WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:26.380 --> 00:00:28.339 Happy Sunday. Good morning. 00:00:28.939 --> 00:00:34.979 I'm Tonya and I'm part of the Oikos in the Oaks and Women Reading Women monthly book club groups. 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:43.539 Today's scripture reading is from the book of Genesis chapter 18 verses 16 to 33 as printed in your liturgy. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:45.659 A reading from the book of Genesis. 00:00:46.859 --> 00:00:53.960 When the men got up to leave, they looked down towards Sodom and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:59.019 Then the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:05.500 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:14.540 For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:18.859 So that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him. 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:31.000 So then the Lord said, the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sins so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:32.640 If not, I will know. 00:01:33.299 --> 00:01:38.540 The men turned away and went towards Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:44.439 Then Abraham approached him and said, will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:47.799 What if there are 50 righteous people in this city? 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:53.299 Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people in it? 00:01:53.299 --> 00:02:00.379 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:02.399 Far be it from you. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:05.539 Will not the judge of all the earth do right? 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:13.900 The Lord said, if I find 50 righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake. 00:02:14.579 --> 00:02:16.680 Then Abraham spoke up again. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:26.540 Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than 50? 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:30.040 Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people? 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:34.680 If I find 45 there, he said, I will not destroy it. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:36.920 Once again, he spoke to him. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:39.040 What if only 40 are found there? 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:42.939 He said, for the sake of 40, I will not do it. 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:47.819 Then he said, may the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:50.419 What if only 30 can be found there? 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:54.699 He answered, I will not do it if I find 30 there. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:02.479 Abraham said, now that I've been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only 20 can be found there? 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:06.900 He said, for the sake of 20, I will not destroy it. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:13.240 Then he said, may the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:15.680 What if only 10 can be found there? 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:20.240 He answered, for the sake of 10, I will not destroy it. 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:25.620 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left and Abraham returned home. 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:31.259 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:33.740 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:49.520 We're about halfway through this sermon series in Genesis, and so I thought it'd be fitting after today's service to offer a Q&A on this sermon, 00:03:49.820 --> 00:03:56.300 on the book of Genesis, on the Bible, on really any question you would like to ask. 00:03:56.420 --> 00:03:58.700 We'll gather up for a Q&A after this service. 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:04.299 But last Sunday, we were looking at the same chapter, Genesis 18. 00:04:05.179 --> 00:04:07.179 The Lord came, and he said, where's Sarah? 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:10.579 And Sarah laughed, and God transformed her laugh. 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:13.199 So this is picking right up where we left off. 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:21.599 In verse 17, the Lord says, shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:26.220 And that's basically like saying, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but. 00:04:27.140 --> 00:04:27.420 Right? 00:04:27.520 --> 00:04:28.660 It's tipping your hand. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.100 It's revealing your intentions. 00:04:31.200 --> 00:04:33.320 It's letting the cat out of the bag. 00:04:33.580 --> 00:04:38.140 The Lord clearly does not want to hide from Abraham what he's about to do. 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:38.460 Why? 00:04:38.580 --> 00:04:44.120 Because he's chosen Abraham to be his covenant partner. 00:04:45.080 --> 00:04:47.280 And we kind of see that in verse 17. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:49.019 Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:04:49.099 --> 00:04:54.319 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed 00:04:54.319 --> 00:05:00.559 through him, for I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household 00:05:00.559 --> 00:05:06.559 after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will 00:05:06.559 --> 00:05:09.779 bring about for Abraham what he has promised him. 00:05:09.779 --> 00:05:20.939 In other words, if Abraham and if all the people of Abraham are going to be a community, are going 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:27.739 to be a nation through whom the blessing of God goes out to all the nations of the earth, 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:33.159 if they're going to be a people who keep the way of the Lord, a people who do what is right 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:42.520 and what is just, a people who are righteous and who are just, then they must necessarily be involved 00:05:42.520 --> 00:05:43.080 with God. 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:50.000 They must be participating with God in his work in the world. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:57.140 And this means that Abraham and the people of Abraham need to learn to be a people of prayer. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:00.460 They've got to learn how to pray. 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:04.899 Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:06.779 That's an invitation to pray. 00:06:08.159 --> 00:06:12.979 And it actually leads to the first full prayer with petitions recorded in the Bible, one of 00:06:12.979 --> 00:06:15.399 the greatest prayers in all of the scriptures. 00:06:16.419 --> 00:06:21.299 And what we learn here right off the bat is that prayer is not our idea, it's God's idea. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:28.899 And prayer is never, it never comes at our initiation, it comes at God's initiation. 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:36.219 If you ever sense that you should pray, it's because God is prompting you to pray. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.060 Prayer is answering God. 00:06:39.179 --> 00:06:43.419 Prayer is responding to God's word, responding to God's spirit. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.939 And the God that we meet here in the story is a living God. 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:55.600 He's a real God who speaks and who invites us into his presence and who prompts us to pray 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:00.079 and who listens to us and wants a personal relationship with us. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:06.300 And prayer is the conversation that keeps the relationship alive, right? 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:09.879 Just like any other relationship we have, we have to talk to that person. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:15.120 And so there's lots of different kinds of prayer in the Bible, but we're going to ask three 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:15.759 questions today. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:17.779 What is intercessory prayer? 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:20.800 What fuels this kind of praying? 00:07:21.420 --> 00:07:24.480 And how can we contend for our city? 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:26.339 What is intercessory prayer? 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:27.800 What fuels this kind of praying? 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:30.719 And how can we contend for our city? 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:38.080 If you look at verse 20, then the Lord said, the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so 00:07:38.080 --> 00:07:43.180 great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:45.900 bad as the outcry that has reached me. 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:47.780 If not, I will know. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:54.400 And then the men turned away and went towards Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before 00:07:54.400 --> 00:07:54.760 the Lord. 00:07:54.880 --> 00:07:59.160 Then Abraham approached him and said, will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:05.040 So we've heard already in verse 19, Abraham is called to form this family. 00:08:05.220 --> 00:08:10.840 He's called to form a whole nation, in fact, that will keep the way of the Lord and will 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:13.120 do what is right and what is just. 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:15.400 But what do those words actually mean? 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:20.879 And what do they have to do with this outcry that's coming up to the Lord? 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:31.019 Well, the Hebrew word, tzedekah, which means righteousness, it's about the day-to-day living 00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:39.759 of a person who conducts all of their relationships in their family and in society with fairness and 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:41.600 generosity and equity. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:51.159 And a righteous person is someone who will disadvantage themselves in order to advantage 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:52.100 the community. 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:55.720 And a wicked person is someone who does the opposite. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:01.940 A wicked person is someone who will disadvantage the community in order to advantage themselves. 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:05.279 That's tzedekah, that's righteousness. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:13.519 And the Hebrew word mishpat, which means justice, is all about giving people what they are due. 00:09:13.819 --> 00:09:18.419 If someone is due punishment or if someone is due protection, you give them what they're 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:18.779 due. 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:26.059 And over and over in the scriptures, mishpat describes taking up the care and the cause of 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:31.919 four different kinds of people, widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.839 And we describe these as the quartet of the vulnerable. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:42.019 These are people who have no economic power, no social power. 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:48.139 They're so easily neglected and ignored, so easily exploited and harmed. 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:55.559 And so when the Lord says in verse 20, a great outcry about grievous sins has come up to me, 00:09:55.599 --> 00:09:58.019 it's all about tzedekah and mishpat. 00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:06.179 It's all about these cities who have become so corrupt, so vicious, so cruel, so violent, 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:12.679 that victims of unrighteousness, victims of injustice are crying out to the Lord for righteousness 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:13.779 and justice. 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.720 You guys with me so far? 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:17.559 Okay. 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:23.919 So the prophet Ezekiel, interestingly, in Ezekiel 16, the prophet says, 00:10:24.119 --> 00:10:29.859 the sin of Sodom is that she is arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:33.579 She does not help the poor and the needy. 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:38.019 And God doesn't stand aloof to that. 00:10:38.119 --> 00:10:39.739 He stands in judgment on that. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:43.000 And you might say, well, I don't believe in a God of judgment. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:44.840 I believe in a God of mercy, right? 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:50.700 But if you have a God who hears the cries of people who are oppressed, who are being 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:56.919 absolutely crushed, and he never actually judges their oppressors, is that actually a 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:57.500 God of mercy? 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:04.440 So what you have here is both a just and a merciful God who hears this outcry, and he 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:06.139 asks Abraham to intervene. 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:08.860 Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:10.000 No, I'm not going to hide it. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.740 And Abraham knows that, and Abraham turns in verse 23, and it says, Abraham approached 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:19.600 him and said, will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:23.320 And this term, approached, it's a legal word. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:30.840 It means to approach the bench, to approach the judge, right? 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:37.879 It's like a courtroom where Abraham's been invited to become the legal representative of 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:41.019 this pagan city before Almighty God. 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.340 And he goes to the bench, and he begins to intervene. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.559 He begins to argue a case. 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:51.120 He begins to contend for the future of this city. 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:56.480 And what's surprising as he's making his case is that if you know anything about the story, 00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:01.899 Abraham's nephew, Lot, and his whole family is in this city, but he doesn't mention them 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:02.459 at all. 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:06.360 And Gordon Wynnum is a great Old Testament scholar. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.600 In his commentary, he says this. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:14.679 He says, this text, Genesis 18, has all kind of links with the great intercessions of Moses 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:22.879 and of Samuel and of Amos and of Jeremiah, who all pleaded to God on the nation's behalf. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.899 They pleaded on Israel's behalf. 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:31.419 But he says here, Abraham is, he's not praying for his own people, he's praying for Sodom. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:39.319 And that, Gordon Wynnum says, that makes this episode unique among prophetic intercessions. 00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:43.199 Because Abraham's not praying for his own needs. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:47.100 He's not praying for his grocery list of, I need this and I want that, give me this, 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:47.620 give me that. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:55.500 Nor is he praying for his own family or his own people, his own tribe, people who believe 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:59.440 like him, look like him, share the same race, the same God. 00:12:59.560 --> 00:12:59.759 No. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:03.220 It says that he's praying for Canaanite pagans. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:06.120 He's praying for the whole city. 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:11.120 He's praying for people who, even at this moment, are doing wicked things. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:15.919 And he's just laying himself out before God for their good. 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:24.980 So this is a prayer that's remarkably unselfish, remarkably outwardly facing, broad, inclusive, 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.080 universal. 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:30.679 Because Abraham knows that he's been blessed to be a blessing, right? 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:32.000 Back in Genesis 12. 00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:34.259 And that's repeated here in verse 18. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:36.220 All the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:41.639 And one of the primary ways that Abraham understands how this blessing is going to go through him 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:44.720 out to all the peoples is through prayer. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.500 Through intercessory prayer. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:55.139 And so at first glance, as Abraham begins to talk to God, and is talking God down from 00:13:55.139 --> 00:14:02.120 50 to 45 to 40 to 30 to 20 to 10, it sounds like we're listening to two Middle Eastern people 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:05.360 in a marketplace haggling over the price of melons. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.200 Right? 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:11.700 But it's actually profoundly deeper than that. 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:17.000 There's something profoundly theological going on here where it says in verse 23, 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:19.820 Abraham approached the bench and he said, 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:22.220 Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:24.899 What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:29.659 Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people in it? 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:33.200 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous and the wicked, 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:35.320 treating the righteous and the wicked alike. 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.720 Far be it from you. 00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:40.300 Will not the judge of all the earth do right? 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:46.860 See, Abraham's approaching the bench like a lawyer, like a defense attorney. 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:52.759 And a good defense attorney will not come to the judge and say, 00:14:53.379 --> 00:15:01.080 Your Honor, my client is guilty of breaking this law, but don't you think this is kind of a stupid law? 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:09.280 Or, hey, Your Honor, can't you just for today forget everything you learned in law school? 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:14.920 And just for a moment, like kind of be a little flexible on the standard of the law, 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:17.540 and just have a heart and give my client a break? 00:15:18.540 --> 00:15:22.200 If that's your defense attorney, you need a new defense attorney, 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.200 because you're not going to win in court. 00:15:25.420 --> 00:15:27.240 See, Abraham knows how to win in court. 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:31.620 He goes back to Genesis 1-2, and he says, 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:34.899 God, the facts are, You're the creator. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:39.060 You are the moral standard maker of the universe. 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.960 You are the righteous and the just lawgiver. 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:45.440 And so I'm not asking you to be something you're not. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.500 I'm not asking you to do something other than what you do. 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:56.960 But Abraham also goes back to Genesis 3 and Genesis 6 and Genesis 13, 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:02.120 and he says, You're not just a law-giving and a just God who demands righteousness and justice, 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:05.940 but you're also a compassionate God, and you're a gracious God. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:11.299 You spared Adam and Eve, and you spared Noah and his family, 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:13.039 and you spared me and my family. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:16.319 You called me out of pagan idolatry to become your person, 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:18.659 to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. 00:16:18.719 --> 00:16:23.319 So I know he's calling on the nature of God and the very attributes of God 00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:26.339 and saying, God, I know who you revealed yourself to be. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.759 And so the question that I'm asking you, God, 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:34.899 is what if there are both righteous and wicked people in this city? 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:40.439 You wouldn't sweep the righteous away with the wicked, would you? 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.439 Because that wouldn't be right. 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:46.840 Wouldn't you rather spare this whole city? 00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:50.879 Wouldn't you rather just forgive and save this entire city, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.379 including the wicked, for the sake of the righteous? 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.740 He's saying, Look, God, I'm not asking you for the salvation of people 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.379 in spite of your demands for righteousness, 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:03.100 but rather what I'm asking is this. 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:07.859 Will you forgive the unrighteous many for the sake of the righteous few? 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:14.160 And could you value the righteousness of the few so much 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:16.619 that it covers the wickedness of the many? 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:23.380 God, could you please spare, could you please forgive this whole city 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.960 for a righteous remnant that might be inside of it? 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:33.180 Because I know that the wicked have failed your moral law. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:35.819 I know they have a guilty record, 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:39.980 but is it possible that the righteousness of someone else 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.759 could cover them and could save them? 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:47.200 You see, we all live in a culture of radical individualism, 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.759 so this makes no sense at all. 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:52.140 But for Abraham, he's an ancient person, 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:55.280 and so he's pressing God for corporate solidarity 00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:58.440 and a sense of organic connectionalism. 00:17:58.520 --> 00:18:02.240 He's pushing God in this direction of collective responsibility. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:06.940 He says, We all know it's true that if one person royally screws up, 00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:08.000 royally sins, 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:10.780 then another person or another whole group of people 00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:13.220 are going to be negatively affected by that, right? 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.580 And Abraham says, 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:18.340 But what if that principle works in the opposite direction? 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:21.959 Is it possible that the righteousness of others 00:18:21.959 --> 00:18:24.299 could positively impact another person 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.699 or another group of people? 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.879 He says, God, 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.679 is your treatment of the human community 00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:35.639 going to be based on the wicked record of the many, 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:39.959 or could it be based on the righteous record of the few? 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:43.679 And at an even deeper level in this prayer, 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.500 Abraham is saying, 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:48.619 God, is it possible that your merciful will to save 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:51.960 could become greater than your just will to punish? 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:56.900 And is it possible for your divine justice 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.819 for the sake of the wicked 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:01.480 to be somehow subsumed under your divine mercy 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.660 for the sake of the righteous? 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:07.740 How do we apply this kind of praying to our lives? 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:10.220 Well, I hope you can see so far 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:13.420 that prayer is about more than just shooting up flares 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:16.580 and saying, is there anybody up there? 00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:19.500 It's way more than just writing down 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.620 little messages in a bottle, 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:21.640 sending them out, 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.860 hoping somebody will read these one day. 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:27.460 No, prayer is about crying out to the living God, 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:32.180 this God who's revealed himself in the Bible, 00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:34.960 calling on, grabbing hold of his nature 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.779 and his attributes 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.640 and all of his promises and his will 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:39.620 and saying, God, I'm not going to let you go. 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:43.159 Prayer is about standing in the gap 00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:45.219 between the creator and his creatures. 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:48.039 It's about standing in that place 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.199 between the living God 00:19:49.199 --> 00:19:51.319 and the cities in which we inhabit 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:54.919 and on the basis of who God says he is, 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:58.399 engaging him in a conversation 00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:00.639 that's both broad and deep, 00:20:01.739 --> 00:20:04.000 that's both universal and theological. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:08.599 If we're going to be mature Christians, 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.000 if we're going to be a healthy church, 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.920 we've got to learn how to pray like Abraham, 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.799 which means that we've got to get around people 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.859 who have learned how to pray this way 00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:19.859 and we've got to get ourselves into resources 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:21.559 that can teach us how to pray this way 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:24.039 and that's why we're going to keep going in this passage 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:26.500 because this is the first resource. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.460 So what is intercessory prayer? 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.539 Second question is, 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:33.420 what fuels this kind of praying? 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.359 It's interesting that 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:39.000 when Abraham approaches the bench, 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:41.960 he just begins kind of 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:45.039 launching all kind of questions at God, right? 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.920 And he even gets to the point, 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.299 he says, God, will you really? 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.579 Will you really? 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:54.559 Far be it from you, God. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:54.599 God. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.899 It's kind of an intimate 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:59.859 and also intense form 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:02.419 of communication with Almighty God, 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:02.879 is it not? 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:05.319 If you look at the Psalms, 00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:06.119 the prayer book of the Bible, 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:08.119 you see the exact same kind of thing. 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:12.079 Abraham has this incredibly bold faith 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.599 where he just, 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:14.119 he approaches the bench 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:15.679 like he deserves to be there 00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:18.879 and he moves right into the presence 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:20.179 of the judge of all the earth 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:21.759 with a kind of accessibility 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.539 and a kind of familiarity 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:25.680 and he just begins to argue, 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.680 argue his case. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.859 And how does the Lord respond to that? 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.759 Is the Lord displeased with that? 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.980 Well, verse 26 says, 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:35.700 the Lord said, 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.799 if I find 50 righteous people 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.720 in the city of Sodom, 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.420 like you've asked, 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:41.559 I will spare the whole place 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.180 for their sake. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:44.319 And then Abraham spoke up again 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.720 and he said, 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.899 now that I've been so bold 00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:47.099 as to speak to the Lord, 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:49.539 though I'm nothing but dust and ashes, 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.480 what if the number of the righteous 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.019 is five less than 50, 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.940 will you destroy the whole city 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:56.579 for lack of five people? 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.220 If I find 45 there, 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.620 he said, 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:01.400 I will not destroy it. 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.460 See, Abraham knows 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.420 that he's asking boldly, 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:05.920 right, 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.860 he's got chutzpah, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.620 as they say. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.860 He knows that. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.819 But at the same time, 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.680 he also says, 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:14.599 I'm nothing but dust and ashes, 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:17.259 which is a profound statement 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:20.240 of humility and deference 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.559 that, again, 00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:24.000 is rooted in divine revelation. 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:25.599 He's going back to Genesis 2. 00:22:25.719 --> 00:22:26.359 We're nothing but, 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.679 we're made from the dust, 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.359 right? 00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:28.980 Genesis 3, 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.480 we're fallen sinners 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.659 who deserve nothing but death and ashes. 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.719 And most people struggle 00:22:35.719 --> 00:22:37.959 to hold these two things together 00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.839 at the same time, 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.500 right? 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.459 Conservative people tend to say, 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:42.659 you know, 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:44.460 God is a personal God 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.660 and he's this imminent God 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.460 and so we're looking for 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:49.220 a sense of the presence of God. 00:22:49.300 --> 00:22:50.740 We want to draw near to God. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:51.660 We want to experience 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.779 intimacy with God. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.840 We want to approach him. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.900 We want to talk to him. 00:22:57.540 --> 00:22:59.920 But we don't really want to go after God 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.500 in prayer. 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.920 We don't want to be too assertive. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.660 We don't want to be aggressive 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:08.140 like Abraham is in this prayer 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:10.300 because that's not appropriate 00:23:10.300 --> 00:23:12.100 if God is absolute 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:13.299 and God is transcendent. 00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.699 It's not respectful enough. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:16.559 It's not formal enough. 00:23:16.699 --> 00:23:18.659 Who could go to God like that? 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.240 But on the other hand, 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.399 liberal-minded people 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:26.539 who really have a passion 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:31.919 for causes of collective righteousness, 00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:34.059 causes of corporate justice, 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:36.679 they might want to talk to people 00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.339 about these things. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:39.279 Maybe occasionally they'll talk to God 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.259 about these things. 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.960 But they certainly won't admit 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:46.980 that before the cosmic majesty of God, 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.599 I'm really nothing but dust and ashes. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:53.180 I really don't even deserve 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:54.700 to be here right now. 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.920 I don't deserve to ask for anything. 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:59.160 I'm just weak and unworthy 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.759 and undeserving. 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:02.379 I'm totally helpless, 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.859 totally hopeless. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:06.219 And you see, 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.019 neither group, 00:24:07.219 --> 00:24:08.939 neither Christian here 00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:09.579 or Christian there, 00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:10.439 church here or Christian, 00:24:10.879 --> 00:24:13.059 neither of them are as bold 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:15.379 and as humble as Abraham is. 00:24:16.979 --> 00:24:17.919 Abraham shows us 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:19.099 how to approach the bench, 00:24:19.199 --> 00:24:20.639 how to come to the throne of God, 00:24:20.699 --> 00:24:21.579 the presence of God, 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:23.179 with a kind of confidence 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:24.039 and a boldness 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.199 that's also counterbalanced 00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:27.299 by deference and humility. 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.259 And it's clear 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:30.519 that the Lord is pleased 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.500 with this kind of praying. 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:33.640 He's pleased 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.920 with this kind of attitude 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:36.240 and this kind of approach 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.980 because to Abraham's astonishment 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.039 over and over again, 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.859 the Lord continues to say yes. 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.420 And Abraham, 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.640 if you notice, 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.480 Abraham is the kind of person 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.940 who refuses to take yes 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.579 for an answer. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:53.680 Six times the Lord says yes 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.480 and six times Abraham 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.940 with humble boldness 00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.660 and bold humility says, 00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.740 no, I want more. 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.240 I want more. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:03.920 He's pressing the Lord 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.539 as far as the Lord 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:07.519 can be pressed to go. 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.799 And he gets him all the way 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:13.859 from 50 to 45, 40, 30, 20, 10, 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.099 all the way to 10. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.279 And then the conversation 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:19.039 just stops right there. 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:20.900 Why? 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.259 Why is that? 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:25.279 Because clearly Abraham 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.140 would keep going. 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:27.519 Right? 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.339 Abraham would go 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:30.160 all the way down to one. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.259 But it says in verse 33, 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.860 the Lord finished speaking with him 00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:34.740 and so Abraham just went home. 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:40.019 The Lord stops Abraham short 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.620 because he knows 00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.420 there's actually not 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.340 one righteous person 00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:43.940 in that city. 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.620 Abraham's nephew Lot 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.960 is there, 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:50.660 but he's an immigrant. 00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:52.200 He's not a citizen of the city. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.900 And if you know anything 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.820 about his story, 00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:56.800 he's relatively righteous. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.119 Right? 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:57.639 Right? 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:59.079 His record, 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.159 like ours, 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.379 is pretty spotty. 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.960 And so the Lord 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.399 just stops Abraham short 00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:05.680 and says, 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.379 there's not even one 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.059 righteous person 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.659 in that city. 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.039 And you see, 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.919 Abraham is a prophet. 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:13.119 Abraham is a priest. 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:14.940 And he's doing 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:16.200 what prophets and priests do. 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.180 He's interceding 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.720 for the city. 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:19.039 But the thing about Abraham 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.539 is the only thing 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.319 he can really do 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.779 is argue this case, 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.460 but he's not able 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.660 to execute the case. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.759 He's not able 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.039 to close the case. 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.700 And so what we need 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.960 is a true prophet. 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:32.579 What we need 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.700 is a high priest 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:35.440 who's not able 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:37.500 just to argue the case, 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.019 but is able 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:40.180 to execute the case. 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.160 And that's why 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.100 we have the New Testament. 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.100 Right? 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:45.879 The book of Hebrews 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.759 chapter 7, 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:48.000 verse 24 says, 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.279 because Jesus lives forever, 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.039 he has a permanent priesthood. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.599 And therefore, 00:26:54.719 --> 00:26:56.099 he's able to save completely 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:57.240 those who come to God 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.779 through him 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:59.219 because he always lives 00:26:59.219 --> 00:27:00.799 to intercede for them. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.939 Such a high priest 00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:04.339 truly meets our need, 00:27:04.459 --> 00:27:05.480 one who is holy, 00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:06.679 blameless, 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.399 pure, 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.419 set apart from sinners, 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:11.119 exalted above the heavens. 00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:12.980 He does not need 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.059 to offer sacrifices 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:15.259 for his own sins. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.899 He sacrificed 00:27:16.899 --> 00:27:17.579 for the sins 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.019 of the people 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.779 once for all 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.319 when he offered himself. 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.359 What in the world 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:22.960 does that mean? 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.240 Well, 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.519 you see, 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:24.940 Abraham, 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.319 he's praying 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.299 for Canaanites 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:29.480 who are hostile to him. 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.980 If you go back 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.960 and you look 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.480 at Genesis chapter 14, 00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:34.460 Abraham's having 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.019 to keep 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:37.000 these pagan Canaanites 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.679 off with swords. 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.059 They're trying 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.700 to attack him. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.319 They could hurt him. 00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:41.200 But he's praying 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.819 for them anyway. 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.019 And yet, 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:44.400 Jesus, 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.380 the true prophet, 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.640 the true high priest, 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.500 prayed for people 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.200 who are actually 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.720 in the act 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.380 of killing him. 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.380 Right on the cross, 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.120 what did Jesus pray? 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.700 He prayed, 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.039 Father, 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:54.580 forgive them 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.240 for they don't know 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.799 what they're doing. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.759 Jesus is giving 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.220 his life 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.880 for the people 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:02.380 he's praying for. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.440 Jesus 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:07.340 is not only 00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:08.700 able to argue 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.279 our case, 00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:09.740 but he's able 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.420 to execute 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.680 our case. 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.100 Because even though 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:15.720 he didn't have to come, 00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:17.440 he came anyway. 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.259 And he lived 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.039 the righteous life 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.460 that every one of us 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.259 was supposed to live. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.240 And even though 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.380 he was absolutely 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.019 innocent, 00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:28.319 he died the death 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.080 of a criminal. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:31.279 He died a just death 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.500 in our place, 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.120 the death that we 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:33.940 deserve to die. 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:35.740 And the night 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.420 before he went 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.019 to his cross, 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:37.580 he prayed, 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.059 in this great 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:39.059 high priestly prayer 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.559 in the Gospel 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.099 of John, 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.199 chapter 17. 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.500 He said, 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:41.819 Father, 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:42.539 I want you 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.259 to love them 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.599 as you love me. 00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.039 In other words, 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.539 I want you 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.519 to treat them 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:48.480 like you treat me, 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.960 as if they were me. 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.439 And what happens 00:28:52.439 --> 00:28:53.439 there at the cross 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.240 is that our legal 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.859 representative 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:56.759 stands before the bench 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.799 of divine justice 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.399 and he says, 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.679 I'm going to do it, 00:28:59.779 --> 00:28:59.960 Father. 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.839 I'm going to love you 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.639 with all my heart, 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.000 soul, 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.339 mind, 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.839 and strength 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.279 right now. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.799 I'm going to love 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.319 my neighbor 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.919 as myself. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.639 I'm going to die 00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.779 as the one 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.579 righteous person 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.619 who's ever lived 00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.740 on planet earth. 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.819 And so the question 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.319 that rings out 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:17.960 from this text 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.599 through the rest 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.220 of the scriptures, 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:22.439 will the Lord 00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:23.439 save the many wicked 00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:24.059 for the sake 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.779 of the one righteous? 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.939 The answer is yes. 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.179 When you have 00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:31.099 the right person, 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:31.899 yes. 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:35.500 and so friends, 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.080 when you enter 00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:36.720 into solidarity 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.780 with Jesus, 00:29:38.820 --> 00:29:39.620 what happens 00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.340 is that your 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.580 unrighteousness 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:42.440 becomes his 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:44.640 and his righteousness 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.400 becomes yours. 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.320 And that's what 00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:49.320 the apostle Paul says 00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:50.019 in 2 Corinthians 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.920 chapter 5 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.160 verse 21. 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:52.780 It says, 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.180 God made him 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.200 who had no sin 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.580 to be sin for us 00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:57.240 so that in him 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.000 we might become 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.060 the righteousness 00:29:59.060 --> 00:29:59.720 of God. 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:01.940 So again, 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.860 how do we apply 00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.960 this to our lives? 00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:04.819 Well, 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.120 yeah, 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.799 how do we 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:08.799 pray like this? 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.600 First of all, 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.160 we need to see 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.920 that we have 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:15.940 even more reason 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.620 than Abraham 00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:18.180 had to be humble 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:20.339 before the majesty 00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:21.180 of Almighty God 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:22.120 because we 00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:24.000 are so flawed. 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.900 We are so sinful. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.759 We are so 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:29.579 much more wicked 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.740 than we want 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.179 to admit 00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.839 to ourselves 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.679 that the eternal 00:30:32.679 --> 00:30:33.500 Son of God 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.919 had to come 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.439 and die 00:30:35.439 --> 00:30:36.980 in our place 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.699 on the cross 00:30:38.699 --> 00:30:39.299 to save us. 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:40.059 And so that means 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.859 that when we come 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.259 to God, 00:30:41.419 --> 00:30:42.539 we say that much 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.339 more than Abraham, 00:30:43.699 --> 00:30:44.099 I'm nothing 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:45.079 but dust and ashes. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.559 I know what it took 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.259 for me to be saved. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:48.619 I'm nothing 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.399 but dust and ashes. 00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:51.319 And yet, 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:51.779 secondly, 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.799 we need to see 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.759 that we have 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.559 even more reason 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.460 than Abraham did 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.259 to be bold 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:58.119 before God's throne 00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.559 of grace 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.119 because we're 00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.939 so loved. 00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.139 We're so accepted 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:03.119 that Jesus was 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:04.639 glad to die for us. 00:31:04.699 --> 00:31:06.059 He cares for us 00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.819 at infinite cost 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.339 to himself. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.279 So we don't just 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.099 come with humility, 00:31:10.239 --> 00:31:11.739 we come with boldness 00:31:11.739 --> 00:31:12.259 and we come 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:12.719 and we say, 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:13.719 this is where 00:31:13.719 --> 00:31:15.079 you made it possible 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.879 for me to be 00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:16.459 and I'm not going 00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:17.439 to take yes 00:31:17.439 --> 00:31:18.119 for an answer 00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:21.199 because I'm here. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:22.600 I'm here because 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:25.100 you shed your blood 00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:26.080 for me to be here. 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.680 And the third thing 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.279 we need to see 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.960 is that we have 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.000 a true and a better 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.819 Abraham 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:35.120 as our high priest 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.120 who's sitting 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:37.160 enthroned right now 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:38.100 as we've said already 00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:39.840 from Hebrews 7.25, 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.319 he's always living 00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:43.180 to intercede for us. 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.700 And that means 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.340 that we have 00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:47.900 a friend in high places. 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.380 Right? 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.740 We have a friend 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:52.100 in the highest place, 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.100 the control room 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:54.540 of the universe. 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.420 He was raised 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:55.980 from the dead 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.920 and he was exalted 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:59.360 to the right hand 00:31:59.360 --> 00:31:59.960 of the Father 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:01.340 and given all authority 00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:01.980 in heaven 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:03.220 and on earth 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.320 and that person 00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:05.519 is our friend. 00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:07.920 That person 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:09.100 is advocating 00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:09.759 for us 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:11.200 with an infallible case, 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.840 an executed case, 00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:15.200 a closed case. 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:19.140 And that's what gives us 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.140 the kind of power 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:22.680 to pray this way. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.700 Hebrews, again, 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:28.120 Hebrews chapter 4 says, 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.340 therefore since we have 00:32:30.340 --> 00:32:32.040 a great high priest 00:32:32.040 --> 00:32:32.800 who has ascended 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:33.340 into heaven, 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.660 Jesus the Son of God, 00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.580 we do not have 00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.180 a high priest 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.720 who's unable 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.860 to empathize 00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:40.240 with our weaknesses, 00:32:40.820 --> 00:32:42.600 but we have one 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.340 who's been tempted 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.200 in every way 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:45.140 just as we are, 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.700 yet he did not sin. 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:49.300 Let us, therefore, 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.600 approach God's throne 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.820 of grace with confidence 00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:54.300 so that we may receive mercy 00:32:54.300 --> 00:32:55.140 and find grace 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.900 to help us 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:57.780 in our time of need. 00:32:59.120 --> 00:33:00.860 If we grab hold of this, 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:03.180 this is the thing, 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.940 this is the fuel, 00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:04.759 this is the power 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.560 that will change 00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:06.400 your prayer life 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:08.259 from being non-existent 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:11.200 or overly formal 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:13.640 or overly vague 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:16.960 or just absolutely boring. 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:20.140 into a real 00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:21.759 and living 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.460 and intimate 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.300 and passionate 00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:24.680 and adventurous 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.759 and indeed risky 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:27.160 act of faith. 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.820 And this is what God 00:33:29.820 --> 00:33:30.740 wants from his people. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.640 It's very clear. 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.100 He says, 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:33.500 Abraham, 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:35.140 it's what I want you to be. 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.860 It's what I want 00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:37.200 all of your children to be, 00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:40.480 to learn to pray like this. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:44.819 So what is intercessory prayer? 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.180 What fuels such praying? 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.599 Last question, 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.279 it's very short. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.079 How can we do this 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.579 for our city? 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.660 How can we contend 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.460 for our city? 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:58.440 One of the commentators 00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.019 I read, 00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:03.740 his name's Nahum Sarna. 00:34:03.880 --> 00:34:04.480 He wrote the commentaries 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:08.420 for the Jewish Publication Society 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.719 on Genesis and Exodus. 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.099 And he said this, 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.420 he said, 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.019 until now, 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.159 Abraham has spoken 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.860 with God three times. 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:18.059 On each occasion, 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:20.039 his personal welfare 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:21.380 has been the sole subject 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.019 of discourse. 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:25.179 Now a change takes place. 00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.740 This dialogue with God 00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.780 involves a concern 00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:30.980 for the welfare of others, 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.940 total strangers. 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:34.820 Abraham displays 00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:36.559 an awareness of suffering 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:39.480 and an ability to respond 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:41.079 beyond his immediate 00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.220 personal interests. 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.679 And Sarna goes on, 00:34:44.720 --> 00:34:44.960 he says, 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.940 his compassionate behavior 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.700 at this moment 00:34:47.700 --> 00:34:48.860 makes him the paradigm 00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:50.840 of the just and the right. 00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:53.780 Qualities that are to characterize 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:55.079 all of his descendants. 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:58.559 Abraham now stands before God 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:00.440 to plead for the lives 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.659 of depraved pagans. 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:04.099 He senses kinship 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.700 with the people of Sodom 00:35:05.700 --> 00:35:07.780 and feels himself involved 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:09.320 in their fate. 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:15.300 What if we felt the way 00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:16.039 Abraham felt? 00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:21.159 What if we sensed a kinship 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:24.960 for the suffering of our city? 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:28.860 What if we felt ourselves 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.760 to be involved 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:32.099 not just in our own 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.980 personal interests 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.860 but in the welfare 00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:36.880 and the fate of our city? 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:40.019 The New Testament says 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:42.019 that every single Christian believer 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:44.099 is like Abraham. 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:45.000 Right? 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.220 1 Peter 2.9 says 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:47.260 that the community of Jesus 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:49.639 is to be a royal priesthood. 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:53.679 And Revelation 1 verse 6 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:54.819 says that Jesus made us 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:55.980 to be a kingdom of priests 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:58.219 to serve his God and Father. 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.639 What does that mean? 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.359 What does it mean 00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:05.119 to be a kingdom of priests? 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:08.219 A royal priesthood 00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:10.759 that is contending 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:12.780 for the spiritual, 00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:14.100 social, 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:16.360 and cultural renewal 00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:17.960 and well-being 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:19.240 and flourishing 00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:20.680 of our city? 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:23.960 What would it mean 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:27.200 if we began to turn to God 00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:28.840 in this kind of prayer 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:30.480 more than we currently do? 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:33.639 What would it mean 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.639 if we called 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:35.519 on the name of the Lord 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:37.579 with this kind of boldness 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.880 and this kind of humility? 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.599 If we said, 00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:41.920 God, 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:44.440 we're nothing but dust and ashes 00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:46.699 and yet, 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:46.980 God, 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.559 we're here 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.619 at this throne of grace. 00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:49.460 We don't want to take yes 00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.000 for an answer. 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:53.360 What if we were to call out 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:53.960 to God and say, 00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:54.219 God, 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.679 give us a hunger 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.260 and a thirst 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:56.920 for righteousness 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:57.740 and justice. 00:36:57.739 --> 00:37:01.619 And what if we contended 00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:02.119 for God 00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:03.599 not only for our own needs, 00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:06.679 our own spiritual life, 00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:08.939 but what if we contended 00:37:08.939 --> 00:37:09.479 to God 00:37:09.479 --> 00:37:11.799 for the lives of others, 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:14.339 for the next generation, 00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:16.819 for the whole of our city 00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.839 that doesn't know God? 00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:21.799 What if we took more ownership 00:37:21.799 --> 00:37:24.579 like Abraham took ownership 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:26.219 over a city 00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:27.439 he didn't even belong to? 00:37:27.739 --> 00:37:30.079 What if we began 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.699 to identify 00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:32.359 with the problems 00:37:32.359 --> 00:37:33.000 of our city? 00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:35.079 What if we began 00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:35.699 to repent 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.979 on its behalf? 00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:39.759 What if we operated 00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:41.539 with a holy burden 00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:43.259 that broken people 00:37:43.259 --> 00:37:43.779 in our city 00:37:43.779 --> 00:37:44.459 would be mended? 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:47.379 What if we cried out 00:37:47.379 --> 00:37:47.959 to God 00:37:47.959 --> 00:37:49.519 that people 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:50.459 who don't know him 00:37:50.459 --> 00:37:51.339 would come to know him 00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.039 and be saved 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:53.459 by the one righteous person 00:37:53.459 --> 00:37:54.219 God has provided? 00:37:54.219 --> 00:37:56.980 And what if we prayed 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.619 that all 00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:58.759 who've been rescued 00:37:58.759 --> 00:37:59.500 by Jesus 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:01.459 would live out 00:38:01.459 --> 00:38:02.559 the righteousness 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.319 and the justice 00:38:03.319 --> 00:38:04.039 of Jesus 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:07.879 in sanctified lives, 00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:08.799 holy lives 00:38:08.799 --> 00:38:11.719 that are fully conformed 00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:13.839 to his self-giving love? 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:18.160 You know, 00:38:18.220 --> 00:38:18.840 there's many steps 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.500 we could take 00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:20.019 in prayer 00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.660 but the one 00:38:21.660 --> 00:38:22.240 I'll just mention 00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:23.079 as we close 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:23.760 is that we 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:25.420 we didn't plan this 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.620 six months ago 00:38:26.620 --> 00:38:27.039 but we 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:28.360 we just put on the calendar 00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:29.180 that Wednesday 00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:29.820 this Wednesday 00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:30.420 we wanted 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.620 the church 00:38:31.620 --> 00:38:32.820 to commit itself 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.620 to a day of prayer 00:38:33.620 --> 00:38:34.200 and fasting. 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:36.140 Didn't know what text 00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:36.860 we were preaching today 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:37.920 we just put it on the calendar 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:39.680 and you're gonna hear 00:38:39.680 --> 00:38:40.340 about it in a moment 00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.700 we're just calling you 00:38:41.700 --> 00:38:42.940 to carve out 00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:43.900 an hour of your day 00:38:43.900 --> 00:38:45.200 we're giving you 00:38:45.200 --> 00:38:45.980 a prayer guide 00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:47.360 you can pray on your own 00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:47.820 you can pray 00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.420 with other people 00:38:48.420 --> 00:38:49.400 you can pray at home 00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:49.900 at work 00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:50.680 you can pray here 00:38:50.680 --> 00:38:53.420 we try to eliminate 00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:54.280 every barrier 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:55.440 for you to say 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.500 no I cannot pray 00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:58.460 and we would just 00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:59.079 simply ask 00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.860 I just wanna ask 00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:00.519 as we close 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.119 this sermon 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:03.000 will you pray? 00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:05.180 Will you pray 00:39:05.180 --> 00:39:05.740 like Abraham? 00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:05.899 Abraham 00:39:05.899 --> 00:39:07.979 the Lord said 00:39:07.979 --> 00:39:09.099 he'll preserve the city 00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:09.839 if there are 50 00:39:09.839 --> 00:39:11.119 righteous people in it 00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:12.679 he'll even preserve the city 00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.279 if there's 10 00:39:13.279 --> 00:39:14.339 righteous people in it 00:39:14.339 --> 00:39:17.339 and so what if we 00:39:17.339 --> 00:39:20.039 were a little prophetic 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:20.659 community 00:39:20.659 --> 00:39:21.879 a little priestly community 00:39:21.879 --> 00:39:24.099 that was so filled 00:39:24.099 --> 00:39:25.119 with love for God 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:25.819 love for neighbor 00:39:25.819 --> 00:39:28.359 that we wanted to 00:39:28.359 --> 00:39:29.679 go to God 00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:30.579 in bold humility 00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.639 and intercede 00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:33.899 for the flourishing 00:39:33.899 --> 00:39:34.279 of others 00:39:34.279 --> 00:39:34.939 for the flourishing 00:39:34.939 --> 00:39:35.500 of our city 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:38.320 this would please God 00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:38.699 I think 00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:40.000 very very much 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:42.800 John Newton 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:43.280 who wrote 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:44.099 Amazing Grace 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:44.920 he also wrote a hymn 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:45.739 he says this 00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:47.579 thou art coming 00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:48.219 to a king 00:39:48.219 --> 00:39:50.599 large petitions 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:51.619 with thee bring 00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:53.500 for his grace 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.079 and power 00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:54.739 are such 00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:56.320 none 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:58.000 can ever ask 00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:58.960 too much 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:00.880 in the name 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.300 of the Father 00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:01.539 Son 00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:02.239 and Holy Spirit 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:03.300 Amen 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:05.940 I want to invite you 00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.600 just to take a moment 00:40:06.600 --> 00:40:07.019 of quiet 00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:07.580 as we prepare 00:40:07.580 --> 00:40:08.420 to come to this table 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:08.860 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:38.840 Thank you.