WEBVTT

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 Have you noticed how all the news headlines,

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 they're just filled with hardship or uncertainty, for example.

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 Can you imagine the hardship of all those who are trying to deal with the destruction of Hurricane Harvey?

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 I mean, can you imagine what they're trying to do right now,

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 all throughout Southeast Texas, Louisiana, throughout the path of Harvey?

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 Then think about the uncertainty of Hurricane Irma.

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 Right now, out in the Atlantic, not knowing really where it's going,

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 where it's going or if it's going to strike the United States.

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 Then there's the uncertainty of the North Koreans.

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 What are they going to do?

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 We have our own personal hardships and uncertainties right here in Pickens County

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 and really right here in this room.

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 Have you ever stopped and thought on any given Sunday when we gather in this service

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 and in your Sunday school class?

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 There are people who are dealing with serious health issues,

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 their own or a close family member.

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 At least every month, members of our church, people sitting in this room,

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 are dealing with the grief from the death of a close family member or friend.

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 There's always job uncertainties.

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 Always some kind of family crisis, it seems.

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 And then, if we're honest, from time to time, we come in this room,

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 we have emotional and spiritual struggles that maybe no one knows about.

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 So really, hardships and uncertainties, they're just a way of life.

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 And that's real personal when it affects us, it doesn't.

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 Well, what one word best describes the way most people deal with hardship and uncertainty?

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 Wouldn't worry be that word?

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 Or stress?

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 Anxiety?

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 It seems that some people, they think worry is their duty.

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 I have a family member that over the years,

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 after I've gotten over being sick or some kind of issue in my life,

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 their response was, well, I was worried about you,

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 as if that was supposed to comfort me.

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 That was their way of helping me.

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 I worried about you.

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 We know that worry is one of the most common ways

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 that people deal with problems,

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 but it's not the way that God intends for us as His children

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 to deal with our problems.

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 We know that,

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 but it doesn't always prevent us from worrying, does it?

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 We struggle, just like everybody else.

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 Things are going on in our lives,

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 and we are at least tempted to worry,

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 to get all stressed out.

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 Over what is about to happen,

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 or what we're involved in right now.

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 Well, today I want us to take a refresher course.

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 For most everybody in this room,

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 it'll be a refresher course.

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 In overcoming worry,

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 a refresher course in what to do instead of worry,

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 that the Apostle Paul provides for us

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 in Philippians chapter 4.

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 If you would,

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 turn to Philippians chapter 4,

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 and I want us to look together at two verses of Scripture,

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 where Paul deals with this issue.

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 Really, he confronts it head on,

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 telling us that as God's people,

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 we're not to worry.

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 He gives us an antidote.

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 He gives us what we should do in place of worry.

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 And he tells us why we shouldn't worry,

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 how God, if we'll respond the right way,

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 how he will help us.

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 That's what we're going to look at.

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 Read with me,

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 Philippians chapter 4,

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 verses 6 and 7,

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 and keep your Bibles open the entire time,

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 because we're just going to look at this back and forth.

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 Philippians 4, beginning in verse 6.

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 Do not be anxious about anything,

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 or do not worry about anything,

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 some translations will say.

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 But in everything,

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 by prayer and supplication,

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 or prayer and petition,

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 with thanksgiving,

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 let your requests be made known to God.

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 And the peace of God,

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 which surpasses all understanding,

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 which is beyond comprehension,

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 some will say.

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 The peace of God,

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 which surpasses all understanding,

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 will guard your hearts and minds

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 in Christ Jesus.

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 What we see here

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 is Paul providing a better way,

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 an alternative,

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 to dealing with hardship

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 and uncertainty in our life.

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 And he first points out

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 that worry is never the answer.

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 Here's how he says it,

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 very direct.

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 Don't worry about anything.

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 Do not be anxious about anything.

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 Now I want you to understand,

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 Paul did not write that

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 from the comfort of his easy chair

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 looking out over the ocean somewhere.

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 Paul wrote,

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 do not be anxious about anything

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 from Rome,

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 where he is under house arrest,

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 at all times he is chained to a Roman soldier,

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 and he is waiting on his court appearance

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 before Caesar.

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 Paul's under arrest,

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 chained to a Roman soldier,

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 as he dictates this letter.

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 And he doesn't know,

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 sooner or later,

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 he's going to appear before Caesar,

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 he doesn't know if he's going to be condemned to death,

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 if he's going to be put in prison,

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 or if he's going to be set free.

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 There's a lot going on in his life

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 that would make the normal person anxious.

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 Paul's not the normal person,

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 or he's not responding as the normal person would be.

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 Paul tells us,

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 do not be anxious about anything.

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 Now,

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 Paul understood how easy it would be

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 to worry just like everybody else.

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 I mean,

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 he's just a real human being,

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 a real man.

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 If you read through the book of Acts

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 about his travels,

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 he faced all kinds of hardships,

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 put in prison on several occasions,

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 beaten at times,

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 even beaten to the point

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 he was left for dead on one occasion.

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 There were times he didn't have enough to eat,

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 times he was abandoned by his friends.

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 If you read some of the things he writes

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 of a personal nature in his letters,

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 there's a lot of uncertainty

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 about what's going to happen in the future.

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 He wants to go to this place,

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 but he doesn't know if God's going to let him or not.

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 He's concerned about a church,

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 and he hasn't heard from them.

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 He's concerned about some of his friends.

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 He doesn't know where they are.

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 There's a lot of things in Paul's life

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 that cause him to at least be tempted

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 to be worried,

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 to be all stressed out.

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 And so, as he writes this,

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 makes this statement,

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 do not be anxious about anything.

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 Paul is writing to Christians

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 in the church at Philippi,

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 but I really think,

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 in light of all that's going on in his life,

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 he's reminding himself as well.

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 Don't be anxious about anything.

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 Let's try to understand what Paul is talking about

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 when he tells us not to worry.

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 Now, we need to understand,

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 worry is not the same thing as concern.

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 When he says,

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 do not be anxious about anything,

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 he's not saying,

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 don't care about anything.

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 Nowhere in the Bible

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 are we as Christians taught

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 to be unconcerned

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 about what's going on around about us.

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 We are never called

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 to try to distance ourselves

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 from reality.

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 We're never called to try to

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 be unemotional,

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 uninvolved,

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 or unconcerned about

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 what's going on in our life

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 and in people around about us.

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 I want you to think.

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 Jesus rejoiced with people

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 who were rejoicing

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 and he wept with those

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 who were weeping at times.

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 There were times Jesus went to parties

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 with his friends.

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 There was one time in particular

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 that most everyone knows.

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 Every child knows

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 the shortest verse in the Bible.

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 Jesus wept.

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 Well, he was weeping at the tomb

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 of his friend Lazarus.

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 Jesus got angry at times.

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 Jesus was far from detached

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 and unemotional,

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 uninvolved in people's lives.

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 Jesus was very much involved

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 and concerned

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 about what was going on.

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 He laughed with people.

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 He partied with people.

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 He wept with people.

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 He hurt with people.

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 And he got angry a lot of times

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 at the religious hypocrites

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 and confronted them

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 over some of the ways

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 they were distorting

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 the truth of God's word

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 and some of the ways

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 they were taking advantage

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 of people they were supposed

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 to be helping.

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 Worry does not mean

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 don't be concerned,

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 don't care,

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 don't be involved.

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 Worry literally means

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 to be divided,

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 to be pulled apart.

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 Jesus addressed

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 the sin of worry

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 in Matthew chapter 6

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 immediately after he had said

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 no one can serve two masters.

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 I want you to look at it.

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 Matthew chapter 6,

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 and by the way,

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 beginning in verse 25,

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 Jesus gives a long statement

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 about why we should not worry.

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 He actually says it three times,

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 do not worry.

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 He compared people who worry

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 with pagans,

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 not people who are believers

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 and know God

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 as their heavenly father.

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 But look at what it says

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 in verse 24.

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 No one can serve two masters,

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 for either he will hate the one

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 and love the other,

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 or he will be devoted

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 to the one

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 and despise the other.

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 You cannot serve God

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 in money.

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 But note the very next verse,

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 therefore,

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 I tell you,

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 do not be anxious

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 about your life.

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 You cannot be divided,

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 serve God in money,

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 God in things.

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 And you can't be divided

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 in terms of where your trust is

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 about the details of life.

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 What he's talking about

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 is we've got to have

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 a single-minded devotion to God.

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 We've got to really trust Him,

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 seek His will above all things,

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 and know that He's our heavenly Father.

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 He can be depended on.

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 He can be trusted.

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 Worry is a sign

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 that we don't trust God.

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 Worry is,

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 let me rephrase that,

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 worry is a sign

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 that we don't trust God

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 completely.

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 That we have a divided mind.

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 When you're worried,

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 when I'm worried,

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 and there's times

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 we give in to this temptation

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 and we just get all stressed out,

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 don't we?

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 When we worry,

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 we would not say,

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 I absolutely do not trust God.

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 If we were pinned down,

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 I do trust God,

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 but.

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 I do trust God

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 to take care of my children,

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 but.

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 I do trust that God's going to

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 work things out

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 in this situation with my job,

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 but.

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 When we worry,

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 we trust God some,

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 but not absolutely.

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 We trust God some,

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 but not enough

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 to refrain from

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 letting our emotions

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 and imaginations

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 run away with us.

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 We trust God some,

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 but not enough

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 to not

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 get all stressed out.

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 Now,

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 let's think for a moment.

00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.960
 Does worry ever do any good?

00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:32.379
 When you get stressed out,

00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.120
 you're all anxious,

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:34.100
 you're all tied up in knots,

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:34.740
 you can't sleep,

00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.279
 you can't eat.

00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:37.079
 Does it do any good?

00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.559
 Does it help the situation?

00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:39.899
 Does it help you?

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.079
 Well,

00:13:41.079 --> 00:13:41.919
 you know the answer.

00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:45.279
 Worry is one of the most useless things

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.220
 that a person can do.

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.100
 It never changes anything.

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.100
 Jesus pointed that out

00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.879
 in that Matthew chapter 6,

00:13:51.959 --> 00:13:52.539
 chapter,

00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:53.179
 section,

00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:54.419
 where he preached on,

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.360
 talked about worry.

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.139
 Look at it.

00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.179
 In verse 27

00:13:57.179 --> 00:13:58.439
 from the New Living Translation,

00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.459
 he says,

00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.800
 can all your worries

00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:02.200
 at a single moment

00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.019
 to your life,

00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:04.480
 can all your worries

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.340
 do anything

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:07.200
 to change your situation?

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.320
 Can it change you?

00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:10.300
 Now,

00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.820
 worries can make you sick.

00:14:13.400 --> 00:14:14.879
 Worried and you get all stressed out

00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:17.100
 can have harmful effects,

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:20.280
 but never good effects.

00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:21.920
 Now,

00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.780
 one thing we need to be clear about,

00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:25.960
 and I think most people

00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:26.960
 would understand this,

00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.900
 but for those who don't,

00:14:29.900 --> 00:14:31.940
 when Paul tells us,

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.900
 do not be anxious about anything,

00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.860
 he's not saying,

00:14:38.160 --> 00:14:38.480
 well,

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.240
 don't do anything.

00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:45.780
 He doesn't mean that

00:14:45.780 --> 00:14:47.860
 if there's something you need to do,

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.200
 don't do it.

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.759
 If you're in a situation

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.639
 and you're worried

00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.960
 or you're tempted to worry,

00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:56.900
 but there's something you can do

00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:58.220
 to change it,

00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:00.399
 then you should do that.

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.779
 If you've got an,

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:05.000
 if you think you've got

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.559
 some kind of health problem right now,

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.439
 some things are going on

00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.679
 in your body,

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.620
 with your body

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.959
 that you think's not right,

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.399
 and you're concerned,

00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.840
 you're stressed out about it right now,

00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.419
 instead of worrying about it,

00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.860
 why don't you go to the doctor?

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:24.600
 That would make sense,

00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:25.100
 wouldn't it?

00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:27.440
 And I know we,

00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.019
 as men,

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:28.740
 a lot of times,

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.940
 we ignore things,

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.960
 and, you know,

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.860
 a lot of guys just,

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.919
 just get sick

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.100
 because they wouldn't go to the doctor.

00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.800
 That's not our finest moment,

00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.360
 guys,

00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:40.879
 when we know something's wrong,

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.919
 and we get all stressed out,

00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.960
 we're tense,

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.000
 but we won't do anything about it.

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.899
 If you think your job is not stable,

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.639
 if there's a good likelihood

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.000
 that by the end of the year

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.620
 your company's gonna shut down,

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.039
 instead of you just getting

00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:58.039
 all stressed out about it,

00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:58.899
 why don't you start looking

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.740
 for something else?

00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:03.059
 Why don't you get your resume together?

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.240
 Why don't you start asking around,

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.200
 looking around,

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.139
 and make,

00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:08.600
 you know,

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.779
 find something else

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:11.100
 that you can do

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:13.539
 if it truly does

00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:15.600
 break down or shut down?

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:19.320
 It's early in the school year,

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.320
 but some of you may be

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.899
 already getting stressed

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.899
 about your grades.

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:26.039
 Don't worry about it.

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.259
 Just study.

00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.279
 Study.

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.840
 And don't pray those prayers

00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.679
 like I used to pray.

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.700
 Lord, if you'll just get me

00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.519
 through this test,

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.279
 I'll study better

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.039
 for the next one.

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.659
 Lord, if you'll just let me

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.980
 get through this semester,

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.460
 I'll never do that again.

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:42.679
 To be honest with you,

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.919
 I didn't intend for it

00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.379
 to be this way,

00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.419
 but those were just

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.820
 all lying prayers.

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:51.320
 Instead of making excuses,

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.379
 instead of getting all worked up,

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.340
 stressed out about it,

00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:55.919
 I should have just studied.

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.200
 If there's something

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.379
 in your life

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.580
 that's giving you a problem,

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:03.700
 and it's just stressing you out,

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.480
 you're just all tied up about it,

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.859
 and there's something

00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:08.160
 you can do,

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.779
 do it.

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:13.039
 But if you can't,

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.519
 don't stress out.

00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:18.839
 Worry won't help.

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:19.960
 Even worse,

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.279
 it dishonors God,

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.700
 because when we worry,

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.539
 it's like saying to Him,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.759
 I really don't trust you.

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.720
 Now,

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.839
 if worry's wrong,

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.099
 what's the right way

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.099
 to deal with hardship

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.660
 and uncertainty?

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.660
 Well, Paul tells us,

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.680
 pray about everything.

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.940
 Look at verse 6.

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.140
 But in everything,

00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:37.380
 by prayer and supplication,

00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.759
 with thanksgiving,

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.940
 let your requests

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.259
 be made known to God.

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:42.620
 Paul doesn't say,

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:44.440
 just don't worry.

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.279
 He provides us

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.620
 with an alternative to worry.

00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:48.600
 He says,

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.080
 take your problem to God

00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:50.880
 in prayer.

00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:53.259
 Prayer is the Christian

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:55.880
 solution to worry.

00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:56.520
 Now,

00:17:56.520 --> 00:17:57.880
 I want to emphasize,

00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:01.080
 prayer is the Christian's

00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:03.040
 alternative to worry.

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:05.280
 When Jesus taught us to pray,

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.060
 and Jesus gives us

00:18:07.060 --> 00:18:10.180
 the best model prayer,

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.360
 His teaching on prayer,

00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.060
 His teaching on everything

00:18:12.060 --> 00:18:13.240
 is what's best.

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.640
 But when Jesus teaches us

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:16.140
 to pray in Matthew chapter 6,

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.500
 beginning about verse 9,

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.760
 in Luke chapter 11,

00:18:20.760 --> 00:18:22.660
 He tells us to always

00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.520
 begin our prayer.

00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:24.720
 How?

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.620
 Our Father.

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.960
 Jesus talks about

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.980
 praying to God

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:31.680
 from the relationship

00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.480
 of being His child,

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.240
 our Father.

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.539
 Only a Christian

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.299
 can pray that prayer.

00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:40.120
 Only a Christian,

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.259
 only someone who has

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:45.000
 truly repented of their sins

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.360
 but their trust in Jesus

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:49.519
 has been born again

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.420
 by the Spirit of God,

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.759
 has been forgiven

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.480
 and made a child of God.

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.200
 made right with God.

00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:00.019
 Jesus very clearly said,

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.700
 I am the way,

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.100
 the truth,

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.559
 and the life,

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.180
 and no one comes

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.600
 to the Father

00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:04.120
 except through me.

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.900
 The only way that anyone

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.700
 can know God

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.700
 as their Father

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:09.880
 is through a right

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:11.380
 relationship with Jesus Christ.

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.620
 And that's what enables us

00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.620
 to be able to pray.

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.559
 If you want to be able

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.400
 to take your problem

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:19.700
 to God in prayer,

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:22.480
 instead of worrying about it,

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:24.460
 make sure you have

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.759
 a real relationship

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.820
 with God

00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:27.860
 as your Father

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:29.640
 through your faith

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.200
 in Jesus.

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.360
 Make sure that you have

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.660
 a close relationship

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.320
 with Him

00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:36.240
 because you're spending time

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.100
 with Him every day,

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.880
 talking to Him,

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.800
 listening to Him,

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.740
 talking to Him in prayer,

00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.640
 listening to Him

00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.759
 as He speaks through His Word

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.940
 so that when something

00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:43.600
 does come up,

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.600
 when you need to talk to Him,

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:46.079
 you don't have to

00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.240
 reintroduce yourself to Him.

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.939
 The relationship is strong.

00:19:50.179 --> 00:19:51.099
 It's intact.

00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.659
 And note that Paul emphasizes

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.339
 that we can make

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.659
 specific requests to God.

00:19:56.459 --> 00:19:57.039
 He's talking about

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.899
 praying in general

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.980
 but also uses the word

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.939
 supplication

00:19:59.939 --> 00:20:01.039
 or some translations

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.039
 use the word petition.

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.459
 That's just asking God

00:20:04.459 --> 00:20:05.019
 for stuff.

00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.139
 If someone said,

00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:08.099
 that's help me

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.279
 kind of prayers.

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.679
 Asking God to work

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:13.779
 in your home situation,

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.859
 to work

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.899
 in relation to that job.

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.799
 Asking God to work,

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.680
 help you in relation

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.700
 to your relationship

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.500
 with someone.

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.779
 Matt Chandler

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.559
 does a good job

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.180
 of explaining

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.519
 the relationship

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.920
 between prayer and worry.

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.139
 Matt Chandler

00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:29.339
 is a pastor,

00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:30.420
 has a great way

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.000
 of communicating

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.099
 the truth of God's Word.

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.420
 We've used some of his studies

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.139
 on Sunday nights

00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.559
 so some of you

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.379
 are familiar with him.

00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.200
 I want you to look

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.819
 at what he says.

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.160
 Really,

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.519
 prayer and worry

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:42.859
 are of the same essence.

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:44.439
 They are both

00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.299
 a rehearsing

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.339
 of circumstances,

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.439
 a mulling over,

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:50.079
 and a kind of mental

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.779
 and emotional chewing.

00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.519
 But in worry,

00:20:53.719 --> 00:20:54.879
 there's no connection,

00:20:55.459 --> 00:20:56.599
 no traction.

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.719
 It's like spinning

00:20:57.719 --> 00:20:58.500
 our wheels.

00:20:59.219 --> 00:21:00.039
 Worrying is like

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.799
 trying to travel

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.639
 in a rocking chair.

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.740
 But when we pray,

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.779
 we are worrying

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:07.799
 at God.

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:10.159
 We take those anxieties

00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:11.619
 and direct them Godward,

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.399
 taking them to him,

00:21:14.159 --> 00:21:15.720
 placing them before him,

00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:17.599
 and of utmost importance,

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.200
 handing them over.

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:22.159
 This is why Martin Luther says,

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:24.940
 pray and let God worry.

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.159
 Chandler goes on to say,

00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.779
 we have a supreme example

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:30.079
 of this supplication

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.419
 in the prayer of Jesus

00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.700
 in the Garden of Gethsemane.

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:35.400
 Facing his impending arrest,

00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:36.640
 torture,

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.860
 and execution,

00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:40.519
 Jesus is so grieved

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.539
 and broken

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:43.759
 that he is sweating blood

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.039
 as he prays.

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.220
 He prays,

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.140
 my father,

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.580
 if it be possible,

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.460
 let this cup pass from me.

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.900
 But then he adds,

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:52.940
 nevertheless,

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:55.180
 not as I will,

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.680
 but as you will.

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.819
 What has Jesus done,

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.480
 Chandler asks?

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.700
 He has obeyed the command

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.940
 not to worry

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:05.960
 by worrying at God.

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.960
 He takes his anxiety

00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.200
 to the Father

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.880
 and hands it over.

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.259
 There's always a situation

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.019
 in our life

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:19.120
 where we're tempted to worry.

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.860
 The idea is

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:23.240
 don't pretend it doesn't exist.

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:26.220
 Take it to God.

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.960
 Talk to Him about it.

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.160
 You know,

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.440
 Peter must have learned

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.160
 that from Jesus

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.339
 because he writes this,

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:35.420
 casting all your anxieties

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.059
 on Him

00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:39.319
 because He cares for you.

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:41.460
 When you face

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.779
 hardship and uncertainty,

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.920
 and you will

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:46.000
 if you're not now,

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.400
 learn to take it to God

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.099
 in prayer.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.640
 One way to do this

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.599
 is ask God

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.299
 for the wisdom

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.720
 to know

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:56.019
 what you ought to do.

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:58.879
 In a lot of situations

00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.160
 that we

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.680
 are stressed out about,

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.180
 there's something

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:03.819
 that we know

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.700
 we need to do.

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.500
 Well, go to God

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.099
 and ask Him,

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.619
 Lord, give me the wisdom.

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.359
 Help me to understand

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:08.980
 what it is

00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.259
 that I need to do.

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.960
 Ask Him

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.940
 to guide you

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.839
 in developing

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.359
 a plan of action

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:17.539
 when it's clear

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.700
 you've got to do something.

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:22.039
 But in some situations,

00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.620
 there's just nothing

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.259
 you can do.

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.440
 Or there's nothing

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.279
 you should do.

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.080
 That's the time

00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.900
 that we ask God

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.680
 to help us

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:33.120
 and trust Him

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.900
 to take care of it

00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:37.799
 and then not worry

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.400
 about it anymore.

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.200
 Note what else

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.680
 Paul says

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.279
 about our prayers.

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:41.860
 He says,

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:43.000
 do it with thanksgiving

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.840
 that your requests

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.680
 be made on to God.

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.840
 This doesn't mean

00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.600
 you thank God

00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:47.860
 for your problems.

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.240
 You don't thank God.

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.880
 It's not saying here

00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.620
 we thank God

00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.320
 that you're hurting,

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.299
 that you're suffering.

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.039
 But we are to thank God

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.039
 in our problems.

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.940
 There's a big difference.

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.400
 You know,

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.259
 no matter what's going on

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.720
 in our lives,

00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:04.259
 we've always got a lot

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.100
 to be thankful for

00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.880
 if we're Christians.

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.519
 If we're Christians,

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:11.560
 we are children of God

00:24:11.560 --> 00:24:12.440
 and God has promised

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.220
 to never leave us

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.100
 nor forsake us.

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:16.240
 As we were singing

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.940
 about earlier,

00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:20.060
 nothing can ever

00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:21.480
 separate us from God

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.860
 and His love.

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.539
 Nothing.

00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.440
 No one.

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.980
 No thing.

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.500
 God is for us

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.580
 because we're His children.

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.100
 Another thing we need

00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:33.539
 to think of

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.480
 and we need to give thanks for,

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.759
 this world is not

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.720
 all there is.

00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:39.600
 You know,

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.420
 for a lot of people,

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.340
 their whole concept

00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:43.019
 of reality

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.539
 is just what they see.

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:46.200
 what they feel,

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.660
 what's happening right now.

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.900
 But for us as Christians,

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.920
 we know better.

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.600
 We know that

00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:55.640
 God

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:57.160
 is preparing

00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:57.920
 a new heaven

00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.820
 and a new earth

00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.420
 for us,

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.980
 His people.

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.580
 Jesus talked about

00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.400
 going to prepare

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.920
 a place for us.

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:08.320
 one day,

00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:08.340
 one day,

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:08.360
 one day,

00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:11.259
 either after we die

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.400
 or if we live long enough

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.320
 when the Lord comes back

00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:13.860
 into this world,

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.080
 one day,

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.980
 all the hardships

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.180
 and uncertainties

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:19.140
 of life in this world

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:20.019
 will be no more.

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:22.940
 One day,

00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:24.220
 all that there will be

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.519
 will be

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.800
 a new heaven

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.720
 and a new earth

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.600
 where we are,

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.180
 where we're with

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.340
 people that we know

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.140
 who are Christians,

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.220
 and we're living

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.940
 the life that

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.140
 God intends for us

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:37.520
 to live,

00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.780
 glorifying Him,

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.420
 serving His purpose,

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.540
 doing something meaningful

00:25:42.540 --> 00:25:44.560
 as His children

00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:45.900
 for all eternity.

00:25:46.540 --> 00:25:47.600
 We have a lot

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.620
 to be thankful for.

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:50.020
 Paul tells us

00:25:50.020 --> 00:25:50.520
 not to worry

00:25:50.520 --> 00:25:51.080
 but to pray.

00:25:51.800 --> 00:25:52.520
 And then he gives us

00:25:52.520 --> 00:25:53.120
 a reason

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.580
 for such prayer.

00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.500
 Look at the last thing,

00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:56.080
 verse 7,

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.619
 the peace that replaces

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.279
 worry.

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.339
 It says,

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.199
 And the peace of God

00:26:00.199 --> 00:26:00.899
 which surpasses

00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.699
 all understanding

00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:03.519
 will guard your hearts

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:05.039
 and your minds

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.079
 in Christ Jesus.

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.359
 I want you to understand this.

00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:11.240
 Paul does not say

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.379
 that your prayers

00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.919
 will make everything okay.

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.359
 It is,

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.939
 it is not true

00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:19.199
 that if you have

00:26:19.199 --> 00:26:19.939
 enough faith,

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:22.019
 if you pray

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.500
 just the right prayer,

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:26.500
 then your sufferings

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:26.940
 will end.

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:28.200
 That's false teaching.

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.980
 That's ungodly teaching.

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.000
 That's just totally

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.640
 contrary

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.320
 to what we see

00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:33.759
 happening

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.880
 in the Bible.

00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:37.100
 God never promises

00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:37.700
 that if you pray

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.400
 a certain prayer,

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:38.840
 if you have

00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.420
 a certain amount

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.940
 of faith,

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.080
 that He will take

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:42.000
 all your troubles

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.519
 away.

00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:45.180
 But what God

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.860
 does promise

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:47.420
 is to be with us

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.220
 in our troubles

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.440
 when He doesn't

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.820
 take them away.

00:26:51.300 --> 00:26:51.860
 I want you to look

00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:52.360
 at what a man

00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:52.660
 by the name

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.700
 of Joe Thorne

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:56.000
 says because he

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.640
 does a great job

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.060
 of describing

00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:57.940
 how God works

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.980
 in relation to suffering.

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.700
 Look at it.

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.720
 God does not promise

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:03.019
 to rid your life

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.840
 of affliction

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:05.120
 and difficulty.

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.300
 He does,

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.660
 however,

00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:07.600
 offer to give you

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.800
 the grace needed

00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:10.620
 to suffer well.

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.240
 It isn't wrong

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.860
 to ask God

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.580
 to relieve you

00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:14.220
 of your pain,

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.900
 but it is more

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.759
 important that

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.500
 in the midst

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.480
 of the pain,

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.039
 you rely on

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.660
 the promise

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.319
 of God

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.299
 to work such

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:22.879
 experiences

00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:24.180
 for His glory

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.640
 and your good.

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.259
 To use these times

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.160
 as a means

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.400
 of perfecting

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.099
 your faith,

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.519
 strengthening

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.579
 your spirit,

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.039
 and transforming

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:35.200
 your life

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.519
 in such a way

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.240
 that you are

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.740
 becoming

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.980
 more like Jesus.

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.200
 Paul,

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.799
 in his own way,

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:46.759
 tells us

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.599
 something like this

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.299
 in Romans 8,

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:48.659
 28.

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.019
 And we know

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.079
 that in all things,

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.639
 he's been talking

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.480
 about suffering

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.220
 up to that point.

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.299
 And we know

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.180
 that in all things,

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.819
 God works for the good

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.839
 of those who love Him,

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.379
 who have been called

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:01.399
 according to His purpose.

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.879
 A lot of times,

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.299
 we don't understand

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:04.919
 what God's doing.

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.619
 We don't understand

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.440
 how anything good

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.220
 could come from

00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.139
 certain situations.

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.940
 That's where faith

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.519
 comes in.

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.399
 That we trust God,

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.440
 that He is great

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.680
 and that He is good.

00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:16.340
 He's involved

00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:17.060
 in this world.

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:17.620
 He's involved

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.440
 in our lives.

00:28:18.820 --> 00:28:19.280
 He's involved

00:28:19.280 --> 00:28:20.120
 in all situations.

00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:22.380
 Working in such a way

00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.820
 that ultimately,

00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:25.259
 He will be glorified,

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.960
 His purpose

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.080
 will be accomplished,

00:28:27.560 --> 00:28:28.300
 and we

00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:30.280
 will develop,

00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.780
 as Christians,

00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.360
 we will develop

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.600
 more Christ-like

00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:33.160
 character.

00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:34.420
 That's God's real goal.

00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:36.620
 Understand,

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.640
 God never

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.480
 promises

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.600
 to rescue us

00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.340
 from all trouble.

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:43.319
 But He does

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.519
 promise to

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:46.179
 replace our anxiety

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:48.399
 with His peace.

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.539
 Think for just a moment.

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.039
 How do you feel

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.240
 when you're all stressed out?

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.839
 When you are really worried?

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.740
 Don't you feel

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.799
 uncertain?

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.740
 Nervous?

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.339
 Tired?

00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:04.059
 Afraid?

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.059
 Well,

00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.559
 when we learn

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.799
 to trust God

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:09.379
 and pray

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.259
 instead of worry,

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.859
 this verse

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.500
 is telling us

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.099
 that He will give us

00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.740
 a peace

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:15.319
 within our soul

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:17.379
 that cannot be described

00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:18.519
 with words.

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.259
 Let's think about it.

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.960
 What is this peace?

00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.279
 It is a supernatural

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.299
 experience.

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:24.480
 It's something

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.539
 that God gives

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.460
 to His people

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:28.839
 within our soul

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.920
 that cannot really

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.740
 be explained.

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.859
 It's beyond comprehension.

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.000
 But it can be

00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.900
 experienced.

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.019
 peace.

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.780
 Here's what I want you

00:29:38.780 --> 00:29:39.140
 to think.

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.400
 Some of us

00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:41.180
 in this room,

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:44.519
 we could stand up

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.340
 and talk about

00:29:45.340 --> 00:29:47.000
 how we've experienced

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.640
 that peace.

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:49.080
 There have been times

00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:49.880
 in my life

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.900
 when I have prayed

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:53.040
 for a person,

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.060
 for a family member,

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:54.980
 a situation

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.160
 that I'm really

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.920
 close to

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.800
 and involved in.

00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.000
 And God didn't

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.700
 make it go away

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.720
 but He gave me

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.859
 a sense of peace

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.619
 that it's going to be

00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.879
 He's with me

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:07.559
 and I can just

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.279
 continue on.

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.700
 Some of you

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.299
 in this room

00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.139
 have told me

00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.759
 yourself

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:14.619
 how in the midst

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.480
 of some kind

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.399
 of difficulty,

00:30:17.399 --> 00:30:18.519
 that's how God

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.579
 helped you.

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.779
 He just

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.039
 gave you

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:23.779
 what you needed

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.819
 to be calm,

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:27.799
 to have wisdom

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.700
 to know what to do

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:31.519
 and to act

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:34.000
 smart,

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.519
 wisely

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.480
 in the midst

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.319
 of a very difficult

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.179
 stressful situation.

00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:41.159
 Some of you

00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:41.899
 in this room

00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.579
 know this

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.079
 because you

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.099
 heard it

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:45.899
 but there have

00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:46.399
 been members

00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:46.919
 of our church

00:30:46.919 --> 00:30:48.759
 who have died

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:51.700
 and they

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.240
 looked me

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:54.180
 in the eye

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.299
 one

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.420
 in a hospice

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.900
 room

00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.440
 at a hospice

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:57.779
 house

00:30:57.779 --> 00:31:00.920
 and told me

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:02.339
 that they

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.059
 had peace,

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.599
 they were

00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.420
 ready to go,

00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.279
 they knew

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.640
 they were going

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.000
 to be in the

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.640
 presence of the

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.660
 Lord soon.

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.400
 Some of you

00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:12.680
 have heard

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.160
 something like

00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:13.400
 that.

00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.640
 I've heard

00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.119
 that in a

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.440
 home.

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:16.740
 I've heard

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.160
 people

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:18.660
 who know

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.480
 death is

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:19.980
 imminent,

00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.380
 it's going

00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:20.700
 to happen

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:22.480
 and they

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.200
 look me

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.920
 in the eye

00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.940
 and a lot

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.200
 of times

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.779
 they smile,

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.440
 it's going

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:27.860
 to be alright.

00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.220
 That is a

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.759
 peace

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.960
 that cannot

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.040
 be explained.

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.980
 If a person

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.300
 is not a

00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:34.519
 Christian,

00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:34.960
 they cannot

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.680
 comprehend

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.279
 that.

00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:37.300
 That's the

00:31:37.300 --> 00:31:37.779
 grace of

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.140
 God

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.920
 working in

00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.420
 the life

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.140
 of His

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.920
 children

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:43.240
 to prepare

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.800
 them to

00:31:43.800 --> 00:31:44.259
 come into

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.100
 His presence

00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:46.580
 in a peaceful,

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.640
 in a calm,

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:51.259
 in a way

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.840
 that's not

00:31:52.840 --> 00:31:54.060
 all stressed

00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:54.480
 out.

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.220
 If we'll

00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.779
 pray instead

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.320
 of worry,

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.880
 we'll discover

00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.560
 what John

00:31:59.560 --> 00:32:00.420
 Piper says

00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:01.420
 about peace,

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.279
 the peace

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.800
 of God.

00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:03.240
 Look at it

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.640
 with me.

00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:04.660
 When we let

00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.300
 our requests

00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:05.880
 be made known

00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.220
 to God

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.779
 like this,

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:07.779
 in the

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.460
 devotion of

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:08.940
 prayer,

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.400
 in many

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.080
 specific

00:32:11.080 --> 00:32:11.880
 requests

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.620
 for help,

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.740
 with a

00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.340
 heart that

00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:14.960
 is thankful

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.820
 for everything

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.439
 God

00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:16.939
 designs

00:32:16.939 --> 00:32:17.619
 for us,

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.500
 the pleasures

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:18.819
 and the

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.119
 pain,

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.480
 then His

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.039
 peace will

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.500
 guard our

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.599
 minds and

00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.240
 free us

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.139
 from anxiety

00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:24.859
 in a way

00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.960
 that defies

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:27.339
 mere rational

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.079
 explanation.

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.599
 It surpasses

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.200
 all

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.500
 understanding.

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:33.939
 Here's what

00:32:33.939 --> 00:32:34.319
 I want us to

00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:34.659
 think as we

00:32:34.659 --> 00:32:35.279
 wind this up.

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.240
 We all face

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.480
 hardships and

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.319
 uncertainties.

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.859
 And when we

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.319
 do, we have

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:41.919
 two choices.

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.100
 We can

00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:43.539
 worry.

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.180
 We can

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.700
 subject

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.500
 ourselves to

00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.140
 all kinds

00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:47.940
 of fears

00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:49.060
 and stress

00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:50.360
 and misery.

00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:52.920
 Or, we

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.560
 can pray

00:32:53.560 --> 00:32:55.000
 and trust

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.660
 God to do

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.380
 what only

00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.380
 He can

00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:59.080
 do and

00:32:59.080 --> 00:32:59.519
 give us

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.180
 the wisdom

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:00.700
 to do what

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.620
 He wants

00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.700
 us to do.

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.519
 If we

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:04.840
 will do

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.720
 that, He

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.700
 promises to

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.300
 give us this

00:33:07.300 --> 00:33:07.820
 supernatural

00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:10.900
 power to

00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.380
 experience

00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:13.100
 peace in

00:33:13.100 --> 00:33:13.420
 the midst

00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:13.660
 of the

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:15.440
 hardship, in

00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.080
 spite of the

00:33:16.080 --> 00:33:17.040
 uncertainty.

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:18.720
 But you

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.000
 know, this

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.500
 is a choice

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.940
 we've got to

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.700
 make in

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.840
 every difficult

00:33:21.840 --> 00:33:22.519
 situation.

00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.300
 It's not a

00:33:24.300 --> 00:33:25.620
 once and

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.519
 for all kind

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:27.080
 of decision.

00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.220
 We may

00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:29.960
 struggle with

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.280
 it every

00:33:31.280 --> 00:33:31.720
 day.

00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:33.180
 In some

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.759
 stressful

00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.860
 situations, we

00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:35.660
 may struggle

00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.920
 many times

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.540
 throughout the

00:33:37.540 --> 00:33:39.060
 day and

00:33:39.060 --> 00:33:39.860
 many times

00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.700
 call out to

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.620
 God to

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.039
 give us

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.519
 what we

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.120
 need for

00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:43.640
 the moment.

00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:44.840
 But if we'll

00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.519
 learn to

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.120
 really trust

00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:47.299
 God, that

00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:47.940
 He really is

00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:48.640
 in control,

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.779
 and that He

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.360
 is working

00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.200
 everything out

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.600
 according to

00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:51.960
 His good

00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:53.539
 purpose, we

00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:55.360
 can and we

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:55.920
 will avoid

00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.360
 worry.

00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.559
 We can have

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.380
 it replaced

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.559
 with a

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.180
 satisfying

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:02.539
 peace of

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:03.180
 God deep

00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:03.680
 within our

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.019
 soul.

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.759
 But here's

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.220
 the thing,

00:34:06.580 --> 00:34:06.940
 you as a

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:08.380
 Christian, you

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.760
 got to make

00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.280
 the choice.

00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:11.100
 in every

00:34:11.100 --> 00:34:12.920
 situation, whether

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.680
 it's stressful,

00:34:14.540 --> 00:34:14.900
 whether there's

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.780
 uncertainty, whether

00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.240
 it's trouble,

00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.260
 whatever, you

00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:17.580
 got to make

00:34:17.580 --> 00:34:18.120
 the choice.

00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.200
 Am I going

00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:22.420
 to worry and

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.300
 get no relief,

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.960
 or am I going

00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.480
 to pray and

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.760
 trust God and

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.580
 experience His

00:34:29.580 --> 00:34:30.019
 peace?

00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:32.000
 Let's pray

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.519
 together now.

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:33.860
 Dear God,

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.680
 show us how we

00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:35.519
 should respond.

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:38.880
 you know how

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.519
 we normally

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.179
 respond.

00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:42.219
 You know what

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:42.900
 we normally do

00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:43.280
 when we get

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.719
 under stress,

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.440
 when there's a

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:46.659
 lot of

00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.300
 uncertainty,

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.940
 when there's

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.420
 fear,

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.480
 when there's

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:51.960
 suffering.

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:56.960
 Father,

00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.800
 show us if

00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:02.960
 we are more

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:05.340
 untrusting of

00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:05.680
 you than

00:35:05.680 --> 00:35:06.140
 trusting.

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:10.920
 Help us,

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.280
 Father, to

00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:11.840
 confess our

00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.460
 sin, if it

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.980
 is, and

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.800
 truly repent

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.340
 and seek your

00:35:16.340 --> 00:35:16.880
 forgiveness.

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.500
 Help us,

00:35:20.580 --> 00:35:20.920
 Father, to

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:23.920
 understand that

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.200
 as your

00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:24.680
 children in

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.159
 this world.

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.639
 You want us

00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:28.319
 to learn to

00:35:28.319 --> 00:35:29.500
 pray and

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.219
 trust you and

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:30.739
 depend upon

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:31.119
 you and

00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:31.859
 obey you.

00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:35.699
 And just

00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.299
 drive home the

00:35:36.299 --> 00:35:36.859
 point, dear God,

00:35:36.919 --> 00:35:37.799
 that's the way to

00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.460
 experience your

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:38.960
 peace.

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:43.919
 In an attitude

00:35:43.919 --> 00:35:44.500
 of prayer, you

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.099
 just listen to the

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.659
 Lord and obey

00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.399
 Him as He speaks

00:35:46.399 --> 00:35:46.759
 to you.

00:35:47.859 --> 00:35:48.319
 If you'd like me

00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:48.919
 to pray for you

00:35:48.919 --> 00:35:49.559
 during this time,

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.219
 I'll be here at

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:50.639
 the front and

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.339
 would be glad,

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.739
 honored to do

00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:53.359
 that with you.

00:35:54.679 --> 00:36:11.940
 Let's

00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.559
 pray for you.

00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.079
 After

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.219
 meeting

00:36:13.219 --> 00:36:13.739
 on

00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:13.940
 the

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.539
 sun

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.059
 D

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:16.000
 other

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.639
 h