WEBVTT 00:00:00.300 --> 00:00:06.620 This is our last sermon in James. If you're visiting today, there's this New Testament letter, the book of James. 00:00:07.020 --> 00:00:10.040 We've been having ten weeks in it, and this is the last week. 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:15.500 And I don't know how you've been, if you have been here for the series, I don't know how you've been feeling, 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:19.600 what you've expected from the book. James is very practical, right? 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:21.920 It's a lot about, you know, how we should live. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:26.900 But that is exactly the problem, isn't it? Because we don't live as we should. 00:00:26.899 --> 00:00:34.960 James has been pointing out how we haven't responded well to trials, how we've been showing favoritism, 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:38.739 how we contain our tongue and what it shows about our hearts. 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:43.420 He's shown us our conflicts and what it reveals about our idolatry. 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:48.000 And, you know, it's been very convicting, very discouraging. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:53.280 Maybe, you know, as it's like when you're my age and you go to the doctor for a health checkup, 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:56.820 and, okay, well, there's your heart rate and your cholesterol and your blood sugar levels, 00:00:57.020 --> 00:00:59.240 and it's very discouraging. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:02.160 Well, I don't know how you feel. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.060 How often Sundays feel like that for you? 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.859 That you feel, yeah, beaten up, that you feel, man, I'm not where I should be. 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:11.740 Well, what do we do in that case? 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:14.780 I mean, the doctor, he will give you a long list of things you should cut out, 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.879 things you should do, exercise. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.319 But how about Dr. James? 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:20.140 What does he recommend? 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:22.460 Well, I think this is a great passage. 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:24.259 This is just what we need. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:26.399 And so why don't I pray? 00:01:26.899 --> 00:01:30.119 And then Angeline is going to come up and read the passage. 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:31.219 Why don't we pray together? 00:01:35.739 --> 00:01:36.939 Our Father, thank you. 00:01:37.059 --> 00:01:37.799 We can come to you. 00:01:37.899 --> 00:01:39.479 Thank you that you speak to us. 00:01:39.819 --> 00:01:43.019 You speak to us in our need, in our brokenness, in our struggles. 00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:45.739 You give us the grace we need. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:48.099 Father, please speak to us now, to each one of our hearts, 00:01:48.099 --> 00:01:52.139 no matter where we're at, no matter how long we've been Christian, 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:53.500 no matter how long we've been with you, 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:59.460 please speak to each of our hearts today with words of life, of grace. 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:00.840 In Jesus' name. 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:01.519 Amen. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:03.060 Angeline. 00:02:03.060 --> 00:02:15.000 Good morning, church. 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:19.140 The reading today is taken from James chapter 5. 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:22.680 Starting in verse 13, we read, 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.480 Is anyone among you suffering? 00:02:27.480 --> 00:02:28.700 Let him pray. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:31.000 Is anyone cheerful? 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:33.780 Let him sing praise. 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:36.760 Is anyone among you sick? 00:02:37.920 --> 00:02:42.840 Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:46.560 anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:52.580 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:55.840 and the Lord will raise him up. 00:02:57.099 --> 00:03:01.120 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:07.860 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:12.480 and pray for one another that you may be healed. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:19.099 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 00:03:20.359 --> 00:03:23.719 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, 00:03:24.079 --> 00:03:28.079 and he prayed fervently that it might not rain. 00:03:28.679 --> 00:03:33.979 And for three years and six months, it did not rain on the earth. 00:03:35.079 --> 00:03:38.839 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.280 and the earth bore its fruit. 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:45.819 My brothers and sisters, 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:50.500 if any among you wanders from the truth, 00:03:50.980 --> 00:03:52.819 and someone brings him back, 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:58.920 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wanderings 00:03:58.920 --> 00:04:02.159 will save his soul from death, 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:06.219 and will cover a multitude of sins. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:09.439 This is the word of God. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:17.839 Great. Thanks so much, Angeline. 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:20.600 Well, let's keep that passage open as we're going to look at it. 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:23.800 It's a short passage, but yeah, as I've been studying it, 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:24.660 I think it's great. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:26.579 But what is it really about? 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:30.660 Because my guess is it's a passage that raises some questions. 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:34.779 I've been an elder for over ten years at three different churches. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:38.679 No one's ever asked me to come and anoint someone with oil. 00:04:39.159 --> 00:04:40.279 What do we do with this? 00:04:41.239 --> 00:04:45.359 Actually, the problem is this is one of the hardest passages in the New Testament to interpret, 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:48.659 because it's a bit ambiguous. 00:04:49.039 --> 00:04:50.579 That's why I first want to spend some time, 00:04:50.659 --> 00:04:52.299 okay, what is this passage actually about? 00:04:52.799 --> 00:04:54.419 And then when we have confidence in that, 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:56.359 then I can really preach it to you. 00:04:56.719 --> 00:04:59.539 Because on the surface, well, it seems kind of simple, right? 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:05.000 You know, after last week, the call to endure patiently until Jesus comes. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:07.080 Well, how do you respond? 00:05:07.260 --> 00:05:09.939 Well, if is anyone among you suffering, let him pray. 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:11.379 Is anyone cheerful? 00:05:11.900 --> 00:05:13.220 Let him sing praise. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.680 But then is anyone among you sick? 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:17.820 Let him call for the elders of the church. 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:19.640 Let him pray over him, 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:22.180 anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 00:05:22.820 --> 00:05:25.600 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:27.460 and the Lord will raise him up. 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:29.620 And if he's committed sins, he will be forgiven. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:34.040 Now, it sounds a lot like instructions for healing, right? 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:35.980 If you're sick, well, what do you do? 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.400 You call the elders, and they will do this, 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:40.640 and they will pray for you, and you will be healed. 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:43.180 You'll be saved from your sickness, right? 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:44.320 Raised up out of your bed. 00:05:44.820 --> 00:05:47.060 That's how it really reads. 00:05:47.820 --> 00:05:50.360 The only thing is that the language is rather ambiguous. 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:53.620 It says saving. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:55.899 Now, what does it mean by saving? 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:56.899 Does it mean healing? 00:05:57.459 --> 00:06:00.300 Or does it mean, well, saving on the last day? 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:03.319 The words can mean both, right? 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:04.759 Raising. 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:08.160 Does he mean raised from your bed that you get up again 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:09.220 because you're no longer sick? 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:12.100 Or does he mean the Lord will raise you on the last day? 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:13.180 You can be sure of that. 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:15.620 It can be either, right? 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:18.000 The problem is the word sick as well. 00:06:18.840 --> 00:06:21.180 The problem is the word doesn't necessarily mean sick. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:22.860 It just means weak. 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.939 And the kind of the context determines what kind of weakness. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.699 You know, sometimes it's physical weakness. 00:06:29.900 --> 00:06:30.680 It's sickness, right? 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:32.020 Jesus goes around healing. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.340 Yeah, and they are sick people. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.720 But other times in the Bible, the same word is just weak, right? 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:39.160 Admonish the idol. 00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:41.100 Encourage the faint heart that helped the weak. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:43.480 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 00:06:44.220 --> 00:06:46.900 So what does it actually mean in this case? 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:52.159 If the passage would read like this, let me put it on the screen, something like this. 00:06:53.159 --> 00:06:54.859 Is anyone among you weak? 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:57.179 Let him call for the elders of the church. 00:06:57.599 --> 00:07:01.179 Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:04.519 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is weak. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:06.379 And the Lord will raise him. 00:07:06.840 --> 00:07:09.600 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:13.319 This sounds maybe a bit different. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:19.280 This sounds like someone who, well, you know, James has written this very strong letter about our sin. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:22.179 And here is someone who feels, man, I'm a mess. 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:24.839 I'm really far from God. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:26.579 My life is really not what it should be. 00:07:27.159 --> 00:07:28.779 And, you know, please pray for me. 00:07:29.099 --> 00:07:31.459 And it's about spiritual restoration, right? 00:07:31.919 --> 00:07:35.039 So I hope you can see that actually this passage is a bit ambiguous. 00:07:35.239 --> 00:07:36.179 It's a bit difficult. 00:07:37.019 --> 00:07:38.819 And, of course, we have our biases. 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:43.899 Now, some of you here, maybe miraculous healing is really important to you. 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:46.679 And you think, well, this passage, it should be about that, right? 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:47.859 Because that's really important. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:50.460 And others of us, well, we think differently. 00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:54.980 But I do want to say, okay, this is how I'm going to preach it. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:57.900 This is what I think it means, what I'm pretty sure it means. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:02.920 I think this is about seeking spiritual restoration. 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:12.180 What James is writing at this end of the letter is about us kind of coming back to God, being restored, healed, forgiven, saved. 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:14.259 Not miraculous healing. 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:15.460 And that's what I'm going to preach. 00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:22.879 Now, let me just give you a few reasons why I'm going to take it like that so that we say, okay, even if you disagree with me, okay, I can see where you're coming from. 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:24.299 Okay, I'll listen. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:25.319 All right? 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:30.099 So first of all, I think physical healing, it doesn't fit the context. 00:08:30.979 --> 00:08:31.319 All right? 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:32.240 We've had this letter. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:36.639 And then suddenly the last paragraph, here's four steps for miraculous healing, right? 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:38.319 If you're sick, do this, this, and this. 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:40.179 That seems, where does that come from? 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:41.519 It seems completely random. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:43.600 Why suddenly that? 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:49.860 Well, it's actually, if this is about restoring the sinner, that's, you know, we've seen that a lot, right? 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:55.159 James has been telling us, you know, to watch out for sin, and he's been pointing out our sin. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:09:03.180 And those last two verses, who know whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering, and it's something to do with sin is much more likely, right? 00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:16.239 But I think also, if healing doesn't fit with the absolute promise, because these are wonderful promises, right, that the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:17.519 It's like a real guarantee. 00:09:19.339 --> 00:09:22.599 I'm not sure if with physical healing we can make those same guarantees. 00:09:23.579 --> 00:09:26.059 There's people in the New Testament who don't get healed, right? 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:33.319 Clearly, this isn't a kind of foolproof four-step procedure to healing, because we all know that that doesn't work. 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:37.299 But at the same time, spiritual, you know, if you repent, will you get forgiven? 00:09:37.739 --> 00:09:39.159 Yes, 100%. 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:42.399 I can preach this, absolutely, if it's spiritual. 00:09:44.119 --> 00:09:48.139 Thirdly, I think it doesn't fit James' message. 00:09:49.119 --> 00:09:52.579 Because James' message hasn't been about an easy four steps, right? 00:09:53.079 --> 00:09:54.279 We heard it last week. 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:56.480 His big call is to endure. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:00.500 At the start and the end of the letter, he says the same thing. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:06.679 1 verse 12, blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, right? 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:12.699 And then 5 verse 11, last week, behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:13.740 It's like brackets. 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:15.000 This is what James is saying. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:17.419 Hey, let's endure these trials. 00:10:17.579 --> 00:10:19.779 Let's be patient and keep going. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:23.159 But then healing would really stand out, right? 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:23.980 Are you poor? 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:26.139 Hey, just be patient. 00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:26.719 Endure. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.339 Are you being oppressed? 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.559 Be patient. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:30.899 Endure it. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.539 Are you having marriage trouble? 00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:33.719 Be patient. 00:10:34.219 --> 00:10:34.879 Endure it. 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.679 Are you sick? 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.639 Oh, well, just call the elders and do these four steps and you'll be healed. 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.639 But that doesn't seem to fit. 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:43.620 His call is to endure patiently. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:47.120 But in that, James wants us to thrive. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.480 He wants us to, you know, have firm faith in God's grace. 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:53.700 And finally, you know, the example of Elijah. 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:56.340 It's a really weird example, right? 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:58.519 Because Elijah, he did actually healings. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:05.240 Why doesn't he say, hey, you've heard about Elijah and he healed the widow's son, right? 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:06.620 So you pray for healing. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.399 But he doesn't tell that. 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:10.200 He said, does this thing about the rain? 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:12.759 And if you know the story, what was that about? 00:11:13.280 --> 00:11:15.320 Well, Israel had turned away from the Lord. 00:11:15.560 --> 00:11:16.680 They were worshiping Baal. 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:22.140 And so what Elijah prayed that God would discipline them with a drought. 00:11:23.020 --> 00:11:25.600 And then when they turned back, there was rain again. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.100 So it is about spiritual restoration, that miracle. 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:34.020 So for all those reasons, I think this is about, yeah, spiritual restoration. 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:36.900 I'm not denying God can heal miraculously. 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:37.580 He can. 00:11:37.680 --> 00:11:38.120 He's God. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:40.620 But that's just not what this passage is about. 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:41.820 Okay? 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:43.700 This is about healing. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:47.379 And, you know, come and talk to me afterwards if you want to know more. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:51.919 But these are my reasons for thinking, okay, this is, we're talking about something spiritual. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.179 Seeking spiritual restoration. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:58.620 And now I know maybe for some of you that feels disappointing. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.539 You know, I was sick a few weeks ago. 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:02.139 That was minor. 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:06.159 But some of you, maybe you were really struggling with something. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.059 And you wish there was just a silver bullet. 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:11.819 There was something that just could heal me and get rid of this sickness. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.959 And I feel for you. 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:17.719 Yeah, that's, I'm sorry that this passage is not about that. 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:21.879 Although at the same time, any healing in this life is only temporary, right? 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.980 Because we'll all still die. 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:27.379 Look at what this passage is actually saying. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.600 Look at the glorious truths. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.200 The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.580 You can be saved forever. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.559 The Lord will raise him. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:39.779 You're going to be raised from the dead forever. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:42.259 If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:49.159 You know, isn't forgiveness of sins so much better long term than physical healing, right? 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.759 That's what Jesus said, you know? 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:53.819 The paralyzed man, well, your sins are forgiven. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:54.600 It's much bigger. 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.919 And that's a wonderful way to finish, right? 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.460 Again, as I said, this is a challenging letter. 00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:01.419 James has been really convicting. 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.899 We need a faith that works. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:05.240 And you're a bunch of double-minded sinners. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.019 And you should mourn and weep. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.960 That's James' language so far, right? 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.799 But that's not how he ends. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.819 He ends with grace. 00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:15.939 James' heart is for restoration and forgiveness. 00:13:16.199 --> 00:13:17.479 And that's not just James' heart. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:18.859 That's God's heart. 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:21.019 God wants us to come back to him. 00:13:21.099 --> 00:13:23.519 He wants us to be restored and forgiven. 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:26.259 And that grace is how we finish this letter. 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.500 And I think that's wonderful. 00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:30.659 And, you know, James just explains how we can have it. 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:33.879 You know, God is willing, but what should we do? 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:38.679 What steps do we take to be restored and to come back to God? 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.299 And the key, yeah, is prayer, right? 00:13:41.319 --> 00:13:43.019 It's the power of prayer. 00:13:43.219 --> 00:13:46.799 If you're struggling, if you've seen your sin, if you're convicted, pray. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.539 Pray for each other. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:52.959 So this passage is really basically like the end of our service, right? 00:13:52.979 --> 00:13:55.299 If you've been here before, what do we do at the end of the service? 00:13:55.899 --> 00:14:01.759 Hey, if God has spoken to you and you feel you need prayer, come over here and there's some people who love to pray for you. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:03.500 That's basically what he's saying, right? 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:08.039 Hey, if God has spoken to you and you need prayer, call the elders and they'll come and pray for you. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.220 They'd love to. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.299 That's the idea. 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:14.299 So what is the structure of this passage? 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.820 As you can see, there's a few things, right? 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:22.299 So first there is a more serious case of someone, you know, feeling weak and calling the elders. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:25.860 Then verse 16, more informal, right? 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:29.620 Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:33.580 I'm going to take those two kind of together because they're both the same thing, right? 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:36.120 They start with someone, you know, asking for prayer. 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:45.919 And then there's a third situation, kind of verses 19 and 20 of someone, well, they're not yet convinced they have a problem and you should pursue them. 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:48.860 So those three sections, but I'll take the first two together. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:53.580 And what is then the first essential step before prayer? 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:56.419 Well, first, I'll confess to one another. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.139 Confess to one another. 00:14:58.139 --> 00:15:02.860 Before asking for help, I guess you start with admitting that you need help, right? 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:05.539 You wouldn't ask for help if you don't admit you need help. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.480 That's clear in the second case, right? 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:11.639 Verse 16, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:13.960 You pray in light of those sins. 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:16.100 But also in the first case, right? 00:15:16.699 --> 00:15:19.059 Why would you call the elders to come and pray for you? 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:22.100 Presumably you're admitting that there's something wrong. 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:24.139 You're admitting that you need help, right? 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.620 You ask the elders to come. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.059 Oh, okay. 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.159 Well, what do you want prayer for? 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:27.620 Oh, nothing. 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:28.199 I'm fine. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:29.059 Of course not. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:29.679 Right? 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.039 You're admitting, man, I'm in a bad place. 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:34.100 I really need prayer. 00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.240 I'm really far from God. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:43.019 So that first step in coming back to God is confessing, admitting your problem, admitting your need of him. 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:45.560 And if you don't admit it, you won't get help. 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:49.879 What's interesting is James' focus here on community. 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:53.220 Now, of course, you can just confess straight to Jesus. 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.060 That's wonderful, right? 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:58.039 You can just confess your sin and admit your need and pray. 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:03.299 And yet James thinks it's great to, you know, do that as a community with others. 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:05.319 I mean, why confess to others? 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.459 Why not just on your own? 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:09.459 I mean, maybe it's just your feeling, right? 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:12.340 Because the thing is God isn't physically here. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.840 And you confess, but you, in a way, you don't get any response, right? 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.639 You don't get any physical, you don't see someone's face or anything like that. 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:25.960 And then just talking to someone else physically, actually, that can be really good for your heart. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:29.860 Also, it really shows you're serious, right? 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:36.720 If you're in a bad place, talking to someone else, well, you're really opening up. 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.879 I mean, confessing to God, I think it's very easy. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.379 Because God already knows. 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:42.059 And he's not going to tell anyone. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.679 And so if I mess up again, then, hey, it's actually not too bad, right? 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:51.679 But if I talk to someone else and I take the risk that they might tell others or those kind of things, right? 00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:53.719 In a way, I'm showing I'm being serious. 00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:55.199 I really want to change. 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.799 I really need help. 00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:58.339 And that's why I'm coming to you. 00:16:59.219 --> 00:17:03.219 That is, yeah, it's a sign of real repentance, of really wanting to change. 00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:05.779 That's why it's so good to confess to each other. 00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:09.179 Now, that sounds scary, being vulnerable. 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:14.919 But James assumes that people will love you, that they will help you, right? 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:23.160 I mean, it doesn't say, call the elders and they will scold you and rebuke you and beat you over the head and help you sort yourself out. 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.160 That's not what it says, right? 00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:26.240 They will anoint you and pray for you. 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:28.420 And God will save you, right? 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.259 This is about, they meet you with grace. 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.100 They assure you. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.980 And that is the kind of community James wants. 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:37.360 A church where people can confess their sins to each other. 00:17:38.300 --> 00:17:42.800 And so certainly not a church where people just come to the Sunday service and leave and have no relationships. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.799 Clearly this assumes real intimate relationships. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.339 Now, of course, that's very hard to do with 200 people. 00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:58.599 But, yeah, hopefully there are people here that you can be safe with, be honest with, where you know you won't be condemned but receive the help that you need. 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.559 And do you feel like that here at Watermark? 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:12.419 Are we not just a gospel preaching church but, as people say, a gospel culture church that you can feel the gospel and grace in our relationships? 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:18.620 Is there someone you can really, we asked that in the survey a few weeks, months ago, right? 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.820 Is there someone you can really open up to? 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:24.720 Someone you can really share with and who will love you? 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:27.160 I hope there is someone like that. 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:33.940 And if you're afraid, maybe try it and see what a, hopefully what a wonderful community of grace we are. 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:45.700 And so if you're here and, yeah, you feel like what I've described and you feel that, you know, your life is a mess and you're far from God, well, don't pretend you're okay. 00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.779 Don't just say you're fine. 00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:52.500 Come and ask for help and ask for healing and restoration. 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.759 Could be the elders. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.019 Could be someone at the front. 00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.559 Could be just someone you know in the church. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.620 Confess and ask for help. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.200 But that's only the first step, right? 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:04.400 If someone comes to you, what do you do? 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:07.039 Well, pray for one another, right? 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:09.500 All this passage is about prayer, right? 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.700 If anyone's suffering, let him pray and the elders will pray and pray for one another. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.700 And, you know, the prayer of Elijah was so powerful and pray, right? 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.279 It's all prayer. 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:20.819 They want, you want to come back to God. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:24.039 But of course, you know, in prayer, you bring someone to God. 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:25.340 You bring them back to God, right? 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.700 Simple but powerful prayer. 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:29.140 And what kind of prayer? 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:31.660 A big thing is just assurance. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:36.200 So much of this is assuring, like the anointing with oil. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.779 It's not a kind of medicine thing. 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:38.880 Why anointing? 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:43.039 Anointing in the Bible is about being set apart, right? 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.860 Kings were set apart and priests were set apart. 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:50.559 And so it's like a sign, a symbol that, hey, you belong to Christ. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:54.039 You've been set apart by Christ through the Spirit. 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.460 He's set you apart. 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.380 He's anointed you. 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:59.160 You belong to him and he won't let you go. 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:04.660 But all these verses, so reassuring, you know, the prayer of faith will save you. 00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:06.340 The Lord will raise you. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:09.120 If you've committed sins, you'll be forgiven, right? 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:10.220 It's so reassuring. 00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.920 You'll be healed, right? 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:15.500 No matter how far from God you are, you will be forgiven. 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:18.300 No matter what you've done, you can be restored. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:21.799 No matter what a mess you've made of your life, God will have you back. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.180 That assurance. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:26.259 And it's so beautiful, again, to pray that for each other. 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:30.740 And you can pray and God will give you a wonderful feeling of peace. 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:35.919 But, you know, sometimes you feel so far from God that, you know, you don't feel it, right? 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:39.339 You really don't really believe that God would actually have you back. 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:45.220 And then to have another human being say that and pray that for you, that can be so reassuring. 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:48.120 I think that's so powerful about doing this together. 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.819 And, of course, not just assurance. 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:52.440 And, of course, also change, right? 00:20:52.720 --> 00:21:04.039 Restoration, coming back to God, praying for someone's heart, that it would be revived, for, you know, a new love for Jesus that will help them overcome their sin and their struggles. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:06.120 And then turn away from bad habits. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.759 And that's a real miracle. 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:12.500 Spiritual healing deep in the heart that no doctor can do. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:16.339 And all that has to do is with the power of prayer, right? 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:20.759 Verse 16, the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:22.640 Your prayer has enormous power. 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.180 And look at Elijah. 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:27.519 He was a man just like us, as the NIV says, right? 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.660 He has a nature like ours. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:32.859 Elijah, he got tired and hungry and depressed and scared. 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.440 He was just a human being. 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:37.200 And yet he got amazing answers to prayer. 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:39.120 And God is the same. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:41.240 He can still give you amazing answers to prayer. 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:47.480 When you pray like this, when you're, yeah, praying for people who went astray like Elijah did. 00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:50.960 Of course, we should think of this in the right way. 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:53.940 It can sound a bit like prayer is like a force. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:57.700 And, you know, God, we need to kind of turn God around. 00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:59.460 We need to nag him until he answers. 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.880 Of course, that's not what it is, right? 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:02.440 Why is prayer powerful? 00:22:03.020 --> 00:22:05.340 Partly because God is willing. 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:11.240 I love this saying by an archbishop from the 19th century, Richard Trench. 00:22:11.780 --> 00:22:12.480 What is prayer? 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:17.540 Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of his willingness. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:21.040 And, you know, why can we pray for forgiveness? 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.060 Because God is so willing. 00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:25.100 It's not that God needs to be persuaded, right? 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:28.320 Like children do with their parents or try, right? 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.759 God's promise of grace. 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:32.339 God loves to restore sinners. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.500 He yearns over us. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.919 He wants to give us more grace. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:37.720 And so if we pray for restoration, of course. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:43.319 I mean, even Elijah's story, if you read it, God was really in that. 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:51.759 God had promised in the law that, you know, when people turn away from him, he would send a drought to turn them back to him. 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.359 And so that's what Elijah prayed for. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:23:00.279 Even the day that he went to show, kind of for the showdown with the prophets, that started with God saying, hey, it's time. 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:00.979 Go to Ahab. 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.559 I'm going to send rain, right? 00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:04.199 God was in it. 00:23:04.459 --> 00:23:07.899 And he laid hold of God's willingness and prayed. 00:23:08.219 --> 00:23:10.019 And what lies behind us is God's grace. 00:23:10.159 --> 00:23:11.019 God loves us. 00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:13.839 And when we turn back, he freely restores us. 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:18.559 You know, it's so loving and willing that you almost wonder, why do I even need to pray? 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:22.659 Why doesn't God just, you know, restore straight away without prayer? 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:26.720 Well, ultimately, we need to remember it is about a relationship, right? 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.240 God is relational. 00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:29.059 He's a person. 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:32.159 James has talked about friendship with God. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:36.019 And he's talked about turning away from him is like adultery, right? 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:37.079 That's relationship. 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:39.200 And relationships are not automatic. 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:41.480 They are two-way, right? 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:46.539 They involve communication and decisions and choices. 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:51.899 And so, yeah, God, he wants us to really actually turn back to him. 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:56.259 But when we do, he is so willing to forgive and restore. 00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:57.319 And so pray. 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:03.480 Pray boldly and confidently and freely because God is willing. 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:07.779 I mean, the big question is almost not just whether God is willing. 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.279 Are we willing? 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.359 That's often the issue, right? 00:24:11.399 --> 00:24:12.259 Are we willing? 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:16.740 Because if we go to those last two verses, that's a slightly different angle. 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.940 Maybe someone who is not yet willing. 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.480 Someone who is not yet convicted. 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:23.940 I mean, it's great if people see their need, if they see their problem. 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:30.099 But, you know, so often James has said in his letter, do not be deceived, right? 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.079 Don't be deceived. 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:37.879 You know, sometimes you hear a sermon on Sunday and, you know, the Holy Spirit wants to say something to you. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:44.159 But actually, you think you're okay and you think you're not too bad and you think it's only temporary and it'll be fine. 00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:46.799 Well, others can see what's really going on. 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:52.359 In that case, James says, well, in that case, pursue one another. 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:54.119 Pursue one another. 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:57.759 Verse 19, 20, the picture is clear, right? 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:05.039 My brothers and sisters, verse 19, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:10.720 Has someone wandering off into sin, whether through trials or temptations, they're wandering off. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:13.059 But you bring them back. 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:18.900 Another Christian goes after them and pleads with them and talks with them and prays for them and brings them back. 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:21.420 And a wandering Christian turns around. 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.619 James says that's such a wonderful thing. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.440 That's so great. 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.339 Why? 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:35.019 Well, verse 20, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:37.039 I mean, we haven't touched upon that yet. 00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:39.859 But why is spiritual restoration so important? 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.379 Why is it so important we come back to God? 00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:44.839 Well, because it will save your soul from death. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:47.519 Why the hassle of confessing and praying? 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:49.439 Well, because you need to be saved. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:51.799 And not just physical death, right? 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:54.639 This is your soul being saved from eternal death. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:56.240 We need it. 00:25:56.500 --> 00:26:00.940 People who are wandering from the truth, they're not facing a great future. 00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:02.120 No, they need you. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:07.280 And so pursuing other Christians is a wonderful, loving thing, right? 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:09.180 It's loving to save someone. 00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:11.540 And so it's loving to go after someone. 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:17.160 If you see someone and they're not doing well, you know, they seem to not care about their sin. 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:20.560 They're responding badly to trials in their life. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.380 You want to go and talk to them. 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.060 That's loving. 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.700 May feel nosy, but it's loving. 00:26:25.800 --> 00:26:26.940 So can I encourage us? 00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:32.420 If you see this, you know, pursue your brother or sister in love. 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.420 Right? 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:36.580 It's sometimes really good to hear it from another person. 00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:39.519 Probably the Holy Spirit is speaking to them, but they're ignoring it, right? 00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:45.140 Maybe it's better to hear it in the flesh from some human being actually speaking to them. 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:48.180 Hey, I see this in your life. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.160 Can we talk about that? 00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:51.740 Of course, you do that in the right way. 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:55.539 You do it out of love and not self-righteousness. 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:59.379 You want to do it humbly because, well, confess your sins to one another, right? 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:02.700 In a way, we're all sinners and we all need to stay with Jesus. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:05.139 We want to do it with understanding. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.240 And don't just think you know everything. 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.940 Maybe there's things going on you don't know. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:12.500 And so you would want to talk and, hey, can we talk? 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:15.259 I think I see this, but please help me understand this. 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:20.059 You know, do it with grace, but still do it, right? 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:24.899 And likewise, if someone talks to you, don't take that as a kind of, well, 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:26.660 mind your own business. 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:30.380 If someone wants to talk to you about your sin, then they're trying to save you, right? 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:30.940 They love you. 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.180 They're concerned about you. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.780 They want to save your soul from death. 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.740 That's a wonderful thing. 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.880 So can you receive it? 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.980 They're taking a real risk in talking to you, right? 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:43.320 So it's so easy to be deceived. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:47.500 Maybe they see something that I don't see because I'm full of myself. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:52.000 You know, it's really helpful if, you know, if we, yeah, 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:53.440 if you point it out for someone else. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:57.640 And so if someone says something to me, I will try and humbly listen and reflect. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.000 And that's for all of us, right? 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.559 Not just you guys out there. 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:04.720 For me, if you see something in my life that you have questions about, 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:08.860 please come and talk to me because I probably don't notice it and I'm in danger, right? 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:13.180 But, yeah, because we need to turn. 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.200 We need to admit, right? 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.400 It is a relationship. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.799 It's not automatic. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:20.500 God wants us to turn around, but we have to turn around. 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:22.279 And that's why you pray. 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.140 That's why you plead. 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:29.920 But if they turn, if they admit, they can always come back because that is what God wants. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:31.140 He wants to save you. 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.279 He wants to save me. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.099 He wants to save us. 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:36.940 He wants to heal us and restore us and forgive us and raise us. 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:40.519 So if we just turn and pray, that's God's heart. 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:42.019 And it's always God's heart, right? 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.120 Not just even for Christians. 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:45.960 Why do we have an explore course starting tomorrow? 00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:48.340 Why do we love you to invite people to death? 00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:50.539 Because God wants to save people from death, right? 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:54.460 And if you're here and you're not a Christian, that's what God wants for you. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:57.019 He wants you to come back to him and be saved. 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.059 Come to him. 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.240 Come and talk to me afterwards. 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.960 You know, Jesus loves you. 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.720 He wants you back. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.820 But, yeah, that's where we're at. 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:07.179 And so the application, I think, is simple, right? 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:10.000 You know, reflect where you're at. 00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:12.799 And then if you need help, ask for help. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.220 Either come to the front. 00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:15.659 You know, pray for each other. 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.000 Pray for someone with your CG. 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.899 And not just today. 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.839 Maybe during the week. 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:23.619 Someone last week shared that they did something at work. 00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.339 They said something. 00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:25.500 They never thought they would say. 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:29.079 Isn't it great if you can just, you know, call a friend and say, 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.599 Hey, I did this. 00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.379 Can you pray for me? 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:33.399 Wouldn't that be such a wonderful thing if we can do that? 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:38.780 And together as a community, yeah, we'll experience God's grace. 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:41.340 Experience his forgiveness, his restoration. 00:29:42.280 --> 00:29:43.800 And walk with him closely. 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.500 And thrive in our faith. 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.980 Even in the difficulties here. 00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:49.060 That is what God wants. 00:29:49.280 --> 00:29:50.540 And that's such a privilege. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:53.080 Prayer has such power. 00:29:53.600 --> 00:29:54.300 Such a joy. 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.480 Let's be doing that together. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:56.620 Amen. 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:56.680 Amen. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:56.740 Amen.