WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:20.679 Why don't we pray. Gracious Lord, thank you very much indeed for your word and thank you that the Lord Jesus taught that your word is truth and that your truth can set people like us free and so we ask now Father that you would fill our hearts afresh with your Holy Spirit. 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:32.780 That we might discern your truth and your truth would free us to be the people you call us to be in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:42.859 So I have two major challenges before me this morning and only you will know whether I succeed in it. 00:00:42.859 --> 00:01:07.099 One is to try and show you that there is a very significant link between what was going on on Palm Sunday on the one hand and secondly, my second challenge is I have to come back on Tuesday evening and give a lecture on exactly the same passage and I want to try and avoid repetition. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:22.299 So that those of you who come on Tuesday evenings and more are welcome but those of you who do come and have made it a kind of Lenten discipline, the bottom line is you'll get something different. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:27.299 See that's really enthused you. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:54.099 So what I want to talk about at first is that amazing story of the triumphal entry and the incredible way in which the crowd on that first Palm Sunday welcomed Jesus with respect and honour, throwing down palm leaves and their coats to give him honour and glory. 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:59.659 And then just five days later and then just five days later, shouting crucify. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.399 Got to be something going on there. 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:10.719 I mean, if for no other reason I say this, it reminds me of my fickleness as a Christian. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:21.000 How easy it is that I can be tripped up on things that I should have put to death years ago in my life. 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:39.979 And what I want to say is the common thread between the first Palm Sunday and Ephesians 6 verses 10 to the end is a very important principle. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:46.419 It's a theological principle but interestingly it's also a philosophical principle. 00:02:46.419 --> 00:02:58.060 And it's this, that if we start with wrong assumptions, the outcomes will be both unpredictable and potentially tragic. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:08.619 On the 28th of January 1986, something horrific happened. 00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:10.479 Can anybody remember what that was? 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:14.139 No? 00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:44.119 No? 00:03:44.159 --> 00:04:05.159 That if we έ 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:07.159 That if έ 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.159 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:05.159 That if έ 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:07.159 ! 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:05.159 That if έ 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.159 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:07.159 That έ 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:18.060 shuttle. And an engineering company 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:21.680 immediately before the launch 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:26.019 gave a report which said that in low temperatures 00:04:26.019 --> 00:04:29.000 this particular component may not work. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:33.600 The day of launch it was minus one 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:38.139 at the launch site. The O-rings failed. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:41.040 The second 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:45.280 was this kind of philosophical thing and that is 00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:48.500 what they call deniable 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:53.420 resistance. So the principle is 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:57.300 that if you've had a 00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:01.540 component throw a mistake in the past but it didn't cause any 00:05:01.540 --> 00:05:05.740 serious ramifications, that is kind of plausible deniability. 00:05:06.780 --> 00:05:09.900 And you can go ahead despite this fault being manifest. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:22.240 And the third thing was, and this is truly shocking to me, the pressure to get that launch done on that date, on that time was immense. 00:05:23.140 --> 00:05:30.080 It came from the media, it came from the general public and even more shockingly it came from the American government. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.479 I don't know if this is true but it is written up there. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.219 The president sent a message on the day of the launch 00:05:37.219 --> 00:05:39.740 and just says, get this thing done, right? 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:44.400 And look what happened. 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:57.379 You start to make wrong assumptions and you will end up with unpredictable and sometimes tragic, tragic outcomes. 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:01.719 What was wrong on that Palm Sunday? 00:06:01.719 --> 00:06:05.199 Were there any assumptions that weren't right? 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:09.139 Well, I think you can quite clearly see that there were. 00:06:09.139 --> 00:06:17.240 The first thing is, Jesus chose to make his entry to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:20.959 I mean, that would be a bit like 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:26.899 Lewis Hamilton showing up at a Formula One Grand Prix 00:06:26.899 --> 00:06:28.319 in a larder. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:34.060 With apologies to any larder owners in the congregation. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:37.360 Inoppropriate. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:45.480 What would have been more fitting for a king would have been a horse. 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:52.259 An animal of nobility as opposed to a beast of burden. 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.980 This story is kind of pregnant with little clues 00:06:57.980 --> 00:07:01.079 that the congregation who were shouting Hosanna 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.259 didn't really understand what was going on, 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:05.079 their assumptions were all wrong. 00:07:09.219 --> 00:07:12.139 They were shouting Hosanna. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:14.459 Save now. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:16.800 That's what it literally means. 00:07:17.659 --> 00:07:19.399 In that culture at that time, 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.639 that was a political slogan 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:25.300 held by Jewish activists 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:27.199 who wanted to create an insurrection 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:28.699 and get rid of the Romans. 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:37.620 Jesus didn't come to be a political Messiah. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:42.719 He didn't come to defeat the enemy out there. 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:46.399 He came to defeat the enemy that's in us all. 00:07:47.659 --> 00:07:49.319 Romans 3 verse 23 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.399 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:54.099 What Jesus came to do 00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:59.919 was to save us from the consequences of our sin. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:06.920 And that ended up on Good Friday 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.160 on that cross of Calvary. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:13.980 Sometimes shut my eyes 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:17.720 and think of Jesus on that cross 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:21.600 who died for my sin 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:23.160 and for your sin 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:25.460 and for the sins of all 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:27.800 who turned to him in faith. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:32.320 The assumption that was wrong 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.279 was that Jesus was going to be a political Messiah 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.360 and when they saw him imprisoned 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.580 and being spat upon and tortured, 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:43.259 they thought they'd dream. 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:46.519 They thought they'd woken up 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:47.460 and it was a nightmare. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:50.820 And the one who they thought 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:53.420 would bring victory over the Roman army 00:08:53.420 --> 00:08:57.960 ended up being beaten in worldly terms. 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:02.720 The unpredictable outcome was 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:09.040 that the crowd that shouted Hosanna 00:09:09.040 --> 00:09:13.759 ended up screaming hysterically, 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:15.560 crucify. 00:09:17.460 --> 00:09:19.620 I don't know that anybody 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:22.759 on the eve of that first Palm Sunday 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:24.220 would have guessed that. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:28.420 But it made me wonder 00:09:28.420 --> 00:09:32.240 as I read Ephesians chapter 6, 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:36.220 is it true that it's common 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:40.100 that Christians often make wrong assumptions 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:41.580 about God? 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:46.000 I know Ephesians chapter 6 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:48.120 kind of gets your weird meter 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:50.159 flickering a bit. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:55.559 When Paul writes stuff like this, 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.639 our struggle is not against flesh and blood 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.879 but against the rulers, 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:03.700 against the authorities, 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:06.100 against the powers of this dark world 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:08.559 and against the spiritual forces 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:11.699 of evil in the heavenly realm. 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:18.779 See, there's an assumption here 00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:20.099 that I think we make 00:10:20.099 --> 00:10:22.559 that this is kind of the product 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:25.319 of some weird and ancient cosmology 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:29.819 that educated and sophisticated 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:31.179 people like us 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:34.199 can't believe that kind of demonology stuff. 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:39.000 But can we afford to avoid it? 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:42.759 Is it a wrong assumption 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:44.780 to think that this is the writing 00:10:44.780 --> 00:10:45.840 of another time? 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:48.540 And then there are some Christians. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.080 It's an amazing dichotomy, I think. 00:10:53.640 --> 00:10:56.360 And the dichotomy is this, 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:59.520 that I think the majority of certainly 00:10:59.520 --> 00:11:01.400 good old Anglican churchgoers 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.100 don't take this seriously at all. 00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:06.319 They think this is just weird stuff 00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:06.819 and, you know, 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.779 maybe Paul had a bad day or something. 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:14.199 But it's a reality. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.579 It's in Scripture. 00:11:17.939 --> 00:11:20.179 It can't be so easily dismissed. 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:24.639 And the dichotomy on the other end is 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.960 there are people 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:28.480 who are obsessed by this idea 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.779 and find the devil 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.560 under every unturned stone 00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:32.960 in every soul's life. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:37.360 Surely, 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:40.039 there is both truth 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:42.480 and there is balance 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.420 to be heard 00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:46.240 in Ephesians chapter 6. 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.399 And the tragic outcome, 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:51.560 I think of us ignoring 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:54.779 this writing of St. Paul, 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.419 occurred, 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.779 we can read about 00:11:57.779 --> 00:11:59.379 in Romans chapter 1. 00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:02.500 This is a very severe 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.539 indictment 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:05.799 written by St. Paul 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:07.720 about a godless society. 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:10.299 He says this, 00:12:10.339 --> 00:12:11.639 for although they knew God, 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:13.519 they neither glorified him as God 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.779 nor gave thanks to him, 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:16.980 but their thinking became futile 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:19.459 and their foolish hearts 00:12:19.459 --> 00:12:20.439 were darkened. 00:12:21.939 --> 00:12:23.879 Although they claimed to be wise, 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.860 they became fools 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.179 and exchanged the glory 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:27.259 of the immortal God 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.080 for images 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.080 made to look like 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:31.100 the mortal man 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:33.019 and the birds and animals 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.159 as reptiles. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:38.960 And then this terrifying verse, 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:43.039 terrifying pronouncement 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:45.500 over a godless society. 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:48.779 God gave them over 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:51.139 in the sinful desires 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.720 of their hearts. 00:12:54.699 --> 00:12:54.980 See, 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:56.120 somehow, 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.699 somehow, 00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.580 you have to explain 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.759 the way the world is. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.199 The tragic outcome 00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:05.419 of us ignoring this stuff 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:07.319 that St. Paul is writing here 00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:11.720 is the world that you and I live in. 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:14.740 I think St. Paul 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:16.200 might have summarized 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.279 his teaching 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:20.000 saying, 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.060 just start 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:22.740 how you mean 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.440 to go on. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.379 Get your assumptions 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:26.980 right 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:29.220 because if we don't, 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:30.220 we will end up 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.800 where we are 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.279 and we will know 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:34.440 why we are there. 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:40.060 Paul talks about, 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.320 in the first phrase, 00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:41.900 the rulers 00:13:41.900 --> 00:13:43.440 and authorities. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.040 Normally, 00:13:44.380 --> 00:13:45.240 in the New Testament, 00:13:45.420 --> 00:13:46.460 when those are referred to, 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:47.840 they're referring to 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.380 human beings 00:13:49.380 --> 00:13:51.800 who've become unrighteous 00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:52.720 and got it wrong. 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.580 I suppose, 00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:57.320 in the last century, 00:13:57.940 --> 00:13:58.760 there are some 00:13:58.760 --> 00:14:00.320 terrifying examples 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:00.820 of that. 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.260 Nazism. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:06.179 What a shocking idea. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.139 Racism. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:10.580 What a shocking idea. 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:15.799 Stalin's 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:19.600 attempts to 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.080 force people 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.039 into communism. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.460 One of the things 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.360 that we forget, 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:25.980 for instance, 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:26.899 about the Ukraine 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.960 is that Stalin 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.340 starved to death 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.460 up to six million 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.419 Ukrainians. 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:33.500 See, 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:34.679 this stuff 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.659 is not just 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.439 the product 00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.199 of somebody 00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:38.299 who's a bit iffy 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.120 morally. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.299 This is 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:42.379 concerted, 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.439 systemic, 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:44.699 horrific 00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:45.599 behavior. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.519 And for those 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:49.820 of you 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:50.220 who buy 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:50.820 the argument 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.639 that Nazism 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.840 only spread 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:54.440 because people 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:55.759 were scared 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.860 of the ramifications 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.259 of not supporting it, 00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:58.879 I'm sure there was 00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.800 an element of that, 00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:00.860 but there is plenty 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.440 of evidence, 00:15:01.560 --> 00:15:02.080 a whole book 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:02.920 written about it, 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.840 which is the 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.860 letters of 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:06.920 German soldiers 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:07.659 writing home 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.700 to their parents, 00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:10.200 boasting 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:10.700 that they 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:12.140 stabbed a 00:15:12.140 --> 00:15:13.460 Jewish baby 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.040 that same 00:15:14.040 --> 00:15:14.420 day. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.280 You want to 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:20.720 sit light 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:21.100 to this 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:21.580 teaching? 00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.140 You need to 00:15:24.140 --> 00:15:24.820 be very, 00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:25.900 very careful. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.140 And Paul 00:15:28.140 --> 00:15:28.840 goes on from 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.100 there, 00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:29.540 and I think 00:15:29.540 --> 00:15:30.100 this is where 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:30.620 our weird 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.420 meters really 00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:32.340 start to flick 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:33.640 in Ephesians 00:15:33.640 --> 00:15:34.540 chapter 6. 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:36.719 And he 00:15:36.719 --> 00:15:37.379 then talks 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.319 about not 00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:38.939 just the 00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:39.919 rulers and 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.639 authorities, 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:41.599 he goes on, 00:15:44.219 --> 00:15:45.039 our struggle's 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.500 not against 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.019 flesh and 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.360 blood, 00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:47.279 against the 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.579 rulers, 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.079 against the 00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:48.539 authorities, 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.339 against the 00:15:49.339 --> 00:15:50.099 powers of 00:15:50.099 --> 00:15:50.639 this dark 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.079 world, 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:52.079 and against 00:15:52.079 --> 00:15:52.879 the spiritual 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.740 forces of 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.099 evil in 00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:55.719 the heavenly 00:15:55.719 --> 00:15:56.399 realms. 00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.219 Wow. 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.599 That does 00:16:00.599 --> 00:16:01.199 sound weird, 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:01.719 doesn't it? 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.840 The problem 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.680 is these 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:07.100 malign forces 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:08.080 that exist 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.600 outside our 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.540 kind of human 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:11.379 existence 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:13.379 very often 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.040 work through 00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:14.800 influencing 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:15.960 human beings. 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.420 People like 00:16:18.420 --> 00:16:18.700 you, 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.000 and people 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.560 like me. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:22.660 You get 00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:24.040 these amazing, 00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:27.899 amazing and 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.259 horrible facts 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:31.180 that in the 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.959 1940s, 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.259 towards the 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.859 end of the 00:16:34.859 --> 00:16:35.500 40s, 00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:36.579 all this 00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.259 optimistic 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:37.939 stuff was 00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:38.659 being written 00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.019 about, 00:16:39.219 --> 00:16:39.579 we won't 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.179 ever allow 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:40.659 this to 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.099 happen in 00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:41.479 the world 00:16:41.479 --> 00:16:41.859 again, 00:16:41.979 --> 00:16:42.299 and we'll 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:42.699 build a 00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.539 new society 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:43.879 and a 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.719 new community. 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:45.659 All 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.019 sounded 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.500 great, 00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:49.859 but then 00:16:49.859 --> 00:16:50.519 we discovered 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.599 that Nazism 00:16:51.599 --> 00:16:54.539 is growing 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.359 in the 00:16:55.359 --> 00:16:55.759 Nordic 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.339 countries. 00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:57.679 Reckoned 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.299 generally to 00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:58.620 be the 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.419 most civilized 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:00.379 societies in 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:00.899 Europe, 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:02.959 they have 00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:04.019 a burgeoning, 00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:04.859 angry, 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.200 vicious, 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.460 right wing 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:09.500 waiting to 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.779 influence the 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.759 way society 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.759 should be 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.819 as far as 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.440 they are 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.099 concerned. 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.339 That's why 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:19.859 we are 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.440 where we 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:20.779 are. 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.119 And I 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:22.679 call this 00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:23.279 talk and 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.179 my stuff on 00:17:24.179 --> 00:17:24.700 Tuesday, 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.819 the forever 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.299 war. 00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:27.460 What is 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.339 Paul's main 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.059 point here? 00:17:32.459 --> 00:17:33.179 Very 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:33.899 simple in 00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:34.240 a way. 00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:35.879 His main 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:36.399 point is 00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.159 a spiritual 00:17:37.159 --> 00:17:38.879 enemy needs 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.419 to be 00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:40.259 approached and 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.019 engaged with 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.619 spiritual 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.299 weapons, 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.839 not the 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:44.919 weapons of 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:45.599 this world. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:45.659 world. 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.079 I want to 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.959 talk some 00:17:48.959 --> 00:17:50.419 more about 00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:52.339 that on 00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:52.879 Tuesday 00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.559 evening. 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.500 But it's a 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.659 very simple 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.179 idea, 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:56.679 isn't it? 00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:58.779 I mean, 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.500 you wouldn't 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.419 feel it would 00:18:02.419 --> 00:18:03.980 be appropriate 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.939 with you to 00:18:04.939 --> 00:18:07.179 go and play a 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:07.639 game of 00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:09.399 hockey using 00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.199 an axe 00:18:10.199 --> 00:18:10.939 instead of a 00:18:10.939 --> 00:18:11.599 hockey stick. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.159 might have 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.519 crossed your 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:15.859 mind, 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.579 but you 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:17.959 haven't done 00:18:17.959 --> 00:18:18.099 it. 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.359 You wouldn't 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.299 think that it 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:21.939 would be 00:18:21.939 --> 00:18:23.699 appropriate for 00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:26.079 our marines to 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.939 go into war 00:18:26.939 --> 00:18:27.519 with water 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.099 pistols. 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.740 No. 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.980 You have to 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.779 define the 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:36.000 enemy and 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.740 then work out 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.339 what will be 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.919 the tools that 00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:39.539 will defeat 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.179 that enemy. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:45.240 I want to 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.219 remind you of 00:18:46.219 --> 00:18:47.359 something really 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.019 important. 00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.599 And again, 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.439 I think, 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.899 because the 00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:51.480 way the world 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:51.980 is, we're 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.879 inclined to 00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.679 kind of forget 00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:54.119 this. 00:18:55.459 --> 00:18:56.359 That we are 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.359 fighting not 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.879 for victory, 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.019 but we're 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.879 fighting from 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.379 victory. 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.480 New Testament 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.799 gives us 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.480 plenty of 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.559 examples of 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.199 this kind of 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.700 teaching. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.299 The idea 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:16.960 that on 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.960 the cross 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:19.960 of Calvary, 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.200 Jesus 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.960 defeated 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.640 Satan 00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:24.600 once and 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.100 for all. 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.059 And you 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.240 say, 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.039 hang on, 00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.400 how can 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:28.720 that be? 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.059 How can 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.400 the world 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.900 be the way 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.980 it is if 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.740 Jesus has 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.920 already defeated 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:34.080 the devil and 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:36.160 those authorities 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.039 in the heavenly 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.580 realms? 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:42.759 well, I 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.819 agree, that's 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.559 a difficult 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.279 problem to 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:45.759 explain. 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.799 I kind of 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.279 think of it 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.879 like this, and 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.599 I hope this is 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.000 helpful. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:52.259 I am told, I'm 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.319 not a farmer and 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.099 never have been, 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.899 but I am told 00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:56.899 that if you take a 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.759 chicken in the 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.819 yard and you 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.679 chop its head 00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:01.980 off, it will 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.720 race around the 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.559 farmyard in a 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.399 rather frenzied 00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:06.139 way and then 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.659 drop dead. 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:09.140 I think we 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:09.640 live in a 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.480 season where 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.340 in a sense 00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:11.940 the devil's 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.460 head has been 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:16.240 chopped, but 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.779 he's still 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:18.180 creating carnage 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.380 in this 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:20.220 farmyard called 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.740 the world. 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.540 And finally, 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.460 that victory 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.840 over the 00:20:26.840 --> 00:20:27.779 devil will be 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:29.100 complete on 00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:29.640 the day of 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.080 the Lord, 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:30.680 when the Lord 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:32.040 returns and 00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:32.920 pulls down the 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.980 curtain on 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:35.000 human history. 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.660 victory. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:39.100 We're 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.300 fighting from 00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:42.240 victory, not 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.220 for victory. 00:20:44.580 --> 00:20:46.980 You are, to 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:49.060 quote the 00:20:49.060 --> 00:20:50.019 parlance of the 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:54.660 modern business 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:56.920 science world, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.740 you are winners 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.920 if you are 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:01.279 disciples of 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.220 Jesus Christ. 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.240 And Paul's 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.440 advice to us 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.799 is to be 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.279 strong. 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.279 Be strong. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.339 In other 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.259 words, don't 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.819 be afraid. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.639 There's no 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.440 need to fear. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:17.980 You're fighting 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.099 from victory, not 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.639 for it. 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.599 Be strong in 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.160 the Lord and 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.559 in the power of 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.160 his might. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.160 I wonder 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.940 today if I 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.480 said to you, 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.599 give yourselves a 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.319 mark out of 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:30.099 ten in terms of 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:31.399 how strong do 00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.019 you feel in 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.439 the Lord. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.099 Ten out of 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.799 ten being, 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.819 you're somebody 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.500 I can't 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:36.980 imagine. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.579 One out of 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.259 ten being, 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:41.699 you haven't 00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:42.319 even thought 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.019 about this. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.719 I suspect 00:21:46.719 --> 00:21:47.619 that most of 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:48.559 us would not 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.719 rank ourselves, 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:51.019 maybe for 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.619 reasons of 00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:52.519 humility, maybe 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.119 not, but I 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.679 don't think we 00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:54.319 would rank 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:54.879 ourselves 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.599 particularly 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:58.039 highly in 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.980 terms of 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:01.440 where we 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.759 are. 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.240 So I 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.559 want to 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.799 end today 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:07.480 by 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:09.000 suggesting 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.500 six things 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.220 that you 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.640 might like 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.059 to think 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.420 about. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.259 All I 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.440 think, 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.059 based on 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.660 the assumption 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:18.559 that this 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.000 spiritual war 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.640 that's going 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.200 on is 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:21.700 real, 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.279 and whether 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.960 we accept 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.460 it or not, 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:24.980 we're caught 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.519 up in it. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:27.639 what can 00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:28.000 I do? 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:28.660 Well, 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.259 first thing 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.539 is, 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.740 I always 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.639 think this 00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:32.940 is a 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.579 commendable 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.279 spiritual 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.839 lesson, 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.279 and I 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:36.819 learnt it 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:38.379 from the 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.019 special boat 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.059 services and 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:40.599 the Navy 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:41.119 seals, 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.460 you know, 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.259 absolutely 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:44.759 top military 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.279 personnel, 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:45.900 trained, 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.339 trained, 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:46.859 trained, 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.519 and ready 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.200 for action. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.279 But I 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.900 think we 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.639 shouldn't be 00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.680 passive about 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.359 this spiritual 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:52.779 war, 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.500 but we 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.700 should head 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.119 to the 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.099 cause of 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.579 the trouble. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.619 Cause of 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:58.980 the trouble, 00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.680 according to 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.019 Paul, 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.619 are these 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.160 rulers and 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.700 authorities, 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:03.059 these forces 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.519 in the 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.579 cosmic places. 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.279 The second 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.940 thing is, 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.500 and if you 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:07.899 want to know 00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:08.480 about this, 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.240 come along 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.879 on Tuesday 00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.420 evening, 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.879 understand the 00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:14.039 weaponry that 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.579 God has 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.279 supplied you 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.579 with. 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.019 The third 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.599 thing is, 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.899 audit your 00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.480 assumptions. 00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:21.960 I think we 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.480 Christians 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.480 carry around 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.440 all kinds 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:24.839 of weird 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.360 assumptions 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.000 which get 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.319 us in 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:26.920 big trouble. 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.660 Shall I 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:28.940 tell you 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.200 one? 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.860 How often 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:31.220 have you 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.579 heard it 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:31.779 said, 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.220 there's no 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.720 such thing 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.000 as an 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.519 unanswered 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:33.839 prayer? 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.000 As an 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.940 unanswered 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.500 prayer? 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:38.819 No, 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.720 James tells 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.400 us in 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.099 his epistle, 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.099 you don't 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.400 ask, 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:42.660 and when 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.000 you do 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.360 ask, 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.019 you ask 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.680 from selfish 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.140 motives. 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.720 Of course 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.220 God's not 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.500 going to 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:46.880 recognise 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.279 that. 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.140 Mature 00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:48.779 prayer is 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.200 praying for 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.680 what God 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.220 wants in 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.640 any and 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.599 every situation, 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.419 not just 00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:52.859 praying for 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.279 what I 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:53.500 want. 00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:55.519 I remember 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.240 a pastor's 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.459 wife saying 00:23:57.459 --> 00:23:58.059 in a home 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.599 group one 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:58.919 day, 00:23:59.719 --> 00:24:00.319 not my 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.299 wife incidentally, 00:24:02.179 --> 00:24:03.579 she was 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.759 talking about, 00:24:05.959 --> 00:24:06.439 well she was 00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.199 really talking 00:24:07.199 --> 00:24:08.059 about the 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.199 idea of 00:24:09.199 --> 00:24:10.299 what we call 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.059 the prosperity 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.579 gospel. 00:24:11.719 --> 00:24:12.059 That is, 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.039 if you come 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.599 to Jesus 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.299 you'll be 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.839 wealthy. 00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.079 Some of you 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.339 are still 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:17.779 waiting, 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.099 right? 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:20.879 And she 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.339 said, 00:24:21.939 --> 00:24:22.759 quite openly, 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.459 she said, 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.259 I believe, 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:25.740 somebody 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.959 challenged her 00:24:26.959 --> 00:24:27.339 and said, 00:24:27.439 --> 00:24:27.959 well your 00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:28.659 husband drives 00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.139 around in 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.480 a brand 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:29.740 new, 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.339 you know, 00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:30.759 top of 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.119 the range 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.579 Volvo, 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.399 this is 00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:32.980 the pastor. 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.339 And she 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:35.559 said, 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:35.939 well I 00:24:35.939 --> 00:24:36.399 believe, 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.139 if we 00:24:37.139 --> 00:24:37.699 prayed for 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:38.119 a bike, 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.019 what God 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.299 would have 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.719 given us 00:24:39.719 --> 00:24:40.179 a bike, 00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:40.980 but if we 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.459 prayed for 00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:42.000 a Volvo, 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:42.939 top of the 00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:43.199 range, 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:43.619 God would 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:43.899 give us 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.379 a top of 00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:44.839 the range 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.259 Volvo. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:49.599 Is it 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:49.920 really? 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.220 Wrong 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.740 assumption. 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.200 If you 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.599 ask from 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.059 selfish 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.700 motives, 00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.400 I should 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:57.839 tell you 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:59.440 that the 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.619 pastor paid 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.140 for this 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.299 by taking 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.960 the lion's 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.519 share out 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.039 of a local 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:04.559 trust, 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:04.960 which was 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.319 meant for 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:05.740 the maintenance 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.180 of the 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.559 building, 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.299 but somehow 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.440 in his own 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.480 mind he 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:09.960 settled on 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.400 the idea 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:10.700 of buying 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.119 a top 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.519 range 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:11.859 Volvo. 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.500 No such 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:16.879 thing as 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.619 an unanswered 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:17.920 prayer. 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.460 Everybody 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.180 in this 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.740 church 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:21.059 knows what 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.700 it is to 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.099 say a 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.579 prayer which 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.559 is unanswered. 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.779 Sometimes 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.220 God knows 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.680 best, 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:28.960 right? 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:34.059 There are 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.779 all kinds 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.539 of other 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.700 examples of 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.779 Christians who 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.319 make poor 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.900 assumptions. 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.220 I mean, 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:41.599 you know, 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.579 obviously today 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.160 one of them 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.920 would be that 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.299 if you 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.419 ignore the 00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:47.480 spiritual 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:47.980 battle, 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.440 you make 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:48.940 yourself 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.639 vulnerable. 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:52.579 Audit 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.039 your 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.919 assumptions. 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.480 Ask 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.980 yourself, 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.500 do some 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:55.779 of the 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.419 things I 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:58.839 say and 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.599 believe in 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.319 relation to 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.079 my faith 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.039 are actually 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.379 right? 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:02.940 Because if 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.539 they're not, 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.879 they're going 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.359 to lead 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.480 you into 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.960 trouble. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.480 Fourthly, 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.700 put on the 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.660 full armor 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.259 of God. 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.019 You read 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.519 about it 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:18.740 there. 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.220 It's not 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.420 entirely clear 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.099 what that is 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.120 from reading 00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:22.720 it, but as 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.339 I say, if 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:23.680 you want to 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.220 know more 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.819 about that, 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.039 come along 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.819 on Tuesday. 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.660 Promise no 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.200 more cheap 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.599 plugs. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.759 Fifthly, 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.380 engage with 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:33.920 Scripture. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:37.080 I can't 00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:37.800 tell you 00:26:37.800 --> 00:26:38.519 this enough, 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.820 but part 00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:40.060 of the 00:26:40.060 --> 00:26:40.800 reason why 00:26:40.800 --> 00:26:41.300 so many 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:42.140 Christians have 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.720 suspect 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.680 assumptions is 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.400 they don't 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:44.820 know their 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.259 Bibles. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.400 else. 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.220 I don't 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.140 know, again, 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.759 if I ask 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.019 you the 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.379 question, 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:53.980 give yourself 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.400 a mark, 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.859 one out 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.359 of ten, 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.019 sorry, one 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.539 to ten, 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.920 on whether 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.319 you know 00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.960 your Scripture, 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.660 what would 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.099 you say? 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:08.399 There was 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:09.119 a principle 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.859 in English 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.459 law, which 00:27:10.459 --> 00:27:14.740 was, I 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:14.899 can't 00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:15.500 remember it, 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.399 justice 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:16.839 non 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.819 excusat, 00:27:18.459 --> 00:27:18.859 what's the 00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:19.480 last verb? 00:27:19.919 --> 00:27:21.019 Anyway, it 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.079 means ignorance 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.740 of the law 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.119 is no 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.740 excuse. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.199 Justice 00:27:27.199 --> 00:27:27.980 ignorant 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.699 is non 00:27:28.699 --> 00:27:29.799 excusat. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:33.259 And you 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:33.659 have to ask 00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.179 yourself the 00:27:34.179 --> 00:27:34.539 question, 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:36.000 well, being 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.839 ignorant of 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.679 God's Word, 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.719 is that 00:27:39.719 --> 00:27:40.299 really going to 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.879 sound like a 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.559 good excuse 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.099 on the day 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.619 of judgment? 00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:47.199 How many 00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:47.759 of us 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.959 really 00:27:48.959 --> 00:27:49.819 understand what 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.519 Jesus did 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.279 for us on 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.779 the cross? 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.459 How many 00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:53.199 of us really 00:27:53.199 --> 00:27:54.579 understand what 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.359 the humanity 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:57.639 of Jesus 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.459 cost him? 00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:01.319 the crown 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.819 of thorns 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.400 here, and 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.980 believe me, 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.400 I really 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.140 hurt myself 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.660 just putting 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:04.980 it on 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.279 there. 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.180 Jesus 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.620 had it 00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.100 rammed 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.600 on his 00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:08.940 head. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.799 Engage 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.019 with 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.420 Scripture 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.000 that you 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.340 might 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.319 understand 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.400 not just 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.259 the what 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.920 of Scripture, 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.460 but the 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.140 why of 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.559 Scripture. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:22.659 Scripture. 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:25.159 And finally, 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.000 enlist today. 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.980 Stop walking 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.619 in the 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.200 darkness, 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.339 believing that 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.220 all our 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.879 problems are 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.919 just human 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.659 problems, 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:41.019 and that 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.839 stuff like 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.859 the spiritual 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.079 realities that 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.720 are malign and 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.839 influence us 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:47.879 are just not 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.240 true. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:50.819 If you do 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.160 do that, 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.519 you're going 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.039 to find a 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.359 great excuse 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:55.019 as to why 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:57.480 the world 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.079 is the 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.500 way it 00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:58.880 is. 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.319 The 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:06.380 motto 00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:08.019 of those 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.640 American 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.240 Navy 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.839 Seals 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.819 is this, 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.700 the only 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.680 easy day 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:14.000 was 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.519 yesterday. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.880 What they 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.599 mean by that 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.519 is in 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:18.799 their 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.279 language, 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:19.719 that's a 00:29:19.719 --> 00:29:20.159 constant 00:29:20.159 --> 00:29:20.679 need for 00:29:20.679 --> 00:29:21.659 physical and 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:22.139 mental 00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.819 exertion and 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.480 preparation. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.240 But I 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:28.819 wonder if we 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.779 truly believe 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.480 that we 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.899 should give 00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:32.399 the same 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:33.299 level of 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.599 exertion to 00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:35.419 our spiritual 00:29:35.419 --> 00:29:36.059 lives, 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.639 to become 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.500 spiritually 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.079 vigilant. 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.839 You are 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.759 fighting from 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.299 victory. 00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:44.759 Paul wrote 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.240 this in 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.159 1 Corinthians 00:29:46.159 --> 00:29:47.159 15. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.480 But thanks 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.859 be to 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.339 God who 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.959 gives us 00:29:49.959 --> 00:29:50.139 the 00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:50.480 victory 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:50.819 through 00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.079 our 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.419 Lord 00:29:51.419 --> 00:29:51.740 Jesus 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.299 Christ. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.099 Not who 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.799 will give, 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.939 not a 00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:55.279 future 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.019 but a 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.339 present. 00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.379 And in 00:29:59.379 --> 00:30:00.219 all things, 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:00.980 he wrote in 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.740 Romans 8, 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.879 we are more 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:05.000 than conquerors 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.399 through him 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.099 who loved 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.500 us. 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:11.960 do you 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:13.079 even feel 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.599 like a 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.160 conqueror? 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.019 Do you 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.380 even 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:18.359 suspect that 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:18.880 there might 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.359 be some 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.160 victory in 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.720 the Christian 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.299 life that 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.259 you have 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.700 not 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.920 experienced 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:27.900 and you're 00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:28.099 just 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.920 constantly 00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.359 tripped 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:29.720 up? 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.400 Enlist 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.180 today. 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:36.920 take up 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.519 the weapons 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.060 that God 00:30:38.060 --> 00:30:38.580 has given 00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:40.940 you and 00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.660 let's fight 00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.660 this spiritual 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:45.860 battle that 00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:47.420 exists in 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.180 our worlds, 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.480 sometimes in 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.180 our lives. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.100 And let's 00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:55.779 wake up and 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.299 become the 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.880 church God 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.580 wants us to 00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:57.840 be. 00:30:58.320 --> 00:30:59.060 Let's pray. 00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:21.179 Our 00:31:21.179 --> 00:31:21.940 Father, we 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:23.460 want to 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.839 pray against 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.919 our apathy, 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.299 our lack 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.480 of understanding 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.180 that leads 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.799 to wrong 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.419 assumptions. 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.599 Father, we 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.519 need the 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.659 solid food 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.299 of your 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:39.919 word. 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.700 And we 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.379 need to 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.399 remember that 00:31:45.399 --> 00:31:46.319 according to 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.919 Paul in 00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.839 1 Corinthians 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.659 chapter 3, 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.720 the hallmark, 00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:50.899 the primary 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:52.180 characteristic of 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.740 spiritual 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.720 immaturity 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:55.919 is this, 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.119 worldliness. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.940 the good 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.639 news Bible 00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:01.279 puts it, 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.500 living as 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.180 the people 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.819 of this 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.539 world live. 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.879 Father, would 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:08.539 you please 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.379 help us to 00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:09.839 be done 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.480 with that 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:14.059 and to 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:15.259 enlist as 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.819 serious 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.980 disciples who 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.039 take seriously 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.859 your word 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:20.899 and seek to 00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:21.639 amend our 00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:22.139 lives 00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:22.960 accordingly. 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.400 God 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:23.660 God 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.299 will 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:23.100 be. 00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.960 Father, send 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:27.579 ! 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.220 send the 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.059 Holy Spirit 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:30.259 on your 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.100 people gathered 00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.559 now. 00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.600 And Lord, let 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.160 the work of 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:35.140 that spirit do 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:36.019 what your 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.160 word tells us 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.940 that your 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.740 spirit can do 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.259 for us and 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.640 that is 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.700 convict us. 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.759 Make it 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.779 clear to us 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.019 where we need 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.420 to make 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.000 improvements. 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.539 Father, I 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.360 pray that for 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.840 myself as 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.699 much as 00:32:51.699 --> 00:32:52.220 for any 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.879 soul in 00:32:52.879 --> 00:32:53.439 this church 00:32:53.439 --> 00:32:53.939 today. 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:57.259 Come down, 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.319 O love 00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.959 divine, fill 00:32:59.959 --> 00:33:01.240 thou the 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.179 soul of 00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:02.559 mine. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:11.019 Lord, may 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.919 your church 00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:14.259 awake and 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.019 may we be 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:17.139 ready to 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:18.220 face the 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.579 challenges of 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.059 the world, 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.659 the flesh, 00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.119 and the 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:23.480 devil and 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:23.819 to be 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.500 conquerors. 00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:25.879 In 00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.599 Christ's name 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.240 we pray. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:29.139 Amen.