WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.519 Hi, everyone. My name is Dan. I served as an elder here at Watermark for a while. I have the privilege of sharing God's word with us today. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:38.899 To remind us where we are in today's preaching series, we are praying through the Psalms. Each week, we're choosing a different Psalm, a different theme to pull out of that Psalm, spending some time to understand it, and mostly trying to see how it might help us to pray and therefore improve our prayer life and our relationship with God. 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:49.859 Our day-to-day relationship with God is generally through speaking. God speaks to us through His word in the Bible, and we speak to God in prayer. 00:00:51.339 --> 00:01:06.000 In the Psalms, allow us to see this back and forth in both directions. Today, we'll be looking at Psalm 118. So I'm going to ask Iris to come up and read it for us first, and then we'll dive deeper into it. Thanks, Iris. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:27.920 Good morning, Watermark. Today's scripture reading is taken from Psalm 118. Please follow along your Bible. If you don't have a Bible, please do still grab them from the front of the stage or at the back near the door. Our passage is on page 479 in the church Bible. Page 479. 00:01:31.060 --> 00:01:33.200 Hear then God's word to us today. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:41.600 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. 00:01:42.540 --> 00:01:46.180 Let Israel say, His steadfast love endures forever. 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:51.040 Let the house of Aaron say, His steadfast love endures forever. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:56.240 Let those who fear the Lord say, His steadfast love endures forever. 00:01:56.240 --> 00:02:00.500 Out of my distress, I called on the Lord. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:03.060 The Lord answered me and set me free. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:05.260 The Lord is on my side. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:06.519 I will not fear. 00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:08.419 What can man do to me? 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:11.479 The Lord is on my side as my helper. 00:02:11.979 --> 00:02:14.599 I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:19.060 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.939 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:26.479 All nations surrounded me. 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:28.719 In the name of the Lord, I cut them off. 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:32.319 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side. 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:34.780 In the name of the Lord, I cut them off. 00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:36.939 They surrounded me like bees. 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:39.520 They went out like a fire among thorns. 00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:41.919 In the name of the Lord, I cut them off. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:46.520 I was pushed hard so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. 00:02:47.579 --> 00:02:49.759 The Lord is my strength and my song. 00:02:50.020 --> 00:02:51.840 He has become my salvation. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:55.860 Glossons of salvation are in the tents of the righteous. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:58.800 The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:01.400 The right hand of the Lord exalts. 00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:03.900 The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:09.319 I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:14.800 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:21.680 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.840 This is the gate of the Lord. 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:26.479 The righteous shall enter through it. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:31.500 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:36.479 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:38.840 This is the Lord's doing. 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:41.199 It is marvelous in our eyes. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:44.000 This is the day that the Lord has made. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:47.019 Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:50.580 Save us, we pray, O Lord. 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:52.400 O Lord, we pray. 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:53.900 Give us success. 00:03:54.920 --> 00:03:57.400 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:59.939 We bless you from the house of the Lord. 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:05.180 The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.939 Bind the festival sacrifice with cords up to the horns of the altar. 00:04:09.939 --> 00:04:14.699 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:16.660 You are my God. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:18.480 I will extol you. 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:22.139 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:25.699 For his steadfast love endures forever. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:30.060 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:31.139 Amen. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:33.819 Thank you, Iris. 00:04:34.479 --> 00:04:38.180 Thanks for sticking with us through those 29 verses, guys. 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:42.839 It was a bit of a longer passage today, but today's psalm, Psalm 118, 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:47.139 is one of the more popular psalms in the Bible, whether you know it or not. 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:50.339 It has verses that are extremely well known. 00:04:50.719 --> 00:04:54.759 They've been quoted many times over in songs, other parts of the Bible. 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:58.240 You may recognize some, as Iris was reading out. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:04.240 For the Jewish people at the time of Jesus, it was a regular tradition to sing this psalm 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:10.920 at big national Jewish celebrations, such as the Passover and other festivals like it. 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:15.240 For Martin Luther, our great hero of the Protestant Reformation, 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.620 this was apparently his favorite psalm. 00:05:18.840 --> 00:05:19.920 As he quotes, 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:25.019 Although the entire Psalter and all of Holy Scripture are dear to me 00:05:25.019 --> 00:05:27.600 as my only comfort and source of life, 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.100 I fell in love with this psalm especially. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:32.280 Therefore, I call it my own. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:35.640 When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned, 00:05:36.020 --> 00:05:37.920 and even saints could not aid me, 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.840 this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of great many troubles. 00:05:42.700 --> 00:05:45.680 As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, 00:05:45.900 --> 00:05:49.320 honor, and power of the Pope, the Turk, and the emperor, 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:50.340 essentially the world. 00:05:50.820 --> 00:05:54.300 I would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it. 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:58.280 Verse 17 was also said to be one of his life mottos. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.240 He had inscribed it on his wall at one point in his life. 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:05.879 I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:10.100 Even with such a glowing review from someone like Martin Luther, 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:12.860 this psalm was written a long time before him. 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:15.560 And while his testimony is encouraging, 00:06:16.019 --> 00:06:17.900 we shouldn't just take his word for it. 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:20.339 We should go back to the time it was written, 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:23.919 well before Jesus even, a few centuries in fact, 00:06:24.299 --> 00:06:26.079 to understand it for ourselves. 00:06:26.479 --> 00:06:28.959 It is a rich and complex passage. 00:06:29.659 --> 00:06:31.979 Our focus on prayer means we won't have time 00:06:31.979 --> 00:06:34.199 to look into every aspect of that complexity, 00:06:34.679 --> 00:06:37.479 but with God's word we can always challenge ourselves 00:06:37.479 --> 00:06:39.120 to go deeper and wider. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.500 What was it saying to the audience back then? 00:06:43.039 --> 00:06:45.039 Whether you are a Christian or not today, 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.600 why is it relevant to us? 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:49.200 What does it have to say to us? 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.620 How does it point us to the gospel, 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:54.020 to the good news of Jesus? 00:06:54.760 --> 00:06:57.960 And in particular, how can it help us in our prayer life? 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:01.840 We'll see a psalm that encourages us to follow Jesus 00:07:01.840 --> 00:07:04.439 in giving thanks and praise to God. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:06.580 For though hardship comes, 00:07:07.080 --> 00:07:09.020 God has and will deliver us. 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:11.660 First things first, 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:13.700 I think it's pretty obvious. 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:16.400 This psalm is a psalm about thanksgiving. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:21.520 These are the first and last verses in the psalm after all. 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:24.020 Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good, 00:07:24.460 --> 00:07:26.960 for his steadfast love endures forever. 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:29.520 And right in the middle of the psalm as well, 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:31.040 verses 14 and 15. 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:33.879 The Lord is my strength and my song. 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:35.879 He has become my salvation. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.300 Glad songs of salvation 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:39.920 are in the tents of the righteous. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.800 If we can picture it in our minds, 00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:46.740 the psalm actually depicts this thanksgiving liturgy, 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.000 or like a ritual worship procession to God. 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:54.200 The psalmist is leading a procession of Jewish believers, 00:07:54.960 --> 00:07:57.120 making his way from outside the temple, 00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:59.220 to the temple gates, 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:00.980 into the temple sanctuary, 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:03.700 and finally ending at the temple altar, 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:05.360 as you see in verse 27, 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:08.660 to provide an offering of thanksgiving to God. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:10.580 We might assume, 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.380 given that it's a psalm about thankfulness, 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:14.140 that it was all smooth sailing, 00:08:14.340 --> 00:08:15.620 peaches and cream, as they say. 00:08:16.820 --> 00:08:17.840 But what is interesting 00:08:17.840 --> 00:08:20.340 is the fact that in and around these verses, 00:08:20.780 --> 00:08:22.880 it is obvious that that is not the case. 00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:26.700 There is much talk of hardship and suffering, 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:29.060 as we see in some of these verses, 00:08:29.400 --> 00:08:31.960 crying out to God in the midst of great distress. 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:36.419 So the thankfulness here doesn't seem to be related to good times. 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:39.960 Rather, it seems to be related more to difficult times. 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:44.179 And these difficult times are really difficult times. 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:48.120 Niels preached a few weeks ago on Psalm 23, 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:50.019 and pointed this out to us, 00:08:50.079 --> 00:08:54.340 that sometimes the psalms can feel not quite for us, 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.620 in some literal sense, 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.079 because the events are likely bigger 00:08:58.079 --> 00:09:00.179 than anything we would ever have to deal with. 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:05.299 Look at the first half of each of verses 10 to 12, for example. 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:08.659 Verse 10, the first half says, 00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:10.839 All the nations surrounded me. 00:09:11.199 --> 00:09:11.879 Verse 11, 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.339 They surrounded me, 00:09:13.659 --> 00:09:15.819 surrounded me on every side. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.279 Verse 12, 00:09:17.739 --> 00:09:19.500 They surrounded me like bees. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:22.179 This is a royal psalm. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:24.500 The psalmist is a king. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:26.379 We're not sure who exactly. 00:09:26.599 --> 00:09:27.839 It could be King David. 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.820 But either way, 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.360 the events recounted here, 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:34.840 are by a king who has been in a great battle, 00:09:35.160 --> 00:09:36.820 against other nations, 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:37.780 other armies. 00:09:38.540 --> 00:09:41.000 He is in a position of authority and power, 00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:43.460 and dealing with a scale of things, 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:46.259 that almost none of us will ever have to deal with. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:48.500 In verse 12, 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:49.759 when it talks about bees, 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.540 I don't know if you've ever been stung by a bee before. 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:53.080 I have. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:53.759 It's not fun. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.080 If you've ever seen a swarm of bees, 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:58.299 or a footage of beekeepers making honey, 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.519 they have to wear these huge suits, 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:01.840 to protect themselves, 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.139 from the sheer volume, 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:05.840 and the ferociousness of the bees, 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:07.740 that can sometimes attack them, 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:09.000 defending their hive. 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:11.919 Back in the times that this psalm was written, 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.460 while they may have had some thicker clothing, 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.100 they wouldn't have had those protective suits. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.700 They certainly wouldn't have had antihistamine tablets, 00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:21.980 if they had a bad reaction to the bee stings. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:25.460 A swarm of bees could literally be deadly. 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.820 So it is with this king in battle. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:32.700 He is overwhelmed by a swarm of nations, 00:10:32.780 --> 00:10:34.320 attacking him from every side. 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:36.580 He is literally facing death. 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:38.460 The situation is hopeless, 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:41.020 and he is failing in his role. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:42.740 As we see in verse 13, 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.300 he says, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:44.960 I was pushed hard, 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:46.120 so that I was falling. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:48.679 He is right on the edge. 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:51.940 How can this be a psalm of thanksgiving to God? 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.860 Why is the king thankful? 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:58.580 Well, we see that in spite of his great difficulties, 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:00.200 and overwhelming opposition, 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.560 the king was eventually victorious. 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:06.320 Not because of what he did, 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:08.159 but because of what God did. 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:10.919 That is why he is thankful. 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:13.200 Because God gave him a great victory. 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:16.280 God delivered him from his overwhelming enemies, 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:18.340 as we see in the second half of those verses. 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:21.000 Look at how they play out on the screen. 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:23.120 He is giving thanks and praise 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:25.440 to the one who not just helped him in his distress, 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:29.400 but did the full saving work in victory. 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:32.740 The deliverance is such wonderful news 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:35.759 that the king cannot help but give thanks to God. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:39.660 And as Niels also highlighted a few weeks ago, 00:11:40.020 --> 00:11:41.460 as the people's representative, 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:45.680 the king's victory is the people's victory too. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:48.860 That is essentially what this psalm is about. 00:11:49.160 --> 00:11:51.220 You can kind of split it into two main ideas. 00:11:51.780 --> 00:11:55.379 The first idea is a picture of the king's testimony, 00:11:55.900 --> 00:11:57.400 giving thanks and praise 00:11:57.400 --> 00:12:00.780 at what God has done for him and for his people. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:04.660 And the second part can be seen as this same king 00:12:04.660 --> 00:12:08.660 leading his people to respond in the same way to God. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:11.259 We see a kind of back and forth 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:13.719 between the king and his people in this psalm. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.039 In verses 2 to 4, it's essentially, 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:18.600 if you look at verses 2 to 4 in your Bible, 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:21.559 it's essentially a universal call from the king 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:26.360 to all people to acknowledge God's steadfast and eternal love. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.879 Israel, mentioned in verse 2, 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:30.879 are the native Jewish people. 00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:34.079 The house of Aaron, in verse 3, 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:37.339 are kind of the priestly class in their community. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:40.420 And those who fear the Lord, in verse 4, 00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:42.560 are all other true believers. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.280 Then in verses 5 to 18, 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:48.700 the king's thanksgiving testimony 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:51.980 recounts God's saving work from his distress. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.940 And then the end of the psalm, 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.320 verses 19 to 27, 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:58.860 the king's people themselves 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:01.379 then respond and join the king, 00:13:01.780 --> 00:13:03.519 giving praise and thanks to God 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.480 for what he has done. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:09.320 And how much more wonderful for us in Jesus. 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:13.740 In this psalm, it's obvious the theme of deliverance 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:15.379 links to Jesus as well. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:18.139 Take a look at verse 26 with me. 00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:22.220 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:25.840 If we know the gospel accounts of Jesus' life, 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:29.259 we know that this is what the crowds shouted 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.420 at Palm Sunday. 00:13:31.420 --> 00:13:32.759 In all four gospels, 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:35.160 as Jesus was entering Jerusalem 00:13:35.160 --> 00:13:37.580 for the national Passover festival, 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:40.360 the Jewish people at the time 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:43.980 were clearly proclaiming the expectation of Jesus 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:46.420 as the coming Messiah and king. 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:49.180 And they were referring back to this psalm 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:50.019 when they were doing it. 00:13:50.900 --> 00:13:51.800 See on the screen, 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:54.939 Jesus even directly claims the verse for himself 00:13:54.939 --> 00:13:56.379 later in Matthew 23. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.819 Or take verse 22, for example. 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:02.240 The stone that the builders rejected 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.779 has become the cornerstone. 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:05.299 Another well-known verse. 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:08.359 Initially referring to this king 00:14:08.359 --> 00:14:10.240 in the psalm 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.219 who was ultimately lifted up by God, 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.379 Jesus later implies 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:17.059 that he is that very stone being spoken about. 00:14:17.839 --> 00:14:19.399 And Peter repeats that message 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.799 in Acts. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.959 The builders are the religious leaders 00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:24.839 at the time. 00:14:25.579 --> 00:14:27.919 The rejected stone is Jesus. 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:29.959 The builders, 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:32.979 the leaders rejected Jesus. 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:35.679 He suffered on the cross and died. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.399 And God raised him from the dead 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.639 three days later, 00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:41.639 establishing him as the foundation 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:44.379 or the cornerstone of God's kingdom. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:47.339 I think it adds weight too 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.819 if we think about the fact 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.000 that the king in this psalm 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.180 was powerless to save himself. 00:14:53.040 --> 00:14:54.800 Only God could save him. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.120 And Jesus, 00:14:56.640 --> 00:14:58.100 being in very nature human, 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.700 was made powerless 00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:01.020 to save himself. 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:03.120 There are so many parallels. 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:05.460 In the same way the psalmist king 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:07.580 relied on God through victory 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.800 and was delivered victorious, 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.799 victorious, 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:11.479 so did Jesus, 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.779 who submitted to God 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.959 even to death 00:15:13.959 --> 00:15:15.799 and was delivered victorious 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.359 over death and resurrection. 00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:19.019 In the same way 00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:20.059 the people in the psalm 00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:21.019 were able to enjoy 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.959 the king's victory 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:23.219 over his enemies, 00:15:23.839 --> 00:15:24.959 so we are able 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:26.740 to enjoy Jesus' victory 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.120 over sin and death, 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:30.179 a victory we are powerless 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:31.379 to achieve ourselves. 00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:34.159 In Christ, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.620 this is every bit 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.259 a psalm 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.980 of victory for us 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.019 as it was 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:39.820 the king's people 00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:40.360 back then. 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.639 And we are also led 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.159 by Jesus 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.899 in response 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.879 of thanksgiving too. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.779 We'll get back to that 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:47.059 a bit later. 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.899 But isn't it amazing? 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.519 It's all tied together. 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.580 The Old Testament, 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:52.840 the New Testament, 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:53.980 and fulfilled 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.120 in Jesus' death 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.820 and resurrection. 00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:59.300 Now that we hopefully 00:15:59.300 --> 00:16:00.879 understand the psalm 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.379 a little better, 00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:04.060 what does this all 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:05.000 have anything to do 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.040 with our prayer life? 00:16:07.020 --> 00:16:08.200 Well, I think it highlights 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:08.940 a few things. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:10.840 Firstly, 00:16:11.140 --> 00:16:12.360 as we've touched on already, 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:14.460 what do we need more 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:16.260 than anything in the world? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.760 I wonder if you've noticed 00:16:18.760 --> 00:16:19.720 the fact that 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.100 in the psalms in general, 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:23.000 the focus of the prayers 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.740 in the psalms 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.080 are not necessarily 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.759 on the material things 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.720 that people might need 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.280 at the time, 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.720 but it's often deliverance 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.639 from hardship, 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.720 from suffering, 00:16:33.040 --> 00:16:33.800 from enemies. 00:16:35.020 --> 00:16:36.180 Asking a simple 00:16:36.180 --> 00:16:37.700 chat GPT query 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:40.759 shows that there are 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.600 over 400 references 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.920 to deliverance 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:46.780 or deliverance-related themes 00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:47.580 in the psalms. 00:16:48.520 --> 00:16:49.180 And there are, 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.980 and there's 150 psalms 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:51.720 in the Bible. 00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:53.379 Material blessings 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.320 are referenced 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.379 about 40 times. 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.160 I don't know how accurate 00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:58.680 those numbers actually are, 00:16:59.140 --> 00:17:00.580 but I think they'd generally 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.480 be pretty accurate, 00:17:01.760 --> 00:17:03.100 and the idea is still there. 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.279 In our prayers, 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:05.840 I think, 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.740 me included, 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.519 we so often pray 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.680 for the practical things 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.080 we need, 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.480 like health, 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.380 work, 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.420 school, 00:17:14.080 --> 00:17:14.460 family. 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:16.180 These are good things, 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.960 don't get me wrong. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:19.420 But in the psalm itself, 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:21.319 so in the psalm itself, 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.299 we see the king 00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.220 and his people 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.480 praying for what they need 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.039 materially, 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.420 but what we have, 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:29.360 but what we need 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:30.720 more than anything 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.319 in the world 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:33.340 is what we already have 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.279 in Christ, 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:36.539 deliverance from sin and death. 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.500 We don't have to work for it. 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:40.400 We don't have to study for it. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.059 We don't have to try harder. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.579 We don't have to prove 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.500 ourselves worthy 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.559 one little bit. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.460 If we are in Christ 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.619 and we have accepted 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.940 his gift of salvation, 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.919 we already have 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:52.899 deliverance from sin 00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:54.819 and a restored relationship 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.759 with God. 00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.960 That is what we need most. 00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.539 Just think about 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.639 how miraculous it is, 00:18:00.679 --> 00:18:01.000 really, 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.539 if you are a Christian 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.339 in the room today, 00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:04.980 that you have the beliefs 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.379 you do. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.139 Given what your background 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:07.879 might have been, 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.599 the world we live in today, 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.579 it is pretty miraculous. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.539 If we were to look 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.419 at our prayer life, 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:15.759 how often are we 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.700 giving thanks to God 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.460 for what he has done 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.319 for us in Jesus? 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.079 Does your prayer life 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:22.000 look like Psalm 118 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.039 with this much giving thanks 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.220 and this much asking 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.019 for what we need? 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.940 Or if we are honest, 00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:31.019 is it more like 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.480 this much giving thanks 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:34.019 and this much asking 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.779 for what we need? 00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:37.279 Now these questions 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.279 are not meant to condemn us 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.179 by no means 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.539 or make light 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.400 of some of the really, 00:18:42.560 --> 00:18:43.279 really hard things 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.920 that some of us 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.700 have to deal with 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.279 in life. 00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:47.420 The tone of this passage 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.880 is of encouragement, 00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:50.200 is of celebration. 00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:51.660 God wants us 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.640 to be thankful here 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.600 and respond to him 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.060 like that. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.980 But I do also think 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.880 there may be levels 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.720 of truth here 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:59.620 in that for all of us 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:00.380 in our prayer life. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:02.900 Secondly, 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.320 what about 00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.980 when times are really hard? 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.039 like Simon shared 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.559 a little bit 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.839 before in his testimony 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:10.339 and feeling thankful 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:11.519 does not come easy. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.900 While we saw 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.720 in verse 13, 00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:15.360 for example, 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.779 if we read it carefully, 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.759 it is actually alluding 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.420 to the fact 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.960 that this extreme suffering 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:22.319 the king is facing 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.900 to the point of breaking, 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.000 of falling over, 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.799 it's actually God's doing. 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.019 God is not part 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.259 of our good times only. 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.039 He is in control 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.639 and he is in our hard times 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.059 as well. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.059 Our worst times even. 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:38.019 If we are going through 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.980 really hard times 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.420 right now, 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.139 I'm really sorry 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:41.659 about that. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.039 And as Christians, 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.539 we cannot escape 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.039 the fact 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.180 that God is in that 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.639 as well. 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.180 Honestly, 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.039 this topic could take 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.000 a whole sermon series 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.559 in itself. 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.000 Kevin preached about it 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.000 a couple of weeks ago 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.740 from Psalms 42 and 43. 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.420 So I can't do it justice 00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.899 in just this short section 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:00.460 of the sermon. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.380 But I do think, 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:02.900 partly, 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.180 the psalm would encourage us 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:07.079 to try and give thanks, 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.740 sorry, 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.779 to give thanks 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.579 that Jesus rose from the dead 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:12.680 and has ultimately delivered us 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:15.059 even in those really hard times. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.360 The big deliverance 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.519 that changes everything 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:20.059 has already happened 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:22.519 even if we don't experience 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.259 it fully now. 00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.519 I'm sure there were actually 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.019 people in Israel at the time 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.640 who were suffering greatly. 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.360 Bereavement, 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.259 sickness, 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.039 yet the king 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.180 encourages them 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:36.920 to join with him 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:38.340 in celebrating 00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:39.380 their deliverance 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.500 which towers 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.600 over all of that. 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.779 We do also know 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.519 from scripture 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.900 that God has given us 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.700 the Holy Spirit 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.660 to help us. 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:52.180 We do know 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.000 he is gentle 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.240 to not break us. 00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:56.340 We don't have to try harder 00:20:56.340 --> 00:20:57.840 or just grin and bear it. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:00.379 He has initiated with us. 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.919 Come to us. 00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:03.279 He is present 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.720 right here with us 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.419 in this moment. 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:07.220 He is for us, 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.259 guiding us, 00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:08.980 helping us, 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.639 leading us. 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.939 He is declaring 00:21:10.939 --> 00:21:11.500 the truths 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.639 of his gospel to us 00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.339 by the power 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.179 of his Holy Spirit, 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.500 allowing us 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.240 to give thanks 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.500 in the midst of hardship. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:21.019 Thirdly, 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.660 with respect 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.559 to our prayer lives, 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.900 I think there is 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:25.039 actually an exuberance 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.759 and a joy 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.460 in the thanksgiving 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.099 that we see 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.839 in the psalm 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.759 that is quite unique. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.759 It's wonderfully unique 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.400 to the psalms, 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:33.880 in fact. 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.319 We can learn from it. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.160 I mean, 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.839 just look at some 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.259 of the verses 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.980 from the psalm. 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.940 The king and his people 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.799 are overjoyed. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.680 And here's an interesting 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.299 point, I think. 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.659 In the same way 00:21:44.659 --> 00:21:45.899 the king is thankful 00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.440 to God 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.659 for his deliverance 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.519 over enemies, 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.240 I believe Christ 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.440 was thankful to God 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.240 for his own deliverance 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.579 over death as well. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.399 To be clear, 00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:58.180 we have no record 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.559 of Jesus' words 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.779 as he came out 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.299 of the tomb. 00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:02.019 That's true. 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:04.200 But if we're right 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.299 to read the psalm, 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.700 the king and the psalm, 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:09.059 as a type of Jesus figure, 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.019 and the kind of suffering 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.779 he went through 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:13.059 as foreshadowing 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.179 Jesus on the cross, 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.000 then I think 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.779 we can assume 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.519 that the king's great joy 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.960 and thankfulness 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.899 at being delivered 00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:22.819 will also affect 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.440 how Jesus must have felt 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.779 when he came out 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.240 of the tomb. 00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:28.579 Why would the first half 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.159 of the psalm 00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:30.339 point to the cross, 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.879 but the second half 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:32.559 have nothing to do 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.139 with the resurrection? 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:36.019 Jesus fully submitted 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.879 himself to humanness. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.259 He was fully human. 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.440 He trusted his father 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.660 as he physically died. 00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:45.519 That his father 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.200 would raise him 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.960 three days later. 00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:51.460 And for three days 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.080 he was fully separated 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:53.680 from God. 00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.640 Fully separated 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.140 from God. 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.640 In the depths of hell, 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.400 powerless to save himself. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.259 Can you imagine 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.320 how Jesus felt 00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:04.039 when God actually 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.640 raised him 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.660 three days later? 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.120 Yes, he trusted God. 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:10.099 But when the stone 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.059 was rolled away 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.659 and he stepped out 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.399 into the day, 00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:14.699 can you imagine 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:15.500 how he felt? 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.059 He must have felt 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.759 unbelievable. 00:23:17.959 --> 00:23:18.879 God, you did it. 00:23:19.239 --> 00:23:20.339 That is amazing. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.559 Praise be to you alone. 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:26.299 Can we have this same reaction 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.519 about our salvation? 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.639 In a small way. 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:31.399 I think recently 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:31.979 of the football 00:23:31.979 --> 00:23:32.819 world cup winners. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:35.439 Just unbridled joy 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.180 and ecstasy 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:38.279 for the team themselves, 00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.740 for their fans, 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.519 their people. 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.759 And for us, 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.920 it is not a one-off 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.860 every four years. 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.480 It can be every single day. 00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.100 How joyful 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:48.900 and exuberant 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.360 are we 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:50.680 about our own salvation 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.559 and deliverance 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.340 when we pray? 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.559 Fourthly and lastly, 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.160 with respect 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.759 to our prayer, 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.519 are we praying 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.299 and worshipping 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:00.860 together? 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.680 Not just on Sundays, 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.059 but during the week 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.500 as well, 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.059 as a regular pattern 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.619 of life. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.980 Here we see 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:09.619 the Jewish people 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.419 praying and giving 00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:11.099 thanks together. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.379 We do have 00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:12.980 corporate prayer 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.639 once a month 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:15.460 and we should do that 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.419 where we can do that. 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:17.559 That's an obvious one. 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.720 But it doesn't have 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.399 to be just that. 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.619 It can be CG, 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.319 it can be smaller groups, 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.259 husbands, 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:23.899 fathers. 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.779 Are you leading 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.519 and encouraging 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.259 your families 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.299 in doing the same 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:28.619 out of thanksgiving 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.299 to God 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.039 for what he has done 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.339 for you? 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.919 This is something 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.539 I myself 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.659 was really challenged 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.500 about when preparing 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.140 for this sermon. 00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.019 I don't think 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.860 I do this very well 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.200 at all. 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:38.920 But if it is 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.779 something we see 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.420 of Jesus, 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.140 then it is likely 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.940 something we should 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.320 try and replicate 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.800 in our own life. 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.880 Just think about 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.620 when someone shares 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.540 a powerful testimony 00:24:49.540 --> 00:24:50.440 of what God 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.460 has done in their life, 00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:52.620 like Simon did 00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.259 earlier today, 00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:54.519 delivering them 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.380 from some sin 00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.180 or some difficult 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.840 situation. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.560 It builds our own 00:24:58.560 --> 00:24:59.019 faith. 00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:00.120 It builds our own 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.759 love for God. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.900 It gives us 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.720 courage to bring 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.440 our own distress 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.140 before God, 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.819 to pray with confidence, 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.680 not to pray 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.940 and not fear, 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.859 as the king 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.379 and the psalm 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.099 himself did. 00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:11.819 There is communal 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.579 thanksgiving 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:14.559 for what God 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.039 has done 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.240 for the individual. 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.619 Baptisms also 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.500 probably provide 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.579 the best picture 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.220 of this idea. 00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.180 When we go up 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.039 these days 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.599 to the rooftop, 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.379 we are communally 00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.220 overjoyed 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.039 at what God 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.640 has done 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.299 for the person 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.900 being baptized. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.440 I actually think 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.160 it's probably like 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.040 when we are all 00:25:32.040 --> 00:25:32.540 the happiest, 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:32.920 right, 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.280 together as a group. 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.280 And so we should be. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.400 That is the kind 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.480 of picture we see here. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:40.120 A huge celebration 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:40.660 together 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:42.019 at how God 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.920 has delivered us. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.120 We should give 00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:45.019 thanks together 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:46.300 more often. 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:50.019 So let's try 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.500 and get really 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.160 practical now. 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.620 Let's try and look 00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:54.440 at an example 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.120 prayer 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.820 and try and put 00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:57.860 this all together. 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.639 Let's see how 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.119 this goes. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.899 Imagine someone 00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.559 who is going 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:03.099 through a really 00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.879 difficult time 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:04.339 at work. 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.339 I know, 00:26:05.479 --> 00:26:06.059 I know, 00:26:06.439 --> 00:26:07.500 predictable example 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.159 in Hong Kong, 00:26:08.719 --> 00:26:09.939 but it's something 00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:11.099 I assume many of us 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:11.839 are dealing with 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.399 right now. 00:26:13.639 --> 00:26:14.939 Our usual prayer 00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:16.179 may sound 00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:17.159 something like this. 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.059 Dear God, 00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.759 work has been 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.479 really difficult 00:26:21.479 --> 00:26:21.859 lately. 00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:23.059 My workload 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.799 is increasing. 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.919 My manager 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.539 doesn't seem 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.240 to appreciate 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.200 the extra effort 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.880 I'm putting in. 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.900 I'm worried 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.720 about my future 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.380 at the company. 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.160 Please provide 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.839 some relief 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.700 from the workload. 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.039 Please provide 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.559 some wisdom 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.700 to navigate things. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.160 In Jesus' name, 00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:38.839 Amen. 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.220 Honestly, 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:41.960 it's not a wrong 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.279 prayer. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.620 I'm not saying 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.359 it's a bad prayer. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.259 It expresses 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.960 a dependency 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.640 on God. 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:47.660 It brings 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.259 our request 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:48.640 to Him 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.400 as we should. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.480 It's not bad. 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:54.259 But what if 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.960 we try 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.440 and apply 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:55.960 some of the 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.400 truths 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.480 from Psalm 18 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.559 in this example 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.000 as well? 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.120 Thankfulness. 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.400 How might 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:01.860 our prayer 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.839 change a little bit? 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:03.880 Well, 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.940 let's see. 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.240 Dear God, 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.319 thank you 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.160 for you 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.799 are good. 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.160 Your steadfast 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.960 love for me 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.960 endures forever. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.620 Thank you 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.140 that through 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.000 Jesus Christ 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.319 you have already 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:17.839 given me 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.299 the greatest 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.140 gift I could 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:19.779 ever receive. 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:21.299 whatever happens 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.019 in my life 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.859 cannot take 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.299 that away. 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.859 But work 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.539 has been 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.460 really difficult 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.099 for me lately. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.559 I need help. 00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:30.460 Please provide 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.220 opportunities 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.200 for relief 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.299 and to work 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.619 well. 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.220 Give me wisdom 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.980 and patience 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.759 and integrity. 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.000 Love for those 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.680 I work with. 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.019 Help me to be 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.720 thankful here 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.680 in spite of 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.399 the difficulties 00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.440 and the painfulness 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.139 of the situation 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.819 even if it remains. 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.279 And may my joy 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.160 be not found 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:49.220 in success at work 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.019 but in belonging 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.519 to Jesus. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.519 Thank you 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.519 for you are good 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.759 and your steadfast 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.900 love endures forever. 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.380 In Jesus' name. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:57.940 Amen. 00:27:59.480 --> 00:27:59.920 I know 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.200 it's kind of cheating 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.860 I've just added 00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.819 like a lot more words 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.440 to the prayer 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.160 and you know 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.319 quoted from the psalm 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.600 etc. 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.100 I get it, 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.420 I get it, 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.779 I get it. 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:06.960 Alright? 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.420 But do we see 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.000 the difference? 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:11.720 Our greatest 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.319 deliverance 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.200 has already 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.839 been accomplished 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:15.160 which doesn't 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.759 remove our 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.539 daily needs 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.940 but it does 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.879 change the heart 00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:20.119 the focus 00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:21.079 the practical 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.740 words 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.759 of our prayers 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.839 to be more 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.740 focused on 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.399 deliverance 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.079 versus our 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.899 practical needs. 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.740 I think it's 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.139 something we'll 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:30.720 be able to try 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.339 later on 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.720 as we get 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.220 together in 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.940 groups and pray. 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:36.180 So let's 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.779 come into 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.200 close. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.900 If you are 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:40.380 a Christian 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:40.740 today 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:42.700 may the words 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.759 of this psalm 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.660 encourage all 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.200 of us to 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:46.240 follow Jesus 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.580 in his example 00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:48.680 of giving 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.279 thanks and 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.039 praise to God 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.460 for though 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.299 hardship will 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.640 come 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:54.440 God has 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.120 and will 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:56.080 deliver us. 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.960 If you are 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.440 not a Christian 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:58.820 today 00:28:58.820 --> 00:29:00.759 please take 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.220 this as an 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.680 opportunity 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.660 to consider 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.340 the person 00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:04.039 of Jesus 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.220 for yourself 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.620 what the 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.259 Bible has 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.880 had to say 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.259 today 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.100 about who 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.660 he is 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.500 and what 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:10.920 he did. 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.360 What he 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:12.940 has done 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.420 for you 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.539 through his 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:14.980 death 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.940 and resurrection 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.799 is what 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.240 you need 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.720 most 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:19.039 deliverance 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.460 from the 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:19.840 eternal 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.640 consequences 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.279 of your 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.580 sin 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:23.019 which is 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.380 death 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.720 and an 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.120 eternal 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.799 relationship 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.420 with God 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.039 in its 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.440 place. 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:28.860 This is 00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:29.620 a gift 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.560 freely 00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:31.100 given to 00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.340 you 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:31.759 if you 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.139 accept 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.500 Jesus 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.259 as your 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.639 Lord 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:33.939 and 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:34.259 Savior. 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:35.819 Please 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.480 consider 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.419 doing that 00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:37.759 today. 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:38.859 Don't let 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.539 another day 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:39.959 go 00:29:39.959 --> 00:29:40.480 without 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.859 doing 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.159 that. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.099 I'd love 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.439 to chat 00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:42.759 with you 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.259 about it 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.939 after the 00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:44.259 service 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.659 as well. 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:46.839 Let me 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:48.299 finish in a 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:48.799 quick prayer 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.679 and then we 00:29:49.679 --> 00:29:50.740 will pray 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.179 together. 00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.099 Father, 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.559 thank you 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.259 for these 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.759 words. 00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.359 I pray 00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.220 that by the 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.279 power of 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.720 your Holy 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.240 Spirit 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.460 you may 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.139 have 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:04.940 removed 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.899 me 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:06.579 and 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:06.839 anything 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.279 that was 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.940 from me 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.339 or of the 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:08.700 world 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:10.139 from this 00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:10.480 sermon 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.079 and brought 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.740 Jesus to 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.220 the forefront. 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.319 Brought the 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:13.720 beauty 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.980 of the 00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.319 gospel 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:16.099 and the 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.639 deliverance 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.200 from sin 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.619 and death 00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.079 that we 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.480 have 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.700 experienced 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.279 in Jesus. 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.279 May your 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.819 name be 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.399 glorified. 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.379 Thank you 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:23.660 God 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.099 for you 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.539 are so 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:24.980 good to 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.220 us. 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.480 your 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.039 steadfast 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.400 love 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:26.900 endures 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.319 forever 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.600 before 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.519 now 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.319 and in 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:30.460 the 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:30.779 future 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.180 as well. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:31.920 In 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.240 Jesus' 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:32.900 wonderful 00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:33.220 name 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.420 I 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:33.640 pray. 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.620 Amen. 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:34.759 Amen. 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.779 Amen.