WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:07.140 Thank you, Robert. Good morning, everyone. Really good to have you with us, whether you're in person in the church here or watching on YouTube. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:15.720 To be involved in Christian leadership is to be on the front line of spiritual warfare. 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:23.359 It doesn't matter whether it's in a church situation, any kind of leadership in the church here, or in another Christian work. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:30.460 If you're involved in leading God's people and God's work, then the devil will attack you. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:34.700 Now, of course, the devil will attack all of us, regardless of our situation. 00:00:34.879 --> 00:00:45.539 We are all in a spiritual battle, and Paul reminds us of that, doesn't he, in Ephesians chapter 6, as he exhorts us to put on the whole armor of God. 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:54.960 But I suggest that the attack can be particularly strong on those who are in positions of leadership in Christian activity, 00:00:55.700 --> 00:01:04.319 because they have responsibility not only for themselves, but also for the work that they're leading and for others who are involved in it. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:14.659 And if the work they are doing is worthwhile and glorifying to God, then the devil is going to attack it and is going to attack them. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:17.840 That attack will come in a number of ways. 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:20.079 The work will be attacked. Things will go wrong. 00:01:21.099 --> 00:01:30.340 There will be situations arise that are really difficult and might distract from the main purpose of what they are trying to do for the Lord. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.319 The team will be attacked. 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:39.579 There may be disunity, or there may be team members who face particular problems or who go wrong in their own lives, 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:43.060 and that affects the whole leadership and the whole team. 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:48.519 And those in Christian leadership will also be subject to personal attack. 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:59.340 Perhaps feelings of pride in what they are doing, or perhaps feelings of inadequacy, and the two can quite often almost go together. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:06.120 Or perhaps it is attacks on their health, their physical or mental health. 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:11.860 Or their ethical and moral life, their devotion to the Lord Jesus. 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:19.159 There's all sorts of things in which the devil will attack those in leadership, and many of them, of course, would apply to all of us. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:21.039 Why am I telling you this? 00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:30.700 It's because I think Psalm 20 gives us a good basis on which to recognize the attack that comes upon us, 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:33.920 and to face it together. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:37.599 And I divide the psalm up into two sections. 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:43.159 The first, which is broadly verses 1 to 5, I'm going to call the prayers of God's people. 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:49.659 And then the second section from verse 6 on, I'm going to call the power of God's presence. 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:58.139 And I think for Christian leaders, these are the two things that are our great defenses against the attacks of the devil. 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:04.280 The prayers of God's people and the power of God's presence. 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:06.740 Put it back around on the psalm. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:08.780 It says at the beginning, it's a psalm of David. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:09.740 That may be the case. 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:11.519 It certainly is a regal psalm. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:13.419 It's a psalm about a king. 00:03:13.419 --> 00:03:17.500 And it's a king, it appears, who faces danger. 00:03:18.179 --> 00:03:22.119 It's coming under attack and needs help and protection. 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:23.379 He's going out to battle. 00:03:24.079 --> 00:03:30.099 And it is at that stage not apparent that he will be victorious in the battle. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:36.299 And so in the first few verses, we have the people, his subjects, who are praying for him. 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:42.580 And then the second part of the chapter of the psalm, we have the king's expression of confidence in God 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:49.240 and that having God on his side will be enough to defeat anything that comes against him. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:54.840 The prayers of God's people and the power of God's presence. 00:03:55.760 --> 00:04:00.720 So let's dig into the psalm and look first at the prayers of God's people. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:08.460 And the first thing you may notice as you look at verses 1 to 5 is it doesn't look like a normal prayer. 00:04:09.579 --> 00:04:17.240 In our normal prayers, we come to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:20.259 Now, sometimes we pray to the Lord Jesus, sometimes we pray to the Spirit. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:25.439 But in any case, our prayers are directed towards God. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:32.120 In this psalm, the prayers are immediately addressed to the king. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:36.759 And it is not a conventional prayer in that sense. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:39.879 It's more what we might call a blessing or a benediction. 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:44.699 The prayers that we might use most often that look a bit like this are at the end of the services 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:48.980 when we say a short benediction as we go out. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:53.560 Nevertheless, I think that this is very much a prayer. 00:04:53.560 --> 00:05:02.399 Perhaps it's a form of prayer we could use more often to address people directly with our request to God for them. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:06.280 I was thinking in some ways that would be quite embarrassing if someone did it to you, 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:13.519 but also very powerful as an expression of their concern and their bringing you before God. 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:19.240 So we have this prayer and it has four main parts to it. 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:25.560 So verse one, I would suggest, is focusing on who God is. 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:28.620 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:32.720 I'm particularly thinking in this case about going out and being attacked in a battle. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:36.819 May the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 00:05:37.780 --> 00:05:40.379 Now, you may know that when you see the word Lord, 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:44.019 and in most Bibles it would be in capital letters, 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:47.560 when you see the word Lord in capital letters in the Bible, 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:51.379 that is the name that is usually called in English Yahweh. 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:56.319 It is the name that God introduced himself to Moses through. 00:05:57.039 --> 00:06:01.579 It is, if you like, the personal name of God, the Lord. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:07.439 And so the first part of verse one would be a reminder to the Israelites, 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.719 who were the first people to read the psalm, 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:12.240 of the God of Moses. 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:16.320 That the God of Moses was the one who led them out of Egypt, 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:19.940 who in the terrible situation that they were in at that point, 00:06:20.340 --> 00:06:25.260 brought them out, brought them safely in the end to the promised land, 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:29.820 and was the one who was there to help and protect them. 00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:35.240 But then the psalmist also talks about the name of the God of Jacob. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:39.680 Now, that's slightly unusual in the Bible to talk about just the God of Jacob. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:43.780 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is probably more common. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:50.040 Now, perhaps Jacob is just another word for the nation of Israel in this context. 00:06:50.780 --> 00:06:55.740 But perhaps also the psalmist is thinking back to the life of Jacob himself. 00:06:55.940 --> 00:06:58.580 Remember, Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, 00:06:58.880 --> 00:07:00.660 the son of Isaac, 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:04.160 the father of Joseph and his brothers. 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:10.140 And Jacob in his life faced many problems largely caused by himself. 00:07:10.260 --> 00:07:12.960 And at one stage, he had to flee from his brother Esau. 00:07:13.220 --> 00:07:16.140 He had stolen the blessing of his father from Esau. 00:07:16.320 --> 00:07:17.260 And he had to flee. 00:07:17.380 --> 00:07:21.480 And then he came back and he had to seek God's protection. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:25.280 And at the end of that, as Jacob is reflecting on that, 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:27.920 his reunion with Esau has gone well. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:30.580 And he says, let us go up to Bethel. 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:33.120 Bethel was where Jacob first met with God 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.500 when he saw the ladder going up to heaven. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:37.120 Let us go up to Bethel, 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:39.620 where I will build an altar to God 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:42.500 who answered me in the day of my distress 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:47.339 and who has been with me wherever I have gone. 00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:52.139 So perhaps we could say that when the psalmist refers to the God of Jacob, 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:57.740 he is thinking about the personal protection that God gives. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.980 So there's a protection for the nation, 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:01.480 for God's people, 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:06.100 and there's the protection for the individual as well. 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:08.560 And good when we come to pray, 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:10.819 to pray for ourselves as a church, 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.600 as a group of God's people, 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:14.959 and to pray that God will protect us, 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:15.680 all of us, 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:18.300 from the attacks of the evil one. 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:20.879 But also to pray for individuals, 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:22.800 leaders certainly, 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:24.160 but others as well, 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.399 and for ourselves, 00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:28.300 that God will protect us individually 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:30.740 from the attacks of the enemy 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:33.799 and will keep us faithful to him, 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.879 who God is. 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:40.600 Verse 2 then talks about where God dwells. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:41.200 It says, 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:43.159 May he send you help from the sanctuary 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:46.259 and grant you support from Zion. 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.759 Now the sanctuary here may be referring particularly to the temple 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.700 or the tabernacle in the older days, 00:08:54.439 --> 00:08:57.240 and Zion is a reference to Jerusalem, 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:00.539 probably certainly to a part of Jerusalem. 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:02.779 What is it saying here? 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:05.980 It is saying that God is with his people. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:11.159 The temple was where God dwelt among his people. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:17.299 Zion, Jerusalem was the place where ultimately the temple was built. 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:22.100 And I think the emphasis here is on the God who is with us. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:23.879 Now in verse 6, 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:27.100 the psalmist will talk about the God who is in heaven, 00:09:27.579 --> 00:09:30.379 and that obviously is true as well. 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:34.639 But the psalmist is here emphasising as the king goes out to battle, 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:39.519 as we face many attacks spiritually in our lives, 00:09:39.980 --> 00:09:42.519 that God is near us. 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:46.379 God is everywhere that we go. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:50.080 And God knows every situation that we face, 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:52.139 and he is able to be with us 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:55.559 and to help and protect us through them. 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:59.239 God dwells among his people, 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:02.239 and he is here to help us. 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:05.919 Moving on, we'll go fairly quickly through the psalm. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:07.839 Verse 3, I would suggest, 00:10:07.959 --> 00:10:11.099 is about what God requires of us. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:14.039 May he remember all your sacrifices 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:17.039 and accept your burnt offerings. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:19.059 So before he went out to war, 00:10:19.459 --> 00:10:23.120 the king might well make some sacrifices to God 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.939 as a sign of his devotion 00:10:24.939 --> 00:10:28.059 and as part of his prayer as he went out, 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:30.759 that God would be with him. 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:34.019 Now this is not some kind of superstitious thing, 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:35.899 that if you do this, 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:37.319 then God will help you. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:39.879 If you don't do that, God won't. 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.699 It is a sign of devotion to God 00:10:42.699 --> 00:10:45.419 and of dependence on him. 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:48.419 And the prophets in the Old Testament remind us 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:50.899 there's no good making sacrifices to God 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:53.779 if our heart isn't right to begin with. 00:10:53.839 --> 00:10:55.399 The act of making the sacrifice 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:58.620 isn't the thing that really pleases God. 00:10:58.939 --> 00:11:01.000 It is the heart of thankfulness 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.579 and of repentance at times that it comes from. 00:11:07.339 --> 00:11:09.419 And so for us, as we would seek, 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.639 whether as individuals, as leaders in the church, 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:13.539 as leaders in another Christian organization, 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:15.339 as we would seek to go out 00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:17.039 and to be part of God's work 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.779 and to take our place in the battle. 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:24.000 We need to go out with right hearts before God 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.879 and we need to be doing the things 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.159 that God would ask us to do. 00:11:29.219 --> 00:11:30.740 We need to be meeting with God's people. 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.159 We need to be praying together. 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:33.459 We need to be encouraging 00:11:33.459 --> 00:11:35.740 and strengthening one another. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:38.700 But all of this must come from hearts 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:40.580 that are devoted to God, 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:42.060 that love God, 00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:45.899 and that are seeking God's will in our lives. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:48.680 The sacrifices, however we interpret them 00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:49.440 in modern time, 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:52.560 the sacrifices by themselves are not enough. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.580 What really matters is having hearts 00:11:55.580 --> 00:12:00.100 that are full of praise and devotion to God 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:02.600 and seeking to serve him. 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:05.659 And that then brings us on to verse four, 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.560 which I've called When God Answers. 00:12:08.420 --> 00:12:09.460 And verse four says, 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.560 May he give you the desire of your heart 00:12:11.560 --> 00:12:14.680 and make all your plans succeed. 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.180 Now this isn't a blank check, 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:19.560 whatever the king fancies God should give him. 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:22.779 Rather, I think it follows on from verse three 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:25.779 and says if the king's heart is right, 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.040 then his desires will be right too. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.899 He will want God's glory and God's blessing 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:35.079 on him and on his people. 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:37.639 And so the plans that he makes 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.539 will be done with that in mind. 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:44.360 Again, very important if we're thinking 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:46.039 about Christian work of church 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:49.120 or other Christian activity in our day, 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:52.099 that we have the right desires in our heart, 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:54.459 the right desire that God may be glorified, 00:12:54.579 --> 00:12:56.299 that people may be brought to know him, 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:58.759 that his people may be built up. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.959 And also that we plan, 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:03.939 that we seek God's guidance 00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:08.219 and that we try to move forward in his strength. 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:10.959 We're not just drifting along as Christians 00:13:10.959 --> 00:13:13.039 and hoping that things will go okay 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.839 and that God will bless us. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:18.719 Rather, God has given us gifts that we can use. 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:22.159 He's given us minds that can be aligned to his will 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:24.399 and that can help us as we plan, 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:26.039 as we seek to do what is right 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:29.379 and to be obedient to God. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:34.319 So four things, four key things 00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:37.019 that might be part of our prayer life 00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:39.179 and that we need to reflect on 00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:41.819 as all of us face spiritual battles 00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:45.240 and perhaps particularly for those who are in leadership. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.179 We need to recognize who God is, 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:50.419 that he is the great God who cares for us 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:52.759 and who wants what is best for us. 00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:55.379 We need to recognize where God dwells, 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.599 that God is among us, 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:58.559 that in everything that we do, 00:13:58.739 --> 00:14:00.699 we can experience his presence 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:02.139 and know his power. 00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:05.359 We need to be aware of what God requires, 00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:07.419 particularly of what he requires of our hearts 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:09.959 and our attitudes towards him. 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:12.800 And we need to be aware of when God answers 00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:14.720 as we have the right desires 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:18.840 and as we make plans seeking his guidance. 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.460 And so in verse five, 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.100 the psalmist says, 00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:26.220 may we shout for joy over your victory 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:29.600 and lift our banners in the name of our God. 00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:33.840 May the Lord grant you all your requests. 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.860 The word that's translated victory here 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.820 is an interesting one. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:41.540 Similarly in verse six and verse nine in the chapter, 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:43.820 the root meaning is actually salvation. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:46.480 So what the psalmist is saying, 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:50.100 may we shout with joy at your salvation. 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:52.220 In other words, the king is going out to battle 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:55.080 and the people are looking forward to coming back 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:57.000 and saying, yes, we've been victorious. 00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:58.800 We've repelled the enemy. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:01.440 God has saved us. 00:15:02.420 --> 00:15:04.140 Now, of course, when we come forward 00:15:04.140 --> 00:15:05.900 to a Christian context 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:07.860 and think about our lives, 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:10.939 salvation has a particular meaning for us. 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.720 We think of salvation 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.980 as being what the Lord Jesus 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:17.120 has accomplished for us through his death 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.620 on the cross at Calvary, 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:21.399 taking the punishment for our sins 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:24.399 so that all who trust in him can be saved, 00:15:24.459 --> 00:15:25.759 can be saved from the penalty, 00:15:25.959 --> 00:15:28.139 that God's righteous punishment from sin 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:31.960 can be saved too from the power of sin. 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.120 And let's all of us make sure 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.220 that we have experienced God's salvation, 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.240 that our trust is in him 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:41.920 and that we know Jesus as our savior. 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:45.320 But our salvation goes beyond 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:48.980 just being saved from the penalty for sin, 00:15:49.060 --> 00:15:50.620 being given the assurance, 00:15:50.780 --> 00:15:52.420 the knowledge of eternal life 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:53.800 through the Lord Jesus. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.879 And day by day, 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.800 our salvation is worked out 00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:00.519 as we seek to live for the Lord Jesus 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:04.179 and to experience his presence with us. 00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:07.099 And we should have joy in our salvation. 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.259 Whatever our circumstance, 00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:09.939 whatever we may face in life, 00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:12.259 we can have joy in our salvation 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:15.339 because we know that our God is with us 00:16:15.339 --> 00:16:18.379 and will answer our prayers. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:23.939 Let me bring a sort of challenge to you now. 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:28.279 How do we pray as a church? 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.159 So we've talked about the power of prayer. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:32.759 We've talked about some of the components of our prayer, 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.320 how we should come to God. 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:38.139 How is our prayer life as a church? 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.360 I think one of the sadnesses of coming out 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.500 of what's happened over the last two or three years 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:46.659 is that when we come together to pray as a church, 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:49.360 the group is generally pretty small. 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.059 There aren't that many members of the church 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:55.899 who feel that the need or we give priority 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:58.079 to coming together to pray, 00:16:58.319 --> 00:17:00.159 whether it's on Zoom on a Monday evening 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:04.059 or on our Wednesday evening prayer meeting once a month. 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.259 Can I challenge you on that? 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:08.099 What the Psalm presents to us 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:12.059 is the power of God's people praying together, 00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:15.159 of coming together to pray for their King 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:19.560 and to pray for the task that God has given him to do. 00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:24.120 Can we make a bit more time to come together as a church 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:27.259 and to pray together and to seek God's face 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:29.460 and to know the power that comes 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:32.920 when we unitedly come before God 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:36.800 and look for his presence with us? 00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:39.019 Pray privately. 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.000 I hope we all do. 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.980 Pray privately. 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.980 Pray for our leaders. 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.480 Pray for each other. 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:47.180 But let's also give priority to meeting together to pray 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:51.259 and unitedly bringing our prayers before God. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:54.279 The prayers of God's people. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:57.539 Now we move on from verse 6. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:18:00.299 I've called it the power of God's presence. 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.799 The slightly funny picture there 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.599 is chariots and horsemen 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.980 which are, as we'll see, 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:08.019 are no use up against God's power. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.299 The power of God's presence. 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.819 Now in the first part of the psalm, 00:18:11.919 --> 00:18:13.180 it was the people talking, 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.839 addressing their King, 00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:16.480 but actually praying to God. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.740 In the second part of the psalm, 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:21.319 I think it is the King responding. 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:24.240 Now it's not entirely clear who is speaking when, 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:26.700 but I think the most straightforward explanation 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.639 of certainly verses 6 to 8 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:31.019 is that it's the response of the King 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:33.399 to the prayers of the people. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:38.400 And the King's response is one of complete confidence. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:42.200 Confident that God will grant the prayers of the people 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:46.480 that he will be victorious in the battle. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:50.019 So in verse 6 he says, 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:50.920 Now this I know, 00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:52.980 the Lord gives victory to his anointed. 00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:55.900 He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:59.880 with the victorious power of his right hand. 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:03.620 Three key phrases here, I think, in this verse. 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.040 The first is the Lord. 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:06.280 We already thought of that. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:09.020 It is the fact that the Lord is there 00:19:09.020 --> 00:19:13.640 and the Lord is the one who grants the victory. 00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:17.720 Second key phrase is heavenly sanctuary. 00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:19.860 We thought of the nearness of God to us, 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.220 that God is among us, 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:23.260 but God is also in heaven 00:19:23.260 --> 00:19:27.720 and he is overseeing all the affairs of our world. 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:30.299 It is only through God's grace 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:32.299 that the universe exists 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:36.480 and is maintained and is in order. 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:38.519 It is only through God's grace 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:40.680 that any of us have come to know him 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:43.400 and to accept Jesus as Savior 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:45.720 and to know God's presence with us. 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:48.220 And we're looking not just at the God 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.700 who is here with us, 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:51.160 we're looking at the great God 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.420 who is in heaven 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:58.360 and who is in charge of all things in our universe. 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:03.060 And then the third key phrase is his right hand. 00:20:03.800 --> 00:20:05.420 The right hand is very often associated 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.920 with the exodus from Egypt 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:12.620 and how God's right hand was active in achieving that. 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:15.180 God's right hand speaks of his power, 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:18.060 of the fact that there is nothing beyond him, 00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:22.240 that everything is under his control. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:25.820 And so the king has this great confidence 00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:28.820 that the Lord will give victory, 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:32.180 that he will do it as the great God of heaven 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:34.580 who is in control of everything, 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:38.360 and that he will do it through the power of his right hand 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:42.400 because there is nothing that is beyond him. 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:45.539 And even if the king is faced with overwhelming force 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:49.300 as he goes out and as he meets the enemy, 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:51.740 he knows that God will be there 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:54.299 and he will be victorious. 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.859 Which then brings us on to what he says 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.899 in verses 7 and 8, 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:02.019 which I've called the king's conviction. 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:04.220 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:07.759 but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.579 They are brought to their knees and fall, 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:14.019 but we rise up and stand firm. 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:16.859 The king says, 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:21.680 other people around us rely on human strength. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:24.539 They rely on the fact that they've got big armies 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:26.480 and they've got all the weapons, 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.559 or would it have been in those days, 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:30.480 the weapons, modern weapons of warfare. 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:33.799 They think that will be enough. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.200 But with God there, it is not. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:39.600 And we can look through the Old Testament 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:41.059 and time and time again, 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:43.580 we can find examples of where God's people 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:48.019 appeared to be up against unchallengeable odds 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.880 as they faced other enemies 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:52.420 and God protected them. 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.200 Coming to Jericho. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.940 How did the Israelites take the battle of Jericho? 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.759 They did it through God's grace 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:00.779 as they marched around it for the seven days 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:02.380 and the walls collapsed 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:05.240 and they were able to go in and take the city. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.380 What about Gideon? 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:11.480 Gideon who had just 300 men in his army 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:14.339 and yet was able to go out to the great host 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.740 and through God's power 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:18.400 and through God's divine miraculous intervention 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.279 to be victorious. 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.299 David and Goliath, 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.519 a small boy against a great giant 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:27.420 and yet God gives him the victory. 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.160 The time of Elisha 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:33.099 when Samaria was absolutely surrounded by the Assyrians 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.960 and appeared to have no hope at all. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.140 The people were about to give up. 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:39.700 They were resorting to terrible things 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:41.100 because of what was happening 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:43.279 and God intervenes 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:46.440 and the army is sent away. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.400 There is a complete victory for his people. 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.600 With God on their side, 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:53.600 if they trusted in him, 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:57.259 his people knew they would be victorious. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:00.700 And I think there's a challenge for us today. 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:02.740 What do we trust in? 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.779 If we go out into the street and talk to people, 00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:06.539 what do you think? 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:10.220 What is the basis for any hope you have for the future? 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.240 Some would say, 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.180 well, it's technology. 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.720 Technology will get us there. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:16.839 It will solve all the problems of our world. 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:19.519 Aren't our scientists doing wonderful things? 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:23.240 And yes, they are with their God-given intelligence 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:27.660 as they seek to develop our society. 00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:30.700 But technology won't save us. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:33.519 We get a situation like we've had the last three years 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.619 as a virus comes 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:36.960 and eventually technology catches up 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.759 and is able to help with it. 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:41.519 But for a while, we are absolutely floored. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.139 Human reasoning. 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:46.880 If we can just think logically 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:48.660 and forget God 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:51.000 and think about the universe without God 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.920 will be okay, 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:53.800 say many atheists. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.020 Where does that get us? 00:23:55.040 --> 00:23:57.460 It brings us to a hopeless situation. 00:23:58.580 --> 00:23:59.780 Tolerance of one another. 00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:00.759 People would say, 00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.980 well, we should tolerate people 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.440 with different lifestyles. 00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:05.420 And yet those who are usually, 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.980 would proclaim tolerance 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.620 in many ways, 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:09.180 often the most intolerant 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:11.480 of people who disagree with them. 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:14.319 Tolerance isn't the way ahead. 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:16.940 The only thing that brings us hope 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:18.980 and security for the future 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.960 is trusting in God 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:23.400 and believing that He is the one 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.440 who is in control 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:27.140 and can bring us victory 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:30.079 in whatever kind of situations we face. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.059 And so then we have a concluding verse. 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.299 I've not concluded this 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:37.700 in either of the divisions of the chapter. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:40.160 I think it's a summary of the chapter. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:42.140 And I think the picture on the right 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.100 and the wording there 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:45.240 is probably a better translation 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.880 than the NIV in this case. 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.759 The best translation is, 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.580 save Lord, 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.759 may the King answer us 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.040 when we call. 00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:55.920 Now the King here 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.420 is a King with a capital K 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.460 and in this series 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.779 we're thinking about God the King 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.759 and I think this is 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:03.440 talking to us about God the King. 00:25:04.040 --> 00:25:05.019 So on the one hand 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.060 He is saying, 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.320 save Lord. 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.819 We're in a desperate situation. 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.359 Please save us. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.339 And on the second He is saying, 00:25:12.439 --> 00:25:13.399 well, only the King, 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.579 only God the King 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.500 can do us. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.279 We need Him 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.619 to answer us 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:19.519 when we call. 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:22.500 And that is still the situation 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:24.299 for us today. 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.399 We need God's salvation 00:25:26.399 --> 00:25:28.639 in whatever situation we're in 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:30.639 and we need to bring our prayers 00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.439 to the King 00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:33.559 and to seek His answer 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.579 to us. 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:36.119 So two things 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.960 to leave you with today. 00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:38.720 First is, 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:40.000 do I pray 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.819 for God's people? 00:25:42.699 --> 00:25:43.879 We've talked about corporate prayer, 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.519 we've talked about 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.599 individual prayer. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.500 Are we praying for one another? 00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.779 Are we praying for our leaders? 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:51.460 Are we praying for each other? 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.879 This week we had, 00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:54.740 last week we had 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.779 two prayer meetings. 00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.639 On Monday 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.599 we were praying 00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.599 for Luca Fernandez 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.480 who at that point 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.339 was very ill 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.740 and things seemed 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.939 to be going very badly 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.640 and it was really 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.880 bringing our requests, 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.519 our hearts, 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:08.000 built requests to God 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.360 for help for those 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.279 who were looking after Him 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.799 for recovery. 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.360 By Wednesday 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.980 he had improved a lot, 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.620 his condition was a lot better 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:18.299 and we were able to come 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.700 and bring our thanks 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.940 to God for that 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:22.059 while still praying for, 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.480 as we're doing this morning 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.600 and will continue to do 00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:25.340 for Luca 00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:27.779 and for the whole family. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.480 But it is a great privilege 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.460 to be able to pray 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.240 for one another 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.660 and then to look 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.059 and to see God 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:35.279 answering us. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.579 Please let's make sure 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.140 all of us, 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.200 if you're part of the church 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.359 or part of another church, 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:41.000 that you pray for the church, 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.059 pray for the leaders, 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:44.240 pray for each other. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.660 And then the second challenge 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.160 is do I trust God 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:50.700 whatever my circumstances? 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.940 Do I experience the power 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:57.019 of God's presence with me? 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.759 When things are hard, 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.299 do I turn to God 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.099 and recognize 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.980 that only He can help, 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:06.220 that only He can bring me through? 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.019 We've been thinking quite a lot 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.940 this morning about Gordon Gray 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:13.660 and many things 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:15.000 I can certainly identify with 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.799 that Alistair and Margot 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.839 said to us. 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.940 One of the things I think 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:20.759 really stood out with Gordon 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:23.240 was his trust in the Lord 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:25.559 despite his circumstances. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.599 I think all the time 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.599 he's been at this church, 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:29.599 he's had serious heart problems 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:31.179 for the last few years, 00:27:31.219 --> 00:27:32.740 he's been out of extreme amount 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:34.839 of pain through his arthritis 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.839 and other things. 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.399 And yet through all of it, 00:27:37.459 --> 00:27:38.859 whenever you spoke to Gordon, 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.399 there was a brightness, 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:42.359 there was a confidence in God, 00:27:42.699 --> 00:27:43.699 there was a feeling that, 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.599 yes, I'm going through 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.559 difficult times, 00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:46.899 but I'm still concerned 00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:47.879 about other people 00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:49.519 and I'm still confident 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.019 that God will bring me through 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.299 and will help me 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:54.219 in my circumstances. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:57.480 Do we see examples like that? 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.180 And there are others 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.740 in the church. 00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.420 Do we see examples like that 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:02.180 as ones that we can follow 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:04.180 and whatever circumstances 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.100 we are in, 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.839 that we can experience 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.880 God's presence 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:10.759 and God's grace among us? 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.539 So two things to take away 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.019 and think about. 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.539 Do I pray for God's people 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.819 and do I trust God 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:19.220 whatever my circumstances? 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.299 In a few minutes, 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:21.880 we're going to move 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.839 into a time of communion, 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.980 but before we do that, 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.859 I want to pray. 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.299 And for the prayer, 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:26.819 I want to do something 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.619 a little bit different. 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.220 I'm going to read a hymn 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:31.480 that is based on Psalm 20. 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.559 I think it brings it, 00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:33.819 if you like, up to date. 00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:35.379 It is a Christian viewpoint 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.679 on Psalm 20 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:38.399 and I think it is really powerful. 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.980 So let's pray together 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.500 and I'm going to, 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:40.839 as I say, 00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.759 I'm going to read a hymn 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.859 as our prayer. 00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.500 And it says, 00:28:43.500 --> 00:29:13.099 May God our deepest hopes fulfill, 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:15.319 and move our hearts 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.379 to seek his will, 00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:19.500 rejoicing in his triumph still 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.919 and his prevailing name, 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.359 who hears and answers 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.519 all our prayers, 00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:26.539 who knows the weight 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.679 of human cares, 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.779 and in his Son 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.099 our nature shares, 00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:33.439 forevermore the same. 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.500 Let others trust in wealth 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.159 and power 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:38.559 to save them 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.500 in the evil hour. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:41.720 we find our refuge 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.720 and our tower 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:44.380 in God's eternal name, 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.660 in him to stand, 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:48.440 secure and strong, 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:51.200 believers who to Christ belong, 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.339 and with his saints 00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.619 in ceaseless song, 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:57.640 his faithfulness proclaim. 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:59.360 Amen. 00:29:59.360 --> 00:29:59.480 Amen.