WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.459 Book of Ephesians, chapter 1, starting in the 15th verse. 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:10.419 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:14.759 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:19.580 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, 00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:25.000 may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:32.579 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:40.539 the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:47.900 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead 00:00:47.900 --> 00:00:50.840 and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:57.180 Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, 00:00:57.580 --> 00:01:00.840 not only in the present age, but also in the one to come. 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:08.359 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:13.320 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:17.679 It's very appropriate that this is All Saints Day. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:26.059 We remember the great figures in the past who gave their lives for the Lord Jesus, 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:29.579 who lived their life for the Lord Jesus as well. 00:01:29.699 --> 00:01:35.139 I love reading Christian biographies of some of the missionaries, those who are great figures of the faith. 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:47.299 And the church over centuries has celebrated many people who are saints in the impact they had on the world in different ways. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.840 But this reading that I'd like you to turn to, Ephesians 1, 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:58.659 says that saints are not just superheroes of the church. 00:01:58.659 --> 00:02:01.179 In fact, far from it. 00:02:02.119 --> 00:02:04.739 It says that all of us are saints. 00:02:05.399 --> 00:02:07.000 And so I'd like you to turn to Ephesians 1. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:10.560 Yesterday was Halloween, of course, 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:18.000 and there was great excitement that I saw as I was coming in to the city. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:22.379 And I was with Christine and with Daniel, and their kids were getting ready. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:26.000 One of their kids dressed up as a superhero, 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.240 and that superhero was his dad, Daniel Avitan. 00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:36.620 So Joe had a beard, and he wore, he said his dad likes to wear black shirts. 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:40.460 So he wore black shirts and a lumberman's jacket too, 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:43.520 and a hat of his dad's as well. 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:49.699 So I love that because I think it speaks to what we are as saints. 00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:53.920 He went as his dad, who he saw as a superhero. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:59.199 God sees you as saints in that light as well, 00:02:59.299 --> 00:03:03.419 as those who are set apart for a particular reason, 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:08.119 and it is to be those who will glorify God in your life. 00:03:08.459 --> 00:03:10.879 Very powerful work that he is doing in you. 00:03:11.359 --> 00:03:14.439 That word saint, by the way, turn to Ephesians 1. 00:03:14.519 --> 00:03:17.339 If you have a Bible in front of you, it will be very, very helpful. 00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:22.719 If you have a phone, you can look at a Bible app, and a Bible app alone. 00:03:22.920 --> 00:03:25.319 You cannot look at any other app on your phone. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.159 Just Ephesians 1. 00:03:28.099 --> 00:03:33.500 And if you look at this marvelous chapter, 00:03:33.980 --> 00:03:36.640 we're going to focus on verses 15 through 23. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:43.159 But I want you to notice that he starts things out at the very first verse 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:47.919 by saying, you know, Paul, who is an apostle of Christ Jesus. 00:03:48.279 --> 00:03:51.119 I mean, he really is a superhero of the faith. 00:03:51.259 --> 00:03:52.739 By the will of God, he says, 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:55.619 to the saints who are in Ephesus, 00:03:56.139 --> 00:04:00.339 meaning every one of those who are gathered who have faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:02.539 This is who I'm writing to. 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:05.000 And then if you jump down to our passage, 00:04:05.299 --> 00:04:08.259 he's going to talk about saints a couple of times. 00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:12.340 That word saints means those who are different. 00:04:12.959 --> 00:04:15.139 Those who are set apart. 00:04:15.799 --> 00:04:17.899 That's what that word saints means. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.939 You are different. 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:23.099 And here's how you are different. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:26.360 If you were to look through the first 14 verses, 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:28.579 I'll just summarize them for you. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.480 Paul tells them why they are different. 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:36.040 He tells them about the extraordinary spiritual blessings 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:40.560 that you and I, that church at Ephesus, have received from God. 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:46.780 And it is full of incredible gifts that God has given to you. 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:50.560 And so Paul is very joyful of those first 14 verses. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:51.680 A number of times he says, 00:04:51.780 --> 00:04:54.460 to the praise of his glory, to the praise of his glory. 00:04:55.200 --> 00:04:58.700 And there is a joyfulness that actually runs through the whole letter 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:00.100 that starts here. 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:01.200 But he says, 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:03.620 the reason and the way that you are set apart 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.580 is to love and serve the Lord. 00:05:05.960 --> 00:05:10.860 And you are different because God has chosen you. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.320 He has adopted you from the very foundation of time. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:19.780 From far long before you existed, 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:23.120 he chose you and adopted you. 00:05:23.520 --> 00:05:25.140 He has also redeemed you. 00:05:25.139 --> 00:05:28.839 In other words, he has freed you by the forgiveness of sins 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:32.759 to be those who can follow the Lord Jesus. 00:05:33.599 --> 00:05:36.180 Freed to know his love for you. 00:05:36.659 --> 00:05:39.759 Freed to know the one who is your Lord 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:45.620 and to know the glorious freedom of serving him as well. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:48.339 All by the blood of the Lord Jesus on the cross. 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:53.259 And it says in these 14 verses that he made known the mystery of his will. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:55.019 I love that phrase. 00:05:55.119 --> 00:05:57.979 You know, we think of mystery books as though we don't know 00:05:57.979 --> 00:06:00.560 what's going to happen until the end. 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.560 Mystery in the Bible is something that was a secret 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:05.459 that has been revealed. 00:06:06.179 --> 00:06:09.159 And what has been revealed to us in the Lord Jesus 00:06:09.159 --> 00:06:11.500 is that he, God himself, 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:16.000 is planning to unite all things in heaven and earth in Jesus. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:18.399 That will certainly happen. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:21.540 And it is happening through the work of Jesus 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:24.160 in his chosen ones right now. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:25.480 You are part of that plan. 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:28.620 And that finally, he gives his Holy Spirit 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:31.160 as a guarantee that we belong to him. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:34.100 He fills you with his Holy Spirit. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:37.639 That is a very different life to live. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:42.139 As those that the living God live in, 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:43.399 fills you. 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:45.720 There is a deep goodness to this. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:47.420 We are part of his plan. 00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:49.920 We know these blessings. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:52.839 And we can take them to heart. 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:55.959 Our love towards God is kindled 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.920 when we take these things to heart. 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:00.579 And I want to say that this verse, 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:02.860 as we look at these few verses, 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.120 15 through 23, 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:07.860 Paul is praying for you and for me 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:10.600 that we will take the blessings of God 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:12.980 that's described here to our hearts. 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:15.220 not just know about them, 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:17.960 but to know God through this, 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:19.480 to know his goodness, 00:07:19.960 --> 00:07:22.160 to remember again and again 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:25.700 the blessings he has given to us. 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:27.120 And it's important for us 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:29.759 because it is very easy to forget. 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:32.340 You know, we're coming up on Remembrance Day. 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:35.439 You're seeing poppies everywhere right now. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:37.339 And the purpose of those poppies 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:39.860 is to remember the sacrifice 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:42.879 of those who went before us, 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:46.639 who have guaranteed our freedoms here in Canada. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.399 And it is because we are people by our nature 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:50.300 who forget. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:53.360 And that's true for us in our, 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:55.579 the goodness that God gives to us. 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.279 We forget those things. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:58.779 The cares of this world, 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:00.679 our concerns of busy lives, 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:02.039 cloud them. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:04.039 And it's as though God's word 00:08:04.039 --> 00:08:05.699 takes those clouds away 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:07.359 and makes clear for us again 00:08:07.359 --> 00:08:10.779 the incredible grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:11.779 to us. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:13.939 We may also wonder, 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:14.619 well, why are, 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.739 how are these blessings relevant to me today? 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:19.419 There's hard things I'm going through. 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:20.719 It makes it seem like 00:08:20.719 --> 00:08:22.419 maybe we don't have blessings. 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:26.000 You may not feel too much like a saint. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.680 That's our life. 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:29.040 Or you may be pursuing 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:30.519 a very exciting and fulfilling 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:34.120 career or relationships, 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:36.000 a track that we're on in life 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.100 that seem like much more relevant blessings 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:42.620 than what we hear about here in Ephesians 1. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:45.019 One of the things that, 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:47.919 I have two boys that are 21 and 24. 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.080 It's a very exciting time in life 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:51.200 because you're considering 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:54.120 what your vocation, 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:56.120 what the direction of your life will be. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.980 So my son just moved to Austin, Texas 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:01.560 and started a new job 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:02.840 in a software company. 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:04.200 And everything's new. 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:05.060 It's exciting. 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:07.799 The opportunities seem to be boundless to him. 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:09.240 I have another boy who's learning 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.240 how to fly a plane 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.980 and all the things that might happen there. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:14.120 But the thing we pray for as parents 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:19.320 is that our boys will not see that 00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:21.759 as the great blessing in life alone, 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:23.940 but that greater than that 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:26.840 is who they are in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:28.340 It's a great prayer for them. 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:29.860 And I know that many pray 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:31.259 for your children for that too. 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:32.820 It is a great prayer. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:34.580 It is a prayer of allowing 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:35.740 the goodness of God 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:38.000 to go deep into your heart 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.080 and to your mind 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.720 and see that that is the great blessing in life 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:44.620 no matter what your career 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:47.040 or your life direction takes. 00:09:48.680 --> 00:09:51.240 People in the churches around Ephesus 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:52.540 who Paul was writing 00:09:52.540 --> 00:09:54.660 were very vulnerable to this as well. 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:57.420 They were an incredibly wealthy city. 00:09:57.540 --> 00:09:59.540 I don't know if you have ever seen 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:02.160 the ruins of Ephesus or been there, 00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:03.820 but even in its ruins, 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:07.080 you can see that this was a very powerful 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:08.879 and prosperous city. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:12.259 It was also a place that was spiritually dark. 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:14.039 We read about in the book of Acts, 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.419 a dark place spiritually. 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:21.620 So there was a real vulnerability 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:24.820 to lose sight of the blessings 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:27.019 and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:27.899 in their life. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:30.159 And so verses 15 through 23, 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:33.779 Paul prays personally for this church 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:35.440 and really for us too, 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:37.720 that God's truth would be 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:40.200 more than just facts that they know about, 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.300 but that each person would know 00:10:44.300 --> 00:10:46.160 the fullness of God's blessing 00:10:46.160 --> 00:10:47.560 in their hearts, 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:48.960 deep in their souls. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:51.200 His goodness would go deep 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.080 into their lives as well. 00:10:53.660 --> 00:10:54.680 So I want to just look 00:10:54.680 --> 00:10:57.940 as we finish the sermon, 00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:59.360 we'll be all about 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.500 what those three parts of Paul's prayer is. 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:04.380 I see three parts here. 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:07.139 The first is very short. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:08.659 It starts with thanksgiving. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:10.759 Right? 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.340 The beginning of verse 16. 00:11:12.939 --> 00:11:15.360 And then he prays for God's people. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:17.200 And I want to go into 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.820 what those prayers are for God's people. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:21.159 He has a heart 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.220 that God would help his people. 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:25.620 And then he ends with confessing 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.980 the good news of God. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.919 Really, the prayer ends 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:30.339 with this incredible 00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:33.279 prayer of thanksgiving 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.639 for God's power 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:36.099 at work in the Lord Jesus. 00:11:36.719 --> 00:11:38.339 So first, in verse 16, 00:11:38.699 --> 00:11:39.019 he says, 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:42.219 I do not cease to give thanks for you. 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:45.759 And I think this is a very good example 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.979 for us in our own prayers. 00:11:47.479 --> 00:11:48.879 We tend to go right into 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.639 asking God for our needs. 00:11:52.099 --> 00:11:52.719 The things, 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:54.139 the cares of this world 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:56.120 can often be very present to us. 00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:58.319 God wants his goodness 00:11:58.319 --> 00:11:59.600 to be present to us 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.500 as we pray. 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:03.259 Very much in our heart and mind. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.559 So God's, 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:05.860 Paul's example here 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.679 is that we would give thanks to God. 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.600 And he says, 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:10.120 I do it unceasingly. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.600 It doesn't mean that he's 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.919 constantly thanking God 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:13.960 every moment of his life, 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:15.519 but every time he prays. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.879 And as a devout Jew, 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:18.159 he would have prayed in the morning 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.259 and at midday 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:20.379 and in the evening. 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:22.240 And he would start 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.579 each of that prayer time 00:12:23.579 --> 00:12:25.120 with thanks to God 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.299 for what he has received 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:28.159 at God's hands. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.480 See, God's goodness. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:31.419 That is what we are doing today 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.899 on this fifth anniversary. 00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:34.779 It is a day of thanksgiving. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.480 It is amazing to hear stories. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.340 And I encourage you 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.439 to share those stories 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:42.419 because you cannot help 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:44.439 but be deeply grateful 00:12:44.439 --> 00:12:46.079 to the Lord Jesus 00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:47.240 for his work here 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.939 and to see lives being blessed 00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:51.199 in remarkable ways. 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.339 Thank God today 00:12:52.339 --> 00:12:54.620 for his work among you. 00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.539 Paul knew that it was 00:12:57.539 --> 00:13:01.120 a vibrant faith. 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:01.839 You know, he prays, 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:03.259 I thank God, he says 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:05.039 in verse, 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:06.939 remembering you in my prayers. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.839 And he's thanking them, 00:13:09.219 --> 00:13:09.980 he's thanking God 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:12.339 because there is a vibrant 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:14.800 faith among God's people here. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.980 And I do think of Messiah West 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:19.320 as well in this too 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.759 because Paul says 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.080 that there is faith 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.100 that he sees 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:28.860 that is combined with love. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.560 So verse 15, 00:13:31.680 --> 00:13:32.560 going just back up, 00:13:33.040 --> 00:13:34.820 I have heard of your faith 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.720 in the Lord Jesus. 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:37.940 I have heard of your love 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:39.300 towards all the saints. 00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:41.240 It goes together 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:43.839 in Paul's experience there. 00:13:43.839 --> 00:13:45.579 And that's an extraordinary thing 00:13:45.579 --> 00:13:47.279 because there is love 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:47.839 in Ephesus 00:13:48.359 --> 00:13:51.240 between very different people. 00:13:51.979 --> 00:13:53.919 And it's very counter-cultural love. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:54.779 So there is love 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:56.539 between Jews and Gentiles. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.659 Imagine that, 00:13:57.979 --> 00:13:58.779 that big wall. 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:01.659 There's love between slaves 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:03.740 and slave owners. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:05.960 There is love between 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.139 those who 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:09.600 were completely 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.019 apart from God 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.139 and those who have been 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.200 close to God 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.360 all of their life. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:17.580 A deep love between men and women, 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.919 poor and wealthy. 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:21.620 Those who are highly educated 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.539 and prosperous. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.740 Those who have no education 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:26.500 and are very poor. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.440 And Paul says that 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:29.340 the gospel has done 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.720 a powerful work in them 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:32.200 so that they are overcoming 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.320 very ingrained differences 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.940 to genuinely love each other. 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.259 And that's the mark 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.680 of a spiritually healthy church. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.519 You know, 00:14:40.560 --> 00:14:41.399 at Messiah West, 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:43.300 you always want to be looking, 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.580 are there any barriers 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:45.759 or prejudices 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:48.720 in this congregation 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.700 among yourselves? 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.519 Are there things 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.879 that separate you 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.639 from one another? 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.480 The love towards the saints 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.680 that Paul's praise for 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:59.480 is a prayer for you as well. 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:01.139 It's actually about 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:03.200 a deep and sacrificial 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.000 commitment to one another. 00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:07.240 And the nice and wonderful thing 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.100 about a church plant 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.960 is I think it's particularly evident 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.779 when that is happening. 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:14.080 You really can't escape 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.420 the need to do that. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.279 But you see this working 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.200 with one another 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.560 in love for one another 00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:22.539 as this little tiny church 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:25.060 grows and flourishes together. 00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:27.180 There is a deep sacrifice 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:30.019 because God has loved them first 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.439 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:33.419 And Paul's praying that for you. 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.159 Know his love for you 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.259 and because of that 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:38.019 love one another deeply. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.739 And then secondly, 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:42.239 having thanked God, 00:15:43.719 --> 00:15:46.839 Paul prays for the Ephesian people. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:48.479 He prays for them. 00:15:49.359 --> 00:15:50.799 And Paul does this prayer, 00:15:50.859 --> 00:15:51.339 I should say. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:53.300 And this is a prayer 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.680 that God's word 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:56.560 is for us as well. 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.639 Most certainly. 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.379 Because here's the prayer. 00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.680 Look at verse 16. 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.980 He prays that the Ephesians 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:05.320 will know God. 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.560 Remembering you in my prayers 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:09.980 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.060 the Father of glory, 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.379 may give you the spirit 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:15.360 of wisdom and of revelation 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.080 in the knowledge of him. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.780 In the knowledge of him. 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:22.360 So it's having the eyes 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.519 of your hearts enlightened. 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.059 It's a great phrase. 00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:26.159 It's very descriptive. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:27.899 You know, the heart 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.319 that he is talking about 00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:30.679 that you and I have 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:34.059 is the source of physical life. 00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:36.059 And it means that 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:37.480 our whole inner life 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.899 with all of its emotions 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.579 and wills and thinking 00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:42.860 would be opened 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:45.139 like eyes 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:47.639 to the grace of the Lord Jesus. 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.799 that God would flood 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.139 the very center of our being 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.960 with his truth. 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.980 With the light of his truth. 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.500 It's a wonderful prayer for us. 00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:58.480 And it's a prayer that's ongoing. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.840 That that would continually happen. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.019 That our eyes are open. 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:03.799 Because they can be dimmed. 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.980 They can get sleepy. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.480 They can get closed a bit. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.880 And I love hearing 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:09.819 the testimonies 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.460 of people 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.599 who have come to faith 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.940 in the Lord Jesus 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.460 because 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:15.299 it is always about 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.620 people's eyes 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:18.059 being opened. 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.339 The eyes of their hearts 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.099 being opened 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.500 to the love 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.319 of the Lord Jesus. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.660 And I am amazed 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.860 that just about every time 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:26.819 when I talk to people 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.079 about their testimony, 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.039 their faith journey, 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.759 there is every single time 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.440 just about 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.740 that I have talked to people, 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:35.180 they have told 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.019 about somebody 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.599 who has prayed for them. 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.660 Who have actually prayed 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.920 this prayer of Paul's 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.720 for them. 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.539 Would my daughter 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.839 have the eyes 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.599 of her heart 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.779 of her heart 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.339 enlightened 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.200 and open 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.120 to the Lord Jesus? 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:51.700 Would my brother, 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.900 would my co-worker 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:54.319 have the eyes 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:54.980 of his heart 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.160 open to the Lord Jesus? 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.920 Would my grandson 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:00.559 have his heart 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.779 the eyes 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.259 of his heart 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.680 opened? 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:04.340 And it is remarkable 00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.180 how God 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.000 does that 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.160 even over a long 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.980 period of time. 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.580 One of the most 00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:11.680 memorable baptisms 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.759 I've ever done 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:14.220 was of a guy 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.580 who was 83 years old 00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.960 confined to his house, 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:17.799 he couldn't get out, 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.840 his wife would come 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.340 to church. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.660 He was 83, 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.759 he had been 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.980 a surgeon 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.980 at Vancouver 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.779 General Hospital. 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.560 He had moved 00:18:27.560 --> 00:18:28.400 from China 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.000 to 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.980 Vancouver 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.460 in his 30s 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:32.960 and become 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.440 very, 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.579 very eminent 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:36.180 in his medical work 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.680 and totally 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.980 opposed 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.940 to faith 00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.539 in God. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.380 His wife 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.079 was a Christian. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.259 They had been 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.799 married for 63 years 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.960 and she had prayed 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.259 for him every day 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.660 of those 63 years. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.000 And it wasn't 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.380 until after he retired 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.099 that he started 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.740 looking back 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.420 at his life 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.120 and thinking. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.819 And again, 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.759 he had retired 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.839 at age 65, 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.420 so almost 20 years, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.059 God did a slow 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.019 work in his life. 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.640 But all of a sudden 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.339 what happened 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.619 shortly before 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:07.299 she called me 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.720 was he just 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.180 turned to her 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.539 and said, 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:11.259 I know 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.379 that God 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.619 is the living God. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.319 I know 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.000 that Jesus 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.559 had to die 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.379 for me 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:19.400 in order that 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.420 I might know God. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.839 And he says, 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.460 and you know what, 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.180 I know that 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.200 I'm not God. 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.319 Which was a 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.139 massive thing. 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.200 And you know, 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.839 when she told me 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.220 the story, 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.879 of course she broke 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:31.519 down crying 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.619 and said, 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:34.279 will you baptize 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.839 my husband? 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.740 And I did. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.220 It was a very 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.019 quiet service, 00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:38.859 but I must say 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.339 it was a miracle. 00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:42.099 A miracle of miracles 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.980 because what God 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.639 had done through 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.299 her prayers 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.460 over 63 years 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.279 is opened 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.480 the eyes 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.539 of his heart 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:50.039 to the knowledge 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.819 of God. 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.779 The true 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:53.159 personal knowledge 00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:53.720 of the Lord 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.559 Jesus Christ. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.759 And this is what 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.339 Paul is praying 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:56.940 for his people. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.519 Not just 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.899 that that would 00:19:58.899 --> 00:19:59.619 happen for the 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.299 first time, 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.720 but that it would 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.919 be a continual work. 00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.279 He teaches us 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.319 in his prayer 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.099 that each of us 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.139 needs the Holy Spirit 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.919 to reveal 00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:08.859 Jesus' truth 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.339 to us 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.319 constantly. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.879 To renew 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:14.019 our understanding 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.779 and our knowledge 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.299 of him. 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.399 To know 00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:17.139 the grace 00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.000 of God 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.539 in our life. 00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:19.500 To renew 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.539 our identity 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.980 in him. 00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:23.399 And the purpose, 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.740 and so the purpose 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.540 of that spiritual 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:26.300 eyesight, 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.300 I think that's a good 00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:27.980 way of putting it, 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.780 is to know three 00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:31.160 things in this 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.420 prayer. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.140 Look at verse, 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:32.840 they all start 00:20:32.840 --> 00:20:33.380 with what. 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.080 He says in verse 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:36.820 18 that you may 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:38.040 know what is the 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:39.519 hope to which you 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.060 were called. 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.800 Literally, 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.120 to know the hope 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.740 of God's calling 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.519 to you. 00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.519 And you see what 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.220 this prayer shows 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.440 to us. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.440 That God wants 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.380 you to know 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:50.440 that he has 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.360 called you 00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:52.240 from the foundation 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.040 of the world 00:20:53.040 --> 00:20:55.360 in Christ. 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.840 And that call 00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:57.780 became effective 00:20:57.780 --> 00:20:58.360 in your life 00:20:58.360 --> 00:20:59.100 when you heard 00:20:59.100 --> 00:20:59.740 the gospel. 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.000 When your eyes 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.740 were opened 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.960 to the Lord Jesus. 00:21:03.540 --> 00:21:04.220 That call 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.260 became effective 00:21:05.260 --> 00:21:05.880 in your life. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.640 That you went 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:08.100 from darkness 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:09.820 into his glorious 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.340 light. 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.360 That you became 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.520 part of his plan 00:21:13.520 --> 00:21:14.480 to unite all 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.620 things under 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.000 Jesus. 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.760 And it is a call 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.680 by name. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.660 And you see 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.160 in scripture 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.279 the call of God 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.680 is always by name. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.079 That individually 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.119 he calls you 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:29.000 in a very unique 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.379 way, 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.099 in your very 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.980 unique life, 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.400 he calls you 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.379 to hope 00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.220 in the Lord 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.140 Jesus Christ. 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.099 And the hope 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:37.920 that God calls 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.000 us to in Christ 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.140 is unseen. 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.079 It's in the 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.660 future. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.379 The Bible, 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.200 in the Bible 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.799 it is the work 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.859 of God healing 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.859 and saving 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.559 you from 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.220 every walk 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.659 of life 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:51.119 to live 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.159 a different 00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:53.259 life now 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.960 knowing that 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.639 you will see 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.440 the Lord Jesus 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.099 one day 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:58.220 face to face. 00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:58.960 That you will 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.740 have a resurrection 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.299 body. 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.039 That you will 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.899 know the eternal 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.839 life of seeing 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.740 God and worshiping 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.159 him in God's 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:06.039 glory forever. 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.460 To be part of 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.200 this plan to 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.240 unite all things 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.319 under Christ. 00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.859 That's God's 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.819 call to us. 00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:13.639 His agenda. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.700 And it all 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.419 has to do with 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:15.980 the hope of 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.620 the Lord Jesus. 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.039 So we look 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.820 for this day 00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:19.820 when God 00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.600 will rule 00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:21.680 the world 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.380 in our Lord 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.039 Jesus Christ 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.779 with power. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.259 And that all 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.840 will be made 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:26.100 right. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.779 Sin and evil 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.720 will be banished. 00:22:28.300 --> 00:22:29.060 It is why the 00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:29.820 earliest churches 00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:30.560 always prayed, 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.620 Jesus come 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.039 quickly. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.440 Jesus come 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:33.840 quickly. 00:22:34.600 --> 00:22:35.019 And that's 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.500 what we pray 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:35.800 for. 00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:37.660 I remember 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.420 studying this 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.100 passage in a 00:22:39.100 --> 00:22:39.800 Bible study 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:43.419 with, on the 00:22:43.419 --> 00:22:43.700 book of 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.240 Ephesians. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:44.879 And one 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.440 person in our 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.559 group said he 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.480 realized that the 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.079 hope he had 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.940 before becoming 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:50.419 Christian was not 00:22:50.419 --> 00:22:51.940 really hope at 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.220 all. 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.819 It was wishful 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.200 thinking. 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.619 It was, you 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.299 know, I hope 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.159 maybe this might 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:57.659 happen. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.139 But God gives a 00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.759 hope that is 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.180 certain. 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.859 There is this 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:03.879 truth that Jesus 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:05.759 will be coming 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.819 again in glory. 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.099 and it could 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:08.939 be any day. 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:10.980 It is a hope 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.559 that the world 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.460 cannot give. 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.399 It makes all 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.179 other hopes of 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:15.099 success and 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.960 security and 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.859 happiness in the 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:18.879 world seem very 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.879 dim and 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.379 transient. 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:21.740 That's what 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.439 actually COVID 00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:23.480 revealed to us. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:23.960 I mean, I think 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.599 it's wonderful that 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.220 you guys were 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.359 planted during 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.019 COVID because 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.779 COVID was a 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.759 time when the 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.319 things that we 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.279 place our hope 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.500 and insecurity 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.200 in was taken 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.619 away. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:34.960 And people 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:35.859 said, what is 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.339 lasting? 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.559 What is 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:37.960 certain? 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.279 What goes 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.079 deep and is 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.639 eternal? 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.039 That's one of 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.599 the reasons why 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.460 young people are 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.960 more and more 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.619 looking to the 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.839 deep faith of 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.519 the Lord Jesus 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.859 that stands the 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.720 test of time, 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.639 that is based in 00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.539 God's eternal 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.480 word that will 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.339 never change, 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.099 and is eternal 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.879 as well. 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.639 And he said, 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:57.939 you know, 00:23:58.179 --> 00:24:01.299 this was a 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.539 hope that the 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.099 world cannot 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.619 give. 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:04.599 The hopes of 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.200 success and 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.799 security and 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.379 happiness, 00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:08.440 are so much 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:10.160 overshadowed by 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:12.040 the hope centered 00:24:12.040 --> 00:24:12.600 on the Lord 00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.280 Jesus Christ. 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:13.860 And that's what 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:14.620 Paul prays that 00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.420 we would see as 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.660 well. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.500 I think this is a 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.300 great encouragement 00:24:18.300 --> 00:24:19.820 to you and to 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:20.520 me because no 00:24:20.520 --> 00:24:20.980 matter how 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.760 desperate or 00:24:21.760 --> 00:24:22.960 dark a 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.780 situation might 00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:24.360 be that we 00:24:24.360 --> 00:24:26.200 face, God 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.680 overrules that. 00:24:27.760 --> 00:24:28.340 He has a much 00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:29.180 greater plan. 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.940 You guys being 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.740 planted in COVID 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.500 shows that God 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.599 overrules even 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.220 the biggest 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.359 pandemic that 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:36.740 has ever 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.859 occurred in 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.359 the world. 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.160 And he 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:39.660 decides, you 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:39.880 know what, 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.519 I think this 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.039 church is going 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.720 to flourish in 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.119 the midst of 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.339 that. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.880 And as a 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.420 church we do 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.279 face turbulence, 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.160 but our 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.140 certain hope is 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.880 that God has a 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.559 plan that we are 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.039 part of. 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:51.440 He will unite 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:53.000 all things under 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.359 Jesus. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:55.899 And then 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:57.199 secondly, what 00:24:57.199 --> 00:24:57.719 are the riches 00:24:57.719 --> 00:24:58.819 of his glorious 00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.299 inheritance? 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:01.439 The second 00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:03.619 what is, what 00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.240 are the riches 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.139 of his glorious 00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:06.279 inheritance in the 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.500 saints? 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.559 Now notice that 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.619 God's inheritance 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:11.779 is God's. 00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:13.679 It's not ours in 00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:14.219 a sense. 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:16.000 It is God's. 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:18.099 And you know 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.399 what that 00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.359 inheritance is? 00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.219 God's inheritance? 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.539 It is actually 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.419 us. 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:24.140 God's inheritance 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:25.960 are his saints. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.440 In other words, 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:29.240 you are God's 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.140 valuable possession. 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.920 He values it as 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.900 the inheritance of 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.740 the ancient world 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.060 was so deeply 00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:38.660 valuable, 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.519 invaluable. 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.420 You are his 00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:42.259 riches. 00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.060 This is an 00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:44.680 amazing thing 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:46.100 here and that's 00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:46.660 why it's important 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.200 for us to look 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.180 carefully at this. 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.240 You are God's 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.160 prized possession. 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.560 That God sees 00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.039 you, 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.140 in the Lord 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.640 Jesus, 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.360 and you are 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.420 infinitely valuable. 00:25:57.320 --> 00:25:58.200 And one day, 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.560 you and I will 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:00.620 see how deeply 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.980 valuable you are 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.620 to God the 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.320 Father when you 00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:04.160 stand in his 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.660 presence. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.840 That is your 00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.279 identity. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.200 And it's 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.720 something that's 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.019 often clouded in 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.840 our lives. 00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:11.840 But he will make 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.460 you glorious. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.259 This is something 00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.180 to look forward to 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.840 with all our 00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:15.300 hearts. 00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:17.120 Paul prays that 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.120 even now you'll 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:19.180 begin to grasp 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.900 that you are 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:22.580 God's invaluable 00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.320 inheritance. 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:24.900 And in a 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.740 society that can 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.720 often make us 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.779 feel worthless 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.279 or cancel us, 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.460 our hearts 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.000 need to be 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.700 open to the 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.320 truth of how 00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:33.600 God sees us 00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.480 because of 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.759 Jesus. 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:35.960 That's Paul's 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.660 prayer for you 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.500 right now. 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.299 And then thirdly, 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:39.880 and finally, 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.240 Paul not only 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:43.400 prays that in 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.240 that section of 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.480 what he's 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.120 praying for, 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.420 that we would 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:47.920 know that we 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.319 are his 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:50.039 glorious inheritance 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:51.620 and that he 00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:52.579 has called us 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.359 in his hope. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.039 He also says 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.620 that we might 00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.440 know what is 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.440 the immeasurable 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.420 greatness of 00:26:58.420 --> 00:27:00.000 his power in 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.799 us who believe. 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.160 That we would 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.900 know his power 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.460 in us. 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.880 There is no 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.960 way you would 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.539 be a church 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.859 right now without 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.880 the glorious 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:10.259 power of Jesus' 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.339 resurrection at 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.000 work in you. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.440 And when I 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.200 heard people 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.039 talk about what 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.740 has been happening 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.240 here at 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.000 resurrection over 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.680 five years, 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.319 constantly there 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.259 is an amazement 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.980 of what God 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.839 and his power 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.539 has done. 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.180 And he does it 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.579 through your 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.559 faithful work. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.839 But it is an 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:28.799 incredible gift 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.019 of God's power 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.559 that we work in 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.880 when we are 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.779 his ministers, 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:34.819 when we are 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.539 trying to carry 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.519 out his plan. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.779 It is always 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.839 in his power. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.359 He carries us. 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:42.299 When he says 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:44.959 that we might 00:27:44.959 --> 00:27:45.519 know what is 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.299 the immeasurable 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.059 greatness of the 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.000 power in us who 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.859 believe according 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.819 to the working of 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.799 his great might, 00:27:51.219 --> 00:27:52.019 you just can't 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.759 miss the fact that 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.679 he is emphasizing 00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:54.899 the power of 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.159 God. 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.000 It is immeasurable, 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:56.919 it is great, 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.139 and it is mighty. 00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.919 And I think that 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:01.859 when we look on 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:03.000 our news feeds, 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.939 and when we look 00:28:03.939 --> 00:28:04.259 at what is 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.879 happening in the 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.479 world, we are 00:28:05.479 --> 00:28:06.359 often almost 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:08.619 overwhelmed by 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:10.679 power that is 00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:12.359 destructive, that 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:14.199 involves evil 00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:14.919 and death. 00:28:15.219 --> 00:28:15.839 We see the 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.659 destructive power 00:28:16.659 --> 00:28:17.239 of nature. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.599 You know, the 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:20.899 earthquakes in 00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:23.299 Venezuela, which 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.039 was awful to 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.899 see, the floods 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.919 in Nepal this 00:28:26.919 --> 00:28:27.739 summer as well, 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.839 many who died in 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.299 the heat wave in 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.599 Europe. 00:28:31.219 --> 00:28:32.219 You see the 00:28:32.219 --> 00:28:33.399 destructive power 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:33.839 that is within 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.179 nature. 00:28:34.239 --> 00:28:35.000 You see it in 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.039 human nature as 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.319 well. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.339 in what is 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.079 happening in 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.099 Ukraine, in 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.779 Iran, if you 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.720 hear the stories 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.399 of people from 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:43.200 those places, it 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.759 is grim. 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:45.079 It is about the 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.960 power of evil 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:46.639 and destruction 00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.919 that they are 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:49.319 facing in those 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.740 places. 00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.500 But in the 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.359 reality of sin 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:51.859 and death in 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:53.179 the world, Paul 00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:54.639 opens our eyes to 00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:56.379 God's power in 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.079 verse 20. 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.899 Look at this 00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:59.240 briefly, verse 00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.619 20. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.279 It says to us 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.819 that he worked 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:04.379 this power in 00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.079 those who 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.539 believe. 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:07.399 in Christ, when 00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.519 he raised him 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.279 from the dead, 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.299 number one. 00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.220 That is the 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.000 greatest work of 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.339 power that the 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.240 universe has ever 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.639 seen. 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.079 Jesus being raised 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.740 from the dead. 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.279 That is the power, 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.259 Paul says, that is 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.460 a work in us. 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.839 And then he says 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.899 that he has not 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.680 only raised him 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.159 from the dead, but 00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.000 he has seated him 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.019 at the right hand in 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.200 the heavenly places, 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:29.240 far above all rule 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.619 and authority and 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:32.379 power and dominion. 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:34.180 that Jesus is 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:36.440 Lord over every 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.400 single power in 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.200 this world that 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.640 you face, that 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.560 this church faces. 00:29:42.260 --> 00:29:43.120 He is far above 00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:43.860 all those powers. 00:29:44.020 --> 00:29:45.580 He is head even 00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:46.580 over those who are 00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:48.540 working against the 00:29:48.540 --> 00:29:49.840 church, against the 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.380 Lord Jesus. 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:52.840 He is far above all 00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.700 rule and authority. 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.220 And finally, verse 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.280 22, that one who is 00:29:56.280 --> 00:29:57.360 Lord over all things, 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.620 he is the head of 00:29:58.620 --> 00:30:00.340 this church, of your 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:00.939 church here. 00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:03.439 It is not Daniel's 00:30:03.439 --> 00:30:04.359 church, it's not my 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:06.139 church, it is the 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.159 Lord Jesus church. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.879 Daniel is an under 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.439 shepherd, and that's 00:30:11.439 --> 00:30:12.480 what I am as well, 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:15.480 pointing to the 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.819 chief shepherd, the 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:18.339 one who is head of 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:19.059 this church. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.299 And this is the 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.819 power that we 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:23.699 actually serve and 00:30:23.699 --> 00:30:24.359 work under. 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.839 So to follow 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:27.699 Jesus means to 00:30:27.699 --> 00:30:28.939 give our lives in 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.940 service and live 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:32.200 to him. 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.360 That's why you are 00:30:33.360 --> 00:30:35.059 all called to 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:36.519 worship Jesus as 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:38.039 Lord of Lords. 00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:40.420 That's the gift 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.120 that we have. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.980 All those small 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.660 things that are 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.920 happening in service 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.960 behind the scenes, 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.100 as well as those 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:48.059 that happen in front 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:49.720 of everybody, it's 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:53.180 all done as a 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:54.840 worship to the 00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:55.380 Lord Jesus. 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.940 What you do in 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:58.000 work in the name 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.059 of Jesus and in 00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:00.039 his power, whatever 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.039 work you are doing, 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:03.019 that is worship of 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.340 Jesus. 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:03.980 It's what we're 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:05.559 called to, to 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.960 follow, means to 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.720 give our life to 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.019 him. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.740 The beginnings, 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.660 you're talking about 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.279 the beginnings of 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.059 your church. 00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:12.880 The beginnings of 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.519 our diocese, there 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.480 was a guy named 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:16.360 Greg Venables. 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.259 Do you remember 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.840 him at all? 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.320 So Greg Venables 00:31:19.320 --> 00:31:20.460 was from Argentina, 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.759 and he was the 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.600 one who allowed 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.360 this to happen 00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:24.279 because he was 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.279 what's called, he 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.079 was an archbishop, 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.399 and he was able 00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.160 to put these 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.720 things into 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.680 existence in our 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.579 Anglican system. 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.039 And I loved what 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:33.259 he said at the 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.779 conference that he 00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.740 joined us in at the 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.339 beginning of this 00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.859 diocese. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.680 I'll read this to 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:39.220 you because I wrote 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.019 down his words. 00:31:41.399 --> 00:31:44.440 He said, we had a 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.639 youth gathering at 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:47.180 this conference, and 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.319 the youth asked him 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.579 what was the best 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.519 thing about following 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:50.899 Jesus. 00:31:51.379 --> 00:31:51.980 They kind of put 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.059 him on spot, in a 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:55.200 spotlight, and he had 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.080 a great answer. 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:58.120 He said, the 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.080 greatest thing about 00:31:59.080 --> 00:32:01.080 being a Christian is 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.980 knowing that Jesus 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:03.539 will never leave you 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.519 and being free to do 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.940 absolutely anything 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:08.140 Jesus wants you to 00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.340 do. 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.600 Isn't that a great 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.140 quote? 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.620 He says, the best 00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.240 thing about being a 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.799 Christian is that 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.460 Jesus will never 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.700 leave you and that 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.700 you are free to do 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.019 absolutely anything 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:19.779 that Jesus wants 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.500 you to do. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.019 He frees you to do 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.259 that. 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.500 And that's really 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.420 living out the 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.140 lordship of 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:25.420 Jesus. 00:32:26.540 --> 00:32:27.300 So I want to 00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:27.980 close this. 00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:28.720 I'll bring it 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.840 together here by 00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:30.720 just saying that I 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:32.240 hope that your 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.600 hearts are encouraged 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.820 by Paul's prayer 00:32:34.820 --> 00:32:35.120 here. 00:32:35.800 --> 00:32:36.580 And that you look at 00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.300 this prayer again 00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:37.880 this week. 00:32:38.320 --> 00:32:39.180 And maybe look at 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:39.900 those blessings, 00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:41.300 verses 1 through 14, 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.700 of what we are in 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.020 Jesus. 00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:45.080 I hope that God 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:45.820 gives you his 00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.900 spirit so that you 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.920 can love him and 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.440 know him. 00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:49.640 And that's a 00:32:49.640 --> 00:32:50.180 certain hope. 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:51.800 And therefore, 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.560 because of that, 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.639 that you have a 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.440 certain hope of 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.359 being part of God's 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:56.359 plan to bring all 00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:57.480 things under Jesus' 00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:58.559 loving rule. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.119 That you know you 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:01.440 are God's precious 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.019 possession. 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.799 That you have God's, 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:05.319 you know God's immense 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.500 power that raised 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:08.440 Jesus is working in 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.839 you. 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:11.119 As God calls you as a 00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:12.960 church into all that 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.679 he has for you. 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.980 Jesus has filled us 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:16.019 that we might know him 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:17.319 and his love and to 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.159 live for him in a 00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.619 world that God is 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:20.799 bringing under the 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.059 healing rule of 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.379 Jesus. 00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:23.899 Therefore, be 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:25.180 ambitious for God 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:26.559 as you have been, 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.960 Messiah West. 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.039 Be confident in his 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:30.000 great power not only 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.440 to change you, but 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.740 also be confident in 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.879 his rule over the 00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:34.220 world. 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.539 There's no need to 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.379 fear the future. 00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.299 In fact, you embrace 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.460 the future that Jesus 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:41.839 has for you and for 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.379 the world. 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.519 God is filling the 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.099 earth with the 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:44.619 knowledge of his 00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:44.960 glory. 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.279 And that's why I 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.139 close with a verse 00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:47.899 from Habakkuk. 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.720 For the earth will be 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.559 filled with the 00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.259 knowledge of the 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.220 glory of the Lord 00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:54.399 as the water covers 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:54.940 the sea. 00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.500 May God give you 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.940 grace to know his 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:00.480 goodness for you and 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.659 empower you to live 00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:03.740 for him as a life of 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.119 worship. 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.619 In Jesus' name, 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.240 Amen.