WEBVTT

00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.100
 Father, you know the real condition of our hearts.

00:00:03.980 --> 00:00:07.580
 You know those amongst us who are struggling with anxiety,

00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:10.939
 those of us who are actually feeling really good, really pumped.

00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.120
 You know, Father, those of us who have a problem with cynicism.

00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:18.839
 You know, Father, those of us who are struggling with doubts.

00:00:19.240 --> 00:00:22.080
 You know those of us, Father, who are in fact maybe really feeling

00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:25.859
 just very filled with faith and just delighting in you.

00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:29.080
 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you know us perfectly,

00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:34.079
 that your word speaks to all of the different conditions of our lives,

00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.780
 and that, Father, you love us, that you care for us,

00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:41.920
 and desire to have us come into your presence this morning,

00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.539
 and that you desire to give to us,

00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:47.200
 and we ask that you would help us to receive in a worthy manner.

00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:51.500
 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:56.280
 I'm still so conditioned, I almost wanted to say be seated,

00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:58.539
 because if we were meeting in person,

00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:00.880
 you would have all been standing from the creed,

00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:01.920
 or most of you would have been,

00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:05.219
 and then I'd have to tell you to be seated.

00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:11.099
 Lots of people think that prayer is pretty weak,

00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:14.579
 a little bit lame, maybe actually really deeply lame,

00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:17.319
 and also more than a little bit boring.

00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:20.419
 One of the things I guess in our culture is,

00:01:21.099 --> 00:01:22.659
 you know, you look at something like yoga,

00:01:22.979 --> 00:01:27.239
 or some of the other techniques in meditation that come out of the East,

00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:30.159
 or suggested maybe by psychologists,

00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:33.739
 those things seem to give you a real type of benefit,

00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.859
 and they seem, yeah, they just seem interesting,

00:01:36.859 --> 00:01:38.419
 as if they're going to build your power,

00:01:38.639 --> 00:01:42.719
 and just seem like, because they give you more power, so to speak,

00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.219
 and are just helpful.

00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:46.780
 It seems like if there is any type of religion,

00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:47.920
 or any type of spirituality,

00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:49.920
 that's probably a better way to go,

00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:52.180
 because frankly, for a lot of us,

00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:53.819
 prayer just seems pretty weak,

00:01:53.819 --> 00:01:56.079
 like you sit in silence,

00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.239
 and you just speak in your head,

00:01:58.739 --> 00:02:00.879
 and you talk to God,

00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.879
 and it just doesn't seem to be,

00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:06.920
 well, it seems to a lot of people

00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:08.159
 that it's a bit lame.

00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:11.900
 In fact, people probably sometimes wonder,

00:02:11.979 --> 00:02:13.199
 maybe they wonder all the time,

00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:15.520
 I know a lot of people would wonder about those who pray,

00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.240
 how do you know you're actually talking to anyone,

00:02:18.419 --> 00:02:20.180
 you're not just talking to yourself,

00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:23.939
 and how does talking to yourself really do anything for you?

00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:26.780
 Once again, it seems as if prayer is a problem.

00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.359
 And in fact, for many Christians,

00:02:29.359 --> 00:02:30.900
 we feel these same things,

00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:32.859
 maybe we don't want to acknowledge it in public,

00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:35.400
 or we have times when we feel with it,

00:02:35.579 --> 00:02:37.960
 and that's on top of the fact that many of us say,

00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.340
 not only does prayer just sometimes really seem like

00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:41.979
 you're just sitting in a room all by yourself,

00:02:42.079 --> 00:02:42.939
 talking to yourself,

00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:46.240
 but it often seems for people as if prayer doesn't work,

00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.979
 that they haven't had many experiences of prayer being answered,

00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:52.500
 and if there was a prayer that seems to be answered,

00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:55.579
 it's almost always able to be explained

00:02:55.579 --> 00:02:56.900
 as some type of coincidence.

00:02:57.740 --> 00:02:59.400
 So it's in this type of context

00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.500
 that the book of James is going to talk about prayer.

00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:03.900
 And in fact, for those of you who are watching

00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:05.859
 or just trying to figure out the Christian faith,

00:03:05.860 --> 00:03:09.220
 let me let you into a bit of a secret

00:03:09.220 --> 00:03:10.740
 about your Christian friends,

00:03:10.880 --> 00:03:13.180
 is that the text that we're about to read

00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:16.140
 is actually a bit of a troublesome text

00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:17.400
 to a lot of Christians,

00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:21.980
 in that it touches on their cynicism and their doubt

00:03:21.980 --> 00:03:25.620
 and their disappointment with God in the Christian life,

00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.620
 because it seems to make very, very, very big claims

00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:31.800
 which are hard to square with the experience

00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:32.680
 of a lot of Christians.

00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:35.200
 So let's walk towards the text.

00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:36.060
 Let's see what it says.

00:03:36.140 --> 00:03:37.800
 What we're going to do is we're going to read it sort of twice.

00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:39.900
 It's a short text, only eight verses.

00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:41.140
 I'm just going to go through it

00:03:41.140 --> 00:03:43.200
 so you can just see once again

00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:45.020
 what it is that it's saying,

00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:46.560
 what it seems to be saying.

00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:48.980
 Then we're just going to think about it a little bit

00:03:48.980 --> 00:03:51.140
 in terms of some of these doubts, etc.

00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:53.900
 And then we'll go back and we'll read it a second time

00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:55.640
 sort of in light of having sort of,

00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:57.219
 okay, those are the issue.

00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:58.240
 Oh, it says that, really?

00:03:58.680 --> 00:03:59.780
 Wow, it says that, really?

00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:01.240
 And then we'll think about it,

00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:03.539
 and then we'll go back and hear it a second time

00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:04.819
 after we've thought a little bit

00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:06.560
 about some of those issues of our heart,

00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:09.420
 some of those issues of our mind

00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:11.099
 that we bring to prayer,

00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.520
 some of the context issues that we bring to prayer.

00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:15.319
 So let's look.

00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:16.240
 Just by the way,

00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:17.420
 so it's going to be the book of James,

00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:19.480
 chapter 5, verses 13 to 20.

00:04:20.019 --> 00:04:21.699
 The words will be on the screen,

00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:24.040
 but I just want to really encourage you

00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:24.980
 to get your own Bible

00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.800
 and to follow along in your own Bible.

00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:29.319
 That way, if the verse is missed,

00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:31.020
 you can still look at the verse yourself.

00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.300
 And it's also just good to get familiar

00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:34.420
 with using your own Bible.

00:04:34.840 --> 00:04:36.360
 And so I just encourage you to do that.

00:04:36.400 --> 00:04:37.420
 And a little bit of a heads up

00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:38.319
 to what we're doing next,

00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:40.420
 because we preach through books of the Bible generally,

00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:41.680
 not all the time, but generally.

00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:43.800
 And so what we're actually doing

00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:45.040
 is a bit of the both

00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:47.199
 over the next weeks and months ahead.

00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:49.540
 We're going to look at the Ten Commandments next week.

00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:50.680
 Daniel's going to lead us in that.

00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:51.699
 We're going to look at the Lord's Prayer.

00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:52.900
 Daniel's going to lead us in that.

00:04:52.960 --> 00:04:55.019
 Then we're going to go through the book of Haggai,

00:04:55.019 --> 00:04:57.539
 a prophet in the Old Testament,

00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:59.319
 what our Jewish friends call the Tanakh.

00:04:59.599 --> 00:05:01.259
 Then we're going to do a summer series

00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:02.759
 called Knowing God,

00:05:03.539 --> 00:05:06.459
 looking at some of the main attributes of God,

00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:09.379
 why that is actually very, very, very good news

00:05:09.379 --> 00:05:12.839
 for us to know who God is,

00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:14.339
 because he desires us to know him.

00:05:14.799 --> 00:05:16.799
 And then we're going to start in the fall,

00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.180
 we're going to look at the Gospel of Mark.

00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:20.740
 It's going to be called Simply Jesus.

00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:23.759
 And we'll start looking at the Gospel of Mark.

00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:24.519
 That's where we're headed.

00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:26.639
 But right now we're going to look at James.

00:05:27.019 --> 00:05:28.720
 So let's see what it says.

00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:32.819
 And it starts like this, chapter 5, verse 13.

00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.840
 Is anyone among you suffering?

00:05:36.460 --> 00:05:37.139
 Let him pray.

00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:38.620
 Is anyone cheerful?

00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:40.220
 Let him sing praise.

00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:42.740
 Just pause very briefly on that.

00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:45.420
 The word suffering there is really,

00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:47.480
 I mean, it is suffering.

00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:49.300
 It also basically would be,

00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:51.720
 another way to understand the word would be hardship.

00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:53.040
 Some of your translations,

00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:54.660
 if you're not using the same one as mine,

00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:55.840
 might say that.

00:05:56.280 --> 00:05:57.439
 So it's basically,

00:05:57.580 --> 00:05:59.180
 if you're going through a hard time,

00:05:59.660 --> 00:06:00.640
 whatever that is,

00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:03.060
 and often hard times are also times when we suffer,

00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:04.879
 the advice is to pray.

00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:06.300
 If you're feeling really pumped,

00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:07.640
 if this morning you're thinking,

00:06:07.780 --> 00:06:12.140
 gosh, you know, I got in a 15K run this morning,

00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:15.160
 you know, I had my yogurt and my hemp hearts

00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:16.939
 and my blueberries and bananas

00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:18.620
 and just feeling pumped,

00:06:18.700 --> 00:06:19.820
 looking forward to the afternoon,

00:06:20.340 --> 00:06:23.120
 well, the recommendation here is to sing praise.

00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:25.040
 The heart of both of these, by the way,

00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.320
 is that whether we sing words

00:06:28.320 --> 00:06:30.940
 or say words,

00:06:30.940 --> 00:06:32.680
 that a key part of prayer

00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:35.580
 is speaking to the triune God with words.

00:06:36.580 --> 00:06:37.960
 That's what's being recommended.

00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:39.080
 And it's really trying to say,

00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:40.740
 listen, from the worst times in your life

00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:42.460
 to the best times in your life,

00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:44.219
 there's a way to speak to God.

00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:45.959
 And he wants to, in a sense,

00:06:46.039 --> 00:06:47.099
 I can't remember who said it,

00:06:47.539 --> 00:06:52.279
 he wants to make holy your down times

00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:55.579
 and he wants to make holy your good times.

00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:58.039
 He wants to hallow your suffering

00:06:58.039 --> 00:07:00.699
 and sanctify your joy.

00:07:01.479 --> 00:07:02.620
 And so that's what it's saying.

00:07:02.679 --> 00:07:04.219
 And then in verse 14, it says,

00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:06.099
 and so that's not as problematic.

00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:07.639
 The word bit is a bit problematic.

00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:08.719
 The fact that prayer,

00:07:08.919 --> 00:07:10.459
 it's the emphasis is not on trying

00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:11.919
 to create certain experiences,

00:07:11.919 --> 00:07:14.779
 but to use words to talk to God.

00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:17.339
 But it's going to get into it more deeply,

00:07:17.339 --> 00:07:19.459
 some of the problematic issues of prayer.

00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:20.859
 Other than once again,

00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:22.859
 the Bible doesn't teach yoga

00:07:22.859 --> 00:07:25.319
 or meditative techniques per se.

00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:28.919
 It emphasizes a conversation

00:07:28.919 --> 00:07:30.839
 with the triune God.

00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:32.839
 Verse 14,

00:07:33.299 --> 00:07:34.679
 is anyone among you sick?

00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:36.939
 That word also can be translated

00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:38.579
 as weak, by the way,

00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:40.579
 in a very, very weakened,

00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.120
 diminished situation.

00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:44.600
 Is anyone among you sick?

00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.019
 Let him call for the elders of the church

00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:50.480
 and let them pray over him or her,

00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:53.000
 anointing him or her with oil

00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.399
 in the name of the Lord.

00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:56.920
 And just, it's a whole other

00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.040
 big topic of sermons.

00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:01.939
 In the Church of the Messiah,

00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:03.879
 we come out of the English Reformation.

00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:06.339
 And so in our polity,

00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:07.899
 that's the way churches are structured,

00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:08.860
 I'm an elder.

00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.240
 And now you might look at me and say,

00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:13.259
 well, that fits, George,

00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:14.439
 because you look really, really,

00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:15.399
 really, really old.

00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:17.959
 But I got ordained

00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:19.480
 as a transitional deacon

00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:20.439
 when I was 28.

00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:22.159
 And just a couple of months

00:08:22.159 --> 00:08:23.219
 after I turned 29,

00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:25.139
 I was ordained an elder.

00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:27.540
 Back then, I was young.

00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:30.699
 And so it doesn't refer to age,

00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:31.560
 it's an office.

00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:34.200
 And in Church of the Messiah,

00:08:34.319 --> 00:08:35.139
 there are three people

00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:35.759
 who are elders,

00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:37.100
 myself, Daniel Avitan,

00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:37.939
 who was just here,

00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.319
 and Sean Turner.

00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:40.679
 And hopefully,

00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:42.919
 in the providence of God,

00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:44.480
 I mean, Jonathan Kamiri from,

00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:45.700
 anyway, I won't go any further in it,

00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:46.360
 but we're elders.

00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:47.600
 But the thing in here,

00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:48.879
 which is very, very interesting,

00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:49.480
 by the way,

00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:52.919
 is, yeah, anyway,

00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:53.819
 so we're the elders.

00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:54.960
 So here the command is

00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:56.220
 to call the elders of the church

00:08:56.220 --> 00:08:57.100
 to anoint with oil

00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:57.679
 and to pray.

00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:58.879
 Verse 15,

00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.480
 And the prayer of faith

00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:02.759
 will save the one who is sick,

00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.039
 and the Lord will raise him up,

00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:06.919
 and if he has committed sins,

00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:07.939
 he will be forgiven.

00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:09.320
 I'll say it again.

00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:10.240
 And the prayer of faith

00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.000
 will save the one who is sick,

00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:13.279
 and the Lord will raise him up,

00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:15.519
 and if he has committed sins,

00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:16.919
 he will be forgiven.

00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:19.019
 This is,

00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:21.799
 we're starting to get into

00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:23.820
 this hard part of the verse.

00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:26.799
 You know, the above stuff

00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.679
 is sort of a bit,

00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:28.659
 you might say it's harmless.

00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:30.039
 Well, it can't really do any harm

00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:31.379
 if you sit in a room

00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:32.539
 and just talk to yourself.

00:09:33.699 --> 00:09:35.059
 You know, it's still not as exciting

00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:35.740
 as yoga,

00:09:35.839 --> 00:09:36.579
 or it doesn't seem

00:09:36.579 --> 00:09:38.799
 intuitively plausible to us,

00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.439
 because yoga

00:09:39.439 --> 00:09:41.219
 and meditative techniques

00:09:41.219 --> 00:09:41.659
 have a,

00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:42.860
 in our culture,

00:09:42.959 --> 00:09:44.339
 have a type of plausibility

00:09:44.339 --> 00:09:45.159
 about them

00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:46.639
 that merely talking

00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.459
 to the triune God

00:09:48.459 --> 00:09:49.299
 and invisible God

00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:50.100
 doesn't have.

00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:52.079
 But here it goes,

00:09:52.459 --> 00:09:53.659
 here's where we get

00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:54.399
 into problems.

00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:57.259
 I know for a fact

00:09:57.259 --> 00:09:58.259
 that there are people of,

00:09:58.419 --> 00:09:58.679
 I mean,

00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:00.120
 I've had friends die

00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:01.379
 over the last couple of weeks.

00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:02.699
 I know there are people

00:10:02.699 --> 00:10:04.159
 who are part of the congregation

00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:05.179
 who've had

00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:06.939
 a very close loved one died,

00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:10.360
 and probably thousands

00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:11.919
 of people praying for him.

00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.039
 And there are people

00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:16.079
 who are part of our congregation

00:10:16.079 --> 00:10:17.860
 who have prayed for children

00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:18.539
 and not been able

00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:19.539
 to receive children.

00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:21.120
 And I mean,

00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:21.980
 I've prayed and prayed

00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:22.839
 and prayed and prayed

00:10:22.839 --> 00:10:23.719
 and prayed about it.

00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:25.699
 There are many

00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:26.579
 who would just long

00:10:26.579 --> 00:10:27.399
 to be married

00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:30.000
 and worry that they're

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.459
 going to be single forever

00:10:31.459 --> 00:10:32.480
 and have prayed

00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.360
 and prayed and prayed

00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:33.919
 into it.

00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:34.799
 There are those

00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:36.480
 who've had marriages

00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.319
 seem to break up,

00:10:38.839 --> 00:10:40.240
 those who have struggled

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.360
 with different types

00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:41.959
 of addictions

00:10:41.959 --> 00:10:43.019
 or alcoholism.

00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:44.679
 And so to hear

00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:45.759
 a verse like this

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.699
 for many of us

00:10:46.699 --> 00:10:47.919
 is very hard

00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:48.559
 to hear.

00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:50.500
 And we're going to talk

00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.120
 about this again

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.000
 more in a moment.

00:10:53.099 --> 00:10:53.879
 The first part

00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:54.759
 of verse 16,

00:10:54.939 --> 00:10:55.659
 therefore confess

00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:56.899
 your sins to one another

00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:58.519
 and pray for one another

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.879
 that you may be healed.

00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:01.659
 Just sort of want you

00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:02.279
 to notice there

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.439
 the pattern of all the verses.

00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:04.019
 I'm not going to say

00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:04.819
 much more about it

00:11:04.819 --> 00:11:05.199
 than this,

00:11:05.599 --> 00:11:06.919
 is that at the beginning

00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:08.299
 I pray for me,

00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:10.579
 and then the next part,

00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:11.459
 in a sense,

00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:13.219
 the leadership of the church

00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:14.039
 is asked to come

00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:14.919
 and pray for me,

00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:16.659
 and here the whole congregation

00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:18.079
 is asked to pray for me.

00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.860
 And that's sort of it,

00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:20.500
 so it's not as,

00:11:20.660 --> 00:11:21.520
 like, in a sense,

00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:22.800
 there's this big call

00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:23.960
 to prayer,

00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:25.080
 both you as an individual,

00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:27.100
 for my own needs,

00:11:27.300 --> 00:11:28.600
 for me as an individual

00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:29.440
 to pray for the needs

00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:29.860
 of others,

00:11:29.900 --> 00:11:30.600
 and for the church

00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:31.340
 as the church

00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:32.840
 to pray into particular

00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:33.840
 types of needs.

00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:35.379
 Then the second part

00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.060
 of verse 16,

00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:37.660
 the prayer of a righteous person

00:11:37.660 --> 00:11:39.440
 has great power

00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.700
 in its working.

00:11:41.420 --> 00:11:42.500
 Elijah was a man

00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.660
 with a nature like ours,

00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:44.700
 and he prayed fervently

00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:45.840
 that it might not rain.

00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.220
 And for three years

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:47.980
 and six months

00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:49.240
 it did not rain on the earth.

00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.860
 Then he prayed again,

00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:52.019
 and heaven gave rain,

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.780
 and the earth bore its fruit.

00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:55.420
 And some of us

00:11:55.420 --> 00:11:56.019
 will read this,

00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:57.759
 and this is actually

00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.879
 a really important verse,

00:11:58.940 --> 00:11:59.600
 which we're going to spend

00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.879
 a bit more time on later.

00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:02.360
 But one of the things,

00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:04.840
 the way that James introduces

00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:05.960
 this is very interesting.

00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:08.780
 If you don't know much

00:12:08.780 --> 00:12:09.560
 about Elijah,

00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.259
 one of the things

00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.720
 I can tell you about Elijah

00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:13.980
 is that even though

00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:14.800
 he had periods

00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:16.000
 of great success,

00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.940
 and to many of us,

00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.279
 like unbelievable

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.600
 answer to prayers,

00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:23.320
 he also had a time

00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:24.399
 of deep fear,

00:12:25.180 --> 00:12:26.560
 he had a time

00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.660
 of deep despair,

00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:28.600
 and his despair

00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:29.800
 was so deep

00:12:29.800 --> 00:12:30.920
 that he asked God

00:12:30.920 --> 00:12:31.540
 to kill him.

00:12:32.920 --> 00:12:33.820
 So in other words,

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.540
 this isn't like

00:12:34.540 --> 00:12:35.540
 somebody who's like

00:12:35.540 --> 00:12:36.560
 always pumped,

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.180
 always doing his best,

00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:39.940
 like always at a thousand percent,

00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.460
 his RPMs are always,

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.840
 going full bore,

00:12:42.900 --> 00:12:43.680
 and he's just flying

00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:44.960
 through life

00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:45.759
 and through experience.

00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.540
 This is a man

00:12:46.540 --> 00:12:47.200
 who struggled

00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.660
 with human fear

00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:49.580
 and who struggled

00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.680
 with despair,

00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:52.160
 even to the point

00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:53.400
 of a season

00:12:53.400 --> 00:12:54.340
 where he was praying

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:54.780
 that God

00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:56.680
 would end his life.

00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:00.580
 And James is saying,

00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:01.540
 this guy has

00:13:01.540 --> 00:13:02.440
 the same nature

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.340
 as you and me.

00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.180
 And there's a bit

00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:05.639
 of a debate

00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.740
 about how to pray this,

00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:07.580
 how to translate

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.759
 this word fervently,

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.519
 but it literally means

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.579
 he prayed with prayer.

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.819
 That's what it literally means,

00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.019
 he prayed with prayer.

00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:16.759
 And it could take,

00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.740
 it could be something

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.539
 to show a type

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.299
 of intensity,

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.120
 but it also could be used

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.279
 as a type of emphasis

00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.819
 that he prayed with prayer.

00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:26.879
 And it's important

00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.019
 because for many of us,

00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:28.519
 we might say,

00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:28.860
 well, that's,

00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.059
 you know,

00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:30.340
 there's these Elijah guys,

00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.819
 there's these George guys

00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:33.139
 and Daniel guys,

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:33.519
 and you know,

00:13:33.579 --> 00:13:33.819
 I don't know,

00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:34.319
 they pray

00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.640
 and all these things

00:13:35.640 --> 00:13:35.800
 happen.

00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.060
 Somebody just,

00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:39.360
 I was chatting

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.240
 with some street people

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.820
 the other day

00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:42.820
 and one of them,

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.540
 one of them asked me

00:13:44.540 --> 00:13:45.680
 to pray for them

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:47.000
 and I said,

00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:47.140
 sure,

00:13:47.160 --> 00:13:47.820
 I'll pray for you,

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:48.900
 but I want you to know

00:13:48.900 --> 00:13:49.660
 that I'm in sales,

00:13:49.760 --> 00:13:50.400
 not management.

00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:52.120
 And I knew that

00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:52.900
 one of the street people

00:13:52.900 --> 00:13:53.300
 with them

00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:54.260
 was a Christian

00:13:54.260 --> 00:13:57.080
 and he's a really neat

00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:58.620
 Christian who panhandles

00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.920
 so he can buy coffee

00:13:59.920 --> 00:14:00.820
 for street people,

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.720
 not so he'll buy cigarettes,

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.000
 not so he'll get drugs

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.440
 or alcohol.

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.560
 He literally,

00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.779
 he panhandles

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:08.060
 so he can be generous

00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:10.440
 to the other street people

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.019
 and engage them

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.620
 in conversation

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.639
 and I said to this person,

00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:12.899
 I said,

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.480
 this guy's probably

00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.279
 closer to management

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.840
 than I am,

00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.779
 I'm just in sales

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.060
 and they all laughed.

00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:19.720
 But the emphasis here

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:21.340
 is to deal a little bit

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.080
 with our cynicism

00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.120
 is think about the fact

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.100
 that Elijah struggled

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.879
 with depression,

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.540
 he struggled with despair,

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.420
 he wanted to die,

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.540
 he has the same nature

00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:29.340
 as you and me,

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.259
 God did a remarkable thing

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.540
 at least sometimes

00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.899
 with Elijah's prayer.

00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.399
 By the way,

00:14:34.579 --> 00:14:35.559
 to Elijah's prayer

00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.319
 that he would die,

00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.099
 God said no.

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.459
 God said no.

00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:42.120
 Then just to sort of,

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:44.219
 just so we can see

00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:44.879
 the rest of it,

00:14:45.219 --> 00:14:46.639
 verse 19 to 20,

00:14:46.699 --> 00:14:47.620
 my brothers and sisters,

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.659
 if anyone among you

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.199
 wanders from the truth

00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:51.539
 and someone brings him back,

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.699
 let him know

00:14:52.699 --> 00:14:53.860
 that whoever brings back

00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:55.059
 a sinner from his wandering

00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:56.039
 will save his soul

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:56.579
 from death

00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.519
 and will cover

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.639
 a multitude of sins.

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.879
 So we see a bit of it,

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.200
 we're back to the problem,

00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.960
 the weakness of prayer,

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.000
 its lameness,

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.500
 the fact that it doesn't work

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:10.759
 and the fact that really

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.980
 in our culture,

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:12.980
 things like yoga

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.820
 and a range of other

00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:15.740
 meditative techniques

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:18.659
 have an inherent plausibility

00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:20.379
 and attractiveness to them

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:22.100
 that just simply talking

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.279
 to the triune God

00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:24.639
 just doesn't seem to have

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.860
 as being something

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.220
 that seems intuitively

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.480
 as the way

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.660
 to move forward

00:15:29.660 --> 00:15:31.660
 in whatever this real world is.

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.600
 And so I'm going to say

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.700
 several things about this.

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.440
 First of all,

00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:40.660
 if you met a human being

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:44.320
 that could not hear

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.980
 and could not speak,

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.639
 would you say that

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.460
 that human being,

00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.519
 I'm going to get in trouble here

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.600
 about differently abled

00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:51.860
 and I,

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:52.420
 you know,

00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.100
 the fact that,

00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:54.220
 just listen to me

00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.960
 with this analogy.

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.620
 I mean,

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.879
 part of the great brilliance

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.000
 of the Christian faith

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.320
 which is being lost

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:01.900
 is that every human being

00:16:01.900 --> 00:16:04.560
 is made in the image of God

00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.620
 and has a dignity

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.400
 and worth and value

00:16:07.400 --> 00:16:10.440
 which the state does not give

00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:12.480
 but states will be judged

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.480
 by God

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.920
 as to whether they recognize

00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:16.920
 the inherent dignity

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:19.060
 of every human being

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:20.620
 no matter how handicapped,

00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:22.180
 including the pre-born.

00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:26.000
 and so don't jump on me on this

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:26.639
 but I just want to,

00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.439
 just be honest for a second, okay?

00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.639
 Check your outrage.

00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.319
 Just be honest.

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.120
 If you meet a human being

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.159
 that has literally lost

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.279
 the entire ability

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.359
 to speak and to hear,

00:16:39.819 --> 00:16:40.759
 would you think they are

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.399
 in a sense above you

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:44.359
 or below you?

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.639
 Like in other words,

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.240
 I mean,

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.419
 we can look at somebody

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.199
 who's very brilliant

00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:48.859
 and wish we could be

00:16:48.859 --> 00:16:49.659
 as smart as them.

00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.659
 We can look at somebody

00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:53.360
 who is really funny

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.879
 and wish we were funny like them.

00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:55.699
 We can look at somebody

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:57.120
 who's unbelievably athletic

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.980
 and wish that we were

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.980
 athletic as them.

00:16:59.019 --> 00:17:00.819
 Would we look at that person

00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:03.219
 and wish that we were like them?

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.339
 Well, if we're honest,

00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.079
 we'd say no.

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:06.899
 In fact,

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.019
 in Canadian culture,

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.500
 you'd say they were a candidate

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.399
 for euthanasia

00:17:11.399 --> 00:17:13.680
 because you'd probably say

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.159
 they don't have any quality of life.

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.099
 Let's just be honest.

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.639
 In Canada,

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.180
 you would say

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:19.240
 they don't have a quality of life

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.980
 and they are the type of person

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.799
 that doctors should be allowed to kill.

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.819
 But what about

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:26.000
 if you met a human being

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.220
 and this,

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:29.160
 from the time they were a baby

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.779
 to now,

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.480
 they've actually had

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.920
 no brain activity.

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.539
 And so even the very,

00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.519
 very ability to speak,

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:38.859
 like, you know,

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.579
 because speaking,

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:41.160
 you could see somebody

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.059
 who doesn't have the ability

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.160
 to speak and can't hear

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.220
 and you could think

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.299
 part of what you might think

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.359
 is that it's so sad

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.140
 there's a brain,

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.980
 a person in there

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.859
 sort of trapped.

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:53.140
 And how can you get in touch

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:53.579
 with that?

00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.680
 But if you met somebody

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:56.220
 and in fact,

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:56.920
 the brain

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:58.319
 doesn't work at all.

00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.240
 And so it's not just

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.339
 that they can't speak

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.460
 and that they can't listen,

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.440
 but that even if

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.160
 somehow or another

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.859
 magically it could work,

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.880
 there'd be no one there

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.759
 in a sense

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:11.079
 to speak.

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.480
 Now, would you think

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.700
 they were greater than you

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.799
 or less than you?

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.579
 Would you wish

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.799
 that you could be like them?

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.799
 No, once again,

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:19.379
 you would say,

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.099
 I don't even know

00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:20.759
 why they've kept

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:22.240
 somebody like that alive.

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.139
 That would be

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:24.359
 obviously a person

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.759
 that they should have

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.700
 turned off the plug

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.559
 if not turning off

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:29.480
 the plug didn't kill them.

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.200
 They're obviously

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.839
 a candidate

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.000
 for so-called

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.019
 assisted suicide,

00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.519
 which is really

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.419
 just euthanasia.

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.500
 So the reason I'm asking

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.539
 all of this is that

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:41.000
 if that's how we view

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.640
 human beings,

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.720
 why is it

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.660
 that a God

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:45.000
 that cannot speak

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.840
 and a God

00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:48.019
 that cannot hear

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.560
 and a God,

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.779
 a conception of God,

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.759
 that actually

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.259
 it's not even within

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.720
 that God's capability

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.480
 to speak or hear,

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:55.920
 how on earth

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.820
 could that be God?

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.740
 And I'm using

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.580
 the word that.

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:04.599
 like,

00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:06.480
 but that's

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.159
 the God

00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:07.879
 of the East.

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.579
 That's the God

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.119
 of yoga.

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.079
 That's the God

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.799
 of meditation.

00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.000
 Like,

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.579
 why would you

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.319
 worship a God

00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:15.839
 like that?

00:19:15.939 --> 00:19:16.519
 Why would you even

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.199
 want to connect

00:19:17.199 --> 00:19:17.679
 with it?

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.740
 Like,

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.000
 how does that fit?

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.359
 Why is that

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:25.599
 plausible to you?

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:30.719
 Well,

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.119
 let's ask

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:31.959
 another question.

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:32.779
 In fact,

00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.159
 we'll just,

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.779
 see,

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.579
 here's the thing

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.240
 about the gospel.

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.059
 What does the gospel

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.419
 reveal?

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.500
 How is the true

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.419
 God revealed?

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:38.939
 He's revealed

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.579
 in the person

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.079
 of Jesus.

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.240
 That's the Christian

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.699
 teaching.

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.619
 If you go back

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.399
 and you read John,

00:19:44.699 --> 00:19:45.379
 you'll see that

00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:46.579
 John says that

00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.559
 Jesus is the one

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.339
 who perfectly

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:50.119
 reveals God.

00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.500
 The personal

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.779
 God is revealed

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.799
 in the person

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.459
 of Jesus.

00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:55.259
 The God

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.140
 that does exist

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.819
 that what we

00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:57.640
 Christians believe

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.920
 since we accept

00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:00.019
 what Jesus has said

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.339
 is the God

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.400
 who speaks.

00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.559
 The God

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.579
 who can listen.

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.900
 Shouldn't that be,

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.200
 even if you don't

00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.740
 believe a God

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.480
 like that exists,

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.839
 shouldn't you wish

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.299
 that a God

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.279
 like that exists?

00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.220
 And shouldn't you

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.559
 say,

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.220
 wouldn't you,

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:16.740
 isn't it more

00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.420
 reasonable to say,

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:17.960
 why on earth

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.619
 am I actually

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.279
 trying to connect

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.759
 to a God

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.480
 that's less

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.940
 than a human being?

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:24.440
 That's,

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.500
 that in fact,

00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:27.400
 if we met

00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:28.180
 that God

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.840
 as a person,

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.380
 we'd think

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:29.960
 that God

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.779
 should die

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.720
 to be put out

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.900
 of its misery.

00:20:37.320 --> 00:20:38.400
 Jesus spoke,

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.200
 he loved,

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.320
 he died,

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.240
 he reveals

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.140
 the real God.

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.200
 Isn't this far better?

00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.779
 Or what about

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.640
 if you had a God

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.700
 who for eons

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.600
 and eons

00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:48.360
 and eons

00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:49.680
 from all eternity

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.660
 was completely

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.259
 and utterly

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.080
 solitary?

00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.140
 Completely

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.560
 and utterly

00:20:54.560 --> 00:20:55.100
 solitary,

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.040
 just that God

00:20:56.040 --> 00:20:56.620
 existed.

00:20:57.300 --> 00:20:57.680
 And because

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.279
 just God

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.700
 exists,

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.180
 if God

00:20:59.180 --> 00:20:59.820
 only exists,

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.300
 I guess he

00:21:00.300 --> 00:21:00.840
 could talk

00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.580
 to himself,

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.560
 but he can't

00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:04.060
 really talk

00:21:04.060 --> 00:21:04.460
 to anybody

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.000
 else.

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:06.920
 And,

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.160
 you know,

00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:07.820
 when you meet

00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:08.440
 a person,

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.160
 like,

00:21:09.300 --> 00:21:10.000
 we're just

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.680
 off of that,

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.200
 we're in the

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.279
 ministry spaces

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.920
 in the downtown

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:13.580
 part of Ottawa,

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.240
 where we worship

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.120
 on Sunday mornings

00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:15.680
 as part of the

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.140
 Urban Corps

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.480
 of Ottawa.

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.360
 Let me tell you,

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.019
 there's all sorts

00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.480
 of people

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.599
 that are around

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:19.819
 here.

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.500
 I see people

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.360
 every day

00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:22.120
 who can only

00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:23.019
 talk to themselves

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.559
 but cannot

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.319
 talk to human

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:24.819
 beings.

00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.299
 And nobody,

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.599
 nobody thinks

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.120
 that's the way

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:29.720
 to go for your

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.140
 future.

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.140
 But what if you

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.700
 have a God

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.839
 that can maybe

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.259
 talk,

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.920
 but he can only

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.599
 talk to himself

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.819
 and then all of a

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.019
 sudden he decides

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.360
 to create other

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:40.299
 beings and then

00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:41.259
 he has beings

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.980
 that he talks

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.220
 to?

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.519
 Well,

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:44.620
 I mean,

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.440
 I'm describing

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.019
 the God of,

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:47.759
 I just described

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.059
 Allah.

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.039
 Well,

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.579
 how is that

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.400
 like a God

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:52.960
 that we'd want

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.539
 to actually

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.720
 hope exists?

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.140
 Like,

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.299
 doesn't there seem

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.720
 like there's

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.400
 something wrong

00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.779
 with that

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.519
 conception of

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:58.839
 God?

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:02.059
 I know I'm

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.519
 being very

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.160
 un-Canadian

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.099
 challenging our

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.819
 conceptions,

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.960
 but listen,

00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.880
 don't we all

00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.519
 want as

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.579
 individuals to

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.299
 not live

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.640
 unexamined lives?

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.319
 Don't we

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.440
 look down on

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.019
 people who

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.700
 live mindless,

00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.360
 shallow,

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:17.559
 unquestioning,

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:19.839
 unexamined

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.480
 lives?

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.899
 And since

00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:23.379
 that's the

00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:23.819
 case,

00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:24.899
 and I'm

00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:25.139
 fine,

00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.399
 I get

00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:25.779
 challenged

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.139
 all the

00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:26.539
 time on

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.079
 my Christian

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.440
 faith,

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:27.919
 all the

00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:28.139
 time.

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.339
 So,

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:30.639
 for those

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:30.940
 of us

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.980
 who think

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.399
 yoga is

00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:32.940
 more plausible,

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.419
 for those

00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:33.639
 of us

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:33.899
 who think

00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:34.359
 Allah is

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:34.559
 more

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:34.980
 plausible,

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.619
 well,

00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:35.899
 really,

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.240
 is it?

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.579
 Have we

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.099
 examined

00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.440
 what it

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.859
 means to

00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.579
 have such

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.000
 a God

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.659
 like this?

00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:40.659
 And once

00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:40.899
 again,

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.440
 the Christian

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.899
 God who

00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:42.740
 Jesus reveals

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.559
 is completely

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.220
 and utterly

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:44.940
 different from

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.400
 the God,

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.740
 the triune

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.099
 God.

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.339
 The God

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:48.920
 that's revealed

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.559
 by Jesus

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.039
 is that

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.960
 Jesus is

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.279
 God,

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:51.799
 the Son of

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.000
 God,

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.359
 that from

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:53.059
 all eternity,

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:53.980
 the Father

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.620
 and the Son

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.140
 loved each

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.319
 other,

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.000
 the Holy Spirit

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.599
 loved the

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.079
 Father and

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.480
 loved the

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:57.700
 Son,

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.079
 the Son

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.420
 loved the

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:58.819
 Holy Spirit

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.039
 and the

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.299
 Father.

00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.700
 There is,

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.059
 in a sense,

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.079
 communication,

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:01.519
 there was

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.559
 revelation from

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.500
 all eternity.

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.539
 And God,

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.319
 who is the

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.880
 Father, the

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.240
 Son, and the

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.700
 Holy Spirit,

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.480
 three persons,

00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.160
 one God,

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.240
 he creates

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.940
 human beings

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.819
 in his image.

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.259
 And so he

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.720
 doesn't just

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.919
 create George,

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.819
 the lone

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.359
 human,

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.419
 in a

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:16.139
 completely and

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:17.099
 utterly non-human

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.559
 world.

00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:18.279
 He creates

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.019
 George and

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.839
 Andrew and

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.240
 Rebecca and

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.240
 Louise and

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.579
 you and

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.779
 Matt and

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.399
 Daniel and

00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:27.139
 Jono and

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.960
 Claire.

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.759
 He creates

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.439
 human beings.

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:30.939
 He creates

00:23:30.939 --> 00:23:31.619
 human beings to

00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.659
 reveal themselves,

00:23:32.919 --> 00:23:33.599
 to know

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.399
 themselves, to

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:34.879
 know each

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.299
 other, to

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.759
 communicate.

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.139
 It all

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.720
 fits.

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.000
 Shouldn't a

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.519
 God like that

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.079
 be far more

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.579
 plausible?

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:42.839
 Even if you

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.339
 can't believe

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:43.779
 that a God

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.240
 like that

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.939
 does exist,

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.159
 shouldn't you

00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:46.679
 begin to

00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:47.439
 long that

00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:47.980
 such a God

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.399
 like that

00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:48.939
 exists?

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.539
 I mean, I

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:50.939
 have good

00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:51.399
 news for

00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:51.519
 you.

00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.319
 That longing

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.000
 will be a

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.579
 longing that

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.159
 comes to

00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:55.599
 fruition when

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:55.919
 you give

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.359
 your heart

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:56.700
 and your

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.099
 mind and

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.439
 your life

00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.019
 to Jesus.

00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.279
 Jesus

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.980
 reveals God,

00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.319
 and he

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:02.119
 reveals God

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.740
 not only by

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.259
 living a

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.919
 perfect life,

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.480
 suffering the

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.039
 trials and

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.639
 temptations,

00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.759
 the weaknesses

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.639
 that we do

00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.240
 only without

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.000
 sin, but he

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.720
 loves us to

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.240
 the point of

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.099
 dying for

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.960
 us, to

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.759
 reconcile you

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.380
 to God.

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.799
 God doesn't

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.559
 just reveal

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.420
 himself as

00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.500
 big, chest

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.140
 thumping,

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.859
 look at me,

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.460
 I'm great.

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:21.940
 I mean, he

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.599
 is great, but

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.140
 he reveals

00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:24.599
 himself in

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.519
 lowliness by

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.099
 dying.

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.279
 You know, all

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.000
 of the idols

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.859
 and all of

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.759
 the gods of

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.279
 the world,

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.319
 they all have

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.319
 one characteristic,

00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.240
 others die

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.819
 for them.

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:38.240
 Marxism, others

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.240
 die for them,

00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.319
 ideologies as

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.339
 well, ideologies,

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.339
 all the gods,

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.460
 others die for

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.200
 the God or

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.859
 the gods.

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:45.919
 Christianity,

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.079
 completely and

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.879
 utterly unique.

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.379
 It is the

00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.960
 story of God

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.779
 coming among

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:52.019
 us to die

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.399
 for us

00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:55.500
 because he

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.700
 loves you

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.119
 and me.

00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:00.219
 In fact, what

00:25:00.219 --> 00:25:00.679
 is one of the

00:25:00.679 --> 00:25:01.159
 names of

00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:01.459
 Jesus?

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.279
 The first

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:02.699
 name that

00:25:02.699 --> 00:25:03.059
 is given

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.639
 to him is

00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.679
 Emmanuel, God

00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.699
 with us, with

00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:06.359
 us in our

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:07.839
 mess, with

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.359
 us in our

00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.039
 joys, with

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.519
 us in our

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.119
 sorrows.

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.259
 He is

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.799
 Emmanuel, God

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.379
 with us.

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.179
 But some of

00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:15.599
 you might say,

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.039
 George, but

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.639
 prayer doesn't

00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:16.939
 work.

00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:17.759
 Listen, I can

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.259
 tell you of the

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.819
 times I've

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.379
 prayed and it

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:19.899
 just doesn't

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.239
 work.

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.239
 Christians and

00:25:21.239 --> 00:25:21.859
 non-Christians

00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.399
 can tell me

00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:22.599
 that.

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.619
 A couple of

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.099
 weeks ago I

00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:24.739
 wrote a blog.

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.619
 You can look

00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.039
 at it.

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:26.679
 It's called

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.460
 Amnesia and

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:27.779
 Prayer.

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.539
 I talk about

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.460
 God dramatically

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.100
 answering a

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.660
 prayer request

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.120
 of mine that

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.640
 I thought was

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.360
 impossible, but

00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:32.779
 I was praying

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.400
 out of obedience.

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.019
 I talk a few

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.380
 other things about

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.320
 how he answers

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:36.860
 prayer or not.

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.560
 I suggest you

00:25:37.560 --> 00:25:38.100
 go read it.

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.680
 I just want to

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.700
 sort of double

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.320
 down on the

00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:42.120
 particular issue.

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.220
 Some of you

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.680
 have heard this

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.380
 story before, but

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.799
 it's a good

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.640
 story and I'll

00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:46.120
 tell it again.

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.779
 I used to be in

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.560
 a rural church.

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.160
 I looked after

00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:48.759
 four little

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.660
 congregations.

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.799
 I can't remember

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.380
 if it was July or

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:52.600
 August.

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.220
 It doesn't matter.

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.620
 It was the

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:53.880
 summer.

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.500
 And the way

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:55.980
 Anglican

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.839
 churches work,

00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.200
 especially when

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.720
 you're the only

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.380
 elder in the

00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.099
 congregation at

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:00.700
 that particular

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.079
 time, if you

00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:02.759
 go on holidays,

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.360
 you get another

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:04.200
 person to cover

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:05.019
 for emergencies

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.640
 for you.

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.000
 So the priest in

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.700
 a small village

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.380
 or small city

00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:10.039
 about half an

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.660
 hour away from

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.180
 where I lived,

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.660
 he was on

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:11.980
 holidays.

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:12.660
 He asked me to

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.319
 cover for him.

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:14.259
 I agreed.

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.620
 So at about

00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.680
 7.30 in the

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.259
 morning on a

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.960
 Sunday morning, I

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.579
 get a call from

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.140
 the hospital.

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.819
 And the call from

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.559
 the hospital is

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.420
 that Bob, we'll

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:21.960
 call him Bob,

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.620
 is dying.

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.479
 He's been in

00:26:24.479 --> 00:26:25.119
 a coma for

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.979
 several days.

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.719
 They've turned

00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:28.719
 off the machines.

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.319
 He's going to

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.379
 die any second,

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.939
 literally any

00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:33.399
 second.

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.459
 His daughter is

00:26:34.459 --> 00:26:35.099
 with him and

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.919
 his daughter has

00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.859
 asked that a

00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.779
 priest would come

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.719
 and you're the

00:26:38.719 --> 00:26:38.979
 one.

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:39.819
 Would you come

00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.879
 and just give

00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:41.439
 him his last

00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.119
 rites and pray

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.500
 over him?

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:42.779
 He's going to

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.379
 die any moment.

00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:44.159
 Can you come

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:44.659
 right away?

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.739
 And I said,

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.159
 listen, I'm

00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:46.559
 really, really

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:46.939
 sorry.

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.839
 I have to drive

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.459
 all the way to

00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:49.079
 Killaloo, which

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.759
 is half an hour

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.239
 the other way.

00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:50.919
 Tremor, not

00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.259
 Killaloo.

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.479
 Tremor, half an

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:52.980
 hour the wrong

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.279
 way.

00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.299
 I have to do

00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.000
 a service there

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.700
 at 9 o'clock

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.420
 and after that

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:56.839
 I have another

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.620
 service here in

00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:57.920
 Eganville at

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.420
 11 o'clock.

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:58.960
 There's nobody

00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.500
 to take the

00:26:59.500 --> 00:26:59.920
 services.

00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:00.900
 There's nothing

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.380
 I can do.

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.000
 I'm really, really

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.220
 sorry.

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.099
 And the nurse

00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:04.500
 put all of her

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.920
 manipulative

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.900
 pressure she

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.539
 could on me.

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.120
 This guy is

00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:08.680
 dying.

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.220
 His daughter

00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:10.200
 is distraught.

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.400
 He's not going

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.940
 to last.

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.779
 He won't be

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.960
 alive at 1230.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.839
 I can guarantee

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.460
 it he won't be

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.519
 alive at 1230

00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.480
 the early one

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:18.900
 when you can

00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.140
 come.

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:19.920
 I say, listen,

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.380
 I have to do

00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:20.900
 the services.

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.559
 I'm really, really

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:21.960
 sorry.

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.099
 I will call

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.599
 you as soon

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.200
 as I finish

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.279
 my Eganville

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.079
 service and

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.480
 then I will

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.900
 drive.

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.519
 If he's still

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.059
 alive, I will

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.019
 drive the

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.740
 half hour and

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.299
 I'll go see

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:32.420
 the daughter

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.220
 and the man.

00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:33.779
 And so I

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.559
 finish my

00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.059
 services.

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.099
 I get on

00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.559
 the phone.

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.180
 Yes, he's

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.720
 still hanging

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.039
 in there.

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.799
 She'd still

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.380
 really like it

00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.799
 if you could

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.079
 come.

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:42.259
 So my wife

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.740
 had made me

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.480
 a sandwich and

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.000
 a coffee.

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.000
 I get in the

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.240
 car.

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.299
 I drive there.

00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:46.839
 I come and

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.599
 I see this

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.700
 guy, Bob, in

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.519
 the hospital bed.

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.319
 And the

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:50.940
 daughter was

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.380
 understood that

00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:52.820
 I had the

00:27:52.820 --> 00:27:53.200
 services.

00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:53.700
 I couldn't

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:53.920
 come.

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.240
 She was

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.820
 really glad

00:27:54.820 --> 00:27:55.440
 that God

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:55.920
 had kept

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.440
 her dad

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.200
 alive long

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.720
 enough that

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:59.040
 I could be

00:27:59.040 --> 00:27:59.520
 with them.

00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:01.800
 So, I mean,

00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.260
 part of what

00:28:02.260 --> 00:28:02.600
 you're going to

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.160
 learn from this

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:03.940
 text in James,

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.480
 which is really

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.060
 powerful, I

00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:05.640
 didn't bring oil

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.700
 with me, but I

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.040
 said, is it

00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:07.500
 all right if I

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.300
 touch your dad's

00:28:08.300 --> 00:28:08.660
 hand?

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.620
 And as I'm

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.259
 talking to the

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.640
 daughter, I

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:12.140
 touch Bob's

00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:13.040
 hand, put my

00:28:13.040 --> 00:28:13.519
 hand on his

00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.380
 hand, and I

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:14.940
 put my hand on

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.480
 his shoulder,

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:16.940
 talking over

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.120
 Bob to the

00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:18.620
 daughter a

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.200
 little bit about

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.920
 Bob and what

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.440
 was going on

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.040
 in his life.

00:28:21.040 --> 00:28:22.840
 And, you know,

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.100
 one of the

00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:23.779
 things which this

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.340
 text is so

00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:24.960
 important about is

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.640
 touching the

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.380
 person, by the

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.080
 way, even if it's

00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:27.920
 not with anointing,

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.140
 right?

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.840
 It's one of the

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.440
 things which is so

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.160
 brilliant about

00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:31.860
 James 5, it would

00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:32.540
 be a whole other

00:28:32.540 --> 00:28:33.800
 sermon, is how it

00:28:33.800 --> 00:28:35.040
 respects the dignity

00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:36.120
 of the person, that

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:37.080
 what you see in

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.740
 this, all this

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.659
 talk of prayer in

00:28:38.659 --> 00:28:40.000
 the elders, is that

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.740
 the person's not

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.399
 alone, that there's

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.460
 a community involved,

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:42.980
 that there's no

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:44.159
 isolation, that the

00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:44.919
 person isn't treated

00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:46.659
 like a machine, that

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.519
 you just sort of try to

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.099
 plug things into and

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.259
 make a readout, and

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.980
 then you just sort of

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.259
 throw things in or

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.439
 cut things open, but

00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.980
 they have sins, they

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.259
 have anxieties, they

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.299
 have community, they

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.500
 have all these things,

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.899
 they need touch, they

00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:00.720
 need to be spoken

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.220
 about, all these things

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.919
 are there in this

00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:03.179
 text.

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.339
 This is not a crazy,

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.759
 this is a text that

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.899
 Canadian medicine

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:08.259
 continues to need to

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.700
 learn from, that

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.700
 human beings aren't

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:13.820
 machines, that we

00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:15.140
 have anxieties, and

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.920
 we have things that

00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:17.480
 trouble us, and I

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.220
 remember going to

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.519
 visit a guy, he

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.759
 was, this is early

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.740
 on, and he was

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.820
 deeply troubled, he

00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:23.680
 was in the last three

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.540
 or four months of his

00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.460
 life, and he was

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.620
 deeply troubled about

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.440
 the things he had

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.519
 done as a paratrooper

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.400
 in the Second World

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:32.840
 War, and that's what

00:29:32.840 --> 00:29:34.060
 he wanted to talk to

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.859
 me about as the

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.179
 elder.

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.460
 The profound

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.919
 trouble that he had

00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.720
 in the Second World

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.659
 War, and what he had

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:43.000
 done.

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.200
 Anyway, back to the

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.960
 story of Bob.

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.859
 So it comes time to

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.500
 pray, I said, can you

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.579
 hold your hand, I say

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.539
 to the daughter, can

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.480
 you hold, we make like

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.179
 we all held hands, and

00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:54.480
 I prayed like I always

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.700
 pray in those situations

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:57.079
 as I learned to pray.

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.700
 You know what I said, I

00:29:58.700 --> 00:30:00.059
 said, I prayed, Father,

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:02.399
 Father, I don't know

00:30:02.399 --> 00:30:03.519
 right now if Bob can

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:05.720
 hear us, but I know

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.759
 that whether or not he

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:08.819
 can hear us, that you

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.019
 can minister to him and

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.039
 speak to him right now,

00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:11.879
 wherever he is,

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.519
 underneath the coma and

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.799
 the unresponsiveness, you

00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.839
 can meet with him and you

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.740
 can speak with him, and

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.399
 Father, we ask that Jesus

00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.480
 would come to him right

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.659
 now and minister to him

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.799
 in whatever is going on

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.419
 in his life.

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:25.019
 And I ask, Father, that

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:27.480
 Jesus would minister to

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:30.039
 him, that if this is

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:31.579
 his time to die, that

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:33.359
 Jesus will minister to

00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:34.460
 him so that he is ready

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.940
 to meet you.

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:38.359
 I said, Father, if it's

00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.200
 your will that you heal

00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.099
 this man, I ask that you

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.879
 heal this man.

00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.720
 Then I prayed another

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:44.740
 couple of things, and I

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.579
 said, in Jesus' name,

00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:48.240
 amen, and Bob said to

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.359
 me, thank you very much,

00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.279
 I really appreciate

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.559
 that.

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.619
 The man in the coma

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.659
 said that to me.

00:30:55.660 --> 00:31:00.340
 As I prayed, he came

00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:00.860
 out of the coma.

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:04.420
 Now, listen, I can tell

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.180
 you two or three other

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:06.160
 stories, not quite as

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.180
 dramatic as that, where I

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.779
 have gone to administer the

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.220
 last rites.

00:31:09.300 --> 00:31:10.540
 I always pray for physical

00:31:10.540 --> 00:31:10.920
 healing.

00:31:11.060 --> 00:31:12.080
 I always pray that they

00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:12.800
 will be ready to meet

00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:13.080
 Jesus.

00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:15.600
 I always pray that there'd

00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:16.680
 be inner type of healing,

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.700
 and I can tell you there

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.640
 are several people that I

00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.279
 have prayed for.

00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.040
 When I have talked to the

00:31:22.040 --> 00:31:23.140
 family that the doctors

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.100
 were right, they have to

00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.980
 disconnect all of the

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.740
 machines, and I have had

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.559
 different people that I

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:28.379
 have prayed for like that,

00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.240
 and they went on like this

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.199
 fellow to live three, four,

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.179
 five more years.

00:31:31.959 --> 00:31:32.980
 I've had many people that

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:34.119
 that didn't happen to as

00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.339
 well.

00:31:34.659 --> 00:31:35.519
 Probably the majority.

00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:36.679
 They died.

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:43.199
 What this text is talking

00:31:43.199 --> 00:31:44.199
 about, and this is one of

00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:44.839
 the reasons you want to

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:46.059
 look at the blog as well.

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:48.379
 See, one of the things is

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:49.740
 that when you pray, Jesus

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:51.419
 teaches us to pray, your

00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.259
 will be done.

00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:53.219
 That's actually in the

00:31:53.219 --> 00:31:53.679
 Lord's Prayer.

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.400
 Did you notice that?

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.759
 Our Father who art in

00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.840
 heaven, hallowed be thy

00:31:57.840 --> 00:31:58.080
 name.

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.420
 Thy kingdom come, thy

00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:01.400
 will be done on earth as

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.120
 it is in heaven.

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:05.340
 And Jesus, when he was in

00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.580
 the Garden of Gethsemane,

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:10.440
 and he knows that he's

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.580
 going to be captured in an

00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:13.140
 hour or so, he knows he's

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:15.880
 going to be humiliated, he's

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.820
 going to be beaten, he's

00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:17.920
 going to be whipped, he's

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:21.299
 going to die on a cross, and

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.860
 he's going to die naked on

00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:25.199
 a cross, and he says, Father,

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.619
 if it's possible, take this

00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.559
 cup far from me.

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:30.659
 But not my will, but yours

00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.099
 be done.

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.379
 And of course, God answers

00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:34.779
 Jesus' prayer not by saying,

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:36.059
 yes, I'm going to save you

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.699
 all that bother.

00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:38.240
 He answers his prayer by, no,

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.799
 you are going to go ahead and

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.079
 die.

00:32:41.719 --> 00:32:43.019
 See, God still answered Jesus'

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.359
 prayer, he just didn't answer

00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.000
 it with a yes.

00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:47.740
 That, by the way, that story of

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.379
 Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:50.740
 is a profound comfort.

00:32:51.280 --> 00:32:52.260
 But it's not a profound

00:32:52.260 --> 00:32:54.060
 comfort if you don't know

00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:55.520
 Jesus as your Savior and

00:32:55.520 --> 00:32:55.780
 Lord.

00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.680
 See, remember when I told you

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.540
 that one of the things which

00:32:58.540 --> 00:33:00.100
 is uniquely different about the

00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:01.500
 Christian faith than all other

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:02.760
 faiths is that all of the

00:33:02.760 --> 00:33:05.000
 gods of the world have people

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.120
 die for them.

00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:08.540
 The ideologies of the world

00:33:08.540 --> 00:33:10.980
 have people die for them.

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:12.940
 The rich have people die for

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.300
 them.

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:16.700
 In the Christian faith, the God

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.779
 is revealed in Jesus.

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:20.980
 Only there does God not say,

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:22.759
 I want you to die for me, but

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:24.340
 he says, I'm going to die for

00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:24.700
 you.

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:28.819
 For God so loved the world that

00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:31.140
 he gave his only begotten son

00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:33.340
 to the end that all who believe

00:33:33.340 --> 00:33:35.900
 in him will not perish but have

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.660
 eternal life.

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:43.180
 And so when you, you, you see,

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:46.220
 when you understand this and you

00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.380
 understand that you pray that

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.620
 God's will be done, not your

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:50.759
 own, it's not something that

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:53.100
 creates a type of fatalism in

00:33:53.100 --> 00:33:53.900
 you that you shouldn't do

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:55.079
 anything because God's will is

00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.680
 going to be done.

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:57.740
 It, in fact, is as it starts to

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:59.640
 grip you that the one who

00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:01.660
 teaches us to pray this is the

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.799
 God, is the one who died for

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:06.240
 me, who loved me to the point

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:08.220
 of embracing my shame.

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:11.500
 He knows my, he knows my

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.000
 despair.

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:14.340
 He knows how much like Elijah I

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:14.599
 am.

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.839
 He knows those times and I

00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:16.940
 just want to completely give up

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:18.339
 and still he loved me and died

00:34:18.339 --> 00:34:18.779
 for me.

00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:22.420
 And it's by being held by him

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:24.239
 and saved by him that I have the

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:26.119
 context, the comfort to pray your

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.839
 will be done.

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:29.559
 And that isn't something, by the

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.779
 way, that then makes you not want

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.119
 to pray.

00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:33.059
 When you understand the gospel and

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.380
 in the context of the gospel that

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:36.219
 your will be done, I can pray for

00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:41.299
 Bob that who should have died four

00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:43.800
 hours, five hours earlier, five and

00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:45.120
 a half hours earlier, he should have

00:34:45.120 --> 00:34:45.640
 been dead.

00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:48.360
 And I can pray for him if it is your

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.060
 will, heal him.

00:34:49.660 --> 00:34:50.019
 Why?

00:34:50.180 --> 00:34:51.320
 If it is your will.

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:53.920
 The universe explodes with

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.640
 possibilities.

00:34:54.640 --> 00:34:56.300
 It doesn't create a type of

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:58.620
 fearfulness and a type of

00:34:58.620 --> 00:34:59.280
 passivity.

00:34:59.640 --> 00:35:01.740
 It is, I can pray for anything.

00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:05.440
 God wants me to pray big prayers.

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:08.539
 And God wants me to come to him

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:10.260
 when I say, God, I am so beat up.

00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:11.099
 I am so tired.

00:35:11.200 --> 00:35:12.500
 I have such a hard time praying.

00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:14.360
 Lord, have mercy upon me and help

00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:14.579
 me.

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.740
 I'm going to have to watch my time.

00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.980
 I just want to say one more thing.

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:23.000
 And this is really important.

00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:24.179
 It's one of the things, if you get

00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:26.200
 the blogs, one of the things I get,

00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:27.780
 you get with the weekly blog is

00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:29.099
 something called Growing in Grace

00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:30.340
 where I give a couple of attitudes

00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:32.300
 that come out of the text and I give

00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:33.679
 a bit of a way to pray the

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.019
 scripture text that we've read.

00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:36.320
 And so that's what you, if you go

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.900
 and get that and a memory verse

00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:38.699
 for the week as well.

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.579
 And so one of the things, this

00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.420
 happened to us.

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:44.019
 We had a neighbor whose brother

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.280
 was very much into drugs.

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.800
 And I think it was LSD that he was

00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:48.139
 doing.

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:50.000
 And one of the things about the LSD

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:51.179
 is that, and this had happened to

00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:53.599
 him before, is that he'd have this

00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:55.039
 confidence under the influence of

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:56.099
 the drug that he could fly.

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:59.199
 Like a great confidence that he

00:35:59.199 --> 00:35:59.820
 could fly.

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.759
 I can fly.

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.900
 I can fly.

00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:06.480
 And unfortunately, he decided to act

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:08.340
 on that from the 10th floor of a

00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:08.660
 building.

00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:11.820
 And he plunged to his death.

00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:16.900
 Now, here's the big problem we have

00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:17.940
 with the word faith.

00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:20.720
 Faith, in a sense, is not really about

00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:22.240
 you and it's not about me.

00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:28.419
 A minuscule faith in a proper object

00:36:28.419 --> 00:36:32.619
 is vastly better than a huge faith

00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:34.059
 in a delusion or a lie.

00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.599
 You might have an absolutely

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:40.479
 minuscule faith, like the space

00:36:40.479 --> 00:36:42.339
 between my finger and my thumb,

00:36:42.479 --> 00:36:44.500
 is how big your faith is.

00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:46.559
 That if you get on that Air Canada

00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.679
 or WestJet thing, that it's actually

00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:51.039
 going to safely take off, get you to

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.440
 your destination and safely land.

00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:54.079
 Your faith might be that minuscule.

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:55.579
 But the fact is, it's that minuscule

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:56.300
 you get on.

00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:58.139
 But it doesn't really matter how big

00:36:58.139 --> 00:36:58.920
 your faith is.

00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:00.619
 What matters is whether the plane is

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.159
 dependable.

00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:04.639
 In the same way that if you have a

00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:06.340
 huge faith, I can fly.

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.239
 I can fly.

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:08.320
 I can fly.

00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:10.599
 And you jump off of the floor of a

00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:13.000
 10-story building and you plunge to

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:13.420
 your death.

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.980
 You see, the issue with faith,

00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:19.480
 faith is always a word that's about a

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:21.320
 personal connection of trust into

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.960
 something or some person.

00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:25.019
 What is the prayer of faith?

00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:26.559
 The prayer of faith for a Christian

00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:28.980
 is that I have been made right with

00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.800
 God by the one who loved me so much

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:31.780
 that he died for me.

00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:35.400
 This God that I talk to, that I come

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:37.740
 to, is the God, the same God who

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:39.920
 defeated Egypt and brought Israel out

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.500
 of slavery.

00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:43.260
 It's the same God that used Gideon to

00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:46.719
 rescue the Israelites from 160,000

00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.359
 Midianites.

00:37:47.839 --> 00:37:49.819
 It is the same God who worked through

00:37:49.819 --> 00:37:52.480
 Esther to change the mind of the most

00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:54.799
 powerful empire in the world to save

00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.239
 the Jews.

00:37:55.359 --> 00:37:57.779
 It is the same, he is the same God who

00:37:57.779 --> 00:37:59.059
 rose Jesus from the dead.

00:37:59.299 --> 00:38:01.839
 He is the same God that even the

00:38:01.839 --> 00:38:03.980
 lowliest person with the most

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:06.259
 minuscule faith sitting in their room

00:38:06.259 --> 00:38:07.959
 or sitting in church or sitting here

00:38:07.959 --> 00:38:10.339
 watching right now praying to that

00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:13.119
 triune God, what does not matter is

00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:14.379
 how big your faith is.

00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:16.360
 It can be very minuscule, what matters

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:16.960
 is God.

00:38:20.140 --> 00:38:24.380
 You are talking to the Father and the

00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:26.039
 Son and the Holy Spirit, three persons,

00:38:26.180 --> 00:38:26.720
 one God.

00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:31.640
 You have become that, you have become

00:38:31.640 --> 00:38:34.460
 the adopted child of God, his precious

00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:36.880
 possession and treasure through faith

00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:39.099
 in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord.

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:42.340
 He has revealed himself most perfectly

00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:45.700
 by living a life of miracle and of love

00:38:45.700 --> 00:38:48.320
 and of compassion and of pity and of

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:50.860
 mercy, dwelling amongst us in our mess

00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:54.019
 and then burying that mess in his

00:38:54.019 --> 00:38:56.840
 person as he died in your place, in

00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.519
 your stead.

00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:00.539
 And then he defeated that great enemy

00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:02.519
 that you cannot defeat, which is death

00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:03.980
 and the sin which causes death.

00:39:04.200 --> 00:39:06.300
 And as he bears your sin and tastes all

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:07.900
 there is to death and rises from the

00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:10.140
 dead, he does that out of love for you

00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:11.779
 and he will come again.

00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:14.460
 And it is the Father, the Son, and the

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:16.239
 Holy Spirit, three persons, one God

00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:17.339
 to whom we pray.

00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:23.239
 Just, I need to wrap this up.

00:39:23.299 --> 00:39:25.559
 If you go back in the text, the heart

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:28.519
 of the text is, at the heart of the text

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:30.359
 is the two things, the prayer of faith

00:39:30.359 --> 00:39:31.659
 and the prayer of faith at the end of

00:39:31.659 --> 00:39:33.000
 the day, what you are saying is that the

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:33.879
 Lord's will be done.

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:37.099
 The same one that you trust to keep you

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:38.960
 safe for all eternity, to make you fit

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:40.780
 for a new heaven and a new earth for all

00:39:40.780 --> 00:39:42.519
 eternity is the same one that you pray

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:44.519
 about for the big and the small things

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:45.160
 of your life.

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:47.260
 And you are just like Elijah, he is no

00:39:47.260 --> 00:39:48.059
 different than you.

00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:51.740
 And you can pray big prayers and you can

00:39:51.740 --> 00:39:52.640
 pray small prayers.

00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:53.740
 And what do you need?

00:39:53.820 --> 00:39:54.300
 What do I need?

00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:55.480
 Well, first of all, if you've not given

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:57.140
 your life to Jesus, there is no better

00:39:57.140 --> 00:39:58.119
 time right now.

00:39:58.119 --> 00:40:03.719
 The God that really should exist, a God

00:40:03.719 --> 00:40:06.199
 that speaks and loves and communicates, a

00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:08.299
 God that is not a God far away but is

00:40:08.299 --> 00:40:09.920
 present, powerful, active and hidden,

00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:11.819
 always working on his perfect plan.

00:40:12.159 --> 00:40:13.779
 That is the God that does exist, that's

00:40:13.779 --> 00:40:14.839
 been revealed by Jesus.

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:17.400
 And there is no better time than die to

00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:20.559
 the foolish plausibility of the culture and

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:22.400
 ask Jesus to be your Savior and your Lord.

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.460
 No better time than now.

00:40:23.460 --> 00:40:29.619
 And the two things that we need to help

00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:31.840
 us with prayer, which come out of this, is

00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:33.519
 that when you see that you're to prayer in

00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:35.659
 faith and it's the faith in Jesus dying for

00:40:35.659 --> 00:40:37.659
 you, it's that he has revealed God.

00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:40.260
 So the two things that we need to help us

00:40:40.260 --> 00:40:41.800
 in prayer, these are things, because I have

00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:43.619
 weak faith, let me tell you, I have weak

00:40:43.619 --> 00:40:49.039
 faith, is begin the habit of saying, Father,

00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:51.059
 make the gospel more real to my heart.

00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:55.099
 Lord, make the fact that Jesus died for me

00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:58.920
 and that he is my hope of glory, make that

00:40:58.920 --> 00:41:02.719
 more real, deep in my heart to me.

00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:05.480
 And the second thing that we need to pray,

00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:07.699
 you see, in a sense, I mean, part of how we

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:10.599
 grow in prayer is actually just praying big

00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:11.059
 prayers.

00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:13.299
 And you can read my blog and other types of

00:41:13.299 --> 00:41:16.960
 things, but the prior work is actually, Lord,

00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:18.739
 make the gospel more real to me.

00:41:18.840 --> 00:41:20.400
 And then the final one, and you've heard me

00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.920
 talk about this before, but we need to,

00:41:22.220 --> 00:41:23.860
 friends, brothers and sisters, we need to

00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:25.380
 remind each other of this all the time.

00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:27.300
 God is big and you are small and that is

00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:27.559
 good.

00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:30.539
 And the big problem that you and I have is

00:41:30.539 --> 00:41:32.840
 we think the cancer is big and God is

00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:33.139
 small.

00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:35.960
 We think the Supreme Court of Canada is big

00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:37.160
 and God is small.

00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:39.940
 We think the Parliament is big and we are

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.099
 small.

00:41:40.180 --> 00:41:42.300
 We think big tech is big and we are small.

00:41:42.420 --> 00:41:44.139
 We think our neighbor is big and we are

00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:44.400
 small.

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:47.880
 We think our boss is big or our daughter is

00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:49.780
 big or our husband or our wife are big.

00:41:49.780 --> 00:41:52.280
 The problem is big and God is small.

00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:53.740
 And that's what we think all of the time.

00:41:54.200 --> 00:41:55.500
 And so one of the things that we need to

00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:57.960
 do is say, God, help the gospel to become

00:41:57.960 --> 00:41:59.200
 more real to my heart.

00:41:59.320 --> 00:42:01.060
 And Father, help me to know that you are

00:42:01.060 --> 00:42:03.540
 big and that everything else is small.

00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:05.160
 And even name it.

00:42:06.100 --> 00:42:08.420
 Say, Father, I have such a hard time believing

00:42:08.420 --> 00:42:09.740
 that you're bigger than the cancer.

00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:12.120
 I have a hard time believing that you are

00:42:12.120 --> 00:42:13.120
 bigger than the Parliament.

00:42:13.660 --> 00:42:15.640
 I have a hard time believing that you are

00:42:15.639 --> 00:42:17.559
 believing that you are bigger than my boss

00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:20.559
 or my economics or my finances or my romantic

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.019
 life.

00:42:21.400 --> 00:42:24.019
 Father, I have a hard time with it.

00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:25.019
 Help me to believe.

00:42:25.259 --> 00:42:27.859
 Help me to know that you are big and everything

00:42:27.859 --> 00:42:28.639
 else is small.

00:42:29.179 --> 00:42:31.019
 And you see, to pray that God is big and that

00:42:31.019 --> 00:42:33.359
 everything else is small, if you pray that

00:42:33.359 --> 00:42:35.539
 without knowing Jesus, that's a terrifying

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.239
 thing.

00:42:36.299 --> 00:42:37.279
 That will crush you.

00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:38.599
 Why will it crush you?

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:40.980
 Well, because the gods of this world want you

00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:42.099
 to die for them.

00:42:43.639 --> 00:42:46.139
 And so it's a scary thing to pray that you

00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:47.300
 know that God is bigger.

00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:50.340
 But if you understand the gospel first, that

00:42:50.340 --> 00:42:55.139
 God dies for you, then that begins to open

00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:56.760
 the door to say, God, you are big.

00:42:57.240 --> 00:42:59.159
 Help me to know that you are the same God.

00:42:59.199 --> 00:43:01.360
 I'm speaking right now as I walk down Bank

00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:06.579
 Street, as I walk through the gay village, that

00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.159
 I'm Father.

00:43:07.280 --> 00:43:09.579
 I'm speaking right now to the God who opened

00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:12.099
 the Red Sea to bring the nation of Israel out

00:43:12.099 --> 00:43:13.739
 of bondage and slavery in Egypt.

00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:16.920
 I am talking to the one who defeated Midian.

00:43:17.079 --> 00:43:19.059
 I am talking to the one who defeated Persia.

00:43:19.219 --> 00:43:21.079
 I am talking to the one who rose Jesus from

00:43:21.079 --> 00:43:21.440
 the dead.

00:43:22.059 --> 00:43:24.579
 I am talking to you who are present, powerful,

00:43:24.779 --> 00:43:26.719
 active, hidden, and always working on your

00:43:26.719 --> 00:43:27.199
 plan A.

00:43:27.759 --> 00:43:30.819
 And I am talking to you as your precious,

00:43:31.340 --> 00:43:34.960
 loved child by adoption and grace.

00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:36.199
 Let's pray.

00:43:36.199 --> 00:43:40.219
 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would do

00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:42.359
 this mighty work in our heart, that you would

00:43:42.359 --> 00:43:46.099
 help us, Father, to pray a prayer of faith, that

00:43:46.099 --> 00:43:47.759
 you would help us to pray a prayer of faith,

00:43:47.859 --> 00:43:51.239
 knowing how big you are, your great compassion

00:43:51.239 --> 00:43:53.379
 and your love, that your will, your sovereign

00:43:53.379 --> 00:43:55.839
 will, your good purposes will be done, that even

00:43:55.839 --> 00:43:59.119
 when you say no, Father, it might have to be that

00:43:59.119 --> 00:44:01.039
 we wait until the new heaven and the new earth to

00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:03.639
 see how wise and good and loving you actually were

00:44:03.639 --> 00:44:06.779
 to us, to say no, to see those times you said not

00:44:06.779 --> 00:44:08.159
 yet and then you answered later.

00:44:08.219 --> 00:44:09.900
 And we'd forgotten that we'd even prayed it and

00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:12.579
 how you answered it, maybe a week, a month, a day,

00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:14.679
 a decade, two decades later.

00:44:14.819 --> 00:44:17.159
 Father, we ask that you deliver us from our amnesia.

00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:19.359
 We ask, Father, that you grip us with the gospel,

00:44:20.119 --> 00:44:22.000
 with who Jesus is and what he did for us.

00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:24.940
 And we ask, Father, that you grip us anew with how

00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:27.440
 great and glorious you are, that you are present and

00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:28.579
 powerful, active and hidden.

00:44:28.679 --> 00:44:29.420
 You hear our prayers.

00:44:29.579 --> 00:44:30.879
 Father, grip us with these truths.

00:44:30.880 --> 00:44:33.400
 And we ask this in Jesus's name.

00:44:33.800 --> 00:44:34.099
 Amen.