WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.480 There are some people who floss at every meal. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:12.280 They have a thriving floss life. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:18.320 They just seem to delight in flossing at all times. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:21.219 It doesn't matter where or when. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:23.260 They got their floss on them. 00:00:23.260 --> 00:00:30.260 And so after a meal, they find a place to floss their teeth without ceasing. 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:35.359 And the rest of us watch with our mouths closed. 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:43.680 Asking a Christian about his or her prayer life is like asking someone if they floss regularly. 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:51.000 Usually it's met with some kind of, yeah, if only I had more time, I'd pray more. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:55.179 Yeah, if only I had a better plan, I'd pray more. 00:00:55.340 --> 00:00:59.939 Yeah, if only I was like that gifted prayer warrior guy, I'd pray more. 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:04.540 Or only if there were more prayer meetings, I'd pray more. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:08.920 Why don't we pray? 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:15.840 Why are we plagued with prayerlessness? 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:22.460 The majority of us, myself included, know we should be praying more. 00:01:22.579 --> 00:01:26.000 But our prayers tend to be more like christening of ships. 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:27.040 You know what I'm talking about? 00:01:27.100 --> 00:01:29.219 There's a ship built in a shipyard. 00:01:29.600 --> 00:01:35.320 A guy comes up, lady comes up, little speech, and then christens that ship with a bottle of champagne. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:36.640 And off it goes. 00:01:36.780 --> 00:01:39.859 We like to christen things with our prayers. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:41.640 Christen our meals. 00:01:42.020 --> 00:01:43.200 Christen our meetings. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:43.420 Christen our meetings. 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.659 But where's the prayers of great reverence? 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:58.560 Of great regularity, specificity with results that can only come from God? 00:01:58.659 --> 00:01:59.480 Where are those? 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:09.360 This morning, what I want to help you to see through God's word is that the problem of our prayerlessness isn't a lack of time. 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.680 It's not a lack of a prayer, of a plan. 00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:16.300 It's not because we're not prayer warriors with this pronounced gift. 00:02:16.480 --> 00:02:19.020 It's not because there's a lack of prayer meetings. 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:26.480 The real problem of our prayerlessness is a small view of our God. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:29.800 It's unbelief. 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:35.379 We don't pray because we don't trust God, trust in something else. 00:02:35.540 --> 00:02:39.860 We're too busy to pray because we've lost sight of the grandeur of our God. 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:46.280 So the antidote to prayerlessness is not just praying more. 00:02:47.600 --> 00:02:48.640 There is that. 00:02:49.420 --> 00:02:51.920 It's not reading books on prayers, though that would be helpful. 00:02:52.600 --> 00:03:00.960 The real antidote, the root of prayerlessness, is seeing our God for who He is. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:07.379 Being aware and awestruck by our glorious God. 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:08.540 So here's my theory. 00:03:09.100 --> 00:03:17.920 The more aware and amazed you are about God's abiding presence, about God's unmatched power, 00:03:18.480 --> 00:03:25.500 about God's unstoppable plan, of God's providential provision in the details, 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:30.580 of God's loving posture towards you in Christ, do you know what I'm going to want to do? 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.800 You're going to want to pray to Him. 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:36.640 You're going to want to ask Him for whatever. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:40.240 He's the God of the impossible. 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:47.900 Now this morning, I would not want you to leave this service with your kind of tail between your legs 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:49.300 because of your prayerlessness. 00:03:49.480 --> 00:03:52.680 That would not be my desire, nor would I think it's the Lord's. 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:59.520 I think if you were to leave here with this sense of, oh man, I get to pray to that God, 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:07.960 and He promises to give me everything I ask for if I'm prayed in faith, you're going out well. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:10.580 You would go out strong. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:19.139 Now if you want your prayer life revived, would you please open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 22. 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:20.819 Excuse me, 21. 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:25.920 The book of Matthew is a story. 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:27.399 It's a narrative. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:33.219 And for the majority of Matthew, he's covering like two and a half, three years. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:35.319 And so it moves pretty quick. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.459 But when you get to chapter 21, everything slows down. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:44.039 Chapters 21 through 28 focus on the last week of Jesus' life. 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:48.120 Because it's the most important part. 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:50.800 It's the climax of this narrative. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:57.480 It's where this gospel is proclaiming, pointing to the good news that Jesus would be crucified 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:02.680 and on the third day raised to bring sinners back into a relationship with God. 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:07.759 So a few weeks ago, we read about in chapter 21, Jesus entering into Jerusalem 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.560 to a not so triumphal entry. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:17.100 And last week, we saw Jesus walk into the temple, God incarnate in the temple. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:21.459 And we saw him with mixed results, mixed responses. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.079 There were some kids singing, Hosanna, son of David. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:28.819 And then we have the religious leaders saying to Jesus, we just shut those guys up. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:37.139 In verse 17 of chapter 21, Jesus and his gang walked back to Bethany to lodge there. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:43.379 And so now we pick up chapter 21 in Jesus coming back into Jerusalem. 00:05:43.919 --> 00:05:47.819 And we're going to read a passage that's all of five verses this morning. 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:51.120 But it's going to stoke the fires of your prayer life. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:52.740 So would you read with me? 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:59.300 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, he became hungry. 00:05:59.300 --> 00:06:04.860 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:08.900 And he said to it, may no fruit ever come from you again. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:11.680 And the fig tree withered at once. 00:06:13.220 --> 00:06:17.319 When the disciples saw it, they marveled saying, how did the fig tree wither at once? 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:24.699 And Jesus answered them, truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:29.639 but even if you say to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, it will happen. 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:36.139 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive if you have faith. 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:44.019 This passage can be broken into two basic sections. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.979 Verses 18 and 19, a very unique warning. 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:55.599 And then verses 20 through 22, a compelling call to prayer. 00:06:56.339 --> 00:07:00.919 So these five verses have a warning and a compelling call to pray. 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:12.640 Christ the King Church, our risen King, calls us to faith-filled, mountain-moving prayers as exercises of faith in Him. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:19.580 These kinds of prayers call on God to restore marriages. 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:24.759 These kinds of prayers call on God to deliver people out of addictions. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:35.240 These kinds of prayers call on the God of the impossible to change idolaters into worshipers of the one true God by the powerful grace of God. 00:07:36.659 --> 00:07:46.500 These kinds of prayers, faith-filled prayers in an unbelievable God, brings peace to strained friendships. 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:51.279 These kinds of prayers are prayers by followers of Jesus that say, 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.779 God, you alone can change the spiritual landscape of our city. 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:05.860 What I want you to see is a healthy, robust understanding of who God is, 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:10.980 fuels a healthy and robust prayer life in Him. 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:17.160 So let's look at this warning in verses 18 and 19. 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:19.020 And you'll notice it involves a fig tree. 00:08:20.140 --> 00:08:21.160 Let's just walk through. 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:24.780 Jesus is walking back to Jerusalem from lodging in Bethany. 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:26.640 Evidently, He's hungry. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:30.280 He's probably staying at Mary and Martha and Lazarus' place. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:33.519 And I don't know, maybe they didn't have enough food to go around. 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:35.779 So this two-mile walk, He gets hungry. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:38.539 And on the way, He would do what all of us are doing. 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:45.539 On the way, you're looking for a place to eat, He sees a fig tree by the side of the road. 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:52.019 What you need to know now, at this time of the season, it would have been early for figs, but it's possible. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:57.959 And so He sees something about this tree that must have been inviting, so He goes to the tree. 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:04.159 And when He gets to it, what we read is that He found nothing on it but leaves. 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:05.419 Here's why that's significant. 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:09.479 It's an interesting way of saying there's no fruit. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.399 Just leaves. 00:09:12.459 --> 00:09:13.179 No figs. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:19.319 Fig trees bear fruit soon after the leaves show. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:24.639 And so the expectation would be, you see leaves, you'll find figs. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:33.860 So Jesus is expecting to find figs on this fig tree, but He only finds leaves. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:37.720 The fig tree was showing promise, but it didn't deliver. 00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:40.899 Promise without fulfillment. 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:49.779 It's like when you go into a restaurant and there's this open sign and you sit down and the waiter comes up and says to you, 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:52.379 glad you're here, but I'm sorry we have no food. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.819 You'd be like, but the open sign was on. 00:09:57.259 --> 00:09:58.299 You'd be disappointed. 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:02.139 Your expectations wouldn't be met. 00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:08.799 At this point, one would expect Jesus to be like, all right, no figs. 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:10.360 I'm just going to move on to the next fig tree. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.159 But do you see what He does? 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.000 He curses the fig tree. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:17.240 May no fruit ever come from you again. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.659 And the fig tree withered at once. 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:21.740 That's striking. 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:25.340 So there's the story. 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:28.500 We've got to ask the question, what's the significance about it? 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:29.659 What's it doing here? 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:38.639 I think we all have a sense that there's something more going on here than Jesus not getting figs and throwing a little three-year-old fit. 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:41.240 Something more is going on here. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:46.340 And there are three clues as to what's really going on. 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:49.440 The first clue is Jesus' extreme response. 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:51.580 He doesn't move on. 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:53.020 He pronounces judgment. 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:56.040 And that fig tree withers. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:11:01.300 And we're left saying, boy, that seems really strong for a fig tree not producing figs. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.680 But it's in the unusualness of it that should get our attention. 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:13.320 Something going on here that's more than we might think. 00:11:15.060 --> 00:11:19.020 So Jesus' extreme response is a clue that there's something more going on. 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:23.480 Something else is being communicated by this act. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:27.659 But then there's how Matthew has this placed. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:35.000 The location of this withering of the fig tree in the gospel of Matthew. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:41.840 Specifically, in relationship to what immediately comes before and comes after this passage. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:49.679 This withering of the fig tree is sandwiched between two very interesting passages. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:54.219 The first passage is Jesus in the temple. 00:11:55.219 --> 00:12:00.120 And they have these children who are singing his praises of Hosanna, son of David. 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:04.599 And then religious leaders are telling Jesus, will you just please quiet them down? 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:08.399 And the religious leaders are telling Jesus to quiet them down. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:13.420 Because they don't believe Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David. 00:12:14.040 --> 00:12:19.680 It's a snapshot of the unbelief of the leaders in Jerusalem. 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:27.100 And then if you look at verse 23, Jesus comes back into the city, goes back into the temple. 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:32.560 And all of a sudden, the same leaders, they literally question Jesus' authority. 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:34.440 By what authority do you do all these things? 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:40.519 They're questioning his authority because they don't believe he's the Messiah. 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:46.759 It's another snapshot of the unbelief of the religious leaders of the time. 00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:55.300 And so what's going on here is this fig tree incident is sandwiched between two examples of unbelieving spiritual leaders of Israel. 00:12:57.100 --> 00:13:04.620 So this act against the fig tree is very intentionally placed. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:12.040 And it's communicating something serious about the religious leaders. 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:15.180 Now here's the other thing you need to realize. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:21.220 There's a pattern in your Bible of prophetic sign acts. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.160 A-C-T-S. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.840 Prophetic sign acts. 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:28.620 Typically, God would call a prophet in the Old Testament and God would say, 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:31.860 Oh, I want you to say this to this people, thus saith the Lord. 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:35.560 So a prophet speaks on behalf of God and he uses words to do it. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:42.180 But that's not the only way God would use a prophet to communicate his truth to his people. 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:43.980 Do you remember the prophet Hosea? 00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:46.440 Do you remember what God asked him to do? 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:52.420 God had the prophet Hosea marry Gomer, who is most likely a prostitute. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:58.020 And his marrying of Gomer was a prophetic sign act. 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:04.840 He was, God was speaking, communicating to his people through that act of the prophet. 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:06.460 And here's what God was saying. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:13.860 Hosea marrying the prostitute Gomer is like my relationship with you, Israel. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:18.379 I'm like a faithful husband and you're like a faithless whore. 00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:23.440 A powerful prophetic sign act. 00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:29.460 And then when he turned to the book of Jeremiah, you see example after example of God calling Jeremiah 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:34.420 Jeremiah to do these sign acts for his people. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.040 So here's where all this is going. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.139 That's the third clue. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:48.180 Jesus is communicating something through this withering of a fig tree. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.720 He's communicating judgment. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.460 He's communicating judgment on the religious leaders. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:15:00.759 It's a prophetic sign act of judgment on the unbelieving leaders. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:03.120 The fig tree represents the leaders. 00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:09.700 The leaves of the tree represent their religiosity, their piety, their impressive practice. 00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:13.840 But the fruitlessness represents their unbelief. 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:18.759 They don't see Jesus as he truly is, the Messiah, the son of David, 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.960 who have come to set up a whole new kingdom. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:29.200 It's a kind of hypocrisy born of unbelief. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.440 It's having leaves but having no fruit. 00:15:36.040 --> 00:15:42.920 The religious leaders were denying Jesus and therefore they were denying God's salvation. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.879 So his words of judgment are fitting. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:50.500 May no fruit ever come from you again. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:54.360 The leader's fruitless unbelief condemns them. 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:57.600 They reject Jesus. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.340 God rejects them. 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:03.480 It's a prophetic sign act. 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:09.720 And the withering is the anticipated destruction that will come upon them for their unbelief. 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.120 Unbelief. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:14.920 And so what you've got to realize here is this is incredibly serious. 00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:18.440 Unbelief is incredibly serious to God. 00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:24.620 He's calling them out as hypocrites. 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:28.639 A promising foliage of religion. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:33.679 But they're missing the fulfilling fruit of faith in Jesus. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:42.659 Of all people, these Old Testament leaders should have known that their Old Testaments were pointing to Jesus. 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:46.699 And in their unbelief, they didn't see it. 00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:50.099 And God holds them to account for it. 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:53.800 All this is implied. 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:57.580 Nowhere in here does Jesus say he's about to wither the tree. 00:16:57.980 --> 00:17:02.080 He's like, okay guys, now pay attention of this prophetic sign act I'm now going to perform. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:10.380 No, it's when we come to our Bibles with an awareness of these clues that we realize what it is. 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:15.960 So this morning, here's the warning for us. 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:21.440 God takes unbelief seriously. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:28.279 Because unbelief is a denial of who he is and of what he is doing in Jesus. 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:43.940 Now what we see happening with the religious leaders is their unbelief metastasizing into a hard-hearted rejection of Jesus and a denial of God's salvation. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:52.240 For those of us who are followers of Jesus, chances are unbelief hasn't metastasized like that. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.759 But it's like a malignant polyp inside of you. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:00.980 Unbelief can be present in our hearts. 00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:06.480 And what it can show up as is prayerlessness. 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:10.240 It's a soft denial of who God is. 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:13.680 It's a soft denial of what God can do. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:18.099 It's a denial of God and a self-reliance. 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:28.919 So this warning that Jesus is showing here, it's very unique. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.679 And it's a warning against unbelief. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:36.319 And we can walk away with a warning of unbelief for ourselves. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:38.879 And how do you respond to something like that? 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:42.880 You respond by repentance. 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:47.920 You respond by recognizing it and confessing it. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:51.360 And then exercising faith. 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:54.760 And that's exactly where Jesus goes. 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:57.080 So we've looked at the warning. 00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:01.039 Now, let's look at the compelling call to faith. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.759 Jesus is calling us out of unbelief. 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:11.619 And he's calling us to a compelling faith in an amazing God. 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:17.039 And we find this in verses 20 and 22 of chapter 21. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:25.920 In verse 20, we read the disciples marveled at what they saw Jesus do. 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:29.539 They were amazed at this display of power. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:36.500 But it doesn't look like they understood the prophetic significance of what happened. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.500 So let's just pretend we're all in glory. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.279 The redeemed around the throne. 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:46.879 And Peter walks up next to you. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:53.339 And you're like, Peter, can you just kind of relay to me what you saw on the road into Jerusalem 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.940 with the withering tree incident? 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:58.139 We just, what was that like? 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:00.160 He would probably say something like this. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:02.940 You know, we saw Jesus do some really amazing things. 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:04.920 But that one stands out. 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:07.000 Because I know Jesus was hungry. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.399 I was hungry too. 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.700 Mary and Martha didn't have enough food to go around. 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:12.920 So we went into Jerusalem hungry. 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:16.180 And he walked up to that fig tree. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.980 And he spoke a curse on it. 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.940 And we were amazed. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.120 We were kind of like, whoa, where did that come from? 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.380 And we were amazed. 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:29.940 And it's like Peter would say then, we didn't realize the full significance of what happened 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.200 until after his resurrection. 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:33.559 But we'll never forget it. 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:39.440 The disciples weren't asking why Jesus did that. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.299 They were asking how Jesus did that. 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:46.119 How did the fig tree wither at once? 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.279 How did you do that, Jesus? 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:54.299 And Jesus answers in a way that should inform the way we pray. 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.419 Okay. 00:20:58.419 --> 00:21:02.000 Jesus calls us to faith in God. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:06.460 To trust in him and to not doubt him. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:11.500 In verse 21, Jesus says, truly I say to you. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:16.440 Now, if you're a follower of Jesus and you read those words, truly I say to you, you need 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.359 to tune your ear. 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:20.099 Because it's like Jesus is saying, listen up. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.599 This is important. 00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:33.359 He says, truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, let's camp out here. 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:38.519 If you have faith and do not doubt. 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:47.679 Jesus doesn't come out and tell us what is the object of faith here. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.679 He just uses a shorthand. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.920 If you have faith and do not doubt. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:22:01.680 What's behind that though is Jesus, Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience. 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:09.200 And Matthew knows that what these Jews will believe is that Jesus is calling them to faith 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.680 in God. 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.940 Not faith in faith. 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:14.920 Faith in the living God. 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:20.000 It would have been obvious to the original Jewish recipients. 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:30.019 The emphasis here is not on the amount of faith we're to have, but the object of our faith. 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:34.900 Faith in God. 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:34.980 Doubt. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:38.320 Doubt is another word for unbelief. 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:46.700 And where faith is an act of reliance on God, doubt is an act of reliance on something 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.560 other than God. 00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:54.160 And so a way kind of to fill this passage out for us to understand this verse better would 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.700 be this. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:23:05.019 Truly I say to you, if you have faith in God and do not doubt God, then what you see me 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.440 do here, you'll do more. 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:10.080 You can say to that mountain, go jump into the sea and it will. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:11.380 And it will happen. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:23.019 And so what we can walk away here is Jesus saying, doubt less, trust more, go pray, we're 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.580 done, it's hot, amen. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:24.799 Amen. 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.160 But here's the deal. 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:39.140 This week, there's a really good chance something in your life is going to go sideways. 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.580 Maybe it's a relationship. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.059 Maybe it's your finances. 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:45.640 Maybe it has to do with your job or your health. 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.259 It's going to go sideways. 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:53.500 And when whatever it is goes sideways, that sideways is going to be specific. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.240 It's going to be concrete. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.539 And it's going to be in your face. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.740 It's going to be right there. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:10.799 And so if you approach in that moment when things go sideways and you're like, I just need to believe in God. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:16.319 And you're holding on to some kind of vague, general sense of God. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.240 Do you know what's going to happen? 00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:22.059 You're going to be overwhelmed. 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:25.379 You're going to be tempted to unbelief. 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:36.720 Jesus doesn't spell out here the specific and concrete things about God we must trust. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.720 So I'm going to be tempted to unbelief. 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.279 So I'm going to do that for you. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:50.960 I want you, when you're faced this week with something going sideways, something specific, something concrete, something in your face, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:25:05.799 I want you to call to your mind specific, concrete realities about your God that will help you exercise faith and pray. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:14.680 So let's fill out this sense of faith in God a little bit. 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:22.660 Setting your trust on some very specific and concrete realities. 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:26.500 The first one, think of it in terms of five P's. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:28.620 P number one, God's present. 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.940 He says, I'll never leave you nor forsake you. 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:35.200 When things go sideways in your life, what does unbelief say? 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.579 I'm by myself. 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.900 I'm all alone. 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:40.380 But what God says, no, I'm present. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.059 I'm here. 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.740 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:45.220 I'm with you always, even to the end of the age. 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:50.079 But not only is he present, God's powerful. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:55.079 In Matthew 17, we read with God, all things are possible. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:59.960 When things go sideways, what unbelief will say is something like this. 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:02.319 This is never going to change. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:02.819 I'm stuck. 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.819 I'm stuck. 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.419 I'm stuck. 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.859 It's never going to change. 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:09.559 That's not belief speaking. 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:12.799 That's unbelief gawking. 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.099 Unbelief. 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:22.039 It speaks in the currency of never. 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:26.219 I'll never change. 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:28.299 I can't stop doing this or that or this. 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.759 Fill in the blank. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:32.240 We'll never get out of debt. 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:34.900 My neighbor will never come to Jesus. 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.519 I'll never fit in. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.500 My marriage will never recover. 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.920 My children will never come back. 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:42.279 Our church will never be culturally diverse. 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:47.759 I will never see my LGBTQIA friend come to faith in Christ. 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.799 It's never going to happen. 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:54.799 We'll never be able to really help mentally ill and homeless people in this city. 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:59.460 Unbelief runs with the words of never. 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:05.740 But God's power goes beyond our never. 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:09.779 God's power goes beyond our never. 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.160 God's power goes beyond our never. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.180 God's power goes beyond our never. 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.160 God's power goes beyond our never. 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:13.140 God's power goes beyond our never. 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:19.319 God speaks in terms of all things are possible when I'm involved. 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:23.680 Because I am unlimited in my power. 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:31.240 God's presence, God's power. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:35.720 God has an unstoppable plan for the fullness of time. 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:37.240 God has an opportunity to unite all things in him. 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:39.259 It's unstoppable. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:44.039 When things go sideways, you may be tempted to think like this. 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.180 Man, my life is shot. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.640 It's done. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.099 No future. 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:50.680 No way out. 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.980 God says, no. 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.900 I've got a plan. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.620 It's bigger than this. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.819 And you're part of it. 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.680 God's providence. 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:05.519 Not only does God have a plan. 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:09.700 But God is working in that plan. 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.599 He's bringing it about. 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:16.519 He's providentially making provisions for us. 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:22.440 So when things go sideways and you're thinking, man, everything is out of control right now. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:24.140 It doesn't feel like God is involved. 00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:27.680 It feels like the sovereign God of the universe has just let this thing go. 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:30.880 And now we have this crazy kind of fire hose out of control. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.000 It's just not true. 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:39.300 God is providentially orchestrating events according to his plan. 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:42.520 By his power, he's there with us. 00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:48.460 And what you need to know is, five, his posture towards you is one of love. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:56.660 If you're in Christ, God loves you so much that he would send his only son for you. 00:28:57.100 --> 00:29:00.920 If he's willing to do that, what else is he willing to do? 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:05.860 When things go sideways, we can tend to think like this. 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:08.039 Man, no good can come from this. 00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:09.860 No good can come from an addiction. 00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:11.820 No good can come from a divorce. 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:14.480 No good can come from this job loss. 00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:17.140 No good can come from this neighborhood. 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:19.140 No good can come from this. 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:21.140 No good can come from this. 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.320 No good. 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:26.420 God has good for you, whatever the case. 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:30.000 He's working all things out for the good of those who love him. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:35.000 And that good is divine in the next verse to be conformed to the image of Christ, 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.940 to share in God's holiness. 00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:42.480 We're talking about faith and not doubting. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:47.079 When things go sideways this week, you're going to be tempted to unbelief 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:50.539 because things that go sideways are specific and concrete. 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:59.259 And the way that you respond in faith is setting your trust in specific and concrete things about God. 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:07.620 About his presence and his power and his plan, his providence, and his posture towards you. 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:12.339 We find all these things revealed in the scriptures. 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.980 God reveals who he is in the Bible. 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:20.740 The Bible gives us the stuff we trust in. 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.059 Set our hearts on. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:26.460 Specific and concrete. 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:32.680 So when Jesus says, truly I say to you, 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:34.579 if you have faith, 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:39.960 if you're trusting in these specific and concrete things about God 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:42.099 and not doubting that, 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:48.620 trust him for amazing things, 00:30:48.620 --> 00:30:54.819 it's easier to doubt God 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:59.940 when you have a vague and general sense of who he is. 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:02.580 That makes it really easy to doubt him. 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:06.680 But the greater clarity you have about him, 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:10.620 the more you know him with specifics and concrete, 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:13.059 I see him doing this then, 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:16.480 it will strengthen your faith. 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.480 It crowds out unbelief. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:21.839 Truly I say to you, 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:27.519 if you have faith in this present, powerful, glorious plan, 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:31.120 providential, loving posture towards you, God, 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.759 and you don't doubt that, 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:36.259 you can take a mountain, 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:36.640 you can tell, 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:36.940 go, 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.940 jump into the sea and it will. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:41.500 By the way, 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:43.539 there's no actual historical record 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:45.840 of a disciple of Jesus 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:50.500 by faith calling a mountain to be cast into the sea. 00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:53.000 It's what's called hyperbole. 00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:57.880 Jesus is using extreme language to make a point. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:01.180 It's impossible for a mountain to be cast into a sea, 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:03.500 for man at least. 00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:07.940 But God's able to do the impossible. 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:11.720 Do you want me to give you something impossible that God did? 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.960 Are you familiar with the book of Acts? 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:19.279 In the book of Acts, the early church, 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:23.100 God by his spirit empowers them 00:32:23.100 --> 00:32:26.400 and the gospel spreads like wildfire 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:29.900 from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:31.840 to the ends of the earth. 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:35.240 No human being can do that. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.380 That's a work of the living God. 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:44.380 God is able to do the impossible. 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:47.480 When you see God for who he is, 00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:52.140 when you have a healthy, robust view of who God is, 00:32:52.540 --> 00:32:56.660 it should start stirring you to pray, 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:59.160 to trust him for things, 00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:01.040 things that are bigger than you 00:33:01.040 --> 00:33:04.100 because all things are possible with God. 00:33:05.540 --> 00:33:07.800 And whenever shows up in your thinking, 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:09.259 you've got to ask a question, 00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:12.880 is this of faith or is this of unbelief? 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.940 In verse 22, 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:22.080 Jesus applies this teaching about faith in God to prayer. 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.240 He says, 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.660 and whatever you ask in prayer, 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:26.339 you will receive if you have faith. 00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:29.140 There's the ask. 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.559 If you ask in prayer. 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.220 Prayer is simply talking with God 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:36.539 and Jesus points to a specific kind of prayer, 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:38.559 asking God for things. 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:40.960 And do you notice what he says to ask for? 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.220 Whatever. 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.480 Look at verse 22. 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.620 It's right there in your Bible. 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:47.639 Jesus says, 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:51.239 and whatever you ask in prayer, 00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:53.159 you will receive if you have faith. 00:33:53.459 --> 00:33:53.879 Whatever. 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:58.039 Now, I'm guessing some of you who read that 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.959 may get a little uncomfortable like I do 00:33:59.959 --> 00:34:01.500 because people will read that 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:03.059 and they will misuse it. 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:04.059 They'll say, 00:34:04.179 --> 00:34:07.019 I want a Learjet for my ministry. 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.159 Okay. 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:12.840 But let me help you understand that whatever. 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:16.380 Think about in terms of scope 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:17.639 and God's love for you. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.500 Whatever in your life. 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.940 Ask for it. 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.000 Whatever. 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:27.039 What's behind that is this. 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:29.820 God is concerned with every detail of your life. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.599 Every detail. 00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:35.800 Ask him anything. 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:36.820 Anything. 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:38.839 He's interested in it all. 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:40.279 He wants to help you. 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:43.819 He's put no limits on what you can ask him for 00:34:43.819 --> 00:34:45.259 because he wants you to trust him 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:46.960 with every area of your life. 00:34:50.299 --> 00:34:52.159 Maybe you don't know what to ask God for. 00:34:52.259 --> 00:34:53.319 Just start by saying, 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:54.199 asking God, 00:34:54.299 --> 00:34:55.679 God, what should I be asking you for? 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.619 That's where you start. 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.759 I've started there before. 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.940 Now, whatever, 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.859 that whatever also includes things 00:35:03.859 --> 00:35:06.259 that are seemingly impossible. 00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:08.260 That relationship, 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:11.520 that debt load, 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.300 that addiction, 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:16.760 whatever covers it. 00:35:17.560 --> 00:35:19.300 Ask Jesus. 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:22.720 Ask God to change you. 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:28.039 their question really starts coming in like this. 00:35:29.379 --> 00:35:30.539 What are you waiting for? 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:34.519 What's keeping you from asking him for whatever? 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:39.000 So we have the ask, 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:40.259 and then we have the promise. 00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:42.699 Jesus promises in verse 22 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:45.300 that whatever you ask, 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:47.159 you will receive. 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:48.000 Now, 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:50.739 a promise is only as good 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:52.400 as the one who makes it. 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:56.200 And if you think about the character of Jesus, 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:59.539 that means this is a promise you can bank on. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.559 His character is literally impeccable. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.680 You can trust him fully. 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.360 Now, 00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:10.160 Jesus doesn't say when or how you will receive what you ask for. 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:13.220 He just says that you will. 00:36:13.219 --> 00:36:17.399 So you set your expectations accordingly. 00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:20.259 But what you have here 00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:22.219 is an invitation. 00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:23.679 More than that, 00:36:23.839 --> 00:36:24.679 a promise. 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:26.699 Ask, 00:36:26.839 --> 00:36:27.719 and you will receive. 00:36:29.299 --> 00:36:30.819 God is eager to answer. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.459 There is a condition. 00:36:33.959 --> 00:36:36.139 This promise is not some blank check 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:37.119 that God has signed 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:38.719 in order for you to get whatever you want. 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:42.359 And the condition comes in the little phrase, 00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:43.619 if you have faith, 00:36:44.359 --> 00:36:47.980 you will receive if you have faith. 00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:52.439 Are we asking for something 00:36:52.439 --> 00:36:54.500 that is good and pleasing in God's sight? 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:57.899 Then it's a matter of time before you receive it. 00:36:58.879 --> 00:37:00.500 But if we're asking for something 00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.659 that's grievous to God, 00:37:01.959 --> 00:37:03.179 well, that's not of faith. 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:06.239 And there's no promise that we'll receive it. 00:37:06.279 --> 00:37:06.779 If anything, 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:09.280 you can be sure you're not going to receive that. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.600 Praying in faith 00:37:12.600 --> 00:37:14.100 is asking God for things 00:37:14.100 --> 00:37:15.400 we know that please Him 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:17.620 and that are good for us. 00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:21.480 We find those things in our Bible. 00:37:23.160 --> 00:37:24.580 That's why we pray for marriages. 00:37:25.740 --> 00:37:27.019 That's why we pray for 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:29.140 self-control and holiness. 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:31.280 That's why we pray for 00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:34.400 opening of doors to the gospel in this city. 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:40.760 Now, you may not receive something 00:37:40.760 --> 00:37:41.940 you ask for 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:45.300 because God's aware of something you're not. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:48.380 And you can trust Him in that. 00:37:49.720 --> 00:37:51.380 We'll trust Him to answer us 00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:53.180 according to His wise counsel, 00:37:54.180 --> 00:37:55.140 His will. 00:37:56.080 --> 00:37:57.960 But the invitation stands, 00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.920 come to me and pray. 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:02.160 Ask me for anything. 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:05.799 So what are you waiting for? 00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:08.480 God's present. 00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.420 He's powerful. 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:14.219 He's got an unstoppable plan. 00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:16.259 He promised us 00:38:16.259 --> 00:38:18.219 to providentially provide 00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:19.379 all of your needs. 00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:21.519 His posture to you 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.339 is one of love 00:38:22.339 --> 00:38:23.299 as a loving Father. 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:24.559 And if that weren't enough, 00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:25.839 He's promised to give you 00:38:25.839 --> 00:38:27.420 everything you ask in faith. 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:30.000 Sealed by the blood of Jesus. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.360 What are you waiting for? 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:36.179 Step out in prayer. 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:39.639 Ask for things that only God can give. 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:43.960 This morning we've been warned about unbelief 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.239 in a rather unique way. 00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:48.380 And here, we're called to faith. 00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:52.079 Faith exercised in asking God 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:53.420 for whatever. 00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:53.659 forever. 00:38:55.180 --> 00:38:56.400 We've got a God 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:59.079 eager and able 00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:00.740 to answer 00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:02.840 our prayers. 00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.300 So this morning, 00:39:05.619 --> 00:39:06.960 will you start praying? 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.300 Not because you have to. 00:39:11.240 --> 00:39:12.460 Because you get to. 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:15.180 We've got a wonderful God. 00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:15.219 God. 00:39:18.279 --> 00:39:19.539 So here we have Jesus 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.299 in Jerusalem, 00:39:20.859 --> 00:39:21.980 in between conflicts 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:23.019 with religious leaders, 00:39:23.239 --> 00:39:24.879 days before His crucifixion, 00:39:25.319 --> 00:39:27.239 and He's tenderly compelling 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:28.859 His disciples to pray. 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.960 Let's do the same. 00:39:34.259 --> 00:39:35.019 Let's pray. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.759 Will you bow your heads 00:39:36.759 --> 00:39:37.259 with me now? 00:39:37.260 --> 00:39:43.000 Lord God, 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:49.860 we confess our unbelief 00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.780 and how it shows up 00:39:50.780 --> 00:39:51.500 in prayerlessness. 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:53.860 God, we confess 00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:54.760 that we go in and out 00:39:54.760 --> 00:39:55.400 of our lives 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.600 and we think about You 00:39:56.600 --> 00:39:57.900 once in a while. 00:39:59.040 --> 00:40:00.900 God, would You change that in us? 00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:02.940 Would You bring about 00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:04.100 a renewal of our minds 00:40:04.100 --> 00:40:05.180 in which we think of You 00:40:05.180 --> 00:40:05.820 more often 00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.920 and we think of You 00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:07.780 more gloriously 00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.740 as You are? 00:40:09.720 --> 00:40:10.620 God, would You 00:40:10.620 --> 00:40:11.880 do a work in us 00:40:11.880 --> 00:40:12.940 by Your Spirit 00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:14.360 accompanied by Your Word 00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:14.940 in which You 00:40:14.940 --> 00:40:17.260 help us to see You 00:40:17.260 --> 00:40:18.260 and savor You 00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:19.280 for who You are? 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:21.780 And in so doing, 00:40:21.860 --> 00:40:22.580 God, would You 00:40:22.580 --> 00:40:24.980 would You provoke us 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:27.100 to ask You for things 00:40:27.100 --> 00:40:28.800 that only You can answer? 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:31.820 And so this morning, 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.860 we come to You, God, 00:40:32.900 --> 00:40:34.220 and we ask for some things. 00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.600 God, would You 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:37.440 make us a multicultural church? 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:39.099 Would You bring people 00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:40.440 into this gathering 00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:41.819 and as part of our church 00:40:41.819 --> 00:40:44.139 from various walks of life, 00:40:44.299 --> 00:40:46.079 from various ethnicities, 00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:48.480 from various economic backgrounds? 00:40:49.440 --> 00:40:50.779 God, would You form in us 00:40:50.779 --> 00:40:52.500 a people who sing Your praises 00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:54.779 and You get a unique glory for that? 00:40:55.739 --> 00:40:57.099 God, we also ask 00:40:57.099 --> 00:40:59.319 that You would open up doors 00:40:59.319 --> 00:41:00.819 for the gospel, 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:02.480 that You would save 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.679 more and more people, 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:05.740 that You would add to our number 00:41:05.740 --> 00:41:07.000 new Christians. 00:41:08.360 --> 00:41:10.340 God, would You pray as well 00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:13.480 that we would be a people 00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:16.380 who stand for righteousness 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.420 in this city, 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:19.099 that we show mercy 00:41:19.099 --> 00:41:20.860 to those in need. 00:41:21.240 --> 00:41:23.099 God, would You give us wisdom 00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:24.900 in helping people 00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:26.880 who are the most difficult to help? 00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:28.940 We need that, God. 00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:31.019 God, would You set us apart 00:41:31.019 --> 00:41:32.159 for Your name's sake 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:33.720 as we seek to step 00:41:33.720 --> 00:41:34.579 into these things. 00:41:35.320 --> 00:41:36.380 God, You are able, 00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:38.019 You're all-powerful, 00:41:38.200 --> 00:41:39.200 You're with us, 00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:40.400 You're for us. 00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.960 God, would You do a mighty work 00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:43.860 in and through us 00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:45.220 for the glory of Your name 00:41:45.220 --> 00:41:47.400 so that You get all the praise. 00:41:48.340 --> 00:41:49.400 It's in Your name we pray. 00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:50.639 Amen.