WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

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 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

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 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

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 Your ears and your heart will be with your people forever.

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 Help us to see the privilege that that is and to fall on our knees in worship.

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 Long more and more for more of you, God.

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 So be honored in the preaching of your word and we pray these things in Jesus' strong name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So with Advent coming next week, we are closing out our fall series.

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 We've been in a series on the theme of what?

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 Revival.

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 Right?

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 So this is the final sermon on revival.

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 So no pressure.

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 Right?

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 All right?

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 It's make it or break it today.

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 Got to bring the fire and let the revival begin.

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 Amen.

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 Thank you.

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 But you know, seriously, every time I come up here to preach God's Holy Spirit-inspired word of truth,

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 I do pray, I do hope for, I do expect a revival of some kind.

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 And like, if not in this whole world, maybe in this country.

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 If not in this country, maybe in this city.

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 If not in this city, at least maybe in this church.

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 Maybe if not in this whole church, then maybe at least in some of you.

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 And if not in even any of you, at least in me.

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 At least in me.

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 I'm always hoping for, I'm always expecting revival.

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 And I'm hoping that that's something we can take away from this series.

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 That no matter the scale, revival is something that we never stop pursuing.

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 Deeper intimacy with God.

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 Fresh experiences of his presence and his power amongst us.

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 The very dynamic, I imagine, of heaven itself.

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 This trajectory of plumbing the bottomless depths of our infinite God for all eternity.

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 Here at Christ Church, we will never move on.

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 We will never graduate from pursuing revival.

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 As Jonathan shared last week in our congregational meeting,

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 we are convinced that revival is the last great hope of the Bay Area,

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 even of the entire secular West.

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 Revival.

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 Not politics.

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 Not civility and kindness and charity.

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 Not reason and argumentation.

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 Not money or prosperity.

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 Not scientific or technological advancements.

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 What the Bay Area needs, we believe, is a revival.

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 The supernatural work of the Spirit of God.

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 To heal and mend all that's been broken.

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 So see, this series, this hasn't been some kind of individualistic,

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 religious insider piety that we're promoting and pursuing just inside the walls of this church.

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 No.

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 We are seeking to lead people into deeper relationships with Christ for the city.

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 For the world.

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 And you know what I love about the Christian faith?

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 I love the Christian interpretation of history.

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 The Christian interpretation of history is that even if we cannot force revival like on command,

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 the story that God is writing in history actually assumes and expects and guarantees revivals.

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 So even if we cannot determine or set the when and the where of a revival,

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 we can be confident that revival is always coming.

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 It's always on the way.

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 And that guarantee, that promise, is found right here in our text this morning.

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 This text we've been repeating and alluding to throughout our series in chapter 7, verse 14.

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 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face

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 and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.

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 This guarantee that revival is always on the way for God's people when they pray.

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 Now maybe this still doesn't excite you.

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 This guarantee of a revival, maybe this entire series has been uninspiring to do.

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 Maybe you're quite content to continue living a prayerless life without revival.

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 But what if I framed it this way?

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 What if prayer, this global and historic phenomenon that you can find across virtually every culture

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 and every religious tradition,

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 what if prayer wasn't some religious task or duty,

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 but an indication of each and every human being's longing to be heard?

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 Every person's longing for someone other than themselves to pay attention to their cries.

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 Every person's longing for someone who can hear and who can help.

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 You know, Chelsea and I, we love musicals,

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 and one of my personal favorites is this one called Dear Evan Hansen.

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 Anyone listen to or see Dear Evan Hansen?

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 We love it.

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 You've got to check it out.

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 And what it's basically about is this friendless, socially awkward high schooler,

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 his name is Evan Hansen,

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 who has spent most of his life feeling like he's unseen and unheard and an outsider.

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 And so the musical opens with him.

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 He's getting out of bed and his arm is in a cast.

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 Because that summer, because of self, out of self-harm,

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 maybe even suicidal ideation,

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 he's allowed himself to fall from a tree.

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 And so he's got this broken arm, he's in a cast,

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 and he's waking up in bed,

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 and it's the first day of school,

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 and he's just absolutely dreading it, right?

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 And in the opening scene, he enters into the high school,

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 and everyone's so excited to catch up except for him.

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 And he's smack in the middle of this whole sea of students,

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 yet at the same time, he feels all alone,

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 and this is what he sings.

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 On the outside, always looking in,

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 will I ever be more than I've always been?

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 Because I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass.

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 I'm waving through a window.

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 I try to speak, but nobody can hear,

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 so I wait around for an answer to appear.

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 While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass,

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 I'm waving through a window.

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 Can anybody see?

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 Is anybody waving back at me?

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 He continues, when you're falling in a forest,

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 and there's nobody around,

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 do you ever really crash or even make a sound?

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 Did I even make a sound?

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 It's like I never made a sound.

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 Will I ever make a sound?

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 And you know, I wonder if any of us really needs

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 to be an awkward teenager to identify with dear Evan Hansen.

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 Like, you may not feel your need for revival,

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 but everyone, everyone at one point or another feels unheard.

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 Like nobody cares, like nobody sees.

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 But that's what I love about our passage today.

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 Like, what if I told you of a guarantee,

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 a guarantee that you would always be heard,

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 always be seen, and not just by anyone,

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 but by an all-powerful, good, and loving person.

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 Even if you are skeptical,

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 in your skepticism about this person's possible existence,

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 wouldn't you want this guarantee?

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 Wouldn't you want a guarantee of this person to be true?

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 And wouldn't you at least be interested

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 in how to relate with and communicate with such a person?

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 Well, that's what this passage illustrates for us,

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 the privilege, the posture, and the promise of prayer.

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 And those are our three points,

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 the privilege, the posture, and the promise of prayer.

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 Now, to set this up a bit,

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 because we're jumping right into the middle

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 of another episode of the Bible,

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 what's recorded here in our text

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 is one of the most pivotal, great moments

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 in Israel's history.

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 King Solomon's world-famous temple

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 has finally been built as a permanent residence

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 for God himself,

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 this historic temple moment

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 in their capital, Jerusalem.

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 And so as it says down here in chapter six, verse 12,

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 the scene for us is this picture

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 of this kingly son of David, right, Solomon,

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 and he's standing before the temple altar

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 in front of the whole assembly,

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 and he's lifting up his hands,

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 and he offers up this prayer.

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 And see, when we observe how Solomon prays

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 and what he asks for,

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 we find that even for this great king of Israel,

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 this son of David,

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 prayer is not something that he just presumes.

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 He sees it as a privilege,

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 and that's our first point,

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 the privilege of prayer.

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 Now read with me and notice how he recognizes

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 the bigness, the transcendence,

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 the sovereign authority of God

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 in comparison to all other things.

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 Verse 14, he said,

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 Lord, the God of Israel,

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 there is no God like you in heaven or on earth.

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 Verse 18, will God really dwell on earth with humans?

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 The heavens, even the highest heavens,

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 cannot contain you,

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 how much less this temple I have built.

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 See, Solomon knows better than to presume

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 that this temple is worthy of Yahweh,

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 or even capable of housing him.

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 He knows better than to assume

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 that this temple could somehow harness the power

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 and the presence of God.

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 He knows how silly to think this would be.

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 Even this greatest architectural feat

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 in all of Hebrew history,

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 he knows that in and of itself,

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 even with all the time and the sweat

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 and all the resources they put into this temple,

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 that compared to Yahweh's glory,

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 it was but a tiny and insignificant box.

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 Solomon understood that apart from God's own

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 actual commitment to be present

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 and attentive to this temple,

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 it'd just kind of be like,

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 what is this, a temple for ants?

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 Right?

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 Zoolander reference, thank you.

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 And so with eyes wide open,

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 wide open to the greatness of this God,

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 who he hopes will dwell in his dinky little temple,

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 Solomon does not presume that this temple

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 is already a place of prayer.

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 Rather, he pleads for this temple

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 to be a place of prayer.

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 Look with me at verse 19.

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 Look at what he asks for,

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 and especially notice how many times

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 he uses the word here.

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 Verse 19.

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 Lord my God, give attention

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 to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy.

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 Hear the cry and the prayer

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 that your servant is praying in your presence.

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 May your eyes be open toward this temple,

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 day and night, this place of which you said

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 you would put your name there.

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 May you hear the prayer your servant prays

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 toward this place.

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 Hear the supplications of your servant

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 and of your people Israel

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 when they pray toward this place.

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 Hear from heaven your dwelling place.

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 And when you hear, forgive.

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 Verse 40.

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 Now my God, may your eyes be open

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 and your ears attentive

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 to the prayers offered in this place.

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 Did you catch that?

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 Here in this most momentous occasion

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 of King Solomon's reign,

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 his highest prayer and petition

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 is basically for the gift of prayer,

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 the privilege of prayer itself.

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 He's praying for prayer.

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 He acknowledges that God is not obliged

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 to hear and receive their prayers,

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 so he pleads to God

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 that God would hear them,

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 hear their cries, hear their prayers,

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 hear their supplications

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 all the way from heaven,

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 hear their pleas for mercy and forgiveness.

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 Even for this son of David,

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 the wisest king of Israel,

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 prayer is not an entitlement,

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 but it's an endowment in his eyes.

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 It's not a presumption.

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 Again, it's a privilege.

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 And I wonder how many of us

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 perceive and practice prayer

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 for the great privilege that it is.

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 Or do we take for granted,

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 do we take communication

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 with the creator and sustainer

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 of the universe for granted?

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 You know, we live in this modern,

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 egalitarian internet age

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 where for better and for worse,

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 people can be heard like never before, right?

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 Like think about it.

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 Any one of us could conceivably

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 go viral tomorrow, right?

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 With just the right perfect video,

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 we could get the attention

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 of all the media outlets

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 of the president of the United States.

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 You can shoot off messages,

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 get into people's DMs,

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 capture thousands of people's attentions

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 just like that, right?

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 You can share on a GoFundMe page

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 about your personal financial struggles,

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 and Kim Kardashian just might see it

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 and donate a few thousand bucks.

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 Like this is the world that we live in.

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 Or if I just tweet something

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 that's clever enough,

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 compelling enough,

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 I might get retweeted by Steph Curry, right?

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 We can get the ears

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 and the attention of more people

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 than has ever been possible in history.

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 And thus it can be easy

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 to take for granted

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 our very right to be heard, right?

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 And the obligation of others

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 to listen to our cries for attention

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 and our cries for help.

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 And I'll be the first one

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 to say that we should indeed

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 lend our ears to our neighbors,

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 to one another.

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 That there is a real sense

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.600
 in which we owe our ears

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.120
 to one another

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.600
 as fellow human beings.

00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.160
 And it is truly awesome

00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:29.520
 to think that you can tweet

00:12:29.520 --> 00:12:30.440
 at Taylor Swift

00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:32.340
 and she just might see it.

00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.800
 But while I mean no offense

00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:36.120
 to the Swifties in this room,

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.680
 Taylor Swift's ears

00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:39.140
 and God's ears

00:12:39.140 --> 00:12:42.080
 are on two totally different levels,

00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:42.640
 all right?

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.039
 Like just because Taylor Swift

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:46.120
 might give her attention

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:47.000
 to your tweets

00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:48.559
 does not mean

00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:49.759
 we now have the right

00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.059
 to God's ear.

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.299
 Just because.

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:54.039
 The right to God's attention

00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:55.340
 and to God's responses

00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:56.559
 to our pleas.

00:12:56.699 --> 00:12:57.500
 God is God

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:58.980
 and we are not.

00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.139
 And he is not obligated

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.019
 to listen to

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:03.620
 or to heed our prayers

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.559
 and the request

00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:05.919
 of sinful creatures

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:07.840
 just because we want him to.

00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:10.240
 Do we realize

00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:11.000
 that there are

00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:12.500
 over seven and a half

00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.399
 billion people

00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:14.420
 on this planet?

00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:16.399
 And before any of us

00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.040
 there were billions

00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:18.420
 upon billions of others,

00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:19.259
 each one created

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:20.120
 by God

00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:20.720
 in his image,

00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:22.019
 each with their own needs

00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:22.580
 and concerns

00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:23.100
 and hurts

00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:24.019
 and longings.

00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.879
 And yet do we presume

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.180
 that God would give his ear

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.160
 to any single

00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:29.660
 one of us?

00:13:30.180 --> 00:13:32.120
 One speck of sand

00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:33.280
 amidst the vastness

00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:34.139
 of the seashore

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:34.840
 of humanity.

00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.540
 humanity.

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:36.899
 And not to mention

00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.740
 his holiness.

00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:38.860
 Do we even know

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.639
 who we presume

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.879
 to be talking to

00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.460
 in prayer?

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.300
 The Lord Yahweh,

00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.800
 the high and exalted one

00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:45.780
 seated on his throne.

00:13:46.280 --> 00:13:47.780
 Pure and sinless angels

00:13:47.780 --> 00:13:48.860
 cover their faces

00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.600
 day and night

00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.660
 in his presence

00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:51.759
 unable to speak

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.519
 anything else

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.220
 than holy,

00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:53.840
 holy,

00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.139
 holy is the Lord

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.840
 God Almighty

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.399
 who was and is

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.480
 and is to come.

00:13:58.540 --> 00:13:59.240
 Do we presume

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.780
 to pray to this kind

00:14:00.780 --> 00:14:01.280
 of a God

00:14:01.280 --> 00:14:02.879
 with our unclean lips,

00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.720
 lips we've used

00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.379
 to deny him

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.159
 and dishonor him

00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:06.080
 and disparage those

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.259
 made in his image?

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:08.720
 You know,

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.279
 some of us

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.439
 might be stuck today

00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.439
 and hung up on this mystery

00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:12.620
 of why God doesn't seem

00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.200
 to hear

00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.919
 and answer our prayers.

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:15.939
 But what if the greater

00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:17.000
 mystery was that

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.039
 he might even be

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.879
 willing to?

00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:21.299
 In Solomon's

00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.700
 unsurpassed wisdom,

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.580
 he was preoccupied

00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:26.539
 with this greater mystery,

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.279
 marveling at the privilege

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.419
 and the possibility

00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:30.500
 of prayer,

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.240
 the possibility

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.460
 of having a conversation

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.200
 with God,

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:35.019
 being heard by God

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:35.800
 with all the attention

00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:36.400
 of a patient

00:14:36.400 --> 00:14:37.700
 and empathetic parent

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.680
 toward their beloved child,

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.220
 the possibility

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.100
 of bringing a personal request

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.500
 to the one

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.200
 for whom nothing

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.620
 is impossible.

00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:45.500
 Christchurch,

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.680
 we must pray.

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:47.920
 No,

00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:48.540
 it's not that we

00:14:48.540 --> 00:14:49.400
 must pray,

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.360
 we get to pray.

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.120
 We get to pray.

00:14:53.180 --> 00:14:54.139
 We aren't doing God,

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.960
 we aren't doing the church

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.740
 a favor

00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.840
 when we get on our knees,

00:14:56.900 --> 00:14:57.379
 when we show up

00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.200
 to the boiler room,

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.040
 to Wednesday,

00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.759
 even song

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.899
 or to our prayer vigils.

00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:03.319
 Prayer is the privilege

00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:04.899
 of the people of God

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:06.899
 and when we grasp

00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:08.099
 the absolute privilege

00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:08.579
 of prayer

00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:09.719
 to the holy God

00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.819
 of the universe,

00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.819
 it should make sense

00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:13.599
 that there is also

00:15:13.599 --> 00:15:14.919
 a proper posture

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.459
 of prayer as well

00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:17.240
 in point number two,

00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:18.519
 the posture of prayer.

00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:20.839
 Like just because

00:15:20.839 --> 00:15:21.379
 we are given

00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:22.159
 the privilege

00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.219
 of being heard by God,

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:23.419
 right,

00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.539
 doesn't mean

00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.179
 we should just come

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:25.659
 before him

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:26.959
 in any way

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.560
 that we want.

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.280
 And I know this might

00:15:28.280 --> 00:15:29.120
 fly in the face

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.660
 of our kind of

00:15:29.660 --> 00:15:31.100
 I'm just gonna do me,

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.100
 let me be myself

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.560
 culture,

00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:33.120
 but honestly,

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:33.820
 unless you are

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.660
 a sociopath,

00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:35.620
 everyone gets this

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.980
 at some level.

00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:37.879
 This is true

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.160
 of any respectful

00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:39.840
 relationship.

00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.660
 Just because you are

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:41.500
 given the privilege

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:42.400
 of a relationship

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:42.980
 with someone

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.840
 does not mean

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.660
 you should treat them

00:15:44.660 --> 00:15:45.220
 and approach them

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.680
 in whatever manner

00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:47.519
 you choose.

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:48.840
 If you are given

00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:49.940
 the privilege

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:50.820
 of entering into

00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:51.180
 the Vatican

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:51.860
 to meet the Pope,

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.820
 entering the White House

00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.900
 to meet the President,

00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:54.780
 you don't just go in there

00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:55.259
 however you want,

00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:56.040
 like yo, yo, yo,

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:57.120
 what's up my guy,

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:59.039
 right, fist bump, yo,

00:15:59.219 --> 00:15:59.579
 no.

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.000
 Or a better example,

00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:02.620
 a better example

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.139
 might be this,

00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:04.319
 if you've wronged someone,

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.939
 say you've cheated

00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:07.039
 on your partner

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.559
 and they've granted

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.419
 you the privilege

00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:10.939
 of entering back

00:16:10.939 --> 00:16:11.779
 into a relationship

00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.339
 with them,

00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.299
 you don't approach them

00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.259
 in any way

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.860
 that you want,

00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:17.099
 in a lighthearted,

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.519
 flippant way

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.699
 as if they had not

00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:20.360
 just shown you

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.939
 an incredible mercy.

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:23.779
 If someone

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.959
 who is way out

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.460
 of your league,

00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:26.460
 if someone

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.060
 you owe

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.340
 a great debt to

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.120
 grants you

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.940
 the privilege

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.740
 of a relationship

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.280
 with them,

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.920
 this cannot but

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:33.740
 affect your posture

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.259
 toward them.

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.120
 How can you not

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.120
 be humble toward them,

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.259
 personal toward them,

00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:38.240
 even penitent

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.100
 toward them?

00:16:39.900 --> 00:16:40.879
 And that's what we get at

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.680
 in chapter 7,

00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.340
 verse 14.

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.000
 God says,

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.300
 my people

00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:45.759
 who are called

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.360
 by my name

00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.820
 will humble themselves

00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:48.300
 and pray

00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:50.019
 and seek my face

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.560
 and turn from

00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:52.639
 their wicked ways.

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:52.840
 See,

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:54.160
 a proper posture

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:54.620
 of prayer

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.180
 is one

00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:56.040
 of humility.

00:16:56.660 --> 00:16:57.139
 How could we

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.180
 not be humbled

00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.180
 when we consider

00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.220
 the great privilege

00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:01.000
 of God

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.899
 lending his ear

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.180
 to our unclean lips?

00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:04.900
 Prayer is inherently

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:06.059
 an act of humility,

00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:06.299
 right?

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.220
 It's an act of dependence

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.319
 and it's an admission

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.180
 of our need

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:09.940
 and abandonment

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.240
 of our self-sufficiency

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.680
 and you know,

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.360
 I honestly think

00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.500
 that this is the biggest reason

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.480
 why many of us

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.140
 don't pray.

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.640
 One of our elders

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.299
 this past week

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:17.880
 in our session meeting,

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.620
 he was saying that,

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.340
 it was Wes,

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.019
 Wes Selke,

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.740
 he was saying that,

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.559
 he thought that

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.379
 our biggest problem

00:17:22.379 --> 00:17:23.039
 and I agree with him,

00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.759
 our society's biggest problem

00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.339
 is that we don't feel

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.759
 our need for God

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.220
 and this is not

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:30.259
 outside society,

00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.319
 this is the church's

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.299
 problem as well,

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.480
 this is why we don't pray.

00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:34.779
 It's not because

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.759
 we don't have enough time,

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.779
 it's not because

00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.919
 we're not pious enough,

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.379
 it's not because

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.799
 we're not disciplined enough,

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.119
 it's because we're not

00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:41.859
 humble enough,

00:17:42.679 --> 00:17:43.679
 it's because we are not

00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:44.299
 humble enough,

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.079
 it's that simple.

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.200
 Humble people pray,

00:17:47.919 --> 00:17:49.559
 prideful people don't.

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.740
 People who believe

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.460
 they need God

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.879
 are in touch with God

00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.779
 and people who don't

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.599
 believe they need God

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.740
 will not be in touch

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.339
 with him.

00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:58.399
 Now a humble posture

00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:59.639
 is also a personal posture,

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.319
 one that seeks God's face,

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:03.139
 that seeks God for God.

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.299
 Remember prayer is not

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:06.059
 a transactional exchange

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.159
 offered up to this

00:18:07.159 --> 00:18:09.179
 cosmic gumball machine

00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:09.919
 or this like

00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:11.240
 your wish is my command

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.519
 kind of a genie.

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.799
 Proper prayer does not

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.679
 ultimately seek God's goods

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.740
 but God himself.

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.400
 prayer is not just

00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.059
 worrying in the direction

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.799
 of God,

00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:23.940
 it is seeking him,

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.539
 it's pursuing him,

00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.400
 a relationship

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.620
 with the living God

00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.579
 and this is the kind

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.559
 of prayer that God

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.160
 loves to respond to.

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.380
 Listen to his words

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.299
 through the prophet Jeremiah

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.299
 to an exiled people,

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.359
 you will seek me

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.279
 and find me

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.180
 when you seek me

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.160
 with all your heart,

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.319
 I will be found by you

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.660
 declares the Lord.

00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.500
 Isn't that such

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.400
 an amazing promise?

00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.680
 Isn't that an amazing promise?

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.019
 God is after our hearts

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:51.120
 and what this also means then

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:52.080
 is that our humble

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:53.279
 and personal prayers,

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:54.820
 they also need to be

00:18:54.820 --> 00:18:56.200
 penitent prayers.

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.259
 Turning away

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.799
 from our wicked ways,

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.700
 God is light

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.160
 and in him

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.480
 is no darkness at all.

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.200
 If we say we have

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.220
 fellowship with him

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.140
 while we walk in darkness,

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.759
 we lie

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:06.220
 and do not practice

00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:06.940
 the truth.

00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.680
 Like real talk here,

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.480
 if you don't want

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.160
 to be forgiven,

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.480
 God is not going

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.100
 to forgive you.

00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:14.799
 If you do not want

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.460
 to be healed,

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.460
 God will not heal you.

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.039
 And I know this all

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.460
 seems kind of like

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:19.980
 no duh,

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.279
 but are our prayers

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:21.940
 really marked

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.460
 by this kind of humble

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.579
 and personal

00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:26.480
 and penitent posture?

00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.279
 Do we assume

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.819
 a Godward posture

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.579
 or a selfward posture

00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.359
 when we approach

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:31.899
 God in prayer?

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.440
 Do we pray,

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.039
 thy will be done

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.879
 or my will be done?

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.519
 Are we truly

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:39.279
 humbly dependent upon him?

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.859
 Do we really want God

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:41.979
 for God alone?

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.399
 And are there any

00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:44.199
 wicked ways

00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:45.679
 we might be holding on to

00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:46.759
 that are obstructing

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.539
 our communion with him?

00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.879
 God has laid out

00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:52.059
 for us the kind of posture

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.779
 that pleases him,

00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:55.359
 that captures his attention.

00:19:55.979 --> 00:19:56.859
 He says in Isaiah

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.819
 chapter 66,

00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:59.419
 this is the one

00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.479
 to whom I will look.

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.939
 He who is humble

00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:03.459
 and contrite in spirit

00:20:03.459 --> 00:20:05.500
 and trembles at my word.

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:06.959
 That's how we get

00:20:06.959 --> 00:20:07.799
 the eyes of God.

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.159
 It's not some

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.559
 manipulative technique,

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.679
 to force his hand,

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.500
 but it's a blueprint

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:14.279
 for walking in his light

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.839
 and life and love.

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.779
 It's a posture

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:18.240
 to set ourselves up

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.819
 for revival.

00:20:18.979 --> 00:20:19.079
 You know,

00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:20.259
 my pastor in college,

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:20.759
 Peter Kim,

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.659
 he talked about this

00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:22.399
 really helpfully.

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.479
 He said,

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:23.740
 you know,

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.500
 we cannot force

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:24.939
 the hand of God,

00:20:24.979 --> 00:20:25.959
 we cannot manufacture

00:20:25.959 --> 00:20:26.959
 revival,

00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:28.740
 but though we cannot

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.639
 control the wind

00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.139
 or the sea,

00:20:30.199 --> 00:20:30.979
 what we can do

00:20:30.979 --> 00:20:32.240
 is we can put up

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.159
 our sails, right?

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.879
 We can correct

00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:35.619
 our rudders

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.519
 as we wait

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.559
 for the fresh wind

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.679
 of God's spirit

00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:39.979
 to move us

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.559
 as he so desires.

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.279
 When our prayers

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.099
 are postured

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.700
 in humility

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.819
 and in seeking

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.559
 God's face

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.519
 and in turning

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.620
 from our wicked ways,

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.319
 God promises,

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.920
 he promises

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:53.140
 to hear,

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.360
 he promises

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.259
 to forgive,

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.400
 he promises

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:57.440
 to heal

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.099
 and that's amazing

00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:00.539
 and that's an amazing

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.200
 promise

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.740
 and this is where

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.140
 we'll end

00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:03.259
 the promise

00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.759
 of prayer.

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.620
 You know,

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.160
 this book,

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.099
 2 Chronicles,

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.539
 though it records

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.259
 Solomon's prayer

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.079
 and God's response,

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.279
 you know,

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.779
 with the fire

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.400
 coming down,

00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:11.480
 it was actually

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.519
 written hundreds

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.940
 of years later

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:15.579
 and in the traditional

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.839
 Jewish ordering

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.920
 of the Old Testament,

00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:18.900
 this would be

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.859
 the very last book

00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.740
 that you would read.

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.720
 So in Jesus' Bible,

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.240
 this would be

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.980
 the very last book

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.500
 that he read.

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.019
 So the actual

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.359
 original readers

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.400
 of 2 Chronicles

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.099
 are not those

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.279
 Israelites who are there

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.980
 at the moment

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.599
 with Solomon,

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.379
 but they are the

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.619
 generation of Israelites

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.660
 who had returned

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.619
 from exile.

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.519
 They're the ones

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.099
 who had returned

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.339
 from Babylonian

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:38.940
 captivity.

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.359
 So I want us

00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:40.779
 to imagine

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.299
 reading 2 Chronicles

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.859
 like this generation

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.400
 of post-exilic

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.000
 Israelites,

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.339
 right?

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.180
 Imagine being

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.940
 a post-exilic

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.779
 Jewish person

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:50.019
 reading this account

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.839
 in 2 Chronicles

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.839
 chapter 6 and 7.

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:52.980
 You're back

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.500
 in your homeland

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:55.279
 but you don't have

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.059
 a king, right?

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.940
 And technically

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.680
 you are still

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.700
 under the jurisdiction

00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:00.279
 of the Persian Empire.

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.940
 Now imagine

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.839
 reading this event,

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.700
 Solomon's prayer,

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.660
 God's response,

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.879
 the fire coming down

00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:07.760
 and God promising,

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.420
 promising that he

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.040
 would definitely

00:22:10.040 --> 00:22:11.720
 hear his people's

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.820
 prayers at

00:22:12.820 --> 00:22:14.040
 Solomon's temple.

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.740
 But then you look

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.440
 outside your window,

00:22:16.540 --> 00:22:16.740
 right?

00:22:17.540 --> 00:22:17.860
 Do you see

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:18.560
 Solomon's temple?

00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.820
 No, you see

00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.620
 the second temple

00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.840
 that you yourself

00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:24.240
 built post-exile

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.780
 and you are told

00:22:25.780 --> 00:22:27.040
 that this second temple

00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:28.680
 pales in comparison

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:31.080
 to the original temple

00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:32.160
 that Solomon had built

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.340
 where the fire came down

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:33.960
 and God met

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.700
 his people.

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:36.279
 So like what

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:36.860
 do you do

00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:37.400
 with these

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.700
 century-old promises

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.240
 that were given

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.740
 to Solomon

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.900
 and those people

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.059
 back in verses

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.259
 14 and following?

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.940
 When God said

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.360
 hundreds of years earlier,

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:46.980
 if my people

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.380
 who are called

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:47.880
 by my name

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.319
 will humble

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.160
 themselves and pray

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.259
 and seek my face

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.740
 and turn from

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.400
 their wicked ways,

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.220
 then I will hear

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.680
 from heaven

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.640
 and I will forgive

00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.160
 their sin

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.819
 and will heal

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.279
 their land.

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.019
 Now my eyes

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.519
 will be open

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.460
 and my ears attentive

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.100
 to the prayers

00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.340
 offered in this place.

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.480
 I have chosen

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.160
 and consecrated

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.819
 this temple,

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.440
 God said,

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:03.620
 so that my name

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.700
 may be there forever.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:06.400
 My eyes and my heart

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.920
 will always be there.

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.660
 What do we do

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.799
 with that kind of a promise

00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.620
 that's so tied

00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.519
 to Solomon's temple,

00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.080
 right?

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.420
 If we put ourselves

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:15.880
 in the shoes

00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.940
 of the original readers

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:18.100
 of 2 Chronicles,

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.740
 it would be really confusing,

00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.200
 I think,

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.680
 to read these words

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.299
 and figure out

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.480
 how they exactly

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.980
 applied to us.

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.799
 God,

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:28.319
 you said you'd be attentive

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:28.920
 to the prayers

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.819
 offered in Solomon's temple,

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.519
 but what about our temple?

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.160
 You said your name

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.779
 and your eyes

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.460
 and your heart

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.960
 would be there forever,

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.940
 but we messed up

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.460
 and we were actually exiled.

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.279
 We turned from you

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.880
 and the temple,

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.720
 the original temple

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.599
 where you made these promises,

00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.559
 it's gone.

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.620
 So where is your name now?

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.680
 Where are your eyes?

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.460
 Where is your heart now?

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.640
 Are you still with us?

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.480
 Do you still see us?

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.299
 Is your heart still for us

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.279
 or has our sin

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.500
 disqualified us

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.539
 once and for all

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.360
 and is our land

00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:01.039
 beyond the possibility

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.059
 of healing?

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.660
 While Solomon

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.740
 and the assembly before him

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.779
 saw the fire come down

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.480
 and while they received

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.200
 the promise of God

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.680
 to meet them

00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.120
 in their temple,

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.059
 these original readers

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.900
 of 2 Chronicles,

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.839
 these 2 Temple Israelites

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.259
 were left in the same shoes

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.120
 many of us

00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:18.000
 find ourselves in today,

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.680
 posing the same question

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.059
 as Dear Evan Hansen.

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.700
 Might it be

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:24.740
 that we will go on unseen,

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.019
 unheard,

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.279
 unloved

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:29.220
 for the rest of our lives?

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.799
 For while the first Temple Israelites

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.059
 had their own son of David,

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.819
 their own wise king

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:36.059
 pleading on their behalf

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.100
 for the presence of God,

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.059
 their own consecrated Temple

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.380
 upon which the very fire

00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:42.360
 and glory of God's presence

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.519
 visibly descended,

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.880
 what did the second Temple Israelites

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:47.759
 have?

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:50.299
 And what do we have

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.359
 to assure us

00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:52.799
 that God sees us,

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.559
 that God hears us,

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.559
 that God loves us,

00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.480
 that we have his eyes,

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.180
 his ears,

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.140
 and his heart,

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.220
 that the forgiveness

00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.940
 of our sins

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.200
 and the healing of our land

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.039
 are possible?

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.680
 What assurance do we have?

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.759
 I mean,

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.079
 if only we too

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.000
 had a son of David,

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.359
 right?

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.379
 An all-wise king

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.660
 to plead with God

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.599
 on our behalf.

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.259
 If only we had

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.599
 maybe even a son of God

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.480
 whose requests

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:17.079
 would never be refused

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.959
 by his Father.

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.759
 If only we had a temple,

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.719
 a glorious point

00:25:20.719 --> 00:25:21.980
 of access to God,

00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:23.839
 a place for a real experience

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.859
 of the presence of God

00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:26.459
 here with us on earth.

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.379
 If only we had

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:30.279
 such an incorruptible Temple

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.219
 that even if it was

00:25:31.219 --> 00:25:32.779
 violently torn down,

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.819
 it could rise again

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.039
 in three days.

00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:37.259
 If only, right?

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.679
 Or is that not

00:25:39.679 --> 00:25:40.559
 what we have

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.679
 in the person

00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:43.019
 of Jesus Christ?

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:45.220
 The better and ultimate

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.339
 son of David,

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.980
 a king who,

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.539
 while crowned with thorns,

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.859
 begs his father

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:52.019
 to forgive them

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.859
 for they know not

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.559
 what they do.

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.200
 And by his wounds,

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.500
 we are healed.

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.680
 Jesus is the ultimate temple

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.759
 who grafts us in

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.680
 and even makes us

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.680
 a temple with him

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.279
 of the very Spirit of God

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.379
 dwelling within us,

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.900
 a spirit interceding for us

00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.599
 with groans

00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:08.480
 too deep for words.

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.279
 You know,

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:10.799
 in the musical

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.700
 Dear Evan Hansen,

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:13.340
 the kind of big

00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:14.240
 feel-good song

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.799
 of the show

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.340
 is this song

00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:15.940
 where he preaches

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.940
 the good news

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.900
 to all the misfits

00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:20.400
 that you will be found.

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.660
 You'll be heard,

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.299
 you'll be seen,

00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.880
 you will be found.

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:25.100
 There's a place

00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:25.720
 where we don't have

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.319
 to be alone.

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.400
 But it's never really clear

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.700
 how he can guarantee that.

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.580
 It's never really clear

00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.600
 how this is anything more

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:35.279
 than a wishful encouragement

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.960
 that outsiders will be seen

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.600
 and heard

00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:38.380
 and loved.

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.860
 But you know

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:41.000
 the beauty of the gospel

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.939
 is that in Christ

00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:44.019
 we have the guarantee.

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.939
 We have the Spirit

00:26:45.939 --> 00:26:46.939
 crying within us,

00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:48.519
 not just you will be found

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.240
 but Abba,

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:49.819
 Father,

00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:51.619
 you have already been found.

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:54.159
 Our Father in heaven

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:55.519
 has seen his prodigal children

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.979
 when they were so far off

00:26:56.979 --> 00:26:57.599
 that they could not

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.319
 even see him

00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.699
 and he has run to us

00:26:59.699 --> 00:27:01.539
 in the person of Christ.

00:27:02.479 --> 00:27:04.000
 And just as God promised

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.579
 to David's son,

00:27:05.699 --> 00:27:06.259
 King Solomon,

00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:07.099
 that he and his people

00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.000
 would have his eyes,

00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.599
 his ears,

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.460
 and his very heart.

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.519
 Guess what?

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.799
 All the promises of God

00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:13.400
 are yes and amen

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.500
 in Jesus Christ.

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:16.480
 And so much more

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.180
 has he promised

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.200
 to David's son,

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.900
 King Jesus,

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.660
 that he and his people

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.900
 will always and forever

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.599
 have eyes,

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.579
 have his ears,

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.720
 and his very heart.

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.519
 And this,

00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:26.980
 this is the gospel.

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.640
 The promise

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.940
 of prayer.

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.799
 The privilege

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.619
 of prayer

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.880
 secured for us,

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:34.779
 guaranteed

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:36.460
 in Christ.

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:36.600
 Christ.

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.120
 So Christ,

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.279
 let us be

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.259
 a people of prayer.

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:40.920
 Let us be

00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:42.180
 a church of prayer.

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.500
 Christ,

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.220
 let us be

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.039
 a people

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.220
 of humble,

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.539
 personal,

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.259
 penitent prayer.

00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.039
 And not just because

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.880
 we got to,

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.360
 but because we

00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.259
 get to

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.460
 in Christ.

00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:56.079
 Let's pray.

00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.160
 Lord,

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.000
 these are your words.

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.079
 Let's pray.

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.299
 If we will

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.279
 humble ourselves

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.620
 and pray

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:12.120
 and seek your face

00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.600
 and turn from

00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.440
 our wicked ways,

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.860
 then you will

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:18.259
 hear from heaven.

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.920
 You said it.

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.299
 I will

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.660
 hear from heaven.

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.420
 You didn't say,

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.539
 I might hear from heaven.

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.460
 You didn't say,

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.519
 I'll think about

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.360
 hearing from heaven.

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.779
 You said,

00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:30.779
 I will

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:32.000
 hear from heaven

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.559
 and forgive

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.539
 their sins

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:38.119
 and heal

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:39.220
 their land.

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.180
 Impress upon us,

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.500
 Lord,

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.599
 the privilege

00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:46.099
 of prayer.

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.319
 Help us to assume

00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.000
 the posture

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.660
 of prayer

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:54.359
 and help us

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.099
 to glory

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.000
 in the promise

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.460
 of prayer

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:59.079
 made possible

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:01.619
 by Jesus Christ,

00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.000
 the great

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.599
 son of David,

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.939
 the temple

00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:05.859
 we never deserved,

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.079
 who has come

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.179
 near to us

00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:09.419
 and brought us

00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:09.819
 to you

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.740
 at great,

00:29:10.899 --> 00:29:11.460
 great cost

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.599
 to himself.

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.240
 We love you,

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.539
 God,

00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.439
 and we want

00:29:15.439 --> 00:29:16.019
 to love you more.

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.619
 So would you do

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.539
 that in us,

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.019
 we pray.

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.639
 In the name

00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.079
 of Jesus,

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:19.960
 amen.

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.079
 Amen.

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.099
 Amen.

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.119
 Amen.

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:20.139
 Amen.

00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.199
 Amen.

00:29:20.199 --> 00:29:20.240
 Amen.

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.259
 Amen.

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.299
 Amen.

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.339
 Amen.

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:20.740
 Amen.

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.139
 Amen.

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:22.199
 Amen.

00:29:22.199 --> 00:29:22.240
 Amen.

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.259
 Amen.

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:24.199
 Amen.

00:29:24.199 --> 00:29:24.259
 Amen.

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.319
 Amen.

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:24.339
 Amen.

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:26.199
 Amen.

00:29:26.199 --> 00:29:26.319
 Amen.

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:28.319
 Amen.

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:29.059
 Amen.