WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:05.200 Today's scripture reading comes from the book of Acts, chapter 1, verses 1 through 3. 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:13.560 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all Jesus began to do and to teach 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:16.199 until the day that he was taken up to heaven, 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:20.580 after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:23.760 After his suffering, he presented himself to them 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.460 and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:31.320 He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:37.260 Please join us in prayer. 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:43.560 Heavenly Father, as we stare our eyes and minds in heavens, 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:50.799 we realize that everything in the universe, everything undersea, everything that's on earth, 00:00:51.780 --> 00:00:55.100 all the people that's around, it's all about you, Lord. 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:56.740 It's all about us. 00:00:57.800 --> 00:01:02.920 Father, as we come together as a church, please help us focus in you, focus on Jesus. 00:01:04.260 --> 00:01:08.579 Fix our eyes upon you, Lord, and cast all our worries, fear, and pride behind us. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:10.540 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:15.120 God, we lift up our community, God. 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:16.879 We lift up our church. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:23.519 Father, we just ask that you will just grow the relationships among our community groups, Lord. 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:27.199 And we pray that those who are not in community will find it, God. 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:32.919 We pray that we will always project and exude the image, Lord, 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:36.879 the life of you that is a welcoming, caring heart. 00:01:37.259 --> 00:01:39.219 Father, I pray that we would love each other well. 00:01:39.759 --> 00:01:43.459 Lord, I pray that where there are walls or hurts between us, God, 00:01:43.459 --> 00:01:46.500 that we would restore those and reconcile those in your name, Jesus. 00:01:47.699 --> 00:01:53.099 Lord, we just ask that this inward relationship among our church members, God, 00:01:53.119 --> 00:01:56.879 would just be something so beautiful that would draw others to you, Father. 00:01:57.399 --> 00:01:59.419 May we just continue to trust you, God. 00:01:59.839 --> 00:02:03.819 May we continue to find unity as we walk towards you and rely on you, Jesus. 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:10.979 God, just make us into your bride to shine brightly, to shine purely, God, 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:17.000 and to love you so much, God, that we can't help but love those around us, Father. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:18.959 We pray all this in your name. 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:25.259 Father, God, I also want to pray for our church as a whole, collectively, 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:28.479 that we will be a blessing to our communities, Lord. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:37.120 Father, whether it be in our workplace or at home or in the place that we socialize, Lord, 00:02:37.179 --> 00:02:42.199 we want to ask that you would walk with us and you be there with us as we shine for you. 00:02:42.259 --> 00:02:44.299 And we want to pray specially for Sible Port, Lord. 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:46.979 You have placed us in a very strategic place. 00:02:47.359 --> 00:02:49.879 We believe that you have a special plan for this area. 00:02:50.079 --> 00:02:55.099 And we pray, Father, for you to lead us step by step to guide us 00:02:55.099 --> 00:02:59.340 so that we can be a blessing to those who are here and be a light to them. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:05.500 Lord, I also want to pray for the upcoming outreaches for all the community groups during the Easter time, Lord, 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:08.259 as they're planning that you will plan with them. 00:03:08.539 --> 00:03:14.780 And then you will prepare the places and prepare the people to do the work that you have sent 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:22.840 so that we can truly be, you know, the center of good news that is extended beyond Jerusalem 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.039 but into Samaria and all the world. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.120 We pray all this in Jesus' name. 00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:27.640 Amen. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:28.740 Amen. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:31.860 Stand and join us for another song. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:35.219 Just let's remain in that spirit of prayer. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:38.159 Behold the throne of God above. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:42.860 Before the throne that we can approach God. 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:46.620 We can share our honest thoughts with him. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:49.259 And he hears us. 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:50.520 That's amazing. 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:51.580 It's so encouraging. 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:55.719 Just as we sing this, make it your prayer. 00:03:57.160 --> 00:03:58.780 We're just taking communion together. 00:03:58.939 --> 00:04:00.540 The presence of God is here. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:01.400 He's in us. 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:04.740 And so let's just engage with him. 00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:08.900 Good morning, Watermark. 00:04:09.820 --> 00:04:10.680 How y'all doing? 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:19.360 If you walked in the church this morning or if you're new and you saw like people dress up, 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:25.180 when I walk in and I actually see our youth pastor in suit and tie, I know this is not, 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:27.220 don't feel underdressed if you are new. 00:04:27.340 --> 00:04:29.180 Like we have a wedding coming up afterwards. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:32.319 So some people will wear suit and tie today. 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:33.680 So don't feel you underdressed. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:36.920 Watermark has been meeting a year and a half. 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:40.420 And I have not seen the youth pastor in suit and tie at worship. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:46.420 We've been looking for the year and a half that we have been here. 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:48.140 We've been looking at the gospel of Luke. 00:04:48.640 --> 00:04:51.420 And now we will take a little break after a year and a half. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:53.220 And we're actually about halfway through, Tobin, right? 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:58.900 So we have at least another year coming up to continue to really look at the life of Christ. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:03.780 So I'm really excited to kickstart a new series today for the next three, four weeks. 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:07.120 We'll be looking at the topic of prayer and what prayer really means. 00:05:08.020 --> 00:05:11.300 So I've mentioned that we have been meeting for a year and a half. 00:05:11.580 --> 00:05:15.400 But many of you here today probably have not even been with us for that long. 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:18.040 We are pretty diverse and a pretty new community. 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:26.140 So when we look around the people that we see here, there are people that may have come to Watermark 00:05:26.140 --> 00:05:29.100 because you have just moved here to Hong Kong within the last year and a half. 00:05:29.960 --> 00:05:34.460 And so you have made Watermark your church home or you have moved to Watermark 00:05:34.460 --> 00:05:36.700 because there wasn't a church in this area before. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:42.820 And you have decided to change your church membership to a church that's more in the proximity of your neighborhood. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:50.120 Maybe you're just here to explore Christianity and find out more about what God is like and what it's all about. 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:58.300 But even if you're here and you've been in the founding team, the first 41 that decided to venture out and then start this church, 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:01.800 even those 41 came from very different places. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:06.100 So with that diversity and we look at the topic of prayer, 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:09.420 we see that we will probably have a lot of diversity even in our prayer life. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:12.680 There may be people here that have never really prayed at all. 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:19.360 Or when you look in your prayer life, it's more like a ritual or tradition and prayers you have learned in your upbringing. 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:25.079 And for others, it may be that the prayer is more something that you turn to in times of need. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:28.279 When things go wrong and then you realize, 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:32.500 maybe I really have to turn back to God and seek his guidance. 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:38.079 But you may also be here and prayer is like a part of the structure every day for you 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:40.000 and you have a consistent prayer life. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:45.740 But wherever you are in this, we just want to acknowledge that we come from all the kinds of different places 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:49.759 in the way that we view prayer and in the way that we practice prayer. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:54.560 So as we're starting the series on prayer, 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:57.060 I just want to point out that this is just to lay a foundation, 00:06:57.060 --> 00:06:58.639 no matter where you are in this journey, 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:02.240 that we have a starting point for a dialogue about prayer. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:08.240 And before we start to look at the first scripture passage that the worship team read, 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:12.639 I just want to share a story with you and ask you a question. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:18.659 Have you ever been in that place where someone close to you passed away 00:07:18.659 --> 00:07:21.959 and then you were feeling like, 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:28.240 I really would like to have another day talking and sharing and just asking some questions 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.639 because I just really missed out on having this chance? 00:07:31.479 --> 00:07:34.539 In my life, there have been several of these moments, 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:38.920 but one in particular has been when I was 18, 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:40.840 my father suddenly died from a heart attack. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:45.580 And so the years coming after that, I wrestled a lot. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:48.340 And I remember after he passed away, 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:52.000 there were moments where a door would open or a car would come 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.120 and I would look and see whether it was his car 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.600 or I would walk through the streets and I saw someone 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:58.240 and I thought I saw him. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:02.759 And sometimes in my dreams, I would wake up and felt, 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:04.360 oh, you know, I just talked with him. 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:05.720 Like, isn't he still alive? 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:10.699 And it took me many years to really walk through that experience 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:15.160 and to really reconcile that experience that he had passed away 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:18.319 and that this time is not really coming in this lifetime. 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:23.160 And so I was wondering, like, what would be the things that I would ask him? 00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:27.540 Because I would love to have this moment where I just share with him 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:31.400 that I found a passion to leave the banking business where I was before 00:08:31.400 --> 00:08:36.399 and become a pastor or to just share with him about getting married 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:38.680 and just share with him about Christ. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:42.680 And so the passage that you heard in the beginning, 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:45.539 I find it really striking because this is the passage 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:47.840 where that exact same thing happens. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:52.620 In Acts 1, and you can follow along in your bulletin again 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:54.720 if you want to look at these verses. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:57.519 In Acts 1, it says, 00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:59.000 In my former book, Theophilus, 00:08:59.060 --> 00:09:02.399 I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:04.960 until the day he was taken up to heaven 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:07.560 after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit 00:09:07.560 --> 00:09:09.200 to the apostles he had chosen. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:12.840 After his suffering, he presented himself to them 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:16.639 and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.399 He appeared to them over a period of 40 days 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.720 and spoke about the kingdom of God. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:28.019 What an amazing passage if we really see what's happening there. 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:31.319 And let me just first put that passage in context 00:09:31.319 --> 00:09:33.879 of what we have been looking at as a church. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:38.139 So it says here that this is the second volume of a book. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:41.799 So the author is Luke. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.419 And he writes Acts, but the first one was the Gospel of Luke, 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.340 which we have been studying all along. 00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:50.399 So all the events that we have been looking at 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.860 over the past year and a half take place 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:54.620 and then there are still the chapters that are still to come 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:56.600 and then we have Acts coming. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.259 And that's where we see these first few verses 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.420 starting out right away. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:03.759 This is the second volume he's talking about. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:05.320 So the events that are still coming, 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:07.160 Jesus will continue his ministry 00:10:07.160 --> 00:10:10.519 and then he will return to Jerusalem 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.680 and in Jerusalem he will be betrayed, 00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:14.400 he will be sentenced to death 00:10:14.400 --> 00:10:15.400 and he will go to the cross, 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:16.900 nailed to the cross and he'll die. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.360 And he'll be buried. 00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:22.320 But then three days after his burial, 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:23.920 he will rise again from the dead 00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:25.660 and appear to his disciples. 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:29.379 And so right here in Acts 1, 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.740 we find these verses where it talks about 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:33.980 this time where Jesus rises from the dead 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:36.820 and he appears to his disciples alive 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:39.800 in many different settings over a period of 40 days. 00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:41.500 And I think that's remarkable. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.000 It's not like a short little encounter 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:45.299 where you could say, 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:47.480 was it really Jesus that I saw there? 00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:51.039 Did someone just pretend to be Jesus 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:52.240 or did I just imagine that? 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:55.919 It's in many different settings 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.799 over a period of 40 days he appears 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.759 and it's face-to-face meetings 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.959 in which he talked to them 00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:04.000 about things concerning the kingdom of God. 00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:06.059 So this is, again, 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.979 it's not that quick encounter. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.819 It's more like an extended dim sum meeting 00:11:09.819 --> 00:11:11.939 with Jesus or hours of talking 00:11:11.939 --> 00:11:15.219 and there's no way to get this wrong. 00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:20.060 And then it ends with 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:21.860 that he was talking about the kingdom of God. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.259 And I think we can read over that 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:26.560 and actually not see what he's really saying. 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:27.840 Like, get this. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.680 Like, if I had one more day with my dead 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:31.639 and I would sit with him, 00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:32.540 I would want to talk to him 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:33.920 about the most important things 00:11:33.920 --> 00:11:35.840 because I don't know how long I have. 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:37.800 I would want to make sure that, you know, 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:39.259 I talk about all these things 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:40.200 that have taken place 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:41.540 and the questions that are on my heart. 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:43.000 And here it says, 00:11:43.719 --> 00:11:46.099 Jesus decided to teach about the kingdom of God. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:49.019 So that's significant. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:51.299 It's the last teaching topic, 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:52.919 the last instructional topic. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.360 For 40 days straight 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.500 are lessons on the kingdom of God. 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:00.839 Now, I think there's another interesting thing. 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:02.000 When you continue reading, 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.179 it doesn't say anything that he says there. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.959 Like, wouldn't you as a disciple say, 00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:09.299 oh, now he instructs us for 40 days 00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:10.179 on the kingdom of God. 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:11.699 We have to, like, add a couple of chapters 00:12:11.699 --> 00:12:12.759 and giving you, like, 00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:14.199 discipleship manual one, two, and three 00:12:14.199 --> 00:12:15.239 on the kingdom of God 00:12:15.239 --> 00:12:16.259 because you need to know everything 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.219 he talks about, right? 00:12:18.739 --> 00:12:20.659 And I think the answer is pretty simple. 00:12:22.479 --> 00:12:25.079 What Jesus is teaching to his disciples 00:12:25.079 --> 00:12:26.379 over the extended meetings, 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:27.139 over 40 days, 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:28.819 is nothing new. 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.759 He has been teaching on the kingdom of God 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.539 for three years, 00:12:33.239 --> 00:12:34.419 over and over again. 00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:39.419 And so here we find Christ 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.819 just referring back to everything 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:42.299 that he has been teaching. 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.719 And now in the light of his death 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:44.219 and resurrection, 00:12:44.439 --> 00:12:46.079 many things in the light of the kingdom of God 00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:47.179 start to make sense. 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.579 And so he goes back 00:12:48.579 --> 00:12:50.240 and explains all these things again. 00:12:51.099 --> 00:12:52.699 If you have never read the Gospels 00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:53.979 in the light of the kingdom of God, 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:55.399 let me just point out a few things 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:56.979 that happen in the Gospels 00:12:56.979 --> 00:12:58.000 about the kingdom of God. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.620 In the Gospel of Mark, 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.000 chapter 1, verse 15, 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:05.580 so the moment Jesus begins his ministry, 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:06.440 the first chapter, 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:07.759 it's actually the first thing 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:09.860 that Jesus says in the Gospel of Mark. 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:10.220 It says, 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.659 The time has come. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.919 The kingdom of God is near. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.940 Repent and believe the good news. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.100 The first line that we hear is, 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.600 the kingdom of God has come. 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:24.259 Or if we look at other passages, 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.220 like in Matthew, 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:27.360 there it says that, 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.560 that in chapter 13, 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:30.860 that the kingdom of God 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.680 is like a treasure hidden in a field. 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:35.580 The kingdom of God is like a merchant 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:36.500 searching for a pearl. 00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:37.779 It is like yeast. 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:38.960 It's like a mustard seed. 00:13:39.060 --> 00:13:41.040 It's like a large net thrown into the sea 00:13:41.040 --> 00:13:41.899 and all these stories 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.360 that explain the character 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.180 of the kingdom of God. 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:44.759 But I wonder, 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.240 why does Jesus not say, 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.320 the kingdom of God? 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.399 And now here's the definition. 00:13:50.040 --> 00:13:50.700 Like write it down 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.540 because you need to know 00:13:51.540 --> 00:13:52.500 what the kingdom of God is 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.879 because I'll talk about it all along. 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.419 So let me just give a definition 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:57.139 about the kingdom of God. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.379 But instead, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.500 we have all these stories 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.659 that talk about it. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.740 And I just wonder, 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.200 what is that? 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.980 This kingdom of God thing? 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.159 It doesn't make sense to me. 00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:09.500 So how can we explain it 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.639 and understand this? 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:15.259 So in my enlightened modern mindset, 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.980 I just want to have a definition 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.919 that makes sense, 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.840 that rationalizes 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.919 what is the kingdom of God 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.720 and give me a definition. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.840 Let me give you an analogy about it. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.720 If someone asked me, 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.259 can you explain and define 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:27.180 your wife, Katie? 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.320 And then I would say, 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:29.639 okay, 00:14:29.800 --> 00:14:31.639 the human body is made 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.139 99% of six elements, 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:33.980 oxygen, carbon, 00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:34.500 hydrogen, 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.100 nitrogen, 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:35.840 calcium, 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:36.960 and phosphorus. 00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:38.840 And if you want to get 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:39.920 in a little bit more detail, 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.800 another 0.85%, 00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:42.800 so altogether 99, 00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:44.320 8.85% 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.700 of every human being, 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:46.680 the other 5% 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.200 are potassium, 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.580 sulfur, 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.000 sodium, 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.360 chlorine, 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:48.879 and magnesium. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:50.700 So now, 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.639 you have about 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:53.700 a 99.85% definition, 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.019 right? 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.720 The reality is, 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.080 it doesn't, 00:14:56.180 --> 00:14:57.019 the slightest bit, 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.919 say anything 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.460 about who Katie is 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.379 and who she is to me. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.600 But I can tell you 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.440 how she is like. 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.820 I can tell 00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.500 and share stories with you 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.139 about her steadfastness. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.919 I can share with you 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.960 stories about her passion 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:12.860 and her kindness 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.840 and her love for people. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.160 And then you'll get 00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:15.560 a picture 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:16.759 that is so much more 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.139 than 99.85% 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:20.320 of what we would hear 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:21.100 as this definition. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.480 And I think that's exactly 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:24.019 the kind of stories 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:25.780 that Jesus is talking about 00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:27.019 in the kingdom of God. 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.560 In Jesus, 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:31.580 we see the kingdom of God 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:32.300 and its reality 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:34.180 breaking into this world. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:35.960 And in Jesus, 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.820 we see what the kingdom of God 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:39.060 is like. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:42.839 So when Jesus meets 00:15:42.839 --> 00:15:43.339 his disciples 00:15:43.339 --> 00:15:44.199 for the 40 days, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.539 he reminds them again 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.439 about everything 00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.619 that he has been taught 00:15:47.619 --> 00:15:49.000 and he teaches them 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.000 what it means 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.379 in the light 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.319 of the kingdom of God. 00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:53.819 Now what does that 00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:54.939 have to do with prayer? 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.819 Now when everything 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.899 that he has taught 00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.239 is now explained 00:16:00.239 --> 00:16:00.879 in the kingdom of God, 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:01.799 if we truly gain 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.359 an understanding 00:16:02.359 --> 00:16:03.599 of what the kingdom of God 00:16:03.599 --> 00:16:04.439 is like 00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:05.519 and how Christ 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.059 shows in his life 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:07.839 what the kingdom of God 00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.319 is like, 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:10.420 we also will understand prayer. 00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:14.160 Let me go to Matthew 5-7. 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:15.700 It's the Sermon on the Mount 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.660 and most of you 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.460 will probably be familiar 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:17.780 with you, 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.620 but let me just set 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.040 the framework 00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:21.020 for those who are not. 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:23.180 The Sermon on the Mount 00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:24.260 is the longest 00:16:24.260 --> 00:16:26.020 instructional or teaching time 00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:26.420 that we find 00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:27.420 in any of the Gospels 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:29.360 where Jesus teaches 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.020 his disciples. 00:16:30.400 --> 00:16:31.860 And so in the first verse 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.200 it says, 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:33.640 now when Jesus saw the crowd 00:16:33.640 --> 00:16:34.420 and there are like thousands 00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:35.280 of people gathered, 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.920 he went up to a mountainside 00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:37.640 and he sat down 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.740 and his disciples came to him 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.580 and then he began 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.539 to teach. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.039 And as he begins to teach, 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.259 he starts out 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.960 and he talks about 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.259 about murder 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.539 and adultery 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.159 and what adultery 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:48.759 really means 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.899 and what divorce is about 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:52.240 and what it means 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.240 to love your enemies 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.539 and what it means 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.439 to give to the poor. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.659 And after all that, 00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:58.639 he comes to the passage 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.019 in chapter 6, 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.519 verse 7, 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.379 and when you pray, 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.419 so now he begins 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.659 to teach on prayer as well, 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.119 do not keep on babbling 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.900 like pagans 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.960 for they think 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.720 that they will be heard 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.859 because of their many words. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.619 Do not be like them 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.779 for your father knows 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.460 what you need 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.799 before you ask him. 00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:15.579 This then is 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.519 how you should pray. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.279 Our father in heaven, 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.400 hallowed be your name, 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:21.779 your kingdom come. 00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.440 You will be done 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.339 on earth 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.819 as it is in heaven. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.700 And then you know 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:29.240 how the prayer continues 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.120 if you have heard 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:30.680 the Lord's Prayer 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:32.160 and you had to recite it before. 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.319 But then after that prayer lesson, 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:34.980 he continues 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.059 and then he teaches 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.259 on fasting, 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.579 he teaches on money, 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:40.420 he teaches on worry, 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.279 and then after all these things 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.099 he teaches about 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.579 sitting on that mountain 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:46.200 in front of this big crowd, 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.700 he says, 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.180 for the pagans 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.380 run after all these things 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.220 and your heavenly father 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.380 knows that you need them. 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.160 But seek first 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.440 his kingdom 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.180 and his righteousness 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.680 and all these things 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.420 will be given to you 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.500 as well. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.320 Now I think there are two things 00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:03.460 that really stick out to me 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.500 when I relate 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.840 prayer and the kingdom 00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:07.320 because it says 00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:08.779 when Jesus teaches 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.279 on prayer 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:09.980 that he instructs 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.420 his followers 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.779 to pray for his kingdom 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.380 to come 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.960 on earth 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.019 and it is already 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.480 in heaven. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.840 And he points out 00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:17.700 that we should first 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.519 seek his kingdom 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.519 and all these things 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.640 will be given to us. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:25.600 So this is 00:18:25.600 --> 00:18:27.800 a big concept 00:18:27.800 --> 00:18:28.440 to grasp 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.360 and it's so difficult 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.280 for us to really 00:18:30.280 --> 00:18:31.420 gain an understanding 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.240 of what this kingdom 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.440 of God is like 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.480 and what it really means 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.280 to pray 00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:36.200 for the kingdom 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.500 to break into this reality. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.040 Before I came to Hong Kong, 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:41.040 I lived in Germany 00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:41.400 and England 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:41.880 and the US 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.600 but I had never been 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:43.340 to Asia. 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:46.060 And so when I first 00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:47.300 heard my call 00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:47.960 to come to Asia 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.680 to Hong Kong 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.660 and I had never been here 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:50.320 I had no clue 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:51.180 what this country 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.860 would be like. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.000 I did not know anything 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.019 about really the culture 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.940 and the people. 00:18:56.300 --> 00:18:56.740 I did not know 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.460 about the suffering 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.120 and the problems 00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:58.740 and the challenges 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.560 people face. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.140 So it's like 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:03.440 when people ask me 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.580 like so why are you 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:05.160 going to Asia? 00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:06.240 Like what is it 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.960 that you would tell people? 00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:08.080 I have no clue. 00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:08.900 I have never been there. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.279 There's a passage 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.860 in 2 Corinthians 5 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:13.660 that talks about 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.660 being an ambassador 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.820 of the kingdom of God. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.420 So if I think 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.259 that I would be sent 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.960 as an ambassador 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.759 from the kingdom of God 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.819 the first thing 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.259 that comes to mind 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.299 is I have never been there. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.980 Like how can I be 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.519 an ambassador 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.720 of this kingdom 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.799 that I have never been to 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.759 I have never seen it 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.480 and then I'm coming here 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.200 to this world 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.420 to be an ambassador 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.559 for the kingdom of God. 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.319 Like I can be 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.340 an ambassador for Germany. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.819 I can tell you all 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.740 hey dim sum is great 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.340 but you need to 00:19:39.340 --> 00:19:40.340 eat like pork knuckle 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:41.079 and bratwurst 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:41.960 and sauerkraut 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.600 and you're driving 00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:44.299 actually on the wrong 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.920 side of the street 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.740 because the right side 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.160 is the one 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.299 that you should drive on 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.200 because that's what we do 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.659 and I can try to 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:52.039 tell you about 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.859 everything that we do 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.279 in Germany 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.559 and how we organize stuff 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.240 and engineering 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.079 and whatever 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.779 but ultimately 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:59.159 what can I tell you 00:19:59.159 --> 00:20:00.200 about the kingdom of God? 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.480 What can any one of us 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.579 tell anybody else 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.680 about the kingdom of God? 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.599 And the amazing thing 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:12.740 for me is 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.559 that the kingdom of God 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.379 becomes a reality 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:15.799 in this life 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.099 because God 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.919 humbled himself 00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:19.680 and stepped into this world 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.440 to be the ambassador 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.059 for God 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.299 coming to this world 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.899 and in him he says 00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.940 in the first line 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:26.220 the kingdom of God 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.000 has come. 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.399 The kingdom of God 00:20:28.399 --> 00:20:28.879 has been breaking 00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.960 into the world 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.839 in Christ 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.720 and everything 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.639 that the kingdom of God 00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:33.000 is like 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.559 we have seen 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.279 in the person 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.159 of Jesus Christ. 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:36.680 So as we turn 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.159 through the Bible 00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:38.619 and we look at the gospels 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:40.059 we see what the kingdom 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.980 of God is like 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.339 and as we continue 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.059 to explore it 00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:44.079 even we have not seen 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.220 the kingdom come fully yet 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.639 it's come 00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:49.359 partially breaking in 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.119 through Christ 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.559 and here 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.059 as Christ dwells in us 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.299 and the kingdom dwells in us 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.460 as we receive Christ 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.720 we are empowered 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.339 to speak 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.099 as ambassadors 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:59.119 for the kingdom of God 00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.779 proclaiming 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:01.199 this very kingdom. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.559 Now 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.980 I think 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:07.500 there's a lot of 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.539 theoretical concepts 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.019 that we're trying 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.980 to wrap our minds around 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.599 but how does this 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.079 practically look like? 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.119 and so I want to share 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.259 two stories with you 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.659 about how that became 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.339 true in my life 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.379 after I became a Christian. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.919 It was about three months 00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:20.839 after turning my life 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.220 to Christ 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:21.919 I was 23 00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:23.059 in the year 2000 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:25.720 and I was studying 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:27.279 business at the time 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.720 and I had been growing 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.000 a lot in my faith 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:33.259 but 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:35.000 there were still 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.000 some things in my life 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.679 that I really hadn't 00:21:36.679 --> 00:21:37.259 reconciled 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.240 with the kingdom of God. 00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:39.759 When I was sitting 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.559 in my classroom 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:42.500 I was heavily investing 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.000 into emerging markets 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.399 and very risky stocks 00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:47.179 so I would sit 00:21:47.179 --> 00:21:47.980 in my classroom 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.539 and check 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.419 what the stock exchange 00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:50.759 was doing 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.179 and I would sometimes 00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:52.279 walk out of the classroom 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.559 just making a quick deal 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.940 and calling back 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.480 to the bank 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:58.319 and that was just my day. 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.279 When I woke up 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.940 I would check 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.539 the stock markets 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.240 when I would go back 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.359 I would check 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.019 the stock markets 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.759 make sure that I know 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.200 what's happening 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.879 not just in Germany 00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:06.879 but in America 00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:08.659 and in Japan 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.200 and so 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.700 you just had to be 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.180 up to date 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.019 and that's just 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.720 what you had to do 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.680 in the role 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.420 that I had before. 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.720 Now I'd become a Christian 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.740 and then one morning 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:20.420 I woke up 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.940 and as I usually did 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.720 I would get on the computer 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.640 and I would check 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.980 what the markets had done 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.680 while I was asleep 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.720 and I spent about an hour 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.360 and after I was caught up 00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.000 in making sure 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.600 that I didn't have to 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.440 sell something real quick 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.500 or buy something real quick 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:35.000 I went to my Bible 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.019 and sat down 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.400 and started my prayer time 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:37.860 with God. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.759 And as I was praying 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:43.780 and trying to 00:22:43.780 --> 00:22:45.620 just really see 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:46.540 what my life was like 00:22:46.540 --> 00:22:47.000 with God 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.780 it just hit me 00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:48.880 that I felt very distant 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.259 from Him 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.840 in that morning. 00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:52.740 And I realized 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.700 that there was a kingdom 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.540 that I was serving 00:22:54.540 --> 00:22:55.460 and I'd been serving 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.980 from the moment 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.680 that I got up 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.080 that had nothing to do 00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.480 with the kingdom of God. 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.420 But that my mind 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.080 was wrapped up 00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:02.680 in serving 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:04.800 the finances 00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:05.900 my reputation 00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.019 my status 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.759 that came out 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.480 of being connected 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:11.900 with the financial world. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.019 As I was praying 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.540 that morning 00:23:15.540 --> 00:23:16.460 and I really seek 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.040 God's heart 00:23:17.040 --> 00:23:17.620 I realized 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.800 it was somewhat 00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:19.780 like a gambling addiction 00:23:19.780 --> 00:23:20.220 to me 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.860 and that day 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.440 I made a decision 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.360 I went to the bank 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.960 I sold all my investments 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.980 and don't ask me 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.700 what my colleagues said 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.320 that had seen me 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:27.019 for three years 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.120 day trading basically. 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.120 I sold everything 00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:32.000 and put all my money 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.880 in a savings account. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:36.200 Don't hear me say 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.820 that I'm saying 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:38.380 that you cannot invest 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.940 and don't feel 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.300 like you need 00:23:40.300 --> 00:23:40.780 to run off 00:23:40.780 --> 00:23:41.680 and sell everything 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.280 that you have 00:23:42.280 --> 00:23:42.780 and put it 00:23:42.780 --> 00:23:43.560 in something secure 00:23:43.560 --> 00:23:45.380 because I think 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.280 even the illusion 00:23:46.280 --> 00:23:47.880 of security 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.760 in a savings account 00:23:48.760 --> 00:23:49.560 you all know about it 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.080 in the current 00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:51.140 market situation. 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.360 That's not what 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:52.940 it is about. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.940 I think it is about 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.200 that as you're seeking 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.680 in your heart 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.460 what it means 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.560 for the kingdom of God 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.500 to become true 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.260 in your life 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.400 you will see 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.180 where you're serving 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.839 your idols 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:06.240 where you are 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.359 serving kingdoms 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.980 that have nothing 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:09.079 to do with the values 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.879 of God. 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.079 Now I want to tell you 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.819 a second story 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.379 that happened 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.700 about two years later 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:17.200 in my journey 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.000 through business school 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.700 I actually took 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.339 another turn 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:20.140 and God called me 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.579 into ministry 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.200 and so I went 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.720 to seminary 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.299 in the US 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.059 and in my first 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.200 year in seminary 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:26.900 I started to do 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.339 some work 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.160 in an internet ministry 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.680 so I would write 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.339 articles about 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.039 the Christian faith 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.480 for this internet forum 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.759 on a German website 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:36.180 and after a few weeks 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:36.839 of doing that 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:38.559 I noticed this one guy 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.359 his name was Simon 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.740 he was posting 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.440 these things 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.720 and he was really rude 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.700 he called himself 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.440 a Satanist 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.819 and basically told 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.599 everybody that 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.220 they are stupid 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.920 to believe in God 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.440 and he used a lot 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:48.980 of other words 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.879 so he said 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.899 Christians are stupid 00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.339 basically 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:55.559 and somehow 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.379 I began praying 00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:56.960 for him 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.639 and I prayed 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.119 for him 00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.239 to see the kingdom 00:24:59.239 --> 00:24:59.639 of God 00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.079 to break 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.019 into his life 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:03.219 and a few weeks 00:25:03.219 --> 00:25:04.339 into this time 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:04.759 we started 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.939 to meet in a chat room 00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.919 and we started talking 00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:09.139 and step by step 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.019 I learned his story 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.239 and he shared his story 00:25:11.239 --> 00:25:12.199 of how when he was 00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:12.639 two years 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.059 his father 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.899 had left the family 00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:15.339 that his mom 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:16.219 is extremely abusive 00:25:16.219 --> 00:25:16.779 to him 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.059 that his first 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.719 childhood memory 00:25:18.719 --> 00:25:19.539 was to be taken 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.379 and thrown on the wall 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:20.959 by his mom 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:23.620 and so as we were 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.120 talking 00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:25.519 and sharing 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.200 and wrestling 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.900 and arguing 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:28.319 after a few weeks 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.259 there was this one moment 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.960 where we talked 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.519 about prayer 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:32.299 and in his 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.700 very provocative way 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.319 he just said 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:36.000 why do you pray 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.480 to dust 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.539 it's so ridiculous 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.160 like all this 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.940 praying thing 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.819 it's so stupid 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.360 it's scientifically 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.039 disproven 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.200 and as he was 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:42.940 talking and talking 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.539 I just kind of 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.259 lost my patience 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.740 after all that 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:44.960 and I said 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.779 who are you 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.600 to tell me that 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.940 you have no experience 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.500 about prayer 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.160 if you would go 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.519 and say 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.420 okay for the next months 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.000 I would pray 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.279 I would honestly 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.119 like sincerely 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.339 seek out God 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.940 and every day 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:57.240 I would look for God 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.420 and then after months 00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:58.720 you would say 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.480 nothing happened 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.920 then you could tell me 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.839 out of your experience 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.519 prayer doesn't work 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.839 there's no power 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.579 in prayer at all 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.460 and God doesn't exist 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.480 but if you have 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.440 never even tried it 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:10.180 so don't talk to me 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.079 like you know anything 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:13.000 and I took a breath 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.559 and he says 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.579 okay 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:17.440 what do you mean 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.480 okay I'll do it 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.860 and so 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.980 he began to pray 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:23.220 and the following months 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.200 completely turned 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.059 around his life 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:27.140 one day 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.519 when he was at home 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.519 and his mom came back 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.039 and he was praying 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.380 God if you're real 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.299 then change my life 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:33.960 and somehow 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.660 he found the confidence 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:36.380 and he said to his mom 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:36.980 mom 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.180 for 15 years 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.960 you have been beating me 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.519 all the time 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:41.200 and I don't understand it 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.259 why do you do this 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.759 his mom breaks down 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.220 in tears 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.740 and says 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:46.140 when your father left me 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.940 I felt so overwhelmed 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.860 I want to be a good mom 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.439 I just don't know 00:26:48.439 --> 00:26:49.139 what I can do 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:50.939 I really don't want to beat you 00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:51.599 I just don't know 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.579 what else to do 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.919 up to this point 00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:56.759 he actually never referred 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.959 to his mom as mom 00:26:57.959 --> 00:26:59.359 he referred to her as it 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.559 he said 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.619 I don't think 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.319 she is a person 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:03.859 so I'm just using 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.139 it for her 00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:06.779 that day 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.399 he called me 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:07.919 and he said 00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:09.459 I think I reconciled 00:27:09.459 --> 00:27:09.979 my relationship 00:27:09.979 --> 00:27:10.599 with my mom 00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.799 I've never understood 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.779 her struggles 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:15.299 in the time also 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.779 his depression 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.639 started to lift 00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:18.319 and he started to 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.700 find more hope 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:21.119 in his life 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:23.379 and then finally 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.960 he decided 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.440 okay I'll go to church 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.160 and I see what all 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.059 this whole Christian 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.700 thing is about 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:29.099 so I connected him 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.960 with the church 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.500 I just looked about 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:30.899 on the internet 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.460 and so he went 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.200 and he sat down 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:34.420 so this guy 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.099 sits next to him 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:35.480 and says 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.220 oh hey 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.220 I've never seen you here 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.940 are you new here 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:39.960 and in his direct way 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.480 he says 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.440 yes I'm new 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.420 I'm a satanist 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:46.160 but he was not 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.039 prepared for the response 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.860 because the guy said 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.700 cool 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:51.000 I was a satanist too 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.880 but now I'm leading 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.400 a bible study 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.860 you want to come 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.259 this week 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:57.080 to make this story short 00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.820 a month later 00:27:58.820 --> 00:27:59.980 Simon gave his life 00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.560 to Christ 00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:02.019 the same summer 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.060 I flew to Bavaria 00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:03.900 to baptize him 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.680 in the Donjub River 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:06.160 and a year later 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.680 I flew back to Bavaria 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.800 to see him baptize 00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.680 his best friend 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.080 and brother 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:13.779 the kingdom of God 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:15.039 breaking into 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.319 our lives 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.819 restoring lives 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:20.480 everything being made 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.559 new and whole 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:23.179 this is what the kingdom 00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:24.139 of God is like 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:26.639 so what does it mean 00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.740 for our prayer life 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.319 what is your prayer life 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:29.960 centered on 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:31.579 do you pray 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:33.039 with the kingdom centeredness 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.000 that the kingdom of God 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.460 would break 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.679 break into your life 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:38.299 I think there are prayers 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.079 that we can pray 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:40.359 where we have to identify 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:41.359 the motive behind 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.039 how we pray 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.819 and why we pray 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:46.180 like let's think about 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:48.159 prayers that have to do 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:49.579 with your job 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:52.599 or your money 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:54.180 or your studies 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.079 in Hong Kong U 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.759 or the universities 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.460 around here 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:58.519 how do you pray 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.000 do you pray 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.480 like God 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.319 this exam is really important 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.559 and this job 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.119 I really need it 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.599 or this job 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.139 is really bad 00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:05.899 can you just change 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.500 my boss 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:09.920 now there's nothing wrong 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.480 with praying for jobs 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.400 and for your exams 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.720 but we want to look 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.779 into the motives 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.680 what are the motives 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.519 behind why we pray 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.319 and what we pray for 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:20.619 you can pray for your job 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.200 or your exam 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.579 saying 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:23.880 God I actually have 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.980 stepped in right into 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.859 serving the idols 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.480 of this world 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:29.500 so I want you to 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.660 give me this job 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:32.279 or help me succeed 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.940 in this exam 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.519 because 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.140 when I have 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.420 success in this exam 00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.840 and in this studies 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.880 then I will get a good job 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:39.160 and when I have 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:39.720 this good job 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.480 then I'll have 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.120 a lot of money 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.900 and when I have 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.360 a lot of money 00:29:42.360 --> 00:29:43.320 then I can actually 00:29:43.320 --> 00:29:44.039 provide security 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.779 for myself 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.759 and you suddenly 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.539 realize that 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.820 every step of the way 00:29:47.820 --> 00:29:48.880 has been serving 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:49.400 your idols 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.160 from the beginning 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:53.279 or you can pray 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.580 God 00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:55.940 I'm laying it all 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.640 down to you 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:59.039 you have given me 00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.320 gifts 00:29:59.320 --> 00:29:59.800 you have given me 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.180 the character 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.759 you have given me 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.400 this life 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.480 and I want to use it 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.060 in the best way 00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:04.000 to glorify you 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.519 and whether it's 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.200 this job 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.359 or this exam 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:08.180 my studies 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.079 I just want to do 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.200 my best to glorify you 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.099 and bring honor to you 00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:12.500 and as you begin 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.339 to pray for your jobs 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:16.279 and for your studies 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.480 I think the way 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.799 that it is about 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.839 bringing glory to God 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.799 and bringing the kingdom 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.920 about in this world 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:23.259 is a completely 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.299 different mindset 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:26.000 so as you pray 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.819 about these things 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:28.099 where are you 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.539 with that 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.920 where are the idols 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.740 that have been 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.500 crawling into your 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.000 prayer life 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.200 and dominated 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:36.119 like think about 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.980 your relationships 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.539 your marriages 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:40.200 the people 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.160 that you're looking for 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.579 as you want to get married 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.839 your sexuality 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:46.299 do you have a kingdom 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.099 centeredness 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.039 in your prayers 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:50.299 or do you pray 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.779 serving your idols 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:54.759 if you're struggling 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.460 with your marriages 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:57.059 are you looking for 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.559 the kingdom centeredness 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.480 that God wants 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.059 to restore 00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.819 and heal 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.980 and reconcile 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:04.200 or again 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.779 are you saying 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.200 just change my spouse 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.939 or get me out of this 00:31:07.939 --> 00:31:09.639 what is really 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:11.079 the motive behind 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:12.679 the things we pray for 00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:14.139 do you pray 00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:16.539 for trustworthiness 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.099 integrity 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.960 faithfulness 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.000 in your sexuality 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.639 do you pray 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.559 for righteousness 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.599 in your relationships 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.919 because this 00:31:23.919 --> 00:31:25.720 is what we hear 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:27.079 Christ talk about 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:28.740 in the values 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.240 of the kingdom 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:33.900 so as we look 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.759 into the motives 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.960 and kingdom centeredness 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.920 as a guide 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.700 to identify 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.319 what the motives 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.539 are in our prayer lives 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:42.680 there's another story 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.539 that comes to my mind 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.519 that I want to close with 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:48.079 the story is about 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.460 Ashley 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:50.180 and many of you 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.779 know her 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.920 and have been 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.279 to the funeral 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.779 just a short while ago 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:56.339 if you don't know 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.879 who Ashley is 00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.339 she is 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.920 a young girl 00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.599 of 26 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:01.879 in our sister church 00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:02.539 at Island ECC 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.879 and she just passed away 00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:06.859 and I have never known her 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:09.299 but what I've heard 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:09.940 about her 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:11.000 amazed me 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:12.859 everybody that has 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.399 talked to me 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:14.160 over the last weeks 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.799 about her 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:16.720 pointed me 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.579 to the reality 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.899 that she had hope 00:32:18.899 --> 00:32:19.299 in the kingdom 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.920 that is to come 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.799 that she didn't complain 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.000 but even in her suffering 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.220 that she was pointing 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.579 people to the hope 00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:24.980 that she had 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.579 in restoration 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.279 and redemption 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:28.059 that everything 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.079 would one day 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:29.839 be made new 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:31.880 so people that came 00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.460 in touch with her 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.420 that did not know Christ 00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:34.140 and that did not know 00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:35.079 the hope of that kingdom 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.720 that is breaking 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.579 into this reality 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:38.859 they would see it 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.519 in her life 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:43.640 now I didn't know her 00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:46.079 but there's another guy 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.799 that when I heard 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.779 the stories about her 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.220 that came to my mind 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.180 about my life 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.319 someone that was 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.019 really close to me 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.039 his name was Kyle Lake 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:55.359 and Kyle was the pastor 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:57.159 of University Baptist Church 00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:57.559 in Waco 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.039 when I studied 00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.559 in the US 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.539 I went there 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.220 some people know it 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.039 because that's 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.639 David Crowder's church 00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:03.339 in Waco 00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:05.819 and so Kyle was 32 00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:07.480 and he had three little kids 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:10.059 and he had an extraordinary gift 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.639 just bringing the kingdom 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:12.399 of God about 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:15.019 UBC was a melting pot 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.279 of about 800 to 1,000 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.179 college students 00:33:17.179 --> 00:33:17.919 most of them 00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:18.579 very broken 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.200 and hurt 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.379 in their lives 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:20.880 and they found 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.700 a lot of restoration 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.860 finding this community there 00:33:23.860 --> 00:33:26.240 and when they got in touch 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.340 with Kyle's life 00:33:27.340 --> 00:33:28.420 they were infected 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.760 by his passion 00:33:29.760 --> 00:33:30.440 for the kingdom 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.380 and the way 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:32.200 that he longed 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:33.200 for lives to be restored 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:34.860 and one day 00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:36.100 in a church service 00:33:36.100 --> 00:33:37.880 Kyle got ready 00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:39.020 to baptize 00:33:39.020 --> 00:33:39.680 the young girl 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.960 and baptism 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.800 being that sign 00:33:41.800 --> 00:33:42.580 of new life 00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:43.000 and restoration 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.200 in Christ as well 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.720 he steps into the baptistry 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:47.040 and as he steps 00:33:47.040 --> 00:33:47.460 into the baptistry 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.540 he reaches for the microphone 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.099 and the microphone 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.059 shoots to his breast 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.000 and he's electrocuted 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.619 in front of 1,000 college students 00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:54.539 and as we were seeing 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.500 what is happening 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:57.379 and the drummer 00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:58.000 jumps out 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.859 and pulls him out 00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.700 of the baptistry 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.480 but on the way 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.119 to the hospital 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.980 Kyle died 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:05.920 Jesus said that 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:07.000 he would make 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.480 this world new 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:10.639 and that he came 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.219 so that we would 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.039 experience life 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.920 in all its fullness 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:16.880 God became flesh 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.920 and lived among us 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:20.039 so that we could taste 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:21.460 and see how he is like 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:23.300 and in Christ 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.139 we see the kingdom 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.900 break into 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.539 the here 00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:26.480 and now 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:29.000 but not everything 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.860 that we will experience 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.380 in this life 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.079 will make sense 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:33.380 not everything 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.519 will be a reflection 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:36.260 of this kingdom 00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:37.900 that is still to come 00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:40.480 so much around us 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.300 and in us 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.760 is shattered 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:42.340 and broken 00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.500 and hurting 00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:46.720 but in Christ 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.520 we find peace 00:34:47.520 --> 00:34:48.840 we find peace 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.760 about his grace 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.420 and his forgiveness 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.560 and we find hope 00:34:51.560 --> 00:34:52.620 in the kingdom 00:34:52.620 --> 00:34:53.320 that is 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:56.040 beginning to become 00:34:56.040 --> 00:34:56.480 a reality 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.000 more and more 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.560 in this world 00:34:57.560 --> 00:34:58.380 but one day 00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:59.040 will restore it 00:34:59.040 --> 00:35:00.260 in his coming again 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:01.760 so I want to close today 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.820 and I want to share 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:04.160 a few lines of a sermon 00:35:04.160 --> 00:35:07.120 it was Kyle's last sermon 00:35:07.120 --> 00:35:09.260 that he never was able 00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:09.800 to preach 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.980 it was the papers 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.600 that were laying 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:13.279 on the pulpit 00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:14.219 when he died 00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:16.500 and I hope today 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.759 even his words 00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.279 will bring 00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.480 you hope 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.679 about what it means 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.279 to live life 00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:21.759 to the fullest 00:35:21.759 --> 00:35:22.639 to live a life 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:24.440 that would be 00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.059 a symbol 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.699 of the kingdom 00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.239 of God 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.980 coming about 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.719 in your lives 00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:28.319 and in the lives 00:35:28.319 --> 00:35:28.940 around you 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:31.799 so here's 00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:32.679 how his sermon 00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.039 ended 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.980 live 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.039 live 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:36.619 and live well 00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:38.599 breathe 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.579 breathe in 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.500 and breathe deeply 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:42.719 be present 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:44.059 do not be past 00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:44.800 do not be future 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.380 be now 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:48.039 on a crystal clear 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.480 breathy 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.559 70 degree day 00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.719 roll down the window 00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:51.360 and feel 00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:52.039 the wind 00:35:52.039 --> 00:35:52.880 against your skin 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:53.960 feel the warmth 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.539 of the sun 00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:56.320 if you run 00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:56.699 then allow 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:58.019 these first few breaths 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:59.340 of a cool autumn day 00:35:59.340 --> 00:36:00.519 to freeze your lungs 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.559 and do not just be alarmed 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.300 be alive 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:04.139 get knee deep 00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:04.599 in a novel 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.679 and lose track of time 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.400 and if you bike 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.480 then pedal hard 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.960 and if you crash 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:10.440 then crash well 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:12.759 feel the satisfaction 00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:13.519 of a job 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.199 well done 00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:15.259 a paper well written 00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.179 a project 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.019 thoroughly completed 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:18.059 a play well performed 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.820 and if you have 00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:20.259 recently experienced loss 00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:21.599 then grieve 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.960 and grieve 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.840 well 00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:25.759 at the table 00:36:25.759 --> 00:36:26.199 with friends 00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:26.659 and family 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.179 laugh 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:29.199 if you are eating 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:29.639 and laughing 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.440 at the same time 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.119 then might 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.960 might well 00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:34.319 then might as well 00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:34.659 laugh 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.799 until you puke 00:36:35.799 --> 00:36:38.059 and if you eat 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.960 then smell 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.960 and taste 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:41.539 taste every ounce 00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:41.980 of flavor 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:43.019 taste every ounce 00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:44.039 of friendship 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:45.639 taste every ounce 00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.179 of life 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:47.219 because it is most 00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:47.879 definitely 00:36:47.879 --> 00:36:48.799 a gift 00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:50.519 let's pray 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:55.280 father 00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:55.639 today 00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:57.440 as we come 00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:57.980 before you 00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.559 we pray 00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:58.960 that 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:00.619 every ounce 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:02.780 of the kingdom 00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:03.320 would break 00:37:03.320 --> 00:37:04.699 into this world 00:37:04.699 --> 00:37:06.420 and into our lives 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:09.219 that every ounce 00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:09.759 of Christ 00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.420 is what we would 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:10.840 taste 00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:12.719 as we share 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:13.460 life together 00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:17.340 father 00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:18.079 as we think 00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:18.679 about our own 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:19.360 prayer life 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.860 we confess 00:37:20.860 --> 00:37:21.840 that so many times 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:23.079 we are centered 00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.720 on our idols 00:37:23.720 --> 00:37:24.340 and we just want 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.920 you to serve them 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:29.280 and we just 00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:29.780 lose 00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:31.019 you in it all 00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:31.880 so we just pray 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.599 that you would again 00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.599 center us 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.200 on your kingdom 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.880 of wholeness 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:35.760 and perfectness 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.280 and restoration 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:37.140 and beauty 00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:37.840 and grace 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.420 and love 00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:39.820 and all the things 00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.860 that you are like 00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:44.620 father 00:37:44.620 --> 00:37:45.680 and in it all 00:37:45.680 --> 00:37:46.720 we realize 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.660 that so many times 00:37:47.660 --> 00:37:48.620 we fall short of this 00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:49.279 and so we're just 00:37:49.279 --> 00:37:49.880 also grateful 00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:51.400 for the peace 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:51.799 we have 00:37:51.799 --> 00:37:52.699 that if we don't 00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:53.539 have our prayer life 00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:53.839 right 00:37:53.839 --> 00:37:54.380 that you are 00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:54.839 the father 00:37:54.839 --> 00:37:56.019 that is not so 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:56.940 concerned about 00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:58.799 us having the 00:37:58.799 --> 00:37:59.719 questions wrong 00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:00.739 and saying stupid 00:38:00.739 --> 00:38:01.079 things 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.679 but that you 00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.639 care so much 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:03.079 more about 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.639 a relationship 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.380 with us 00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:05.599 so that wherever 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:06.199 we are 00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:07.119 in our prayer life 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:07.639 that you 00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:08.739 love us deeply 00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:09.179 and that you 00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:10.019 care more about 00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:10.980 that relationship 00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:11.440 with us 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.380 than anything else 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:14.280 and we thank 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:14.660 you that 00:38:14.660 --> 00:38:15.940 2,000 years ago 00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:16.340 you stepped 00:38:16.340 --> 00:38:17.099 into this world 00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:18.960 dying on the cross 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:19.559 as a symbol 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:20.460 of your kingdom 00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:21.800 breaking into 00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:22.440 this reality 00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:24.320 that the forgiveness 00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:25.160 for our sins 00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:26.500 that comes to the cross 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.400 restores us 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.340 and points us 00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:28.840 to redemption 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:29.360 in you 00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:30.720 and we pray 00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:31.519 that in this community 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.539 and in every life 00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:33.099 here today 00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:34.119 that that would be 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.660 a reality 00:38:34.660 --> 00:38:36.019 and we pray this 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:36.720 in Christ's name 00:38:36.720 --> 00:38:37.740 Amen