WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.279 Ryan Rippey. Ryan is from California and he's been here for the last week teaching at Munster 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:16.820 Bible College, Biblical Spirituality, so helping us in our relationship with God and our communion 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:24.440 with Him. So a really practical study and course. And so, yeah, we encourage you to come out 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:29.839 tonight and Ryan will be preaching it in just a moment. So Ryan, just tell us a little bit 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:35.359 very briefly about your own family back home in California. Sure. So my wife's name is Jennifer. 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:43.359 I have five children from 24 years old down to 13, three boys and two girls. And we grew up, 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:50.379 born and raised there in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. And were you raised in a Christian 00:00:50.379 --> 00:00:55.719 home yourself? How did you come to faith in Christ? We started going to a Christian home when I was 00:00:55.719 --> 00:01:02.280 eight years old. So we, prior to that, we were not going to church. And the summer camp, youth camp, 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:08.920 that our church held the following summer when I was nine years old, a dear, sweet woman named Luella 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:15.159 Ross shared the gospel with me. And Romans 10, 9, and gave my life to Christ and never been the same. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:22.120 Wonderful. And when you're back home, what do you do? What's your kind of bread and butter day-to-day 00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:30.439 life and work? It's kind of crazy. So I work multiple jobs. We started a church on April 17th, 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:36.100 Trinity Church of Benicia, the city we live in. So I'm a church planter. And that's been going about 00:01:36.100 --> 00:01:43.560 seven weeks. So that keeps me busy. I also have the privilege of leading a Bible college and seminary 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:48.480 there in the Bay Area that trains pastors, the Cornerstone Bible College and Seminary. And then I 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.800 work for an engineering company doing project management stuff. So... 00:01:52.800 --> 00:01:54.040 And you're a dad and a husband. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:55.300 And a dad and a husband, yeah. 00:01:55.520 --> 00:02:01.780 My word. You're doing well. And he's been teaching all week. And we look forward to him 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:08.319 speaking today and this evening. So I'm just going to pray briefly for you and then hand over to you 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:15.560 to speak so you can stay here with us. Father, thank you for Ryan. Thank you for his ministry 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:23.879 to us over the week. And we thank you now for him being here today. Father, we pray for his church 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:32.340 in California as they meet a little bit later on today that they would be encouraged, built up in 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:39.640 their faith, and that they would go on in their walk with you. We pray for Ryan that you will give him 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:46.359 strength and energy, but above all that you would be working through him this morning by your spirit, 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:56.799 that his words would be your words, building us up in our faith. So we thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:02:58.719 Amen. Thank you, my friend. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:10.539 Well, good morning. I bring greetings from California. And it was nice to get some rain. It was sunny all 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:16.860 week and it felt like back home. So I actually am enjoying the rain today. So we're going to be in 00:03:16.860 --> 00:03:33.600 Luke chapter 11, verses 5 to 13. And I'll begin by reading the passage. Do you all stand up when you 00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:38.800 read the scripture at the beginning of the sermon? Not normally. I see Ralph shaking his head no over 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:45.340 there. Okay, well, then I won't make you stand up. It's what we do typically, but when in Ireland, 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:58.759 no, no, it's okay. Let's look at Luke. I'll be reading out of the English Standard Version, 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.120 because that's the version my wife bought me with the large print as I've been getting older. So 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:12.280 starting in verse 5, he said to them, which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:18.139 and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves. For a friend of mine has arrived on a journey and I 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:24.360 have nothing to set before him. And he will answer from within, do not bother me. The door is shut. 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:31.120 My children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything. I tell you, though he will 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:36.040 not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence, he will rise 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:42.160 and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:48.540 find, knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and the one who seeks 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:56.680 finds and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:03.640 will instead of a fish give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:09.719 then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:16.779 father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? So I've titled the message this morning, 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:24.779 coming to the father in prayer. And when we pray, there's sometimes misunderstandings 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:35.319 that we bring as we come to prayer. For example, is effective prayer the same thing as persistent 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:41.519 prayer? Perhaps we see Elijah in first Kings pray seven times for rain, and it's not until he prayed 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:48.919 the seventh time that the rain came. And so we think we have to pray the same thing over and over and over 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:57.600 again until we get an answer. Is genuine persistence asking the same thing until it's eventually 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:05.520 granted? Or perhaps does effective prayer require that we be emotionally urgent, that we have fervor? 00:06:05.700 --> 00:06:12.660 Or even does repetitious prayer plus emotion put together equal an unstoppable force where God is 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:19.100 just forced to answer our prayers? Well, this morning, I want you to see from this passage that 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:26.720 persistence in prayer really is speaking about a life of continual prayer to the father, rather than 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:32.420 simply repeating the same things over and over again. At the beginning, we didn't read it yet, but the 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:37.740 Lord's prayer shows a model for the proper prayer. And the parables and teaching that follow that we're 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:43.939 going to be looking at this morning shows the power of prayer to accomplish results. And I want to show 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:50.480 you a profound reality here from this chapter. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:57.699 and instead of giving them a method, he reminds them of who their father in heaven is. In other words, 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:03.160 instead of giving them a method of this is the steps you pray that God will answer the prayer, 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:08.860 he says, let me introduce you to my father in heaven. And so that's what we're going to see here. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:16.280 And we begin with the parable in verse five. The householder represents the father in the parable. 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:23.780 The friend asking for help is a picture of the one praying. And there's two important elements that 00:07:23.780 --> 00:07:30.320 when we come to this parable, we need to have the correct understanding about. The first 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:37.199 is this word in verse eight, when he says, I tell you, though, he will not get up and give him 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:43.959 anything because of his friend, yet because of his impudence, or you might have in your translation 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:51.659 persistence. We need to look at the meaning of that word in the Greek and idea. Is it persistence or is 00:07:51.659 --> 00:07:58.240 it shamelessness? Is it persistence or impudence? Because those are not synonyms. And so why do we have 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:05.639 English translations that give us two very different words? And then second, we need to see the identity 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:16.720 of the one to whom this persistence or shamelessness applies. And so we have before us here this morning, 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:23.040 starting in verse five, which of you has a friend? We'll go to him at midnight and say to him, 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:31.460 friend, lend me three loaves. So the going at midnight, asking the friend there in verse five is 00:08:31.460 --> 00:08:39.700 the householder. And in verse six, six setting before him, I have nothing to set before him. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:48.259 This is the traveler who's coming to ask. And in verse seven, we'll answer from within. That person is the 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:56.799 householder. Don't bother me. And he will not get up in verse eight. That's the householder to give the 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:06.980 traveler, the petitioner, anything because of his impudence, he will rise. And so we wonder who's the 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:15.399 one being shameless or impudent. But then when we get to the end of verse eight, he will rise the 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:24.559 householder and give the petitioner whatever he needs. Well, if you have an NIV or an ESV, like I do, 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:31.399 you will have the word shamelessness or impudence. If you have a new American standard or a new King 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:39.079 James or a Holman Christian standard Bible, you would have the word persistence. And if we go to a 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:45.680 Greek dictionary, lexicon, we will see that it defines it as people who have no proper sense of 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:52.680 shame and willingly engage in improper conduct. So synonyms of this word in English are immodesty, 00:09:53.020 --> 00:10:00.759 impudence, shamelessness, rashness, insolence, recklessness, wantonness, crudeness. So how in the 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:07.000 world did we get the translation persistence? Where is this coming from? And this is in the King James 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:14.580 and the New King James, so it has a long history. And it came in short through the Latin. The Bible 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:22.419 was translated by Jerome in the fifth century into Latin. And the original word improvitatum was 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:29.460 wickedness or impudence. But eventually, over time, it was replaced by a very near sounding word 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:40.940 importunitatum or importunity or persistence. And in Jewish culture, this idea of hospitality was 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:50.420 highly valued. A midnight visitor coming to this person to ask for bread, he wouldn't have been 00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:56.220 considered shameless or impudent in the culture. It would have been a very common occurrence. They didn't 00:10:56.220 --> 00:11:03.360 have grocery stores to go down and get bread if someone showed up at an unexpected hour. So why in 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:11.860 the world would Jesus use this of the petitioner? He begins the parable with which of you in verse 5. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:20.080 It's a question that lasts three verses. And it's actually expecting a negative response. Which of you 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:24.519 would have this happen that you would go ask your neighbor for bread and he would say, I can't get out of 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:31.419 bed. And my children are in bed with me and there's no way. And they would answer, no one. So the character, 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:39.480 this householder, his outrageous, exaggerated behavior, they're not offered as realistic responses, 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:47.860 but as dramatic components of a ridiculous story. Jesus is giving a classic example of tongue-in-cheek. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:55.240 And the story is not meant to be comparison, but contrast. In other words, the sleeping householder 00:11:55.240 --> 00:12:02.360 is not like God the Father. He's precisely unlike God. And if the householder fails to respond out of 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:08.560 friendship alone, which is outrageous and impossible, how much more may God the Father be counted on 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:15.759 to respond promptly out of unfailing love and devotion? In fact, that's what verse 13 says. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:20.859 If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the 00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:25.799 Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Do you see what's going on here? 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:33.159 In at least in American culture, we misunderstood this parable for decades. And we saw that it, 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.419 we thought it was persistence in prayer. Like what we have to do is keep praying and praying and praying. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:42.539 And God the Father in heaven is kind of like earthly fathers. When you take your kids to the store and 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:47.620 they just nag you until you cave in and you buy the candy that's at the cash register. 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:56.159 Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy. Okay, fine, I'll give in. Fine, you have the candy. 00:12:56.279 --> 00:13:02.699 But it's not because the mom really wants to give the candy. She's just wore out. But that's not what 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:08.780 this parable is saying about God the Father. We don't have to twist His arm. We don't have to wear Him 00:13:08.780 --> 00:13:15.000 down with our continual prayers. He's our Father in heaven. And Jesus is saying to His disciples, 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:20.720 let me tell you a bit about our Father. And He tells this ridiculous story about a householder that 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:25.379 wouldn't exist in their culture. Or if it did, they would be the talk of the town because the 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:32.019 hospitality was so important to them. The Father not only hears our prayers the first time 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:41.100 and responds freely, but also our coming to Him is never shameless. There's no such thing as bad 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:51.720 timing with God. There's no such thing. So then moving on to verse 9, Jesus, after He tells this 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:56.899 parable and He says, this is who your Father in heaven is precisely unlike this householder 00:13:56.899 --> 00:14:04.259 or unlike human fathers, He gives a command to pray. I tell you, ask and it will be given 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:10.700 you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you for everyone who asks receives 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:16.940 and the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks it will be opened. And so what's He 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:25.920 getting at here? Well, in verse 9, what He's saying is, if your Father in heaven is precisely 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:34.980 unlike this householder, you can ask with confidence knowing that your Father will give. The simplicity 00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:42.340 of the prayer is really profound. He doesn't give them a long-winded prayer that that's going 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:52.519 to be what grants the prayer. He doesn't give them a formula, a method. He says, ask. Ask and 00:14:52.519 --> 00:15:00.620 it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. We simply 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:09.420 need to ask, seek and knock. And Jesus, He says that when we ask and seek and knock, we're going 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:15.959 to receive an answer. Why? Because we have the heart of the Father. Turn over to Matthew 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:29.059 chapter 6, verse 25. You know this passage well. It's in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:33.599 says, therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what 00:15:33.599 --> 00:15:38.179 you will drink, nor about your body. What you will put on is not life more than food and 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:43.759 the body more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:50.759 into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Then listen to what He says. Are you not of 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:56.679 more value than they? And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to a span of life? 00:15:56.759 --> 00:16:01.259 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:06.559 toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:12.379 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:17.799 oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, don't be anxious, saying, 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:23.419 what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after these 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:32.399 things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:38.980 righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:45.679 for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient is the day for its own trouble. We have the heart of 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:52.500 the Father. Our heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask Him. We don't need to have fancy, repetitive 00:16:52.500 --> 00:17:01.079 prayers, and we can be certain of the Father's response. Well, there's a misunderstanding, a misconception 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:13.140 about prayer coming out of, for example, John 14, 14. And in John 14, 14, Jesus tells us that we need to ask in 00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:19.660 Jesus' name. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. And the misunderstanding is that there's a secret, 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:26.980 special way to repeat Jesus' name before success is eventually given from God in heaven. In fact, as we were 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:32.099 growing up, we couldn't even, the food wouldn't be blessed unless we said in Jesus' name before we said 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:38.700 amen. And it's become the sort of, this is how we hang up the phone. We have to say in Jesus' name, or the 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:46.940 prayer might not even be over. But that's not what Jesus is getting at here. He's saying confessing 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:53.579 Jesus' name is equivalent to submitting to His Lordship. So asking in Jesus' name, particularly in 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:58.139 John's Gospel, John's Gospel, involves praying according to the character of His one and only Son. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:09.439 We're asking in line with what Jesus wants and desires. Well, back to Luke chapter 11, and in verse 10, 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:18.980 he repeats what he said in verse 9, but in a slightly different way. The verse is more than simply a 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:24.960 restatement of verse 9. It places the commands in further promises. For everyone who asks, receives. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:32.680 And the one who seeks, finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be open. The Father's response is 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:44.819 guaranteed. Your needs will be met. Your search will lead to solutions. This is incredibly important, 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:51.379 right? Jesus is teaching His disciples, let me introduce you to your Father in Heaven. When you 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:59.579 come to Him, you will find answers. You will have your prayers met. You will receive what you're asking 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:05.740 for. Or something we're going to see here later in verse 13, something better than what you were asking 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:14.579 for. And when we move on to verse 11, we see the certainty of the Father's response in these examples. 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:23.200 And it's almost as if Jesus, when He says, ask, or whoever asks, receives. And the one who seeks, finds. And the one 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:28.059 who knocks, it will be opened. He's looking in the eyes of His disciples, as it were, and He sees the doubt. 00:19:29.179 --> 00:19:36.379 You say that, but I'm not sure, Jesus. I'm not sure that's really true. Have you felt that way as a Christian? 00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:41.960 That sometimes when you pray, it almost feels like the prayers don't even make it to God. They just bounce off the 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:48.640 ceiling and come back down. Or do you get the feeling sometimes that when you pray, that you're just not 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:54.720 important enough for God to hear you? That there's other people more important that God listens to them. 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:59.140 After all, He seems to answer their prayers, and your prayers don't ever seem to be answered. 00:19:59.140 --> 00:20:10.280 So Jesus, He gives these examples in verses 11-13 to talk about the certainty of the Father's response. 00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:11.780 Verse 11, 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:18.900 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish, give him a serpent? 00:20:19.820 --> 00:20:22.800 Once again, outrageous behavior, right? 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:25.879 If he asks for an egg, you'll give him a scorpion. 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:31.700 Cruel answers to legitimate requests. 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:37.220 And Jesus is appealing to them, thinking that no human parent would be so cruel. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:42.279 That's not even funny. There's nothing humorous about that. 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:47.700 That is dangerous and potentially deadly, that your child would be asking for food, 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:49.480 and you give them a venomous creature. 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:56.360 Now on the flip side, if even in our foolishness we ask for something dangerous, 00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:58.440 like a snake or a scorpion, 00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:01.599 the Father gives us what's best, not what we ask for. 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.599 He gives us what we need. 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:09.759 In fact, turn over a few chapters to Luke 18. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:14.620 There's another parable on prayer in the Gospel of Luke, 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.440 the parable of the widow. 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:20.340 Luke 18, verse 1, 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:22.220 he tells them a parable to the effect 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:25.140 that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.000 And he said, 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:30.920 In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man, 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.960 and there was a widow in that city 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:35.240 who kept coming to him and saying, 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.039 Give me justice against my adversary. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:40.100 For a while he refused, 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.660 but afterward he said to himself, 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:44.120 Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:46.519 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:48.059 I will give her justice, 00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:52.319 so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.000 And the Lord said, 00:21:54.179 --> 00:21:56.279 Hear what the unrighteous judge says, 00:21:56.699 --> 00:22:01.099 and will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night? 00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:03.299 Will he delay long over them? 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:07.659 So, if you were reading the Gospel of Luke, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:10.819 and you had the wrong word persistence in your English translation, 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.039 and you get to Luke 18, 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:16.500 you might be tempted to think this parable is one where the judge is the father, 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:18.139 and the widow is us, 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:21.240 and we just have to be persistent until we wear God down. 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.059 But again, 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:27.759 Jesus isn't telling this parable to say, 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:30.500 The judge is like the Father in heaven. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.819 In fact, we have real clear indicators he's not. 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.720 Verse 2, 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:36.259 He neither feared God nor respected man. 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.440 Again, in verse 4, 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.240 same thing. 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:42.099 And then in verse 6, 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:45.339 Jesus says he's an unrighteous judge. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.220 Unrighteous judge. 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:51.680 So, again, it's by way of contrast, 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.579 Jesus is teaching that the reason people are kept waiting 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:57.119 is not because we need to get God's attention, 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.359 or because he's uninterested, 00:22:58.359 --> 00:23:01.779 but that he's determined as heavenly judge that we need to wait. 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:04.959 So, it's not repetitious prayer in Luke 18, 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.279 it's patient prayer. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.839 So, continual prayer, 00:23:09.219 --> 00:23:10.799 talking to our Father in heaven, 00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:12.519 telling Him what we need, 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.619 is this idea of patiently waiting upon Him for the answer. 00:23:18.919 --> 00:23:20.799 We'll turn back to Luke 11 again. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:23.839 And we see in verse 13, 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.379 If then you who are evil 00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:29.220 know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:33.119 how much more will the Heavenly Father give 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:37.240 the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:40.240 So, the Father, we saw, 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.639 He gives what's best. 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:45.379 He doesn't give a snake instead of a fish, 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:47.579 or a scorpion instead of an egg, 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:52.099 but what is the good gifts of God that He gives us in verse 13? 00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:55.919 He gives us the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.059 And Jesus says, 00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:58.980 If you being evil, 00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:01.419 know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:04.899 and He perhaps is thinking of Jeremiah 17, 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.399 9, 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.839 that the heart is deceitful above all else, 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:11.980 but even parents who don't know the Lord Jesus, 00:24:12.159 --> 00:24:14.220 they know how to give good gifts to their children, 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:16.259 this evidence of common grace. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:19.019 And what Jesus is stressing is, 00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:21.960 the goodness is contrary to their character, 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:24.620 but God, who is perfectly good, 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.819 and perfectly just, 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.240 and perfectly righteous, 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:29.660 and a Father in Heaven who loves us, 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:33.680 how much more will He give us good things? 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:37.600 Well, what is the good thing that the Father has in mind 00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:39.279 for His children? 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:41.299 The good thing is the Holy Spirit. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.480 The Father gives what's best. 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:47.099 He gives Himself in the third person of the Trinity. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:50.299 And Jesus, when He's coming in the Gospel of Luke, 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:52.420 He's coming to bring in a new covenant, 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:54.480 which is when the Holy Spirit will be given. 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.799 And so basically, Jesus is saying, 00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.880 when you talk to your Father in Heaven, 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.920 because of the new covenant, 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:02.019 you have a new relationship with Him. 00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:03.380 He's now your Father. 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:06.059 Back to verse 1. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:09.339 Jesus was praying in a certain place in Luke 11, 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.120 and when He finished, 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.599 one of His disciples said to Him, 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:14.419 Lord, teach us to pray as John taught His disciples. 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.480 And He said to them, 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.119 when you pray, say, 00:25:18.719 --> 00:25:20.959 Father, hallowed be Your name, 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.919 Your kingdom come, 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:23.740 give us each day our daily bread, 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.919 and forgive us our sins, 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:27.939 for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us, 00:25:28.219 --> 00:25:30.059 and lead us not into temptation. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:33.599 Now, the most striking part of that prayer to His disciples 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.139 would have been the first word, 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:35.679 Father. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.759 The Jewish people, 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:39.680 prior to the coming of Jesus, 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:42.480 would not have prayed to God as Father. 00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:46.660 In fact, as we see this new covenant coming in, 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.940 we see that the New Testament name 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:51.000 for the first person of the Trinity 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.640 becomes Father. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:56.900 It's the name Jesus used of God 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:58.539 when He prayed to Him, 00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.660 when He spoke to Him. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.980 For example, in the garden, 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.140 He says, 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:05.120 Father, let this cup pass from Me, 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.640 but not My will, 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.080 but Yours be done. 00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:10.980 And as Jesus goes to the cross, 00:26:11.280 --> 00:26:13.740 as He's crucified in our place 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.840 for our sins, 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:15.640 and He's buried, 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:17.120 and He rises again, 00:26:17.280 --> 00:26:18.620 conquering sin in the grave, 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.759 and seated at the right hand of the Father, 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:22.360 now interceding for us, 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.680 and ruling and reigning 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.020 with the greatest authority, 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:27.460 now by faith in Christ, 00:26:27.520 --> 00:26:29.040 we are united to Him 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:31.600 so that we become children of God, 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.799 Galatians 4 says, 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.480 Romans 8, 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:37.379 and the Spirit stirs up family affections 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.599 in our hearts. 00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:40.059 Romans 5, 5, 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.839 the love of God has been shed abroad 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:43.719 in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:46.079 And in Romans 8 and in Galatians 4, 00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:48.019 what does the Spirit teach us to cry? 00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:49.579 Abba, Father. 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:53.399 And we can now approach our Father in Heaven, 00:26:53.719 --> 00:26:55.179 and we can draw near to Him, 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.199 Hebrews 4 says, 00:26:56.199 --> 00:26:58.259 and we can find grace and mercy 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:00.879 to help in our time of need. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:04.180 And what the Father has given us 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:06.099 is He's given us His Son 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:07.660 to be our Savior, 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.539 and He's given us the Spirit 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:11.500 to indwell us and be the seal, 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:13.480 the down payment and pledge, 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.559 Ephesians 1 says, 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.660 of our inheritance. 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:17.980 That all of the Father's promises 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.579 are yes and amen in His Son. 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:21.039 He's going to make good on it. 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.700 He's not going to abandon us. 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.319 He's not going to forsake us. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:26.039 He's poured out His Spirit. 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:28.639 And so He's with us always. 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:32.159 And He's going to be faithful 00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:34.379 to complete what He started in us. 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.819 And He prepared good works 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.779 that we would advance, 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.420 walk in them. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:43.180 And so the good thing in Luke 11 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.579 that the Father is giving 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:46.539 is the Holy Spirit. 00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:49.399 So praying to God, our Father, 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:52.879 is a means by which the Father gives 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.340 whatever He has decided 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:56.700 is most necessary. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:59.760 And Luke knows that the Holy Spirit 00:27:59.760 --> 00:28:01.660 is the gift par excellence, 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:04.500 making all others pale in comparison. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.840 The Father is pictured 00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:08.160 as an ideal parent 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:10.320 who hears every child's request 00:28:10.320 --> 00:28:11.620 the first time 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:13.700 and promises to respond 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:15.180 at the right moment 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:17.680 in the best possible way. 00:28:18.820 --> 00:28:20.020 Isn't this remarkable? 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:22.440 The disciples wanted to learn 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.019 how to pray 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:25.359 like John taught his disciples to pray. 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.339 And Jesus says, 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.379 let me do something else. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.819 Let me introduce you 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.879 to the character of My Father in Heaven 00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:32.819 who's not like earthly fathers, 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:35.119 who will never disappoint you, 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.700 who will never fail you. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.440 He's going to give you 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.879 what is best. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.819 And so what Jesus is teaching 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.639 His disciples 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.359 is just ask. 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:46.379 You are always heard 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:48.640 because you are always loved. 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:51.560 And that, dear friends, 00:28:52.260 --> 00:28:53.660 that will get you up 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.660 in the morning tomorrow 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:56.400 and draw near to God. 00:28:57.060 --> 00:28:58.760 That will get you up this week 00:28:58.760 --> 00:29:00.220 with whatever you have to face, 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.560 whatever trials, 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.400 whatever burdens, 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:04.660 whatever temptations of sin, 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:07.040 to know that your Father in Heaven 00:29:07.040 --> 00:29:08.080 loves you. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.660 And if you doubt it, 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.560 look to the cross. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:15.220 Because God gave His best for you 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.839 when you were at your worst. 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.480 He gave His Son. 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.299 And this is why Paul says 00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.379 in Romans 8, 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:24.220 if He did not spare His Son, 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.899 how will He not with Him 00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:27.500 freely give us all things? 00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:30.700 James says, 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:33.099 the Father is the Father of lights. 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.460 Every good and perfect gift 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.399 comes down from Him 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:37.399 in whom there is no variation 00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:38.399 or shifting shadow. 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.440 So you know what that means? 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.779 The Father in Heaven 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:42.080 who has been faithful to you 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:43.460 so far in your life 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.820 because He never changes, 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.980 He will remain faithful 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.700 for all eternity. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.259 And even today, 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:51.680 you can draw near to Him. 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.539 You have His heart. 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:55.180 He's proven it 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.500 because He gave His Son for you. 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:58.279 And if you believed in the Son, 00:29:58.380 --> 00:30:00.140 you have the heart of God. 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:01.120 You have His life. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.380 You have the Holy Spirit. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.960 This is why 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.299 name it and claim it 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:08.480 type of praying 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:10.940 is just materialism 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.860 made spiritual. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:13.860 It's also why it's heretical 00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:15.220 because it tries to say 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.140 basically that 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.440 we control God. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.559 We pray 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.839 and if we have enough faith 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.039 and we claim it 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.339 and we have enough faith 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:24.160 then God is obligated 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.720 to give us what we ask for. 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:28.160 And if you don't get 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.039 what you ask for, 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.880 then your faith 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:31.059 is not strong enough 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.860 or big enough 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:33.099 or great enough. 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.900 But that's not 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:36.140 what's going on here. 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:38.320 The Father's given you 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:38.759 His Son 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.480 and He's given you 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.060 His Spirit. 00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.400 And He says with Him 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:41.940 He's given you 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.900 everything else. 00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.960 And so it's not about 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.500 some vending machine 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.240 in the sky 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.020 that you put in 00:30:48.020 --> 00:30:49.280 the right amount of change 00:30:49.280 --> 00:30:49.880 and you get 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:52.120 exactly what you wanted. 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:54.280 It's our Father in Heaven 00:30:54.280 --> 00:30:56.320 with whom we have relationship, 00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.820 with whom we draw near. 00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:59.880 The Father doesn't give us 00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:01.520 anything and everything 00:31:01.520 --> 00:31:02.820 that we ask for. 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.960 He gives us 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.039 what He knows 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.279 is best. 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:08.519 I mean, 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.220 think about this 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.220 in the life of Jesus. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.220 As Jesus knelt 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.079 in the garden 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:14.319 and poured out 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.379 His cries to the Father 00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:15.879 and said, 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.659 Abba Father, 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.139 all things are possible 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.679 for Thee. 00:31:18.939 --> 00:31:20.200 Remove this cup from Me, 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.319 yet not what I will, 00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.399 but what You will. 00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.759 The incredible thing 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:25.079 is that the Father's will 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:26.639 to send the Son 00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.599 to the cross 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:28.779 and crush the Son 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.919 and have Him drink 00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.859 the cup of wrath 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.819 on our behalf, 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.939 it wasn't from 00:31:32.939 --> 00:31:34.099 a stern lawgiver 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:35.319 threatening vengeance, 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.740 it wasn't an impersonal 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:38.279 force of faith 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.319 from whom there's 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:39.980 no alternative. 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.159 The Father that Jesus 00:31:42.159 --> 00:31:43.439 addresses in the garden 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:45.000 is one that He's known 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.019 all His life. 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.960 One He's found to be 00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.879 bountiful in His provision, 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.740 reliable in His promises, 00:31:51.939 --> 00:31:53.539 utterly faithful in His love, 00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:55.179 and so Jesus can obey 00:31:55.179 --> 00:31:56.419 the will that sends Him 00:31:56.419 --> 00:31:57.079 to the cross 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:59.159 with hope and expectation 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:00.620 because it's the will 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:01.180 of Abba 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.779 whose love has been proved 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:04.259 and now it can be trusted 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.160 so fully 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.779 and Jesus obeyed it 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.880 so completely. 00:32:08.840 --> 00:32:09.279 And He says, 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:09.720 Father, 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.380 into Your hands 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:13.040 I commit My Spirit. 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.840 Even as He's hanging 00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.940 on the cross, 00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:17.680 He's entrusting Himself 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.840 to His Father 00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:19.940 in Heaven. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.519 Dear Christian, 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:23.400 you have boldness 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:24.840 to enter the throne room 00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:25.540 because you have 00:32:25.540 --> 00:32:26.880 the heart of the King. 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:29.080 Hebrews 4, 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.040 with boldness 00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:31.700 we approach the throne of grace 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:33.620 to find grace and mercy 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:36.200 to help in our time of need. 00:32:36.280 --> 00:32:37.300 Because of who we are 00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:38.800 to the Father in Christ 00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:40.160 by the Spirit, 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:42.100 we can have confident access 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:43.960 to His very presence 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.840 right now. 00:32:45.040 --> 00:32:45.720 We don't have to go 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.820 to Jerusalem anymore. 00:32:47.320 --> 00:32:48.540 He's dwelling in us. 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.600 He's here with us. 00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.680 In fact, 00:32:50.760 --> 00:32:52.420 if people want to meet God, 00:32:53.020 --> 00:32:54.040 where do they go now 00:32:54.040 --> 00:32:54.700 in the New Covenant? 00:32:55.280 --> 00:32:56.280 They come to the church. 00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:58.080 They come to us. 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.520 This is the hope 00:33:00.520 --> 00:33:01.460 of our witness 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.200 and our mission. 00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:06.240 The Spirit 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:07.100 in the New Covenant 00:33:07.100 --> 00:33:08.300 enables us 00:33:08.300 --> 00:33:10.260 to draw near to the Father 00:33:10.260 --> 00:33:11.660 through a new and living way 00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.420 found in the Son, 00:33:12.520 --> 00:33:13.620 Hebrews 10 tells us. 00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.320 And the author of Hebrews, 00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:16.500 when he talks about 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:18.280 confidence and boldness, 00:33:18.780 --> 00:33:20.380 this is in stark contrast 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.400 to the Old Covenant, 00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:22.700 the tabernacle, 00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:23.280 the temple, 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.980 where there was 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:26.000 clean and unclean regulations. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.819 There were a priesthood. 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.099 There was sacrifices. 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.640 There was festivals. 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.940 Only certain days. 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:32.779 Sabbaths. 00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.700 Now, 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.180 in the New Covenant, 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.880 there's great confidence 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:38.319 because our High Priest, 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.119 the Lord Jesus, 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.319 went before us 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.940 and He left the way open. 00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:43.900 The doors open any time. 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.259 And the Spirit 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.720 has washed our hearts clean. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:47.579 And it's why 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.839 we can draw near. 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.960 The Father 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.940 has drawn near 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.759 to us through His Son 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.599 and made us 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:55.119 to be a new temple. 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.319 The place where 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.359 His glory dwells. 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.680 And He invites us 00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.019 to draw near to Him 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.960 as a perfect Father. 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.799 Oh, beloved, 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.680 you can come 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.500 to the Father 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.720 and your coming 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.900 is never shameful. 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.260 It's never inconvenient. 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.920 It's never the wrong timing. 00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:15.260 Just ask. 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.280 You are always heard 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:19.260 because you're always loved. 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:20.860 Father, 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:22.160 thank You for this Word 00:34:22.160 --> 00:34:23.240 this morning. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.960 Thank You for this teaching 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.800 from our Savior. 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.720 This is at the heart 00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:30.660 of what it means 00:34:30.660 --> 00:34:31.600 to be a Christian 00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:33.060 is that we have 00:34:33.060 --> 00:34:34.200 communion with You. 00:34:34.300 --> 00:34:35.560 We can draw near to You 00:34:35.560 --> 00:34:36.660 and have relationship 00:34:36.660 --> 00:34:38.600 and fellowship with You. 00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.400 And Father, 00:34:40.520 --> 00:34:41.160 this wasn't 00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:43.180 only the plan of Jesus. 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:44.440 This was Your plan 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.640 from before the foundation 00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:46.340 of the world. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:48.200 You so loved the world, 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.140 You gave a Son. 00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:51.180 You are the One 00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:52.800 who in love 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:54.820 predestined us to adoption. 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:56.780 You are the One 00:34:56.780 --> 00:34:58.560 who set this plan 00:34:58.560 --> 00:34:59.360 into motion 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:01.240 and gave us Your Son 00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:03.060 and poured out Your Spirit. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:05.180 I pray for my brothers 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:06.180 and sisters here 00:35:06.180 --> 00:35:08.240 that if they've been believing 00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:09.380 the lies of the devil, 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:11.400 that You're against them 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.280 or that You don't want 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:12.920 to hear them 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.760 or that it is an inconvenience 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:16.520 or that they're not 00:35:16.520 --> 00:35:17.240 important enough 00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:18.380 or they don't have enough faith 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:19.559 or they haven't asked 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.599 enough times yet, 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.260 Father, 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.400 that You would dispel 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:24.240 all of those misunderstandings, 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:26.980 all of those wrong ways 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.539 of thinking, 00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:29.599 that You would remind them 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.700 through the Gospel 00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:32.660 of who You are, 00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:34.599 of Your heart 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.319 towards them. 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.460 You know everything 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:38.319 they need 00:35:38.319 --> 00:35:39.839 before they even ask. 00:35:40.399 --> 00:35:41.379 And they can come 00:35:41.379 --> 00:35:42.079 and they can ask 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.619 because 00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:44.699 they're in Christ 00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:46.420 and they have the Spirit 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:48.960 and You always hear them. 00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:50.639 And You don't always 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.840 give them what they ask. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.400 You don't always 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.480 give me what I want. 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.519 But Father, 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.559 You've always given me 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.200 what I needed. 00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.440 You've always given me 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:01.380 better than what I asked. 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.380 You're able to do 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.780 exceedingly abundantly 00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:05.340 above all I can ask 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:05.800 or think. 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:09.139 Oh, bless 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.659 Caragalline Baptist Church, 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.059 Father. 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.960 May You bear much fruit 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:14.260 through them 00:36:14.260 --> 00:36:15.160 and in them. 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.600 May they say 00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:17.800 many come to Christ. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:19.360 Would You send revival here 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:21.880 to this Cork Harbor area? 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:24.140 Would You save 00:36:24.140 --> 00:36:25.080 their loved ones, 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:26.260 their family members, 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.280 their co-workers? 00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:31.400 May these believers 00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:33.260 be so filled 00:36:33.260 --> 00:36:34.660 with Your love 00:36:34.660 --> 00:36:35.260 that they would 00:36:35.260 --> 00:36:36.700 confidently come to You 00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:38.620 and not shrink away, 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.180 but that they would 00:36:40.180 --> 00:36:41.620 know that You are 00:36:41.620 --> 00:36:42.620 their Father in Heaven. 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:45.579 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:46.539 Amen. 00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:48.539 Amen.