WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.640
 We'll read to you Colossians 4, 2-4.

00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:07.820
 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

00:00:08.700 --> 00:00:12.900
! At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word

00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:17.640
 to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison,

00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:21.559
 that I may make it clear which is how I ought to speak.

00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:23.960
 This is God's Word to us.

00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:28.120
 It was written for His glory and for our good.

00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:34.679
 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.

00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:42.020
 Now, as we've been working in Colossians through chapter 3 and into chapter 4,

00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:48.920
 we've seen Paul lay out for the Colossian believers and now for us as recipients of God's Word,

00:00:49.579 --> 00:00:53.000
 the way in which the new life will look.

00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:57.600
 Having put off the old self, having been changed in Christ,

00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:00.560
 the doctrinal word for this would be regeneration.

00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:04.500
 Those who have placed faith in Christ are now new creations.

00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.700
 No longer the old, now the new.

00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:13.439
 And Paul lays out this listing of exhortations for how the new life should look.

00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:15.799
 The new self shouldn't look like the old self.

00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:17.400
 It should now look differently.

00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:23.180
 And he's been working in this kind of ever-narrowing way as we go through 3 and into 4.

00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:33.280
 Chapter 3, verses 5-17 are particularly exhortations for how the new self should function in relationship with the church.

00:01:33.860 --> 00:01:38.620
 Those who also are in Christ, the Christian church.

00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:46.700
 Verses 18-4-1 for how the new self should function in the Christian household.

00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:51.060
 And then for our context regarding slaves and masters in the workplace.

00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:58.620
 And then here we find in 4-2-6, for us today 2-4,

00:01:59.360 --> 00:02:02.580
 an ever-narrowing scope for the individual.

00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:07.019
 How then is each of us as individuals meant to live?

00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:11.840
 And how should we be connecting that to the mission of God?

00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:15.560
 And so you can see how it narrows down here at the close of his letter.

00:02:16.579 --> 00:02:20.599
 Now over the next two weeks, as we look through verses 2-6,

00:02:21.319 --> 00:02:29.900
 there will be basic four activities, lifestyles of the new self.

00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:33.180
 And they are this, and we're going to cover just the first two,

00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.500
 maybe a bit of the fourth today as we get into verse 4.

00:02:36.580 --> 00:02:40.620
 But they are the prayer of the new self, found in verses 2-3.

00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:46.640
 The opportunity of the new self, found in the last half of verse 3.

00:02:47.659 --> 00:02:51.740
 The activity of the new self, found in verse 5.

00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:54.580
 And the speech of the new self.

00:02:54.580 --> 00:02:58.840
 You can see this in verse 4 and in verse 6.

00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:03.780
 So today let's look at the prayer of the new self.

00:03:04.700 --> 00:03:06.300
 Verse 2 through the first part of 3.

00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:09.180
 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:13.259
 At the same time, pray also for us.

00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:19.379
 And there's a simple overarching exhortation for this beginning to one and a half verses.

00:03:19.540 --> 00:03:21.640
 And that is pray.

00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:25.819
 He starts off verse 2 by saying, continue.

00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:29.919
 So, the Colossian believers are, in fact, praying.

00:03:30.559 --> 00:03:34.359
 And every believer should be given to prayer.

00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:39.539
 It is the right and proper activity of the Christian person that they should pray.

00:03:39.799 --> 00:03:42.619
 Here we find, before Paul's exhortation to pray,

00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:46.099
 Remember, the church at Colossae is not a church that was established by Paul.

00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.759
 It's not a church that was visited by Paul or ever was that we know of.

00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:54.500
 But he's merely writing to them to correct some doctrine.

00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:57.460
 And he finds already that there are prayers.

00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:00.840
 He says, continue steadfastly in prayer.

00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:07.080
 So, all of us who are found in Christ should be given to prayer.

00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:11.000
 The quote on the front of your bulletin this morning by Spurgeon.

00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:15.219
 I have a new quote book by Spurgeon, which is why you're going to get a lot of those in the coming months.

00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:17.959
 In case you're wondering, I also love Spurgeon.

00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:21.399
 We love the babies.

00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:23.079
 Truly.

00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:29.079
 Spurgeon said, we cannot all argue, but we can all pray.

00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:33.099
 We cannot all be leaders, but we can all be pleaders.

00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:39.300
 We cannot all be mighty in rhetoric, but we can all be prevalent in prayer.

00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:46.419
 You see, God designs His purposes, the way that God is functioning and working in the world,

00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:50.139
 to be dependent on the prayers of His people.

00:04:50.479 --> 00:04:54.799
 He designs His purposes to be dependent on the prayers of His people.

00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:57.019
 Now, our God is sovereign.

00:04:57.019 --> 00:05:01.479
 Our God can do whatever He pleases.

00:05:02.479 --> 00:05:07.199
 And He does not need us for any of His purposes in this world to be accomplished,

00:05:07.359 --> 00:05:11.579
 except that He has decided to use us to that great end.

00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:17.479
 He has decided to enact His plans in this world through the prayers of His people.

00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.120
 And this is because He loves us.

00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:24.060
 Without developing that entirely for you this morning,

00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:26.899
 you need to know that the invitation for the Christian to pray

00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:29.699
 is an invitation into a relationship with God

00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:34.060
 because He loves to work through the prayers of His people

00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:35.920
 that His people might experience Him,

00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:37.720
 that they might know Him.

00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:40.899
 The story we read to the children this morning,

00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:42.699
 the great tragedy of that story

00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:44.579
 is that when Adam sinned,

00:05:44.579 --> 00:05:48.000
 death was ushered into this world in a final way.

00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.039
 At the end of their lives, they would die.

00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.000
 We see that experience that all around us.

00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:53.019
 Things are degenerating.

00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:53.699
 They're falling apart.

00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:54.419
 They will die.

00:05:54.579 --> 00:05:56.199
 But the greater and higher tragedy of that

00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:58.759
 is that the wonderful union they had with God,

00:05:58.919 --> 00:06:00.399
 the ability to walk with Him

00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.039
 and to talk with Him was severed.

00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:05.299
 They were cast away from God.

00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:09.319
 And now we find in Christ that being redeemed,

00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:13.079
 the ability again to be in relationship with our Creator.

00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:17.100
 And the way we do that is through the reading of His Word.

00:06:17.220 --> 00:06:20.660
 He speaks to us and we pray to Him.

00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:26.340
 It should be a major activity of the Christian life to pray.

00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:31.939
 God draws us in to the things that He's doing through prayer.

00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:36.740
 And let me just say, in past experience, recent experience,

00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:39.740
 I hope that many of you enjoyed this with me,

00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.620
 we were able to be brought along in God's work

00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:45.980
 in the funding of the Zwimpies heading to Germany.

00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:48.339
 There's a family in our church that just recently,

00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:49.839
 a few weeks ago, headed to Germany

00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:53.459
 to work for a boarding school for missionary children there.

00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:57.159
 And they had a great deal of funding to raise,

00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:59.439
 to be able to go and to do this thing.

00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:03.759
 In fact, the school itself was very, very doubtful.

00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:05.920
 Those of you who experienced and walked through that with them,

00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:07.139
 when they actually raised the money,

00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:08.600
 there was no housing available for them

00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:10.079
 because the school didn't actually think

00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:12.560
 that they were going to be able to meet the funding goal

00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.879
 because it takes most families 18 to 24 months

00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:17.959
 to raise the funding necessary to come.

00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:20.399
 In this case, it only took nine.

00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:23.920
 And many of us were invested with the Zwimpies in prayer.

00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.560
 The only thing that Sam and I could do physically for them

00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.420
 was a little bit per month, right?

00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:32.480
 We devoted to give a little bit to this huge sum

00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.379
 to be accomplished,

00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:35.939
 but we also gave ourselves in prayer.

00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:39.500
 And what a joy it was to see God move and work

00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:42.040
 through His people, both here and beyond,

00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:44.379
 to see the Zwimpies able to go.

00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:45.840
 That we could rejoice in them with that

00:07:45.840 --> 00:07:48.579
 was a wonderful invitation from the Lord

00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:50.139
 to be in relationship with Him

00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:51.939
 and to witness His work in the world.

00:07:53.719 --> 00:07:57.719
 Now, prayer is an incredibly difficult thing.

00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:00.839
 I find that American Christians are not given

00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:02.779
 to tackling difficult tasks.

00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:05.560
 If it's easy and attainable,

00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:07.120
 we'll throw ourselves at it.

00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.639
 But if something is of challenge to us,

00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:10.339
 we tend to not do so.

00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.759
 It's very difficult to pray,

00:08:12.919 --> 00:08:15.300
 to devote ourselves to prayer.

00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:17.459
 There are things working against us

00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:19.239
 for us not to be prayers.

00:08:19.859 --> 00:08:22.719
 The world, our old selves, and Satan

00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:25.519
 do not want us praying.

00:08:26.339 --> 00:08:28.239
 God enacts His purposes,

00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:30.079
 uses the prayers of His people

00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.879
 to put His purposes in motion,

00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:34.000
 and everything that is said against God

00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.939
 does not want God's people to pray.

00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:39.000
 You have to recognize this

00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:41.500
 and oh how often we hand victory

00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:42.759
 over to these elements.

00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.179
 We just give it back away.

00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:46.439
 We ignore altogether that prayer

00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.740
 is of great importance.

00:08:49.760 --> 00:08:50.660
 John Piper once said,

00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:51.280
 when we pray,

00:08:51.400 --> 00:08:54.320
 we kneel in a hornet's nest of evil.

00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:56.400
 It stirs it up.

00:08:57.340 --> 00:08:57.860
 And for those of you

00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:59.100
 who work on this property some,

00:08:59.160 --> 00:09:00.420
 you'll know there's a huge hornet's nest

00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:02.740
 on the eve way down here,

00:09:02.900 --> 00:09:04.560
 which has not been affecting

00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:06.320
 the coming and going out that bottom door.

00:09:06.420 --> 00:09:08.000
 So we've just been trying to figure out

00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.740
 exactly how we're going to get it down

00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:11.120
 and deal with it.

00:09:11.180 --> 00:09:12.260
 But the other Saturday morning,

00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:14.160
 a group was up here mowing the grass.

00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:16.779
 The leadership of Parker White

00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:17.419
 was doing that,

00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:19.559
 and Parker had a little bit of spray with him,

00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:21.779
 a little bit of spray in the can.

00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:22.719
 In fact, I picked up the can

00:09:22.719 --> 00:09:22.919
 and went,

00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:24.120
 this is not going to be enough.

00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:25.399
 And he said,

00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:26.159
 let's just give it a shot.

00:09:26.219 --> 00:09:27.179
 So we put a huge ladder up

00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:27.879
 on the side of the building,

00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:30.679
 and Parker bravely climbed up there

00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.179
 and went,

00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:32.159
 pssh,

00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:35.279
 and quickly climbed down the ladder.

00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:38.139
 I know not all of you were there,

00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.600
 but just if you can picture

00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.899
 this scene happening,

00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.079
 and the nest got stirred up.

00:09:43.199 --> 00:09:44.059
 It was just enough

00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:45.299
 to really make them mad,

00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:47.159
 and they began to come out.

00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:48.559
 In some coming weeks,

00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.360
 maybe you can be up here

00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.919
 when we actually take care of the whole thing

00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:53.100
 with finality, right?

00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:55.959
 But prayer is powerful.

00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.019
 It is effective, right?

00:09:58.079 --> 00:09:59.379
 God wants his people praying

00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.399
 so that he can accomplish things

00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:00.919
 through his people,

00:10:01.079 --> 00:10:02.120
 and I wonder so often

00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:03.259
 if things aren't happening

00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:03.959
 in our church

00:10:03.959 --> 00:10:04.899
 and in churches around us

00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:06.899
 because God's people don't pray, right?

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:07.840
 He's just asking.

00:10:07.959 --> 00:10:08.600
 He's just saying,

00:10:08.819 --> 00:10:10.319
 come into this relationship with me.

00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:11.600
 I have such wonderful things

00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:12.319
 I want to do,

00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:14.340
 and I want you to be part of it, right?

00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.179
 The invitation is there

00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:17.199
 for us to pray,

00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:19.340
 and it should be a major part

00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:21.419
 of the life of every Christian.

00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.799
 But not just to pray,

00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:25.199
 as the overarching exhortation

00:10:25.199 --> 00:10:26.079
 here in the text.

00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.559
 So certainly pray, right?

00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:29.059
 You walk away one thing, right?

00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:29.639
 If you're a believer,

00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:30.720
 if you're found in Christ,

00:10:31.199 --> 00:10:31.480
 pray.

00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:32.819
 Put an exclamation mark on it

00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:33.299
 in your notes.

00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:33.919
 Pray.

00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.960
 But there are some ways

00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:36.860
 in which we're meant to pray.

00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:39.759
 Firstly, we're to pray persistently.

00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.580
 He says, continue steadfastly in prayer.

00:10:45.439 --> 00:10:46.879
 Steadfastly means with devotion.

00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.860
 Some of your translations may say that.

00:10:49.319 --> 00:10:50.159
 The Greek word,

00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.779
 most rightly rendered,

00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:56.360
 means with courageous persistence.

00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:56.680
 Persistence.

00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:00.340
 Which is why this point is to pray persistently,

00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:03.000
 with courageous persistence.

00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.259
 We're elsewhere instructed to pray at all times.

00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:07.659
 You'll find that in the parallel text

00:11:07.659 --> 00:11:09.600
 in Ephesians 6, 18.

00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.440
 1 Thessalonians 5, 17,

00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:14.379
 Paul says to pray without ceasing.

00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:17.539
 This doesn't mean that we go away someplace

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.580
 to a quiet hilltop,

00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.779
 and we never stop praying,

00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:20.800
 that we become monastic,

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.460
 and we don't engage in the world,

00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:24.160
 but rather that we carry about us

00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:25.040
 a spirit of prayer.

00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:26.800
 We connect everything that we're doing

00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:27.920
 as we're walking through the world

00:11:27.920 --> 00:11:29.420
 to God's good purposes,

00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.560
 that we're constantly talking to Him.

00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:33.280
 We're constantly aware that He exists.

00:11:33.420 --> 00:11:34.019
 He does.

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:35.519
 We're just cognizant of that.

00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:37.420
 We look through this lens

00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:39.360
 of God's activity in the world,

00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:40.980
 and as we're going through the day,

00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.340
 we're asking that He would bless

00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.500
 a particular conversation,

00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:46.639
 that He would change something for His glory.

00:11:47.040 --> 00:11:49.340
 Constantly in the spirit of prayer.

00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:51.460
 But also, we're meant to be

00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:54.120
 in particular times of prayer.

00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:55.680
 I think this is what Paul means here

00:11:55.680 --> 00:11:58.620
 when he talks about continuing steadfastly,

00:11:58.680 --> 00:12:00.000
 that there's this encouragement

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.740
 to particular times of prayer,

00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:04.280
 both corporate and individual,

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.759
 that we gather as God's people

00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.700
 together to pray,

00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:08.080
 and that we spend time

00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:09.620
 in the closet of prayer,

00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.120
 that we get on our knees

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.180
 before the Lord

00:12:12.180 --> 00:12:14.400
 in a persistent manner.

00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:17.000
 Jesus tells two parables,

00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:19.019
 one of which is found in Luke 18,

00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:20.840
 in order to illustrate

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:23.779
 the importance of persistent prayer.

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.379
 If you will, turn to Luke 18.

00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.620
 This has the potential

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:32.620
 of being a familiar parable to you.

00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:33.600
 It's the parable,

00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.539
 it's often called,

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:36.720
 of the persistent widow.

00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.419
 Chapter 18, verse 1,

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:39.879
 it says,

00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:41.059
 And He told them a parable

00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:43.179
 to the effect that they ought

00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:44.200
 always to pray

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:45.320
 and not lose heart.

00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:46.980
 And I so love Luke's writing

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.180
 because he so often gives us

00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:50.220
 the commentary for the text itself, right?

00:12:50.540 --> 00:12:51.820
 Why does this parable exist?

00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:53.900
 So that they ought always to pray

00:12:53.900 --> 00:12:55.900
 and not to lose heart.

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.300
 And so we dive into it

00:12:57.300 --> 00:12:57.960
 with that in mind.

00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:58.500
 He said,

00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:00.340
 In a certain city there was a judge

00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.840
 who neither feared God

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.300
 nor respected man.

00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.360
 He wasn't a good judge.

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.680
 And there was a widow in that city

00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.040
 who kept coming to him and saying,

00:13:07.400 --> 00:13:09.780
 Give me justice against my adversary.

00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:11.760
 For a while he refused,

00:13:11.880 --> 00:13:13.500
 but afterward he said to himself,

00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:15.480
 Though I neither fear God

00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.580
 nor respect man,

00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:17.879
 yet because this widow

00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:18.960
 keeps bothering me,

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.039
 I will give her justice

00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.139
 so that she will not beat me down

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:24.120
 by her continual coming.

00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:27.480
 And the Lord said,

00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.759
 Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:31.519
 And will not God give justice

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.240
 to his elect

00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.259
 who cry to him day and night?

00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:36.360
 Will he delay long over them?

00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:37.659
 I tell you,

00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:39.360
 he will give justice to them speedily.

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:39.779
 Nevertheless,

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.620
 when the Son of Man comes,

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:44.379
 will he find faith on earth?

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:47.320
 So you see that there's this unjust judge,

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.159
 doesn't fear God,

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.240
 doesn't respect man,

00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:51.580
 but because he no longer wants to be annoyed,

00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:53.700
 he will do what is right.

00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.200
 And what Jesus is doing,

00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:59.240
 he's juxtaposing this unjust judge

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.940
 against God who is just,

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.779
 who does do what's right.

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.840
 He's not suggesting that if we have

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.360
 something we desire,

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:09.580
 and we just pester God to death,

00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:11.220
 he'll give us what we want.

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.340
 What he's saying is,

00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:14.860
 that if you ask for things that are just,

00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:15.940
 if you ask for justice,

00:14:16.020 --> 00:14:17.860
 if you seek justice in your prayer,

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.580
 surely God will answer.

00:14:21.300 --> 00:14:24.500
 We are to persist in prayer.

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:27.800
 We see another wonderful example of this

00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:29.440
 in Acts 1.

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.259
 Jesus is walking now.

00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:34.600
 He's been crucified.

00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:35.520
 He's resurrected.

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:38.319
 He's walked now for 40 days

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:40.079
 amongst the disciples.

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.639
 In Acts 1.8,

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.439
 we see a command.

00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.079
 He says,

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.720
 But you will receive power

00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.799
 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.419
 and you will be my witnesses

00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.240
 in Jerusalem,

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.100
 and in all Judea,

00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.259
 and Samaria,

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:54.439
 and to the end of the earth.

00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.779
 And with that,

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:56.980
 he ascends.

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.039
 So this is the last thing

00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.720
 that is recorded

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.779
 that Jesus says to them,

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.519
 and then he ascends.

00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:03.899
 And can you imagine

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.299
 living in that day,

00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.620
 being the apostles,

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.600
 and not knowing what to do next?

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.299
 He's given us a command.

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.059
 We're meant to be witnesses

00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:13.500
 in these varying places,

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.620
 these varying spheres of influence

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.340
 that we have.

00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.120
 We're going to receive power

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.439
 when the Holy Spirit comes.

00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:20.279
 What do we do?

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:21.480
 So they go back to the upper room.

00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:24.120
 And we find them there

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.240
 with a number of others,

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.879
 about 120 in total,

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.659
 in verse 14 of chapter 1,

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.299
 doing what?

00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:34.399
 devoting themselves to prayer.

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.019
 They went and they consistently,

00:15:37.219 --> 00:15:39.500
 they persisted across the span of time

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:41.219
 where the Spirit had yet to come

00:15:41.219 --> 00:15:43.019
 in prayer.

00:15:44.099 --> 00:15:44.979
 And the Spirit comes.

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:46.399
 And you know the story, I hope,

00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.179
 of Pentecost.

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:49.379
 If not, read on in your text.

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.059
 What a wonderful thing

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:53.039
 that God works in them by the Spirit.

00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:54.519
 And thousands and thousands

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:56.139
 come to faith

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.379
 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:59.159
 But they don't stop there.

00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.960
 They don't go,

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.039
 oh, we have the Spirit now.

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.700
 Now we can stop praying.

00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:04.039
 You see the activity of the early church

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.559
 in chapter 2, verse 42,

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.779
 still devoting themselves

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:09.360
 to the prayers.

00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.220
 We never outgrow our need

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:14.659
 of the Lord's intervention.

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.840
 It is God who works.

00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:18.100
 It is God who can accomplish.

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.659
 It's by His power

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:21.179
 that things happen in this world.

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.500
 So we never outgrow it.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.379
 So we are to pray persistently.

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:24.939
 Persistently.

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:28.559
 Secondly, we are to pray watchfully.

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.379
 He says later there in verse 2,

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:33.019
 being watchful in it.

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:36.220
 Keeping alert in your praying.

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:38.980
 In the most basic sense,

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.559
 I think there is some understanding here

00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:43.340
 of physical alertness.

00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:45.039
 That we are to stay awake.

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.580
 That we are not to get distracted.

00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:50.960
 Matthew 26, 40 and 41.

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.620
 It's seen as the Garden of Gethsemane

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:55.460
 before Jesus' arrest

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:57.240
 and His later crucifixion.

00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.840
 Verse 40, it records,

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.940
 And He came to the disciples

00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:02.220
 and found them sleeping.

00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:03.220
 And He said to Peter,

00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:06.519
 So could you not watch with Me one hour?

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:08.920
 Watch and pray

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:11.319
 that you may not enter into temptation.

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.360
 The Spirit indeed is willing,

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:16.259
 but the flesh is weak.

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:20.500
 How often do we go into times of prayer

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.220
 and fall asleep?

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.900
 I'm guilty.

00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:28.200
 How often do we go into times of prayer

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.779
 and we're so very easily distracted?

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.099
 Beloved,

00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:37.640
 one wonderful subset of benefit

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:39.700
 to gathering together with God's people to pray

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:42.579
 is the practice of focus.

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:44.659
 Gather with a group of people

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:46.539
 for an hour or so

00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.559
 and pray together.

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.079
 And I hope

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:50.639
 you're not looking at your phone.

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.960
 There's nothing distracting you

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.659
 that you're engaging in what's going on

00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:56.439
 because you're not simply taking turns praying,

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.220
 but you're praying together.

00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.879
 We as a people

00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:01.639
 are losing our ability to focus.

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.259
 Two years ago

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.279
 at our men's retreat,

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.779
 we were off and away

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.339
 at this incredibly tiny cabin

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.460
 for how many of us there were.

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.279
 We were packed into this little space

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.500
 and we required as part of that time in the morning

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.680
 that all of the men

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.799
 take some time to themselves,

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.680
 some time to study,

00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:16.740
 some time of prayer.

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.139
 And I had gotten up extra early.

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.000
 A couple of us did.

00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:20.599
 Some of the elders,

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.599
 we got up extra early

00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.599
 and we did that time

00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.700
 and then we were cooking.

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.619
 So we were trying to be quiet

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.619
 in this little kitchen

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.980
 cooking up bacon

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.940
 and biscuits

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.319
 and some other things that we had.

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.440
 And I cannot tell you

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.180
 how many times

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.000
 I looked out across

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.319
 a group of men

00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:35.399
 who were meant to be taking time

00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:36.319
 to study their word

00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:36.960
 and pray to God

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.180
 and how many of them

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.079
 were on their phones.

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:44.740
 Put it away.

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:47.079
 Throw it away

00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.619
 if you have to.

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:50.220
 Some wonderful features

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.859
 on your phone

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.859
 where you can just tell it

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.700
 not to bother you.

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:54.259
 It's a fantastic thing.

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:57.039
 So in the most basic of senses,

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.039
 you need to learn

00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:01.099
 to devote yourself to prayer.

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.359
 Being watchful in it.

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.639
 Setting aside the distractions

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:07.420
 and devoting yourself in it.

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.500
 In the broader sense,

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.579
 and I think this is what Paul

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.879
 particularly means.

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.939
 He's primarily aimed at saying

00:19:12.939 --> 00:19:14.779
 that believers should be aware

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:16.099
 of the things

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:18.480
 that they should specifically pray for.

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.379
 They should be watchful.

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.460
 They should be looking around

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.439
 at the world around them

00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:24.079
 and aware of what it is

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:26.619
 they ought to be praying for.

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.179
 I hear so many prayers

00:19:28.179 --> 00:19:30.740
 that are so grossly general.

00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:33.079
 Catch-all prayers.

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.899
 And the greater includes the lesser,

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.259
 but the exhortation here

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:36.899
 to be watchful

00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:38.519
 is to pray specifically for things.

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.720
 Paul gives us an example

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.039
 of a specific thing

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.139
 to be prayed for.

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.660
 It's very difficult

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:45.440
 to pray persistent prayers

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.799
 that are vague.

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.920
 I found that to be true

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.799
 in my own life.

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.079
 If I'm only asking

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.680
 that God would do

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.940
 these huge general things.

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.900
 God, work in our church

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.960
 for the sake of your glory.

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.900
 It's a wonderful thing to pray.

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:57.839
 Please, Lord,

00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:58.460
 work in our church

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.259
 for the sake of your glory.

00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:01.359
 But if this is all I ever pray,

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.119
 it's very difficult

00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:03.099
 to persist in that.

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.639
 But if I say,

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.500
 God, work in our church

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.420
 for the sake of your glory,

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:08.160
 and here's the ways

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.200
 that I believe

00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.300
 you need to work.

00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:10.920
 These are the ways

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:12.240
 that I think you want to work.

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.500
 Will you use these prayers

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.680
 to do this work

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.900
 in our church?

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.100
 And he so often answers

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:19.060
 those prayers specifically.

00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:21.440
 So pray persistently.

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:24.060
 Pray watchfully.

00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:26.460
 Pray thankfully.

00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:29.700
 Pray thankfully.

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:29.819
 Thankfully.

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.319
 Last part of verse 2 says,

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.960
 with thanksgiving.

00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.880
 With thanksgiving.

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.860
 Pause for a moment

00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.620
 just for a quick aside.

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.039
 I'm told that I mispronounced

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.680
 the word thankful

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.299
 because I say it

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.480
 the thankful

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.900
 instead of thankful.

00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:47.980
 It's one of the things

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.580
 that I get picked on

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.140
 by my wife,

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.620
 so I'm really,

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.880
 my mind is self-conscious

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.740
 as I'm about to say.

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.200
 Thankfully

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.279
 and thanksgiving

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.259
 a thousand times,

00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:57.779
 so I'm just not going

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.200
 to worry about it.

00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:01.860
 But pray thankfully.

00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:02.539
 I'll say it the way

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:02.900
 I want to.

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:06.319
 With thanksgiving.

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:09.360
 This is the fifth time

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:11.319
 that Paul has mentioned

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:13.519
 thanksgiving in Colossians.

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.759
 The fifth time.

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:16.059
 It's developing here

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.840
 thematically.

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.759
 Those of you who have

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.500
 been here have seen me.

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.080
 I've talked about this

00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.740
 a couple of times.

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:21.559
 You see it in chapter 1,

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.180
 verse 12.

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.700
 Chapter 2, verse 6.

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.319
 Chapter 3, verse 15.

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:27.380
 And in verse 16.

00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:28.720
 So for the fifth time,

00:21:28.780 --> 00:21:29.380
 he's talked about

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.480
 being thankful,

00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.000
 the importance

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.060
 of being thankful.

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.100
 Why?

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.980
 I believe it's because

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.400
 thanksgiving has

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:38.620
 perspective-shifting power.

00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.520
 It reminds us

00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:41.760
 of who our God is.

00:21:42.260 --> 00:21:43.040
 And not only just

00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:43.840
 who He is,

00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.700
 but who He is

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.740
 to us.

00:21:46.300 --> 00:21:46.960
 We're reminded

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.140
 that God is faithful

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.740
 and just,

00:21:48.800 --> 00:21:49.760
 that He is loving,

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.720
 that He cares about us

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.800
 when we're thankful,

00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.680
 when we think about

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.600
 all of the things

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.279
 that He has accomplished

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.179
 for us.

00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:57.579
 When we stop

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.619
 and ponder those things

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.559
 and when we approach Him,

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:01.240
 we begin with these

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.079
 hearts of thanksgiving.

00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:02.799
 Lord, You have done

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:05.019
 so much on my behalf.

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.799
 We could just

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.319
 pray prayers of thanksgiving

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.480
 for the rest of our lives

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.859
 and never run out of things

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.939
 to thank God for.

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:14.539
 But thanksgiving helps us.

00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.679
 It encourages us

00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:17.259
 to turn and pray

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.539
 bold prayers

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.779
 before our God.

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.599
 Prayers of thanksgiving

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:23.859
 thanksgiving are fuel

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:25.699
 for asking for

00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:26.599
 the supplication

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.740
 for what God would do

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.719
 in our world.

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.599
 And there are some things,

00:22:30.719 --> 00:22:31.359
 specific things,

00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.240
 that we ought to be

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.079
 thankful for.

00:22:33.439 --> 00:22:34.359
 Generally thankful for

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.199
 and thankful for

00:22:35.199 --> 00:22:36.619
 in our prayers.

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.839
 Five kind of

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.240
 all-encompassing things.

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:41.319
 And I'll just

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.339
 thank John MacArthur

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.259
 for making these,

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:46.259
 this alliteration work.

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.500
 So, they are

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.759
 God's presence.

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.559
 We ought to be thankful

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:53.680
 for God's presence.

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.259
 Psalm 75.1 says,

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.200
 We give thanks to You,

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:56.640
 O God.

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.440
 We give thanks

00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.879
 for Your name

00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.180
 is near.

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.440
 We recount

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.740
 Your wondrous deeds.

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.819
 We have a relationship

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.879
 with God.

00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:08.039
 He is near to us

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.519
 and we are near to Him.

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.819
 We can, in fact,

00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.400
 go to Him

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.740
 because of the work

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.379
 of Christ.

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.740
 Because Christ

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.839
 intercedes for us.

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.960
 When God looks at us,

00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:18.619
 He sees Jesus.

00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:20.019
 We can enter into His presence

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.579
 and we can pray.

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.839
 We ought to be thankful

00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:24.019
 for God's presence.

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:24.919
 Secondly,

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.479
 we should be thankful

00:23:25.479 --> 00:23:26.939
 for God's provision.

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.819
 This includes

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.899
 many specifics,

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:30.579
 but generally

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.539
 for God's provision.

00:23:33.699 --> 00:23:34.899
 When Paul was adrift

00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.719
 at sea

00:23:35.719 --> 00:23:36.619
 in the midst

00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:37.419
 of a storm,

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.699
 he was thankful

00:23:38.699 --> 00:23:39.639
 for the food

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.439
 that God provided

00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:40.919
 in the midst

00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:42.119
 of a scary,

00:23:42.659 --> 00:23:43.619
 horrible situation.

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.959
 Acts 27.35

00:23:45.959 --> 00:23:46.439
 records,

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.119
 And when he had said

00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:47.539
 these things,

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.220
 he took bread

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.200
 and giving thanks

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.519
 to God

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:49.960
 in the presence

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.220
 of all,

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.879
 he broke it

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:52.220
 and began to eat.

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:54.259
 Thankful for the things

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.980
 that God provided

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:56.099
 even in the midst

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.859
 of a situation

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.539
 that was terrifying.

00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.339
 Thankful for the food,

00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.940
 for God's provision.

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.039
 Thirdly,

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.559
 we are to be thankful

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.559
 for God's pardon.

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.359
 Romans 6.17.

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.200
 Paul writes,

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.400
 But thanks be to God

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.740
 that you who were once

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.720
 slaves of sin

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.819
 have become obedient

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.559
 from the heart

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.759
 to the standard of teaching

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:20.080
 to which you were committed.

00:24:21.080 --> 00:24:22.279
 We have been delivered

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.600
 because of the work

00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:24.840
 of Jesus Christ.

00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:25.500
 Right?

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.500
 We have placed faith

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:26.880
 in that

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.380
 and therefore

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.740
 we are saved

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.900
 and we are to be thankful

00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.860
 for God's pardon.

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.519
 Fourthly,

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:35.180
 for God's promises.

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.980
 2 Corinthians 1.20.

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:40.440
 Paul writes,

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:42.059
 For all the promises of God

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:44.360
 find their yes in Him.

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.500
 That is why

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.380
 it is through Him

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.539
 that we utter our amen

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.160
 to God

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.319
 for His glory.

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:49.839
 We are to be thankful

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.460
 for His promises.

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:50.900
 And beloved,

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.759
 if you don't know

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.240
 your Scriptures,

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.079
 you don't know

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:54.019
 His promises.

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:54.759
 Right?

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.319
 You don't have

00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.200
 the undergirding

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.360
 and the great encouragement

00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:59.519
 of who God is to you

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.740
 if you don't know

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.539
 your Scripture.

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.059
 Get in it.

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:05.039
 Saturate yourself with it.

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.779
 Know God's promises to you.

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.579
 You can walk through

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:11.019
 so many difficult things

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.639
 in life

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:13.000
 just simply by meditating

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.759
 on that.

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.220
 And what a fuel

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:15.920
 then it becomes

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.879
 to ask that God

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.839
 would deliver you through

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.779
 whatever it is

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:20.160
 that you're dealing with.

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:23.079
 Know God's promises.

00:25:24.899 --> 00:25:26.180
 Many of you who know me well

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.920
 know that one of my

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.660
 spiritual heroes

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.259
 is a man named

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.799
 George Mueller

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.160
 from Bristol, England.

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:32.720
 My father introduced me to him.

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.259
 I'm so thankful

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.799
 that he did.

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:36.740
 An amazing man of faith

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.140
 did so many things

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.960
 for the kingdom of God.

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.940
 The primary thing

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.380
 that most people

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:41.059
 know him for

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.680
 is he ran

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.440
 a number of orphanages.

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.539
 Cared for thousands

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.460
 and thousands of kids

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:48.339
 across his lifetime.

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.500
 But he saw

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.940
 his primary ministry

00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:52.259
 was to show

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.500
 that God was a God

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.559
 that could be trusted

00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.279
 for his promises.

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.400
 That we could place

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.160
 faith in God

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.859
 and that that faith

00:25:58.859 --> 00:26:00.059
 would never be disappointed

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.680
 if we believed

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.039
 in God's promises.

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.119
 So he did some

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.180
 very peculiar things

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.420
 with this ministry

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:07.500
 to the orphans.

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.539
 He did many other things.

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.399
 He was a pastor of a church.

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.159
 Many people forget

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:10.940
 that he did that

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.180
 across his life.

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:13.759
 He had an organization

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.079
 that was a funding organization

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.119
 for missionaries

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:16.899
 all over the world.

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.559
 Did some wonderful work

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.500
 in that regard.

00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:21.599
 And he oriented

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.920
 the way he did things

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.420
 in a way

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.720
 so that he could always

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.399
 easily trace

00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.920
 the monies that came

00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.839
 and the other resources

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.819
 that came directly

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.720
 to answer prayer

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.240
 from God.

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.779
 I can't get into

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.400
 all the particulars

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.200
 of that for the sake

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.700
 of time.

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.660
 But a wonderful example

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.559
 of this.

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.359
 He saw that as his

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:39.259
 primary ministry

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.519
 to show the church

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.180
 that we can believe

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.880
 the promises

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.220
 that God makes.

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.039
 And the very best

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.839
 biography written

00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:47.180
 about him

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.779
 was written by a man

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.559
 named A.T. Pearson

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.700
 and this is from

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.319
 that biography.

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:51.940
 He wrote,

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:52.480
 Thus,

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.880
 under his great teacher

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.680
 being God,

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.779
 did this pupil

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.599
 early in his

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.240
 spiritual history

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.620
 learn that supreme

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.059
 lesson

00:26:59.059 --> 00:27:00.779
 that to every child

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.200
 of God

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:02.220
 the word of God

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.759
 is the bread of life

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.460
 and the prayer of faith

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:07.100
 the breath of life.

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.600
 That we are sustained

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.980
 by these things.

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.380
 Feasting on the word of God

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.100
 and breathing in

00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:13.720
 and out

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.220
 through prayer.

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.559
 Fifthly,

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.259
 we're to be thankful

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:18.380
 for God's purpose.

00:27:19.080 --> 00:27:19.840
 Romans 8.28

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:21.080
 Hope it's familiar to you.

00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.600
 And we know that

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.400
 for those who love God

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.259
 all things work

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:25.000
 together for good.

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.460
 For those who are called

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:28.240
 according to his purpose.

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.500
 So we're to pray

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.799
 with thanksgiving.

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.000
 Thanksgiving will change

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.660
 the way

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:34.039
 that you pray.

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.359
 Take a quick look

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.680
 at this.

00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.579
 When the disciples

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.319
 ask Jesus

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.599
 how should they pray,

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.579
 he responds

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:42.000
 like this.

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.000
 This is so cool.

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.259
 I think you're familiar

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.779
 with this.

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.920
 Matthew 6.9-13

00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.940
 This is Jesus' answer.

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.700
 Christ, Lord,

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.559
 teach us how to pray.

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:51.980
 And he says,

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.859
 Pray then like this.

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.440
 Like this,

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.039
 not this.

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:54.799
 I'm going to make

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.680
 that distinction for you.

00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:57.100
 There's nothing wrong

00:27:57.100 --> 00:27:57.440
 with repeating

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:57.940
 the Lord's Prayer,

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.759
 but pray then like this.

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.200
 He's giving us

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.160
 a pattern for prayer.

00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.320
 Notice the things

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:03.700
 that I've said

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.320
 that we ought to be

00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.900
 thankful for in that.

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.500
 Our Father in Heaven,

00:28:08.820 --> 00:28:09.700
 hallowed be your name.

00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.000
 Presence.

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:11.820
 Our Father.

00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.880
 Your kingdom come.

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.440
 Your will be done

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.240
 on earth

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:18.180
 as it is in Heaven.

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.200
 Purpose.

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:20.820
 Verse 11,

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.360
 Give us this day

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.920
 our daily bread.

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.539
 Provision.

00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:24.400
 Verse 12,

00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.320
 And forgive us our debts

00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:27.120
 as we also have forgiven

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.700
 our debtors.

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.120
 Pardon.

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.320
 And lead us not into temptation,

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.660
 but deliver us from evil.

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.920
 Promises.

00:28:33.800 --> 00:28:34.540
 How cool that is

00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:35.860
 that that works together

00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.460
 in that way

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.800
 as Jesus explains to us.

00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:39.640
 So we get some further

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.380
 fleshing out,

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.640
 some further understanding

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.600
 as we read the rest

00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.100
 of the Scriptures.

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.300
 What is it that we're

00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:45.380
 supposed to be praying for?

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:45.920
 What is it that we're

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.380
 supposed to be thankful for?

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.780
 It's all running together

00:28:48.780 --> 00:28:49.560
 in this way.

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.019
 So we're to pray persistently.

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.460
 We're to pray watchfully.

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:54.340
 We're to pray thankfully.

00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:56.480
 And we're to pray

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:59.080
 intercessory prayers.

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.700
 I desperately wanted

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.540
 this point to be

00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:03.700
 pray intercessory.

00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:05.140
 But it is not a word.

00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:06.800
 And I really looked.

00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.600
 I was really hoping

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.160
 somewhere,

00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.820
 some source out there

00:29:09.820 --> 00:29:10.540
 would tell me it was okay

00:29:10.540 --> 00:29:11.540
 to say intercessory.

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:13.600
 But if you care

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.280
 to make up a word,

00:29:14.580 --> 00:29:15.640
 you can pray intercessory

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:18.660
 or pray intercessory prayers.

00:29:18.780 --> 00:29:19.460
 Verse 3,

00:29:19.560 --> 00:29:20.300
 the very beginning,

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.960
 says,

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.119
 at the same time,

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:24.500
 pray also for us.

00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:26.619
 So he's not negating here.

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.579
 Paul's not saying that

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.399
 all of your prayers

00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:29.539
 have to be for others.

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.259
 Right?

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.659
 Because he says,

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.819
 at the same time,

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.659
 so as you're praying

00:29:32.659 --> 00:29:33.440
 these prayers,

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:35.480
 pray also for us.

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.339
 So pray for yourself.

00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.700
 Pray for those circumstances

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:40.159
 that you're walking through,

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.680
 that you're in the midst of.

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.919
 Pray for your community.

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.700
 And at the same time,

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:47.660
 pray also for us.

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.000
 Intercessory prayer

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.900
 or intercession

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:52.120
 is just that.

00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:53.539
 It's praying on behalf

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:55.180
 of someone else.

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.860
 It's praying for someone else.

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:58.420
 It's praying for a lost friend

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.400
 or a family member

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.420
 or a co-worker.

00:30:00.580 --> 00:30:02.279
 It's praying for other believers.

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.220
 It's going to God

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.720
 on their behalf.

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.740
 It's expressing

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.740
 kingdom-oriented desire

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.680
 for them.

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.900
 It's a very wonderful way

00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:12.180
 to serve others.

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:14.000
 Please pray for me.

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.779
 Number one on my list

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.940
 of things you can do for me,

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.240
 pray for me.

00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:19.539
 Pray for me.

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.039
 Put me on the top

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.680
 of your list

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.860
 of things that you're praying for.

00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:24.200
 Those specific,

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.160
 persistent things,

00:30:25.300 --> 00:30:26.560
 I want to be on that list.

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.640
 I need your prayers.

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.720
 It's a wonderful way

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.880
 to serve me.

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:32.420
 I find so often

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.600
 that people's prayers

00:30:33.600 --> 00:30:35.220
 are altogether consumed

00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.039
 with themselves.

00:30:36.560 --> 00:30:37.360
 Experience that,

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.519
 praying with people.

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.840
 And they never pray

00:30:39.840 --> 00:30:40.360
 for other people.

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.480
 They only pray for themselves.

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.380
 giving prayer requests.

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:43.799
 Prayer requests

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.640
 are all about them.

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.279
 They're never about

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:45.819
 what's happening

00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:47.360
 in the world around them.

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.480
 And it's a shame.

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.059
 So many of us

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.579
 are so selfish.

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.059
 If you will begin

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.220
 to think about others,

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.559
 if you will begin

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.319
 to look at the world

00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.099
 around you,

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.140
 look at the hurts

00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:01.880
 of others,

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.000
 it so draws

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.720
 ours own

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.420
 into perspective.

00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.140
 I just find that

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.740
 so often,

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:07.140
 one thing I try

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.220
 to make a clear habit

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.200
 of doing is praying

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.779
 for the pastors

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.360
 in our area

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.160
 and meeting with pastors

00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:11.700
 in our area.

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.059
 And the more I do that,

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.940
 the more thankful

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.900
 I am for this church.

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.360
 You guys are great.

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.539
 How many of these guys

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.180
 are walking through

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.480
 some challenges around us

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.660
 that I don't even know?

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.339
 I don't know

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.420
 how I would bear up

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.299
 under some of the things

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.299
 that they're going through.

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.380
 And so I pray

00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.079
 for those men.

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:27.740
 And it's such

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.920
 a wonderful reminder

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:30.539
 that God's at work

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.600
 in our congregation.

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:34.019
 It shifts my perspective.

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.440
 And I know

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:34.900
 that those men

00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:36.420
 appreciate the prayers

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.100
 that I offer up

00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:38.440
 on their behalf.

00:31:39.280 --> 00:31:40.240
 We ought to be praying

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.640
 for those around us

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.400
 and beyond.

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.840
 Both abroad

00:31:44.840 --> 00:31:46.400
 and home.

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:47.900
 Your bulletin,

00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.700
 I know it doesn't change

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.380
 from week to week,

00:31:49.540 --> 00:31:50.060
 but your bulletin

00:31:50.060 --> 00:31:51.060
 reminds you of some things

00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:51.780
 that we need to be praying

00:31:51.780 --> 00:31:52.280
 for together

00:31:52.280 --> 00:31:53.380
 as a church.

00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:54.840
 The Whetstones,

00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:55.680
 the Stewards,

00:31:55.800 --> 00:31:56.300
 the Zwimpies,

00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:56.860
 you guys ever look

00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.960
 at any of this over here?

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.280
 I hope.

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.660
 I'm making a list for you.

00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:00.980
 I'm starting a list

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.280
 off for you.

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.980
 You should be in prayer

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.840
 for those things

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.459
 that are happening

00:32:05.459 --> 00:32:06.720
 around the world.

00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.599
 I hope you know

00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:08.500
 more and more

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.619
 people who are out

00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:10.599
 and beyond

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:12.399
 that we can be praying for.

00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.740
 Praying for those things

00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.259
 that are happening

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.279
 at home.

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.759
 Our community outreach groups

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.359
 are a place

00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:18.720
 that should be places of prayer.

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.759
 You should be investing

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.339
 in one another.

00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:21.559
 You should be remembering

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.799
 each other throughout the week

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:24.079
 and praying for one another

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:25.679
 in this way.

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.859
 Praying for others

00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:32.220
 shows a maturation

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:35.140
 in your Christian life.

00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.200
 You know,

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.420
 when we have babies,

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:37.740
 those of you,

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:39.039
 especially with really young ones,

00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:39.920
 we don't really expect

00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.680
 a lot from them

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:42.000
 in the form of communication.

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.860
 We get a whole lot

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.339
 out of them.

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:46.579
 Some of us will teach

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:48.100
 our kids sign language.

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.980
 They could tell us

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.680
 simple things like

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.160
 more,

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.700
 thank you,

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.740
 little sign language

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.559
 things that we do.

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.299
 They begin to develop

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.079
 their words.

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:56.880
 We want them

00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:57.980
 to be communicating with us,

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.579
 but we don't expect

00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.579
 a whole ton

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.400
 out of them

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.000
 in that regard,

00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:01.600
 but we definitely

00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.600
 expect them to grow

00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.259
 in their ability

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:05.000
 to communicate to us.

00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:07.080
 God wants to see the same.

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.700
 Last Sunday evening,

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.640
 we had our welcome home dinner.

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.259
 If you weren't here,

00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:11.680
 I'm sorry.

00:33:11.780 --> 00:33:12.500
 It was a lot of fun.

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.140
 You should have been.

00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.480
 And at the very end,

00:33:14.540 --> 00:33:15.300
 we were playing a game

00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:16.460
 called Inception Duck,

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.019
 Duck, Goose,

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:17.759
 where you have

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.759
 a big game of

00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.560
 Duck, Duck, Goose going

00:33:19.560 --> 00:33:20.900
 and the people who get tagged

00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:21.620
 have to go to the middle

00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:23.759
 and then once there's enough people,

00:33:23.820 --> 00:33:24.280
 they get a game

00:33:24.280 --> 00:33:25.120
 of Duck, Duck, Goose going,

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.040
 going the opposite direction

00:33:26.040 --> 00:33:27.080
 and pretty soon you have

00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:27.759
 these multiple games

00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:28.460
 of Duck, Duck, Goose.

00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.440
 It's kind of maddening,

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.920
 happening in the middle

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.279
 of the room.

00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.759
 And I was so very,

00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.160
 very thankful

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.840
 that my sons decided

00:33:34.840 --> 00:33:35.640
 they wanted to play

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:37.180
 Cade 5, Judah 3,

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.380
 sitting in this big circle,

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.960
 primarily of college students.

00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:43.559
 And everyone's running around,

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.220
 going insane.

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.519
 And I just jumped in

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:45.980
 on the game

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.340
 because Cade hadn't been tagged yet.

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:47.920
 I know he was kind of

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.460
 sitting there itching,

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.180
 ready to go.

00:33:49.820 --> 00:33:51.299
 And so I tagged him.

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.400
 We ran around the circle.

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.660
 He caught up to me.

00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.620
 I let him catch up to me

00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:56.739
 and tag me.

00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:57.239
 Okay?

00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:59.299
 So I'm out of the game

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.199
 and it's Cade's turn

00:34:00.199 --> 00:34:01.179
 to go around.

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:03.439
 And I was so proud of him.

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.859
 Beaming father,

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.279
 my five-year-old,

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.579
 decides to tag

00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.579
 his little brother.

00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:09.980
 So he tagged Judah.

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.359
 And off he goes

00:34:11.359 --> 00:34:12.359
 and very clearly

00:34:12.359 --> 00:34:13.679
 let him catch him.

00:34:13.819 --> 00:34:14.639
 Like he very clearly

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.039
 let Judah catch up to him

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:17.339
 and catch him

00:34:17.339 --> 00:34:18.639
 to make Judah feel good

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.940
 about the game.

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.980
 It was a wonderful,

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:21.519
 wonderful thing

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.740
 to experience him

00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:24.059
 giving up winning

00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:25.159
 for the sake of his

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:25.760
 little brother.

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.460
 So that's Cade.

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.019
 He's five.

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.720
 Then Judah goes around

00:34:28.720 --> 00:34:29.340
 and I think,

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.420
 I think was it

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.920
 Hannah McDonald,

00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:31.440
 I think?

00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:32.780
 Oh, you want to hear?

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.380
 I don't remember

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.940
 who he tagged then.

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:34.920
 He tagged somebody.

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:35.960
 Judah did.

00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:38.380
 Did not try to let

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.740
 be kind.

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.400
 He was,

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.320
 but at three,

00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.360
 I was really proud of him.

00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.079
 He was full,

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:43.960
 he was leaning into it.

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.780
 He was going as fast

00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:47.500
 as he possibly could go.

00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.820
 And the gracious person

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.139
 he tagged

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:50.400
 let him get back around

00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.079
 to the other side,

00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:51.900
 which was also wonderful

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.900
 to see.

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.819
 But there should be

00:34:53.819 --> 00:34:54.759
 this maturation, right?

00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:55.000
 Like,

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.039
 cool for Judah

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.339
 to full on out and go.

00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:58.000
 Right?

00:34:58.339 --> 00:34:59.319
 Great that Cade

00:34:59.319 --> 00:35:00.960
 grew up a little bit.

00:35:01.319 --> 00:35:02.519
 Thought of someone else

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.500
 in this process

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.759
 of this game.

00:35:04.819 --> 00:35:05.639
 We should be growing

00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:08.239
 in our prayer process.

00:35:08.879 --> 00:35:09.759
 Dietrich Bonhoeffer

00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:11.279
 wrote a wonderful book

00:35:11.279 --> 00:35:12.099
 called Life Together.

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.819
 And he said this

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:15.019
 of praying for one another.

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.079
 A Christian fellowship

00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:17.779
 lives and exists

00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:18.900
 by the intercession

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:20.039
 of its members

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.800
 for one another

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:22.059
 or it collapses.

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:24.079
 I can no longer

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.079
 condemn or hate

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.780
 a brother for whom

00:35:25.780 --> 00:35:26.320
 I pray,

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.420
 no matter how much

00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.539
 trouble he causes me.

00:35:29.180 --> 00:35:30.780
 His face that hitherto

00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:32.019
 may have been strange

00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:33.720
 and intolerable to me

00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:35.300
 is transformed

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:36.099
 in intercession

00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:37.300
 into the countenance

00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:37.940
 of a brother

00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.440
 for whom Christ died.

00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.519
 The face

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:42.340
 of a forgiven sinner.

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:43.840
 So you see how

00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.660
 this perspective

00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:45.460
 even changes

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.539
 in our life

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.260
 together

00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:49.000
 in a Christian fellowship.

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:50.300
 We need to be praying

00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:51.960
 for one another.

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:54.340
 Turn to the Old Testament

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.980
 book of Nehemiah.

00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.720
 I'm going to show you

00:35:57.720 --> 00:35:58.320
 an example.

00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.800
 A biblical prayer,

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:02.039
 a record of prayer

00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:03.380
 that contains in it

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.400
 all of these elements,

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.139
 all of these things

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:05.720
 that I've said.

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.039
 Persistently,

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.579
 watchfully,

00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:08.059
 thankfully,

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:09.840
 and in an

00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:11.219
 intercessory fashion.

00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:15.139
 Nehemiah is after Ezra

00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:16.000
 before Esther.

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:18.019
 That helps you.

00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:20.840
 If you only have

00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:21.639
 a New Testament with you,

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.099
 you only have

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:23.000
 one-third of your Bible.

00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:30.340
 Nehemiah is a Jew

00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:31.259
 living in exile.

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.440
 Israel was punished

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.880
 for their unfaithfulness

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.460
 to God.

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:37.460
 They were judged

00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.539
 by God

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.880
 through a war

00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:40.480
 with Babylon.

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.559
 Babylon came,

00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.179
 captured,

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:42.980
 carried away.

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:44.880
 This is now

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:46.159
 some generations later.

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.599
 Persia is now

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.559
 the world power.

00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.400
 Power has shifted.

00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:50.740
 Persia has conquered Babylon

00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:51.860
 and Jews are now

00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.659
 living in exile

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.740
 under Persian rule.

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:54.539
 There have been

00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:55.500
 some Jews

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.199
 that have returned

00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:57.679
 back to Israel,

00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.519
 but an edict

00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.139
 has been passed

00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:01.119
 by the current king,

00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.139
 King Artaxerxes,

00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:03.240
 in this state,

00:37:03.320 --> 00:37:04.300
 the son of the King

00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.800
 Artaxerxes.

00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:07.079
 He's passed this edict

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:07.920
 that they cannot

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:09.199
 rebuild Jerusalem.

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.619
 Cannot rebuild Jerusalem.

00:37:11.259 --> 00:37:12.279
 But all the same,

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.639
 it seems that Nehemiah

00:37:13.639 --> 00:37:14.559
 expects that those

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.139
 who have gone back

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:16.099
 would have rebuilt it anyway.

00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:17.039
 That they would have

00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:17.960
 disobeyed the command

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.440
 of the king

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:19.079
 and they would have

00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:19.759
 rebuilt Jerusalem

00:37:19.759 --> 00:37:20.599
 all the same.

00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:22.039
 Because he receives word

00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:22.920
 at the very beginning

00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:24.219
 of Nehemiah 1

00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:26.360
 that it hasn't happened yet,

00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:27.480
 that the city still lies

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.819
 in shambles.

00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:29.380
 And I'll pick up

00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.480
 in verse 4.

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:33.059
 Nehemiah writes,

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:33.860
 As soon as I heard

00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.599
 these words,

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:36.420
 I sat down

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.219
 and wept

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:38.659
 and mourned

00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:39.960
 for days.

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.920
 Now he did so

00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:42.380
 because God's glory

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.260
 in those days

00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:44.840
 was manifest.

00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.780
 It was seen

00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:47.240
 by how God's people

00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:47.760
 were doing.

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.199
 Right?

00:37:48.280 --> 00:37:50.679
 By the wealth,

00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:52.219
 the might

00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:53.460
 of how God's people

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.500
 were doing.

00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:55.820
 And so he

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:57.099
 warns this.

00:37:57.219 --> 00:37:57.440
 Right?

00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:58.440
 Not because he cares

00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.960
 so much about the Israelites,

00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:00.720
 about his people,

00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:01.440
 but he cares about

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.460
 God's name.

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:03.740
 He goes on,

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.780
 And I continued fasting

00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:06.059
 and praying

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:07.679
 before the God of heaven.

00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.139
 Right?

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.920
 You see the persistence

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.099
 found in there?

00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:11.420
 He continues

00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.200
 fasting

00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:13.300
 and praying.

00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:13.980
 In fact,

00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.340
 he found out

00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:16.280
 in the month of

00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:17.059
 Chislev

00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:19.360
 and he addresses the king

00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:19.940
 you see at the beginning

00:38:19.940 --> 00:38:20.599
 of chapter 2

00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.400
 in the month of

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:22.099
 Nisan.

00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.159
 This is roughly

00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:23.960
 four months.

00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:24.559
 Four,

00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:26.099
 four and a half months

00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:26.960
 that he

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:28.740
 continues fasting

00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.619
 and praying

00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:30.559
 before the God

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.599
 of heaven.

00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:32.800
 Verse 5,

00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:33.300
 And I said,

00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:34.720
 O Lord,

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:35.760
 God of heaven,

00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.980
 the great and awesome God

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:38.340
 who keeps covenant

00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:39.639
 and steadfast love

00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:40.619
 with those who love him

00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:42.000
 and keep his commandments.

00:38:42.240 --> 00:38:43.360
 You see the giving of thanks.

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:43.920
 Right?

00:38:44.220 --> 00:38:45.340
 Like I know who you are.

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.420
 I know how you interact

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.380
 with your people.

00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:48.559
 He's thankful for that.

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:49.659
 Verse 6,

00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:51.360
 Let your ear be attentive

00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:52.340
 and your eyes open

00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:53.280
 to hear the prayers

00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:53.860
 of your servant

00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:55.420
 that I now pray before you

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:56.740
 day and night

00:38:56.739 --> 00:38:58.179
 for the people of Israel,

00:38:58.279 --> 00:38:58.879
 your servants,

00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:00.739
 confessing the sins

00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:01.659
 of the people of Israel

00:39:01.659 --> 00:39:02.719
 which we have sinned

00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:03.339
 against you.

00:39:03.759 --> 00:39:05.239
 Even I and my father's house

00:39:05.239 --> 00:39:05.919
 have sinned.

00:39:06.339 --> 00:39:07.679
 We have acted very corruptly

00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.019
 against you

00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:08.759
 and have not kept

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.299
 the commandments,

00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:10.479
 the statutes,

00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.519
 and the rules

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:12.119
 that you commanded

00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:13.199
 your servant Moses.

00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.659
 Do you see the intercession

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.579
 on their behalf?

00:39:15.719 --> 00:39:16.639
 Praying on behalf

00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.939
 of the entire nation

00:39:17.939 --> 00:39:19.199
 of Israel.

00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:20.179
 Verse 8,

00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:21.459
 Remember the word

00:39:21.459 --> 00:39:22.000
 that you commanded

00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:22.679
 your servant Moses

00:39:22.679 --> 00:39:23.099
 saying,

00:39:23.459 --> 00:39:24.279
 If you are unfaithful,

00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:25.000
 I will scatter you

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.640
 among the peoples.

00:39:26.140 --> 00:39:27.180
 But if you return to me

00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:28.000
 and keep my commandments

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.660
 and do them,

00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:30.000
 though your outcasts

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.680
 are in the uttermost

00:39:30.680 --> 00:39:31.400
 parts of heaven,

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:33.100
 from there I will gather them

00:39:33.100 --> 00:39:34.220
 and bring them to the place

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:34.840
 that I have chosen

00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:36.700
 to make my name dwell there.

00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:38.740
 They are your servants

00:39:38.740 --> 00:39:39.920
 and your people

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.140
 whom you have redeemed

00:39:41.140 --> 00:39:42.400
 by your great power

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:44.200
 and by your strong hand.

00:39:44.740 --> 00:39:45.680
 You see the giving of thanks

00:39:45.680 --> 00:39:46.240
 once again?

00:39:47.240 --> 00:39:47.760
 Oh Lord,

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.800
 let your ear be attentive

00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:50.180
 to the prayer of your servant

00:39:50.180 --> 00:39:51.280
 and to the prayers

00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:51.920
 of your servants

00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:53.360
 who delight to fear your name

00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.680
 and give success

00:39:54.680 --> 00:39:55.820
 to your servant today

00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:57.159
 and grant him mercy

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:59.260
 in the sight of this man.

00:39:59.340 --> 00:40:01.280
 He's referring to the king.

00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:03.280
 He's praying watchfully.

00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:04.700
 He knows what it is

00:40:04.700 --> 00:40:05.980
 and how it is

00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:07.539
 that he ought to pray.

00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:08.340
 And up in verse 6,

00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:09.539
 you'll see that he's doing so

00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:10.440
 day and night.

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:12.039
 That he's physically

00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:14.420
 being watchful as well.

00:40:14.579 --> 00:40:15.800
 And the last verse,

00:40:15.860 --> 00:40:16.340
 verse 11,

00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:16.680
 ends,

00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:17.920
 Now I was cupbearer

00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:18.700
 to the king.

00:40:19.379 --> 00:40:20.019
 God had,

00:40:20.419 --> 00:40:21.599
 in his sovereignty,

00:40:21.799 --> 00:40:22.559
 placed him

00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:23.859
 to be a servant

00:40:23.859 --> 00:40:24.319
 to the king.

00:40:24.399 --> 00:40:25.379
 He drank the king's wine

00:40:25.379 --> 00:40:26.519
 to be sure that the wine

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.259
 wasn't poisoned.

00:40:27.419 --> 00:40:28.179
 So he had access

00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:29.359
 to the king.

00:40:29.419 --> 00:40:30.639
 And you see in chapter 2,

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:31.759
 the king asks him one day

00:40:31.759 --> 00:40:32.879
 what's bothering him.

00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:34.279
 You see a repetition,

00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:35.139
 a brief,

00:40:35.419 --> 00:40:36.359
 so I prayed

00:40:36.359 --> 00:40:37.259
 in chapter 2.

00:40:37.619 --> 00:40:38.819
 And then he spills it.

00:40:39.980 --> 00:40:40.980
 Ask the king to go

00:40:40.980 --> 00:40:41.819
 against this edict

00:40:41.819 --> 00:40:42.480
 that he had delivered,

00:40:42.619 --> 00:40:43.879
 which this was not a thing

00:40:43.879 --> 00:40:45.239
 that you asked a king to do.

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:46.879
 For a king to undo

00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:47.900
 something he had done

00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:48.860
 would be to admit

00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:49.700
 his own fault

00:40:49.700 --> 00:40:50.660
 and his own failure.

00:40:50.780 --> 00:40:52.119
 So this is a major deal.

00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:53.220
 Nehemiah,

00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.900
 likely from

00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:56.420
 the human perspective,

00:40:56.640 --> 00:40:57.559
 stood to be killed

00:40:57.559 --> 00:40:58.039
 for the thing

00:40:58.039 --> 00:40:58.780
 that he asked the king

00:40:58.780 --> 00:40:59.340
 to do.

00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:01.320
 Falsify yourself,

00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:01.980
 is what he was saying

00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:02.480
 to the king.

00:41:02.760 --> 00:41:03.440
 Make yourself

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:05.860
 less than you think you are.

00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:06.599
 You're not the king,

00:41:06.660 --> 00:41:07.300
 you're just a guy

00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:08.019
 who made a decision.

00:41:08.140 --> 00:41:09.019
 It was a bad decision.

00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:11.220
 This is an offense

00:41:11.220 --> 00:41:11.640
 that would have been

00:41:11.640 --> 00:41:13.260
 punishable by death.

00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:14.640
 And so he prays.

00:41:14.639 --> 00:41:16.139
 And he prays this persistent,

00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:17.039
 watchful,

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:17.799
 thankful,

00:41:18.980 --> 00:41:20.000
 intercessory prayer.

00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.219
 And God gives him

00:41:21.219 --> 00:41:21.799
 great success.

00:41:22.039 --> 00:41:22.819
 He's able to return,

00:41:23.259 --> 00:41:23.879
 rebuild the wall.

00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:24.699
 Read the rest of the book.

00:41:24.759 --> 00:41:25.579
 It's one of my favorite

00:41:25.579 --> 00:41:26.819
 Old Testament stories.

00:41:28.319 --> 00:41:29.079
 So we see here

00:41:29.079 --> 00:41:29.519
 the prayer

00:41:29.519 --> 00:41:31.460
 of the new self.

00:41:31.759 --> 00:41:32.319
 We are to

00:41:32.319 --> 00:41:33.879
 pray persistently,

00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:34.659
 watchfully,

00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:35.920
 thankfully.

00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:37.299
 And we're to pray

00:41:37.299 --> 00:41:39.379
 intercessory prayers.

00:41:40.980 --> 00:41:41.379
 Secondly,

00:41:41.619 --> 00:41:42.139
 and in closing,

00:41:42.139 --> 00:41:45.259
 you see the opportunity

00:41:45.259 --> 00:41:46.500
 of the new self

00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:47.379
 in the last part

00:41:47.379 --> 00:41:48.719
 of verse 3.

00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:50.039
 That God,

00:41:50.139 --> 00:41:50.779
 pray for us,

00:41:50.859 --> 00:41:51.839
 that God may open

00:41:51.839 --> 00:41:52.859
 to us a door

00:41:52.859 --> 00:41:53.839
 for the word

00:41:53.839 --> 00:41:54.719
 to declare the mystery

00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:55.359
 of Christ

00:41:55.359 --> 00:41:56.659
 on account of which

00:41:56.659 --> 00:41:58.420
 I am in prison.

00:41:59.099 --> 00:41:59.339
 You see,

00:41:59.400 --> 00:42:00.279
 often in the New Testament

00:42:00.279 --> 00:42:01.379
 this idea of a door

00:42:01.379 --> 00:42:02.980
 equals opportunity.

00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:03.819
 An example of that

00:42:03.819 --> 00:42:05.000
 is in 1 Corinthians 16,

00:42:05.179 --> 00:42:05.799
 8 and 9.

00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:06.579
 Paul says,

00:42:06.579 --> 00:42:07.500
 but I will stay

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:08.079
 in Ephesus

00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:09.019
 until Pentecost

00:42:09.019 --> 00:42:10.460
 for a wide door

00:42:10.460 --> 00:42:11.619
 for effective work

00:42:11.619 --> 00:42:12.480
 has opened to me

00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:14.179
 and there are many

00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:15.420
 adversaries.

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:17.519
 So door equals opportunity.

00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:18.599
 So there's an opportunity

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.759
 for the new self

00:42:19.759 --> 00:42:20.679
 which we see expressed

00:42:20.679 --> 00:42:22.179
 in Paul's life

00:42:22.179 --> 00:42:23.179
 even as he's

00:42:23.179 --> 00:42:24.960
 in prison.

00:42:25.400 --> 00:42:26.119
 And the overarching

00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:27.440
 exhortation here

00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:28.360
 is to seize

00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:30.699
 every opportunity.

00:42:31.820 --> 00:42:32.320
 You see here

00:42:32.320 --> 00:42:33.519
 that Paul is in prison.

00:42:33.619 --> 00:42:34.179
 He declares that

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:34.659
 at the end.

00:42:34.759 --> 00:42:35.219
 We're not

00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:36.880
 100% sure

00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:38.059
 on which imprisonment

00:42:38.059 --> 00:42:38.800
 is happening.

00:42:40.140 --> 00:42:41.160
 Some commentators

00:42:41.160 --> 00:42:41.539
 will say it

00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:42.079
 with confidence

00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:42.700
 but we don't know

00:42:42.700 --> 00:42:43.480
 for a fact

00:42:43.480 --> 00:42:44.240
 that this is his

00:42:44.240 --> 00:42:45.360
 Roman imprisonment

00:42:45.360 --> 00:42:46.980
 but it likely is.

00:42:47.059 --> 00:42:47.980
 Most of the evidence

00:42:47.980 --> 00:42:49.400
 adds up to that.

00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:51.160
 So he's more than likely

00:42:51.160 --> 00:42:52.660
 in his Roman imprisonment

00:42:52.660 --> 00:42:53.800
 and he's seeing

00:42:53.800 --> 00:42:54.940
 that even this

00:42:54.940 --> 00:42:56.099
 is an opportunity.

00:42:56.260 --> 00:42:57.680
 His primary concern

00:42:57.680 --> 00:42:59.240
 is that he would be able

00:42:59.240 --> 00:43:00.000
 to declare

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.920
 the mystery

00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:01.940
 of Christ.

00:43:03.640 --> 00:43:04.539
 How many of you

00:43:04.539 --> 00:43:05.800
 would ask

00:43:05.800 --> 00:43:06.980
 for others

00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:08.539
 to pray for them

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.779
 found in such a situation

00:43:09.779 --> 00:43:10.460
 that they would just

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:11.420
 be able to share

00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:12.239
 Christ

00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:13.279
 with those around them?

00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:15.360
 Seems to me

00:43:15.360 --> 00:43:15.980
 that most of us

00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.500
 would ask

00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:17.300
 that the church

00:43:17.300 --> 00:43:17.639
 would pray

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.579
 that we be set free

00:43:18.579 --> 00:43:18.960
 from prison.

00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:19.599
 This is not where

00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:20.159
 I want to be.

00:43:20.500 --> 00:43:21.380
 This is not a situation

00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:22.400
 I want to find myself in.

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:23.199
 Pray for that.

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:24.179
 Pray for me

00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:24.599
 and the things

00:43:24.599 --> 00:43:25.199
 that are going on

00:43:25.199 --> 00:43:25.800
 with me.

00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:26.900
 But here Paul says

00:43:26.900 --> 00:43:28.159
 no, pray that I'll

00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:28.960
 have an opportunity

00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:30.000
 to share

00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:31.000
 the mystery

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:32.079
 of Christ.

00:43:32.840 --> 00:43:33.579
 The mystery of Christ

00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:34.239
 as we saw earlier

00:43:34.239 --> 00:43:34.619
 in the book

00:43:34.619 --> 00:43:35.259
 is simply referring

00:43:35.259 --> 00:43:35.920
 to that which was

00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:36.900
 hidden in the Old Testament

00:43:36.900 --> 00:43:38.139
 but now is revealed

00:43:38.139 --> 00:43:39.239
 in the person and work

00:43:39.239 --> 00:43:40.019
 of Jesus Christ.

00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:40.779
 It's the gospel.

00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:41.619
 He just wants

00:43:41.619 --> 00:43:42.400
 an opportunity

00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:44.219
 to preach the gospel.

00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:45.360
 Open up this door.

00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:46.179
 Pray that God

00:43:46.179 --> 00:43:46.699
 would open it.

00:43:46.739 --> 00:43:47.179
 That I would have

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.659
 opportunity

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:49.119
 to do so.

00:43:50.279 --> 00:43:51.400
 Believers are to pray

00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:53.259
 for open doors

00:43:53.259 --> 00:43:54.340
 as it is God

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:55.299
 who opens them.

00:43:55.440 --> 00:43:56.380
 It's God who brings

00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:57.259
 about these

00:43:57.259 --> 00:43:59.000
 divine

00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:00.719
 situations

00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:01.400
 where we are able

00:44:01.400 --> 00:44:01.960
 to preach

00:44:01.960 --> 00:44:02.760
 the good news

00:44:02.760 --> 00:44:04.139
 of Jesus Christ.

00:44:05.099 --> 00:44:06.119
 Revelation 3-7

00:44:06.119 --> 00:44:06.980
 describes Jesus

00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:07.420
 as the one

00:44:07.420 --> 00:44:08.059
 who opens

00:44:08.059 --> 00:44:08.539
 and no one

00:44:08.539 --> 00:44:09.079
 will shut

00:44:09.079 --> 00:44:10.240
 and who shuts

00:44:10.240 --> 00:44:11.539
 and no one

00:44:11.539 --> 00:44:12.699
 opens.

00:44:13.920 --> 00:44:14.760
 An example of this

00:44:14.760 --> 00:44:15.880
 is found in Acts 16

00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:16.860
 verses 9 and 10.

00:44:17.699 --> 00:44:18.320
 Luke records

00:44:18.320 --> 00:44:19.079
 that a vision appeared

00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:19.820
 to Paul in the night.

00:44:19.940 --> 00:44:20.960
 A man of Macedonia

00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:21.780
 was standing there

00:44:21.780 --> 00:44:22.780
 urging him and saying

00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:24.300
 come over to Macedonia

00:44:24.300 --> 00:44:25.099
 and help us.

00:44:25.699 --> 00:44:26.220
 And when Paul

00:44:26.220 --> 00:44:27.039
 had seen the vision

00:44:27.039 --> 00:44:27.920
 immediately we sought

00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:28.940
 to go on

00:44:28.940 --> 00:44:29.740
 into Macedonia

00:44:29.740 --> 00:44:30.639
 concluding that God

00:44:30.639 --> 00:44:31.139
 had called us

00:44:31.139 --> 00:44:32.519
 to preach the gospel

00:44:32.519 --> 00:44:33.079
 to them.

00:44:33.179 --> 00:44:33.539
 They took it

00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:34.119
 as a door

00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:35.420
 open for going

00:44:35.420 --> 00:44:36.000
 and preaching

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.480
 the gospel.

00:44:36.839 --> 00:44:37.319
 If you read on

00:44:37.319 --> 00:44:37.679
 in Acts

00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:38.199
 there was a great

00:44:38.199 --> 00:44:39.099
 deal of people

00:44:39.099 --> 00:44:40.339
 turned to God

00:44:40.339 --> 00:44:41.500
 by their work there.

00:44:43.179 --> 00:44:44.619
 Paul's Roman

00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:45.319
 imprisonment

00:44:45.319 --> 00:44:46.440
 was not the end

00:44:46.440 --> 00:44:47.920
 of his ministry.

00:44:48.779 --> 00:44:49.679
 Just like wherever

00:44:49.679 --> 00:44:50.559
 you are now

00:44:50.559 --> 00:44:51.420
 is not the

00:44:51.420 --> 00:44:53.659
 preparing point

00:44:53.659 --> 00:44:54.440
 for your ministry.

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:55.299
 If you are found

00:44:55.299 --> 00:44:55.799
 in Christ

00:44:55.799 --> 00:44:56.679
 if you are a disciple

00:44:56.679 --> 00:44:57.839
 of Jesus Christ

00:44:57.839 --> 00:44:58.879
 you are to invest

00:44:58.880 --> 00:44:59.880
 in the things

00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:00.840
 that Jesus Christ

00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:01.980
 cares about.

00:45:02.340 --> 00:45:02.900
 The redemption

00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:03.440
 of souls

00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:04.500
 the redeeming

00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:05.220
 of his church

00:45:05.220 --> 00:45:05.980
 the gathering

00:45:05.980 --> 00:45:07.140
 in of that

00:45:07.140 --> 00:45:08.680
 number.

00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:10.860
 The summation

00:45:10.860 --> 00:45:11.980
 of Paul's

00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:13.300
 Roman imprisonment

00:45:13.300 --> 00:45:13.900
 is found in Acts

00:45:13.900 --> 00:45:14.980
 28 verses 30

00:45:14.980 --> 00:45:15.980
 and 31.

00:45:17.260 --> 00:45:17.940
 Luke writes

00:45:17.940 --> 00:45:18.640
 he lived there

00:45:18.640 --> 00:45:19.640
 two whole years

00:45:19.640 --> 00:45:21.019
 at his own expense

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:21.720
 and welcomed

00:45:21.720 --> 00:45:23.200
 all who came to him.

00:45:23.260 --> 00:45:24.000
 It was a house arrest

00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:24.599
 that he was under.

00:45:25.059 --> 00:45:25.920
 Proclaiming the kingdom

00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:26.440
 of God

00:45:26.440 --> 00:45:26.960
 and teaching

00:45:26.960 --> 00:45:27.619
 about the Lord

00:45:27.619 --> 00:45:28.420
 Jesus Christ

00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:29.880
 with all boldness

00:45:29.880 --> 00:45:32.320
 and without hindrance.

00:45:33.579 --> 00:45:34.320
 So there's this

00:45:34.320 --> 00:45:35.400
 wonderful opportunity

00:45:35.400 --> 00:45:36.539
 laid before him

00:45:36.539 --> 00:45:37.519
 and he has the eyes

00:45:37.519 --> 00:45:38.240
 to see that this

00:45:38.240 --> 00:45:38.780
 is the case.

00:45:39.220 --> 00:45:40.139
 God has brought me

00:45:40.139 --> 00:45:41.079
 by his good plan

00:45:41.079 --> 00:45:41.820
 and his good purposes

00:45:41.820 --> 00:45:42.760
 to this place

00:45:42.760 --> 00:45:44.280
 to share the gospel

00:45:44.280 --> 00:45:45.659
 to seize the opportunities

00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:46.940
 that God has placed

00:45:46.940 --> 00:45:47.780
 before me

00:45:47.780 --> 00:45:48.579
 and the same

00:45:48.579 --> 00:45:49.820
 is true

00:45:49.820 --> 00:45:50.980
 of us.

00:45:51.700 --> 00:45:52.220
 While we don't

00:45:52.220 --> 00:45:52.639
 find ourselves

00:45:52.639 --> 00:45:53.079
 in prison

00:45:53.079 --> 00:45:54.900
 UNG might feel

00:45:54.900 --> 00:45:55.400
 like a prison

00:45:55.400 --> 00:45:58.019
 it's a place

00:45:58.019 --> 00:45:58.900
 for you to serve

00:45:58.900 --> 00:45:59.900
 and to work

00:45:59.900 --> 00:46:00.639
 for the sake

00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:01.160
 of our King.

00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:02.920
 Colossians 3

00:46:02.920 --> 00:46:03.639
 1-4

00:46:03.639 --> 00:46:04.099
 This is the very

00:46:04.099 --> 00:46:04.800
 beginning of this

00:46:04.800 --> 00:46:06.599
 entire dialogue

00:46:06.599 --> 00:46:07.240
 that Paul's been

00:46:07.240 --> 00:46:08.139
 taking us to.

00:46:08.460 --> 00:46:08.760
 He says

00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:09.480
 if then you have

00:46:09.480 --> 00:46:09.900
 been raised

00:46:09.900 --> 00:46:10.599
 with Christ

00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:11.980
 if you are found

00:46:11.980 --> 00:46:12.420
 in Him

00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:13.840
 seek the things

00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:15.059
 that are above

00:46:15.059 --> 00:46:16.920
 where Christ is

00:46:16.920 --> 00:46:17.539
 seated at the

00:46:17.539 --> 00:46:18.360
 right hand of God

00:46:18.360 --> 00:46:19.420
 set your minds

00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:20.059
 on things that are

00:46:20.059 --> 00:46:20.400
 above

00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:21.539
 not on things

00:46:21.539 --> 00:46:23.119
 that are on earth

00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:24.339
 for you have died

00:46:24.339 --> 00:46:25.039
 and your life

00:46:25.039 --> 00:46:25.480
 is hidden

00:46:25.480 --> 00:46:26.279
 with Christ

00:46:26.279 --> 00:46:27.420
 in God.

00:46:27.940 --> 00:46:28.559
 And then verse 4

00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:29.480
 when Christ

00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:31.359
 who is your life

00:46:31.359 --> 00:46:32.039
 appears

00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:33.639
 then you also

00:46:33.639 --> 00:46:34.119
 will appear

00:46:34.119 --> 00:46:34.639
 with Him

00:46:34.639 --> 00:46:35.960
 in glory.

00:46:36.440 --> 00:46:37.400
 You see that the new self

00:46:37.400 --> 00:46:38.819
 is entirely reoriented.

00:46:39.279 --> 00:46:40.299
 We no longer serve

00:46:40.299 --> 00:46:40.980
 the world

00:46:40.980 --> 00:46:41.920
 we no longer serve

00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:42.500
 ourselves

00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:43.659
 but we serve Christ.

00:46:43.819 --> 00:46:44.299
 Christ

00:46:44.299 --> 00:46:45.099
 is our

00:46:45.099 --> 00:46:46.119
 life.

00:46:47.019 --> 00:46:47.519
 Paul certainly

00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:48.219
 saw this to be

00:46:48.219 --> 00:46:49.039
 the case.

00:46:49.420 --> 00:46:50.039
 Willing to go

00:46:50.039 --> 00:46:50.500
 anywhere

00:46:50.500 --> 00:46:51.860
 and always

00:46:51.860 --> 00:46:52.980
 seeking an opportunity

00:46:52.980 --> 00:46:53.780
 to share

00:46:53.780 --> 00:46:54.639
 the mystery

00:46:54.639 --> 00:46:56.000
 of Jesus Christ

00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:56.400
 and beloved

00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:56.980
 our lives

00:46:56.980 --> 00:46:57.679
 do not line up

00:46:57.679 --> 00:46:58.019
 to this

00:46:58.019 --> 00:46:59.679
 in so many

00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:00.840
 ways.

00:47:02.260 --> 00:47:03.260
 I want you

00:47:03.260 --> 00:47:04.300
 I want me

00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:05.880
 in the moments

00:47:05.880 --> 00:47:06.559
 of our days

00:47:06.559 --> 00:47:07.840
 as we walk out

00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:09.119
 into this next week

00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:10.219
 to be able to

00:47:10.219 --> 00:47:11.320
 echo

00:47:11.320 --> 00:47:12.059
 what Paul says

00:47:12.059 --> 00:47:13.019
 in Philippians 1.21

00:47:13.019 --> 00:47:13.619
 for to me

00:47:13.619 --> 00:47:14.940
 to live is Christ

00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:16.019
 and to die

00:47:16.019 --> 00:47:17.139
 is gain

00:47:17.139 --> 00:47:17.960
 because I get more

00:47:17.960 --> 00:47:19.059
 of Christ.

00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:20.079
 That we treasure

00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:20.900
 Him to the degree

00:47:20.900 --> 00:47:22.259
 that all that we do

00:47:22.259 --> 00:47:23.559
 is oriented

00:47:23.559 --> 00:47:25.400
 in that direction.

00:47:26.619 --> 00:47:27.259
 We're going to

00:47:27.259 --> 00:47:28.000
 hold verse 4

00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:29.460
 into next week

00:47:29.460 --> 00:47:30.460
 for the sake of time.

00:47:30.699 --> 00:47:31.000
 So let me

00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:32.119
 conclude with this

00:47:32.119 --> 00:47:33.759
 kind of summary statement.

00:47:35.019 --> 00:47:36.139
 As new creations

00:47:36.139 --> 00:47:36.759
 in Christ

00:47:36.759 --> 00:47:38.099
 we are given

00:47:38.099 --> 00:47:39.239
 great opportunity

00:47:39.239 --> 00:47:39.840
 to share Him

00:47:39.840 --> 00:47:40.380
 with the world.

00:47:40.920 --> 00:47:41.920
 The blessing

00:47:41.920 --> 00:47:42.599
 of getting

00:47:42.599 --> 00:47:44.360
 to carry out

00:47:44.360 --> 00:47:44.840
 His mission

00:47:44.840 --> 00:47:45.840
 in the world.

00:47:46.440 --> 00:47:46.920
 This ought to be

00:47:46.920 --> 00:47:47.900
 the great desire

00:47:47.900 --> 00:47:48.780
 of the redeemed.

00:47:49.360 --> 00:47:50.559
 To share the work

00:47:50.559 --> 00:47:51.240
 of our

00:47:51.240 --> 00:47:52.180
 Redeemer.

00:47:53.180 --> 00:47:53.880
 And as such

00:47:53.880 --> 00:47:54.380
 we should be

00:47:54.380 --> 00:47:54.880
 pressed

00:47:54.880 --> 00:47:55.900
 into prayer.

00:47:57.019 --> 00:47:57.619
 Asking,

00:47:57.800 --> 00:47:58.920
 pleading with God

00:47:58.920 --> 00:47:59.720
 that He would work

00:47:59.720 --> 00:48:00.500
 in our efforts

00:48:00.500 --> 00:48:01.980
 for the sake

00:48:01.980 --> 00:48:02.460
 of His name.

00:48:03.820 --> 00:48:05.079
 So pray

00:48:05.079 --> 00:48:06.539
 and seize

00:48:06.539 --> 00:48:07.760
 every opportunity

00:48:07.760 --> 00:48:09.460
 to experience,

00:48:10.160 --> 00:48:10.480
 proclaim,

00:48:11.119 --> 00:48:11.900
 and display

00:48:11.900 --> 00:48:12.740
 the supremacy

00:48:12.740 --> 00:48:13.660
 of Jesus Christ

00:48:13.660 --> 00:48:15.240
 in all things

00:48:15.240 --> 00:48:16.680
 to all peoples.

00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:17.739
 Let's pray together.

00:48:17.739 --> 00:48:17.759
 Let's pray together.