WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 Oh, that's terrible.

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 Good morning.

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 Oh, so much better.

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 So much better.

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 Good.

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 Welcome to Watermark.

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 If you don't know me, my name's Chris.

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 I help oversee some of the community groups here.

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 And we're kind of going through a series over the summer,

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 looking at the Psalms.

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 I feel like I've got a bit of echo going on here.

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 Can we work on that?

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 Thank you.

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 And the Psalms have been the favorite book of many Christians over the centuries

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 because they're really, most of the Bible is about God speaking to us.

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 The Psalms are us speaking back to God.

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 They're basically the prayer book of the Bible.

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 It's like, how do you, in the seasons of life, in the course of life,

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 whatever's going on in your life, how do you relate to God in the seasons?

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 And that's what Psalms is going on about.

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 Whether you feel like your life is like a calm, serene lake,

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 or you feel like the waves are crashing down on you right at the moment,

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 the Psalms are going to teach you how to live well with God in all the seasons.

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 And last week we talked about happiness.

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 And we talked about how one of the defining characteristics of Christians

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 is that we have a deep-rooted happiness that we find in God.

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 The early Christian writer Augustine said this.

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 He said,

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 So we were looking at happiness last week.

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 This week, we're going to look at something which may sound as if it's completely the opposite

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 of everything we said, but it's not.

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 We're looking at spiritual drought.

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 Okay?

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 Spiritual drought.

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 By which I mean anything from discouragement to full-blown depression.

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 Okay?

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 Full range there.

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 And you may be thinking,

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 that sounds like a very happy topic for summer.

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 And it is.

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 But if you read through the Psalms,

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 a third of the Psalms are what we call lament.

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 And lament means kind of complaining, misery.

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 It's life is tough.

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 And I don't know if you've ever read through the Psalms at all,

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 but I've read it when I'm feeling happy.

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 And when you're feeling happy,

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 you come to like a passage like today.

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 And you know what?

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 It just feels like a bit of a downer.

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 Okay?

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 You're happy.

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 You're feeling great.

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 And then you're reading about a depressed guy.

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 It's not the kind of thing you want to do.

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 So you kind of flick on to kind of some happy Psalm,

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 like Psalm 23.

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 And everything is fine because the Lord's your shepherd.

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 But that is not the way we should be praying and reading the Psalms.

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 Because the Psalm isn't just for you if you're feeling dry or down.

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 It's also this Psalm is for you if you're feeling happy today.

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 Because it's going to tell you a couple of things.

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 One is it's going to tell you sometime in your life,

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 you will experience what this guy in the Psalm,

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 and we'll talk about, experiences.

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 So you need to be prepared for it.

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 The World Health Organization says by 2020,

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 depression will be the second most significant health problem in the whole world.

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 Just behind heart disease.

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 Hong Kong, you just look at the suicide rate.

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 You look at the fact that statistics show 25% of the workforce

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 are said to be experiencing depressive symptoms.

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 And you can see that this issue is everywhere.

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 So that's the first thing you need to realize.

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 That this is sometime in your life,

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 you're going to experience discouragement and spiritual drought.

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 Secondly, you're going to know that your prayer life

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 doesn't just revolve around you and your feelings.

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 The Psalms are meant to be prayed.

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 I don't know if you realize.

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 They're even meant to be sung.

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 Okay?

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 But if you start praying this Psalm for people in the congregation

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 who are going through this same thing,

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 what it does,

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 it will open your eyes to see with greater compassion,

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 greater empathy,

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 the people around you.

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 And you won't judge people who are going through a tough time

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 and look at them and say,

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 why is she so miserable?

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 But you will have an empathy and a compassion

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 and to be able to see them as you enter into the Psalms,

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 that's what it's meant to be doing for you.

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 And this city needs a church

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 which knows how to walk alongside people

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 through the drought as well as through the good times

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 so that we're rooted as we looked at last week

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 and our leaves do not wither.

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 So we're going to look at spiritual drought.

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 We're going to look at three things.

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 Spiritual drought is normal.

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 What causes the drought?

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 And what's the remedy?

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 What's the cure for the drought?

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 Okay?

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 Spiritual drought is normal.

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 What causes it?

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 What's the remedy?

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 So if you've got your bulletin,

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 just kind of have a look through the passage with me.

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 Psalm 42 verse 1 says,

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 As the deer pants for flowing streams,

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 so pants my soul for you, O God.

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 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

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 And the psalmist begins with this image of a deer

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 on a long, hot summer day

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 where there's been no rain for weeks.

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 And it's like one of those wildlife documentaries, you know,

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 and the deer is there gasping for water,

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 dying in the heat.

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 And he goes down to a stream

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 where he thinks there's going to be water.

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 He just wants a drop.

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 And the stream's dried up.

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 There's nothing there.

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 It's empty.

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 And that's what the psalmist is saying

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 he feels like right now.

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 He says,

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 I'm that deer.

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 I'm thirsty for God.

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 And I'm not chasing after

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 all the kind of bad stuff in the world.

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 I'm not chasing after just life for my comfort.

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 I'm thirsty for God.

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 And I've come down to the stream of living water

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 who is God himself.

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 And it feels like, God, you've dried up.

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 Evaporated.

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 You've gone.

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 And I'm left spiritually dry,

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 fainting in the heat of my circumstances.

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 And he cries out later on in verse 3.

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 He says,

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 When shall I come and appear before God?

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 Literally, it's when shall I come and see the face of God?

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 He can't feel God's presence.

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 He feels like bouncers are on the door of heaven

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 and they're not letting him in.

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 And the crazy thing about this psalm

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 is that the psalmist hasn't done anything wrong.

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 You know, there are plenty of places in the psalms

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 where the psalmist feels cut off from God

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 and it's because of his own fault.

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 It's because of his own sin.

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 But that's not the case here.

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 There's no confession of sin.

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 He's not done anything wrong.

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 And like a dazed deer,

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 this psalmist just doesn't get what's going on.

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 He's lost, he's confused, he's depressed.

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 It feels like God's gone missing.

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 And here's something we,

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 just a really important lesson for us to learn.

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 Our society encourages us to judge our life

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 and judge everything based on your feelings, right?

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 You know, this relationship,

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 it just feels right.

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 We even say like we judge what's true or not

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 based on whether it feels good to me or not, okay?

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 I join certain organizations.

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 I enter relationships.

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 I do what I think feels right for me.

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 But what many Christians,

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 and many of you are going to struggle

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 with what I'm going to say now,

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 which is spiritual drought,

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 where God's presence seems absent at times,

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 is a normal Christian experience.

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 It's normal, okay?

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 Many, if you're a new Christian or a young Christian,

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 and you go through this period

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 where sometimes it feels like God's gone AWOL,

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 your joy is gone,

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 your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling,

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 you may begin to think there's something wrong with you.

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 I see this all the time.

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 Maybe I haven't read my Bible recently enough.

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 Maybe I need to pray more.

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 Maybe God's punishing me for something I did wrong.

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 You know?

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 All those kind of things go around in our mind.

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 And everyone else around you seems happy enough,

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 and you feel like you're the only one who's got a problem.

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 I don't know if you've been there.

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 I've been there.

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 And you know, I see when you're in that place,

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 you can sometimes wonder,

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 is your faith really real or not?

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 And particularly if you just heard a sermon

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 about how Christians are supposed to be happy,

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 and you feel like about as far away from that

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 as Britain is from Europe at the moment.

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 But I think if we have that approach

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 where we base my relationship on God

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 determined by how my present feelings are,

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 I think this is what I would call

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 coffee machine Christianity.

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 You know, I press this button, read Bible,

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 and out of it I expect to flow feelings of joy and love.

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 You know, I press regular church attendance,

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 and I expect a flow of kind of life's blessings

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 to come down upon me.

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 But what happens when you press the Bible button,

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 and all you seem to get is lukewarm, tasteless feelings,

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 or sometimes you get nothing?

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 You think, either I'm pressing the wrong button,

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 or there's a problem with the coffee machine,

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 God in this case.

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 And like Job in the Bible,

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 who's another guy, if you've read the story of Job,

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 another guy who feels like God is absent,

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 his friends assumed,

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 because he was having a hard time,

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 distance from God,

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 they assumed it was because of his sin.

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 Now, sin can distance you from God.

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 We've said that already.

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 You've got to examine yourself first.

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 But for Job, as for this psalmist,

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 that's not the issue.

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 It's not his sin.

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 John Piper says,

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 My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives.

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 And sometimes, many times,

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 my feelings are out of sync with the truth.

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 Because, you know, your feelings are variable.

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 According to your temperament,

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 some of you get more moody than other people,

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 the season of life you're in.

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 And when you start to base your life on your feelings,

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 and you start getting into that,

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 what am I doing wrong phase,

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 and trying to find some kind of quick fix

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 to get your feelings back,

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 your faith will become totally self-focused,

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 feeling-based,

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 not based on the truth of God's character.

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 And no relationship works like that.

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 You know, feelings will come.

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 But in a marriage,

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 you don't always have the feelings.

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 But God wants to have a real relationship with you,

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 which is not based on a coffee machine relationship.

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 You know, I'll scratch your back, God,

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 by pressing the right buttons.

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 If you scratch mine and give me some nice feelings.

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 That's not the way God works.

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 And this psalm is telling you,

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 spiritual drowl, sooner or later,

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 is going to come to you.

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 It's normal if you're a Christian.

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 And if your only concern,

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 if your only concern is just to get your feelings back,

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 then you may miss some of what God

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 is actually wanting to do in your life,

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 rooting you in a deeper relationship with Him.

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 Spiritual drought is normal.

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 Secondly, what causes a spiritual drought?

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 Well, this psalm gives three reasons.

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 Okay?

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 The first reason.

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 Psalms shows us that the author here,

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 he's not alone.

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 Sorry, he is alone.

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 And he's outside of community.

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 Now, we don't know exactly

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 why the author is away from his community.

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 But he's one of the sons of Korah

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 who are kind of basically temple worship leaders.

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 Okay?

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 In Jerusalem.

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 And if you look in verse 4,

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 he says his experience of being in Jerusalem

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 is of this amazing community.

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 Okay?

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 It's an amazing community

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 where people sing God's praises.

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 They're there.

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 They hear God's word being read together.

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 They celebrate together.

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 It's this amazing God-centered community.

00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.500
 It's a bit like us as the church here.

00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:24.200
 Okay?

00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.899
 But now he's away from it.

00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:27.860
 He's away from Jerusalem.

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.179
 Reading verse 6, it said,

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:30.679
 he's in the land of Jordan.

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.139
 Up in the mountains.

00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:33.779
 It's over 100 miles away.

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.240
 We don't know why he's there.

00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.500
 Maybe he's been exiled.

00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:38.539
 Maybe he just had to move there for some reason.

00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:39.259
 But he's alone.

00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:42.019
 He doesn't have people around him

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:43.840
 to support him or walk with him.

00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:47.360
 To help him to fight and regain joy in God.

00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.519
 And this is really interesting.

00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:52.860
 Because we live in a culture

00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:55.680
 which values kind of individualism.

00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:56.700
 You know?

00:12:56.940 --> 00:12:58.300
 And even in the church,

00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:00.340
 this can come into our own way

00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.320
 of thinking about the church.

00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:01.960
 You know, we think,

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.280
 Christianity is about me

00:13:03.280 --> 00:13:04.940
 and my relationship with God.

00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:06.120
 And then maybe occasionally

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:07.460
 I come to church on a Sunday,

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.379
 listen to a sermon,

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.779
 and then talk to a couple of people

00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.899
 and then head on out

00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:12.659
 and live the rest of my life my way.

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:15.439
 But actually, there's a huge difference.

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.980
 The Bible keeps telling you

00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.039
 there's a huge difference

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:19.360
 between reading the Bible,

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:21.340
 prayer, spiritual activity,

00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.720
 which is just by yourself,

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:25.700
 and doing those things in community.

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:28.080
 They're different experiences.

00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:30.519
 You need to do the individual

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.980
 and you need to do

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:34.419
 the corporate communal thing together.

00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:37.860
 You see, if you live

00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:39.819
 as a lone range Christian,

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.740
 thinking you can just come in,

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.479
 listen to a sermon,

00:13:42.599 --> 00:13:43.360
 run out again,

00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:46.159
 you will risk

00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:48.159
 what this psalmist is going through,

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:50.199
 which is going to a spiritual desert

00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:51.219
 by yourself.

00:13:51.719 --> 00:13:53.360
 Because when you're by yourself,

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.120
 you don't always know

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.939
 what's right and what's wrong.

00:13:59.839 --> 00:14:01.000
 Because you believe

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:04.219
 and I believe my own lies about myself.

00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:05.879
 You know, I went through a period

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.960
 of spiritual drought

00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:09.399
 for about four years.

00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:11.500
 Four years.

00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.700
 I didn't know where God was.

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.420
 My prayers didn't seem to get answered.

00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:16.000
 I felt miserable.

00:14:16.180 --> 00:14:17.040
 I felt lost.

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.560
 And I felt like a hypocrite

00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:19.420
 because Christians are supposed

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.660
 to be happy, aren't they?

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.379
 And you know when you feel down

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:23.960
 and depressed,

00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:25.879
 one of the last things you want to be

00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.920
 is around other people.

00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.379
 Because you know,

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:30.060
 no one wants to be that blob

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:30.660
 in the corner.

00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.440
 You know, a bit like,

00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:33.120
 you know that the power station

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.980
 on Lama Island

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:35.440
 everything else is great

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.580
 but there's this eyesore

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.800
 in the middle, right?

00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:39.920
 You don't want to feel like that.

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.560
 And so,

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.639
 and you know,

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.320
 the only other people

00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:44.200
 you feel happy around

00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.860
 when you feel down

00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:46.340
 are actually other depressed people.

00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:47.659
 And that's not great either.

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:49.519
 It's this kind of depression pity party.

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.080
 You know,

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.080
 it's not going to help you

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:51.940
 in any way at all.

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.480
 But the very community

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.259
 that I felt I wanted to avoid

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.680
 was exactly the community

00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.539
 that I needed

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.720
 at that time.

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:01.540
 You know,

00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:03.340
 I remember it's one girl

00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:04.279
 invited me to join

00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.120
 her community group.

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.420
 I really didn't want to go.

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.379
 I don't know why I went.

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.200
 But actually,

00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.660
 it was one of the turning points

00:15:10.660 --> 00:15:11.340
 for me.

00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.300
 Because

00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:14.960
 here was a group of people

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.800
 and actually,

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.279
 I was this blob in the corner

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.820
 and they just accepted me.

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:21.379
 They weren't always saying,

00:15:21.540 --> 00:15:22.140
 why are you looking

00:15:22.140 --> 00:15:23.220
 so miserable, Chris?

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.600
 They weren't saying,

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:26.300
 you need to have more faith, Chris.

00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.160
 Don't be one of those people

00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:28.800
 who says that

00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:30.260
 to people who are spiritually dry

00:15:30.260 --> 00:15:31.480
 because that's just not helpful

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.320
 when the streams dried up.

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.460
 But you see,

00:15:35.520 --> 00:15:37.120
 the power of an accepting

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.379
 Christian community

00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:40.700
 is extraordinary

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:42.020
 in your life.

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.660
 And if you run away from it,

00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:45.660
 if you even now

00:15:45.660 --> 00:15:46.260
 are going through

00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:47.740
 a spiritual time of drought,

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:49.840
 don't ever withdraw

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:51.120
 from community

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.519
 because it's what you need most

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.519
 in the drought.

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.580
 Because you need people

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.980
 to fight for your joy

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.620
 with you in that.

00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.139
 Because otherwise,

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.299
 you'll begin to just base

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.720
 your happiness

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.759
 on your feelings

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:06.000
 or on your circumstances.

00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.799
 And that will always

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.440
 get you down.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.360
 But let me add one more thing.

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.080
 In the psalm,

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.680
 if you notice,

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.080
 the psalmist in verse 4,

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.960
 he looks back

00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:17.200
 and he remembers.

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:19.820
 how good his community

00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.919
 used to be.

00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:21.200
 Listen,

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.200
 you may be good

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:23.759
 right now,

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:27.019
 but life was good

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.620
 for this guy.

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:28.500
 You see,

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.320
 life was happy.

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.480
 He used to feel

00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.159
 like useful.

00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.539
 He was leading the procession.

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.460
 He had purpose.

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:35.460
 He was in this buzzing community.

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.680
 But now for this guy,

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.600
 it's not like this.

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.820
 He feels like no one cares.

00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:41.960
 And he remembers

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:42.899
 and he looks back

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.000
 on the good old days

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.220
 and remembering back

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:45.840
 just makes him

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.259
 even more depressed.

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:48.639
 And you know,

00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:49.240
 in Hong Kong,

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:52.600
 things are always changing.

00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.700
 You notice that?

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:55.919
 People are always

00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.379
 transitioning in and out.

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.480
 Have you noticed that?

00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:58.960
 Some of you

00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.559
 are in the process

00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:00.220
 of transition.

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.240
 And you know,

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.160
 this is one of the

00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:05.119
 really challenging things,

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:05.500
 I think,

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.519
 that all of us

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.299
 can find here

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.539
 is because you're here

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:08.859
 for a while.

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.680
 And if you've been here

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.259
 for a little while,

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.740
 you get to know somebody,

00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:12.640
 you build a relationship

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.180
 with somebody

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.400
 and then after a year or two,

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.200
 what happens is

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.960
 they move on.

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:16.799
 Right?

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.000
 Have you experienced that?

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:21.339
 And maybe the new people

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.299
 who come are not quite

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.920
 the same as your old friends.

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:24.920
 And actually,

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.000
 it's really tiring

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.400
 if you have to

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:29.000
 kind of get back

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:29.660
 to building a relationship

00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.160
 because you've already

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.059
 done the hard work

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.579
 of building a relationship.

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.180
 You don't want to

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:33.220
 keep doing it again.

00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:36.000
 And maybe you might

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.980
 even be transitioning

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.099
 out to a new church

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:38.779
 or somewhere else

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.500
 or a new group

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.400
 and the music

00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.680
 isn't the same as before.

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:42.220
 You know,

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:42.779
 the preaching

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.079
 isn't the same as before.

00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.680
 And it's so easy

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.640
 to withdraw from community,

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.579
 to get disillusioned by it

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.960
 and to just passively

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.680
 kind of drift away.

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.819
 And this psalmist

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.279
 is saying,

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.519
 don't do it.

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.700
 You've got to push in

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:01.079
 to make new friends,

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.420
 to make that step

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.539
 because community

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:05.420
 is where we were made

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.359
 to flourish.

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.259
 Because if you don't,

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:09.579
 find people who

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:11.440
 you're accountable to,

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.819
 people who are going

00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.240
 to run after you,

00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.079
 people who are going

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.740
 to love you

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.379
 and support you,

00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:17.440
 if you don't have that,

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.660
 you will wilt spiritually.

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.000
 I can tell you

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.740
 and guarantee

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:25.160
 you will wilt spiritually.

00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:29.440
 Because it's in these moments

00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.379
 that actually God

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:31.220
 wants to deepen

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.779
 your roots in Him.

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.619
 So let me ask you,

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.640
 even wherever season

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.299
 you're up to now,

00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.299
 whether you're in transition,

00:18:37.659 --> 00:18:38.339
 whether you're here,

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.359
 who knows you?

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:42.079
 Who are you accountable to?

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.579
 Who are you running towards?

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.359
 Don't run away from community,

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.619
 run into community.

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.899
 That's what we need.

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.919
 That's the first cause

00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:52.579
 of spiritual drought,

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.740
 being away from community.

00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:56.740
 Second cause of spiritual drought

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:58.379
 is disillusionment

00:18:58.379 --> 00:19:00.779
 from outside pressure.

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.079
 This guy,

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.339
 we don't know exactly

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.439
 what's going on in his life.

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.339
 We don't know whether it's sickness,

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.559
 pressure at work,

00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.539
 other issues,

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.480
 but his enemies,

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.679
 have you noticed verse 3,

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.119
 his enemies are taunting him.

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.079
 They're saying,

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:16.579
 where's your God?

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.059
 And it's got to him.

00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.460
 You know, verse 9,

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.500
 he's asking,

00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:22.579
 why have you forgotten me, God?

00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.619
 People are persecuting him.

00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:26.119
 Life isn't working out

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.980
 the way he thought

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.960
 it should work out.

00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:30.240
 And just look how

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.099
 he describes it.

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.079
 He says,

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:34.160
 deep calls to deep

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.120
 in the roar

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.440
 of your waterfalls.

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.640
 All your waves

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.480
 and breakers

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.839
 have swept over me.

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.500
 That is a picture,

00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.400
 he's like saying,

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.660
 it's like I've been thrown

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.819
 in the Niagara Falls

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.759
 and I have water

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.539
 pounding on me

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.039
 from the top.

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.799
 I've got the current

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.980
 just swirling me around

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.599
 underneath.

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.079
 I feel like I've been placed

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.940
 in a tumble dryer,

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.819
 put on spin 50 times

00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.960
 and I don't know

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.839
 which way I'm heading.

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.240
 I don't know where I am.

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.299
 I'm lost.

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.220
 I'm confused.

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.059
 This isn't the way

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.440
 life was supposed to be.

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.019
 God, where are you?

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.279
 And you know,

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.799
 when you experience that

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.940
 and particularly in Hong Kong

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.299
 that sense of being overwhelmed

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.500
 by the circumstances

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.200
 of life,

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.620
 it's so easy for us

00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:16.900
 to just,

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.259
 we just naturally go into

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:18.519
 God,

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.779
 why would you allow

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.920
 this to happen?

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:21.740
 You know,

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:23.740
 I know people who,

00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.839
 they become a Christian

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:27.680
 and you know,

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.480
 it's supposed to be great

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.759
 but the next year

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.400
 of their life

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.700
 is the worst year

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:33.100
 in the whole of their lives

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:35.759
 and they're like,

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:36.640
 God,

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.640
 what's the deal

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.460
 going on here?

00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:41.060
 I didn't sign up

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.620
 for this.

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.440
 This is not what

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.420
 it's supposed to be.

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:46.860
 Now,

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:49.460
 if you didn't have God

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.060
 and you were going

00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:50.580
 through that,

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.380
 I think it would be

00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.380
 a whole lot worse

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.800
 but that's what

00:20:53.800 --> 00:20:54.820
 this psalmist is saying

00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.780
 and he's saying

00:20:55.780 --> 00:20:59.260
 you need to realize

00:20:59.260 --> 00:21:00.020
 that sometimes

00:21:00.020 --> 00:21:00.780
 life puts you

00:21:00.780 --> 00:21:01.620
 in that tumble dryer

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.280
 and spins you

00:21:02.280 --> 00:21:03.600
 up and down

00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:06.020
 but actually,

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.200
 God is the place

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.580
 where you need

00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.360
 to run to

00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:09.140
 not the place

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.660
 where you need

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.720
 to run from

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.060
 because that's

00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:14.180
 the second cause

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.040
 of spiritual drought

00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:16.420
 is that disillusionment

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.120
 when you feel

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:18.540
 like life's not working.

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:21.759
 you're out of community,

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:22.799
 third thing,

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.299
 and these are all connected.

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.899
 Our physical

00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:28.539
 and emotional condition

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:30.000
 affects that feeling

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.059
 of spiritual drought,

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.960
 discouragement.

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.039
 Verse three,

00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:33.399
 he says,

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.859
 my tears have been

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:37.399
 my food day and night.

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.779
 He's physically

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.639
 and emotionally exhausted.

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.599
 It seems like

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.740
 maybe he's not been

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.680
 eating properly.

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.139
 He's been crying

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.860
 himself to sleep.

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.480
 We don't even know

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.060
 he's getting enough sleep here.

00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:52.920
 He's crying night and day.

00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:54.280
 This is a depressed guy.

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:54.560
 I mean,

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.440
 this is not a happy guy.

00:21:57.020 --> 00:21:58.600
 But the more

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.800
 I talk to people,

00:22:00.620 --> 00:22:02.360
 I realize that we live,

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.240
 particularly in the church,

00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:04.220
 we live in this culture

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.040
 which divorces

00:22:05.040 --> 00:22:05.700
 the spiritual

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.580
 from the physical.

00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:07.740
 Okay?

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.440
 So,

00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.780
 some people think

00:22:09.780 --> 00:22:10.860
 that if you're feeling

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.900
 down or depressed

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.759
 or discouraged

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.180
 or those kind,

00:22:13.300 --> 00:22:14.160
 it's just a problem

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.759
 with the brain.

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.140
 So they'll say,

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.320
 oh,

00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:17.600
 just take some antidepressants

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.259
 and you'll be fine.

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:19.679
 Right?

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.579
 I don't know if you've heard that.

00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:21.619
 I had that for myself.

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.059
 Other people,

00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:23.939
 I meet many Christians

00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:24.659
 in this category,

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.799
 they just think

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.319
 depression and feeling down

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.000
 is just this kind of

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.039
 moral problem.

00:22:29.459 --> 00:22:29.719
 You know?

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.559
 You need to pull yourself together.

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.099
 Just read the Bible.

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:34.779
 Have you,

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.339
 have you,

00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:36.339
 have you got faith?

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:38.159
 And then they say,

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.619
 don't you know

00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:40.299
 the rest of us

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.980
 have got problems

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.939
 but we're doing okay?

00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:44.299
 Can't you just stop moaning

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.240
 and just get on with it?

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.259
 I reckon probably

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.160
 some of you have thought that

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.559
 when you've seen

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.380
 some miserable people.

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.180
 I know I have.

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:50.440
 Confession.

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.680
 Because we think

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.839
 it's just an oral issue.

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.319
 Others think

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.380
 it's just an emotional thing.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.980
 You just need people

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.940
 to listen to you.

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.000
 You need a therapist

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.059
 just to give you

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.660
 some kind of you time.

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.000
 Right?

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.620
 And so,

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.680
 so all you need

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.680
 is just a bit of TLC,

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.559
 personal therapy.

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.559
 Just listen to them,

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.400
 accept them.

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.420
 That's all they need.

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.859
 But the Bible says

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.900
 we're holistic people.

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.420
 We're physical,

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:12.920
 emotional,

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:13.440
 spiritual.

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.320
 We have all of these things

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:15.980
 and your physical

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.060
 and emotional condition

00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:17.640
 will affect

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.779
 your spiritual condition.

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.440
 I don't know

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.880
 if you heard this,

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:24.460
 sometimes I get to the point,

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:26.259
 it's confession time,

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.259
 I get to the point

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:29.360
 where I'm just like,

00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:29.539
 man,

00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:30.160
 I just don't want

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.740
 to read the Bible.

00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:34.019
 And even before a sermon,

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.340
 I'm like,

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.560
 oh,

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.880
 what's the point sometimes?

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.480
 What's the point

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.259
 in doing this?

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.000
 No one's going to listen.

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.640
 No one's going to listen.

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.020
 And then even when

00:23:42.020 --> 00:23:42.759
 I'm preparing,

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.200
 sometimes I get these thoughts

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.240
 which come in which say,

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:47.320
 maybe I'm making this all up.

00:23:48.060 --> 00:23:49.520
 Maybe this is just not real.

00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:50.320
 Maybe I'm just being

00:23:50.320 --> 00:23:50.960
 a complete idiot.

00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.960
 And then I'm thinking,

00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:52.220
 Chris,

00:23:52.280 --> 00:23:52.360
 well,

00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.280
 what's going on?

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:53.960
 Like,

00:23:54.020 --> 00:23:55.040
 am I losing my faith?

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.080
 Do I have to pray more?

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.700
 Do I have to read more

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.180
 of the Bible?

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.259
 What have I got to do?

00:23:58.560 --> 00:23:59.000
 And then,

00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:00.560
 and I'm working the church.

00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.160
 And then,

00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:04.940
 I have a good meal

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.960
 or I get some rest,

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.860
 I get some sleep.

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.699
 And then afterwards,

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.779
 I'm suddenly feeling fine.

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.779
 And I'm like,

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:12.139
 what was going on there?

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.579
 Because,

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.019
 you know,

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:16.119
 when you're overtired

00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:17.240
 or when you haven't been

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.119
 eating properly

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:19.319
 or sleeping properly

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.799
 or exercising properly,

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.659
 you know what?

00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:22.819
 It actually puts you

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:24.379
 in danger of spiritual drought

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:24.859
 because you are

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:26.039
 a whole being.

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:28.240
 You're not just a spirit.

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.179
 You're not just a body.

00:24:30.699 --> 00:24:31.839
 You're not just emotions.

00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.500
 You're all of it together.

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:36.140
 And the Bible's solution

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:36.920
 is not just

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.980
 pull yourself together.

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.839
 It's not just

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.980
 take some medication.

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.140
 Even though these things

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.680
 are helpful,

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.819
 it's not just

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.380
 listen to it,

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.000
 have a therapist

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.940
 to listen to you.

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.140
 The Bible is saying

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:48.119
 it has a holistic solution

00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.900
 for you.

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.480
 Sometimes you just need

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.460
 to get some rest,

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.039
 particularly in Hong Kong.

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.819
 So those are some

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.339
 of the causes.

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.279
 Community,

00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.619
 absence of community.

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.420
 disillusionment

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.460
 with outside pressure

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.420
 and things of life.

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.720
 The physical

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.079
 and emotional

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.420
 strains

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.259
 that we put on ourselves.

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.079
 But what's the remedy

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.819
 for spiritual drought?

00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.880
 What does the Bible give us?

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.740
 What does this psalmist

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:19.099
 teach us

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.819
 about how

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.640
 to get through

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.420
 spiritual drought?

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.740
 Three things.

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.759
 Three things

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:26.160
 that God teaches us

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.819
 in this prayer.

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.059
 Okay, here they are.

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.980
 Pour out your soul.

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.880
 Question your soul.

00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:32.380
 Preach to your soul.

00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.600
 Okay, do you get that?

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.600
 Pour out your soul.

00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.480
 Question your soul.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.360
 Preach to your soul.

00:25:36.780 --> 00:25:37.200
 Here we go.

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:38.080
 Verse four.

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.980
 These things

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.800
 I remember

00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:41.860
 as I

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.600
 pour

00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.300
 out

00:25:43.300 --> 00:25:44.080
 my

00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:44.800
 soul.

00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:45.940
 Verse nine.

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.000
 I will say to God,

00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:47.480
 my rock,

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:49.240
 why have you forgotten me?

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:51.060
 Why do I go about mourning

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:51.940
 because of the oppression

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.560
 of the enemy?

00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.900
 Do you see what he's doing here?

00:25:54.040 --> 00:25:55.460
 He's not burying his emotions

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.700
 like I do so often.

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.700
 He's not complaining

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.540
 to everyone else

00:25:58.540 --> 00:25:59.860
 how bad life is

00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:01.200
 and avoiding God.

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.240
 God,

00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:03.279
 he's doing what Job

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.120
 does in the Bible

00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:05.519
 and he runs straight

00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.660
 to God with an honesty

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.400
 that many of us

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.259
 might find shocking.

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:09.580
 You know,

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.519
 I meet so many Christians

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.140
 who tell me,

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:12.759
 I'm just so angry

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.640
 with God

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:15.500
 for so and so

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.480
 and I say to them,

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.480
 have you told God that?

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.460
 And they say,

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.080
 am I allowed to?

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.799
 And I say,

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.200
 don't you think

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.980
 he knows that already?

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.259
 You know,

00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.500
 it's like when I was at school

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.339
 there was this kid

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:31.039
 who thought that

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.500
 if he couldn't see you

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.900
 then you couldn't see him.

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.859
 And so when we'd play

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.819
 hide and seek,

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.779
 he would stand

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.960
 in the middle of the playground

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.539
 in full view of everybody

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.539
 and he'd do this.

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.859
 He'd cover his eyes

00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.920
 with his hands

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.740
 and we'd be like,

00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.640
 what's this guy on?

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.259
 And so we'd kind of go up to him,

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.160
 find him straight away

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.299
 and he'd be just like

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.259
 so surprised

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.019
 because he thought

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.380
 if he couldn't see you

00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.539
 then you couldn't see him.

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.259
 I think that's how

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.240
 we do that with God.

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.980
 If I don't tell him

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.799
 then he doesn't know.

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.319
 But he can see you

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.619
 from the inside out.

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.799
 Every emotion.

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:09.339
 So why do you hide?

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.180
 In fact,

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.159
 good relationships,

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.619
 you run to people

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:15.619
 with what's going on with you.

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.879
 And this psalm is telling you

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:19.240
 don't bury your emotions,

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:20.779
 don't run to everyone else,

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.079
 run to God.

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.420
 If you feel he's absent,

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.240
 tell him.

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.620
 If you feel like

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.359
 you're overwhelmed

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.160
 by what he's brought

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.819
 into your life,

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.519
 tell him.

00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.240
 If you're angry with him,

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.140
 tell him.

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.700
 He already knows.

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.900
 It's not a secret.

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.680
 And he's big enough

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.599
 to cope with it.

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.759
 Pour out your soul.

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:42.720
 Some of us struggle with that.

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:44.799
 And you know,

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.380
 if you're walking

00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:46.640
 alongside other people,

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.059
 and I hope every one of you

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.160
 will be aware

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.279
 of the people around you

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.259
 who are going

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.120
 through this time.

00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.279
 If you're walking

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.899
 alongside people

00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.899
 in the spiritual desert,

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.259
 you've got to allow them

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.579
 to pour out their hearts.

00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.659
 Listen to them.

00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.219
 Don't jump in

00:28:00.219 --> 00:28:01.199
 like Job's friends

00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:01.739
 in the Bible

00:28:01.739 --> 00:28:02.959
 who just keep thinking

00:28:02.959 --> 00:28:03.979
 they've got all the solutions,

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.079
 they just jump in

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.659
 with a quick fix.

00:28:05.719 --> 00:28:06.279
 Oh, okay,

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.059
 here's the ten things

00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.619
 you need to do.

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.599
 Don't do it.

00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:10.979
 You need,

00:28:11.239 --> 00:28:12.099
 you're not the person

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:13.079
 to fix them,

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:13.879
 right?

00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:15.219
 You're not a fixer.

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.639
 God's the fixer.

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.979
 Listen to them.

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:19.360
 Give discouraged people

00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.920
 the chance to speak

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:23.180
 or be silent sometimes.

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.099
 Sometimes if they say

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:25.440
 the most outrageous things,

00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:27.539
 just listen for a while.

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.440
 Pour out your soul.

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:30.799
 Next,

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.700
 question your soul.

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.180
 Do you notice what he says?

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:37.640
 Why are you cast down,

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.880
 oh my soul?

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:41.319
 Why are you in turmoil,

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.420
 like a washing machine

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.039
 of emotions

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.839
 spinning around within you?

00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:46.160
 What is he doing?

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:47.880
 You know,

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.740
 it's not that there's

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:50.080
 this specific sin

00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:51.000
 that has got him

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.779
 to this point,

00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:52.759
 okay,

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.820
 when he's depressed,

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:56.040
 but when you are depressed,

00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:57.580
 it's so easy

00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:59.360
 to put your hope

00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:01.080
 in anything

00:29:01.080 --> 00:29:01.900
 to get you out

00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.740
 of the situation.

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.640
 Medication,

00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.779
 other people's approval,

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.740
 a new location,

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.680
 a new job,

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.060
 anything to make you

00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:09.220
 feel better.

00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.759
 But what is he doing?

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.340
 He's,

00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.940
 at this time,

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.840
 he's asking him

00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:14.620
 some questions.

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.740
 He's examining

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:17.579
 himself at this point.

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.420
 Because when you're

00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:19.819
 in the desert,

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.799
 there's no better time

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.359
 to examine,

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.620
 where am I putting

00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.200
 my hope

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.759
 for my ultimate happiness in?

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.019
 Is it something

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.259
 that can sustain me?

00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:29.799
 You know,

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.579
 he's like a doctor

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.819
 who puts this stethoscope

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.839
 on his own heart

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:34.240
 and he asks himself

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:35.660
 these penetrating questions.

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.900
 Where am I putting

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.440
 my hope?

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.700
 Is it in God

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.799
 at this time?

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:41.079
 Or is it in just

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.620
 trying to get

00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.740
 these feelings back?

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:43.880
 You know,

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:44.720
 when your community

00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.779
 is not what you

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.460
 want it to be,

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.660
 this great gift

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.160
 of community

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.640
 that I've said

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.480
 we need,

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.779
 but that can even

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.839
 become an idol

00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:53.099
 when we think,

00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.019
 if I don't have

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.960
 everything that I

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.759
 want it to be,

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.039
 is that what I've

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.559
 run to,

00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.900
 to sustain my happiness

00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:00.279
 more than Christ?

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.500
 Do you ever

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.299
 ask yourselves

00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.120
 the questions,

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.559
 what am I putting

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.240
 my hope in?

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.079
 Why am I so

00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:11.299
 discouraged at the moment?

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:13.119
 Where's my

00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:14.039
 ultimate happiness

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.700
 right now?

00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.339
 Is it dependent

00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:16.899
 on God?

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.339
 And you know,

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.440
 if you're walking

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.319
 with somebody else,

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.579
 you listen to them,

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.099
 listen to them well,

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.680
 but there's got to

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.299
 come a point

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:24.919
 where you are

00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.819
 listening for where

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.319
 are they putting

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.299
 their hopes in?

00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.500
 Where are they

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.240
 putting their hopes?

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.220
 And like that good

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.759
 doctor,

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.240
 ask those questions

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:35.579
 with grace.

00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.339
 Pour out your soul,

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.500
 question your soul,

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.940
 but sooner or later

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.840
 a doctor just doesn't

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.460
 listen and ask

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.240
 questions and say,

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.680
 bye.

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.840
 There's got to be a

00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:45.000
 remedy that you've

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.539
 got to give.

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.360
 And so the third

00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:47.420
 thing is the remedy,

00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.920
 third remedy is

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.980
 preach to your soul.

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.880
 What does the

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.380
 psalmist do?

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.039
 He says,

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.900
 verse five,

00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:56.080
 hope in God

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:57.420
 for I shall again

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:59.100
 praise him.

00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.860
 Hope in God

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.600
 for I shall again.

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.480
 He's talking to

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.900
 himself.

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.120
 And I quoted

00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.900
 Martin Lloyd-Jones

00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.440
 last week.

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.140
 I'm going to quote

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.580
 him again,

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.320
 a Welsh preacher.

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.080
 He said this,

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.480
 have you realized

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.299
 that most of your

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.480
 spiritual unhappiness

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.419
 is due to the fact

00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:13.279
 you're listening to

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.539
 yourself rather than

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.559
 talking to yourself?

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.799
 This psalm is showing

00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.679
 you how to preach

00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:19.519
 to yourself.

00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.419
 Because when you're

00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.299
 dealing with spiritual

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.000
 drought and

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.639
 discouragement,

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.720
 it's easy to think

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.339
 that there's nothing

00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.119
 you can do about

00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:27.019
 your emotions and

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:28.220
 anything at all.

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.159
 You just be passive,

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.259
 allowing it to,

00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.019
 oh, I just feel

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.439
 terrible.

00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:33.500
 And you wallow in it

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.240
 for a while.

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:36.240
 But you know,

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.559
 our feelings and

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.079
 our emotions,

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.079
 we don't generate

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:40.839
 them actively.

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.180
 You know,

00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:42.160
 if a lion walks

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.960
 into this room

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.680
 right now,

00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:44.980
 you don't look

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.839
 at the lion and

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.120
 think,

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.500
 oh, big lion,

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.920
 big teeth,

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.599
 looks hungry,

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.140
 hmm,

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.660
 I think maybe

00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.579
 I should be afraid.

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.720
 Okay, let's decide

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.759
 to be afraid now.

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.579
 Do you do that?

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.660
 No, you just

00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.519
 see the lion,

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.779
 fear wells up

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.400
 inside of you,

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.680
 right?

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.400
 You don't generate

00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.320
 your feelings like

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:04.680
 that.

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.840
 But the thing is,

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.860
 your emotions

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:10.900
 are not your

00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:11.480
 master.

00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.200
 Your emotions can

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.380
 be handled by

00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:14.799
 you.

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.220
 They're not your

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.680
 master.

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.620
 Lloyd-Jones again

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:17.900
 says,

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.320
 the main art in

00:32:19.320 --> 00:32:19.880
 the matter of

00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:21.140
 spiritual living is

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.900
 to know how to

00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.019
 handle yourself.

00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:23.759
 You know,

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.220
 some of you have

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.960
 got more emotions

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.580
 than others.

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.580
 Okay, you need to

00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:27.380
 know how to take

00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:29.019
 yourself in hand.

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.320
 You have to address

00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:30.779
 yourself,

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.579
 preach to

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:31.920
 yourself,

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.079
 question yourself.

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.000
 What do you

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.539
 preach?

00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.879
 You preach the

00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:38.000
 gospel to yourself.

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.879
 Here's how the

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:40.619
 psalmist says,

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:43.460
 my soul is cast

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.079
 down.

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:45.619
 Therefore,

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.539
 therefore,

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.259
 therefore,

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.440
 I remember

00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.420
 you.

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.819
 Verse 8,

00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.319
 he says,

00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:55.799
 what does he

00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:56.180
 remember?

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.399
 He remembers

00:32:57.399 --> 00:32:59.559
 who God is.

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:01.019
 He says he

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.679
 remembers his

00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:03.480
 faithful love,

00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:04.500
 seen all through

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.019
 the Bible.

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.039
 He reminds

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.960
 himself of God's

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.599
 promises,

00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:08.940
 his love which

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.940
 goes all through

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:11.220
 his faithfulness.

00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:11.940
 He reminds

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.679
 himself of what

00:33:12.679 --> 00:33:13.879
 God has done

00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.899
 in his own

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.519
 life, his

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.460
 faithful love

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.240
 towards him

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:17.980
 specifically.

00:33:18.899 --> 00:33:19.740
 And this music

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.339
 leader in the

00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:21.259
 temple writes a

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.859
 song to God.

00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:23.519
 He writes it

00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:23.779
 down.

00:33:23.879 --> 00:33:25.179
 He recalls God's

00:33:25.179 --> 00:33:25.599
 goodness.

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:25.839
 happiness.

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:30.159
 I'm a naturally

00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:31.599
 optimistic person,

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.599
 but when I get

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:34.959
 discouraged, I can

00:33:34.959 --> 00:33:37.159
 wallow in my

00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:38.939
 misery for a

00:33:38.939 --> 00:33:39.399
 while.

00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:41.779
 But what I see is

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.339
 I need to grab my

00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:44.219
 emotions by the

00:33:44.219 --> 00:33:45.339
 scruff of the neck

00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.539
 and I need to say,

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.339
 now, Chris,

00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.679
 listen to me.

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.939
 God has never

00:33:49.939 --> 00:33:50.519
 left you.

00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.539
 God is with you

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:51.779
 now.

00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:52.719
 You're his child.

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.640
 He's working

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.240
 through this.

00:33:54.600 --> 00:33:55.360
 You can trust

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:55.620
 him.

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.460
 He loves you.

00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.140
 I need to speak

00:33:59.140 --> 00:33:59.880
 to myself.

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.279
 Because if you

00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:04.000
 fight, your

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.720
 emotions will

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.460
 catch up

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.360
 eventually.

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.839
 But truth is

00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.440
 true whether you

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.280
 feel it or not.

00:34:09.740 --> 00:34:10.440
 You realize that?

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:12.220
 Truth is true

00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:12.840
 whether you feel

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.320
 it or not.

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.199
 And it's what you

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.720
 need to preach

00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:15.740
 yourself and we

00:34:15.740 --> 00:34:16.460
 also need to be a

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.519
 community around

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.079
 each other who

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.940
 know how to preach

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:20.019
 the gospel to

00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.380
 ourselves.

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:20.860
 But you've got to

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.179
 listen to how it

00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.919
 applies to them

00:34:22.919 --> 00:34:23.219
 first.

00:34:23.299 --> 00:34:24.279
 Don't just kind of

00:34:24.279 --> 00:34:25.079
 charge in there

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.759
 with like bullet,

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.980
 gospel bullets kind

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.559
 of flying left,

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.259
 right and center.

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.539
 No, you've got to

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.079
 listen.

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.299
 Listen to where they

00:34:31.299 --> 00:34:32.059
 need hope.

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:33.239
 Listen to where they

00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.119
 need to see

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.899
 encouragement.

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.440
 Be like a good

00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:40.559
 doctor who listens

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:42.079
 so people can pour

00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.859
 out their soul.

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.480
 Ask questions of

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.639
 yourself and others

00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.639
 and then we apply

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.559
 the truth of who

00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:49.539
 God is to our own

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.379
 life and to the

00:34:50.379 --> 00:34:50.879
 lives of other

00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:51.299
 people.

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.940
 And you see what

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.399
 happens?

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.579
 There's hope in

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:55.940
 this.

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.460
 The psalmist says,

00:34:58.440 --> 00:35:00.059
 I shall again

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.460
 praise him.

00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:02.619
 It's not past tense.

00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:03.159
 It's not even

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.960
 present tense.

00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:05.419
 It's future tense

00:35:05.419 --> 00:35:06.679
 knowing that God

00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:08.239
 will bring him out

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:09.079
 of this spiritual

00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.460
 drought.

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.000
 And you know when

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.599
 you go through it,

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:11.179
 anyone who's been

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.079
 through it and has

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:13.059
 held on to God in

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.839
 it, you know you

00:35:13.839 --> 00:35:14.940
 are so much stronger

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.379
 through it.

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.099
 You are more

00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:17.099
 compassionate than

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:17.799
 you have ever been

00:35:17.799 --> 00:35:18.199
 before.

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.259
 And you can learn a

00:35:19.259 --> 00:35:20.839
 deeper joy in Christ.

00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:21.480
 It's not a coffee

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.539
 machine Christianity

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.980
 but true deep

00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:25.160
 relationship in God

00:35:25.160 --> 00:35:26.140
 because that's where

00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:27.140
 he's rooting you.

00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:31.039
 And here in the

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:34.320
 Hebrew, this psalmist,

00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.400
 even in this psalm,

00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.360
 is beginning to come

00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:37.720
 out as he's speaking

00:35:37.720 --> 00:35:38.380
 to himself.

00:35:38.600 --> 00:35:39.440
 You don't see it in

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.280
 your translation but

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:41.539
 the Hebrew in verse

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:42.440
 five it says,

00:35:42.660 --> 00:35:43.500
 literally it says,

00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:44.980
 I shall again praise

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:46.200
 him for the salvation

00:35:46.200 --> 00:35:47.880
 of his face.

00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:49.140
 It's kind of him

00:35:49.140 --> 00:35:49.880
 out there.

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.619
 When you get to

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:52.019
 verse 11 and then

00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:53.380
 43 verse five it

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.539
 says, for the salvation

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:57.519
 of my face.

00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.200
 You see he's coming

00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:00.300
 out of the pit because

00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:01.700
 he's realizing God is

00:36:01.700 --> 00:36:02.740
 not just out there

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:03.180
 somewhere.

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.440
 He's become to be

00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:06.119
 more personal for me

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.400
 even as I'm wrestling

00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.380
 through this time.

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.599
 Do you know how to

00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:12.400
 preach your soul of

00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.240
 God's love when you're

00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:14.140
 discouraged, when you're

00:36:14.140 --> 00:36:15.099
 downcast, when you're

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:15.539
 depressed?

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:18.539
 Last thing.

00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.739
 If this is the normal

00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:22.820
 Christian experience,

00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:26.360
 how do we know that

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:30.039
 God loves us when God

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:31.659
 is with us when God

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.360
 feels absent?

00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.940
 How do you know that?

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.559
 How can we say we

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.759
 can't base our life off

00:36:36.759 --> 00:36:37.480
 our feelings?

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:39.360
 Well, this psalmist,

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.659
 he didn't know

00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.039
 something.

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:44.420
 He didn't know that

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.300
 even though he's crying

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:46.060
 out for the presence

00:36:46.060 --> 00:36:47.039
 of God, he didn't

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.760
 know Christ.

00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:52.180
 But we do.

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.519
 But we do.

00:36:55.560 --> 00:36:56.800
 Because God himself

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:59.180
 came down, Emmanuel,

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:00.900
 God with us.

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.760
 And do you know this

00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:05.720
 psalmist here?

00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:08.800
 Jesus was the one who

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.800
 said, I thirst.

00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:11.840
 Jesus was the one who

00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:13.060
 had no sin at all and

00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:14.739
 yet he had his enemies

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:16.159
 mocking and taunting

00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:17.099
 him saying, where's

00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:17.699
 your God?

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.599
 Can't even save you now

00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:20.639
 when he's on the cross.

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.259
 He's the one on the

00:37:22.259 --> 00:37:23.440
 cross who cries out, my

00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:26.019
 God, my God, why have you

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.199
 forsaken me?

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:30.699
 Jesus was abandoned.

00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:33.400
 He knew the true absence

00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:35.360
 of his father so that you

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.159
 and I will never, ever,

00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:39.840
 ever have to know that God

00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:41.639
 is truly absent from us.

00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.960
 That's what Christianity

00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:43.799
 says.

00:37:44.199 --> 00:37:46.279
 God is a God who wants to

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:47.719
 be with you.

00:37:47.839 --> 00:37:49.199
 Even when you don't feel

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:49.799
 it, he's there.

00:37:49.879 --> 00:37:50.539
 How do I know?

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:52.139
 Because Christ came down

00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:54.839
 into the darkness, took the

00:37:54.839 --> 00:37:56.819
 darkness so that you can

00:37:56.819 --> 00:37:57.960
 know that he is always

00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.819
 there for you.

00:37:58.820 --> 00:38:03.460
 God is a God who wants to

00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:05.880
 bring you back into the

00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:08.220
 presence of his father and

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.860
 he wants to bring you back

00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:11.860
 into the presence of a good

00:38:11.860 --> 00:38:12.300
 God.

00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:15.880
 Christianity has a God who

00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.019
 can sympathize with our

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:19.200
 weaknesses in the seasons of

00:38:19.200 --> 00:38:19.600
 drought.

00:38:21.160 --> 00:38:22.320
 Whatever's going on in your

00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:23.760
 life right now, whether you're

00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.740
 feeling great or feeling

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:28.500
 terrible, he is sufficient

00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.640
 for you.

00:38:31.200 --> 00:38:33.140
 Let's be a community which

00:38:33.140 --> 00:38:34.940
 knows how to live through

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:37.200
 drought and have a leaf which

00:38:37.200 --> 00:38:38.840
 doesn't wither like we talked

00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:40.580
 about last week to know that

00:38:40.580 --> 00:38:44.520
 God is truly our joy because he

00:38:44.520 --> 00:38:48.500
 will restore us to himself.

00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:49.539
 Let's pray.

00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:03.559
 Father, I don't know what's

00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:06.639
 going on in people's lives

00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:07.239
 right now.

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:14.260
 Some of us may feel like, oh, I

00:39:14.260 --> 00:39:16.760
 don't need to worry about kind of

00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:18.000
 spiritual drought at the moment

00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:20.440
 and yet we're basing all our

00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:22.800
 hopes and life just on our

00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:24.159
 feelings and what we feel we

00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:25.940
 can do by ourselves.

00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:28.380
 And we have little compassion

00:39:28.380 --> 00:39:29.480
 for those who are struggling.

00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:31.239
 Lord, I pray that you make us a

00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:33.179
 church, which is a church in

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:35.480
 this city which is so downcast in

00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:36.280
 so many ways.

00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:39.480
 Make us a beacon of light and

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:41.780
 hope in this city.

00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:45.860
 I pray for those of us who are

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:47.039
 struggling, who are discouraged,

00:39:47.159 --> 00:39:47.980
 who are disillusioned, who are

00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:50.219
 transitioning and are worried about

00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:51.039
 the next steps.

00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:53.460
 Lord, I pray that you would help

00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:55.340
 them to see that you are that

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:58.519
 source of joy that they can

00:39:58.519 --> 00:39:59.840
 cling to, that you're not going to

00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:00.360
 leave them.

00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:03.059
 You're not running away, that you're

00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:04.179
 right there with them and they can

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.679
 just keep running back to you.

00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:09.199
 I pray that you would help us to be

00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:15.179
 a people who know how to love one

00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:18.399
 another enough to share and speak the

00:40:18.399 --> 00:40:19.460
 gospel to each other.

00:40:20.939 --> 00:40:22.679
 Please let us be a community which

00:40:22.679 --> 00:40:28.960
 doesn't condemn people but really

00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:32.859
 demonstrates a God who is present and

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:34.460
 with us in our lives.

00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:35.820
 Thank you.

00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:36.880
 Your name.

00:40:37.640 --> 00:40:37.800
 Amen.