WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:18.199
 Do you have a particular phrase that really gets on your nerves? A lot of people do. I'll confess, the term that really makes me cringe.

00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:19.000
!

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:42.120
 Is it so misleading? Because to refer to a born-again Christian suggests that there's such a thing as a Christian that's not born again.

00:00:43.259 --> 00:00:50.780
 As though there's some particular type of category of Christian that is born again, but most normal Christians aren't.

00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:59.900
 Jesus is quite clear. He doesn't just call us to believe in God.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.219
 To take on a new world view, all those things.

00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:22.640
 When you follow Jesus, something supernatural happens. The Holy Spirit of God comes to dwell, not simply with you, but in you.

00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:36.019
 The author of the universe takes up residence in your soul.

00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:50.979
 You enter into an altogether different, new spiritual realm.

00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:58.400
 That gives you a completely different relationship with God.

00:01:58.520 --> 00:02:02.859
 Not somebody that you just believe in, but somebody that you know.

00:02:03.320 --> 00:02:05.300
 You are given a new identity.

00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:08.759
 You are in Christ Jesus.

00:02:09.480 --> 00:02:11.099
 You're a child of God.

00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:15.099
 As Wesley put it.

00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:20.139
 I exchanged the faith of a servant for that of a son.

00:02:20.139 --> 00:02:29.439
 It might happen suddenly.

00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:33.019
 It might happen gradually.

00:02:34.119 --> 00:02:37.299
 Theologian Tom Wright said it's a bit like, imagine waking up.

00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:41.200
 Sometimes you wake up really, really suddenly.

00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:42.380
 The alarm goes on. Bang.

00:02:42.860 --> 00:02:43.780
 One moment you're asleep.

00:02:44.140 --> 00:02:45.160
 One moment you're awake.

00:02:46.920 --> 00:02:50.960
 But sometimes we might wake up much more gradually, much more slowly.

00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:58.840
 To the extent that you're not entirely sure exactly when it was that you stopped being asleep and started being awake.

00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:10.980
 But the point is, there is such a thing as being asleep and there's such a thing as being awake and there's all the difference between those two states.

00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:17.960
 God wants us to wake up.

00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:26.480
 God wants us not just to believe something in our heads, but to know him in the depths of our souls.

00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:56.459
 God wants us to be asleep and there's all the rest of our souls.

00:03:57.019 --> 00:04:00.239
 Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

00:04:01.079 --> 00:04:03.599
 Not the removal of your mind.

00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:09.500
 The renewal of your mind.

00:04:11.799 --> 00:04:13.459
 I've got a jar here.

00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:18.879
 Apparently, if you catch a flea...

00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:26.039
 Imagine if you catch a flea and you put it in the jar.

00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:30.580
 it could easily jump I don't know how many times the height of the jar easily right out of it

00:04:30.580 --> 00:04:38.700
 but if you can get it in there and get the lid on in time it will still think it can jump out of it

00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:45.200
 but it won't it doesn't get an escape it gets an awful headache but it will keep on jumping up and

00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:49.180
 down up and down up and down up and down up and down continually banging against that surface

00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:54.600
 that's keeping its in that will continue and I don't know how long exactly it takes but it

00:04:54.600 --> 00:05:02.920
 eventually it realizes it's not a good idea to try and jump out of it because it hurts

00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:11.040
 so instead it will continue to jump but it will jump just a fraction of a distance shy of the surface

00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:18.240
 of the lid now I've never tested this but I'm told that if you do that and then you remove the lid

00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:29.379
 the flea will continue to jump but never out of the jar why because it's become trained and

00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:31.920
 conditioned to accept its limitations

00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:38.560
 now hold that image and reverse it

00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:48.519
 you see when the Holy Spirit renews us it's not like the lid being put on no that that's the life

00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:54.560
 without the Spirit when the Holy Spirit comes upon us and within us and renews us when we are born again

00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:01.399
 when we are transformed by the renewal of the mind it's like that lid is lifted

00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:04.620
 we're free

00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:08.519
 be transformed

00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:08.539
 be transformed

00:06:08.539 --> 00:06:10.560
 says Paul

00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.639
 by the renewal

00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.139
 of your mind

00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:22.859
 you see the problem is we tend to limit God to the size of our circumstances

00:06:22.859 --> 00:06:27.560
 and we get trapped by that

00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:31.540
 to the size of our circumstances

00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:32.699
 to the size of our circumstances

00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:36.939
 a low view of God is the cause of a thousand lesser evils

00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:44.699
 but a high view of God is the solution to ten thousand problems

00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:54.519
 when the Spirit renews

00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.859
 everything changes

00:06:57.859 --> 00:07:03.159
 let's just unpack this in a little bit more

00:07:03.159 --> 00:07:04.699
 detail and think of

00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.740
 you know as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13

00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:09.019
 that he talks about you know faith hope and love

00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:10.879
 let's just think about how

00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:12.839
 the Spirit

00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:16.000
 renews those three things in us

00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.620
 firstly we've got faith

00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:19.299
 everyone has faith

00:07:19.299 --> 00:07:21.779
 again another phrase that I don't like

00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:24.839
 those with of all faiths and none

00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:28.719
 it's nonsense because it suggests that there's somebody walking around somewhere out there

00:07:28.719 --> 00:07:29.579
 who hasn't got any faith

00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:30.779
 nonsense

00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:32.059
 everybody has faith

00:07:32.059 --> 00:07:33.459
 might not realise it

00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:35.099
 it might not be faith in God

00:07:35.099 --> 00:07:38.000
 but it'd be faith in something

00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.659
 one of the biggest deceptions is that

00:07:42.659 --> 00:07:43.699
 that somehow

00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:46.839
 you know you don't have faith if you

00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:48.019
 don't believe in God

00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:48.619
 it's nonsense

00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:51.680
 it takes far more faith to be an atheist than it does to become

00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.319
 to be a Christian I think in some ways

00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:57.100
 so

00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:59.740
 if it's not God that we believe in

00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:00.939
 if it's not God that we trust in

00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:02.340
 if it's not God that we have faith in

00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:05.360
 you can guarantee that faith will be placed somewhere

00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.199
 because it is part of our being

00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:10.680
 as a human

00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:13.019
 to have faith

00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:15.139
 if you think about it

00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:15.399
 life

00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:17.399
 every day requires faith

00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:21.079
 we put our faith in all sorts of things

00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.560
 most of the time we're not even aware that we're doing it

00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.099
 but we do

00:08:25.099 --> 00:08:28.659
 faith runs right through the fabric of life

00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:30.199
 right through existence

00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:34.340
 when the Holy Spirit renews

00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:37.939
 it takes that faith which is part of our humanity

00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.640
 humanity

00:08:38.640 --> 00:08:41.280
 and transforms it into something

00:08:41.280 --> 00:08:44.120
 that is supernatural

00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:47.920
 transforms it into

00:08:47.920 --> 00:08:49.900
 that faith that is in God

00:08:49.900 --> 00:08:55.360
 to a new state of being

00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:58.460
 it's not often I'll

00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:00.560
 you'll find me quoting Wesley twice in

00:09:00.560 --> 00:09:01.580
 on the same day

00:09:01.580 --> 00:09:04.520
 but I just happened to come across this story this last week

00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.240
 and I thought it's worth sharing

00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:07.799
 and apparently

00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:09.340
 he was

00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:11.519
 outside one day

00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:12.600
 and met a man who was

00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:14.159
 really really anxious

00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:16.539
 riddled with fear

00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:20.319
 and apparently Wesley pointed at a cow

00:09:20.319 --> 00:09:21.639
 grazing in the field

00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:24.819
 that was by a wall

00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:27.980
 and the cow just happened to be looking over the wall

00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:31.460
 and apparently John Wesley said to this man

00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:34.580
 you see that cow over there

00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:38.740
 is it trying to look through the wall

00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:40.500
 or is it looking over it

00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:43.060
 he said well

00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:45.580
 it's looking over the top of the wall

00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:46.259
 you can't

00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:47.879
 see through a wall

00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:49.019
 cows can't see through walls

00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:50.100
 we can't see through walls

00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:54.120
 apparently John Wesley said

00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:58.340
 that's what you need to do with your fear

00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:02.259
 stop staring at that wall of fear

00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:04.160
 stop trying to look through it

00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:07.899
 you need to look over it

00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:10.460
 you need that

00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:12.160
 bigger picture

00:10:12.160 --> 00:10:15.360
 look over the wall

00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:16.379
 look over the fear

00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:20.600
 and put your faith in God

00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.639
 the Holy Spirit

00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.340
 renews

00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.060
 our faith

00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:27.979
 into something

00:10:27.979 --> 00:10:29.519
 radically different

00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:33.099
 the Holy Spirit

00:10:33.099 --> 00:10:34.599
 also renews our hope

00:10:34.599 --> 00:10:36.219
 again we put hope

00:10:36.219 --> 00:10:37.039
 in all sorts of things

00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.679
 every day

00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:38.339
 of our lives

00:10:38.339 --> 00:10:40.279
 but hope actually enables us

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.839
 real hope enables us

00:10:41.839 --> 00:10:43.039
 to endure

00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:43.799
 in fact

00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:44.000
 it

00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.039
 describes in 1 Thessalonians

00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:46.879
 chapter 1

00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.059
 endurance inspired by hope

00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:51.959
 years ago

00:10:51.959 --> 00:10:52.419
 there was

00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:53.479
 an experiment

00:10:53.479 --> 00:10:55.199
 in a laboratory

00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.020
 where psychologists

00:10:57.020 --> 00:10:58.080
 were trying to explore

00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.080
 what hope is

00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:00.100
 how it functions

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.980
 how it operates

00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:03.340
 and they took a group

00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:03.960
 of rats

00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:05.400
 and they put the rats

00:11:05.400 --> 00:11:07.480
 into a tub of water

00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.680
 and timed how long

00:11:08.680 --> 00:11:09.520
 it took them to drown

00:11:09.520 --> 00:11:12.160
 then they took a second

00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:12.920
 batch of rats

00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:13.400
 and then they

00:11:13.400 --> 00:11:14.340
 they put them

00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:16.400
 in exactly the same conditions

00:11:16.400 --> 00:11:17.020
 in the water

00:11:17.020 --> 00:11:18.180
 timed them until

00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:18.900
 they were just about

00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:19.540
 to drown again

00:11:19.540 --> 00:11:20.400
 it was almost exactly

00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.100
 the same length

00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:21.679
 of time

00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.340
 but a few seconds

00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:25.279
 short of their drowning

00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.579
 they scooped them

00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:27.500
 out of the water

00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:29.139
 and let them recover

00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:31.799
 put them back

00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:32.439
 in the water

00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:34.720
 did the same thing

00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.000
 again

00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:35.699
 waited till they were

00:11:35.699 --> 00:11:36.419
 about to drown

00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:37.860
 and then scooped

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:38.240
 them out

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:40.159
 and as they repeated

00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:40.840
 this process

00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:41.579
 each time

00:11:41.579 --> 00:11:42.120
 they saw

00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:42.799
 that the rats

00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.879
 could actually survive

00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:44.779
 a little bit longer

00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.779
 a little bit longer

00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.600
 a little bit longer

00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:46.980
 until it was

00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:48.240
 a long time longer

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:53.879
 what was the difference

00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:54.840
 between the first

00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.500
 group of rats

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.159
 and the second

00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:58.700
 the second

00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:00.519
 discovered hope

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.759
 and so they could

00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:03.159
 endure

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:08.019
 when the Holy Spirit

00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:08.840
 comes upon us

00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:10.000
 and renews our minds

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:11.340
 we can endure

00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:14.539
 because we know

00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:15.620
 that hand of salvation

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.159
 is there

00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:22.620
 but Paul talks about

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.179
 faith

00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:23.600
 hope

00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.259
 and love

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:28.120
 again

00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.339
 something fundamental

00:12:29.339 --> 00:12:29.939
 to what it is

00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:30.539
 to be human

00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:32.279
 we love

00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:32.899
 but we love

00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.659
 in all sorts

00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:34.579
 of different ways

00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:38.559
 but

00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:41.519
 the Bible tells us

00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.419
 that God is love

00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:45.419
 not God has love

00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:46.719
 but God is love

00:12:46.719 --> 00:12:46.740
 but God is love

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:49.099
 that's what we read

00:12:49.099 --> 00:12:50.860
 in 1 John 4 16

00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:53.240
 not just that God

00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.079
 is the source of love

00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:54.740
 although he is

00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:56.179
 not just that he has love

00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:56.719
 but he is

00:12:56.719 --> 00:12:57.759
 not just that he gives us love

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.139
 but he is

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.559
 but God is love

00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.279
 now

00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:05.479
 the danger is

00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:06.259
 and this is something

00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:07.439
 that often we come across

00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:08.979
 is that people will reverse that

00:13:08.979 --> 00:13:09.699
 and say well that

00:13:09.699 --> 00:13:10.959
 love is God

00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.600
 God is not to be defined

00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.440
 by what we think

00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.280
 love is

00:13:17.280 --> 00:13:20.000
 rather if you want to know

00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:20.920
 what love is

00:13:20.920 --> 00:13:21.780
 you find it in God

00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:24.259
 that's what

00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.580
 agape love

00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:26.340
 selfless

00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.200
 giving love

00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:27.920
 is defined

00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:29.660
 in God himself

00:13:29.660 --> 00:13:33.220
 but in our human experience

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:33.840
 when we

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.600
 encounter

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.680
 the reality

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:37.400
 of that unconditional love

00:13:37.400 --> 00:13:38.840
 and it just blows us away

00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:42.080
 that's that glimpse

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.180
 of that eternal God

00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:45.440
 and

00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:47.720
 notice that

00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.759
 that Paul says

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.960
 there's faith

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:51.580
 there's hope

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.080
 and there's love

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.220
 but the greatest of these

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:53.700
 is love

00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:55.800
 why should it be the greatest

00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:56.320
 well

00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.240
 faith and hope

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.960
 will eventually

00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.060
 when we encounter God

00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:00.680
 in eternity

00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:02.740
 be required no more

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:04.420
 in eternity

00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:05.600
 you won't need faith

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.080
 in eternity

00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:09.320
 you won't need

00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:09.980
 to hope

00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:14.759
 because in eternity

00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.920
 all there will be

00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:16.540
 is love

00:14:16.540 --> 00:14:20.000
 as we have that

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.360
 eternal

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.600
 presence of God

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.620
 with no more suffering

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.360
 and no more pain

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:29.000
 no more having to trust

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:30.639
 no more having to have faith

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.120
 no more need to have hope

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:33.160
 because God is there

00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:35.719
 and everything will be perfect

00:14:35.719 --> 00:14:40.199
 and it's that

00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.559
 renewal

00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:42.519
 that is the most

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.539
 foundational thing

00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:45.379
 that when the Holy Spirit

00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.539
 comes upon us

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:48.659
 he renews us

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:49.199
 in love

00:14:49.199 --> 00:14:52.519
 you know

00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.500
 when we're obnoxious

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.100
 as Christians

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.740
 and boy

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.459
 we can be

00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:58.620
 that's not the Holy Spirit

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.459
 at work in us

00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:01.379
 and that's why

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.559
 it's a lifelong process

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.699
 right through our time

00:15:03.699 --> 00:15:04.139
 yes

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.699
 on earth

00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.299
 yes we can

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.259
 be confident

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.419
 that we have been set free

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.179
 we have been saved

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:08.899
 for all eternity

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:10.500
 but the Holy Spirit's

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.379
 work for us

00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.559
 it never stops

00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:13.719
 it keeps

00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:15.699
 needing to work in us

00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:15.899
 to

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.500
 to bring more love

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.159
 into our lives

00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.019
 to sweep out

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:19.919
 all that is not

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.559
 of God

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.679
 all that is not loving

00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.919
 and that's what we need

00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:25.339
 over

00:15:25.339 --> 00:15:26.439
 and over

00:15:26.439 --> 00:15:27.399
 and over

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:27.919
 again

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:32.079
 my prayer is

00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:33.179
 that's precisely

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:34.500
 what will happen

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.500
 not just right now

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:37.939
 but each and every day

00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:39.699
 you know this summer

00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:40.539
 we had a heat wave

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.599
 and you probably noticed

00:15:41.599 --> 00:15:42.599
 that a lot of the grass

00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:44.779
 went very very brown

00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.860
 and dry

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.659
 I remember out

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.620
 walking down by the

00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.059
 salt

00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:50.019
 the salt house

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:50.399
 and fields

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.379
 and looking at that

00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:51.639
 thinking

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.779
 that looks like

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:54.059
 it's never going to

00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:54.579
 grow back

00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:57.860
 then

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.660
 suddenly

00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.759
 it wasn't so dry

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.100
 was it

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:03.400
 walking down there

00:16:03.400 --> 00:16:04.520
 early morning

00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:05.100
 this week

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.940
 and they were

00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:07.400
 mowing

00:16:07.400 --> 00:16:08.360
 the lawn

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.120
 that was very

00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:09.940
 very green

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:11.340
 and very long

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:14.000
 it only takes

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.940
 just a few days

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.420
 of rain

00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.200
 and it comes

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.040
 right back again

00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:19.940
 and I hold that

00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:20.520
 as an image

00:16:20.520 --> 00:16:21.480
 before all of us

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.340
 an image of what

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:23.280
 God longs to do

00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.280
 for each of us

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:26.159
 perhaps it may well

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.699
 be that you've been

00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:27.519
 a follower of Jesus

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.679
 for a long long time

00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.240
 and you feel dry

00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:33.959
 God's Holy Spirit

00:16:33.959 --> 00:16:34.939
 is there to renew

00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:36.100
 that love

00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.559
 along with that faith

00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:38.639
 and that hope in you

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:43.079
 maybe you're listening

00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:43.539
 to this

00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:44.539
 maybe you're listening

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.339
 to this online

00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:45.939
 and you're thinking

00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:46.480
 to myself

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.139
 actually

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:49.620
 actually I'm not sure

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:51.000
 that I do know

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.000
 what that is

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.240
 to be born again

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:56.639
 but I so much

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.480
 want that to happen

00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:00.840
 or simply ask God

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:04.140
 I'm going to leave

00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:05.019
 in a prayer right now

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.500
 we're going to do

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.079
 just that

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.960
 I'm going to ask

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.519
 the same prayer

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.099
 for each and every

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.660
 one of us

00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:11.220
 that wherever we're at

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.240
 whether we have

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.539
 been renewed recently

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.460
 or whether we sense

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.140
 actually we never

00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.680
 have been

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.460
 let's just ask God

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:17.980
 to do that

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.079
 let's do that now

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.920
 let's pray

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:26.580
 Lord thank you

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:28.400
 that your desire

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.080
 is to give us life

00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:31.640
 life that is

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.720
 so much richer

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.360
 and brighter

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:33.980
 and bigger

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.800
 and fuller

00:17:34.800 --> 00:17:35.380
 and wider

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.100
 and deeper

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:36.779
 and greater

00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:38.720
 than we've ever

00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.460
 experienced

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.840
 and can possibly imagine

00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:44.039
 Lord that's what's

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.920
 in store for us

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.560
 in eternity

00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:46.420
 but right now

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.140
 we can begin

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.900
 to get a taste

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.440
 of it

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.920
 thank you

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.600
 Lord that

00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.640
 you came to us

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.200
 in Jesus

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:56.620
 that you've saved us

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.640
 you've set us free

00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.680
 but you don't

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.420
 leave us alone

00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:01.120
 but you pour out

00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.800
 your spirit

00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:04.360
 that we might be

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:04.780
 renewed

00:18:04.780 --> 00:18:08.600
 Lord would you

00:18:08.600 --> 00:18:09.759
 renew our minds

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:12.980
 would you renew us

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:15.799
 in our faith

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.900
 in our hope

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.980
 and in our love

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:24.000
 Lord it may be

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.480
 that perhaps

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.319
 we've never

00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:28.200
 asked you

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:31.900
 to do that before

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:39.660
 Lord for those of us

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.940
 right now

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.680
 that have never

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.380
 given our lives

00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:42.980
 to you

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:45.760
 here's a prayer

00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:49.720
 Lord Jesus

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.860
 thank you

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:51.620
 that you died

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:52.220
 for me

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.980
 thank you

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.980
 that you are alive

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:57.600
 I give my life

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.320
 to you now

00:18:58.320 --> 00:19:03.640
 thank you

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.080
 that I am

00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:04.700
 your child

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:08.540
 thank you

00:19:08.540 --> 00:19:10.640
 that I may know

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.600
 that I have been

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:13.000
 saved for all eternity

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:16.119
 fill me with your

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.859
 Holy Spirit

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:19.459
 that I may follow you

00:19:19.459 --> 00:19:20.779
 as your servant

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.939
 Amen

00:19:22.939 --> 00:19:26.179
 and for those of us

00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:27.599
 who have been

00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:28.399
 following Jesus

00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.219
 for some time

00:19:29.219 --> 00:19:30.980
 but just long

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.919
 for that sense

00:19:31.919 --> 00:19:32.679
 of refresh

00:19:32.679 --> 00:19:33.519
 and renewal

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:35.839
 that the brown grass

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.879
 may become

00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.819
 lush and green

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:40.160
 here's a prayer

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:44.379
 Lord in our lives

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:46.519
 we can become weary

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.779
 we can become dry

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.740
 but thank you

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.700
 that in your words

00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.160
 you tell us

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.079
 not just to be filled

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.920
 but to go on

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.740
 being filled

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.759
 to be renewed

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:58.819
 Holy Spirit

00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:00.119
 would you renew us

00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:01.759
 now

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:08.059
 and in the time

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.619
 to come

00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:12.779
 help us tomorrow

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:15.559
 and the next day

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:17.720
 and each day

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:22.319
 help us to be open

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.539
 to your renewal

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:26.440
 whatever shape

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.660
 that looks like

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:30.819
 Holy Spirit

00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.420
 come and fill us

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.579
 and renew us

00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:40.039
 in Jesus name

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.400
 Amen

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:46.400
 Amen

00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.400