WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.060
 Thank you very much, Mike.

00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:16.879
 As the service leader steps up to open the service, the congregation suppress a smile of satisfaction.

00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:19.640
! This guy is one of the good ones.

00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:20.559
!

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.380
 He balances reverence for God with impressive words and turns a phrase.

00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:48.700
 Compassion for the needy oozes out of his every word as he entreats God's favour.

00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:52.980
 The service leader knows he is good.

00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:59.920
 He's talented and he's just better than other people at doing this.

00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.599
 Plus, he loves serving God in this way.

00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:11.140
 He loves the chance to flex his vocabulary and to inspire others to pray like he does.

00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:14.620
 This is where God wants him to be.

00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:17.340
 Up front and using his gift.

00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:21.700
 Anywhere else and his talent would be wasted.

00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:26.240
 And if you had been at church that particular morning,

00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:30.280
 you might agree that that guy's prayer sounded really good.

00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.979
 And you might have even added your amen at the end of it.

00:01:34.699 --> 00:01:37.459
 But did you notice any red flags?

00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:42.439
 We are going to be asking ourselves this morning,

00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:46.099
 what kind of prayer pleases God?

00:01:46.919 --> 00:01:50.619
 What kind of prayer makes God smile?

00:01:50.620 --> 00:01:56.859
 And I'm going to suggest today that the kind of prayer which pleases God

00:01:56.859 --> 00:02:05.000
 is prayer which remembers who God is and who we are in Christ.

00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:09.639
 We are in Matthew's Gospel.

00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:12.539
 We are in a section known as the Sermon on the Mount,

00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:16.620
 which runs from chapter 5 through to the end of chapter 7.

00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:18.900
 And in the Sermon on the Mount,

00:02:18.980 --> 00:02:20.920
 in this particular section that we're looking at,

00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:24.400
 in this bit from verse 1 to verse 18 of chapter 6,

00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:30.520
 Jesus is calling out the sham worship that he sees all around him.

00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:37.219
 And he warns his followers not to practice their righteousness in front of others.

00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:40.200
 So they're kind of outward means of worshipping God.

00:02:40.300 --> 00:02:44.140
 So they're giving, they're praying, and they're fasting.

00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:49.439
 They're not to make a big show of these things so that people would give them the glory.

00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:54.699
 Instead, Jesus wants them to be giving God the glory as they do these things.

00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:57.899
 So this week in our passage this morning,

00:02:59.019 --> 00:03:03.299
 Jesus is calling out prayer which doesn't please God.

00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:10.919
 And he's teaching his followers how they can pray in a way which truly pleases the Father.

00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:15.379
 But as we begin to think about prayer this morning,

00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:20.299
 we must remember that prayer is not about bringing things to God's attention.

00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:24.699
 It's not about making him aware of certain needs.

00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:30.379
 When we pray, we are saying things to God that he already knows.

00:03:32.279 --> 00:03:34.439
 Prayer is not essential for God,

00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:42.300
 but it is essential for us because it reminds us that God is God and we are not.

00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:46.639
 So this is our structure this morning.

00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:50.039
 We are going to be remembering three things about who God is,

00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:54.240
 and we're going to be thinking about remembering two things about who we are.

00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:59.520
 And these are particularly important things for us to be remembering

00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:01.900
 as we come to God in prayer.

00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:05.260
 So first of all,

00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:10.379
 remembering who God is.

00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:13.680
 So the first thing that we must remember about who God is,

00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:16.060
 is that he is all seeing.

00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:18.879
 So I hope you've still got your Bibles open,

00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.620
 but if you look back at verse five and six again,

00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:25.600
 it says this,

00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.400
 And when you pray,

00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:31.040
 do not be like the hypocrites,

00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:35.520
 for they love to pray standing in the synagogues

00:04:35.520 --> 00:04:40.360
 and on the street corners to be seen by others.

00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:42.640
 Truly, I tell you,

00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:45.320
 they have received their reward in full.

00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:47.540
 But when you pray,

00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:49.280
 go into your room,

00:04:50.020 --> 00:04:50.800
 close the door,

00:04:51.520 --> 00:04:54.980
 and pray to your father who is unseen.

00:04:55.600 --> 00:05:01.600
 Then your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:08.220
 What Jesus is doing here is that he is calling out the hypocrites

00:05:08.220 --> 00:05:11.640
 who love to be seen while they pray.

00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:14.840
 When they prayed in the synagogue,

00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.420
 everyone would have been there,

00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:20.300
 and everyone would have been there to witness them do it.

00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:24.280
 Like the service leader in my made-up story,

00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:28.560
 they loved the attention of praying in public.

00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:35.280
 But the street corner is maybe a bit of a less obvious place to find someone praying.

00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:39.060
 Why might they have wanted to pray on the street corner?

00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:41.160
 Well, in Jesus' day,

00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:43.699
 the Jews had set times of the day,

00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:46.399
 which they would set aside for prayer.

00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:48.199
 So, nine in the morning,

00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:49.600
 midday,

00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:51.199
 three in the afternoon,

00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:53.040
 and in the evening as well.

00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:57.040
 And if these folks timed it just right,

00:05:57.399 --> 00:05:59.759
 as they were walking along through the streets,

00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:03.240
 they would arrive in the busiest places

00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:05.379
 with the maximum attention

00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:07.019
 when the clock struck

00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:08.319
 and it was time for prayer.

00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:11.920
 Praying on the street corner,

00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:13.920
 if you think about the corner,

00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:15.500
 it means that folk could see you

00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:17.540
 and hear you from two different streets,

00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:19.180
 all the way up two different streets.

00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:23.040
 This was all for maximum attention.

00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:25.920
 Jesus tells his followers,

00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:28.199
 and that includes us today,

00:06:28.280 --> 00:06:30.379
 if we are following him,

00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:32.360
 that when we pray,

00:06:33.219 --> 00:06:35.480
 we should pray in secret,

00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:40.159
 but remembering that God is all-seeing.

00:06:41.420 --> 00:06:44.579
 God sees our unseen prayers,

00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:46.159
 and he rewards them.

00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:49.719
 He pays no attention to the prayer

00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:52.379
 which was uttered to get the attention of men.

00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:55.060
 Instead, kingdom people

00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:57.439
 should move from the street corners

00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.120
 into their houses

00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:01.160
 and into their room

00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:03.060
 and shut the door behind them.

00:07:04.280 --> 00:07:07.060
 The Greek word used for room,

00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:08.800
 the translation of the Greek word,

00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:10.939
 it literally means storeroom.

00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:14.639
 A windowless inner room,

00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:17.019
 probably with a locked door.

00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:18.959
 Jesus says,

00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:21.680
 your prayer should be so unseen

00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:25.040
 that not even your family in the house notice.

00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:29.300
 When we pray quietly,

00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:32.340
 so sometimes we pray in our heads

00:07:32.340 --> 00:07:35.200
 or we whisper our prayers to God,

00:07:36.400 --> 00:07:37.460
 when we pray,

00:07:38.260 --> 00:07:40.920
 do we believe that God sees

00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:42.580
 those unseen prayers?

00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:44.040
 They look really weak to the world.

00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:46.360
 What is whispering in a locked room

00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:47.580
 really doing?

00:07:48.200 --> 00:07:50.220
 Well, do we believe that God sees

00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:52.360
 our unseen prayers?

00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:55.400
 Can we trust that our prayers

00:07:55.400 --> 00:07:57.500
 whispered in the storeroom

00:07:57.500 --> 00:07:59.800
 are being declared aloud

00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:00.960
 in the courts of heaven?

00:08:03.460 --> 00:08:05.080
 I think there's some wisdom

00:08:05.080 --> 00:08:09.500
 in this teaching from Jesus as well

00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:12.400
 about drawing away from the busyness

00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:14.280
 into a quiet room,

00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.939
 closing the door behind us.

00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:17.779
 I think this is an exceedingly

00:08:17.779 --> 00:08:19.800
 helpful thing for us to do.

00:08:21.719 --> 00:08:22.860
 When we pray,

00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:24.579
 are we letting distractions

00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:26.379
 compete for our attention?

00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:29.920
 Or are we seeking out quiet spaces

00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.960
 in our day to pray to our God?

00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.019
 How often does our phone join us

00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:37.899
 in our prayer times?

00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:41.120
 And I think husbands and wives,

00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.299
 you can maybe facilitate this

00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:44.620
 for one another as well.

00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:46.139
 Maybe you could say,

00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:47.759
 why don't I entertain the kids

00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:48.560
 for 20 minutes

00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:50.220
 while you take a moment

00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:51.279
 in the storeroom?

00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:54.200
 God is pleased

00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:55.980
 when we earnestly seek him out

00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.899
 and put our distractions

00:08:57.899 --> 00:08:58.799
 to one side.

00:09:00.060 --> 00:09:01.159
 When I used to work

00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:02.700
 for an engineering firm,

00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:04.580
 there were moments

00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:05.360
 in the office

00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.159
 when I needed to take

00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:08.100
 a time out

00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:09.480
 and talk to God

00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.460
 about a stressful situation

00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:12.279
 that I was facing.

00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:14.919
 So I would take refuge

00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.379
 in the loo.

00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:19.139
 That was where I would go.

00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:20.159
 I would lock myself

00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:20.899
 in the cubicle

00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:23.740
 and pour my heart out to God

00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:25.139
 with no distractions.

00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:27.139
 Nobody in my team

00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:27.879
 knew any better.

00:09:29.339 --> 00:09:30.139
 They just thought

00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:30.879
 I was off to the loo.

00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:32.639
 But I could take

00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:33.480
 great confidence

00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.860
 that my all-seeing God

00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:37.059
 was taking notice

00:09:37.059 --> 00:09:38.359
 and he knew exactly

00:09:38.359 --> 00:09:39.299
 what my needs were.

00:09:41.319 --> 00:09:42.319
 Now, it's important

00:09:42.319 --> 00:09:42.859
 to note here

00:09:42.859 --> 00:09:43.819
 when Jesus is talking

00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:45.039
 about secret prayer,

00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:46.479
 he's not condemning

00:09:46.479 --> 00:09:47.379
 corporate prayer.

00:09:48.719 --> 00:09:50.199
 He's not telling Mike off

00:09:50.199 --> 00:09:51.519
 for praying in public

00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.319
 like he did.

00:09:53.459 --> 00:09:55.039
 Jesus' prayer template

00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:56.099
 that we find

00:09:56.099 --> 00:09:57.239
 in this passage,

00:09:57.719 --> 00:09:58.219
 we know it's

00:09:58.219 --> 00:09:59.179
 the Lord's Prayer,

00:09:59.839 --> 00:10:01.119
 it's a corporate prayer.

00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.559
 I wonder if you notice that.

00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.139
 It's full of plural words

00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:06.959
 like our and us and we.

00:10:08.699 --> 00:10:10.039
 Jesus is not condemning

00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:11.439
 corporate prayer here.

00:10:12.459 --> 00:10:13.739
 When we gather

00:10:13.739 --> 00:10:14.799
 as God's people

00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:15.419
 like we do

00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.579
 on a Sunday at church,

00:10:16.739 --> 00:10:17.819
 we pray together.

00:10:18.979 --> 00:10:21.219
 And when we pray together,

00:10:22.359 --> 00:10:23.579
 so either here

00:10:23.579 --> 00:10:24.339
 in the service

00:10:24.339 --> 00:10:27.119
 or at pizza and prayer

00:10:27.119 --> 00:10:29.059
 or in our growth groups,

00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:31.119
 we must keep an eye

00:10:31.119 --> 00:10:32.299
 on our heart posture.

00:10:33.839 --> 00:10:35.899
 Is there even a sniff

00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:37.799
 of trying to impress

00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:38.639
 other Christians

00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:40.659
 when we pray out loud

00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.959
 with each other in public?

00:10:44.339 --> 00:10:45.659
 The second thing

00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:46.759
 that we must remember

00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:48.179
 about God

00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:51.979
 is that he is all-knowing.

00:10:52.459 --> 00:10:53.419
 So we're going to look

00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:54.739
 at verses 7 and 8 again.

00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:59.419
 And when you pray,

00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:02.580
 do not keep on babbling

00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:03.940
 like pagans,

00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:05.779
 for they think

00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:06.680
 they will be heard

00:11:06.680 --> 00:11:08.879
 because of their many words.

00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.360
 Do not be like them,

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.919
 for your Father knows

00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:14.940
 what you need

00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:17.159
 before you ask him.

00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.639
 Jesus says,

00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:21.220
 don't be impressed

00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:22.399
 by the way

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.759
 that the Gentiles pray.

00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:26.700
 using many words.

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:29.419
 He says that such prayer

00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:30.819
 is babbling,

00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.019
 nothingness,

00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:32.519
 empty.

00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:35.139
 And God is not hard

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:35.620
 of hearing.

00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:38.039
 We do not need

00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:39.240
 to use big words.

00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:39.899
 We don't need

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:41.259
 to use loud words

00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:43.139
 for him to hear us.

00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:45.419
 He is not impressed

00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:47.539
 by overly wordy prayers.

00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.100
 God's grasp

00:11:49.100 --> 00:11:50.120
 of the human language

00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:51.419
 is much better

00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:52.899
 than our own.

00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:55.480
 Jesus prayed

00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:57.179
 the repentant tax collector

00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:59.580
 who simply prayed,

00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:00.279
 Lord,

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.159
 have mercy

00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.319
 on me,

00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:02.919
 a sinner.

00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.139
 Jesus praised

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.720
 such a prayer.

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.800
 don't pray like this.

00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:11.960
 Don't babble.

00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:15.460
 I used AI

00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:16.480
 to tell me

00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.000
 what all the

00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.220
 really big words

00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.040
 in the Bible are

00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:22.000
 just very quickly.

00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:23.200
 And then I got it

00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:24.040
 to write me a prayer

00:12:24.040 --> 00:12:26.080
 using all those words.

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.759
 Great if you can,

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.160
 great if it helps you

00:12:29.160 --> 00:12:30.560
 to really

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:32.300
 come before the Lord,

00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.919
 but I would

00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:34.559
 recommend you,

00:12:35.219 --> 00:12:35.899
 he doesn't need

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.479
 to hear all these

00:12:36.479 --> 00:12:37.079
 big words

00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:39.679
 to hear you.

00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:42.799
 We don't need

00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.279
 to use,

00:12:43.479 --> 00:12:43.919
 pray prayers

00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:44.439
 like this.

00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.439
 We don't need

00:12:46.439 --> 00:12:47.179
 to pray prayers

00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:48.099
 like this

00:12:48.099 --> 00:12:49.179
 because God

00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:49.919
 already knows

00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:50.439
 what we need

00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.299
 before we ask.

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.039
 We read that

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:53.719
 in the passage.

00:12:54.479 --> 00:12:55.240
 Isn't that amazing?

00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.719
 God already knows

00:12:56.719 --> 00:12:57.699
 what we need

00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:59.620
 before we ask.

00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:00.940
 And if God

00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:01.639
 already knows

00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.639
 what we need,

00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:03.879
 then we don't need

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.659
 to use big words

00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:05.480
 to get his attention.

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.519
 We don't need

00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.820
 to repeat our prayers

00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.039
 again and again

00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.360
 in case he didn't

00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:11.419
 hear us the first time.

00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:13.360
 When we pray,

00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.460
 we should remember

00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.539
 that he is

00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:16.639
 all-knowing.

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.120
 God,

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.000
 you are aware

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:21.860
 of this

00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:23.220
 specific need.

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.919
 We lift it

00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:26.019
 before you now

00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.580
 and we ask

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.180
 that you would

00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:28.700
 provide

00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:29.440
 in your

00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:30.879
 perfect timing.

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.560
 So we must

00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:34.100
 remember that

00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.040
 God is all-seeing.

00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:36.400
 We must remember

00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:37.620
 that God is all-knowing.

00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:38.379
 And the third thing

00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.200
 that we must remember

00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:39.900
 about God

00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:40.740
 when we come

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:41.540
 to pray to him

00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:42.560
 is that he is

00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.240
 holy.

00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:47.700
 This then

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.460
 is how you

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:49.040
 should pray.

00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.620
 Our Father

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.240
 in heaven,

00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:52.620
 hallowed

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.940
 be your name.

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.220
 Jesus'

00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:56.200
 prayer template

00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:57.040
 doesn't begin

00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:58.440
 with specific requests.

00:13:58.440 --> 00:13:59.020
 I wonder if you

00:13:59.020 --> 00:13:59.560
 noticed that

00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:00.520
 when he says

00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:01.120
 to his followers,

00:14:01.520 --> 00:14:02.140
 this is how

00:14:02.140 --> 00:14:02.780
 you should pray.

00:14:02.780 --> 00:14:03.860
 The first thing

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.260
 he does

00:14:04.260 --> 00:14:04.960
 is he casts

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.600
 the eyes

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.520
 of his disciples

00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:07.740
 all the way up

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.680
 as high as

00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:09.320
 they can go.

00:14:10.760 --> 00:14:11.540
 He wants them

00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:12.320
 to focus

00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:13.780
 and remember

00:14:13.780 --> 00:14:15.080
 the holiness

00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:15.900
 of God.

00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:18.500
 When we pray,

00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:19.660
 we must remember

00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:21.060
 that God

00:14:21.060 --> 00:14:21.920
 is holy.

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.980
 He is cloaked

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.500
 in unapproachable

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.040
 light.

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:27.379
 He is white

00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.759
 hot and radiant.

00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.559
 He is

00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:31.539
 perfectly pure.

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:33.959
 However,

00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:34.799
 because he is

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.120
 holy,

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.439
 it means that

00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.120
 he can't

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.240
 tolerate sin

00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.579
 in his presence.

00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.339
 We cannot

00:14:41.339 --> 00:14:42.419
 approach God

00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:44.240
 without Christ

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.459
 because we're

00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:46.019
 absolutely

00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.299
 clarted with sin.

00:14:48.579 --> 00:14:49.179
 Sin has

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:49.980
 affected us

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.719
 radically.

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:50.840
 deeply.

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.240
 It has

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.980
 affected us

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.580
 deeply,

00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:54.240
 all the way

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.700
 down to the

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.399
 atomic level.

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:56.800
 And if we

00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:57.080
 were to

00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:57.759
 approach God

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.620
 as we are,

00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.019
 his holy

00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.779
 presence would

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.600
 burn us

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.080
 up.

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.860
 If you think

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.560
 about the sun

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.279
 for a minute,

00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:06.960
 I learned some

00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:07.639
 fun facts about

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.240
 the sun this

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.519
 week.

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.700
 I knew this

00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:13.120
 fact before I

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.060
 looked it up,

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:14.879
 but it is so

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:15.920
 hot that if you

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.720
 were to approach

00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.080
 it,

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:17.879
 you would

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.740
 vaporize

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.659
 before you

00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.100
 got anywhere

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:20.519
 near the

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:20.799
 surface.

00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:21.980
 If you got

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.180
 one million

00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:24.100
 miles from

00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:24.560
 the surface

00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:25.180
 of the sun,

00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:25.720
 you would

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.480
 melt and

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.200
 vaporize.

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.519
 One million

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.259
 miles away.

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.799
 Because we

00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.120
 are by nature

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.159
 dirty sinners.

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.759
 We cannot

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.159
 draw near to

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:39.759
 our holy

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.139
 God.

00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.200
 And this

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.060
 is really

00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:44.180
 bad news.

00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.539
 It is

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.200
 completely

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.060
 impossible

00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:48.399
 for us

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.099
 to enjoy

00:15:49.099 --> 00:15:49.899
 the embrace

00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.299
 of our

00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:50.579
 heavenly

00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:51.059
 father

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.099
 without

00:15:52.099 --> 00:15:52.539
 some

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.079
 sort of

00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:53.639
 intervention.

00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.239
 But the

00:15:58.239 --> 00:15:58.719
 good news

00:15:58.719 --> 00:15:59.119
 of the

00:15:59.119 --> 00:15:59.859
 gospel is

00:15:59.859 --> 00:16:00.399
 that Jesus

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.459
 has performed

00:16:01.459 --> 00:16:02.399
 a holiness

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.219
 switch.

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.159
 That's what I'm

00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.739
 calling it this

00:16:04.739 --> 00:16:05.239
 morning, a

00:16:05.239 --> 00:16:05.659
 holiness

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.039
 switch.

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.519
 And he did

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.179
 this when he

00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:11.699
 went to the

00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:12.159
 cross.

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.199
 When Jesus

00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:13.799
 went to the

00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:14.259
 cross,

00:16:14.739 --> 00:16:15.879
 God cloaked

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.120
 him in

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.240
 all of our

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.039
 unholiness,

00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.639
 in all of

00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.480
 our dirty

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.019
 rags of

00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.299
 sin,

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.620
 Jesus was

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.399
 cloaked in

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:25.879
 that.

00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.539
 And he

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.399
 suffered the

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.139
 death penalty

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.419
 for it.

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.220
 That was the

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.039
 first half of

00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:32.659
 the switch.

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.519
 Then,

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:35.659
 when we

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.580
 trust in the

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.679
 sufficiency of

00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.480
 his death

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.980
 for our sin,

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.539
 remarkably,

00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.639
 we are

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.460
 cloaked in

00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.840
 his holiness.

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.240
 That's the

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.160
 second half of

00:16:49.160 --> 00:16:49.580
 the holiness

00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.139
 switch.

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.800
 Though we

00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:52.580
 continue to

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.259
 struggle with

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.160
 sin in this

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:55.940
 life, God

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.519
 sees Jesus'

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.480
 holiness

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.920
 covering us.

00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.320
 And because of

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.100
 this, we get

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.879
 to call the

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.879
 God who

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.700
 rules over

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.700
 creation and

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.620
 shines like the

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.940
 sun, we get

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.799
 to call him

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.579
 our heavenly

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:12.000
 father and

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.640
 enjoy his

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.160
 embrace.

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.500
 When we

00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.700
 pray, we

00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:17.560
 should remember

00:17:17.560 --> 00:17:18.600
 that God is

00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:20.180
 holy and

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:21.340
 magnify him

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:21.880
 for the

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.060
 holiness switch

00:17:23.060 --> 00:17:24.240
 that he has

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.420
 performed through

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:25.980
 his son,

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.460
 Jesus.

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.460
 Remembering the

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.200
 holy and

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.200
 saving nature

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.820
 of God is

00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.600
 radically

00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:35.759
 reorientating

00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.380
 for us because

00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:38.280
 it reminds us

00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:39.660
 that he is

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:41.120
 God and we

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:41.620
 are not.

00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:43.339
 remembering

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.359
 his holy and

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.359
 saving nature

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.779
 keeps us from

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.299
 praying self-interested

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.839
 prayers.

00:17:49.459 --> 00:17:50.559
 It keeps us from

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.219
 half-hearted

00:17:51.219 --> 00:17:52.899
 prayers, but it

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.459
 fills them with

00:17:53.459 --> 00:17:54.459
 worship instead.

00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:57.659
 So,

00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.339
 that's three

00:17:59.339 --> 00:17:59.859
 things that we

00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.439
 should remember

00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:01.279
 about who God

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.779
 is when we

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.199
 come to him

00:18:02.199 --> 00:18:02.559
 to pray.

00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:03.559
 But what

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.299
 are two

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.879
 things that we

00:18:04.879 --> 00:18:05.419
 can remember

00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:06.879
 about ourselves

00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:07.500
 when we

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.399
 approach God

00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:08.779
 in prayer?

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.180
 Well, the

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.460
 first one is

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.279
 related to the

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.720
 one that we've

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.339
 just looked at

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.440
 and it is the

00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.099
 fact that we

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.180
 are forgiven.

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.539
 Did you notice

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.099
 how much

00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.279
 emphasis Jesus

00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.359
 places on

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:23.559
 forgiveness in

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.039
 this model

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.440
 prayer?

00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:26.879
 Jesus tells his

00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:27.480
 followers in

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.960
 verse 12 to

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.379
 seek God's

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:32.000
 forgiveness for

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.599
 our sin.

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:32.639
 sin.

00:18:33.719 --> 00:18:34.319
 And we just

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.659
 saw that when

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.719
 we trust in

00:18:36.719 --> 00:18:37.559
 the Lord Jesus

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.119
 and his death

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:39.899
 for our sins

00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.579
 on the cross,

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.639
 we are forgiven

00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:44.119
 and we are

00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:45.299
 cloaked in his

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.859
 holiness once

00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.539
 and for all.

00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:49.279
 Jesus has

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.859
 cancelled the

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:52.379
 debts of our

00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:52.819
 sin on the

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.219
 cross.

00:18:54.219 --> 00:18:55.039
 And Jesus

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.759
 wants us to

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:57.159
 have a posture

00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.059
 of repentance

00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:00.079
 as we remain

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.579
 in this world.

00:19:00.699 --> 00:19:00.819
 So,

00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:01.240
 throughout the

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.699
 rest of our

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.880
 lives, Jesus

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.519
 wants us to

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.420
 be repentant

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:04.779
 people.

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.279
 We are not

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.100
 yet freed from

00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:07.779
 the presence of

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.039
 sin.

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.580
 We will still

00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:10.000
 sin.

00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.720
 But Jesus

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.400
 wants us to

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.240
 come quickly to

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.019
 him every time

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:15.259
 we do and

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:15.900
 ask for his

00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:16.259
 forgiveness.

00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:17.880
 And we know

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.440
 that he will.

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.299
 But I wonder

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:21.700
 if you were

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.360
 paying attention

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.220
 to the passage,

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.700
 you might say,

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.319
 not quite so

00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.000
 simple, Craig.

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.740
 Isn't Jesus

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.680
 saying that our

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.480
 forgiveness is

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.160
 conditional

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.640
 on us

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.519
 forgiving other

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.880
 people?

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.000
 I wonder if you

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.080
 noticed that in

00:19:37.080 --> 00:19:38.040
 verses 14 and

00:19:38.040 --> 00:19:38.500
 15.

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:41.259
 For if you

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.000
 forgive other

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.420
 people when

00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.140
 they sin against

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:45.460
 you, your

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.140
 heavenly Father

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.279
 will also forgive

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.640
 you.

00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.240
 But if you do

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.160
 not forgive others

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.019
 their sins,

00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:52.680
 your Father will

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.900
 not forgive your

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.420
 sins.

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.480
 Hmm.

00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:57.160
 What is that

00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:57.759
 talking about?

00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:00.539
 Jesus is

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.180
 turning his

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.720
 disciples'

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.400
 attention to

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.799
 the people who

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.759
 have wronged

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.559
 them and the

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.299
 people who will

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.879
 wrong them.

00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.980
 People have

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.740
 sinned against

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.819
 us and people

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.799
 will sin against

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.099
 us in our

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.480
 lives.

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.539
 And how we

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.379
 think about these

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.819
 people is

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.480
 important to

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:21.779
 God.

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:24.599
 God's forgiveness

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.559
 is for those

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.000
 who have

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.220
 recognized the

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.940
 lengths that

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.599
 Jesus has

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:30.259
 gone to to

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.960
 absorb the

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.879
 cost of our

00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.480
 sins.

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.059
 God's forgiveness

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:37.160
 is for those who

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.539
 choose, in

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.379
 response to what

00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:40.319
 Jesus has done,

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:42.139
 to freely forgive

00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:43.180
 others,

00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:45.259
 absorbing the

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.759
 cost of their

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.359
 sins.

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:49.719
 us, remembering

00:20:49.719 --> 00:20:50.639
 that before the

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:52.599
 cross, we are

00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:54.879
 just as sinful as

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.439
 the people who

00:20:55.439 --> 00:20:56.240
 have wronged us.

00:20:58.459 --> 00:20:59.639
 If we are

00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:01.059
 unprepared to

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.979
 forgive others,

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:04.240
 then have we

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.399
 truly grasped

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:06.099
 the cross?

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.519
 Forgiving people

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.219
 who have wronged

00:21:10.219 --> 00:21:11.319
 us is really,

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.500
 really difficult,

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.959
 especially if

00:21:14.959 --> 00:21:15.979
 they've really,

00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:17.139
 really hurt us.

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.839
 forgiveness.

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:19.619
 Forgiving others

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.599
 is a form of

00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.939
 voluntary suffering.

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.139
 It involves

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:25.219
 absorbing the

00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.139
 cost of the

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.759
 sin that's been

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.519
 committed against

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.299
 us, absorbing

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:30.379
 the pain of it,

00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.199
 and not seeking

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:32.819
 to make the

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.719
 perpetrator pay

00:21:33.719 --> 00:21:35.479
 for it, not

00:21:35.479 --> 00:21:36.079
 seeking to

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.740
 cancel them from

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.299
 our lives.

00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:41.699
 We mustn't let

00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:43.399
 bitterness brew

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.179
 in our hearts.

00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:45.399
 We mustn't let

00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.439
 unforgiveness

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.360
 remain in our

00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:49.340
 hearts unresolved.

00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:50.960
 Forgiving others

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.660
 who have wronged

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:53.660
 us is really

00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:55.440
 difficult, but it

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.440
 honors God because

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:58.460
 it mirrors what

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.779
 Jesus has done

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.680
 for us,

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:04.600
 absorbing the

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.299
 pain that we

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.600
 inflicted on him

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:08.120
 for our sins.

00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:09.640
 And I appreciate

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.880
 this is a difficult

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.820
 area for us.

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.799
 It's a sensitive

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.039
 topic, and I

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.240
 have breezed

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.639
 through it.

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.299
 We could spend a

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:17.700
 whole sermon

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.359
 series thinking

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.019
 about forgiveness.

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.179
 But I found

00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:22.000
 Tim Keller's

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.379
 book,

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.539
 Forgive,

00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:26.079
 quite helpful in

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.960
 this area, and I

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.579
 know others that

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.119
 have found it

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.939
 really helpful as

00:22:28.939 --> 00:22:29.079
 well.

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:29.419
 And I'd

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:30.039
 recommend you

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:31.240
 grabbing it.

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.819
 It's got some

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.259
 really, really

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.059
 helpful things to

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.960
 say about how

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.740
 we can forgive

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.159
 others.

00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:38.080
 But as a

00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:40.100
 church family, we

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:40.720
 can help one

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.440
 another with

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.000
 this.

00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:43.500
 We can share

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.800
 the things with

00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:45.340
 each other that

00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:46.120
 we find hard to

00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:46.279
 give.

00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.100
 We can tell each

00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:48.100
 other the stories

00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:49.680
 from our past that

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.720
 we really, really

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.540
 struggle with.

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:54.000
 And we can pray

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.380
 for each other and

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.460
 carry these things

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.200
 in prayer for one

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.460
 another.

00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:00.180
 When we pray, it

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:01.300
 is good for us to

00:23:01.300 --> 00:23:02.400
 remember that God

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:04.120
 has forgiven us,

00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:05.940
 and it is good for

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.080
 us to bring our

00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:09.059
 hurts to him, and

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.180
 to ask him to help

00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:11.480
 us to forgive those

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.779
 who have sinned

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.580
 against us.

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.600
 The second thing

00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.299
 that we can

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.360
 remember about

00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:19.120
 ourselves when we

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:20.519
 come to pray is

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.620
 that we are

00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:22.480
 needy.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.960
 We are needy.

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.840
 If you were here

00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.640
 last week, you

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.720
 might remember that

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.480
 we spent some time

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.340
 thinking about

00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:32.580
 needy people, who

00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:33.860
 needy, the needy

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.559
 people are that

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.240
 Jesus is talking

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.920
 about, and how

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:37.160
 we can give to

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.600
 help them.

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.820
 But as we look at

00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:42.240
 verses 11 to 13

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.140
 now, so the kind

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.000
 of second half of

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:46.019
 the prayer, I think

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.160
 Jesus is suggesting

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:49.279
 that we are needy

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:49.779
 people.

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.900
 Now, we depend on

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.700
 God to provide

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.940
 everything that we

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.440
 need to survive,

00:23:58.300 --> 00:23:58.820
 everything.

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.039
 And I wonder how

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.940
 often we take his

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.920
 providence for

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.340
 granted.

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:06.100
 The daily bread that

00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:07.580
 Jesus is encouraging

00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:08.800
 us to ask him for

00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:10.640
 is anything and

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.500
 everything that we

00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:13.000
 need to survive.

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.740
 It's not just

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.120
 bread.

00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:18.600
 When we pray, it is

00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:19.800
 good for us to

00:24:19.800 --> 00:24:21.420
 remember our specific

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:23.500
 needs and to thank

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.480
 God that he is

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.759
 pleased to supply us

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:28.300
 with these things.

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.359
 things.

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.200
 I wonder how often

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.379
 you take your breath

00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.139
 for granted.

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:38.200
 The Bible tells us

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.119
 that God holds our

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.500
 breath in his hands.

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:45.140
 We are dependent on a

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.619
 process that God has

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.819
 programmed into our

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.819
 brains, which allows

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.700
 us to breathe

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.480
 automatically.

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.019
 If we were to take

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.400
 responsibility for our

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.220
 breathing, we would

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.579
 forget pretty quickly

00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.519
 and we would die.

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.819
 How often do you take

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.299
 your food for granted?

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.819
 Yes, we can go and

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:08.200
 buy food in the shops

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:09.779
 to sustain us.

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:11.339
 We could even plant

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:14.339
 our own vegetables, but

00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:15.119
 you don't cause them

00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.539
 to grow.

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:19.119
 All the elements of

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:21.279
 our Sunday roast, they

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.879
 only grow because God

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:24.500
 causes them to grow.

00:25:26.399 --> 00:25:27.960
 How often do we take

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:30.160
 God's protection for

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.539
 granted?

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.259
 Verse 13 speaks about

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:35.599
 our spiritual neediness.

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:38.660
 Even as Christians, we

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.980
 still need God's help.

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.240
 Jesus tells us that we

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.380
 should pray to God and

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:47.660
 ask him for his help to

00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:50.540
 resist sin and to

00:25:50.540 --> 00:25:51.600
 deliver us from the

00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:53.740
 schemes of the evil one.

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.500
 When we pray, it is

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.720
 important for us to

00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:00.160
 remember that we have an

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:02.340
 enemy who wishes to

00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:04.400
 derail us and make us

00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.140
 curse God.

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.220
 And we must ask for

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:10.000
 God's help to resist

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.320
 temptations to sin.

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.780
 And we must ask for his

00:26:13.780 --> 00:26:15.340
 armor which protects our

00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:17.780
 heart and our soul and

00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:19.220
 our mind and our bodies.

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.120
 When we pray, it is good

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:24.480
 for us to remember that

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:26.860
 Jesus was victorious over

00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:28.240
 Satan on the cross and

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.440
 emptied him of his power.

00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:33.039
 Yes, God allows us to be

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.500
 tested.

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.900
 He allows temptations to

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.600
 come our way.

00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:38.720
 But because Jesus has

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:41.120
 won, Satan is on a

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:43.019
 leash and time is

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:44.480
 ticking before he is

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.539
 banished forever.

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.220
 When we pray, it is good

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.519
 for us to remember our

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:53.440
 physical and our

00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.779
 spiritual neediness

00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.640
 before him.

00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:58.420
 And we must ask God

00:26:58.420 --> 00:27:00.700
 for sustenance and

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:03.280
 spiritual protection as

00:27:03.280 --> 00:27:04.600
 we live through these

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.820
 lives on earth, waiting

00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:08.440
 for Jesus to return as

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:11.100
 our all-conquering king.

00:27:14.060 --> 00:27:15.380
 We're now going to pray

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:18.700
 and I've scripted this

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:21.040
 prayer, just taking some

00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:22.860
 of the things that we've

00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:24.060
 been thinking about, some

00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:24.820
 of the things that God

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:26.919
 wants us to remember as

00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:27.399
 we pray.

00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:29.559
 But please join me as I

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.319
 pray these words.

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.539
 Our Heavenly Father, we

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:36.720
 glorify your name

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:40.099
 because you are our

00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:41.099
 holy God.

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.599
 We remember today that

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:46.039
 you are all-seeing,

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.599
 you are all-knowing,

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.659
 and you are holy.

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.500
 You know what we need

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.559
 and you hear our

00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.759
 whispered prayers.

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.960
 We magnify you because

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.480
 you were pleased to send

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:04.359
 your son Jesus to suffer

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:06.480
 on the cross for our

00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:06.980
 sins.

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:10.619
 Thank you that Jesus has

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:12.140
 performed a holiness

00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:15.980
 switch, taking our gross

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.700
 sins upon himself at the

00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:20.500
 cross and giving us his

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.460
 holiness.

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:27.319
 Help us to trust in his

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:30.440
 sacrifice for our sins and

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.799
 the sufficiency of it.

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:34.259
 Thank you that we can now

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.660
 stand before you,

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:38.359
 completely forgiven and

00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:40.180
 completely perfect in your

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.680
 eyes.

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:43.220
 We can draw near to you

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.440
 through Jesus.

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.380
 And we can bring our

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:48.059
 requests before you.

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:51.480
 Lord, we remember today

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:53.360
 that we are needy people.

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:56.240
 You know our greatest

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.860
 needs.

00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:59.180
 God, we need you.

00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.440
 And we ask that you would

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.779
 please sustain us with what

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:05.079
 we need this week.

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.480
 Please protect us from the

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.519
 evil one and his

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.259
 temptations.

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:12.379
 Thank you that we can look

00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:14.200
 forward to the day when

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:16.319
 Jesus will return to reign

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:19.140
 as the king and rid us

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.599
 forever of the influence

00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.160
 of sin.

00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.740
 Thank you for your precious

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:26.660
 word and please impress on

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.879
 our hearts the things that

00:29:27.879 --> 00:29:28.879
 you want us to remember

00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:32.119
 today from this passage and

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.220
 put them into practice.

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.920
 We ask all this in Jesus'

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.740
 wonderful and holy name.

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:38.700
 Amen.

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.259
 Amen.

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.259


00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.259


00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.259