WEBVTT

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 Good morning. My name's Chris. For those of you who don't know me, I help oversee the community groups here in Watermark.

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 And we're going through a series on what it looks like to be a healthy church.

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 And last week, Eric introduced really well what it means for us to be a community together, brought together by Jesus' death,

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 which reconciles us, even though we're from so many different backgrounds, and brings us to be one family together,

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 sitting here this morning at this time in October. I think it still is. And it's because Jesus has done that.

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 And today we're going to look at what does it mean to be a healthy church in praying together.

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 And this is just kind of one of those topics where if I was going to ask you, how's your prayer life?

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 Most people start shuffling rather nervously and then kind of change the topic of conversation.

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 Because it's one of those things as Christians we know we should do, but we kind of seem to have problems doing.

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 And part of the problem is that we live in a society which tells us that only material things matter.

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 You know, the grades you get, the food you eat, the achievements you get.

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 Everything in society tells us, just get stuff.

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 And you know, our whole lives are like this hamster wheel, you know, in Hong Kong,

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 where we're just crazily busy, frenetically trying to produce, trying to be productive, trying to be efficient,

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 trying to do all the things that we think will make a good, satisfying life.

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 And it may be getting your kids into the right school.

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 It may be just getting to the place where you want into society.

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 But we're so busy, we're like on this treadmill.

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 And you know when you're on the treadmill and you're going along,

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 but the problem is you look over next to you.

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 And even though you might want to think, I want to get off the treadmill,

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 the person next to you is already going faster than you.

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 And you've got to compete with them.

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 So you've got to keep running faster and faster.

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 And then the problem is, even once you get to the point you're exhausted

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 and you're just trying to slow down and you just press the slow down button,

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 and then you look over at the other side and you see there's a three-year-old there

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 who's already going far faster than you.

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 They're doing somersaults on the treadmill and you feel like,

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 I can't slow down because there's so much more that I've got to do.

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 And the problem is the whole of our life in Hong Kong is exhausting

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 and sometimes it's lonely and sometimes it's empty

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 because we think material things are what matters.

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 And the problem is with this is that we try and then fill this kind of vacuum,

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 this kind of void inside of us with yoga, with meditation,

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 with charity work, with sex, with vacations,

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 a million things that we think will fill this void which is inside of us.

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 And it's a void that was only meant to be fulfilled by prayer.

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 Prayer, intimacy, belonging, approval.

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 That's where we were meant to find all of those things.

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 The book of Jeremiah in chapter 2 says this.

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 It's an extraordinary picture.

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 It says,

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 My people have committed two evils.

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 They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters,

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 and they have dug out wells for themselves,

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 broken wells that can't hold water.

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 And what he's saying in this passage,

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 he's saying we do two things.

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 One is when we turn away from God

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 and we stop running to God in prayer,

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 what happens is we're like this thirsty, dry people.

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 We've left behind this beautiful well

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 and we've turned to this dry, dusty ditch water.

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 And there's heavenly periate on offer

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 and we're just going to the ditch to drink.

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 And if the church is to be the church in this society

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 which is to be different, not on the treadmill,

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 then we've got to rediscover what it means to pray

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 because otherwise we'll be as thirsty

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 and as parched as everybody else.

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 So let's think about prayer

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 because your prayer life,

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 and here's a very powerful thing,

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 your prayer life will tell you more about

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 your spiritual health than anything else.

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 You can be full of so much activity,

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 you could be serving in a million ways,

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 but your prayer life,

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 nobody will see that.

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 It will tell you where your spiritual health is.

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 Someone once said,

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 a man is what he is on his knees before God

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 and nothing more.

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 That's a painful thing to say.

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 So we're just going to scratch the surface

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 on this topic today.

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 There's so much we could say,

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 but we're just going to look in three things.

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 We're going to look at what is Christian prayer,

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 why don't we pray,

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 and how does prayer change us?

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 Okay?

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 What is Christian prayer,

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 why don't we pray,

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 and how does prayer change us?

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 Because the thing is,

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 prayer is not uniquely Christian.

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 Buddhists do it,

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 Muslims do it,

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 Hindus do it,

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 in fact,

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 even those who don't believe in God,

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 atheists,

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 at least 20% of them from studies

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 say that at some time in their life,

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 they pray.

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 But Jesus,

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 in the passage we're looking at today,

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 says there are right ways to pray

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 and there are wrong ways to pray.

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 He says this,

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 verse 7,

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 he says,

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 when you pray,

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 not if you pray,

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 when you pray,

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 do not heap up words like the Gentiles do,

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 like the pagans do,

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 that's the word,

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 for they think they will be heard

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 because of their many words,

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 do not be like them.

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 Jesus is saying,

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 there's two main ways you can pray.

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 You can pray like a pagan,

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 or you can pray like a Christian.

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 And the difference between them

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 is you pray based,

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 is the basis on which you pray.

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 Pagans pray on the basis of their performance.

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 Christians pray on the basis

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 of their status before God.

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 Pagans pray on the basis of their performance.

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 They think they'll be heard

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 because of their many words.

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 Christians pray on the basis of their status.

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 Now let's think about it.

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 Probably most of you don't think you're pagan.

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 But pagans are extremely religious people.

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 Okay?

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 They're not irreligious,

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 they're religious.

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 They talk religious talk,

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 they serve,

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 they go to community groups,

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 they even pray regularly.

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 But they're still pagans.

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 Because pagans are users.

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 Okay?

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 If you were a pagan in Jesus' day,

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 you were always anxious

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 because you didn't know

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 if your God was in a good mood or not.

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 A bit like your boss.

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 You know,

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 is it a grumpy day?

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 Is it a good day?

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 You're never quite sure.

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 And so the pagan,

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 if they wanted to get something out of God,

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 they would have to make sure

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 they did everything right in their prayers.

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 And so they would list off

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 all the names,

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 the possible names that God might have,

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 just in case they missed one

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 and the pagan God would not be happy with them.

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 And so they would heap up empty phrases

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 by listing every name they could think of.

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 And here is a prayer

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 slightly adapted

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 from the first century.

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 Okay?

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 So say,

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 Dear Apollos,

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 son of wise and thundering Zeus,

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 big guy in the sky,

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 spirit up above,

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 oh powerful and mighty God,

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 whatever name you like to be called by,

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 please,

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 I've been a good boy,

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 I've given you offerings

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 these last few weeks,

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 and you're an amazingly awesome,

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 great, powerful, wonderful God.

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 And if it doesn't trouble you,

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 greatly,

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 I ask humbly

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 you to provide me

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 with the names of all the horses

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 that are going to win

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 this Wednesday at Happy Valley.

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 For your glory,

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 amen.

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 That's how a pagan would pray.

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 You check it out online,

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 check it out on Google,

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 you'll see.

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 And you could substitute

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 horses for kids' education,

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 for health,

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 for money,

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 for career,

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 any of those things,

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 that's what a pagan would pray like.

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 And why did they do that?

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 They did that

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 because their relationship with God,

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 they saw it a bit like,

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 you know,

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 a relationship manager at a bank.

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 You know,

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 one UK politician,

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 he was arrested,

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 actually,

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 for fraud.

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 And he was a church-going guy,

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 but when he got arrested,

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 he became a Christian,

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 and he realized,

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 this is what he said

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 about his relationship with God,

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 he said,

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 God for me was like my bank manager.

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 I spoke to him politely,

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 visited his premises intermittently,

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 occasionally asked him

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 for a small favor or overdraft,

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 death to get myself out of difficulty,

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 thanked him condescendingly

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 for his assistance,

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 kept up the appearance

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 of being one of his reasonably

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 reliable customers,

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 and maintained superficial contact

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 with him on the grounds

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 that one of these days

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 he might come in useful.

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 You see,

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 it's a user system.

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 God is just your bank manager.

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 Your relationship manager.

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 Your account manager.

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 And the reason pagans do it like this

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 is because most of our interactions

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 in society work like this.

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 You know,

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 it's about trade and performance.

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 You know,

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 even as kids,

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 you grow up thinking,

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 okay,

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 if I get good grades,

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 my parents will be pleased with me

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 and they will love me.

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 If I fail,

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 they will shout at me.

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 So I will work hard

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 so they will love me.

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 It's a trade,

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 right?

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 I do this,

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 you do that.

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 We do the same

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 in relationships,

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 in dating.

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 You know,

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 you assess somebody

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 based on whether

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 they're going to fill

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 that social,

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 emotional,

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 spiritual kind of

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 grand canyon

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 that's in your soul.

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 And if you think

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 they're going to fill that,

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 they're going to satisfy,

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 they're going to make you feel good,

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 then you'll go into

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 the relationship with them.

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 Then you'll perform.

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 Then you'll love them.

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 Then you'll serve them.

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 As long

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 as they're doing their part.

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 But if your spiritual

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 or social ATM machine,

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 as these people become,

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 malfunctions,

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 if your spouse

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 or your friend

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 or your colleague,

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 whoever you've come

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 into this interaction with,

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 is disrespectful,

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 they're out of order,

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 they don't give you

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 what you want,

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 then you get angry.

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 Then you get bitter.

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 Then you get critical.

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 It's no more

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 Mr. Nice Guy.

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 Look at what you've done

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 to me.

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 Because you've performed

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 your side of the deal,

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 but they haven't done theirs.

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 Your bank has not been

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 a very good bank.

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 And it works the other way too.

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 If you feel like

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 your performance

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 hasn't been very good,

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 you haven't paid off

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 all your debts

00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:03.879
 to the other person,

00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.279
 you failed in some way

00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:06.000
 in your relationship,

00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:07.199
 you don't perform

00:11:07.199 --> 00:11:08.000
 up to the standard

00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:08.740
 they're expecting.

00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:09.659
 Then you feel guilty,

00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:10.740
 you feel lacking

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.379
 in confidence,

00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:13.039
 and maybe you blame yourself,

00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:13.839
 you blame others,

00:11:13.959 --> 00:11:15.000
 you justify yourself.

00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:18.019
 And you know,

00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.519
 as I go around Hong Kong

00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:21.059
 and I listen to the conversations

00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:21.980
 on the streets,

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.799
 I think pretty much

00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:26.000
 most of our relationships

00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.360
 are based on this trade.

00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:29.980
 We're users,

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.039
 we're performers,

00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:33.019
 and as long as we perform okay,

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.279
 then we feel good.

00:11:34.459 --> 00:11:35.319
 If we don't,

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:36.439
 then we feel terrible.

00:11:38.939 --> 00:11:39.759
 And it's a little wonder

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.120
 that,

00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:41.459
 actually could I get

00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:42.100
 a drink of water?

00:11:42.819 --> 00:11:43.779
 It's a little wonder

00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:45.139
 that we actually feel,

00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:47.240
 we kind of transfer this

00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:48.000
 onto God

00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.679
 because this is how

00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:52.379
 all our other relationships work.

00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.500
 Because we expect God

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.779
 to be that trader too.

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.279
 And so as long as

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.299
 we come into God

00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:06.519
 and we fulfill our part

00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:07.100
 of the bargain,

00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:08.779
 you know,

00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:09.980
 we're like an account holder

00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:11.039
 in his bank.

00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:13.399
 And we expect him

00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:14.599
 to give us a good service

00:12:14.599 --> 00:12:15.899
 because we've been loyal

00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:16.819
 and we're trusting him

00:12:16.819 --> 00:12:18.299
 as our bank provider.

00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:21.019
 But you know,

00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:22.339
 if you suddenly realize

00:12:22.339 --> 00:12:23.539
 your account is very low,

00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.240
 you've got an exam,

00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:26.339
 your kids are sick,

00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:27.019
 something like that,

00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.319
 you come to your manager then

00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.000
 for the blessing,

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.259
 for the loan,

00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.459
 the spiritual loan

00:12:31.459 --> 00:12:32.339
 that you want from him.

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:34.759
 And if you think

00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.379
 you've been a good,

00:12:35.540 --> 00:12:36.060
 loyal Christian

00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:37.480
 and he doesn't answer

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.300
 your prayer,

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.800
 then you get angry.

00:12:41.660 --> 00:12:43.180
 If you've asked him

00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:44.399
 to help you with the exam

00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:45.800
 but you fail your exam,

00:12:46.680 --> 00:12:47.879
 then it's like,

00:12:47.920 --> 00:12:48.120
 God,

00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.040
 what were you doing?

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:51.720
 I can't believe

00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:52.780
 you let me down

00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:53.460
 in this one

00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.080
 and we're angry,

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:54.560
 critical,

00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:55.220
 and we're bitter.

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.120
 Or if you realize

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.139
 you actually haven't been

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.080
 a very good customer

00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:00.019
 of God's recently,

00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:04.059
 then you think

00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:05.019
 if he doesn't answer

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.519
 your prayer,

00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.799
 then maybe it's because

00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.319
 I wasn't good enough.

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.139
 Maybe he's punishing me

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.919
 because I didn't kind of

00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:14.319
 give enough to him.

00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:16.460
 I haven't been loyal enough.

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.779
 Maybe he won't listen to me

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.699
 because of what I've done.

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.600
 And we're not confident

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.100
 in prayer.

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.360
 And Jesus says

00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.059
 that's how pagans think.

00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.399
 And he says,

00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:28.919
 don't be like them.

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.819
 And the reason,

00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.240
 it sounds nice,

00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:34.720
 but you know,

00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.360
 every single one of us

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.039
 in this room,

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:38.019
 I can guarantee

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.199
 at some point or other

00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:39.919
 you're a pagan.

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.579
 How do I know?

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.720
 Because I am one.

00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.419
 Because I am one.

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.860
 Because we're hardwired

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:48.159
 and the whole of society

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.679
 is telling us like this.

00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.319
 And Jesus is trying

00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:53.079
 to come to us

00:13:53.079 --> 00:13:53.720
 and say there's

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.860
 a different way

00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.860
 you don't come to God

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.139
 based on your performance.

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:58.419
 performance.

00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.500
 Because think about it,

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:00.779
 frankly,

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.439
 your performance

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.279
 has been shocking.

00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.419
 Your spiritual performance

00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:05.319
 before God

00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:06.819
 is so bad

00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.819
 that no bank

00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:08.759
 would ever have you.

00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:11.299
 Because mine is too.

00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:13.159
 And if you were listed

00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.480
 on the heavenly stock market,

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:16.379
 nobody would invest in you.

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.199
 Because it's a bad investment.

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.480
 But the thing is,

00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.179
 we are the ones

00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:24.360
 who make up the church.

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.240
 And as a church,

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.139
 we don't come

00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.740
 because of our great performance.

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.940
 Don't be like the pagans.

00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.680
 He says this,

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.259
 don't you know

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:35.440
 your father knows

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.100
 what you need

00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.279
 before you ask him?

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:39.019
 Pray then like this,

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:41.340
 our father in heaven.

00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:43.120
 Christian prayer comes

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.180
 not on the basis

00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:45.019
 of your performance,

00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:46.300
 but it comes on the basis

00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:47.180
 of your status

00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:48.580
 as a child

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:50.060
 of a living God.

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.980
 He is your father,

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:54.080
 not your bank manager,

00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:54.960
 your account.

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.300
 You're not an account holder.

00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:59.000
 And this is so radical

00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.779
 because he could have said,

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.980
 our king,

00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:04.500
 our creator,

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.300
 and he is.

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.259
 And every other religion

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:08.180
 would be very happy

00:15:08.180 --> 00:15:09.180
 with you doing that.

00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:11.279
 But if he's your king,

00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:12.340
 then he can punish you

00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:13.399
 for your poor performance.

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.259
 He can throw you

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:14.980
 out of his kingdom.

00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.240
 But a father,

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.139
 a good father,

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.240
 is not going to throw you

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.159
 out of his family.

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.440
 And he says this.

00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:25.039
 This is not,

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:25.860
 as Alfie was saying,

00:15:25.920 --> 00:15:27.420
 this is not some distant father.

00:15:27.800 --> 00:15:28.659
 It's a relationship

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:30.259
 with someone who knows you.

00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:31.740
 He knows you.

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.039
 He knows,

00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.240
 I don't know what's gone on

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.220
 with you this week.

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.279
 He does.

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.440
 I don't know what your fears are.

00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.399
 He does.

00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:40.440
 I don't know what your darkest,

00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:42.000
 deepest secrets are.

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.019
 He does.

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.340
 He knows what's happened,

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.779
 what your complaints are,

00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.779
 what your hopes are,

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.779
 what your dreams are.

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.820
 He knows them.

00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.920
 He knows them.

00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:53.820
 He knows them.

00:15:54.260 --> 00:15:55.160
 And many of us

00:15:55.160 --> 00:15:56.480
 have grown up in families

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.540
 with fathers

00:15:57.540 --> 00:15:59.300
 that we wanted to be,

00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.460
 to have known us,

00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:01.640
 but they were more like

00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:04.080
 our relationship manager

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.780
 at the bank

00:16:04.780 --> 00:16:05.980
 because all they would do,

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.740
 they would dispense cash to us.

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.840
 They would give us gifts.

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.379
 They would give us

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.240
 the good education.

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.920
 And we wanted relationship.

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.760
 We wanted them to know us.

00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.580
 And they never did.

00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:19.759
 And this is aching

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.960
 in our heart to be known.

00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.379
 And those of you

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.560
 who have had good fathers

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.400
 will know

00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:26.300
 what an amazing thing it is

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.160
 to have somebody

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.820
 who knows you,

00:16:29.520 --> 00:16:31.460
 who knows what you need,

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:33.700
 and who cares for you.

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.080
 Because we want relationship.

00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:39.220
 God doesn't,

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.840
 when you come to God in prayer,

00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:42.100
 God doesn't kind of

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.160
 go through his records

00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:43.520
 and say,

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.040
 oh yes,

00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.740
 I remember what your issues are.

00:16:47.099 --> 00:16:47.399
 You can,

00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:48.719
 if you're an account holder

00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:50.839
 and you go to your finance manager

00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:51.299
 or whatever

00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:52.559
 and you say,

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:52.799
 listen,

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:54.279
 I've got some real issues

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.699
 with my sex life at the moment,

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.699
 they're going to freak out.

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.099
 But,

00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:02.000
 when you go to your father

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.799
 who knows everything

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.960
 that's going on with you,

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.720
 he's not going to freak out.

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:10.619
 It's amazing.

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:14.019
 So,

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.079
 we don't come to God

00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.519
 as an ATM machine.

00:17:17.239 --> 00:17:18.359
 We don't come to God

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:18.819
 as someone

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.679
 who is just there

00:17:19.679 --> 00:17:20.959
 to distribute some blessings

00:17:20.959 --> 00:17:22.239
 to make our life easier.

00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:24.059
 You come as a child

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.959
 who always has the ear

00:17:25.959 --> 00:17:26.719
 of his father.

00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:27.739
 Think about it.

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.579
 Who could

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:32.199
 go to the president

00:17:32.199 --> 00:17:33.459
 of the United States

00:17:33.459 --> 00:17:35.639
 at three o'clock

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.199
 in the morning

00:17:36.199 --> 00:17:37.379
 and ask him

00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:37.899
 to take you

00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.579
 to the bathroom?

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:41.619
 Can any of you do that?

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.659
 I suggest

00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:44.639
 you might get arrested.

00:17:46.179 --> 00:17:48.000
 But his child could.

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.279
 Only his child could.

00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.119
 Because a child

00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:55.059
 has an intimate relationship

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.839
 and the father knows them.

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.399
 In John chapter one,

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.159
 it says,

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:05.539
 those who received Jesus,

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:07.200
 he gave them the right

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.000
 to become

00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.579
 children of God.

00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.720
 Gave them the right

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.879
 to become children of God.

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.440
 How do you become

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.159
 a child of God?

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.039
 You don't become a child

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.019
 based on your performance.

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.740
 You become a child

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.000
 based on Christ's performance.

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.839
 Christ died

00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.779
 on the cross

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.079
 so that you might be

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.579
 adopted into his family

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.139
 and be,

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:27.079
 know that status

00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.779
 that you don't have

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.759
 to perform anymore.

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.139
 You are his child.

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:33.680
 You are in the royal family.

00:18:34.020 --> 00:18:35.759
 You are in his family.

00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:36.660
 And you know

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.900
 with adopted children,

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.440
 have you noticed,

00:18:39.520 --> 00:18:40.020
 some of you have got

00:18:40.020 --> 00:18:40.780
 adopted children,

00:18:41.520 --> 00:18:42.080
 but you know

00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:43.200
 with adopted children,

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.640
 I don't see the parents

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.759
 treating adopted children

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.780
 and biological children

00:18:46.780 --> 00:18:47.180
 differently.

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:49.140
 I see them

00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:49.940
 treating them

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.300
 with equal value,

00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:52.480
 with listening to them

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.940
 with equal concern

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.620
 and love.

00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:57.840
 Now think about this.

00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.799
 Jesus is God's son,

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.939
 his true son.

00:19:04.959 --> 00:19:07.039
 We are adopted sons

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.899
 and daughters.

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:09.959
 So the way Jesus,

00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:11.119
 God the Father

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.159
 looks at Jesus

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:14.139
 is the way that he looks

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:15.319
 at you and me.

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.240
 And that means

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.059
 he's delighted.

00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.099
 He's pleased.

00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:24.059
 And so Matthew 7 says,

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.939
 if you who are evil

00:19:25.939 --> 00:19:27.599
 know how to give good gifts,

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.819
 if you're a mother or father,

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:31.779
 don't you want to give

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.959
 your children the best?

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.980
 If you're evil

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:36.119
 and you know how to do that,

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:37.399
 then how much more

00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:38.539
 will your Father in heaven

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.779
 give good gifts

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:41.459
 to those who ask him?

00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:43.980
 How much more will God,

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.919
 is he longing

00:19:44.919 --> 00:19:47.179
 to give you good gifts?

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.599
 And the thing is this,

00:19:50.459 --> 00:19:53.500
 if your Father

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:55.480
 doesn't give you

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.939
 what you want,

00:19:56.940 --> 00:20:00.080
 if he doesn't give you

00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:00.820
 what you want,

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.460
 if you're an account holder,

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.259
 you'll be angry.

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:04.140
 But if you know

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:05.620
 that your Father is good,

00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:07.160
 then you can trust him.

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.160
 You can trust him.

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.660
 And in the Bible,

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.299
 it says this.

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:10.720
 It says,

00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.080
 in Romans chapter 8,

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.799
 it says,

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.159
 if God,

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:16.680
 who gave his only son

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.539
 for you,

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.700
 if he was willing

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:21.279
 to give his only son

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:21.759
 for you,

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.960
 he wouldn't spare him,

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.480
 he paid the ultimate cost

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:24.899
 for you,

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.299
 then how much more

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.359
 will he give you

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.159
 everything

00:20:28.159 --> 00:20:30.299
 that you need?

00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.700
 Graciously pouring out

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.539
 all the things

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.339
 that you need.

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.859
 If he's already given

00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.700
 everything,

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.740
 the most precious thing

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.099
 to him,

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.519
 he's not going to hand back.

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:40.660
 And you know,

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.160
 sometimes,

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.099
 I didn't get,

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:42.839
 when I was a kid,

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.460
 I wanted to watch TV

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.240
 in my room.

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:47.160
 But my parents

00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.920
 wouldn't allow me

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.720
 to have a TV

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.319
 in my room.

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.579
 I'm so glad,

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.200
 looking back,

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.180
 that they didn't allow me

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.839
 to have a TV

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.500
 in my room.

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.740
 Because I did so many

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.240
 other things,

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:56.759
 and I would have been

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.480
 probably seriously

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.099
 messed up.

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.160
 Some of you may think

00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.759
 I already am,

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.519
 but...

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:05.900
 But my father

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:07.220
 knew what I needed.

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.940
 Sometimes he knows

00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:10.359
 more than I know

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.180
 what I need,

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:12.480
 because he can see

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.359
 the big picture.

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.039
 If you know he's your father,

00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:16.119
 you can trust him

00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:17.539
 when he doesn't answer

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.279
 as well.

00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:23.460
 So that's Christian prayer.

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.660
 Christian prayer starts

00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.680
 with knowing God

00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.359
 as your father.

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.940
 It starts with God.

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.259
 It doesn't...

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.039
 You see the Lord's Prayer.

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.339
 You see the first half

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.079
 of the Lord's Prayer.

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.799
 There's nothing

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.439
 to do with you.

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.659
 Did you notice that?

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.279
 Nothing to do with you.

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.220
 First half,

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.579
 you've got to go

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.159
 halfway through

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:37.759
 before you start

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.799
 asking for your daily bread.

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.480
 Why?

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.939
 Because it's all about

00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:42.059
 him as a father.

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:43.159
 So when you come in prayer,

00:21:43.439 --> 00:21:44.039
 if you realize

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.259
 who he is,

00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:46.899
 that changes everything

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:47.919
 about the way you pray.

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.159
 But if you're just

00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:51.000
 based on your performance,

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.460
 you'll be like

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.779
 a manipulative teenager

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:55.199
 who's asking for money

00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:57.359
 from their parents,

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:59.240
 and you know the ways

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.919
 to try and get them

00:21:59.919 --> 00:22:00.439
 to do that.

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.359
 So do you come to God

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.779
 on what basis?

00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.579
 Are you a pagan?

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.139
 Are you an account holder?

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.559
 Or are you a child

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.919
 of a God who loves you?

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.559
 That's Christian prayer.

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.539
 Now let's think about it.

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.319
 Sounds great.

00:22:15.439 --> 00:22:16.279
 Why don't we pray then?

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.980
 Why don't we pray?

00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:18.379
 I mean,

00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.579
 if God's so good,

00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.179
 why don't we pray?

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.279
 And you know,

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.259
 normally the first reason

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:22.859
 I give is

00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:24.059
 because I'm too busy.

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.980
 But that's blatantly not true.

00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.480
 We're busy.

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.599
 Hong Kong is busy.

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.359
 But you know,

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.279
 I find it extraordinary

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:32.859
 in Hong Kong

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.399
 that extremely busy people

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.339
 can find time

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.619
 to watch a rugby match

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.839
 at incredibly early hours

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.279
 in the morning.

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.139
 It's extraordinary.

00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:41.319
 They have time

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.139
 to go on Facebook.

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.480
 I don't know how they do it.

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.059
 They have time

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.740
 to go to the toilet.

00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.179
 They have time to eat.

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:46.960
 Okay?

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.240
 Sometimes you might skip a meal.

00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:48.919
 Sometimes you might

00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:49.399
 hold your pee.

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.019
 But you know,

00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:50.740
 later on,

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.680
 you will find time.

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.540
 Why?

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.200
 Because you know

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.860
 you need to.

00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:58.180
 And maybe because

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.780
 you want to.

00:23:01.060 --> 00:23:03.160
 But prayer,

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.000
 when you say,

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.920
 our Father,

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.380
 that says,

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.420
 I'm a child.

00:23:07.800 --> 00:23:08.940
 But my problem is,

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.800
 I think I'm an adult.

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:10.860
 Okay?

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.340
 I can manage life

00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:13.019
 by myself.

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:14.240
 I have a driving license.

00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:17.120
 And prayer is for those moments

00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.920
 in life

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.680
 when you're driving along.

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.440
 You've taken your eye

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.060
 off the road.

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.320
 You're heading towards

00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:22.820
 the granny

00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.580
 who's just crossing

00:23:23.580 --> 00:23:24.620
 the pedestrian crossing.

00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:25.740
 And you're out of control.

00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:26.200
 And you cry,

00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:26.580
 Help!

00:23:26.800 --> 00:23:27.680
 God puts his hand

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.340
 on the steering wheel.

00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.300
 Swerves the wheel

00:23:29.300 --> 00:23:30.140
 so you miss the granny.

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.120
 And then afterwards,

00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.940
 you breathe a sigh of relief.

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.700
 And then you say,

00:23:33.800 --> 00:23:34.300
 Thanks God.

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.259
 Now leave it to me.

00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.380
 I can cope with the rest.

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.660
 That's the way we do prayer

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.700
 because we think we're adults.

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.900
 We're self-sufficient.

00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:41.720
 We can do it.

00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.840
 And if you've ever driven

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.840
 in a car with a man

00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:46.320
 who's got lost,

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:47.980
 you know he could be

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.039
 on his way to Honolulu

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:50.279
 but he won't admit

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.980
 that he's lost

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.720
 until he's stuck

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.119
 in some field somewhere.

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.899
 And then maybe finally

00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:55.559
 he'll say,

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.059
 Okay, I need help.

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:57.939
 Right?

00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.919
 But that's what we're like

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.240
 in prayer.

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:01.980
 What stops me

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.539
 from asking?

00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.179
 It's pride.

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.220
 It's self-sufficiency

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.720
 and it's actually childish.

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.519
 Not childlike.

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.319
 It's childish.

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:12.099
 Because I'm so adult

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.659
 and grown up

00:24:12.659 --> 00:24:13.139
 that I think

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:14.319
 I can sort out the world.

00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.279
 And because you know

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.160
 when you become an adult

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.099
 you have responsibilities.

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.799
 You have got to take care

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.359
 of your kids.

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.440
 You've got to take care

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.619
 of those deadlines,

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.440
 of those targets

00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:22.940
 you've got to meet.

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.619
 You've got exams.

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.500
 You've got a whole host

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.519
 of pressures on you

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.740
 and you think,

00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.079
 I'm doing well.

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.180
 I can cope with it.

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.099
 I can manage it.

00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.279
 And so we're driving along.

00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.220
 We're doing fine.

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.160
 But you know,

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.799
 sometimes

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.920
 I just feel like

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:39.399
 I mess up.

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.339
 I don't always cope

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.339
 with my responsibilities.

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:44.179
 I let my family down sometimes.

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.419
 I say things.

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.079
 I do things.

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.319
 And I feel the pressure

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.500
 on my shoulders

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.259
 and the burden

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.720
 which is weighing me down.

00:24:51.659 --> 00:24:52.179
 And then maybe

00:24:52.179 --> 00:24:53.159
 I come to church

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:53.899
 and hope that

00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:55.159
 God can just kind of

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:56.039
 swerve me back

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.819
 onto the path

00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.939
 so that I can just get back

00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:59.179
 on that treadmill again

00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.759
 of life.

00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:00.819
 So I can get back

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.959
 and stay in the driving seat

00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:02.339
 in life.

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.119
 And that's how

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.740
 I view prayer.

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.039
 You see,

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.879
 you know what I do?

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.019
 The way I do this

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.859
 kind of self-sufficiency,

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.359
 see, the other day

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.419
 I needed a book

00:25:11.419 --> 00:25:12.039
 for an assignment

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.579
 I was doing.

00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:13.899
 I ordered it

00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:14.899
 and then I discovered

00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:16.099
 it's not going to arrive

00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:18.159
 until after I need it.

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.459
 So what do I do?

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.279
 I stress.

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.259
 And then I plan.

00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:22.899
 Okay?

00:25:22.979 --> 00:25:23.819
 Then I research

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.679
 all the other options

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.899
 and ways I can get the book.

00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:28.219
 And I found nothing.

00:25:28.439 --> 00:25:29.240
 I couldn't get

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.339
 this book anywhere.

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:32.119
 So I talk to some other people

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:33.819
 about how I can get the book.

00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:35.419
 And then still nothing.

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.699
 So I stress a little more.

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.759
 And then I take some time out

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.240
 just to de-stress a little bit

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.319
 before I go back

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:42.259
 to stressing again.

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:42.960
 Okay?

00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:43.740
 And finally,

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.400
 when I'm getting

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.480
 absolutely nowhere,

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.480
 then I say,

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.819
 God, help me.

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.799
 And that's the way

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.940
 most of us do prayer.

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.400
 Right?

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.779
 How much stress

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.940
 could I have avoided

00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.340
 if right at the beginning

00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:00.100
 of the process

00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:01.779
 I knew that I was a child,

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:04.039
 I'd been less childish

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.620
 and I'd said,

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.940
 I'd taken it to my father

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.500
 in prayer,

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.480
 and I'd said,

00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.240
 Father,

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.960
 you know my need.

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:11.880
 Help!

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.620
 But I know

00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:15.019
 that you are my father,

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.880
 you're my good father,

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.580
 you've got this one

00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:17.180
 in your control,

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.259
 I can trust you,

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.920
 so I just lay this before you.

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:21.120
 Now I can go about

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:22.140
 all the rest of the things,

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.920
 ringing around,

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.640
 trying to find things,

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.480
 but with a totally

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.340
 different attitude

00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:26.640
 because I know

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.860
 my father's in control.

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.080
 But,

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:33.039
 I don't do that

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.440
 because I'm an adult.

00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.420
 But I'm childish.

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:38.240
 not childlike.

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.299
 The hymn says,

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.660
 Oh, what peace

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.680
 we often forfeit.

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.340
 Oh, what needless pain

00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:44.840
 we bear.

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.319
 All because

00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.680
 we will not carry

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.620
 everything

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.460
 to God

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.140
 in prayer.

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:52.980
 that is so true.

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.259
 as I look around

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.140
 your lives

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.099
 and my lives,

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:57.099
 I can tell you

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.860
 that is true.

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.980
 You can tell

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:01.779
 when I am prayerless

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.039
 because I am stressed.

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:04.059
 You can tell

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.900
 when I'm prayerless

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.980
 because I'm critical.

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.720
 You can tell

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.480
 when I'm prayerless

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.400
 because I'm complaining.

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.700
 The reason we don't pray

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.579
 is we're more childish

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.539
 than childlike.

00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:14.819
 You know,

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.299
 you don't see

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:16.180
 your three-year-old

00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:17.039
 saying,

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:19.159
 I've checked off

00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:19.899
 my grocery list

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.460
 and I've just been

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.539
 around five supermarkets

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.240
 and I couldn't find

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.139
 anything for lunch.

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.460
 And so,

00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:24.980
 finally,

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.119
 after I got a bit stressed

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.519
 for a while,

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:26.799
 I thought,

00:27:26.879 --> 00:27:27.039
 well,

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.460
 maybe mom's got

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.220
 something for lunch.

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.819
 Does your three-year-old

00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:31.220
 do that?

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.460
 Isn't that insane?

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.659
 But you think

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.159
 you're an adult.

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.920
 But that's an account holder.

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.299
 That's how an account holder,

00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.859
 that's how a pagan prays,

00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.920
 not a child.

00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:43.660
 Paul Miller,

00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.680
 in an excellent book,

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.880
 I think there's a copy outside,

00:27:46.060 --> 00:27:47.680
 he says this.

00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:48.360
 He says,

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.660
 less mature Christians

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.800
 have little need to pray.

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.420
 When they look at their hearts,

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.360
 which they rarely do,

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:55.180
 they seldom see jealousy.

00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.800
 They are barely aware

00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:57.700
 of their impatience.

00:27:57.840 --> 00:27:58.120
 Instead,

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.080
 they're frustrated

00:27:59.080 --> 00:28:00.519
 by all the slow people

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.500
 they keep running into.

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.779
 He's watching me

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.600
 going into Central,

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.100
 you know.

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.759
 Less mature Christians

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:09.039
 are quick to give advice.

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.160
 There's no complexity

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.200
 in their worlds

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.560
 because the answers are simple.

00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:13.820
 Just do what I say

00:28:13.820 --> 00:28:15.160
 and life will be easy.

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.800
 Surprisingly,

00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.400
 mature Christians

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.720
 feel less mature

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.519
 on the inside.

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.700
 When they hear Jesus say,

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.640
 apart from me,

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.740
 you can do nothing,

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:26.080
 they nod in agreement.

00:28:27.060 --> 00:28:27.860
 Mature Christians

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.680
 are keenly aware

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.960
 they can't raise their kids.

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.240
 It's a no-brainer.

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.980
 Even if they're perfect parents,

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:35.620
 they still can't get

00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:37.019
 inside their kids' hearts.

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.680
 That's why strong Christians

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.900
 pray more.

00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:44.920
 Husbands,

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.519
 wives,

00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.740
 do you think

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.440
 you can really

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.560
 change your spouse?

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.900
 Do you think

00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.620
 you can really

00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.299
 be the spouse

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.039
 you want to be

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.019
 without prayer?

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.140
 Students,

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.620
 do you think

00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.320
 you can really

00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:57.560
 honour God

00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:58.740
 with your studies

00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.880
 and yet not pray?

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.240
 Church,

00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:04.860
 do you think

00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.640
 we can really

00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.440
 be the church

00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.580
 God wants us to do,

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.500
 to be

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.159
 and to just

00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:09.839
 have a hive

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.679
 of activity

00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:13.899
 but not pray?

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.019
 It's insane

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:19.460
 because it's like

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.480
 adults trying

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.599
 to control the world

00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.000
 but actually

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.439
 the world

00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:23.539
 is not in our control,

00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.119
 it's in our

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:25.019
 Father's control.

00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.240
 And if we're

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.799
 to be anything

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.519
 different than

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.539
 the rest of the world

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.279
 around us,

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.059
 if we're to not

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.899
 be on this treadmill

00:29:30.899 --> 00:29:31.359
 and we can be

00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.480
 on a Christian treadmill

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.539
 of doing a thousand

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.220
 activities

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.440
 but your activity

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.400
 is meaningless

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.319
 if you're not

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.539
 coming to God

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.319
 in prayer

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.240
 and saying,

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.039
 Father,

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:43.380
 we need you.

00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:47.140
 If you would

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.980
 spend ten

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.120
 unproductive

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.440
 minutes every day

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.440
 in prayer,

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.720
 you'd see the

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.860
 long-term effects

00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:56.079
 produced far more

00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.640
 than you could

00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.460
 ever do

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.740
 in those ten minutes.

00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.920
 I guarantee it.

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.079
 That's why we

00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.539
 don't pray.

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.839
 Because we're

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.420
 self-sufficient.

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.500
 We don't think

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.019
 we need to.

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.960
 Prayer is talking

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.640
 to our Father.

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.279
 It's not our

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.720
 performance.

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.039
 It doesn't matter

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:15.960
 what you've done

00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.460
 this week.

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.400
 You can come to Him.

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.720
 Thirdly,

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.420
 prayer changes us.

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.059
 How does prayer

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.720
 change us?

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.039
 At the heart

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.799
 of every

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:27.259
 spiritual revival

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.019
 that has ever

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.860
 taken place

00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.539
 in the history

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.079
 of the world

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.799
 has been prayer.

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:33.059
 Just check it out

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.799
 in the history books.

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.680
 everyone.

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.700
 Because prayer

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.720
 changes your

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.420
 perspective on life.

00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.420
 You see,

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.539
 what I tend to do

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.779
 is I shrink

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.819
 my world down

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:45.059
 to my needs,

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.200
 my desires,

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.460
 my wants.

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.500
 And the world

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.339
 becomes this very

00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:50.200
 narrow focus.

00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:51.039
 But did you see

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.920
 in that prayer,

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:52.960
 it says,

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.880
 Jesus says,

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.140
 our Father.

00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.460
 Did you see that?

00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.519
 He didn't say,

00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.880
 my Father.

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.620
 He said,

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.300
 our Father.

00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.560
 Our,

00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.420
 that is plural.

00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.740
 That means

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.720
 the world,

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.380
 the God

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:07.800
 who you are

00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.700
 speaking to

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.700
 is a God

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.480
 who has brought

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.180
 us together

00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.060
 in a family.

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.460
 We are part

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.740
 of His family

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.420
 together.

00:31:16.060 --> 00:31:16.640
 That means

00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.000
 the world

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.920
 is not revolving

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:19.100
 just around you.

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.420
 It's not you,

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.280
 just you and God.

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.280
 It's us

00:31:22.280 --> 00:31:22.820
 together

00:31:22.820 --> 00:31:24.120
 with our Father.

00:31:24.119 --> 00:31:27.399
 But what we do

00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.299
 is we think

00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.199
 actually the whole

00:31:29.199 --> 00:31:29.719
 of church

00:31:29.719 --> 00:31:30.399
 is centered

00:31:30.399 --> 00:31:31.419
 down around me.

00:31:31.719 --> 00:31:32.259
 My relationship

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.739
 with God

00:31:32.739 --> 00:31:33.379
 is just centered

00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.359
 down around me.

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.279
 Did you ever

00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.019
 see that movie,

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.719
 Honey,

00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.679
 I Shrunk the Kids?

00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:39.379
 Anybody see that movie?

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:41.559
 Okay,

00:31:41.739 --> 00:31:42.479
 if you didn't see it,

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.039
 it's basically

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:45.000
 a movie about

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.879
 this kind of

00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.699
 inventor father

00:31:46.699 --> 00:31:47.139
 that invents

00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:47.879
 a shrink ray

00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:48.739
 and it kind of

00:31:48.739 --> 00:31:49.779
 accidentally goes off

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.839
 and his kids

00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.699
 and his neighbor's kids

00:31:51.699 --> 00:31:52.519
 get shrunk down

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.579
 to a quarter of an inch.

00:31:54.699 --> 00:31:55.679
 And what happens

00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:57.239
 is suddenly

00:31:57.239 --> 00:31:58.219
 they're now

00:31:58.219 --> 00:31:59.219
 a quarter of an inch

00:31:59.219 --> 00:32:00.279
 and the ants

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.219
 are now like elephants

00:32:01.219 --> 00:32:03.099
 and the bees

00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:04.139
 are now like airplanes

00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:05.000
 and the grass

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.879
 is now like a rainforest.

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.759
 And suddenly

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.759
 all these things

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.859
 have become huge

00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.699
 in their eyes.

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:13.500
 That's what we do

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.339
 with our worlds

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.159
 because when you

00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:15.939
 shrink it down

00:32:15.939 --> 00:32:16.739
 to just you,

00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:18.119
 your world

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.399
 has just narrowed down

00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:20.899
 to this tiny little thing

00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:21.439
 and everything

00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:22.279
 seems massive.

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:24.960
 But what prayer does,

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.859
 prayer opens you up

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:28.639
 to see our father

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.559
 in heaven.

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.460
 He's got this

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.480
 bigger perspective,

00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.759
 this heavenly perspective

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.740
 and it's one

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.480
 which is not just

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:34.980
 about you

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.680
 but it's about

00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.579
 all of us here.

00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:40.599
 And prayer helps you

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.779
 to see people

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.099
 when you would only

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.619
 ever see your issues

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.059
 before.

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:47.099
 I was walking

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:49.039
 to work last week

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:50.500
 and in front of me

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.119
 there was a woman

00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.299
 sweeping the stairs

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:52.759
 at the top

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.960
 and just kind of

00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.639
 coming up to her

00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.419
 there was another woman

00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:56.119
 kind of dragging

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:57.200
 her kid behind her

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:59.079
 and as she saw

00:32:59.079 --> 00:32:59.859
 the woman sweeping

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.579
 in front of her

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.819
 she started shouting

00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.679
 at her to get out

00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:03.059
 of the way

00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:05.279
 and she just abused her

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.200
 and demeaned her

00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.019
 completely

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.039
 and then just dragged

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.779
 her child on,

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.799
 ran past

00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:10.779
 and walked on.

00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.240
 And I walked up

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.059
 the stairs afterwards,

00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:14.419
 I looked at this

00:33:14.419 --> 00:33:15.339
 cleaner lady

00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.359
 and she was just

00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:17.000
 crushed.

00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:18.279
 You could just see it

00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.379
 written over her face.

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.720
 Devastated.

00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:23.480
 And I said something

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.319
 comforting to her

00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.000
 and I walked on

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.839
 but I was furious

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.599
 at that other woman

00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:28.019
 and for ten minutes

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.259
 my mind was thinking

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.659
 what a,

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:31.019
 well I won't say

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:31.579
 what I was thinking.

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.539
 This is being recorded.

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.759
 You can pray

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.799
 but pray for me afterwards.

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:42.700
 But as I walked along

00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:43.360
 then suddenly

00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:45.580
 I remembered

00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:47.640
 I'm supposed to be

00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:48.799
 speaking on prayer

00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.819
 and this little voice

00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.920
 came into my mind

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.480
 which said

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.960
 have you prayed for her?

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.620
 And my instant reaction

00:33:56.620 --> 00:33:57.140
 was

00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:58.420
 for her?

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.960
 And then I thought

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.900
 well because I'm preaching

00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:03.779
 I guess I better try

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.240
 and practice

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:04.900
 what I'm preaching.

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.640
 So,

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:08.019
 so I prayed for her

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.199
 and suddenly

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:10.039
 and I prayed

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.900
 our father,

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.960
 father just

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.260
 and then suddenly

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:15.940
 I realized

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:18.039
 that woman

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.599
 doesn't know

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.800
 her heavenly father.

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.440
 Her whole life

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.720
 is based on performance.

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.460
 Her performance

00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.699
 and other people's performance.

00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:29.539
 if she knew

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.419
 her father

00:34:30.419 --> 00:34:31.719
 just how much

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:32.819
 would that transform

00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.679
 that angry

00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:34.639
 critical

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.919
 bitter person.

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:38.000
 And I stood

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.279
 and I changed

00:34:39.279 --> 00:34:39.859
 from seeing

00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:40.659
 just with anger

00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:41.319
 to seeing her

00:34:41.319 --> 00:34:42.099
 with compassion.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.919
 She needs to know

00:34:44.919 --> 00:34:46.500
 our father.

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.960
 And just think

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:50.419
 how many of the things

00:34:50.419 --> 00:34:51.679
 would you change

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.359
 if suddenly

00:34:52.359 --> 00:34:53.599
 you began to start

00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.059
 praying

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:55.360
 for this church?

00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:55.940
 You began

00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.639
 to start praying

00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.159
 for the people

00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:58.320
 in your community group?

00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:58.920
 You began

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.699
 to start praying

00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:00.340
 for the people

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.000
 around you?

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.900
 Our father,

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.360
 would they know you

00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.239
 as father?

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.239
 And the people

00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:07.460
 who just irritate you,

00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:08.239
 the things

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:08.779
 which have just

00:35:08.779 --> 00:35:09.619
 driven you mad,

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.679
 suddenly you go

00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.460
 from being a quarter

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.940
 of an inch

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.079
 to suddenly seeing

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.559
 above

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.179
 the,

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:14.579
 the,

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:14.920
 the,

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.539
 the,

00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:15.699
 the,

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.980
 just the normal

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.719
 stuff of life.

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.199
 You begin

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.199
 to get perspective

00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.539
 and it changes

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.039
 you.

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.679
 And you begin

00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:24.419
 to change

00:35:24.419 --> 00:35:25.099
 with having

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.899
 more compassion.

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.319
 You begin

00:35:26.319 --> 00:35:27.299
 to see people

00:35:27.299 --> 00:35:29.980
 as you never

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.839
 saw them before.

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.739
 But you see,

00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:34.259
 prayerless people

00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:35.960
 complain all the time.

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.099
 How do I know

00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.779
 because I do it?

00:35:38.879 --> 00:35:39.579
 Prayerless people

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.779
 are critical all the time.

00:35:40.899 --> 00:35:41.399
 How do I know

00:35:41.399 --> 00:35:42.119
 because I am?

00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:44.079
 Prayerless people

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.899
 only see

00:35:45.899 --> 00:35:46.879
 the problems.

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.939
 And when they pray,

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:49.079
 they only ever pray

00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:50.300
 for their issues.

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.300
 But the thing is,

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.099
 let's imagine

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:54.639
 you go into

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.599
 your community group

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.780
 and you have a problem

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.579
 and you say,

00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:59.500
 or somebody has a problem

00:35:59.500 --> 00:35:59.980
 and they say,

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.220
 oh,

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.360
 my little Johnny,

00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.019
 he's been struggling

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.420
 at school,

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.119
 I need you to pray

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.599
 for him.

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.940
 What do we normally do?

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.300
 We say,

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:05.599
 okay,

00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:05.860
 Lord,

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:07.579
 please make his problems

00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:07.940
 better,

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.519
 amen.

00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.420
 But what if you began

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.539
 to pray our father

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.900
 so you began to see

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:14.000
 they need to know

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.880
 God as father

00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.539
 in this.

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.240
 So Lord,

00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:17.340
 you know their problems,

00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:18.760
 you know their needs,

00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.700
 you know their fears,

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.760
 you know their struggles,

00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:22.160
 you're a good father

00:36:22.160 --> 00:36:23.860
 and I pray for that situation,

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.820
 I pray that they would

00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:25.500
 know you in that,

00:36:25.700 --> 00:36:26.720
 but even more than that,

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.840
 with their stress,

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.840
 would they know

00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:30.620
 that you are their father

00:36:30.620 --> 00:36:31.680
 who cares for them

00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:33.160
 because that's what they need

00:36:33.160 --> 00:36:34.039
 in this situation.

00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:36.100
 We pray that you would answer,

00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.059
 we pray that you would

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:38.019
 give them that situation,

00:36:38.140 --> 00:36:39.200
 but even if you don't,

00:36:39.200 --> 00:36:40.360
 would they know

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.820
 that you are good

00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.880
 in this situation?

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:46.980
 Because when you pray

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.660
 like that,

00:36:49.640 --> 00:36:50.220
 do you see,

00:36:50.680 --> 00:36:51.860
 the world is not just

00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.800
 about your problems,

00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.539
 it's about knowing him,

00:36:55.160 --> 00:36:56.160
 it's about knowing

00:36:56.160 --> 00:36:57.039
 the God

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:58.000
 who loves you.

00:37:01.700 --> 00:37:03.760
 What this church needs

00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:06.599
 more than anything else

00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:09.099
 is not more programs.

00:37:09.099 --> 00:37:11.639
 What this church needs

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.779
 is not greater leaders,

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.739
 greater sermons,

00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:16.299
 it's not greater kids program,

00:37:16.699 --> 00:37:18.119
 it's not all those other things,

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:19.299
 great though those are.

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:21.920
 The thing which this church needs

00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.099
 more than anything else

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:25.679
 is that we would know God

00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:26.420
 as our father.

00:37:27.779 --> 00:37:29.159
 And the only way

00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:30.239
 that we will know God

00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:31.039
 as our father

00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:32.599
 is if we come to him in prayer.

00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:34.920
 And if you see

00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:36.739
 that we need each other

00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:38.879
 to come to God

00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:39.959
 for each other

00:37:39.959 --> 00:37:40.579
 in prayer.

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:47.459
 So let me ask you,

00:37:48.959 --> 00:37:50.859
 this week,

00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:52.359
 what have you complained about?

00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:56.219
 What have you been critical of?

00:37:58.199 --> 00:37:59.779
 What have you been stressed about?

00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:03.779
 Have you narrowed

00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:04.759
 your world down?

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.579
 And have you prayed?

00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:11.159
 Have you prayed?

00:38:11.919 --> 00:38:13.119
 Have you not just prayed

00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.879
 for a solution,

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:14.819
 but have you prayed

00:38:14.819 --> 00:38:16.959
 that you would know

00:38:16.959 --> 00:38:18.379
 and that other people

00:38:18.379 --> 00:38:19.199
 would know your father?

00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:29.099
 The only way

00:38:29.099 --> 00:38:29.759
 that you can stop

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:30.359
 being a pagan

00:38:30.359 --> 00:38:32.439
 is to know the father.

00:38:33.259 --> 00:38:34.059
 The only way

00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:35.079
 that we can know our father

00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:36.019
 is to pray.

00:38:37.159 --> 00:38:38.639
 We keep forgetting

00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:39.159
 that.

00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:40.119
 We keep needing

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:40.679
 other people

00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:41.619
 to remind us.

00:38:42.819 --> 00:38:43.500
 So how are you going

00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:44.059
 to change?

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.480
 I want you to think

00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:47.699
 for a minute

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:49.340
 because it's nice

00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:50.259
 to talk about prayer,

00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.739
 but you know,

00:38:50.779 --> 00:38:51.599
 in the practical things

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.139
 of life,

00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:54.559
 all the best intentions

00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.519
 to pray come to nothing.

00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.380
 You've got a plan

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:57.819
 to pray.

00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:59.500
 You've got to put it

00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.039
 in your calendar.

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:00.599
 You've got to put it

00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:01.159
 in your diary.

00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.840
 You've got to make time

00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:03.640
 like you do

00:39:03.640 --> 00:39:04.220
 with your family.

00:39:06.260 --> 00:39:07.180
 We have spaces

00:39:07.180 --> 00:39:08.220
 before the service.

00:39:08.519 --> 00:39:08.960
 We have people

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.740
 who come to pray.

00:39:10.720 --> 00:39:11.680
 Do you see how much

00:39:11.680 --> 00:39:12.760
 this church needs us

00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:13.200
 to pray?

00:39:16.140 --> 00:39:17.180
 Your community group.

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:18.500
 Do you just go

00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:19.340
 to your community group

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:20.079
 and just turn up,

00:39:20.120 --> 00:39:20.800
 or have you actually

00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:21.340
 been praying

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.200
 for the people there?

00:39:23.260 --> 00:39:24.039
 Will you set aside

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:24.860
 time to pray?

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.240
 For the leadership.

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:31.479
 For all the things

00:39:31.479 --> 00:39:32.939
 which are going to happen

00:39:32.939 --> 00:39:33.859
 in our lives,

00:39:33.979 --> 00:39:34.919
 and happen in our life

00:39:34.919 --> 00:39:35.679
 as a church,

00:39:36.299 --> 00:39:37.019
 will you pray?

00:39:38.879 --> 00:39:40.359
 Will you put it

00:39:40.359 --> 00:39:40.979
 in your diary?

00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:42.199
 Will you make time?

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.139
 Or are you too productive?

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:45.679
 Are you too adult?

00:39:45.919 --> 00:39:47.139
 Are you too self-sufficient

00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:47.819
 to do that?

00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.959
 We have a couple

00:39:52.959 --> 00:39:54.399
 of great books outside.

00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:55.219
 There's some great books

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:55.739
 on prayer.

00:39:55.739 --> 00:39:58.579
 There's one here

00:39:58.579 --> 00:39:59.739
 by Tim Keller.

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.779
 Really thorough,

00:40:01.879 --> 00:40:02.699
 just understanding

00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:03.539
 what prayer is.

00:40:03.899 --> 00:40:04.539
 There's another one

00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:05.119
 here outside.

00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:05.939
 You can go outside

00:40:05.939 --> 00:40:06.719
 on the bookstore.

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.559
 The problem with

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.500
 recommending books

00:40:10.500 --> 00:40:10.959
 to pray,

00:40:11.199 --> 00:40:13.259
 about learning to pray,

00:40:13.399 --> 00:40:14.419
 is that you read the book

00:40:14.419 --> 00:40:15.239
 and then you don't pray.

00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:18.839
 Done that?

00:40:20.319 --> 00:40:21.159
 The problem is

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.779
 when we start

00:40:21.779 --> 00:40:22.679
 coming to community group

00:40:22.679 --> 00:40:22.919
 and say,

00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:23.939
 let's have a time of prayer,

00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.519
 is we spend

00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:26.739
 35 minutes

00:40:26.739 --> 00:40:27.780
 talking about

00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:28.139
 what we're going

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:28.679
 to pray about

00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.420
 and then 3 minutes

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:29.780
 praying.

00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:31.500
 You done that?

00:40:33.259 --> 00:40:33.699
 Why?

00:40:33.880 --> 00:40:34.400
 Because we're

00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:35.019
 self-sufficient.

00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:37.380
 Because we don't

00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:38.460
 really think we need it.

00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:39.880
 But our Father

00:40:39.880 --> 00:40:40.659
 is longing

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:42.000
 to hear us

00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:43.280
 and He wants

00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:45.159
 you and us

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:46.500
 and as a church

00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:47.340
 to say,

00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:48.860
 our Father.

00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:51.579
 And that's

00:40:51.579 --> 00:40:52.119
 a spiritually

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:53.079
 healthy church.

00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:54.860
 not a church

00:40:54.860 --> 00:40:55.179
 which has

00:40:55.179 --> 00:40:56.480
 great activities,

00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:58.860
 great sermons,

00:40:58.980 --> 00:40:59.779
 all those other things.

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.480
 It's a church

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:01.259
 which can say,

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:03.119
 we need you.

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:04.840
 We need you.

00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:06.539
 And God

00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:07.239
 will place us

00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:07.779
 in positions

00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:08.500
 where we have

00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.059
 to cry

00:41:09.059 --> 00:41:10.759
 like a child,

00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:12.539
 Father,

00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:14.340
 we need you.

00:41:15.299 --> 00:41:15.980
 Let's pray.

00:41:15.980 --> 00:41:16.079
 Amen.

00:41:16.079 --> 00:41:16.139
 Amen.

00:41:16.139 --> 00:41:16.199
 Amen.

00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:16.639
 Amen.

00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:16.699
 Amen.

00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:16.739
 Amen.

00:41:16.739 --> 00:41:16.759
 Amen.

00:41:16.759 --> 00:41:16.779
 Amen.

00:41:16.779 --> 00:41:18.699
 Amen.

00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:18.739
 Amen.

00:41:18.739 --> 00:41:18.759
 Amen.

00:41:18.759 --> 00:41:18.779
 Amen.

00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:23.819
 Amen.

00:41:26.319 --> 00:41:26.759
 Amen.

00:41:26.759 --> 00:41:28.019
 Maybe you just want to stop for a minute.

00:41:29.400 --> 00:41:30.400
 And I want you to think,

00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:33.319
 do I treat God,

00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:35.799
 am I just an account holder with Him?

00:41:37.799 --> 00:41:39.659
 Am I just an account holder with Him?

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:42.139
 Do I treat Him

00:41:42.139 --> 00:41:44.139
 as like some spiritual ATM

00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:46.039
 that I can just cash in on occasionally?

00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:49.259
 I want you to be real.

00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:52.720
 And if you think,

00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:54.040
 oh, my prayer life sucks,

00:41:54.160 --> 00:41:55.260
 I've been terrible,

00:41:56.460 --> 00:41:58.840
 just know the amazing thing is

00:41:58.840 --> 00:42:00.260
 we don't come to our Father

00:42:00.260 --> 00:42:01.660
 on the basis of our performance.

00:42:02.640 --> 00:42:03.620
 We come to Him

00:42:03.620 --> 00:42:04.820
 on the basis of His goodness.

00:42:06.660 --> 00:42:08.580
 That's why we start with Him in prayer,

00:42:08.660 --> 00:42:09.800
 not start with ourselves.

00:42:12.080 --> 00:42:13.120
 So stop for a moment.

00:42:13.620 --> 00:42:14.400
 What are you going to do?

00:42:14.520 --> 00:42:15.600
 What's your next step

00:42:15.600 --> 00:42:16.860
 this week?

00:42:16.860 --> 00:42:19.940
 How are you going to be too busy to pray?

00:42:23.660 --> 00:42:24.740
 How are you going to change?

00:42:26.039 --> 00:42:27.079
 Do you want to change?

00:42:41.220 --> 00:42:45.000
 Father, this spiritual vacuum inside of us

00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:46.940
 that we fill with so many other things

00:42:46.940 --> 00:42:53.900
 is meant to be filled by you.

00:42:57.579 --> 00:42:59.139
 It's meant to be filled by you.

00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:03.179
 I pray that we

00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:06.460
 would constantly remember,

00:43:06.900 --> 00:43:07.820
 remind each other,

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:09.179
 remind ourselves

00:43:09.179 --> 00:43:13.119
 that in the midst of life

00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:14.019
 when we forget

00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:15.199
 who you are,

00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:16.359
 we try and be

00:43:16.359 --> 00:43:17.419
 self-sufficient.

00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:20.099
 We remember that we need you.

00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:22.980
 And that we turn to you,

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:25.159
 not just when we have to,

00:43:25.219 --> 00:43:26.119
 but we turn to you

00:43:26.119 --> 00:43:27.359
 because we want to have

00:43:27.359 --> 00:43:28.599
 that relationship with you.

00:43:30.799 --> 00:43:31.699
 Change us, Lord.

00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:33.759
 Change us, Lord,

00:43:33.799 --> 00:43:34.599
 as a church.

00:43:35.779 --> 00:43:37.159
 Help us not be pagans,

00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:38.139
 but to become

00:43:38.139 --> 00:43:40.940
 people who live

00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:42.079
 as children of yours.

00:43:42.799 --> 00:43:43.559
 In your name.

00:43:44.460 --> 00:43:44.699
 Amen.