WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.419 All right. 00:00:01.540 --> 00:00:04.400 Well, would you pray with me as we look at God's word again? 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:10.580 Father, we thank you for this morning, just the beautiful day you've given us. 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:12.780 It's just glorious. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:17.780 We thank you for the fresh air and just the ocean we can see and smell. 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:22.140 And we thank you for the time we can spend with each other and just the time to stop 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:28.740 and pause and realize that you're with us and you're for us and you're ready to provide 00:00:28.739 --> 00:00:32.839 for us and just the time we can spend as brothers and the time we can spend listening to you. 00:00:33.519 --> 00:00:35.320 God, you've given us so much. 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:38.140 And now we ask you to give us more. 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:40.219 We ask that you'd speak to us. 00:00:40.839 --> 00:00:47.039 Lord, we all struggle to trust you to give us what we need. 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:52.840 Lord, we sometimes doubt that you actually want to give us good things. 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:55.780 So, God, we need you to speak to us. 00:00:55.780 --> 00:01:03.000 We need you to show us that you are good because in our natural selves we will keep doubting you. 00:01:03.660 --> 00:01:04.719 Please speak to us. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:06.400 Please show us yourself. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:08.519 And please teach us to pray. 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:09.960 And in Jesus' name we ask. 00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:10.260 Amen. 00:01:16.740 --> 00:01:18.859 Well, one minute you have a steady income. 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:23.460 Two weeks later you're facing unemployment. 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:23.659 Unemployment. 00:01:25.780 --> 00:01:28.960 You pray to God to be delivered from sexual temptation. 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:34.939 The next morning you wake up plagued with guilt again. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:41.960 You keep serving in that ministry at church and that initial high is all but gone 00:01:41.960 --> 00:01:43.659 and it's just a burden now. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:52.060 That relationship just keeps repeating that destructive pattern with no relief. 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:53.420 You don't know how to stop it. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:00.859 You wake up not sure how you're going to get through breakfast, let alone the rest of the day. 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:06.319 You arrive at church, you stand up to sing, you sit down and listen. 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:14.240 You mingle, you chat and you leave feeling like nothing and no one actually touched you, really. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:20.140 You want your character to be more like Christ. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:27.300 But if you ask him, you're afraid what God will take away to make you more like Christ. 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:31.380 Does God really want to give us life? 00:02:34.660 --> 00:02:38.180 Is God just not hearing the prayers of the farmers who are in drought? 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:41.420 Does he care? 00:02:41.420 --> 00:02:41.439 Does he care? 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:45.060 That farmers are suicidal? 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:46.140 Does he care? 00:02:48.040 --> 00:02:52.360 Your child is still struggling at school, in class, socially? 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:58.920 Why would God force Glenn and Beth to permanently live away from PNG? 00:03:00.920 --> 00:03:02.000 Why would he do that? 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:10.300 Australia as a nation just keeps rushing to become more and more anti-God. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:19.960 You just can't handle the pressure of aging parents as well as every other responsibility you've got. 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:28.740 We keep putting on evangelistic events as a church and only one or two unbelievers show up. 00:03:31.640 --> 00:03:35.000 Your son, your sister, your dad, your grandma. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:40.720 Why doesn't God help them to have faith in Christ and be saved? 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.520 Is he not hearing our many prayers? 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:50.960 We cry, we pray, and sometimes we get nothing. 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:58.140 We have no doubt that God has the power to fix it, do we? 00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.920 We've got no doubt about his power. 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:03.680 But does God really want to give us life? 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:11.160 If God doesn't give us the good we want, we begin to wonder, is he actually good? 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:18.879 I think this is one of the fundamental barriers to our prayers, isn't it? 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.420 It's that niggling doubt. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.319 Does God actually want to give us life? 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:31.540 This is a big topic. 00:04:34.180 --> 00:04:35.300 So I'd like to pray again. 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:36.959 So would you pray with me again? 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:44.239 Father, we know that you're good. 00:04:44.919 --> 00:04:47.279 When we look at your son on the cross, we know it. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:51.060 We know that you've given us eternal life. 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:56.620 We know you're good, but we still struggle to see you as good. 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:57.599 We still doubt. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:01.680 Our experiences are painful. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:06.920 We just wonder why you don't give us the good we want. 00:05:08.400 --> 00:05:10.180 Please speak to us. 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:12.820 We need your spirit to be our teacher today. 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:14.960 Please speak to us. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.840 Please show us that you're good. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.080 Renew our confidence in you again. 00:05:19.960 --> 00:05:20.800 Help us to pray. 00:05:22.140 --> 00:05:24.680 To you as our good father, please help us. 00:05:24.820 --> 00:05:25.939 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:26.019 Amen. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:37.060 Well, in our last session, we learned that a prayerful man needs to be aware of his need, 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:40.139 needs to be shameless and bold in coming to God, 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:43.379 and needs to be trusting in Jesus' promise to receive what we need. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:46.279 We're going to pick up where we left off. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.860 If the previous parable focused on the person asking, 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:54.159 this parable focuses on God, the character of the one giving. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:57.080 So we're going to do three things. 00:05:57.220 --> 00:05:59.920 First, we're going to try and feel this parable. 00:06:01.380 --> 00:06:07.600 Second, we'll find out three reasons why Jesus says we should ask for the Holy Spirit in particular. 00:06:08.880 --> 00:06:11.920 And then finally, we'll return to our question that we started with. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.700 Does God actually want to give us life? 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:17.120 So let's get into the parable. 00:06:17.460 --> 00:06:20.300 Come with me to verses 11 and 12. 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:23.280 Verse 11. 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:34.060 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish, give him a serpent? 00:06:35.460 --> 00:06:39.639 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:45.960 The child is asking for basic food to live, a fish and an egg. 00:06:46.340 --> 00:06:48.199 So we've got plenty of fathers in this room. 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:52.360 So I want to ask, when your child is asked for food to live, 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:55.399 have you ever given them something that could kill them? 00:06:57.579 --> 00:06:58.319 Confession time. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:00.639 McDonald's. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:06.620 Maybe he's allergic to an egg. 00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:08.399 Allergic to egg, yeah. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:17.259 Have you intentionally given them something to kill them? 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.479 This is like that awkward silence at weddings. 00:07:21.799 --> 00:07:23.519 Like, anyone got any objections? 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.319 I'm not moving on. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:28.019 No. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:28.620 No? 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:28.699 No. 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:34.319 My father's just saying no. 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:38.699 I'm just trying to make it feel awkward. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:40.379 That's my only goal. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:45.000 Surprising. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:51.579 It's unthinkable, isn't it? 00:07:55.939 --> 00:07:57.840 Why the serpent and the scorpion here? 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:02.459 Is it just something harmful that Jesus is referring to? 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:08.920 Well, one person reckons it's because a fish looks like a snake 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:11.639 and a scorpion looks like an egg when it's curled up. 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:16.579 Yeah, anyway, that's ridiculous. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:19.180 Have a look at chapter 10. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:21.500 Chapter 10, verses 18 and 19. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:33.840 So it's after the 72 disciples return from preaching the gospel. 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:34.720 Jesus declares, 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:51.100 They are images for the power and the instruments of Satan. 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:55.740 They represent anything that opposes God and all that God has made to be good. 00:08:57.300 --> 00:08:59.060 Anything that opposes God's kingdom. 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:07.519 But even criminals in our society give their children good things, 00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:09.739 like food and shelter, 00:09:10.859 --> 00:09:12.159 even safety protection. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:16.639 And if someone in our society does give what is evil, 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:22.319 even our unbelieving society decides that they are unworthy to continue being a father 00:09:22.319 --> 00:09:23.740 and they remove the child. 00:09:24.839 --> 00:09:30.579 No one doubts the desire of human fathers to give their child what is good. 00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:33.040 We don't doubt it, do we? 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:35.900 Verse 13. 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:37.560 Have a look at verse 13. 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:44.040 If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:50.400 how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:54.820 In the previous parable, 00:09:55.140 --> 00:09:59.640 we weren't to think of prayer as a mutual friend-to-friend relationship. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:05.740 But here we are meant to adopt the father-son relationship as the basis for prayer 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.519 because God Himself is named Father. 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:13.019 There's nothing in the parable to suggest that this is a wrong way to pray. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:16.679 We are meant to compare God to human fathers. 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:20.179 But Jesus calls the fathers evil. 00:10:21.439 --> 00:10:23.720 In what way are human fathers evil? 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:29.840 Well, perhaps He's saying that all people oppose God and God's good ways. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:33.700 But whatever the case is, Jesus doesn't explicitly say. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.540 And so that should tell us it's not His main point. 00:10:37.940 --> 00:10:41.080 He's making a bigger point than accusing fathers. 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:43.639 Because if all people are evil, 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:49.080 then it should surprise us that they give good gifts to their children. 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.840 It should surprise us. 00:10:57.400 --> 00:10:58.740 But we don't doubt it. 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:01.780 None of us doubt it. 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:09.660 And Jesus Himself affirms that even evil fathers know how to give good gifts. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:12.700 Isn't that a mercy from God? 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:20.320 None of us have had perfect fathers. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.620 But what a mercy 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:26.040 that even evil fathers know how to give good gifts. 00:11:28.280 --> 00:11:31.100 But do you feel the sting of what Jesus is saying? 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.920 We don't doubt evil fathers. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:42.139 But we do doubt the only good father. 00:11:54.459 --> 00:11:58.019 How much more will the heavenly father? 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:04.179 Has someone ever given you something or done something for you 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:07.220 that has just completely changed your attitude towards them? 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:14.000 So someone that comes to my mind was my best man at my wedding. 00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:16.279 So some of you might have met him, Sam Dacey. 00:12:16.819 --> 00:12:18.120 I actually went to school with him. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.439 But we weren't friends at school. 00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:22.039 Not for any particular reason. 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:24.340 I just, we just weren't friends. 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:29.660 What changed was on the post-HSC schoolies trip, 00:12:29.780 --> 00:12:34.800 there was 10 of us 18-year-olds in one house after the HSC. 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:35.940 You could imagine the mess. 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:37.920 It was a bit chaotic. 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:43.500 There was only one person who helped me in the kitchen every day. 00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:44.580 And it was Sam. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.360 And it just convinced me. 00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:48.360 He's actually a good guy. 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.700 He's worth getting to know. 00:12:50.780 --> 00:12:52.519 I need to know this guy. 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.299 Now that's a very small example. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:57.399 But in a much greater way, 00:12:57.559 --> 00:13:02.919 God's goodness is shown by the supreme quality of the gift that he gives to us. 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.139 His Holy Spirit. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.419 And we know the price of giving us this supreme gift. 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:16.860 We know the price was the death of the very one teaching us 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:19.840 how not to doubt in God's goodness. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.860 God is heavenly. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.960 He is not tempted by evil. 00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:28.080 And he isn't the source of evil. 00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:31.920 He is so good that he is willing to give all of himself. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:38.659 Are you surprised by the mention of the Holy Spirit here? 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:42.360 You read the passage and you're just like, where'd that come from? 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:48.120 I think we expect to read what we find in the parallel account in Matthew 7. 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:50.139 So let me just read it to you. 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:50.799 7-11. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:14:03.359 Now the Holy Spirit is no doubt a good thing. 00:14:03.479 --> 00:14:05.979 So it's not like these accounts are contradicting each other. 00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:10.379 But why has Luke emphasized the Holy Spirit at this point? 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:19.960 Well, I think part of the answer is that keeping with the parable of the Son asking for food, 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:26.740 the Holy Spirit is being portrayed as what we need to ask for in order to have life. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:33.700 Why do we need the Holy Spirit to have life? 00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:38.039 Well, it's not explicitly stated, is it? 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:43.639 But what I'm going to do, if we let the rest of Luke's Gospel 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:46.539 and the rest of the New Testament speak into this passage, 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:52.139 I think we can see in this passage three reasons that it implied 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:54.060 why we need the Holy Spirit to have life. 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:56.579 So we need the Holy Spirit. 00:14:57.779 --> 00:15:00.899 One, so that we can relate to God as our Father. 00:15:00.979 --> 00:15:02.939 We can know Him as Father. 00:15:03.739 --> 00:15:07.879 Two, so that we can live in and for His kingdom. 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:13.599 And three, so that we can participate in Jesus' mission to redeem the world. 00:15:15.119 --> 00:15:18.539 So let's go through each of these one by one. 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:24.299 First, we need the Holy Spirit so that we can relate to God as our Father. 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:31.099 Now, Jesus could be referring to God as Father just as His Father like He often does. 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:36.480 But I think there's two reasons why He's inviting His disciples to have that same relationship. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:40.500 Most obviously, in the Lord's Prayer or the Disciples' Prayer, 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:44.099 we're to call Him Father. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.500 We're to address Him as Father. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:51.240 And secondly, the parable itself encourages us to have that paradigm, 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:57.519 to have that way of relating to God, not as friends, but as a Father and Son. 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:03.200 We need the Spirit so that we can share in Jesus' relationship to God. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:06.299 Romans 8 tells us, 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:11.219 You receive the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, 00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.819 Abba, Father. 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:19.319 But let's not take this for granted. 00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:25.240 I know we're used to that as Christians, but let's not take this for granted. 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:31.960 An Iranian woman, in an article from the Gospel Coalition, 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.120 she tells her story of coming to Christ in this way. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.879 This is the first line of her story. 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:44.340 In Islam, there are 99 names for Allah. 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:47.179 Not one of them is Father. 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:57.059 Like the rest of the unbelieving world, we were once an orphan in this world. 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.799 Absolutely lost and alone. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:05.500 Unbelievers don't know they are loved. 00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:08.000 They don't know God's love. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:14.720 They don't know God's providing wherever you are in all situations. 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.259 They don't have that. 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.019 They don't know it. 00:17:18.659 --> 00:17:20.899 They don't have His direction, His guidance. 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.919 They don't have His nurturing discipline. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.440 They don't have His promises. 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:27.259 They don't have His family to belong to. 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:30.139 They don't have a home to look forward to after death. 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.520 They are orphans. 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.500 We were once orphans. 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.600 But now we are God's children. 00:17:43.020 --> 00:17:44.120 How good is that? 00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.960 That is what we are. 00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:56.680 To know God as our Father is at the heart of what is so good 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.360 about our new life in Christ. 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:05.120 But like me, don't you find yourself just forgetting that 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:08.400 and just not acting like you are God's child? 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:15.100 Even though we have God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, as Christians, 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:19.480 we have it, I think we still are being encouraged here to pray 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:23.920 in specific situations that God would help us to believe 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.240 and act as His children. 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:31.720 We need the Holy Spirit so that we can relate to God as our Father. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:38.380 Secondly, we need the Holy Spirit so that we can live in and for His kingdom. 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:43.200 When Luke talks about the kingdom of God, 00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:45.640 he's not talking about a place. 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:48.260 He's mainly talking about God ruling. 00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:53.800 So when Jesus teaches about the conflict between the kingdom of Satan 00:18:53.800 --> 00:18:59.040 and the kingdom of God, it's not about two places that are conflicting. 00:18:59.300 --> 00:19:02.160 It's about who is ruling, who is in control, 00:19:02.760 --> 00:19:04.760 and what does their control bring? 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:07.519 Does it bring death or does it bring life? 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:14.480 So what kingdom does the average unbelieving Australian live in? 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:19.019 They've got their beautiful house, very secure house, their lovely car. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:22.460 They've got their pets, their little pool. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.259 They go to the beach. 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:25.299 They go on their holidays. 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.339 They've got friends. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.859 They go out for drinks. 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:31.679 They have careers. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.819 They've got their retirement. 00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:38.240 What kingdom are they living in? 00:19:40.639 --> 00:19:43.979 Spiritually speaking, they are under the rule of Satan. 00:19:45.459 --> 00:19:47.740 They are in opposition to God's rule. 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.619 They don't want God to rule. 00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:53.199 Or to use Paul's language in Romans, 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.219 they are under the rule of sin. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:20:01.860 That rule of sin and Satan is what we once belonged to. 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:05.240 By God's mercy, we have been transferred. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.740 We are no longer under that rule. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:11.500 We are now under a different rule. 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.860 God's kingdom, God's rule. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.759 And that rule brings life. 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:19.880 The Spirit has brought us into the kingdom of God. 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:23.720 Jesus says in John 3, 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:25.460 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:27.300 unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.860 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.980 We've been transferred. 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.280 That's why we pray. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.800 Your kingdom come. 00:20:39.760 --> 00:20:42.160 We want God to rule more. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:45.779 We love his rule because it brings life. 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:48.660 We want him to rule in our hearts. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:52.860 We want him to rule over every single aspect of our lives. 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.720 We want him to rule over the whole world 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:59.259 because his rule brings life. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.920 Your kingdom come. 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:09.160 During one of my classes on Thursday, 00:21:09.320 --> 00:21:10.519 I noticed my lecturer, 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:13.600 every now and then when he was teaching, 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.360 he would just lose his breath 00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:17.480 and just give a shallow cough. 00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:18.800 And I knew why. 00:21:20.060 --> 00:21:21.380 He's got lung cancer 00:21:21.380 --> 00:21:24.060 and he's had to have two really painful surgeries 00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:26.360 of removing parts of both of his lungs. 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.560 And it just struck me. 00:21:30.560 --> 00:21:31.460 Why on earth? 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:33.519 With the time he's got left, 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.940 is he here with us? 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.940 What's he doing? 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:45.539 I was moved by what he asked for prayer for 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.779 in the weekly newsletter. 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.819 He asked, 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.980 pray that the cancer treatment would be effective. 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.720 Shameless in coming to God. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.140 Please be effective. 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:58.380 And ask that God would grant me length of days 00:21:58.380 --> 00:22:00.319 to serve him. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:07.259 Do you think that lecturer has a good life? 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:12.460 True life is to live for God 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:14.000 under his rule. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:19.039 And the model prayer, 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:22.380 it tells us, 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.220 it teaches us 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.660 what we're to pray for 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.720 in order to live under God's rule. 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.980 As his people, 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.400 we relate to God as our father. 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:34.079 We want God's name to be made holy, 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.500 to be known for who he is 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.220 and worshipped 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.440 in our own hearts 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.299 and throughout the world. 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:41.259 We want God's kingdom to come 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.879 for God to bring his life-giving rule 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.940 over all things 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:46.059 and we want his rule to come in full 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.139 with Christ. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.960 We want God's kingdom now 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.839 and we want it 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.919 in full. 00:22:53.639 --> 00:22:54.559 As his people, 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.480 we look to our father 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.099 to provide in all situations. 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:59.799 We need our sins forgiven 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.799 in Christ 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.799 so that we can relate 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.519 to our father 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.659 without fear of punishment. 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:06.019 We need the grace 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.960 to forgive each other 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.620 because we are a kingdom of people, 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.100 not just individuals. 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.640 And we need to be kept 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.700 from every temptation 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.740 that would cause us 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.759 to seek anything 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.960 other than God's kingdom. 00:23:19.300 --> 00:23:20.540 It helps us to know 00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:21.360 what to pray for 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.660 to live in God's kingdom. 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.840 True life 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:25.880 is to live for God 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.660 under his rule. 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.279 We have been transferred 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.279 by the spirit 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:32.680 from the rule of sin and Satan 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.820 to the rule of God 00:23:33.820 --> 00:23:35.440 and it brings life. 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.259 But lastly, 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.220 we need the spirit 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:41.500 so that we can participate 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:43.640 in Jesus' mission 00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.880 to redeem the world. 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:47.940 In Luke's gospel, 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.220 the Holy Spirit 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.920 is the one empowering Jesus 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.860 on his mission. 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.720 At his birth, 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.660 at his baptism. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.039 In Luke 4, 00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:00.279 when Jesus begins his ministry, 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.700 how does he describe his ministry? 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:03.539 He reads from Isaiah, 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.900 the spirit of the Lord 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.480 is upon me 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.200 because he has anointed me 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.880 to proclaim good news 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.420 to the poor. 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.299 And then Jesus concludes 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.160 his ministry on earth 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:14.440 by promising to send 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.160 the Holy Spirit. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.640 Then in volume 2 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:19.220 of Luke's gospel in Acts, 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.759 there we see the disciples 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.740 getting the Holy Spirit 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.940 so that they can continue 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.700 Jesus' mission 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:25.480 to save people, 00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.519 to redeem people. 00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.960 This is the same spirit 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.700 that we have. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.759 Individually and together 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.860 as the church, 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.120 God uses our witness, 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.519 our witness 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:41.819 to the life we have in Christ 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.640 to bring others 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.799 from death to life. 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.960 Isn't that how you got saved? 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:53.559 someone, 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.160 a church, 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.000 probably both, 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.220 you just saw 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.079 something different, 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.880 you heard something different, 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.460 you heard the gospel 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.460 and you were saved. 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:04.779 God is using us 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.480 as a church 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.920 and as individuals. 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:08.079 He empowers us. 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.940 We don't do it alone. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.299 We have the spirit 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:13.079 to continue Jesus' mission. 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.120 What a life 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.960 of purpose we have. 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:19.860 We need the Holy Spirit 00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:20.700 so that we can relate 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.539 to God as our Father, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.980 so that we can live in 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.740 and fall God's kingdom 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:25.100 and so that we can continue 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.840 and participate 00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:27.120 in Jesus' mission 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.660 to the world. 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.400 So let's return 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.000 to our question. 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:36.240 Does God really want 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.180 to give us life? 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.840 Well, that depends 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.519 on whether 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.740 what we think 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.500 will give us life 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.240 lines up with 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.240 what God thinks. 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.480 will give us life. 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.779 God is so good 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:52.259 that he offers us 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.220 his life 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.539 by the Spirit, 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.480 bringing us 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.880 into that eternal love 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.740 between Father, 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.720 Son and Spirit, 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.279 giving us eternal purpose 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.279 in everything we do 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.039 as we live 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.240 under his rule 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:07.660 and empowering us 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.480 to demonstrate 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.859 and declare together 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.660 as God's people 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:12.039 the wonderful gospel 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.799 that saved us 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:14.420 and he uses that 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:16.279 to save other orphans. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.220 Does God really 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:21.180 want to give us life? 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.660 Yes, he does. 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.000 He's good. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.060 He does. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.240 Should this life 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.960 by the Spirit 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.240 overflow 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.019 to the point 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.600 of removing our desires 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.539 for other things, 00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.740 other temporary things? 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:39.880 sometimes, 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.039 sometimes, 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:42.120 sometimes it will 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:44.539 or at least 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:46.059 it should 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:47.440 only let those things 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.519 have the intensity 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.200 of desire 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:50.359 that they actually deserve. 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.420 But God, 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.660 have you seen 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.319 the day outside? 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.480 He gives us so much. 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.079 He's the God 00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.740 of creation 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.960 as well as redemption. 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.279 He's the God 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.900 of creation 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.480 as well as 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.440 the new creation. 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:08.120 He so often 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:08.779 gives us 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.360 other things 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.759 as well. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.799 But let's trust him. 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.759 Let's trust him 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.539 to decide 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:16.080 whether we need 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:16.860 to go without 00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.440 something 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.799 in order 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.400 to have something 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:19.720 better. 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.820 Let's trust our Father. 00:27:24.600 --> 00:27:25.799 And if what you desire 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.279 is good, 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:26.980 then 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.180 we won't have time 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.000 to spend 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.980 looking at this today, 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:32.220 but you need to hear 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.900 another parable. 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.500 You need to remember 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.759 the parable in Luke 18 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.759 of the persistent widow. 00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.740 Luke says, 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.900 Jesus told his disciples 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.320 this parable 00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:42.360 to show them 00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:43.140 that they should 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.780 always pray 00:27:43.780 --> 00:27:44.440 and not give up. 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:46.980 Keep praying. 00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.620 Keep asking. 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:51.880 So life 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.600 by the Spirit. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.940 How should this 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.580 change the way 00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:56.980 we pray? 00:27:56.980 --> 00:28:01.099 Let me give 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.960 two 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:03.240 very 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.220 particular 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.900 examples 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.279 because 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.579 I'm really 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.339 hoping that 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.120 we will be 00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:09.279 very particular 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.839 when we pray 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.759 for true life 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.360 by the Spirit. 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:12.980 If you don't know 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.680 what to pray for 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.360 in a situation, 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.579 ask God for the 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.079 Holy Spirit. 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.900 Just pray that. 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:18.599 That's fine. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.500 That's good. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.559 But 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:22.660 let me give you 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.000 an example 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.660 of how we can 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:24.640 pray like this. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:26.320 A few of you 00:28:26.320 --> 00:28:27.100 are playing soccer 00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:28.640 after this. 00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.580 So I know 00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:30.960 this one 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.740 from experience. 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.820 Why not pray 00:28:32.820 --> 00:28:34.240 that you have 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.120 the assurance 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:37.620 and just 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.280 you know 00:28:38.280 --> 00:28:38.860 God is your 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.160 Father, 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.840 the assurance 00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:40.300 of being 00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:40.920 His child 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.060 rather than 00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.460 having to 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.160 prove yourself 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.640 in the soccer 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:43.940 field. 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.440 You don't 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.820 have to be 00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.160 the best 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:47.640 soccer player. 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.920 You're God's 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.259 child. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.680 That opposition 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.280 are brothers. 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.580 Not enemies. 00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:59.160 If you 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:00.040 see yourself 00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:00.480 and know 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.000 God as your 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.360 Father, 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:01.860 it will just 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:02.800 completely change 00:29:02.800 --> 00:29:03.259 the way you 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.780 look at it. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.040 Pray for that. 00:29:07.020 --> 00:29:07.800 Pray that you 00:29:07.800 --> 00:29:08.980 would seek 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.720 God's rule 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.220 when you're 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.520 on that 00:29:10.520 --> 00:29:11.000 soccer field. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.080 It's not like 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:12.720 God's rule 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.840 stops before 00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:14.480 you walk out 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.000 on the pitch 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.660 and then once 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.640 the whistle 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.240 blows, 00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.040 then you've 00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:19.259 got to be 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.640 a Christian 00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:19.940 again. 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.120 Pray for 00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:22.720 God's rule. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:24.779 A few 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.380 examples that 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.799 we know 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.140 that God 00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.579 tells us 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:26.900 to do 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.220 which will 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.900 bring life 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.940 is submitting 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.620 to authority, 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:32.240 to the 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:32.799 ref in that 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.160 case. 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.180 Pray that 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.600 God would 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:34.940 give you 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.380 submission 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.759 as you 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.200 submit to 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.440 God. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.180 Pray that 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.400 you would 00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.759 seek the 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.220 interests of 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.779 others even 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.220 to the point 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.559 of sitting 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:41.779 on the 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.079 bench. 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:44.940 Seek 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.259 God's 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:45.519 rule. 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.039 Seek 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.819 others to 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.360 come under 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.000 the life-giving 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.400 rule of 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.460 God if 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:51.600 there's 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.180 non-Christians 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.460 on the 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:52.720 team. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.200 Who gives 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.680 a rat's 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.120 poo whether 00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.480 you win 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:56.820 or not? 00:29:57.540 --> 00:29:58.080 It doesn't 00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:58.340 matter. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:02.100 But imagine 00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.580 if God 00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:03.340 uses soccer 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:04.800 to build a 00:30:04.800 --> 00:30:05.140 friendship 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:07.140 that leads 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:07.980 to conversations 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:09.140 about life 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:11.019 and Christ, 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:11.780 either with 00:30:11.780 --> 00:30:12.180 you or 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.560 others on 00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:12.980 the team 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.480 or as a 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:13.860 church. 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:14.840 Wouldn't 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.120 that be 00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:15.460 wonderful? 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.460 Wouldn't 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.460 that be 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:19.460 wonderful? 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:23.779 pray for 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.140 God's 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.860 life-giving 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:26.180 spirit in 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.519 everything, 00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.259 even in 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.660 the ordinary 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.079 things of 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.380 life. 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.740 What about 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.579 when someone 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.059 tells you 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:32.700 off for 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.120 something you 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.319 did? 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.039 Someone has 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.380 a go at 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:35.559 you? 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.000 Pray for 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.819 the assurance 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:40.799 of being 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.140 God's 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:41.840 child, of 00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:42.380 knowing God 00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:42.640 as your 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:42.920 father. 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.259 Your 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:46.720 identity 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.079 doesn't come 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.420 from what 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:48.819 they think 00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:49.100 of you. 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.360 or what 00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:50.720 you think 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.039 of you. 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.480 It comes 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.539 from who 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:53.819 you are 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.360 in Christ. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.660 You are 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.000 a child 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.400 of God. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:58.920 Seek 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.319 God's 00:30:59.319 --> 00:30:59.660 rule. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.120 Don't 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:04.240 just do 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.539 whatever 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.720 they tell 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.079 you off 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.299 for. 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.700 Ask 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.120 for God's 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.680 wisdom to 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.140 know whether 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:10.720 that's God's 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.200 will or not. 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:12.579 It will 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.079 help you to 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.519 know whether 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:13.860 you should 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:14.480 accept that 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:16.220 rebuke or 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.539 not to 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.079 accept it. 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:18.819 God's 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.779 rule in 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.500 that situation. 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.339 Maybe even 00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.199 pray, God 00:31:23.199 --> 00:31:24.599 help me to 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.379 want correction 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:29.359 and striving 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.059 for peace. 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.559 Pray that 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.879 this conflict 00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.480 that's happening 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.500 will result in 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:35.960 peace. 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.259 Do you see 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.819 how assurance 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:41.200 as a child 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.679 of God? 00:31:41.679 --> 00:31:42.720 God's 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.359 rule, what 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:44.259 he says, his 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.619 wisdom in 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.419 situations will 00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:47.200 bring life. 00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.179 And it may 00:31:49.179 --> 00:31:50.220 even result in 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.359 unbelievers being 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.679 saved. 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.960 Jesus says that 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.139 the love we have 00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:54.759 for one another 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.000 will be a witness 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.619 to the world 00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:59.119 even when we 00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.639 disagree with 00:31:59.639 --> 00:31:59.960 one another. 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:01.660 And if it's 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.420 a non-believer 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.120 who's having 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.519 a go at 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.400 you, what 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.200 an opportunity 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:06.120 to apologise 00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:07.019 and show 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.920 them the 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.519 goodness of 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.079 confessing 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.620 sin and 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:09.880 wrong. 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:11.660 Don't be 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.100 worried about 00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.200 that. 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.480 What an 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.039 opportunity 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.480 God has 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:13.960 given you 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.779 to demonstrate 00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.279 the gospel. 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.220 Or if 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.420 they've 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:17.779 wronged you 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.200 to forgive 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.380 them. 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.480 Now I 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:21.759 know they're 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.420 very simple 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.319 examples but 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.220 I'm just 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.519 trying to 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.519 show we 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:25.840 need to 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.860 pray for 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:27.340 the spirit 00:32:27.340 --> 00:32:27.940 in everything 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.460 in life. 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.240 in the 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:29.680 nitty-gritty 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.160 details. 00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:31.840 God is 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.380 ready to 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:32.640 give us 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:33.079 more of 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:33.559 his life. 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:34.819 So let's 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:36.519 ask and 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:36.819 it will be 00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.220 given to 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.440 you. 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.460 Seek and 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:38.700 you will 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.000 find. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:40.519 Knock and 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:40.680 it will 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.059 be open 00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.460 to you. 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.039 Let me 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.279 pray. 00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:53.100 Now 00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:53.680 Father we 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.980 confess that 00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:56.819 so much of 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.299 what we want 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.380 in life is 00:32:58.380 --> 00:33:02.640 not what 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.360 you say 00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:03.860 will give 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.380 us life. 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.400 Forgive us 00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:07.720 for this 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.000 God. 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:08.920 Forgive us 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.360 most of 00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:09.740 all for 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.740 when this 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.240 makes us 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.780 doubt your 00:33:11.780 --> 00:33:12.100 goodness. 00:33:13.580 --> 00:33:14.140 But God 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.740 there are 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.460 also things 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:16.960 that are 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.500 good and 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.040 are your 00:33:18.040 --> 00:33:18.800 ways that 00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:19.540 we don't 00:33:19.540 --> 00:33:20.680 have at 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.080 the moment. 00:33:22.280 --> 00:33:23.040 We know 00:33:23.040 --> 00:33:23.320 that we 00:33:23.320 --> 00:33:23.900 live in a 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:25.340 sinful and 00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:26.340 broken world 00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:26.599 world where 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.259 Satan is 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.039 still at 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.399 work. 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.500 God that 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.240 really hurts. 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.279 Help us to 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.939 trust you. 00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:36.319 Help us to 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:37.259 persist in 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:37.879 prayer to you. 00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:41.080 God please 00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:42.340 help us to 00:33:42.340 --> 00:33:43.140 trust you that 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.100 you're using 00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:45.020 these painful 00:33:45.020 --> 00:33:46.080 situations to 00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:46.680 give us true 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.120 life. 00:33:47.520 --> 00:33:48.200 To know you 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.540 as our 00:33:48.540 --> 00:33:48.880 father. 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.420 To have you 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.280 rule over 00:33:52.280 --> 00:33:53.260 every aspect 00:33:53.260 --> 00:33:54.320 of our 00:33:54.320 --> 00:33:54.820 life. 00:33:56.760 --> 00:33:57.520 Lord even 00:33:57.520 --> 00:33:58.140 use it to 00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:58.820 bring others 00:33:58.820 --> 00:34:00.060 to have 00:34:00.060 --> 00:34:00.420 life. 00:34:01.300 --> 00:34:01.940 God help us 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.600 to trust you. 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.240 You are 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:03.500 good. 00:34:04.540 --> 00:34:04.980 You've given 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.700 us your son. 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.299 You've given 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:06.680 us your 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.100 spirit. 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.579 Please 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.539 train us 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:11.039 to pray for 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.480 what will 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.599 really give 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.139 us life. 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.380 Please keep 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.280 training us to 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.139 be bold in 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:16.579 coming to 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.380 you for all 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:17.679 that we 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.019 need. 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.619 And God 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.400 ultimately we 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.019 pray that your 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.260 kingdom will 00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:22.599 come. 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:23.760 We want 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:24.260 Christ to 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:24.619 return. 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.039 Please come 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.639 back soon. 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.800 In Jesus 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.519 name we pray. 00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:30.000 Amen.