WEBVTT

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 I want you to imagine, I want you to imagine that you wake up tomorrow morning and something

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 really quite amazing is going to happen to you. I want you just to think for a few moments,

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 it could be anything at all, and don't worry by the way, this is not one of those moments

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 where I'm going to ask you then to turn to the person next to you and tell them, all

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 right, this is just between you and your imagination. It could be anything. For example, perhaps

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 you might wake up tomorrow morning and whatever aches or pains you might have, perhaps for

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 a long time, they've just completely gone. You're completely restored. Perhaps you wake

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 up tomorrow morning and you can suddenly do something that you've always wanted to do.

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 You've suddenly acquired a set of skills or an ability. Perhaps you could suddenly speak

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 loads of languages that you've always wanted to speak, or you're suddenly really good at

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 a certain sport, or you can fly an aeroplane and play a musical instrument, whatever. Perhaps

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 you wake up tomorrow morning and you suddenly discover you've come into a vast, vast sum of

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 money. Or perhaps you've inherited a stately home and fully kitted out with all the servants

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 that you need. You never have to do anything for yourself again. Just spend a few moments

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 in that place of imagination and just think for a few moments that something really, really

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 is going to happen tomorrow.

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 Now, imagining that this isn't just hypothetical, but it's reality, I want to ask you the question.

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 If you knew, you knew that actually that was going to take place tomorrow morning,

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 how would it change your life today, on Sunday the 7th of August 2022?

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 I want to suggest that it would probably impact, it would probably shape the way you live your

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 life today. Whatever frustrations you have on this very day right now, whatever it is that

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 you might be anxious about, afraid of, worried about, whatever's on your heart or mind, somehow

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 you'd probably cope with it a bit differently. You'd see it differently. You'd engage with it

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 differently. Why? Well, at the risk of oversimplifying things, simply put, you would live today

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 in the light of tomorrow.

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 And I want to suggest that it's that theme of living today in the light of tomorrow,

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 as tomorrow meaning eternity, living today in the light of our eternal tomorrow.

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 That was the very thing that was going on in Paul's mind as he wrote Romans chapter 8.

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 He said that, you know, when we think about, I consider our present sufferings, and remember,

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 Paul had lots of them. He was in prison, he was beaten up, he was tortured, eventually paid

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 the ultimate sacrifice for his faith. And he knew what it was to go without, he knew what

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 it was like to be slandered, he knew what it was like to face injustice, he had a tough

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 time of it. But Paul writes this, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing

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 with the glory that will be revealed in us.

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 And so he goes on to unpack that, and he talks about prayer in a very practical way.

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 Now, when it comes to prayer, we've said this lots of times before, prayer is not just an activity

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 that you do. Like, I'm going to go off now and just do my prayers. Now, there's a sense in which

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 it does become a focus in our lives. But in Christian discipleship, if you're a follower

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 of Jesus, it's not a case that God's just interested in different compartments. You know, the bits

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 that you do on a Sunday in church, if you go to a home group, perhaps, or perhaps when

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 you then sit down and read your Bible. As important as those activities are, prayer means something

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 far bigger and deeper, because Christian faith is about a whole-of-life engagement in communion

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 with the risen Jesus. That means there is not a single moment of your life, waking or sleeping,

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 that is not connected with him. So when we think about prayer, we're not just talking about going

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 off and saying your prayers or doing prayers, although there are times when that focus and

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 that concentration needs to happen. But rather, we're talking about that broader thing, that everything

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 we do, everything we experience, we do for better or for worse, it's all caught up in our relationship

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 with God. It's a lifelong conversation, a lifelong communion with God the Father. So when we think

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 about praying, interceding, intercession, praying for situations of suffering in the world, Paul

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 is talking not just about an isolated activity when our concentration is specifically focused,

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 but our whole lives and what that means to carry that in relationship with Jesus. And he gives us a

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 really helpful, I think, set of images in this passage. He talks about groaning.

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 He talks about the groaning that's going on. Groaning there is kind of a shorthand for suffering of

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 any kind in the widest sense. Whether that is personal, individual suffering that you are experiencing,

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 whatever that may look like for you right now. Or whether it's a sense of carrying that sense of

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 pain of the whole world as we think of situations such as Ukraine, Yemen. We think of situations in

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 Afghanistan. We think of situations of torture or crime or hunger or sickness or disease. Whatever it

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 may be, either in the widest sense or the very focused sense, it all comes down to this same thing, groaning.

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 And Paul gives us this image that there is this groaning that pervades literally everything.

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 But as a Christian believer, when you pray, that groaning takes on a new dimension.

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 You are connected spiritually to the living eternal God. And therefore that groaning means something

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 quite different. So what is it? You see, that groaning is not just for us as Christians, it's not just

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 an outward expression into a sense of emptiness. But rather it is something that connects us to our

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 eternal tomorrow, in which we are to live in the light of now. Paul talks about three types of groaning here.

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 The first type of groaning he talks about is the groaning of the whole creation. In verse 22, he writes this.

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 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

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 When you experience groaning, when we experience groaning, remember, a shorthand for suffering here,

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 in the widest and broadest sense, is part of the human condition. It's not something that's wrong or weird

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 about you. It is something that is wrong with the whole creation. But what it means is that according

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 to the vision that Paul is setting before us, is that the whole of the cosmos is part of this. We're in

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 this together. Things are not right. We live in that place of tension and contrast and contradiction

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 between the way things are and the way things God wants them to be and ultimately will be.

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 We are not there yet, but for now we live in that place of tension and that place of groaning.

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 And I want to suggest that there's a sense in which when we understand it that way,

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 it can actually be quite helpful and empowering.

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 Because it means that next time you're experiencing that groaning, whatever that means,

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 you may know that you're not on your own in it.

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 It's to be expected. Every human being ever is part of it. And it's not just human beings

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 as individuals. It's in the broadest sense. Even after two world wars, war still rages.

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 We live in a war-torn, violent and unjust world. And it goes far beyond humanity, or should I

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 say inhumanity. We see the ravage, the destruction we do to the environment. Nature itself, the creation,

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 is groaning under this strain of the way in which we as a race have abused it.

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 But if in that sense of groaning, sometimes we feel bad about that sense of groaning,

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 we're actually told by Paul here that that is in fact for a Christian to be part of our prayer,

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 or is to be our prayer of intercession.

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 Very often, when we're in a low place, it can be because our focus has become

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 on the things that are making us groan.

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 Because we meditate on things, we contemplate, we find things going around in our heads all the time,

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 whatever it is that's going wrong, it consumes us.

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 It absorbs us.

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 I've said before, if you know how to worry, you know how to pray.

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 Think about it.

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 It's about meditation and focus and contemplation and mulling over things.

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 Paul gives us this image of when that groaning is happening in us,

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 we can see things in a different light.

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 Yes, we can mull things over, we can contemplate, but we don't do so with that emptiness.

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 But rather, our groaning is with that sense of Godward yearning,

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 which is the second type of groaning that Paul mentions.

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 If the first one is that the whole of creation is groaning,

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 the second thing is that Paul mentions that not only is everyone and everything groaning,

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 but the believer groans in a very specific way.

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 He writes this in verse 23.

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 In other words, Paul says that when you know Jesus, when you do this groaning,

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 not just in isolation from God, but in connection with God,

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 it's a different type of groaning.

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 It is a type of yearning, a Godward yearning,

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 that our focus is on that tomorrow in which we live in the light of,

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 that future that is eternal.

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 But we live in that place of tension between that eternal future and the present suffering.

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 And we are to understand our prayers, our groaning in that light.

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 And he gives us a very specific focus here,

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 because Paul says that our focus is to be on the God who lies at our future

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 and therefore is to be experienced in the present.

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 And he says that we will wait for our redemption, for our adoption.

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 We await our adoption as children of God.

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 That's a really important word that comes up several times in the New Testament,

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 as Paul uses that word adoption to describe the relationship that we have with God.

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 That God is our Father and adopts us even though we are broken

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 and even though we've messed up.

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 He adopts us into his family.

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 And having the right image of God in our minds is really important here.

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 A few years ago, I remember going with Tamara to,

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 first time, I've been to a couple of these now,

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 but first time went to a court,

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 what they call a celebration hearing for the adoption of a child.

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 And it was a wonderful experience.

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 I really didn't quite know what to expect,

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 but everyone went in, we were smartly dressed,

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 we were there with a few other friends and family,

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 of the family of the people that were adopting this child.

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 And when we went in, the judge came out

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 and dealt with all of the formalities that had to be dealt with for the adoption.

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 Then it came to basically what was the celebration part of the occasion.

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 And I'll never forget, he got out of his judge's chair

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 and the child came up to him and he took his wig off

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 and he let her wear his wig,

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 handed over the documents

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 and allowed her to actually seal the seal on the document.

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 Photographs were taken

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 and this judge said to this child in front of the whole of the courtroom,

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 you know, sometimes people ask me,

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 what does adoption mean?

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 And he said, very often people will find themselves in that place

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 having come through a whole story of brokenness

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 and a sense of rejection.

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 He says, adoption, to me, he said, means one thing.

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 Adoption means forever.

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 I've never forgotten that image

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 and I think it's so important

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 because when we think of God,

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 very often people think of God as the judge,

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 as a judge, as an image that is distant,

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 it may be an unfair image,

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 but an image of a God who is just about executing justice

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 in a very cold and detached way.

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 Now whilst justice and judgment is a theme within scripture,

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 it's not the first theme.

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 It's certainly not a theme that exists in detachment

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 from the theme of love and mercy and grace.

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 When we think about this theme of adoption,

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 it says to us that whatever our human experience has been in this life,

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 God reaches out to us in Christ

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 and says, you are my child

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 and you are my child forever.

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 Now that's something we can know now.

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 It's not realised in full reality just yet

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 because we are in that place of tension.

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 We still live in a world of suffering.

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 But as we groan in that world of suffering

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 and with that world of suffering,

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 we look to that eternal God

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 whose promises to us are forever.

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 So the whole creation groans, says Paul,

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 and the believer groans,

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 but he goes even further

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 and says

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 that the spirit of God himself groans.

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 Verse 26, Paul writes this,

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 We do not know what to pray for,

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 but the spirit himself intercedes for us

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 with groans that words can't express.

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 You know, we find ourselves in positions,

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 places of situations of suffering, don't we,

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 where we ask that question,

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 where is God,

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 and we just can't find the right words.

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 You know, we should never attempt

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 to give pat answers

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 to deep searching questions

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 such as that.

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 But, you know, we do,

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 when we talk about suffering

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 and we experience suffering,

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 we point to the cross

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 and we see on the cross

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 that there is God

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 in the midst of suffering,

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 groaning on the cross,

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 that God knows what it is to suffer.

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 Why?

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 Because he is there

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 on the cross of Jesus with us.

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 But, of course,

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 the cross is not the end of the story

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 because Jesus is risen

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 and so we talk of the risen Jesus.

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 But we also talk, of course,

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 of the Holy Spirit,

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 that Jesus returned to his Father in heaven

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 but came as his Holy Spirit

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 and is present with us.

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 So, as a believer in Jesus,

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 you can talk not only of God

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 being with you

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 but God being inside you.

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 God dwells in you

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 by his Spirit.

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 He's here right now.

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 And he'll be with you tomorrow morning

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 and the next day and the next day

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 whether you are conscious of it or not.

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 But, you know,

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 we can become conscious of it

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 and that's the thing.

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 That when we're groaning,

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 we're not just groaning

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 with the rest of creation

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 and we're not just groaning

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 with a sense of hope

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 but we're actually groaning

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 with the presence of God within us.

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 Such, says Paul,

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 that it is God himself who groans.

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 His Spirit groans inside you.

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 When you sense that groaning,

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 whatever it is that is driving it,

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 know that it is God's Spirit himself

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 that is groaning within you.

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 That means that when we suffer,

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 when we groan,

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 when we worry,

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 when we pray,

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 it's not just praying as a human activity

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 but the living presence of the living God

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 inside you

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 is actually groaning inside you.

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 And sometimes when we,

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 situations happen

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 and we can't find the right words,

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 this reminds us that it doesn't matter

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 what words we use in prayer.

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 You can't be misunderstood

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 because God sees far deeper

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 than just words.

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 You know, sometimes people will say,

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 you know,

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 please don't ever ask me to say prayers

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 in public

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 or in a group or anything

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.920
 because I'm so worried

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:39.480
 I'm going to say the wrong words.

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.380
 I'm going to mess it up.

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.640
 Well, sometimes people even say,

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:44.099
 I worry that I've said the wrong thing.

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.559
 I've asked them,

00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.440
 I've used the wrong words.

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.900
 You don't have to worry

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:49.380
 about being misinterpreted by God.

00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.279
 You can't be.

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:55.259
 I don't know if you've ever sent a text

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.720
 and it's done autocorrect.

00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.799
 Yeah, have you done that?

00:18:58.899 --> 00:19:00.660
 Either you've been talking into your phone

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:02.299
 or you've just been typing it

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.200
 and it automatically corrects it

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.960
 and then you send it

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.619
 and then you read it back

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.279
 and you realise

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:09.240
 you've accidentally sent the wrong message.

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:11.000
 If you're familiar with that experience,

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:13.119
 it suggests other words

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.039
 and it's too late,

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.940
 you've gone and sent it.

00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:17.539
 I did search this online

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.839
 for some funny examples

00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:20.319
 and they were hilarious

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.919
 but they were way too rude

00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:24.500
 to actually share in a Sunday service.

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.619
 If you want to go home and Google it,

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.019
 then you can decide

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:28.980
 whether it's appropriate or not.

00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:30.539
 But the point is,

00:19:30.699 --> 00:19:33.720
 you can't be misinterpreted

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.899
 or misunderstood

00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:36.500
 in that kind of way with God.

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:36.839
 You can't.

00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:38.220
 Why?

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:41.500
 Because God is so much bigger than language.

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:44.659
 When you connect with him,

00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:46.419
 you connect at a far deeper level

00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:47.779
 than the words that you use.

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.160
 Whether you get them right

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:51.480
 or whether you make a total lash-up of them.

00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.319
 Because God sees so much deeper.

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.859
 And so it is

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.200
 that Paul talks

00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:05.779
 about when we find ourselves in that place

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:08.720
 where we are just lost for words,

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.000
 we may be reminded

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:14.079
 that it is the spirit of God within us

00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.859
 that is actually groaning.

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:18.199
 We are connected

00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:20.000
 not to an empty future

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:22.639
 but to that future in Christ

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.679
 that begins now.

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.319
 So stay focused on Jesus

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.379
 and on his promises.

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.199
 There's one last image

00:20:33.199 --> 00:20:34.339
 that I want to close us with

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.579
 as we go in to pray

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.779
 and to share communion.

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.000
 I just want to come back

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.819
 to where we started

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.819
 with these words of Paul

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.299
 where he says,

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.980
 I consider that our present sufferings

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.619
 are not worth comparing

00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:45.559
 with the glory

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:47.180
 that will be revealed in us.

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.379
 But for this image

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.619
 I was trying to get hold

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:52.379
 of a set of those old-fashioned scales

00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:54.259
 that actually work with the weights.

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.839
 I couldn't find them.

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.599
 So I'll just pretend

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.720
 to be a set of scales.

00:20:58.919 --> 00:21:00.619
 Imagine I'm a set of scales.

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:05.319
 And in my right hand

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:07.039
 looking to your left

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.439
 I want you to imagine

00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:10.000
 that I'm holding

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:12.199
 all of the weights

00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:13.419
 and burdens of the world.

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.399
 Whether that could be

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.419
 your personal things

00:21:15.419 --> 00:21:16.039
 whatever it is

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.719
 that's on your heart

00:21:16.719 --> 00:21:17.399
 and mind right now

00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.659
 that weighs you down.

00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.799
 Whether it's something

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:21.039
 that's going on within the world

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.859
 that's weighing you down.

00:21:21.939 --> 00:21:22.739
 Whatever it may be

00:21:22.739 --> 00:21:23.859
 but just imagine

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.139
 that it's in that hand.

00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:27.139
 And it's like this, isn't it?

00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:28.099
 It's just weighs

00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.859
 it's too heavy

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.719
 it's too much.

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:32.439
 We've grown under the weight

00:21:32.439 --> 00:21:33.219
 of all of that.

00:21:35.979 --> 00:21:36.779
 Now imagine

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.719
 that you take

00:21:37.719 --> 00:21:39.259
 all of the promises of God

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.199
 and the future

00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:41.779
 that eternal future

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.219
 that we are called

00:21:43.219 --> 00:21:44.919
 to live in the light of

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:46.579
 and you place it

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.919
 into this set

00:21:47.919 --> 00:21:49.759
 this side of the set of scales.

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:52.279
 What happens when we do that?

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.699
 Paul says

00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:54.799
 this

00:21:54.799 --> 00:22:00.359
 that future

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.299
 that eternal tomorrow

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.419
 is literally

00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:05.299
 off the scale.

00:22:10.439 --> 00:22:11.459
 I consider

00:22:11.459 --> 00:22:12.319
 that our present

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.099
 sufferings

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:15.759
 are not worth

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.339
 comparing

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:18.219
 with the glory

00:22:18.219 --> 00:22:20.179
 that will be revealed

00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:20.759
 in us.

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.719
 Let's be a people

00:22:23.719 --> 00:22:24.379
 who've grown

00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:26.379
 who've grown

00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.559
 with and alongside

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.719
 the whole of creation

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.600
 who've grown

00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:31.059
 not just an empty

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.440
 groan

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.220
 but grown

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.779
 as believers

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.140
 in the risen Jesus

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:36.900
 and because we do that

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:38.680
 we know that

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.299
 that groaning

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.980
 is not just

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.019
 our human groaning

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.920
 but the spirit

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.480
 of God

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.380
 within us

00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:46.200
 connecting us

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.299
 to that future God

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.680
 who we can know

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.759
 now by faith.

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.799
 Let's pray together

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.140
 now.

00:22:53.140 --> 00:23:04.720
 Just a moment

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.180
 as I

00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:07.080
 say the words

00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:08.360
 Lord in your mercy

00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.680
 please respond

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.320
 with hear

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:11.220
 our prayer

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.540
 Lord in your mercy

00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:13.880
 hear

00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.800
 our prayer.

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:19.720
 Lord we thank you

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:22.319
 that even though

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.619
 we live in a world

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.539
 that is groaning

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:26.759
 that it doesn't

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.639
 stop there

00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.440
 it doesn't end

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:28.839
 there

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:30.599
 but that you

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.519
 point us

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.680
 in Jesus

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.639
 from groaning

00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:36.099
 to glory.

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:40.279
 So we ask

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:41.299
 that whatever

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.460
 may be going on

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.480
 in our lives

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.539
 whatever weights

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.460
 we may carry

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:47.220
 whatever it is

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.480
 that makes us groan

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:52.079
 may that groaning

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.480
 point us

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.299
 to your glory.

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.900
 Lord in your mercy

00:23:57.900 --> 00:24:00.000
 hear our prayer.

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.120
 Lord we pray

00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:03.880
 for peace

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:06.740
 as the world

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.279
 groans

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.340
 with war

00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.420
 and with violence

00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:12.460
 we pray

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.360
 for Ukraine

00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:15.440
 and for the

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.060
 situation

00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:17.660
 that exists

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.580
 between Ukraine

00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.200
 and Russia.

00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.759
 We pray

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.700
 for the situation

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.560
 in Israel

00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.420
 and Palestine

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:31.300
 China

00:24:31.300 --> 00:24:32.140
 and Taiwan

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.060
 and that region

00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:36.860
 Sri Lanka

00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:38.360
 Yemen

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.139
 Myanmar

00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:41.979
 and so many

00:24:41.979 --> 00:24:42.740
 other parts

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.479
 we pray

00:24:44.479 --> 00:24:44.979
 for those

00:24:44.979 --> 00:24:45.559
 who have

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.599
 fled their

00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.339
 home country

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.139
 in search

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:48.959
 of refuge.

00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.459
 Lord in your

00:24:51.459 --> 00:24:51.899
 mercy

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:53.779
 hear our prayer.

00:24:56.439 --> 00:24:58.099
 Lord we groan

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:59.179
 as we pray

00:24:59.179 --> 00:25:01.500
 for the future

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.399
 of our country

00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.259
 and its leadership.

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.099
 worship

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:08.640
 we pray

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.000
 for our

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.379
 government

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:11.500
 for our

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:11.980
 leaders

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:14.700
 for all

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.079
 who sit

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.660
 in parliament

00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:19.259
 we pray

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.039
 for wisdom

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.279
 integrity

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.339
 and compassion

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:26.599
 Lord in your

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.039
 mercy

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.900
 hear our

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.299
 prayer.

00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:32.079
 Lord we

00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.680
 think of

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.200
 everybody

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.680
 who

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.440
 mourns

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:34.879
 the loss

00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.319
 of loved

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.659
 ones

00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:35.919
 through

00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:36.319
 death

00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:38.720
 and we

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.159
 groan

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.680
 alongside

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.279
 them

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:43.220
 we groan

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.639
 with all

00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.079
 those who

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.919
 face difficult

00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:45.720
 situations

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.680
 of change

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.819
 and uncertainty

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:50.839
 fill them

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.480
 and surround

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.339
 them and renew

00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.079
 them in your

00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.000
 perfect peace

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.639
 we pray

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:57.880
 Lord in your

00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.320
 mercy

00:25:58.320 --> 00:26:00.140
 hear our

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.540
 prayer.

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.940
 Lord we

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.580
 groan with

00:26:03.580 --> 00:26:04.180
 all who are

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.560
 sick

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:06.340
 for those

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:06.840
 who are in

00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.320
 hospital

00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:08.259
 for those

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.860
 who are at

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:09.259
 home

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.140
 for those

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.960
 who need

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.000
 access to

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.400
 hospitals

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.960
 but don't

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.400
 have it.

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.860
 We pray

00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.500
 for healing

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.700
 and restoration

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.560
 of health

00:26:20.560 --> 00:26:23.440
 Lord in your

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.920
 mercy

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.580
 hear our

00:26:25.580 --> 00:26:25.980
 prayer.

00:26:28.840 --> 00:26:29.539
 And Lord we

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.539
 groan with

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.000
 your church

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.460
 in the

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.259
 widest sense

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:35.460
 we pray

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:35.820
 for the

00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:36.259
 renewal

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.160
 for the

00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.779
 revival of

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.340
 your church

00:26:38.340 --> 00:26:38.779
 in this

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.240
 country

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.940
 and throughout

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.660
 the world.

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.160
 At this

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.660
 time we

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.039
 pray

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.600
 particularly

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.039
 for all

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.560
 the different

00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:48.519
 festivals

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.200
 and camps

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.860
 and gatherings

00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:50.759
 taking place

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.380
 during the

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:52.160
 summer season

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:54.860
 new wine

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.840
 falcon camps

00:26:55.840 --> 00:26:56.400
 ventures

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.140
 limitless

00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:59.200
 some of our

00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.740
 young people

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:01.660
 are at

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.700
 these things

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.880
 right now

00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.800
 and we pray

00:27:04.800 --> 00:27:06.040
 for all those

00:27:06.040 --> 00:27:06.700
 involved in

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.700
 these activities

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.800
 Lord may your

00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:10.800
 spirit move

00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:11.700
 in and through

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.500
 these things

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:17.019
 Lord in your

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.440
 mercy

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.420
 hear our

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:19.819
 prayer

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:22.420
 Lord we

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.940
 take a few

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.640
 moments as we

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.259
 bring before

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.819
 you whatever

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.740
 is on our

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.420
 own hearts

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.200
 and minds

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.140
 that causes

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.099
 us to groan

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.880
 right now

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:31.940
 as we hold

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.460
 them before

00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:32.819
 you

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:34.460
 point us

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.180
 from groaning

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.839
 to glory

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:40.659
 Lord in your

00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:41.099
 mercy

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:42.899
 hear our

00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:43.279
 prayer

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.859
 and we

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.339
 join our

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.000
 prayers together

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.339
 in the name

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.079
 of Jesus

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.859
 Amen