WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:09.519 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.419 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.679 Today's scripture reading is from the Gospel According to Mark, chapter 8, verses 34 and 35, 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:43.640 and chapter 9, verses 14 to 29, as printed in the liturgy. 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:49.740 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, 00:00:50.480 --> 00:00:55.400 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 00:00:55.939 --> 00:00:58.600 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:02.980 But whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.260 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:10.240 and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:15.219 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:18.200 What are you arguing with them about, he asked. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:20.180 A man in the crowd answered, 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:28.240 Teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:32.159 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:36.079 He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. 00:01:37.019 --> 00:01:40.560 I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. 00:01:41.899 --> 00:01:44.399 You unbelieving generation, Jesus replied, 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:46.579 How long shall I stay with you? 00:01:46.979 --> 00:01:48.679 How long shall I put up with you? 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:50.579 Bring the boy to me. 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:52.500 So they brought him. 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:56.679 When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:02:00.539 He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:02.879 Jesus asked the boy's father, 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:04.599 How long has he been like this? 00:02:05.039 --> 00:02:06.340 From childhood, he answered. 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:10.000 It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:14.460 But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:17.120 If you can, Jesus said, 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:20.180 Everything is possible for one who believes. 00:02:21.020 --> 00:02:22.680 Immediately, the boy's father exclaimed, 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:23.600 I do believe. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.300 Help me overcome my unbelief. 00:02:27.140 --> 00:02:29.700 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:31.240 he rebuked the impure spirit. 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:33.400 You deaf and mute spirit, he said, 00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:37.060 I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:41.219 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, and came out. 00:02:41.219 --> 00:02:44.620 The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:45.580 He's dead. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:48.939 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up to his feet, 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:49.840 and he stood up. 00:02:50.539 --> 00:02:53.659 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:55.900 Why couldn't we drive it out? 00:02:56.740 --> 00:02:57.520 He replied, 00:02:58.139 --> 00:03:01.120 This kind can come out only by prayer. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:03.400 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:04.919 Thanks be to God. 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:07.780 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:10.460 It's good to see you all on this holiday weekend. 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:13.900 And it's great to see the sun come back out today for us. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.640 And we're here in the gospel of Mark. 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:19.300 We've been preaching this since Christmas, 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.080 and we'll preach it all the way to Easter. 00:03:21.819 --> 00:03:27.000 And if you're paying any attention to the literary structure of this little book, 00:03:27.260 --> 00:03:29.040 it's written as a three-act play. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:34.600 And we've been primarily in act one with Jesus in Galilee, 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:38.140 and he's demonstrating his power and his authority. 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:40.639 That's basically the first eight chapters of Mark's gospel. 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:43.079 On Wednesday night, Ash Wednesday, 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:48.139 we took a turn to act two of this play. 00:03:49.179 --> 00:03:53.339 And it's basically Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, 00:03:53.339 --> 00:03:56.060 and he takes his disciples on this journey 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:59.339 where he's teaching them now about his cross 00:03:59.339 --> 00:04:02.639 and about what his cross means for their discipleship. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.319 And he's re-educating them about the nature of the kingdom of God. 00:04:07.139 --> 00:04:09.339 And that's basically from Mark 8 to 10. 00:04:10.019 --> 00:04:13.839 And then act three of this book is Jesus in Jerusalem, 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.800 the final events, this final week leading up to his cross, 00:04:17.919 --> 00:04:21.219 and that's Mark chapter 11 to the very end. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:25.260 And so we, the other night, Ash Wednesday, 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:27.620 we began looking at act two, 00:04:28.340 --> 00:04:31.680 where Jesus is talking about the meaning of his mission 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.560 and therefore the manner of our discipleship. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:37.220 And he asks his disciples, he says, 00:04:37.280 --> 00:04:38.460 who do you say that I am? 00:04:39.440 --> 00:04:42.360 And Peter answers, on behalf of the 12, 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:43.720 and he says, you're the Messiah. 00:04:43.900 --> 00:04:45.580 And Jesus says, correct. 00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:49.519 And the kind of Messiah I am is that I'm going to be killed, 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:51.219 and I'm going to lay my life down 00:04:51.219 --> 00:04:55.759 in humble service and suffering for the sake of others. 00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:58.379 And then Jesus says these words we just heard. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:00.979 He says, whoever wants to be my disciple 00:05:00.979 --> 00:05:04.740 must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. 00:05:05.599 --> 00:05:08.120 If you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you'll save it. 00:05:08.159 --> 00:05:11.399 And what a great theme that is for us during Lent. 00:05:12.219 --> 00:05:14.079 If you want to be my apprentice, 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:15.879 Jesus says there's a cost to that. 00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:18.359 He says you've got to deny yourself, 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:22.379 which is not so much about giving up chocolate or alcohol for Lent, 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:26.620 as it is about, it's not so much about denying something to yourself, 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:28.319 it's just denying yourself, 00:05:29.719 --> 00:05:32.379 your self-interested, self-centered ego. 00:05:32.539 --> 00:05:35.079 Jesus is saying, I want you to surrender to me 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:40.379 your entire identity structure and your destiny. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:41.819 I want you to surrender that to me. 00:05:41.919 --> 00:05:42.699 Deny yourself. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:45.719 Take up your cross. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:50.819 That is, be ready and willing to be executed with me or to die for me. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.819 And he says, I want you to lose your life for me and for the gospel, 00:05:55.959 --> 00:06:00.099 which means I want you to give yourself to my mission. 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:06.279 I want you to become an ambassador of my good news of the kingdom of God in this world. 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:11.179 So that's where we are now in Act 2 of Mark's gospel. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:15.419 And if you want to turn to your pew Bible on page 820, 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:17.559 that's where we are today. 00:06:18.059 --> 00:06:20.639 And you can kind of see some of this larger context. 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:24.959 You can see that this is just after the transfiguration 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:28.679 where the glory of Jesus as the divine son of God 00:06:28.679 --> 00:06:32.019 has been revealed to the disciples Peter, James, and John. 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:36.659 And while Jesus is up on the top of that mountain with his three disciples, 00:06:36.979 --> 00:06:40.180 you've got nine other disciples down at the bottom of the mountain. 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:45.639 And they're struggling with, in this valley, they're struggling with evil. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.680 And Jesus shows up to find them in an argument. 00:06:49.859 --> 00:06:51.500 And he says, well, what are you arguing about? 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:56.159 And this father steps forward and he says, I'm responsible for this commotion. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:01.920 My poor boy has been attacked with convulsions since he was a child. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:07.240 And I thought that you and your disciples would be able to help and to heal him. 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:09.940 But your people basically could do nothing. 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:12.320 And they tried, but they failed. 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:17.700 And Jesus then proceeds to exercise the demon out of this boy 00:07:17.700 --> 00:07:20.740 and to heal him and restore him in a moment. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:27.800 And the disciples later on, they asked, Jesus, why couldn't we drive this demon out? 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:31.480 We've had success with these things before, but today we failed. 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:32.579 Why do we fail? 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:42.620 And why, Jesus, were you able with extreme ease and with just a word to speak? 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:45.860 And evil is vanquished and the boy was healed. 00:07:45.860 --> 00:07:52.460 Why are we, your people, your disciples, your apprentices, not yet able? 00:07:52.580 --> 00:07:56.900 Why do we not yet have the power to do what you do? 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:00.960 And so that's the question today. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:03.860 Why don't we have the power to do what you do? 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.680 Now, I preached the body of this sermon before, 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:10.900 but it was a time when many of you weren't part of this church. 00:08:11.020 --> 00:08:13.500 So I'm putting it back on some of your radar. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:15.500 And for some of you, you're hearing this for the first time. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:17.000 And I'm going to make some fresh application. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:22.519 But my thesis today and my golden thread is just Jesus' simple statement at the very end 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:26.540 where he says, this kind can come out only by prayer. 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:30.300 This kind can come out only by prayer. 00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:32.960 So let's think about this kind. 00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:37.899 In this boy, we have a picture of the modern world, 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.179 which is seized and convulsed by evil. 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:46.819 An evil which is distorting and destroying the image of God in human beings. 00:08:47.939 --> 00:08:51.959 And in these disciples, we see the church of Jesus Christ, which is trying. 00:08:52.199 --> 00:08:55.319 It's doing its uttermost, but it's lacking in power. 00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:58.099 And it's obviously failing to deal with the situation. 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:02.319 Do any of us ask the question of these disciples? 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:03.519 Do we say, Lord, why? 00:09:03.599 --> 00:09:04.559 Why don't we have the power? 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:10.359 Why don't we have the power to deal with the evil that's so obviously convulsing our world? 00:09:11.299 --> 00:09:17.019 Why does the church in North America and the Western world seem to lack such spiritual energy 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:21.259 and authority to engage with the situation that's confronting us? 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:26.919 And Jesus answers the question about why they couldn't drive out the evil spirit. 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.219 And his answer is, this kind. 00:09:30.839 --> 00:09:33.360 You don't yet understand this kind. 00:09:34.819 --> 00:09:40.240 You've not yet learned to differentiate between that kind and this kind. 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:46.579 The disciples know how to deal with that kind of spirit. 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:50.479 Because after their initial training, we saw this in Mark chapter 6, 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:53.120 Jesus sends his disciples out and he says, 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:57.200 I want you to go preach the kingdom of God and I want you to cast out demons. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.940 And they went out and they did that very thing. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.399 And in Luke chapter 10, we read that on one occasion, 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:08.000 they were so successful that they came back with such elation and such excitement 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:10.740 that they felt overconfident. 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:15.500 And the Lord rebuked the pride of his little disciple community. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:17.919 And he says to them in Luke 10, 20, he says, 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:21.439 Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.379 but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:30.839 He says, you guys are full of excitement because in my name and in my power, 00:10:30.939 --> 00:10:33.259 the devils are made subject to you. 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:37.439 And because this kingdom of darkness, this kingdom full of evil spirits 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:40.799 is just falling down before you as you preach the kingdom of God. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:46.459 But Jesus says, this time, this father brings his son to you for healing 00:10:46.459 --> 00:10:51.579 and you're approaching that problem with overconfidence. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:55.719 You're approaching this problem with a sense of self-assurance. 00:10:55.859 --> 00:10:59.299 You have no doubt that you're going to succeed against the darkness. 00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:04.779 And yet, in spite of all of your efforts, this boy, he's no better at all. 00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:08.919 In fact, he's just as desperate, just as miserable as he's ever been. 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:11.659 And so Jesus says, I want to give you, my disciples, 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:16.299 I want to give you eyes to see the difference between that kind 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:20.039 that you've encountered before with success and this kind, 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:23.860 which is way stronger than you ever realized. 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:26.819 You guys tracking with me so far? 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:31.279 If you've ever read the Screwtape Letters, 00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:33.679 if you've never read the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:35.679 if you're in middle school or high school or college 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.439 and you've never read the Screwtape Letters, 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:41.380 I encourage you to get this book and read it between now and Easter. 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:43.260 What an amazing book that is. 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:45.620 But it draws on this New Testament teaching 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:49.200 about the difference between this demon and that demon. 00:11:50.520 --> 00:11:50.880 Right? 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:54.320 That in this evil kingdom of dark powers that Jesus describes, 00:11:54.520 --> 00:11:57.260 there's gradations and there's hierarchies. 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:00.580 And the Apostle Paul writes about this in Ephesians 6. 00:12:00.660 --> 00:12:00.880 He says, 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:03.059 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:04.240 He says, 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:05.279 What do we wrestle against? 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.539 What we really wrestle against, 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:06.960 he says, 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.200 are principalities and powers 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.200 and the rulers of the darkness of this world 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:15.519 and spiritual wickedness in high places. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.379 There's a gradation. 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:18.860 There's a hierarchy. 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:21.360 And at the head of all of that is Satan himself, 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:23.799 whom the Apostle describes in Ephesians 2. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.179 He says, 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:26.419 He's the prince of the power of the air 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:28.019 and the spirit that is now at work 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:30.019 in the sons of disobedience. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.620 And so under Satan, 00:12:32.739 --> 00:12:34.039 there are these spirits, 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:34.739 these forces, 00:12:34.939 --> 00:12:37.979 these powers that vary in strength. 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:39.959 And earlier, 00:12:40.339 --> 00:12:43.699 the disciples could easily deal with the lesser spirits. 00:12:44.339 --> 00:12:44.500 Right? 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:45.359 They could master them. 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:47.679 They could exercise them in Jesus' name. 00:12:47.719 --> 00:12:48.379 But Jesus says, 00:12:48.699 --> 00:12:50.679 Here is a spirit of greater power. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:54.579 This kind is not like the other feebler spirits. 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:56.239 It's altogether different. 00:12:56.359 --> 00:12:58.500 You're facing a much bigger problem. 00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:03.719 And the disciples rush to attempt a treatment 00:13:03.719 --> 00:13:05.479 before they've truly understood 00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:07.819 the nature of the problem before them. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.979 And I think the church in the Western world today 00:13:11.979 --> 00:13:15.839 is so active, 00:13:16.079 --> 00:13:16.740 so busy, 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.439 it's so devoting, 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:20.639 massive amounts of time and energy 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.279 and money 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:23.799 without really stopping to consider 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:26.779 Jesus' diagnosis of this kind. 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.699 Right? 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:32.159 We may not be as aware as we should be 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.059 of the real essence 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:34.000 and the real depth 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.580 of the problem that's confronting the church. 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.840 And what do I mean by that? 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:40.299 Well, in 1882, 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.720 philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.080 said that we should, 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.799 our modern project, 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:49.659 our project in the late modern world 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:51.000 is that we should unchain 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.439 the earth from the sun. 00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:56.959 We should unchain the earth from the sun 00:13:56.959 --> 00:13:59.000 and therefore, 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.159 on that basis, 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:02.419 we should revalue all values. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:03.759 Okay? 00:14:03.819 --> 00:14:05.740 I can't explain what that means 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.500 this morning. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.339 But think about that. 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.799 What happens if you unchain 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.039 the earth from the sun? 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.919 And what happens 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.839 when you revalue all values? 00:14:16.079 --> 00:14:17.360 Well, since Nietzsche's time, 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.860 we've seen belief in God 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:22.059 rapidly fading in the western world. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.000 We've seen the knowledge 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.259 of biblical truth diminished 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.939 and almost virtually gone. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.740 Probably in the next generation, 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:30.019 it will be completely gone. 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:32.939 We've lost a sense of universal, 00:14:33.319 --> 00:14:34.899 timeless, moral absolutes 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.219 of what's right and what's wrong. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:38.960 The notion that human beings 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:42.100 are a species that need saving 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:44.560 is increasingly dismissed and mocked. 00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:46.840 Jesus is interpreted 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.580 as just a man among men, 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.860 a social reformer, 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:51.060 a political agitator, 00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:53.620 a good moral example 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.279 or ethical teacher, 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.680 but he's nothing more than that. 00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:59.019 The Bible is interpreted 00:14:59.019 --> 00:15:00.580 as just a book among books. 00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:01.560 It's got inspiring stories, 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.139 beautiful poems, 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:04.059 wise sayings, 00:15:04.099 --> 00:15:04.979 but it's mostly just 00:15:04.979 --> 00:15:07.159 superstitious myth and legend. 00:15:07.459 --> 00:15:08.579 Nothing more than that. 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.019 And the result of all this 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.719 is that most of our friends 00:15:12.719 --> 00:15:13.319 and our neighbors 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.239 and our colleagues 00:15:14.239 --> 00:15:14.939 and our family 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:17.000 are in positions of plenty 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.539 in our culture of affluence. 00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:20.599 They have everything they need. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.099 They're able, 00:15:22.339 --> 00:15:23.239 at the click of a button, 00:15:23.359 --> 00:15:25.359 to get whatever they want, 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:27.000 but they're totally unconcerned 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.259 about spiritual things. 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:31.299 No interest in the soul, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:34.119 no interest in higher 00:15:34.119 --> 00:15:35.739 and eternal things in life, 00:15:35.859 --> 00:15:37.459 no interest in God 00:15:37.459 --> 00:15:38.939 just eating and drinking 00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:40.439 and enjoying the pleasure 00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:41.259 of the moment, 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.019 completely powerless 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:44.719 in the face of evil. 00:15:46.219 --> 00:15:46.359 Right? 00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:48.299 Totally unprepared 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:50.779 to meet God face to face, 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.939 to stand before 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:53.419 the judge of all the earth 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:55.479 with his exacting standards 00:15:55.479 --> 00:15:57.239 of absolute righteousness. 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.500 righteousness. 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.340 This is what happens 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:02.799 when you unchain the earth 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:03.360 from the sun 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.180 and you revalue all values. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.799 We're facing this unprecedented 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:09.940 post-Christian context 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:11.899 and this increasingly 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:15.139 anti-Christ zeitgeist. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:19.120 That's the spirit of the age 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.680 that we live in, 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.539 the zeitgeist of our spirit, 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:23.759 the spirit of this age, 00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:28.240 is resisting Christ. 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:34.179 And so can we carry on 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.659 thinking that the problem 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:37.059 is that kind 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:39.399 when really Jesus would say, 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.740 no, it's this kind. 00:16:42.099 --> 00:16:43.120 Like the disciples, 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.299 are we trying to deal 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:45.980 with this kind of situation 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:47.360 that we find ourselves in 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.940 without prayer, 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.019 without extraordinary prayer, 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.779 how arrogant, 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.600 how clueless 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.800 the disciple community 00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:57.899 seems to be 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.700 about our inadequacy 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.820 to deal with evil 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.980 and suffering in the world. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.920 We seem not to understand 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.880 how weak we are, 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.240 how proud we are. 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.759 We overestimate our abilities 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.500 and our faith. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.559 We underestimate the power of evil 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.799 that's out there in the world 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.940 and indeed the power of evil 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.119 that's in here in ourselves. 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.440 And Jesus is wanting us, 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:20.680 I think, 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.339 to confront 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.379 and to contend with 00:17:22.379 --> 00:17:24.319 this kind. 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:26.940 This kind. 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.720 Do you understand 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.220 that you're dealing 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:31.200 with this kind? 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.919 Does that make sense? 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.720 But Jesus says, 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:39.159 this kind can come out. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.879 This kind can come out. 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.700 When you look at the actors 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.559 in this scene, 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:46.319 you notice that, 00:17:46.419 --> 00:17:46.759 number one, 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.419 there's the devil 00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:48.579 who the New Testament 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.919 calls a roaring lion 00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:51.259 seeking whom he may devour, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.799 who comes to steal 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.659 and kill and destroy 00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.319 and the disciples 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.619 seem to give him 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.680 no trouble at all. 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.599 The boy, 00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.559 here he is 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.740 in this terrible condition 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.599 of helplessness 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.079 and evil 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.759 is making him 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:04.460 increasingly subhuman. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.659 The scribes 00:18:06.659 --> 00:18:07.919 just argue and debate. 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:08.460 The clergy 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.680 is completely useless 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.519 when real evil 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.419 needs to be confronted. 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:13.800 The crowd is just 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:15.240 in absolute distress. 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.440 Who else in this crowd 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.300 needs to be healed 00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:18.180 and delivered 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.019 like this boy? 00:18:20.080 --> 00:18:20.880 And this father 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.320 is so distraught. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.080 He's just a man 00:18:23.080 --> 00:18:25.200 who his basic prayer 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.160 is just rescue me 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.240 from my unbelief. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.220 And then you have 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:29.840 these disciples 00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:30.700 who are confident 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.340 that they can help, 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.400 confident that they can 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:33.980 do something 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.640 in this situation 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:36.180 and then they're mortified 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.120 and they're baffled 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.459 by their failure. 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:40.219 It's a scene 00:18:40.219 --> 00:18:41.559 of total despair. 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.839 And isn't that 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.259 our situation exactly 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:47.219 in Berkeley in 2024? 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:50.339 That Satan is rampant, 00:18:51.239 --> 00:18:53.000 the world is convulsing 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.599 with evil 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.419 and if you're not 00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:55.179 convinced of that 00:18:55.179 --> 00:18:56.199 you just need to read 00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:57.359 the headlines more often. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.299 The church is impotent 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:03.459 with her squabbling scribes. 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:06.480 The crowd is agonizing 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.759 with her massive levels 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.299 of need 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:10.740 just watching this spectacle. 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.900 The people of God 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.319 are faltering 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.019 in their faith, 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.700 just their faith 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.380 is polluted 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.000 and choked by unbelief. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.640 And the disciples 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.460 are perplexed 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.299 about what to do 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:21.840 in the face 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.079 of overwhelming evil. 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.860 Doesn't that feel 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.539 just desperate? 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:30.100 Well, Lent is a season 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:32.680 in which we humble ourselves 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:34.799 before our desperate situation. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.560 It's a season 00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:37.440 in which we say, 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.720 Lord, help us. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:42.019 Lord, deliver us. 00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:42.860 And what's amazing 00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:44.200 is that you've got 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.840 more than just 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:45.799 these six actors 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.240 that I've named. 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.380 You have the seventh actor 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.200 that enters the scene 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:48.700 and he says, 00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:50.340 this kind can come out. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.180 And he demonstrates 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.460 the power to drive it out. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.360 And then in this 00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:56.279 follow-up Q&A, 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.420 Jesus says, 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:57.700 you know, 00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:59.600 this kind can not 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:00.480 be driven out 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.000 by anything but. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.180 And he's basically saying, 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.279 look, certain approaches 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:07.619 to being a disciple community 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.720 are utterly useless 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.160 when applied to this kind. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.859 The power that 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:12.299 maybe you've had before, 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.680 the things that 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.940 were sufficient before 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:16.140 are insufficient now. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.680 The things that were 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.480 adequate before 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.460 are inadequate now. 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.059 The things that were 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:21.000 effective before 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.779 are ineffective now. 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.680 And it's leaving you 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.619 helpless and hopeless 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.619 and it's leaving this boy 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:27.140 diseased and powerless. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.200 And Jesus, 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.160 in this conversation 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.920 with his disciples 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.160 is driving them 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.500 to a sense of 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:35.259 deeper dependency. 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.960 When these disciples 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:40.240 realize 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.259 that in spite of their efforts, 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.220 they're not enough, 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.900 that they're actually 00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.840 quite useless, 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.180 that they lack power 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.000 that's needed 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.200 to confront the powers 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.140 and the principalities, 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.200 what do they do? 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.800 And what does the church 00:20:54.800 --> 00:20:55.380 do today 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.220 when she realizes 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.880 that we're not touching 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:59.360 the secular age at all? 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.640 That the spiritual, 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:02.540 moral condition 00:21:02.540 --> 00:21:03.320 of our society 00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:04.780 seems not affected 00:21:04.780 --> 00:21:05.940 by us one bit. 00:21:06.020 --> 00:21:06.380 In fact, 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.180 in many ways, 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.880 we're being drawn 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.780 into the spiritual 00:21:08.780 --> 00:21:09.540 and moral condition 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:10.340 of our society. 00:21:11.300 --> 00:21:12.020 And in many ways, 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:13.080 in many pockets, 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.820 the church is making 00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.840 the spiritual and moral 00:21:14.840 --> 00:21:16.300 condition of our society 00:21:16.300 --> 00:21:17.080 worse. 00:21:19.300 --> 00:21:20.600 Do you realize that? 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:24.679 Jesus says, 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.980 if you realize that, 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.359 I want you to put your faith 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.639 in my power 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:30.299 to deal with the situation. 00:21:31.719 --> 00:21:33.179 I want you to put your faith 00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:33.839 in my power 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.579 to deal with this kind. 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.480 And so he says 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.179 in verse 19, 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.539 you unbelieving generation, 00:21:39.679 --> 00:21:41.299 how long shall I stay with you? 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.819 How long shall I put up 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.559 with you? 00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.459 Bring the boy to me. 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.079 He just looks out 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.079 and he sees everybody's 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:47.000 full of unbelief, 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.679 no faith. 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.839 Jesus is the only one 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.619 that believes. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.159 He says, 00:21:52.379 --> 00:21:53.079 bring the boy to me 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.459 and they brought the boy 00:21:54.459 --> 00:21:54.859 to him 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.539 and when the spirit 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.299 saw Jesus, 00:21:56.439 --> 00:21:57.659 it immediately threw the boy 00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:58.459 into a convulsion 00:21:58.459 --> 00:21:59.599 and he fell down 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.179 to the ground 00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:01.059 and he rolled around 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.000 foaming at the mouth 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.659 and we've seen this 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.220 over and over 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.220 in Mark's gospel 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.199 that the spirits 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:06.099 know Jesus. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.559 The spirits know Jesus 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.720 better than human beings 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.259 know Jesus 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.599 and so when they see him, 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.419 they tremble. 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.919 They understand his power 00:22:14.919 --> 00:22:16.339 and when Jesus 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.319 gets closer to them, 00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.039 they resist 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.179 and they tighten their grip 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.100 on human beings 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:21.960 and Jesus, 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.940 in verse 21, 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.580 it says, 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.720 he asks the boy's father, 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:27.900 how long has he been 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.440 like this? 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.420 And he says, 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.120 from childhood, 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.180 he's often thrown him 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.000 into the fire 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.340 or water to kill him 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:35.220 but if you can do anything, 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.700 if you can do anything, 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.720 take pity on us 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.440 and help us. 00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.600 You can kind of imagine 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.640 this father just shrugging 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.039 his shoulders 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.539 and saying, 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.640 hey, Jesus, 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.600 go for it. 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.200 If you got anything, 00:22:47.320 --> 00:22:48.000 just do it. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:50.480 And Jesus teasingly 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.119 rebukes him 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.920 in verse 23 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.640 and just bounces 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.480 this question back 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.039 to him and says, 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.559 what is this 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.940 if you can nonsense? 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.960 It's not about 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:00.099 my ability 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:00.940 or inability. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.759 It's totally 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.440 about you 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.059 and your setting limits 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:07.759 upon God 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.140 and what for him 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:10.099 is possible 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.819 or impossible. 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.900 And so this man 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.619 hears that 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.460 and immediately 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.240 in verse 24, 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:16.579 it says, 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.319 the boy's father 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:17.819 exclaimed, 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:19.179 I do believe, 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:21.099 help me overcome 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.299 my unbelief. 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:24.519 What an awesome prayer 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.539 for the season of Lent. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.699 What an amazing thing 00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:29.500 for the church 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.939 to just honestly pray. 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.179 I do believe 00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:34.099 but oh Lord, 00:23:34.199 --> 00:23:35.439 help me overcome 00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.939 my unbelief. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.720 Lord, 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.759 rescue me 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:44.220 from my doubts. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.700 Liberate me 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:49.079 from half believing 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:51.140 to full believing. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:54.240 Save me 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:56.400 from notional faith 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:59.019 into real faith. 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.900 It's a prayer 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:02.900 in which we say 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.400 to Jesus, 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.740 awaken me, 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:08.099 enliven me, 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.059 quicken me, 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:12.019 revive me. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.579 Give me 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.700 just the smallest 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.480 amount of, 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.680 just a mustard seed 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.960 size of faith 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.720 to grab hold 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.819 of your massive 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.920 amount of power. 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.120 Lord, 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.559 please enable me 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.900 to believe in you. 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.980 And in verse 25, 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.279 it says, 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.079 when Jesus saw 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.599 that a crowd 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.500 was running to the scene, 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.460 he rebuked 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.120 the evil spirit. 00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:33.440 He said, 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.700 you deaf and mute spirit, 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:35.580 I command you 00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.340 come out of him 00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.660 and never enter him again. 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.759 And the spirit shrieked, 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.779 convulsed him violently 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.400 and came out 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.000 and the boy looked 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.980 so much like a corpse 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.460 that they said, 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.100 he's dead. 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:45.259 What have you done, 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:45.559 Jesus? 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.160 He's dead. 00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:47.880 But Jesus took him 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.440 by the hand 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.100 and lifted him 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:49.740 to his feet 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.039 and he stood up. 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:54.980 Jesus is the giver of life. 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.120 Jesus is the one 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:57.580 who breaks the power 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.259 of Satan. 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.240 Jesus is the one 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.779 who releases us 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.360 through his 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:03.240 authoritative word. 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.539 Jesus is the one 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.480 who's on his way 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.420 to his own death 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.660 and his own resurrection 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.740 and so he just 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.880 grabs a hold 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.500 of this boy 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.340 and he pulls him 00:25:12.340 --> 00:25:14.320 out of this death-dealing evil 00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:15.620 and he raises him up 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:17.720 to new life with him. 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:21.039 And this is a wonderful instance 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.140 of what Jesus said 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:23.100 he came to do. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.960 In Mark chapter 3, 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.539 verse 27, 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:24.940 he says, 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.640 I came to bind up 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.539 the strong man 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.860 and to plunder his house. 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.519 I came to bind up 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.240 the strong man 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.940 and to deliver 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.059 all the prisoners, 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.539 all the people 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.019 that he's put 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.400 into his house. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.579 Have you experienced this? 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.960 Has Jesus taken you 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.779 by the hand 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:48.640 to raise you up 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.460 from darkness 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.980 and evil 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.220 and sin 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.859 and death 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.819 and to give you 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.099 a new kind of life 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.500 with him? 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:59.160 Has Jesus unleashed 00:25:59.160 --> 00:25:59.680 the power 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.599 of the Holy Spirit 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.000 in you 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.700 so that you've been 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.940 delivered and liberated 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:04.420 from the kingdom 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.019 of darkness 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.900 into the kingdom 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.460 of light? 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.900 You can't 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.099 become a Christian. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.920 You can't enter 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.519 into the kingdom 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:11.920 of God 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.400 in any other way. 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.539 So if you're here 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.299 and you're exploring 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:17.359 Christianity with us, 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.579 we're so thrilled 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.380 that you are. 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:21.600 but if you've not yet 00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.240 experienced 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.000 the power 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.400 of Jesus 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.480 but there's a part 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.360 of you that wants to 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:28.320 and maybe there's a part 00:26:28.320 --> 00:26:29.080 of you that just wants 00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:29.800 to want to, 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.280 I want to encourage you 00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:33.680 to just take a risk today 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:36.020 and even right now 00:26:36.020 --> 00:26:37.520 in your heart 00:26:37.520 --> 00:26:38.440 and maybe later today 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.280 you can just pray, 00:26:40.280 --> 00:26:41.240 Lord, I believe 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.940 but rescue me 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.780 from my unbelief. 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:46.940 And if you're a Christian 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:48.099 you've said that. 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.759 You're a disciple. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.180 You're a follower of Jesus. 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.420 You've apprenticed yourself 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.099 to the master. 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.099 This season of Lent 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.440 is a time to examine 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.579 ourselves 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.619 and to ask ourselves 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:58.000 where is my faith 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.839 in Jesus? 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.599 What unbelief 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.200 is lingering 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.099 in the shadows 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:04.200 of my heart 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.759 and my mind 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.940 that I need Jesus 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.720 to overcome for me? 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.519 And in what parts 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.279 of my life 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.119 am I saying, 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:12.680 Jesus, 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:13.660 if you can, 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.240 help me? 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.460 When I'm looking 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.440 at the challenges 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.500 that I'm facing 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.700 or that we're facing, 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.579 where have I succumbed 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.500 to unbelief 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:27.160 and thought to myself, 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.799 I'm pretty sure 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.899 that this particular need 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:32.139 is beyond your ability. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.660 And I'm pretty sure 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:37.660 that this particular challenge 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.240 that I'm facing 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.559 is outside of the realm 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.279 of what's possible 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.680 for you to accomplish. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.019 What are the areas 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.740 of my life 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.259 where Jesus 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.240 is looking at me 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.579 and going, 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.519 you unbelieving 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.639 and faithless soul, 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.240 how long, 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:53.319 how long do I have 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.579 to be patient with you? 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.180 Oh. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.460 One of the verses 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.339 in Mark's gospel 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.220 just haunts me. 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.059 It's where it says 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:04.140 in Mark 6, 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.720 verse 5, 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.759 he, Jesus, 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:08.220 could not do any miracles 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.819 there in Nazareth 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.799 and he was amazed 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.920 at their lack of faith. 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.500 And that's the question 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.960 for us is 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.160 how much do we believe 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.880 that Jesus has the power 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.200 to do the things 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.120 that we need him to do? 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.440 How much do we believe 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.480 that Jesus has the power 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.440 to make this kind 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.480 come out? 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:30.700 He says this kind 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.640 can come out 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.400 but in conclusion 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.500 he says this kind 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.079 can come out 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.039 only by prayer. 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:37.039 This kind can come out 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.839 only by prayer. 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:39.120 You succeeded before 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.079 because you were dealing 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.240 just with that kind 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:41.799 of lesser, 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.620 weaker demons 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:45.579 and you've failed here 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.259 because now 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.539 you're in a different situation 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.420 with this kind 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.519 and you have 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.779 insufficient power. 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.160 Your ignorance 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.519 about the hierarchies 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.079 of powers 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:56.019 and principalities 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.539 in this world 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.220 has led you 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.259 to a lack 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.019 of preparation 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.720 and therefore 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.859 insufficient prayer 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.539 and therefore 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.519 powerlessness. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.680 And Jesus says 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.859 what I did, 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.099 he says to his disciples 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.639 I did what you could not do 00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:12.079 because I have the power 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:14.099 and because I'm filled 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.799 with the power 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.000 that God gives me 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.079 by the Holy Spirit. 00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.700 What Jesus has just been doing 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.279 on the Mount 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.200 of Transfiguration 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:23.139 is he's been there 00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:24.119 in a time 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:25.139 with his disciples 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:26.280 Peter, James, and John 00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:27.580 in a particularly 00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.820 intense time 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:29.759 of prayer. 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.259 Praying to the Father 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.040 fill me 00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:35.060 with the Holy Spirit. 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:36.200 Fill me with the power 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.060 of the Holy Spirit 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.980 and he comes back 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.900 from that time 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.340 of prayer 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:40.300 with a heightened 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.259 sense of power. 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.060 And friends 00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:45.720 we're never going 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.080 to be able 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:46.600 to deal 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.940 with this kind 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:49.660 that's facing 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.680 the church today 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:52.720 unless we've applied 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.259 to God 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.880 for the power 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.380 which he 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.059 and he alone 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.920 can give us. 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.860 A power that's beyond 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.900 any of our ability. 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.299 I assume 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.079 that these disciples 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.019 had actually been 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.579 praying 00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:05.759 but they were praying 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.900 unbelieving prayers. 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.480 And Jesus 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.860 I think 00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:11.680 is calling us 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.460 to a kind 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.220 of extraordinary 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.339 believing prayer 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.059 where we say 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.819 God 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.200 I'm so aware 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.279 now of my need 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.319 I'm so aware 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.400 that we are in 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.240 over our heads 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.700 and that we're 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.519 confronting something 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.280 too deep 00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:24.019 for us 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.920 to deal with 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.519 on our own 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.500 and I'm aware 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.180 of myself 00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.280 that I half believe 00:30:28.280 --> 00:30:29.620 and that I'm riddled 00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:30.480 with doubt 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.440 and that I barely 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.320 pray 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:33.320 but help me 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:35.060 with my unbelief 00:30:35.060 --> 00:30:35.860 enable me 00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:36.780 to depend 00:30:36.780 --> 00:30:38.120 upon you 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:38.920 fill me 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.780 fill us 00:30:39.780 --> 00:30:40.660 fill this church 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:43.100 with your power. 00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:46.860 Jesus is calling us 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:47.680 to act out 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.420 our faith 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:50.080 through this kind 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.560 of prayer 00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:52.460 and if you hear 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.080 that as 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.800 an individualistic 00:30:54.800 --> 00:30:55.279 just sort of 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.019 do it yourself 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.779 kind of project 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.060 you're hearing it wrong 00:30:58.060 --> 00:31:00.060 because Jesus 00:31:00.060 --> 00:31:00.600 is talking 00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.380 to his circle 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:01.900 of disciples 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.580 and he's saying 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:04.460 y'all need something 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.880 you guys 00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:07.539 need something 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:09.620 that can go down 00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:10.160 underneath 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.519 this evil power 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.800 and that can shatter it 00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:13.779 and there's only one thing 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.360 that can do that 00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:15.340 and that's the extraordinary 00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:16.660 supernatural power 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.740 of my father. 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.519 And the first place 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.680 that my father's power 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.580 is going to show up 00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.960 in your disciple community 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.840 is through your prayer meetings. 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.860 The prayer meeting 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:30.200 is the spiritual thermostat 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.200 of the church. 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.500 The prayer meeting 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.160 is where 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.620 the spiritual heat 00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:38.360 and the spiritual energy 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.620 gets cranked up 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.259 among us. 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:41.920 Right? 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.560 The prayer meeting 00:31:42.560 --> 00:31:43.300 is where people 00:31:43.300 --> 00:31:44.380 come in with hearts 00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:45.180 that are cold 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.940 and hard 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.800 and closed 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.980 and they walk out 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.399 with hearts 00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:49.079 that are warm 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.740 and soft 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.559 and open. 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.339 At Christ Church 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.740 we're hoping that 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:58.079 prayer is happening 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.720 in our homes 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.680 and our community groups 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.740 but we have this 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:02.059 weekly meeting 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.599 for prayer 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.419 at 9.30 00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:04.960 on Sunday morning 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.099 in our boiler room 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.879 just back there 00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.779 and down beneath 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.359 the sanctuary 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:10.180 and that's a place 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.799 where we just pray 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.960 Lord would you 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.019 cause whatever 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:13.839 is going on 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.659 with this kind 00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:15.419 in our church 00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:16.319 and in our city 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.679 to move aside 00:32:17.679 --> 00:32:18.939 so that you can 00:32:18.939 --> 00:32:19.639 create space 00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:20.240 for your kingdom 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:20.919 to come in. 00:32:22.919 --> 00:32:23.759 Once a month 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.259 we gather 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.599 on second Wednesdays 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.379 at 7 o'clock 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.480 for prayer 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.099 to pray 00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.819 for the particular 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:30.619 needs of individuals 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.299 and the corporate 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.879 needs of our church 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:34.099 and of the world 00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:35.059 that we live in. 00:32:36.439 --> 00:32:37.279 Once a quarter 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.959 we come together 00:32:37.959 --> 00:32:39.259 for prayer vigils 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:40.059 our next one 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.699 happens to be 00:32:40.699 --> 00:32:41.480 on Good Friday 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.620 and here's my 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:43.460 crazy hope 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.279 during Lent. 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:44.640 You want to hear 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.299 my crazy hope 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:45.799 during Lent? 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.120 Is that our prayer 00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:49.059 meetings would be full 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:52.039 and I know that's hard 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:53.279 for parents especially. 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.279 That may be actually 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.700 a miracle 00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.519 if you could make it 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.180 to a prayer meeting 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:59.740 but I'm praying 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.839 that our prayer meetings 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.740 would become full 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:04.019 and that we just have 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.120 no space left 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:05.660 for people 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:07.099 to pray. 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:07.660 There'd just be 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.299 too many people 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.940 that want to come 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.380 and pray 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:12.420 and I think 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:13.160 that would happen 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.480 if we're utterly 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.760 convinced of our need 00:33:15.760 --> 00:33:17.660 and if we were 00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.260 to cease 00:33:18.260 --> 00:33:19.360 having so much 00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:20.440 confidence in ourselves 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:22.760 and if we know 00:33:22.760 --> 00:33:23.960 that we can't succeed 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.440 in the mission 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.100 that we've been given 00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:25.920 without the presence 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.460 and the power 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.220 of the Holy Spirit 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:29.500 and if we collectively 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.600 decided that yes 00:33:30.600 --> 00:33:31.560 we want to see 00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:32.540 this power 00:33:32.540 --> 00:33:33.140 that can enter 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:34.220 into the souls 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.740 of people 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.980 and break the grip 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.640 of evil 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.720 and liberate people 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.460 and make people 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.180 new 00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:39.660 if we wanted 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.340 to experience 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:41.160 the power 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:42.460 of the living God 00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:43.640 we just simply 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:44.700 have to pray for it. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.799 It's not going 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.720 to come automatically 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.920 you have to ask 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.180 God to give it to you 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:51.340 and you have to ask 00:33:51.340 --> 00:33:51.720 him again 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.100 and again 00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:52.559 and again 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:55.039 and there's only 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.700 one thing 00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:56.259 that stands 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.720 in the way 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.319 of this kind 00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:58.259 of praying faith 00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:58.860 this faith 00:33:58.860 --> 00:33:59.660 that prays 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.799 and Jesus calls 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.779 it yourself. 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.220 If anyone 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.920 whoever wants 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:05.700 to be my disciple 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:07.100 must deny yourself 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:08.619 and take up 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.119 your cross 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.659 and follow 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.579 me. 00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.319 The church 00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:12.860 is never going 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.239 to deal 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:14.179 with the problems 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.159 that's facing us 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:16.839 unless we give up 00:34:16.839 --> 00:34:17.639 more than chocolate 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.139 and alcohol 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.659 for Lent 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.579 and definitely 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.319 give that up 00:34:20.319 --> 00:34:23.460 but what we should 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.179 really give up 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:25.179 is our prayerlessness. 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.259 What we should 00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:27.940 really give up 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:29.599 is the thing 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.460 that our prayerlessness 00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.319 is rooted in 00:34:31.319 --> 00:34:32.400 which is self-confidence 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.460 and self-reliance 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.619 and self-satisfaction. 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.260 If anyone 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:37.840 asks you 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.660 what are you 00:34:38.660 --> 00:34:39.360 giving up for Lent 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.119 I hope you'll say 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.880 myself. 00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.980 I'm just going 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.800 to stop trusting 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:46.039 so much in myself 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:46.500 and I'm going 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:46.940 to start 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.860 taking up 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.360 this cross 00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.000 of prayer 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.559 and just 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.639 deliberately saying 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.619 Lord I believe 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:53.160 but help my unbelief. 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.320 That's how I'm 00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.019 that's what I'm doing 00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:56.500 in Lent. 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.760 That's how I'm 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:58.720 preparing for Easter. 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.800 We really have 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:01.760 no hope to deal 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:03.019 with this kind 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:04.539 unless God 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.860 manifests his power 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.780 among us. 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.940 But when he does 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.080 it's like this boy 00:35:10.080 --> 00:35:10.780 Jesus just 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:12.240 overcomes the evil 00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:12.620 in him 00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:13.740 with apparent ease. 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.720 He just deals 00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.420 with this problem 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.680 in an effortless manner. 00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.340 The devil's exercised 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.400 the boy is healed 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.360 the father's relieved 00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.560 the family's restored 00:35:23.560 --> 00:35:24.220 the community 00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:25.260 rejoices. 00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:27.380 That's what happens 00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.580 when the power comes 00:35:28.580 --> 00:35:29.780 from on high. 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.300 And friends 00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.840 Christ 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:34.160 Jesus is risen 00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:34.820 from the dead. 00:35:36.080 --> 00:35:37.560 He's our risen 00:35:37.560 --> 00:35:38.320 and living Lord 00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:39.200 who's just waiting 00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:40.060 for us to come 00:35:40.060 --> 00:35:41.180 and pray to him 00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:42.519 and ask him 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.120 for his power 00:35:43.120 --> 00:35:43.840 and so may we 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.740 come to terms 00:35:44.740 --> 00:35:46.100 with our 00:35:46.100 --> 00:35:47.019 powerlessness 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:48.120 in the face of evil 00:35:48.120 --> 00:35:49.940 and may we come 00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.920 to know the power 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:52.120 of God in Jesus 00:35:52.120 --> 00:35:53.260 by the Holy Spirit 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:55.140 and may we seek 00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:56.080 more and more 00:35:56.080 --> 00:35:56.740 in this season 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.420 to be full 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.260 of the Holy Spirit 00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:59.620 and full of his power 00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:00.699 through prayer. 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.099 And as we pray 00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:03.880 let us pray 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:05.059 with the confidence 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:06.779 that everything 00:36:06.779 --> 00:36:07.539 is possible 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.940 for those who believe. 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.099 And let us pray 00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:12.559 with deep believing 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.179 that nothing 00:36:13.179 --> 00:36:13.900 is impossible 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.559 for God. 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.519 And let us pray 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.219 knowing that 00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:18.420 the eternal 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.039 infinite 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.000 unlimited power 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:20.500 of God 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.980 it's right there 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.599 for the asking. 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:25.099 if only we would 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:26.579 radically rely 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:28.259 on his ability 00:36:28.259 --> 00:36:30.559 and not on 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.500 the self. 00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:34.400 This kind 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:35.360 can come out 00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:37.339 but it can only 00:36:37.339 --> 00:36:37.900 come out 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:39.900 by prayer. 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.599 In the name of the 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:42.059 Father, Son, 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.739 and Holy Spirit. 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:43.659 Amen. 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:43.819 Amen. 00:36:43.819 --> 00:36:43.860 Amen. 00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:43.900 Amen. 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:43.960 Amen.