.300
 to that mountain,

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:06.480
 go throw yourself

00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.420
 into the sea

00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:09.300
 and it will be done.

00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:11.820
 The thing about

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:13.600
 a mustard seed is,

00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:14.720
 I'm told

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.540
 it's a very,

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.860
 very tiny seed.

00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:17.620
 You have faith

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.940
 the size of a mustard seed.

00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:19.759
 I don't think

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.700
 Jesus intended

00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.759
 that we would make

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.779
 cosmetic changes

00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.740
 to the universe.

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:27.419
 But what he is saying

00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:27.919
 is,

00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:30.039
 faith is important

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:32.259
 and you may not

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.180
 need a lot of it

00:13:33.180 --> 00:13:35.120
 in order to see me

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.740
 do amazing work.

00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.419
 The mystery of faith

00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:43.100
 bears down upon us

00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:45.799
 because I am aware

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:47.000
 in my own life

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:48.560
 and I would guess

00:13:48.560 --> 00:13:49.919
 in the lives

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:51.000
 of many of you,

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.379
 you have prayed

00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.159
 for somebody

00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.500
 and nothing

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.120
 has happened.

00:13:58.899 --> 00:13:59.659
 Some of you

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.779
 might even describe

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.480
 the fact that

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.220
 you've hammered

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.799
 on the doors

00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.340
 of heaven

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.179
 for somebody

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.679
 you loved

00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.659
 who was very ill

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.840
 or for yourself,

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.240
 whatever.

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.639
 And nothing happened.

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.559
 The psalmist

00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:14.480
 confronted this

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.299
 in the Psalms.

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.539
 They don't

00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.799
 translate it like this

00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:19.559
 in the English

00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:20.700
 versions of the Bible.

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.940
 But at one point

00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:22.500
 the psalmist

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.440
 is basically saying

00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:24.220
 where are you God?

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.059
 Are you in the loo?

00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.379
 Because the silence

00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:31.120
 was deafening.

00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.559
 And you know

00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.519
 what that silence

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.440
 is like.

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:40.700
 And so your temptation

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:42.860
 is to give up.

00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:45.740
 To stand back

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.600
 from the ministry

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.279
 of healing

00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.200
 and hope

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.940
 that there may be

00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:50.059
 others specially gifted

00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:50.819
 who will do it.

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.519
 But as far as

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.319
 you're concerned

00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:54.099
 you're not really

00:14:54.099 --> 00:14:55.479
 bothered about it

00:14:55.479 --> 00:14:56.139
 anymore.

00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.699
 Or even worse

00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:01.500
 you develop

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.399
 a terrible

00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.139
 negativity

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.179
 towards God.

00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:07.599
 I well remember

00:15:07.599 --> 00:15:09.139
 going to speak

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.279
 in Dowie Abbey

00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.019
 which is a Roman

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.039
 Catholic abbey

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:14.519
 in Berkshire.

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.120
 And they asked

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.799
 me to speak

00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.519
 on forgiveness

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.719
 for six weeks.

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.739
 And my last session

00:15:22.739 --> 00:15:23.500
 was about

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.179
 our need

00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.039
 to forgive God.

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.839
 Because I'm aware

00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:30.159
 that there are people

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.019
 maybe here this morning

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:34.399
 who are angry

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:34.980
 with God

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:37.460
 because they prayed

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:39.240
 and they felt

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.740
 that God

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.799
 let them down.

00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:42.740
 That's a very

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.639
 understandable

00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.659
 response

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.600
 but at some point

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:45.960
 friend

00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:47.340
 you're going to have

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:47.840
 to let go

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.259
 of that.

00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:50.519
 It's not going

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.460
 to do you good

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:52.600
 just to blame

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.000
 God

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.279
 and have a

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:54.819
 negative

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.740
 attitude

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.659
 towards Him.

00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:58.939
 In this abbey

00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:00.919
 I started to talk

00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:02.139
 about forgiving God

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.980
 it's full of

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.480
 packed with Roman

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.059
 Catholics

00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:07.799
 come to this

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.699
 Lent course

00:16:08.699 --> 00:16:11.059
 and suddenly

00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.819
 I was aware

00:16:12.819 --> 00:16:13.600
 that in the

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.219
 congregation

00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:15.679
 I could hear

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.179
 sobs

00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:18.039
 and then there

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.500
 were more

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:18.980
 sobs

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.759
 and then

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.579
 more sobs

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:22.500
 and suddenly

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.679
 an awful lot

00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.419
 of people in there

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.100
 were weeping.

00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.579
 faced with the

00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:28.079
 reality

00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:30.279
 that they knew

00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:30.899
 they had to

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.679
 forgive God.

00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:33.919
 Well it's a Roman

00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.679
 Catholic abbey

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.299
 so there's no

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.959
 prayer ministry

00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:36.439
 at the end

00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.019
 or anything like

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:37.159
 that.

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:37.639
 We all went

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:37.919
 home

00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.259
 I had no

00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:38.719
 idea

00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:39.639
 what happened

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.360
 after that.

00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:44.059
 But if you're

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.639
 one of them

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.719
 maybe you need

00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:48.219
 to sob

00:16:48.219 --> 00:16:50.120
 and maybe you

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.740
 need to seek

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.559
 God's forgiveness.

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.339
 The last thing

00:16:53.339 --> 00:16:53.939
 I want to say

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.679
 to you is this

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.219
 I've said that

00:16:56.219 --> 00:16:56.779
 the ministry

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.299
 of healing

00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.059
 is for all

00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:58.399
 of us

00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.139
 I want to

00:16:59.139 --> 00:16:59.459
 ask the

00:16:59.459 --> 00:16:59.759
 question

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.419
 so what

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:00.859
 is your

00:17:00.859 --> 00:17:01.359
 part?

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.039
 We all

00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.659
 have a part

00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.159
 to play.

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:04.759
 Well the

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.279
 first thing

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.259
 is I would

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:07.759
 love you

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.379
 to develop

00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:09.000
 the habit

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.819
 you can do

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.259
 it on a

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.679
 piece of

00:17:11.679 --> 00:17:12.500
 paper or

00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.579
 somebody said

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.019
 to me

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.799
 they got a

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.279
 little black

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.740
 book I

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.220
 didn't quite

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.659
 like the

00:17:16.659 --> 00:17:17.059
 sound of

00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.299
 that.

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.359
 But they

00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:19.759
 got a little

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.159
 black book

00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:20.480
 where they

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.159
 put in the

00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:21.700
 names of

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.559
 people who

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.179
 they knew

00:17:23.179 --> 00:17:23.819
 who were in

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.240
 need of

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:24.620
 healing.

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.380
 And they

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:29.859
 wrote down

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:30.259
 the names

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:30.720
 of people

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.240
 and every

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.799
 day in

00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.259
 the presence

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.700
 of God

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.120
 they just

00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:34.559
 read.

00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.019
 I know

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.440
 some of

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:35.740
 you do

00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:37.279
 that already.

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:38.680
 You can

00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.339
 even do it

00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:39.700
 on your

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.620
 smartphone in

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:41.059
 the notes

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.519
 section.

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.460
 Just put

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.160
 down people's

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:43.500
 names.

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.779
 And every

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.759
 day if you

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.500
 can't find

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.819
 90 seconds

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.279
 or two

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:50.480
 minutes I

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:50.720
 would have

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.200
 to question

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:51.799
 how deep

00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.799
 your discipleship

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.240
 goes.

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.579
 and just

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.980
 bring people

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.500
 to God.

00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.259
 The second

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.900
 thing is

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.680
 this is

00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.079
 really

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.740
 important.

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.859
 See we're

00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:06.460
 all part of

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:06.859
 the healing

00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:07.599
 ministry and

00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.400
 God's great

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.500
 idea was

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:11.059
 that the

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.579
 church,

00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:12.420
 you and

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.740
 me,

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.079
 gathered here

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.599
 today,

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.259
 Christians all

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:17.660
 over the

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:17.880
 world,

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.380
 that the

00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:18.740
 church,

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:19.259
 the new

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.120
 community of

00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.599
 believers,

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:20.740
 churches,

00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:22.240
 would be a

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.740
 place

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.379
 which would

00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.939
 in itself

00:18:25.939 --> 00:18:27.039
 be a kind

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.679
 of healing

00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:28.480
 community.

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.500
 And I'd

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.079
 like to say

00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.559
 to you,

00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:32.179
 you know,

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.919
 my experience

00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.859
 is that all

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.699
 churches are

00:18:34.699 --> 00:18:35.439
 wonderfully

00:18:35.439 --> 00:18:36.339
 whole and

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.740
 healing

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.439
 communities.

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.099
 But unfortunately

00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:39.980
 having been a

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.599
 bishop and

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.259
 having had

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.519
 experience of

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.500
 lots and

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:43.939
 lots of

00:18:43.939 --> 00:18:44.319
 different

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:44.879
 churches,

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.059
 I'm ashamed

00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:46.719
 to say that

00:18:46.719 --> 00:18:47.199
 some of the

00:18:47.199 --> 00:18:47.980
 churches I was

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.099
 aware of were

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.679
 just plain

00:18:49.679 --> 00:18:50.159
 toxic.

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.319
 I can't

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.179
 imagine anybody

00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:53.539
 would get

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:53.980
 healed in

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.119
 there.

00:18:54.219 --> 00:18:54.879
 People who

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.819
 are daggers

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.439
 drawn with

00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:56.919
 each other,

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.839
 people who

00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.839
 really dislike

00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.439
 each other.

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.379
 I arrived at

00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.099
 one church one

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.779
 night to do a

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:03.079
 confirmation and

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.500
 the church

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.099
 wardens were

00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:04.939
 standing either

00:19:04.939 --> 00:19:05.539
 side of the

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:05.799
 door.

00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:08.659
 They said to

00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:08.980
 me,

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.839
 can we have a

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.159
 word?

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.019
 Always worrying,

00:19:12.219 --> 00:19:12.699
 believe me,

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.199
 when you're a

00:19:13.199 --> 00:19:13.419
 bishop.

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:15.980
 I said,

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.159
 yeah,

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.459
 of course.

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.000
 They said,

00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:17.599
 how can we

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.199
 get rid of our

00:19:18.199 --> 00:19:18.500
 vicar?

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:21.240
 So I

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.519
 thought they

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:21.899
 were joking.

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.240
 I said,

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.359
 well,

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:22.579
 you could

00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.159
 shoot him.

00:19:28.199 --> 00:19:28.559
 Fortunately,

00:19:28.699 --> 00:19:29.279
 they realised

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.740
 that I was

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.199
 joking.

00:19:30.439 --> 00:19:31.459
 What I said

00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:32.099
 to them was,

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.019
 how do you

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.439
 think God

00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:33.779
 is ever

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.039
 going to

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.579
 bless this

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.039
 church?

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.779
 Have you

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.419
 spoken to

00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:37.919
 your vicar

00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:38.559
 about what

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:38.799
 you're

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.059
 anxious?

00:19:39.179 --> 00:19:39.379
 No,

00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:39.819
 we haven't.

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:40.939
 I said,

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.099
 well,

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.579
 I think the

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.059
 vicar is

00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.740
 your first

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.699
 port of

00:19:43.699 --> 00:19:44.039
 call.

00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:46.379
 See,

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:46.799
 churches

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.539
 that harbour

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.039
 that kind

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.699
 of behaviour

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:50.120
 are not

00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:50.299
 going to

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:50.779
 be blessed

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.400
 by God.

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.259
 You noticed

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.120
 in our

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.840
 amazing reading

00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.840
 today about

00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:57.180
 these people

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.960
 bringing their

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.759
 friends to

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.259
 Jesus,

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.600
 that the text

00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.100
 I chose

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:01.779
 is the power

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.279
 of the Lord

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.059
 was present

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.000
 for him

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.480
 to heal

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.880
 the sick.

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.100
 You know

00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:05.680
 what I think?

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.360
 I think if

00:20:07.360 --> 00:20:08.240
 our church

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.000
 communities

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.920
 were really

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.519
 genuinely

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.039
 healing

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.779
 communities,

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.620
 those who

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.100
 have the

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:14.600
 specific

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.299
 spiritual

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.879
 gift of

00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.240
 healing

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:19.099
 might see

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:19.779
 God do

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.279
 a lot

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.059
 more stuff

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:21.819
 amongst

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.259
 us.

00:20:24.959 --> 00:20:25.659
 What does

00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.119
 that mean?

00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:26.699
 In James

00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:27.259
 5,

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.139
 there's a

00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:28.939
 verse I

00:20:28.939 --> 00:20:29.359
 love,

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.179
 although I

00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:30.740
 find it

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.179
 very,

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.919
 very

00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.500
 challenging.

00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.639
 I know

00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.459
 it in the

00:20:34.459 --> 00:20:35.159
 authorised

00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:35.719
 version of

00:20:35.719 --> 00:20:36.240
 the Bible

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.259
 best.

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:37.699
 It says,

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:40.259
 the fervent

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.120
 effectual

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.000
 prayer of

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.559
 the righteous

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.120
 man availeth

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.539
 much.

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.240
 And at

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.700
 the beginning

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:50.460
 of James

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.400
 chapter 5,

00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.319
 James talks

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:53.900
 about

00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:55.380
 relationships

00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:55.920
 in the

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.380
 body of

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:56.840
 Christ.

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.400
 Before he

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:58.980
 gets round

00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.559
 to saying,

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.080
 is any of

00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.500
 you sick?

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.039
 Call round

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.519
 the elders

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:02.900
 of the

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.120
 church.

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.620
 Before he

00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:04.180
 does any

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:04.559
 of that

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:04.980
 stuff,

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.559
 he

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.799
 tells them

00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:09.200
 that they

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.700
 need to

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.339
 watch their

00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.859
 behaviour.

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.179
 And I

00:21:12.179 --> 00:21:12.859
 think that's

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.559
 absolutely

00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.639
 spot on.

00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:15.619
 And we

00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:16.059
 need to

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.700
 watch our

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.359
 behaviour in

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.740
 the body

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.319
 of Christ.

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.519
 We need

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:19.819
 to be

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.960
 people who

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.379
 behave

00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:22.119
 appropriately

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.099
 towards

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.819
 each other.

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.240
 In Mark

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.059
 chapter 11,

00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:28.000
 we read

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.539
 there a

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.859
 very important

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.639
 scripture.

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:30.919
 You know,

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.539
 Jesus says,

00:21:31.639 --> 00:21:31.819
 we've got

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.359
 faith the

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:32.720
 size of

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.099
 a mustard

00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.399
 seed.

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:33.659
 Go

00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:33.960
 throw,

00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:34.859
 tell the

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.559
 mountain to

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.000
 go throw

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.599
 itself into

00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:36.980
 the sea.

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.240
 It will

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.400
 be

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.680
 done.

00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.220
 And then

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.519
 he says,

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.120
 when you

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.460
 stand

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:40.960
 praying,

00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.099
 believe what

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:43.700
 you are

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.420
 praying for

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.259
 and see

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.799
 what happens.

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.240
 And then

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.680
 he says,

00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.140
 this is the

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.799
 sting in the

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.039
 tail,

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.420
 friend.

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.980
 If you

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.779
 have anything

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.259
 against

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.920
 anybody,

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.839
 go seek

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.079
 their

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.500
 forgiveness.

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.599
 You know

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.039
 what the

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.819
 most terrible

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.680
 responsibility

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.420
 of being a

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.059
 disciple of

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.839
 Jesus Christ

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.220
 is?

00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.240
 That if

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.079
 I've done

00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.779
 something wrong

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.359
 to somebody,

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.000
 clearly I

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.339
 need to

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:07.699
 go and

00:22:07.699 --> 00:22:08.139
 seek their

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:08.519
 forgiveness,

00:22:08.699 --> 00:22:09.019
 but the

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.939
 Bible turns

00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.359
 out on its

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:10.799
 head as

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.319
 well and

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.059
 says if

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.019
 somebody,

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.899
 somebody's

00:22:16.899 --> 00:22:17.579
 done something

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.339
 to you and

00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.139
 you've done

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.559
 something to

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:19.939
 somebody,

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.759
 it's always

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.939
 your responsibility

00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:24.259
 to go and

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.619
 put it

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:24.959
 right.

00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:25.039
 And

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:30.500
 dare we

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.240
 claim the

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.019
 promise of

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.740
 James chapter

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.339
 five,

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.139
 the fervent

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:38.279
 effectual

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.599
 prayer of

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.099
 the righteous

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:42.279
 person availeth

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.720
 much.

00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.859
 You look at

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.279
 the world,

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.639
 friend,

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.460
 and I'm

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.059
 pretty sure

00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:50.779
 you think to

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.559
 yourself something

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.420
 needs to change

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:52.880
 here right

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.200
 now.

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.740
 You look at

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.300
 the world and

00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:56.980
 you think that

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.600
 and you read

00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.440
 your newspaper

00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.720
 and it's raining

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.680
 outside again

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.460
 and you start to

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.279
 feel bad about

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.779
 life,

00:23:03.060 --> 00:23:04.019
 who wouldn't?

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.920
 But you have a

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.980
 part to play

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:12.140
 in becoming a

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.880
 meaning maker,

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.880
 not just in the

00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.400
 lives of

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.060
 individuals,

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.100
 but in

00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:17.740
 communities.

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:21.359
 when one

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.420
 person changes,

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.140
 their immediate

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.539
 environment changes

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.059
 for Christ.

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:26.720
 When one

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.259
 person,

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.700
 when a

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.220
 community

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.900
 changes,

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.299
 there's a

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.539
 possibility that

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.440
 a town or a

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.039
 region can

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.559
 change.

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.759
 And when a

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.720
 region changes,

00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.339
 even a

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:40.960
 country can

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.440
 change.

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.559
 And when a

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.599
 country changes,

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.579
 the global

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:48.439
 geopolitical

00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.099
 mess that we

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:49.939
 find ourselves

00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:52.240
 in can

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.379
 also change.

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.799
 But in

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.259
 the end,

00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.460
 it's about

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:03.059
 you and

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.559
 about your

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:05.460
 faith and

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.279
 your understanding

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.939
 of the mystery

00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:08.740
 of faith and

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.799
 your desire to

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.619
 be persistent

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.319
 in prayer,

00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:12.460
 not to be put

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.639
 off.

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.359
 I've often

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.879
 thought this,

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.259
 you know,

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.439
 it's like people

00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:16.319
 pray and nothing

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.859
 happens and

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.259
 they blame

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.679
 God.

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.159
 Often

00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:22.139
 doctors fail

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.319
 us.

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:22.579
 You know,

00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.179
 they diagnose

00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:23.919
 it wrong or

00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:24.339
 they give us

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:24.659
 the wrong

00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.539
 treatment or

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.759
 they don't

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.339
 know what's

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:27.799
 to do.

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.159
 We don't

00:24:29.159 --> 00:24:29.579
 write off

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.679
 doctors altogether

00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.139
 on that

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:31.599
 basis,

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.019
 do we?

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.500
 But many

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.639
 of you are

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.259
 too quick to

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.720
 write off

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.259
 God if he

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.859
 doesn't do

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.619
 what you

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.079
 want.

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:42.679
 now is

00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:43.299
 the time.

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:48.000
 Now is

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.519
 the time.

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:51.559
 If you're a

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.259
 disciple of

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.139
 Jesus Christ

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.639
 to step

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:54.919
 up,

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.179
 now is

00:24:57.179 --> 00:24:57.659
 the time.

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.319
 If you're

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.099
 wavering around

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.759
 the edge of

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.199
 the church

00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:00.699
 thinking,

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:01.379
 you know,

00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:01.720
 these are

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.460
 nice welcoming

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.279
 people but I

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.500
 don't know

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:03.859
 about the

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.299
 stuff they

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.699
 bang on

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.059
 about,

00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:08.319
 maybe now

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.620
 is the

00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:08.980
 time.

00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:11.519
 The

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:11.880
 effective

00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.360
 fervent

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:12.840
 prayer of a

00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.180
 righteous

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:13.660
 person.

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:13.980
 We don't

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.259
 have to

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.819
 earn our

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.319
 righteousness

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:15.840
 in the

00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.059
 church.

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.640
 We have

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.100
 to trust

00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:17.880
 what Jesus

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.400
 did on

00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:18.840
 the cross

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:19.500
 of Calvary.

00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.140
 Bearing

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.819
 shame and

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.360
 scoffing

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:21.680
 root,

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.400
 in my

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:22.740
 place

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.240
 condemned

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:23.880
 he stood.

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.740
 Seal my

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.620
 pardon with

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.180
 his blood.

00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:27.819
 Imagine.

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:29.900
 Hallelujah.

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.559
 What a

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:31.880
 savior.

00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:32.000
 savior.

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.940
 So I

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.160
 want to

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.560
 give you

00:25:35.560 --> 00:25:36.180
 a little

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.740
 challenge.

00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.520
 I'm expecting

00:25:38.520 --> 00:25:39.200
 tomorrow there

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.540
 will be a

00:25:39.540 --> 00:25:39.920
 run on

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.420
 little black

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:40.980
 books in

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:42.080
 the stationery

00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:42.640
 shops of

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.200
 this town.

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.880
 As you

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:47.240
 do what I

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.580
 think the

00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:47.980
 Lord would

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.460
 have you

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.680
 do.

00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.100
 For those

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:51.780
 of you who

00:25:51.780 --> 00:25:53.400
 think, and

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:53.920
 let me just

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.400
 say because

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.120
 you think it

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.680
 doesn't mean

00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.160
 you might

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.800
 have it because

00:25:56.800 --> 00:25:58.220
 unfortunately we

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.080
 human beings can

00:25:59.080 --> 00:25:59.640
 suffer from

00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:00.360
 something called

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.240
 delusion.

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:03.740
 But if you

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.200
 sense you

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.660
 have a gift

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.220
 of healing,

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:05.920
 then what

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.420
 you need to

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:06.860
 do I

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.460
 think is to

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.060
 go and test

00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:08.420
 that with

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:08.940
 people who

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.340
 love you

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:09.740
 enough to

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.080
 tell you

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:10.640
 the truth.

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.120
 And also

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:12.900
 mention it to

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.480
 the minister

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.300
 of your

00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:14.780
 church,

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.560
 Clive or

00:26:16.560 --> 00:26:16.940
 Russ.

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.320
 And let

00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:21.840
 them help

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.540
 you discover

00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:23.500
 whether that's

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.900
 where your

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.600
 gift is.

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.880
 And if

00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.660
 you believe

00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.620
 that a

00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:30.120
 church should

00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.940
 be a healing

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.700
 community,

00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:34.940
 it should

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:36.460
 be a

00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.160
 greenhouse

00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:38.860
 where in

00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.800
 growing together

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.540
 others who

00:26:40.540 --> 00:26:41.260
 come amongst

00:26:41.260 --> 00:26:42.060
 us will

00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:42.840
 also find

00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.480
 that growth

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.280
 and wholeness

00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:45.220
 of which the

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.200
 scripture speaks.

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.640
 We want to

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.920
 say no to

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.940
 toxic churches.

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.800
 We want to

00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:55.560
 say no to

00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.700
 bad relationships

00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.480
 in the body.

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.340
 Maybe some

00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.800
 you need to

00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:00.280
 pick up a

00:27:00.280 --> 00:27:00.640
 telephone,

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.200
 write a

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.380
 note,

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.880
 whatever.

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.980
 But don't

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.320
 be the

00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:06.860
 person who

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.900
 undermines

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:09.820
 the wholeness

00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.480
 of the

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:10.920
 church.

00:27:15.020 --> 00:27:16.540
 When we

00:27:16.540 --> 00:27:17.520
 understand that,

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:19.460
 I think we

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.300
 understand that

00:27:20.300 --> 00:27:21.140
 verse which I

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.820
 read out for

00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:22.360
 my text.

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.720
 It's an

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.240
 interesting

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.920
 verse to

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.160
 me.

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.500
 Where

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:30.340
 Luke says

00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:30.779
 this,

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.840
 he says,

00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:33.580
 the power

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:33.880
 of the

00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.259
 Lord was

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.080
 present for

00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:35.640
 him to

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.160
 heal the

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.460
 sick.

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:39.000
 You want

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.380
 to be in

00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.960
 a church

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.880
 where the

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.320
 power of

00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:41.660
 God is

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.240
 present to

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.660
 heal the

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:42.960
 sick?

00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.300
 There's a

00:27:46.300 --> 00:27:46.800
 work to be

00:27:46.800 --> 00:27:47.039
 done.

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.740
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:47.779
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:47.800
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.800 --> 00:27:47.820
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:47.840
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:47.880
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:47.900
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:47.960
 Let's pray.

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.880
 Let's pray.

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:53.900
 Let's pray.

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:58.600
 As was

00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.720
 John Wesley's

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.680
 habit, just a few

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.300
 moments of

00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:02.200
 silence for the

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.180
 Holy Spirit to

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:04.500
 come and

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.940
 bring you

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.740
 under conviction

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:07.320
 as to what

00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:07.920
 you need to

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.200
 do.

00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:32.680
 our

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.460
 gracious God,

00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:34.180
 we want to

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.980
 call down

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.060
 holy fire

00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:36.900
 upon your

00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:37.460
 church.

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.160
 The fire

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.500
 of the

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:40.780
 Spirit,

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.120
 Lord,

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.519
 would you

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.340
 please forgive

00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:43.060
 us for our

00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:44.160
 lukewarmness,

00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.820
 for the

00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.300
 sense of

00:28:47.300 --> 00:28:48.220
 distance we

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.519
 put between

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:51.280
 what is

00:28:51.280 --> 00:28:52.180
 and what

00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.660
 we might

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.240
 contribute.

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:56.220
 Father,

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:57.000
 forgive us

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.140
 for bearing

00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.800
 grudges

00:28:58.800 --> 00:28:59.580
 against you,

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.600
 against members

00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:00.920
 of the

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.620
 congregation,

00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:02.440
 whoever,

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.040
 whatever.

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.340
 Lord,

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.960
 help us to

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.560
 know that

00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.259
 in you

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:11.740
 the chains

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.300
 of

00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:15.800
 dysfunctional

00:29:15.800 --> 00:29:17.240
 pasts,

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:20.080
 the chains

00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:21.120
 of terrible

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.820
 habits,

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:24.460
 the change

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.559
 of destructive

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:25.980
 learnt

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.659
 behaviour.

00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.480
 Lord,

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.059
 that those

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.000
 chains can

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.639
 be broken

00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:34.619
 and we

00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.200
 can be set

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:37.279
 free and

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.919
 we can play

00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:39.659
 our part in

00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:40.339
 making your

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.980
 church the

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.139
 healing community

00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:44.259
 which might

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.179
 enable those

00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:45.759
 who have the

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.679
 particular gifts

00:29:46.679 --> 00:29:48.559
 of healing to

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.019
 do their

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.500
 work.

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:49.539
 work.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.539
 So come

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.319
 Holy Spirit,

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:52.960
 we pray,

00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.839
 inspire

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.500
 ourselves and

00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.279
 provoke us,

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.220
 Father, to do

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.200
 what we need

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.680
 to do.

00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:00.099
 In Jesus' name

00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.779
 and to his

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.799
 glory and the

00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.880
 people who

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.359
 agreed,

00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.220
 said together,

00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.079
 Amen.

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.299
 Amen.

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:06.399
 Amen.