WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.439 I think most of you will have picked up on the fact that today we're celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving. 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:18.760 And it reminds me to thank those of you who brought goods which are behind me now, stacked up on the stage here. 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:28.280 And just to let you know that they will be distributed between Andrew House and also the Clevedon Food Bank. 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:36.420 So what you see here will go to help those who are going through a difficult time in their lives. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:45.260 And those gifts go with our love and our prayers to Andrew House and to the Clevedon Food Bank. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:49.900 Before I preach, let's just bow our heads and pray together. 00:00:50.740 --> 00:00:56.920 Our gracious Father, we thank you for your most gracious provision. 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:05.099 Lord, we thank you for the food that we have to eat and the drink that we have to drink. 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:11.420 And Lord, we pray for those who for whatever reasons either have no food nor drink. 00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:15.799 And we pray that our gifts may nourish them. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:21.439 But Father too, we thank you for the provision of your word. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:23.439 And we thank you for the provision of your word. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:25.620 And we thank you, Father, that your word is truth. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:30.799 And we pray, Lord, that as we sit together now, 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:33.920 so you would send your spirit upon your people gathered. 00:01:35.539 --> 00:01:38.340 Lord, help us to discern your truth. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:44.239 And Lord, may your truth set us free to be the people you call us to be 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:47.019 in Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:48.140 Amen. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:48.219 Amen. 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:56.219 I want to preach on a verse from the reading that Suzanne just read to us. 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:01.280 Jesus said to the man who he had here, 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:02.159 What do you see? 00:02:02.460 --> 00:02:04.359 He looked up and said, I see people. 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:07.200 They look like trees walking around. 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.039 Once more, Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. 00:02:12.920 --> 00:02:15.060 Then his eyes were opened. 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:23.240 I don't know whether it crossed your mind as we sang earlier, 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:26.879 lustily, we plough the fields and scatter. 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:33.140 But I wonder what, if a Martian arrived on earth and came to church, 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:37.860 and for the sake of poetic license, let's pretend that he understood English, 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:45.300 or that via nanotechnology managed to download Google Translator into his brain, 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:48.380 what would he make of it? 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:53.600 What would he make of a bunch of suburban people, 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:59.180 most of us, I guess, didn't make our money from agriculture, 00:03:00.320 --> 00:03:02.040 singing hymns like that? 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:05.479 We plough the fields and scatter. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:07.579 Well, we don't. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:13.379 And it struck me that what the Martian might conclude is 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:17.120 that we'd lost touch with reality somehow. 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:22.319 Back in the annals of history, 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:28.840 Karl Marx, who is attributed to be the founder of socialism and communism, 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:31.259 wrote this, he said, 00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:35.060 religion is the sigh of an oppressed people, 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:38.240 the heart of a heartless world. 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:40.599 And then he said, 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:44.039 it is the opium of the people. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:47.120 What did he mean by that? 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:48.640 Well, what Marx meant was, 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:52.400 he looked at the world around him to kind of people. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:58.439 And he thought that religion for them was like opium. 00:03:58.540 --> 00:04:01.780 It was something that transported them away from reality. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:04.240 Of course, in the mind of Karl Marx, 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:06.360 reality was the class struggle. 00:04:09.980 --> 00:04:11.340 But did he have a point? 00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:15.620 Is there any way that you could look at the faith 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:18.100 which we espouse in the 21st century 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:21.800 and conclude that we gather together 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:26.620 to communally stop facing up to reality? 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:29.939 That's a very big question. 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:36.560 And today, reality is really up for grabs. 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:38.800 A lot of contemporary philosophers 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:40.800 are writing around the theme, 00:04:40.900 --> 00:04:41.900 what is reality? 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:44.500 Well, reality is the state of things 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:46.320 as they actually exist. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:50.000 They're not about a notion or an idea. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:52.060 It's about what we agree 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:54.439 is in front of us, is real. 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:00.600 You can tell there's a crisis of reality. 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:02.939 Does anybody remember David Icke? 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:05.259 He used to be the guy 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:08.659 who kind of anchored Grandstand on BBC television. 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:11.120 I think most of you will remember that. 00:05:12.539 --> 00:05:14.659 David Icke, in an interview, 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:18.100 described himself as the son of God 00:05:18.100 --> 00:05:20.500 and then went on to say 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:22.560 that the global elite, 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:24.060 that is our politicians 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:26.940 and in this country our royal family, 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.300 are basically large amphibious creatures 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:33.920 who are able to take on human form 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:37.340 and their habits are child sacrifice 00:05:37.340 --> 00:05:38.960 and drinking blood. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.399 Now, would you say 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.599 David Icke was in touch with reality? 00:05:45.719 --> 00:05:47.680 Somebody say no for crying out loud. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:49.579 Look, here's the thing. 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:51.039 He has two million followers 00:05:51.039 --> 00:05:51.899 who believe that. 00:05:54.419 --> 00:05:56.060 Two million people 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:59.099 who seem to have lost all touch 00:05:59.099 --> 00:05:59.959 with reality. 00:06:02.699 --> 00:06:04.039 Marx accused us, 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:06.979 us people who would claim faith, 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:10.520 that we had this weird notion 00:06:10.520 --> 00:06:12.819 that somehow by coming together 00:06:12.819 --> 00:06:14.020 and worshipping God, 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:17.500 we could avoid reality. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:22.960 Let me give you two examples 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:26.240 why today somebody might look 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.600 at the Church of God, 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.640 the Church of England in particular, 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:33.560 and think that it has no connection 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:34.360 with reality. 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:37.720 In 1967, 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:40.720 a man called Leslie Paul 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:44.399 wrote an epic report 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.720 for the Church of England. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.060 In it, one of the things he said, 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:50.000 he said many things, 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:51.600 but one of the things he said was 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:56.199 the idea of a paid clergy person 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:59.300 in every parish up and down this land, 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:01.840 trained, pensioned, 00:07:01.840 --> 00:07:04.300 and given a stipend, 00:07:04.840 --> 00:07:07.340 was untenable into the future. 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:10.879 The House of Bishops gave it 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.240 about 45 seconds airtime 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:14.020 at their meeting 00:07:14.020 --> 00:07:15.720 and dismissed the whole thing. 00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:18.319 And pretty well, 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:19.900 through to the mid-80s, 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:23.319 continued to deny the reality 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:24.280 of what Leslie Paul 00:07:24.280 --> 00:07:25.240 was writing about 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.019 with the effect now 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:31.300 that churches up and down 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:32.040 this country 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:34.420 are mostly collections 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:35.060 of parishes. 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:35.439 I mean, 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:37.660 we are extremely blessed 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:38.560 in Christ's Church 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.100 that whoever becomes 00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:41.480 the vicar of Christ's Church 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:42.920 has only this church 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:43.660 to look after 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:44.780 and this parish. 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:47.120 You only need to go down the road 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:48.800 to find a clergy 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:49.639 of responsibility 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:50.879 for six parishes 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:52.079 or seven parishes. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:53.280 In other words, 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.399 the only way 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:55.579 that the bishops 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:57.299 and the general synod 00:07:57.299 --> 00:07:58.359 of the Church of England 00:07:58.359 --> 00:07:59.459 could imagine 00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:00.159 that the church 00:08:00.159 --> 00:08:01.219 could be made tenable 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:02.879 was by giving people jobs 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.239 that actually aren't that possible. 00:08:06.739 --> 00:08:07.739 What do you say? 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.459 They ignored the reality 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:12.139 of Leslie Paul's report. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:14.659 Let me bring it 00:08:14.659 --> 00:08:16.219 a little closer to home. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:18.879 All over the church, 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:20.299 not just the Church of England, 00:08:21.559 --> 00:08:23.000 there are parents 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.120 who truly lament 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:25.720 the fact 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:27.000 that their children 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.519 have rejected 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:29.220 the faith 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:30.459 that they hold. 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:33.899 You know that's true. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:35.399 Some of you 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:37.519 have a dull ache 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.460 in your heart 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:39.580 because your children 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:40.580 rejected 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:41.580 the faith 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:42.440 that is yours. 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:44.919 It is really painful 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:46.299 and I wish there were time 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:47.500 to go into it 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:48.059 this morning, 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.539 but what I do want to say 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:50.679 to you very clearly is 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:52.000 it very likely 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.120 is not your fault. 00:08:54.939 --> 00:08:56.239 There are other pressures 00:08:56.239 --> 00:08:57.839 on our children, 00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:59.519 always peer group pressure. 00:09:01.839 --> 00:09:03.939 I often think to myself, 00:09:04.079 --> 00:09:04.199 you know, 00:09:04.239 --> 00:09:04.839 I thank God 00:09:04.839 --> 00:09:05.859 that I was converted 00:09:05.859 --> 00:09:06.939 to the Christian faith. 00:09:07.319 --> 00:09:07.779 You know, 00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:08.839 when your kids were young, 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:10.059 there was always one kid 00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:11.079 that you never wanted 00:09:11.079 --> 00:09:12.259 your kids to play with. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:15.659 And my mum, 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:16.100 you know, 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:17.120 imagined that 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:18.080 there were people 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:20.639 who she didn't want 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:21.600 me to play with 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.279 except that 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:23.480 everybody else's parents, 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:24.240 I was the kid 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:25.559 that everybody else's parents 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:26.220 thought they shouldn't 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:26.720 play with. 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:32.620 Peer group pressure 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:33.259 is huge 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:33.960 and today 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:36.899 pray for our parents, 00:09:37.059 --> 00:09:37.319 friends, 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:38.200 because they have 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.279 a terribly difficult job. 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:43.519 why social media, 00:09:44.839 --> 00:09:45.659 which is 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:48.759 peer group pressure 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:50.459 on speed. 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:53.500 It is horrible, 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:55.079 it is a scourge. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:56.480 Maybe some of you 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.559 saw the documentary 00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:59.000 on BBC television 00:09:59.000 --> 00:09:59.980 this last week 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.579 about the disappearance 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:02.659 of Nicola Bulley. 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:04.600 You may remember 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.600 that she was this 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:07.639 lady who took 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:08.819 her dog for a walk 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:10.040 and disappeared 00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:10.680 completely. 00:10:12.520 --> 00:10:13.040 And 00:10:13.040 --> 00:10:14.820 they discovered 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:15.840 that she'd gone missing 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.640 when her dog 00:10:16.640 --> 00:10:17.220 turned up 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.340 at the kids' school 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:20.900 and then they found 00:10:20.900 --> 00:10:22.000 her mobile phone 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:22.740 on a bench. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:25.100 The police 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:26.780 invested huge amounts 00:10:26.780 --> 00:10:27.340 of money 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:28.840 in a professional search, 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:29.940 diving teams, 00:10:30.300 --> 00:10:30.980 you name it. 00:10:31.800 --> 00:10:33.020 They could not find her 00:10:33.020 --> 00:10:33.960 for three weeks. 00:10:35.040 --> 00:10:36.140 During that time, 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:38.639 social media sleuths 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:40.279 travelled up to 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.259 near Preston 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:41.899 to a village 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:42.879 called Inskip, 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.259 walked along 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.019 the banks of the river, 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:45.699 got in the way 00:10:45.699 --> 00:10:46.899 of the police investigation 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:47.759 and then went 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:48.860 on social media 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.699 and promulgated 00:10:50.699 --> 00:10:51.699 the most foul 00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:53.139 rumours imaginable. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.199 Many of them 00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:56.600 writing to the husband 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.980 who had a cast-iron 00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:59.159 alibi 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.460 as to why he couldn't 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.319 have pushed his wife 00:11:01.319 --> 00:11:02.240 in or drowned her. 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.399 People are writing 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:04.799 to him saying, 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.899 we know what you did. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:10.599 Whatever good 00:11:10.599 --> 00:11:11.959 there can be 00:11:11.959 --> 00:11:13.139 in social media, 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:15.299 every day 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:16.939 people's lives 00:11:16.939 --> 00:11:18.179 are being wrecked 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:18.659 by it. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.500 And we should 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:22.579 take notice of that. 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:22.799 I mean, 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.259 God bless Jonathan Haidt 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:25.279 for writing his book, 00:11:25.359 --> 00:11:26.559 Warning of the Dangers 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.599 of Exposing Our Children 00:11:28.599 --> 00:11:29.779 to Social Media 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.240 at Too Young an Age. 00:11:31.439 --> 00:11:32.079 In other words, 00:11:32.479 --> 00:11:33.279 exposing them 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.500 to social media 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:37.360 because in developing 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.100 brains, 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.720 it can rewire 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:40.679 the circuitry 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:41.740 of our brains. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.220 The poor report 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.799 our unwillingness 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.379 to face 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:48.179 the reality 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:48.799 together 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:50.600 of our children 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:51.320 who reject 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.059 our faith. 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:52.199 faith. 00:11:52.199 --> 00:11:54.059 And the 00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:54.319 reality 00:11:54.319 --> 00:12:08.359 becomes very obscure. 00:12:09.359 --> 00:12:10.179 So I want to say 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:11.019 to you very briefly 00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:11.959 just three things 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:12.379 about that. 00:12:12.459 --> 00:12:13.319 The first is, 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:14.219 God 00:12:14.219 --> 00:12:16.199 is ultimate 00:12:16.199 --> 00:12:16.879 reality. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:16.939 reality. 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:19.500 And it's the 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.460 starting point 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:21.100 for any 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:22.360 Christian believer. 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:25.019 We're not big 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:25.720 on saying 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.279 creeds 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:27.159 in our church, 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.139 but interestingly, 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:29.419 the first two words 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:30.399 of the creeds 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:30.600 are, 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:31.939 we believe. 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.299 Not a notion, 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:36.500 not an idea, 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.259 but stated 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.799 as an objective 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:40.460 fact. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.139 The fact that 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:42.539 Jesus, 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:43.460 who was the 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:44.139 Son of God, 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.199 in John's 00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:45.620 Gospel, 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:46.860 said stuff like, 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.559 I am the 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:47.860 way, 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:48.519 the truth, 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.360 and life. 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.840 That is the 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.340 God that 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.779 Jesus reveals 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.460 to us. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.039 Everything I 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:57.319 am, 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.299 everything I 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:00.199 ever will be, 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.819 everything I 00:13:01.819 --> 00:13:02.340 have, 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.759 is a gift 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:04.419 from God. 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:06.679 And on this 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:07.120 harvest 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.779 Thanksgiving 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.379 day, 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.139 remembering that 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:10.879 won't do 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.700 any of us 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.700 any harm. 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:14.940 nothing can 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.420 be more 00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.340 real than 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.720 God. 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.440 Nothing can 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:18.900 be more 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:19.720 true than 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:20.080 God. 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.520 But the 00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:22.240 problem is, 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:23.220 this is not 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:24.259 deducible 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.920 knowledge, 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.060 it is 00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:27.660 revealed 00:13:27.660 --> 00:13:28.200 knowledge. 00:13:29.660 --> 00:13:30.140 When Ian 00:13:30.140 --> 00:13:30.900 Ramsey wrote 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:31.640 his massive 00:13:31.640 --> 00:13:32.020 book, 00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:32.320 I don't 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.000 recommend it 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.340 to you, 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:33.840 I think 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.900 it's 790 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:35.540 pages, 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:36.920 Bishop of 00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:37.240 Durham, 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:38.020 Ian Ramsey, 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:38.660 wrote a book 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:39.100 called 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.600 Religious 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.080 Language. 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:42.280 He speculated 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:43.659 four chapters 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.679 on the 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.319 writings of 00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:46.079 philosophers of 00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:46.779 language like 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.799 Wittgenstein and 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.500 these people, 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.339 but in the 00:13:49.339 --> 00:13:49.539 end, 00:13:49.839 --> 00:13:50.480 he summed it 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.240 down into 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:52.000 one small 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:52.539 phrase. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.299 He says, 00:13:55.459 --> 00:13:55.779 when the 00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:56.600 penny drops, 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.439 when our 00:13:58.439 --> 00:13:59.259 eyes are 00:13:59.259 --> 00:13:59.699 opened, 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:01.500 and we 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.220 see God 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:03.079 for who 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:03.579 he is. 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.679 Norwegian 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:08.659 Roman Catholic 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.139 Bishop, 00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:09.740 Erik 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.980 Vada, 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.399 I think 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:12.879 his name 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.240 is, 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:14.779 talks about 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.539 his conversion 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:15.980 to the 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.240 faith, 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.120 which wasn't 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.519 like a 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:17.860 kind of 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.379 classic 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.120 evangelical 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.960 conversion, 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:20.720 it was 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.460 that he 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:21.840 suddenly 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:22.700 realized 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:24.080 that only 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:24.940 God could 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:25.799 explain the 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.639 totality 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.759 of the 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:28.200 created 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:28.740 world. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.019 His eyes 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:33.019 were opened, 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:33.700 as you 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.299 might say. 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:37.439 I met 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:37.899 a man 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.139 last Friday 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.439 who was a 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:41.819 pastor of 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.639 a Baptist 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:44.339 church in 00:14:44.339 --> 00:14:44.779 Bristol. 00:14:46.219 --> 00:14:47.159 I was in 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:47.779 Bristol for 00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.699 14 years, 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:49.599 I promise 00:14:49.599 --> 00:14:49.859 you, 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.659 I had never 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.139 heard of 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.799 this church. 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:53.579 It was 00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:54.039 brought to 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:55.439 my attention 00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:56.819 when I went 00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:57.120 to the 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:57.599 praying for 00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:58.059 Clevedon 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:58.500 meeting, 00:14:58.819 --> 00:14:59.259 and this 00:14:59.259 --> 00:14:59.899 guy who's a 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.519 pastor there 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.059 turned up 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:01.539 because he 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:01.979 lives in 00:15:01.979 --> 00:15:02.479 Clevedon, 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.320 and feels 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:03.879 a burden 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.779 for the 00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.080 town. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.980 He told 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.639 me that 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.659 in their 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.159 church, 00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:12.180 they were a 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:12.800 small Baptist 00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.220 church, 00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:13.879 had 40 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.340 members, 00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:15.240 on a 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:15.740 faceless 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.899 estate called 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.460 Hillfield, 00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:17.860 which I 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.700 confess I 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.060 had never 00:15:19.060 --> 00:15:19.560 heard of. 00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.200 I think 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:20.460 the only 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:20.860 public 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.399 building 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.100 on this 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.639 estate 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.360 was the 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:24.759 church. 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.259 And they 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.659 thought to 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:27.899 themselves, 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.080 well, 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:28.539 with 40 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:28.920 people, 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:29.340 what can 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:29.759 we do? 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:30.320 And they 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.940 decided 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:33.720 that they 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.700 would focus 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:36.100 entirely on 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.440 God. 00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:38.560 So what 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:38.840 did they 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.140 do? 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.380 They 00:15:40.380 --> 00:15:41.580 stopped all 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.100 their weekly 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.940 activities, 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.300 they stopped 00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:44.680 all the 00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.100 home groups, 00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:45.700 they stopped 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.200 everything, 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:46.940 and they 00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:47.660 met together 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:48.440 for a time 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:48.940 of worship 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:49.600 and prayer. 00:15:51.760 --> 00:15:52.620 He said 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:54.020 the impact 00:15:54.020 --> 00:15:54.940 was amazing. 00:15:56.640 --> 00:15:57.180 People's 00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.680 eyes were 00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.240 opened to 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:58.800 a new 00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.500 revelation 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.240 of God. 00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:02.480 we might 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.300 agree that 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:03.780 the church 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:05.120 today requires 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.520 a reformation 00:16:06.520 --> 00:16:07.460 or a reset 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:09.460 or a revival. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.820 But I 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:14.820 wonder if 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.580 anything like 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.220 that will be 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:18.680 preceded by a 00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:19.460 renewed vision 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.940 of God and 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:21.960 who He is. 00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:24.440 R.A. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.240 Torrey said 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.720 once, 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.700 off-quoted by 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:27.700 David Watson, 00:16:27.880 --> 00:16:28.480 he loved this 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:28.760 quote, 00:16:28.760 --> 00:16:29.480 R.A. 00:16:29.540 --> 00:16:30.120 Torrey said, 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.320 if God 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:32.379 decided to 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.039 withdraw the 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:33.679 Holy Spirit 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.139 from the 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.659 church, 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.360 95% of 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:36.860 what we do 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.500 would continue 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.139 as normal. 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.440 Does that 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:40.940 sound like 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:41.700 it could be 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.340 focused on 00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:42.620 God? 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.740 I'm just 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.679 asking the 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.200 question. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:50.899 What might 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:52.000 happen if 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.740 those of us 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.379 who are 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.299 half-hearted, 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.240 those of us 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.919 who mean 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.259 well, 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.100 those of us 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.379 who would 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.180 like to be 00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:58.819 a little 00:16:58.819 --> 00:16:59.519 better thought 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.059 of in our 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.579 walk with 00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:00.919 God? 00:17:04.919 --> 00:17:05.740 What would 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.980 happen if we 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.679 focused on 00:17:08.679 --> 00:17:08.940 God? 00:17:11.179 --> 00:17:12.019 What would 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.579 happen if our 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.059 eyes were 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:16.179 open and we 00:17:16.179 --> 00:17:17.139 saw things as 00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:18.000 God sees them 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.679 and we saw 00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.879 God as God 00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:20.279 is? 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:22.940 My second 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.599 point is, 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.500 first point is 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.359 God is 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:25.880 ultimate 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.359 reality. 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.140 Second point 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.400 is, 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.460 faith is 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:28.960 seeing. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:30.859 In Mark 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:31.779 chapter 6, 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.900 I beg your 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.119 pardon, 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:34.579 in Mark 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.880 chapter 8, 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.859 we read of 00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:38.359 the healing 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:39.019 of this man 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.599 who was 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.279 touched by 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.759 Jesus, 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.119 and Jesus 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:42.559 said, 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:42.980 you know, 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.619 is that okay? 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.359 What are you 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:44.779 looking at? 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.079 He said, 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:45.940 I'm looking, 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.519 people look 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.059 like trees 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.440 to me. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:50.140 So Jesus 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.079 put his 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.660 hand on him 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.059 again, 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:54.339 and his 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:54.940 vision was 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.339 cleared, 00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:57.659 and he 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.379 saw again, 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.940 and knew 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.720 about the 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.259 power of 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.480 God on 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.200 his life. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.399 The guy 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:08.899 at Hillfield 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.379 told me, 00:18:09.659 --> 00:18:10.000 they weren't 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.419 particularly 00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.000 looking for 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.179 this, 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.519 but when 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.339 they refocused 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:12.899 on God, 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:13.839 people started 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.220 to get 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.619 healed. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.720 People who 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.700 had long 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.759 term problems 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.619 came to 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.159 their worship 00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:21.759 meetings, 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.339 there's no 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.019 big deal 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.180 of, 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.460 you know, 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:23.819 some 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.799 hysterical 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.460 preacher at 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:25.819 the front 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.220 trying to 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.559 knock them 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:26.859 over, 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.819 or whatever. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:30.599 People 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.920 began to 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:32.480 be healed. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.680 Many, 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.259 many years 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.579 ago, 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.119 God gave 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.700 me this 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.440 vision of 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.879 the church 00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.440 as a place 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.039 where people 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.539 should be 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:40.879 healed. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:41.619 I didn't 00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:42.259 mean by 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.599 that, 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.319 that I'd 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:43.680 stand at 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.000 the front 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.480 historically 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.700 trying to, 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.079 you know, 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.640 pull people's 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.200 arms along 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.720 or anything 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.299 like that. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:49.559 No, 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.779 what I thought 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.240 would happen 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.740 would be. 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.759 Just by 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.259 being the 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:53.720 people of 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:53.880 God 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.359 together 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.940 would be 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.519 a healing 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.500 experience 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.140 for people 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.559 who came 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:57.940 to it. 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.980 I still 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.400 have that 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:04.819 vision. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.539 And we 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.900 need the 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.880 help of 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.319 the Holy 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:10.940 Spirit 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:12.620 to live 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.240 as though 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.539 we believe 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:16.960 in the 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.859 amazing 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.839 power, 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.299 personality, 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.319 being of 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.680 God. 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.319 We won't 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.059 do that 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.059 on our 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.379 own. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.180 You 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:27.899 remember in 00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.359 Luke 24 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.200 after the 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.819 resurrection, 00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:31.980 Jesus is 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.579 walking with 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.000 some of the 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.019 disciples who 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.700 hung out with 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.159 him for at 00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:35.720 least three 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.879 years before 00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:38.000 he ascended 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.659 into heaven. 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.319 And they 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.539 didn't 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.659 recognize him. 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:43.620 And Jesus 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:43.880 said, 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.160 come on, 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.480 let's eat, 00:19:44.540 --> 00:19:44.759 I mean, 00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:45.560 I'm paraphrasing, 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:46.320 let's eat 00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:47.160 breakfast together. 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:47.759 And he 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.220 broke some 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:48.660 bread and 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.279 in that 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.779 moment, 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:51.840 it says 00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.440 their eyes 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.040 were open 00:19:53.040 --> 00:19:55.180 and they 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.080 recognized who 00:19:56.080 --> 00:19:56.680 it was. 00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:59.019 Not a dead 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.000 corpse in some 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.480 cave in 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.100 Israel, 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.440 no. 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.640 A living 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.940 man who 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.259 had come 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:06.740 back from 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.240 the dead. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:11.620 let me ask 00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:11.980 you this, 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:12.559 do your 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:13.380 eyes need 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:13.680 to be 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.000 opened? 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.160 Do you 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.559 feel you 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.140 need a 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.920 second touch 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.460 from God? 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:20.880 That you 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.960 might understand 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.839 the amazing 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.759 reality that 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.299 is God. 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:26.799 Everything I 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.000 am, 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.620 everything I 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.059 ever will 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.220 be, 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:28.960 everything I 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.759 have is a 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.180 gift from 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.480 him. 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.500 Their eyes 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.099 were opened. 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.220 And you 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.720 know what? 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.519 I've 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.019 discovered 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.839 that when 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.299 your eyes 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:40.779 are open, 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.180 you don't 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.600 just see 00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:41.880 God 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.380 differently, 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.299 you start 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.839 looking at 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.440 other people 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:44.980 differently. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.019 Luke chapter 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.160 19 is the 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.759 story of 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.339 Zacchaeus, 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:51.880 you remember 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.220 that, 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:52.960 the funny 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.019 little hated 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.160 tax collector 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.000 who climbed 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.539 in a tree 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.000 to see 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.559 Jesus. 00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:01.700 Anybody 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.860 in that 00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:04.059 population 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:04.480 that were 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.180 gathered around 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:05.700 there would 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.180 have loved 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.640 to find 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.160 an excuse 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.720 to kill 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:07.940 him. 00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:11.299 But Jesus 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.259 saw something 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.160 in Zacchaeus 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:15.340 that no 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:16.779 other human 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.880 being had 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.360 observed. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.160 I like to 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.720 think he 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.200 looked at 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.820 Zacchaeus 00:21:22.820 --> 00:21:24.600 and saw 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.299 what Zacchaeus 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.700 could be. 00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:26.080 And do you 00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:26.420 know what? 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:26.799 That's the 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.279 way Jesus 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.820 looks at 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:28.080 you. 00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:29.880 And that's 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.480 the way Jesus 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.240 wants you to 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.080 look at other 00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:32.500 people. 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.580 What could 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:34.120 they be? 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.639 not what 00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:35.000 are they 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.659 like now. 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:36.839 We'll face 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.399 the reality 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:37.719 of that, 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.199 but let's 00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:38.539 try and 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.539 imagine with 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:39.939 the help 00:21:39.939 --> 00:21:40.399 of the Holy 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.319 Spirit what 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.759 they could 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.539 be in 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.419 Jesus Christ. 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.199 Imagine how 00:21:46.199 --> 00:21:46.799 your life 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.119 would be 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.039 different if 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.419 you put 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:49.279 those spectacles 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.879 on and 00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.539 started looking 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.059 at people 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.459 in that 00:21:51.459 --> 00:21:51.759 light. 00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:53.000 I mean, 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.439 it probably 00:21:53.439 --> 00:21:53.859 would help 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.239 for some 00:21:54.239 --> 00:21:54.919 of you if 00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:55.359 you started 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:55.799 looking at 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.419 your spouse 00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:56.859 in that 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.159 light. 00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:58.879 Not what 00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.319 they are, 00:21:59.419 --> 00:21:59.699 what they 00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.339 could become. 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:04.399 Many 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.639 spiritual 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:07.079 writers have 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.459 written, 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.079 I suppose in 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.459 the early 00:22:09.459 --> 00:22:10.199 days of my 00:22:10.199 --> 00:22:10.959 Christian faith, 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.619 it confused 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:11.959 me. 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.019 They're talking 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.419 about having 00:22:14.419 --> 00:22:16.000 faith helps 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.500 you see. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.740 I now know 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.579 what they're 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.339 talking about. 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.619 And finally, 00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:23.199 God and 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:23.819 the whole 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:24.559 creation, 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.519 the Psalms, 00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.439 repeat, 00:22:27.439 --> 00:22:28.259 especially the 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.799 Psalms towards 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.379 the end of 00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:29.980 the Psalter. 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:31.359 reminders of 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.119 the creative 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.799 power of 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.059 God. 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.439 It starts in 00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:35.240 Genesis chapter 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:35.599 1. 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.500 It goes through 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:36.879 the New 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.379 Testament. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.299 It goes to 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.139 Isaiah chapter 00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.579 11. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.000 Remember that 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.659 it's not just 00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.480 us who will be 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.159 saved at the 00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.839 end of time, 00:22:43.959 --> 00:22:44.639 it will be the 00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.019 whole of 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.559 creation. 00:22:45.959 --> 00:22:46.639 And Isaiah 00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:48.019 has this amazing 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.480 vision, 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.019 doesn't he, 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.299 of lions lying 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.759 down with 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.240 lambs. 00:22:52.699 --> 00:22:52.980 I mean, 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.659 as far as I 00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:54.139 can see, 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.099 I've seen 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.799 lions in the 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.099 wild. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.579 It's going 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.220 to take a lot 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.659 for them to 00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.740 become vegetarians, 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.440 to be honest. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.440 Look, 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.680 this is the 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.120 work of 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.799 salvation 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.859 that God 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.579 wants to 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.859 bring to 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.460 the world. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.720 Not just 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.220 your life, 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.900 but certainly 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.400 your life, 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:16.759 but the 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.579 whole of 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.160 creation. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.680 In Romans 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.460 chapter 1, 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.559 Paul's looking 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.759 at a society 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.559 that's losing 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.180 touch with 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.500 God. 00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:26.440 And he 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.019 writes these 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.680 remarkable 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.400 words. 00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.080 Romans 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.880 chapter 1, 00:23:32.080 --> 00:23:32.720 give me one 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.200 second to 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.720 find it. 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:39.400 Two seconds. 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:44.519 this is what 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.060 he says. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.340 The wrath of 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:46.960 God is being 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.720 revealed from 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.500 heaven against 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.140 all the 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:50.019 godlessness and 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.000 wickedness of 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.259 men who 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.060 suppress the 00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:54.000 truth by their 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.660 wickedness. 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:55.120 I mean, 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.640 that's another 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.120 sermon, 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.600 isn't it? 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.019 Truth being 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.120 suppressed by 00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.200 human wickedness. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.420 Since, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.120 this is what he 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:02.380 says, 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.420 since what 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:05.220 may be known 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.920 about God 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.000 is plain to 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.280 them, 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.299 because God 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.059 has made it 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.559 plain to 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:09.779 them. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.700 For since 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.319 the creation 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.660 of the 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:11.879 world, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.279 God's 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:12.799 invisible 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.399 qualities, 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.539 his eternal 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.139 power and 00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:16.039 divine nature 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.859 have been 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.899 clearly seen, 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.359 being understood 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.639 from what he 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.259 has made. 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.839 So that 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.180 men, 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:24.980 women, 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.180 are without 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.879 excuse. 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.279 Have you 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.500 ever, 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.200 you may be 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.899 a kind of 00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:34.079 artistic type 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.339 and, 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.359 you know, 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.000 you've sat 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.680 on the 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.519 veranda of 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.180 your house 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.680 or on the 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.240 balcony of 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.059 your hotel 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.420 and there's 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.799 a lovely 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.839 calm sea in 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.440 front of you 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.759 and the 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.380 sun's going 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.779 down and 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.440 suddenly God 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.240 becomes very 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.140 viable in 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.940 your mind and 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.660 people will 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:51.000 talk about how 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.220 the world kind 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.000 of helps them 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.660 connect with 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:53.880 God. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.059 Well, 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.920 that's a bit 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.640 like Paul is 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.359 talking about 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.700 here. 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.180 It gives a 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.980 reason why 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.140 people see 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.119 something bigger 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:01.819 than the 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.440 creation in 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.920 front of them 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.319 when they 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.019 wonder at 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.259 it. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.339 But that 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.079 in itself 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.140 won't save 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:09.279 you, 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.819 my friend. 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.400 As I 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:12.819 said, 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.000 we might 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.579 agree that 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.099 the church 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.579 needs a 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:15.960 reset, 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.920 a reformation, 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.599 a revival, 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.839 whatever word 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.400 we like to 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.000 put on it. 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.500 But maybe 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.119 first, 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.740 it needs a 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.700 fresh revelation 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.319 of God. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.700 Jesus 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.220 said, 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.960 I am 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.500 the way, 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.019 the truth, 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.019 God, 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.420 and life. 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.480 Is it 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:38.960 possible 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.440 that ordinary 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.420 people like 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.139 you and me 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:46.639 could recapture 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.359 a vision of 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:49.559 God that 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.000 would bring 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.839 life to 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:52.920 us and 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.379 to our 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:53.839 church? 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.599 And I 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:56.940 think this 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.839 works best if 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.539 we do it 00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.299 together as a 00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.720 matter of 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.019 fact. 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:02.920 you might 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:05.279 today like 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.079 to ask God 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.779 for a second 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.400 touch on 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.039 your life, 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:11.440 that your 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:13.019 vision might 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.940 be restored 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:16.160 and you 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.920 might truly 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.019 see the 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.720 living God 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.460 who created 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.299 the heavens 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.079 and the 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.099 earth and 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.680 all that 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.339 was in it. 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:26.220 and if 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.459 that 00:26:26.459 --> 00:26:26.919 Martian 00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.539 had shown 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:27.939 up here, 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.579 would even 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.119 have created 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:29.399 that 00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:29.879 Martian 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:32.759 with its 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.299 advanced 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:33.879 language 00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.439 skills. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.659 Is this 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:38.139 a moment? 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.099 Is this 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.559 a moment 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.959 when the 00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:42.539 Holy Spirit 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.980 might be 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.799 whispering in 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.379 your ear 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:47.199 saying, 00:26:47.439 --> 00:26:47.720 come on, 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.559 wake up, 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.500 open your 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:51.959 eyes, 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.019 eyes. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.319 I love 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.000 stories like 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.200 the 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.660 Hillfield 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.120 Baptist 00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:57.600 church 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:57.880 story, 00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.779 because in 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.180 a sense 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.559 something 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.460 happened that 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.079 wasn't down 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:01.519 to their 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:01.920 effort. 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.220 All they 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.660 did was 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.940 worship and 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.500 wait on 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:08.860 God. 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.779 And maybe 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.579 in the end, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.000 there's 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.720 something in 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:14.940 there. 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.819 Let's pray 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.240 together. 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.000 Our 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.360 gracious 00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:21.799 Father, 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.339 there are 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.000 people in 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.419 the house 00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.259 today who 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.779 are going 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.639 through really 00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:27.339 difficult 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.079 times. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.059 Lord, 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.879 people who, 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.759 from a human 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.539 point of view, 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.579 can't see a 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.099 way through 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:34.379 it. 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.399 They're 00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.099 hanging on to 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:37.279 you, 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:37.559 Father, 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.000 but they 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.919 cannot see 00:27:38.919 --> 00:27:40.539 what could 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:40.839 be. 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:44.659 Lord, 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.220 would you 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.799 please 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:47.700 give us 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.579 together a 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.619 fresh second 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:50.159 touch, 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.220 church, 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.840 that our 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:52.700 vision might 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.400 be restored, 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:53.880 that our 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.740 eyes may be 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.060 opened, 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.519 that your 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.200 church may 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:56.880 wake up 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.620 and bring 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.940 life to 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.580 those around 00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:01.980 us. 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.500 Come, 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.440 Holy Spirit, 00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:07.640 set our 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.200 hearts on 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.620 fire with 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.120 love for 00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.460 God, the 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.000 ultimate 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.700 reality, the 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.300 one of whom 00:28:14.300 --> 00:28:14.920 it can be 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.300 said, 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.700 there can 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.220 be nothing 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:18.579 true than 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.379 him who 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:19.799 made the 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.440 heavens and 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:20.960 the earth 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.799 and all 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.279 that is in 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.579 it, you 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.019 and me. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:26.419 Inspire us, 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.240 Lord, we 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.220 pray in 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.099 Jesus' name 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.539 and the 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.200 people who 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.720 agreed. 00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.319 Said 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.799 together, 00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.599 Amen. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:33.799 Amen. 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:33.839 Amen. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:33.899 Amen. 00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:33.959 Amen.