WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.960 Before I speak to you, why don't we pray together as we sit, let's bow our heads. 00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:13.320 Our gracious Father, we thank you so much for this amazing gift of prayer. 00:00:15.019 --> 00:00:22.699 And Lord, we want to seek your forgiveness for the way in which we have either ignored or abused that gift. 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:29.160 And Father, we want to be able to pray like Jesus prayed. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.280 Lord, like the Bible teaches us how to pray. 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:43.200 And so Father, we pray now that you give us open ears and open hearts and open minds that we might receive your truth. 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:48.140 And your truth would help us to grow more like Jesus. 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:51.019 In his name, Amen. 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:56.039 Jesus said this is how you should pray. 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:07.120 Anyway, the philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal said, kind of classic overstatement in a way, but it makes a point. 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:15.560 He said, all of humanity's problems stem from an inability to sit quietly in a room alone. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.560 Wow. 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:19.420 Let me say that again. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:26.100 All of humanity's problems stem from an inability to sit quietly in a room alone. 00:01:26.099 --> 00:01:42.099 This year, in Virginia State University, an experiment was carried out with 55 people who were asked to go and sit in a room where there was absolutely nothing. 00:01:42.919 --> 00:01:47.179 They were asked to sit there for 15 minutes on their own. 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:53.160 And the only thing that there was, was a pedestal with a button on it. 00:01:54.160 --> 00:01:59.520 And if you press the button, you got a fairly bad electric shock. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:11.539 So the choice is, you can either do what the researcher Tim Wilson says, and that is sit there doing nothing for just 15 minutes. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:18.859 Or, if you want to do something, go press the button and do an amazing shock through your ankle. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:33.480 Now, 67% of men, 67% of men went and pressed the button and took the shock option. 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:40.880 25% of women, yay, 25% of women did the same thing. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:51.560 No wonder there was that book that sold a lot of copies in the 1970s, which is called What Happens When Women Pray. 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:56.079 We're still trying to find out what happens when men pray, obviously. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:03:07.400 Through the majority of church history, people who were followers of Jesus had this very novel idea. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:16.340 That trying to live life at high speed was a great enemy of the spiritual life. 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:25.219 If you want to live life in the fast lane, if you want to live life in a way that's microwaved, 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:33.520 then what you need to know is you will very likely undermine your ability to develop a relationship with God. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:40.560 Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland has something to say about that. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:45.480 You remember when Alice goes into the domain of the Red Queen. 00:03:46.920 --> 00:03:51.120 And she has to run all the time just to stand still. 00:03:52.860 --> 00:03:54.939 And the Red Queen says to her, 00:03:55.480 --> 00:04:00.719 Now you see, said the Red Queen, it takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:05.620 If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:13.500 What a commentary that is on the world in which we live. 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:18.500 Even if you ask retired folks these days, how are you? 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.699 They'll say, I'm very busy. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:26.180 Of course, there's another side to that. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:34.560 And the side is that if some people, lots of people live life in the fast track, 00:04:35.899 --> 00:04:41.699 then there are some people who live life in a way that simply wastes time away. 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:53.959 Daytime television, smartphones, social media, gaming, fooling about online. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:04.060 Seriously, as much as racing, speeding can make a mess of your relationship with Jesus. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.040 Why am I telling you this? 00:05:08.280 --> 00:05:13.399 Because I don't today want to tell you so much techniques on how to pray. 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:19.819 But what I intend to do is to lay some foundations that you need to know about 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:24.560 if you are ever going to develop a fertile prayer life. 00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:29.199 I'm not going to give you those smart anachronisms. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.639 Some of us do Lectio Divina on a daily basis. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:37.459 Their great acronym is PRAY, P-R-A-Y. 00:05:38.599 --> 00:05:42.800 Pause, reflect and rejoice, ask and yield. 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:46.719 That's not a bad thing to hold in your mind. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:54.620 Or act, adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:57.759 I thought I wasn't going to be able to remember that. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.659 It's my age. 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:07.339 I want to talk to you more about these foundational things. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:15.800 And I want you to know that if you were to even appropriate 20% of what I say in the next few minutes, 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:22.020 your life, the life and ministry of this church, 00:06:22.699 --> 00:06:29.480 the life of the nation and the life of the world might be changed by God. 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:33.560 And if I ask, you know, who wouldn't want that, 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.560 I don't imagine there'd be too many people sticking their hands up. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:40.400 Church I was minister at. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:47.400 I had one overriding mission in recruiting people. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:51.180 And that is, if you're not very good, get people around you who are. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:56.759 I had a marvelous team of people at different times. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:00.420 Every Sunday, there were lots of people in church. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:02.720 Giving was going up through the roof. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:07.480 75% of our growth as a church was conversion growth. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:10.240 People who'd not known Jesus before. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:17.600 30 plus home groups, though some of them did little more than go skating together. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:25.000 But in all that, there lay an amazing ministry to me. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:27.660 Sorry, an amazing mystery to me. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:29.980 And it's this. 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:34.759 With all those numbers, with all those gifts, with all those people, 00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:40.160 our parish prayer meeting weekly could barely muster 30 people. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:45.700 I used to sit and think to myself, what would God do in this place 00:07:45.700 --> 00:07:47.560 if a few more people showed up? 00:07:47.580 --> 00:07:50.500 If on the back of only 30, he's doing all this. 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:53.480 What if? 00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:55.180 What if? 00:07:55.259 --> 00:07:58.020 And I want you to ask yourself the question. 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:00.959 If you started to take prayer more seriously, 00:08:01.359 --> 00:08:04.019 if you would come to prayer meetings and pray, 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:06.159 what if? 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:08.519 What might happen? 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.000 We had a church weekend once, 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:16.599 which a guy who became a bishop called Wallace Ben 00:08:16.599 --> 00:08:19.519 came and spoke about prayer for a whole weekend 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.740 at some freezing cold place down in Sussex. 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:26.600 For the next month, 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:31.480 our prayer meeting was attended by hundreds of people. 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:32.519 Literally. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.220 By three months, we were down to about 50 people, 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:38.180 and after three months, 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.539 we were back to the 30 people who came out. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:43.100 Largely older ladies, 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:46.299 many of whom had been in the mission field. 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:49.939 Today, 00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:52.179 in that church, 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.699 we did six or seven services every Sunday. 00:08:56.839 --> 00:08:59.459 Today, there is one main service every Sunday, 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:02.579 attended by 150 people. 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:08.180 See, 00:09:08.420 --> 00:09:11.060 the life of a church is not just a photograph. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.500 It's a movie. 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:14.520 It's a story. 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.580 And if it's a story that continues 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:20.680 on minimal prayer input, 00:09:22.020 --> 00:09:23.620 then I think it may come 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:25.580 to a rather abrupt end. 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:30.180 So here are three things 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:33.040 that I want you to take home with you 00:09:33.040 --> 00:09:34.420 in your hearts today. 00:09:35.020 --> 00:09:36.560 The first thing is, 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:39.000 you have to believe that prayer, 00:09:40.040 --> 00:09:42.160 individually and together, 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:43.379 is important. 00:09:45.520 --> 00:09:48.639 There's plenty in the Bible about that. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:51.940 You remember in Acts chapter 4, 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:53.400 that critical moment 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:55.779 when Peter and John 00:09:55.779 --> 00:09:57.740 are hauled by the Jewish council 00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.600 in Jerusalem, 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:00.039 and they're told, 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:01.679 you must not speak 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:03.860 in the name of Jesus Christ any longer. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.259 Can you imagine 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.240 what would have happened 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.879 if they'd taken any notice? 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.399 Well, one thing would be, 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:13.220 you would not be sitting here today. 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.579 I don't know what you would be doing, 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:17.639 but you would not be in a church 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:18.960 on a Sunday, 00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:20.799 worshipping the living God. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.679 So what do the disciples do? 00:10:26.339 --> 00:10:28.439 Do they decide to form a committee, 00:10:29.339 --> 00:10:31.179 the anti-persecution committee, 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.379 with a chairman and a secretary, 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.179 and hold endless meetings 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.519 that go nowhere slowly? 00:10:38.099 --> 00:10:38.620 No. 00:10:39.819 --> 00:10:41.559 It said they went back to the believers, 00:10:42.219 --> 00:10:45.299 and they gathered together in prayer 00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:46.740 in one voice. 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:47.960 You can read that prayer 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:49.399 in its entirety 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:51.279 in Acts chapter 14. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:53.200 And at the end of that prayer, 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:53.820 we read, 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.220 the building they were in 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:55.940 was shaken, 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:58.560 and they all went out 00:10:58.560 --> 00:11:00.600 and preached the word of God boldly. 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:03.360 Let me ask you a question. 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.759 Do you think the church today 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.159 needs a shaking like that? 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.240 Someone say yes. 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:09.600 Yes. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.200 Yes. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:14.080 How did that happen? 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:16.800 Because the believers 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:18.220 with one voice 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:19.780 pray together. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:23.640 Prayer changes things. 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:27.580 And if you're ever going to get started 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:28.560 on prayer, 00:11:28.660 --> 00:11:30.759 then the one thing you need to understand is 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.379 this is a worthwhile endeavor. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.340 This should not just be 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.660 an optional extra 00:11:37.660 --> 00:11:39.960 for kind of religious fanatics. 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:43.360 but an optional extra. 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:44.560 The second thing is, 00:11:45.900 --> 00:11:47.200 and this is harsh, 00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:49.960 I'm going to give you a trigger warning 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:51.440 at this stage. 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:54.440 Because some of you 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:55.580 have had prayers 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:56.860 that God didn't answer. 00:11:57.520 --> 00:11:58.400 And I don't want anybody 00:11:58.400 --> 00:11:59.440 to leave this church 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.379 feeling guilty, 00:12:00.520 --> 00:12:01.500 but here's a point 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:03.120 that is really important. 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:05.000 It's in Psalm 66 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:06.080 and verse 18. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:11.120 And the psalmist says this, 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:11.900 he says, 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:14.440 if I had cherished sin 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:15.420 in my heart, 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.660 the Lord would not have heard me. 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:22.780 Let me say that again. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.540 That's a serious point, isn't it? 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:27.779 If I had cherished sin in my heart, 00:12:27.819 --> 00:12:29.620 cherished it, 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.740 the Lord would not have heard me. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:34.819 See, my problem with sin 00:12:34.819 --> 00:12:36.719 and your problem with sin is, 00:12:36.959 --> 00:12:37.599 unfortunately, 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.120 some of it's enjoyable. 00:12:40.699 --> 00:12:42.599 Wouldn't be a big problem to it. 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.300 I've never seen that movie, 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:45.139 The Exorcist, 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.659 but somebody told me 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.700 at one point, 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.440 the little girl 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:49.600 who's supposed to be possessed 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.279 by the devil, 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:51.820 her head's racing around 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:53.779 at 360 degrees 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.139 while she's vomiting bile. 00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:58.600 Luminous bile. 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:01.500 I mean, if that was sin, 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.360 you wouldn't have a problem 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.399 avoiding it, would you? 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:06.560 No. 00:13:07.160 --> 00:13:08.320 It's attractive to us. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.320 Gossip is attractive to us. 00:13:10.660 --> 00:13:12.320 Lust is attractive to us. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.500 These things that God says 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.680 won't do you any good 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:22.120 somehow have a lingering appeal to us. 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:24.139 Here's what God says. 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:28.800 If you had cherished sin in your heart, 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:31.540 the Lord would not have heard you. 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.960 You see, we go around saying 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.100 there's no such thing 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:37.600 as an unanswered prayer. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.139 And last week, if you were here, 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:41.800 you heard a, I think, 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:43.259 majestic talk 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.620 from Russell 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:47.039 about why that is 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:47.579 and how 00:13:47.579 --> 00:13:49.620 we should respond 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.000 when 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.620 it feels like God 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.719 doesn't hear us. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:59.060 If I had cherished sin in my heart, 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:01.660 the Lord would not have heard me. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.519 Unconfessed sin, 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.180 anger, bitterness, impurity 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:10.220 will have a negative impact 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:14.279 on my ability to pray effectually. 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:17.839 The third thing is, 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:20.980 prayer is for marathon runners 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:22.879 and not for sprinters. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.620 So, you remember, 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:29.039 there's that very strange story 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:31.220 in Luke chapter 11, 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.980 verses 5 to 8, 00:14:33.319 --> 00:14:35.059 where the keeper of the house 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:36.100 has gone to bed, 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:37.819 locked up, 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.480 turned off all the lights, 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:42.120 I guess in their time 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.060 that was blowing out 00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:43.860 all the candles, 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.259 and he'd gone to bed. 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.500 At midnight, 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:51.039 there's a knock on the door. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.240 I mean, who hates that? 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.399 I was in ministry, 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:55.720 you know, 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.860 there were two things I hated. 00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:59.279 One was people knocking on the door 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:01.120 after 11 p.m. in the evening, 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.000 and the other was 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.720 shakily written notes 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.740 coming through the door 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.840 at a similar time. 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.500 Usually, 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.919 death threats 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.980 or something like that. 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.480 Okay? 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.480 So, this guy 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.820 hammers on the door. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:22.000 The owner of the house thinks, 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.620 I'm going to play dead here. 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.100 You know, 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.960 just keeps going, 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:27.539 keeps going, 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.100 keeps going, 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.620 keeps going. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.299 And then, 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:30.940 the moral of this parable is, 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:32.940 in the end, 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:33.860 the master of the house 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:35.259 gets up and does something. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.500 Because he's sick to death 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.399 of the persistence 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:40.340 of the guy hammering on the door. 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.820 Well, he wants his loaf of bread 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.799 for crying out loud. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.440 Why can't he wait 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.360 until the shop opened? 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.740 The message, 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.299 says Jesus, 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.139 is that we need to persist 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.299 in our prayers. 00:15:57.060 --> 00:15:58.460 Most of the imperatives 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.200 to pray 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:01.200 in the New Testament 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:03.360 are in the aorist tense. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.400 That is, 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:06.440 they are continuous verbs. 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.180 That is, 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.900 pray and go on praying. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.240 Not the kind of people who, 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:14.240 you know, 00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:14.480 say, 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.440 I prayed about that, 00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:15.680 you know, 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.379 tick the box, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:16.720 done, 00:16:17.300 --> 00:16:17.740 finished. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.000 No, 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:20.520 we hammer on the door of heaven 00:16:20.520 --> 00:16:22.500 until God hears us. 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:26.720 I love that verse 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:28.399 in James chapter 5 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.320 where the writer 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.980 of the epistle says, 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.639 I can only remember, 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.500 only ever remember 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.879 the authorised version. 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.500 The effectual, 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.419 fervent prayer 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:43.200 of the righteous man, 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:44.240 righteous person 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.740 in authorised version talk. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:50.740 The effectual, 00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:52.820 fervent prayer 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:54.019 of the righteous man, 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.820 availeth much. 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:00.659 Wouldn't you like your prayers 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.899 to avail a bit more? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.559 Apparently not. 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.339 Would you? 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.779 Yes, 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.500 of course. 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.319 Of course you would. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:14.319 And the thing about prayer 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:17.179 is we nearly always focus 00:17:17.179 --> 00:17:18.960 on the outputs. 00:17:20.179 --> 00:17:21.879 What happened when I prayed? 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.579 Did it work? 00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:23.339 Didn't it work? 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.319 See, 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.599 what I'm trying to help you with 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.939 are the inputs. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.159 What are the things 00:17:30.159 --> 00:17:31.939 that you need to get sorted 00:17:31.939 --> 00:17:33.179 in your own life 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:36.899 before you lock yourself away, 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.599 says Jesus, 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.379 on your knees? 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.879 Don't babble like the pagans. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.659 Don't show up. 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.660 Don't start praying 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.840 in the middle of the high street 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:44.080 with your arms in the air. 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:44.940 I mean, 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.000 don't let me stop you, 00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.220 but 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:49.500 don't do that. 00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.779 It's the pagans that babble, 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:52.800 said Jesus. 00:17:53.580 --> 00:17:53.800 I mean, 00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:55.000 it sounds like the pagans 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.740 pray a lot more than we do. 00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:02.340 So, 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:04.060 I've asked James 00:18:04.060 --> 00:18:05.380 to put just another 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.800 short passage of Scripture 00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:07.920 up on the screen, 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:12.100 which is from Mark 11, 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:15.140 verses 22 to 26. 00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:17.600 And just very briefly, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.360 three things from this passage, 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.320 which I think are really, 00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:23.180 really important for us. 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.019 And the background 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.560 to what's gone on here 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.420 is that 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:29.720 you remember Jesus 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.400 is walking along 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:33.060 and 00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:35.560 he goes to pick 00:18:35.560 --> 00:18:36.120 some fruit 00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.060 from a fig tree. 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:37.759 I mean, 00:18:37.800 --> 00:18:39.040 this is so out of character, 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:39.560 isn't it? 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.480 So, 00:18:40.540 --> 00:18:41.259 it's a fig tree 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.980 and the Bible tells us 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.500 it wasn't even 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.800 a season for figs. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.460 So, 00:18:45.540 --> 00:18:46.900 Jesus goes to the fig tree 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:48.620 and there's no fruit on it. 00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:51.380 And gentle Jesus, 00:18:51.540 --> 00:18:52.280 meek and mild, 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.019 curses the fig tree. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:56.319 And they're walking 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.740 past it the next day 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.859 and Peter, 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.660 good old Peter, 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.019 you know, 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.720 both feet, 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.119 says, 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.420 look, 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:03.900 Master, 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:07.759 the tree you cursed 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.639 is shriveled. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.859 Isn't it amazing 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:12.599 that we're amazed 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:14.059 when God does 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.099 what he says he'll do? 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.599 That's not my point. 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:20.059 It's then Jesus, 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:20.539 like, 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.819 goes off on one. 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.720 And he starts by saying, 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.819 have faith in God. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.440 Pretty basic in a way. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:32.220 He's teaching them here 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:34.619 about how to pray as well. 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:36.259 Have faith in God, 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.960 he says. 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:40.119 And what you need to know is 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:42.980 that the Greek syntax 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.599 of that sentence, 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:45.660 see, 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.759 a lot of preachers 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.200 put the emphasis 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.480 on the word faith. 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:52.240 But the emphasis 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.920 in the Greek language 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.660 is on the word God. 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.720 The issue is not 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.400 how big is your faith. 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:00.740 No, 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.460 the issue is 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.740 how big is your God. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.900 That's why, 00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:08.539 I think, 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.960 when praying, 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.860 we should spend 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:12.220 some time praising 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:15.240 and magnifying God 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:16.039 in our hearts 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:17.240 to remind ourselves 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:19.640 that this is a big God. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.500 And this big God, 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:23.559 Jesus tells us, 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.460 nothing is impossible 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.299 for him. 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:30.980 Have faith in God. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.480 I've heard of messages 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.519 in my life 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.539 where I've gone out 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.099 of the church 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.799 with my tail 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:38.880 between my legs 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:41.619 because I thought 00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.839 I don't have enough faith. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.759 What did Jesus say? 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.000 If you have faith 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.900 the size of a mustard seed, 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.319 go tell this mountain 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.200 to throw itself 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.000 into the sea 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.859 and it will. 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.439 Do you know how much faith 00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:56.240 a mustard seed 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.919 would represent? 00:20:59.419 --> 00:20:59.899 Truthfully, 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.659 your faith 00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:01.399 and my faith. 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.859 It's not how much faith 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.439 do you have. 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.099 Most of us struggle 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.859 a bit with that. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.000 It's how big 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.740 is your God? 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.339 How big is your God? 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.460 You need to go home 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.379 and think about that. 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.700 The second thing 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.000 about this passage 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.000 is this. 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:22.440 Jesus says 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:26.080 all this stuff 00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.100 about making 00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:28.240 cosmetic changes. 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.160 Incidentally, 00:21:29.520 --> 00:21:30.220 I don't think 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.620 that Jesus intended us 00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:32.920 to make cosmetic changes 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.680 to the universe 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:35.660 by rearranging mountains. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.340 Mountains in the Bible 00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:39.280 mostly stand for 00:21:39.280 --> 00:21:41.060 massive problems. 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:46.119 So Jesus says 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.159 have faith in God. 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.779 I tell you the truth. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.579 If anyone says 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:49.940 this man 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.379 go to throw yourself 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.000 into the sea 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.859 and does not doubt 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.460 in his heart 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.079 but believes 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.879 that what he says 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.639 will happen, 00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:57.460 it will be done 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.039 for him 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:59.019 or for her. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:01.980 Therefore, 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.159 this passage 00:22:04.159 --> 00:22:05.139 is loaded 00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:06.279 with conjunctions. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.279 It's a flow 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.940 of thought. 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.299 It's not a stream 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.019 of consciousness. 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.059 It's a flow 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.339 of direct thought. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.500 And Jesus says 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.019 therefore, 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.799 on the basis 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.900 of what I've just said 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.139 about your, 00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.099 if you have 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:21.000 a big enough God 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.059 amazing things 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.660 can happen. 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.720 Jesus says 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.299 therefore, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.639 I tell you 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.259 whatever you've 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.359 asked for in prayer 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.599 believe that you 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.420 have received it 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:31.019 and it will be yours. 00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:32.819 Wow. 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.859 See, 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.379 I wonder 00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:38.379 if together 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.339 as a church 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.939 we could start 00:22:40.939 --> 00:22:41.939 to think like that. 00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.579 Don't think about 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:45.619 the size of your faith 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.679 when I say that to you 00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.439 but think about 00:22:47.439 --> 00:22:48.899 the size of your God. 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.199 Do you? 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.659 Does anybody 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:53.559 in the house 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.539 believe that 00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:55.119 with God 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.599 anything is possible? 00:22:57.459 --> 00:22:58.519 Nothing is impossible. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.579 Anybody believe that? 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.319 Yes. 00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:03.939 See, 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.480 I think that's 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.419 a decent start. 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.419 A decent start. 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:09.699 So, 00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:11.559 believing prayer 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.419 is important 00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:13.659 as well as 00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:14.939 faith in a big God. 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.019 But the last thing 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.259 and this, 00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.039 you know what, 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.399 I wish I didn't 00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.199 have to say this 00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:20.599 to you. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.480 I really wish 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.000 I didn't. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:25.400 So, 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:25.859 you get 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.640 faith 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.519 in a big God, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.160 faith 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.819 released by 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.700 believing prayer 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.480 and finally, 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.579 prayer 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.440 regulated 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.940 by forgiveness. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.339 So, 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.779 again, 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.799 joined up 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.880 thinking here, 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.079 verse 25, 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.920 and when you 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.859 stand praying, 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.859 if you hold 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.799 anything against 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.339 anyone, 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.759 forgive him 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.640 so that your 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.619 Father in Heaven 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:51.059 may forgive you 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.240 your sins. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.119 Seriously? 00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:03.399 You think of 00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:04.740 anybody just now 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.539 in your heart 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.000 who you 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.539 find it difficult 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.240 to forgive? 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.440 Maybe 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.379 you're the kind 00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:15.799 of person 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.339 who can't even 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.299 forgive yourself. 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.700 Never mind 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.559 forgive others. 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:24.059 See, 00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:26.700 Jesus says 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.119 we've got to 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.419 sort that. 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:27.759 You say, 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.339 wait a minute, 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:28.720 Mike, 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.480 the person 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.139 I'm feeling 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.700 mad about 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.179 is dead 00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:31.539 now. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.720 So, 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.119 that's not 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:34.599 the point. 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.299 The point 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.899 is God 00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:37.419 wants to 00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:37.879 know that 00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.519 your heart 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.059 is right 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.779 in relation 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.440 even to 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.899 that dead 00:24:41.899 --> 00:24:42.399 person. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:46.720 some of 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:48.440 you have 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.040 undoubt 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:49.759 with issues 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.540 with parents 00:24:50.540 --> 00:24:50.980 who are 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.560 no longer 00:24:51.560 --> 00:24:52.200 with us. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.920 Others of 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.740 us hold 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.160 on to 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.000 stuff year 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.300 in, 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.160 year out. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.880 We even 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:02.759 feed on it, 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.519 some of us. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:09.879 God says, 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.119 you want 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:12.359 to be 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:12.960 an effective 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.480 prayer? 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.339 Here's 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.740 the thing, 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.180 forgive. 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:19.940 In 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.400 Matthew's 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:20.879 gospel, 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.759 there are 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.299 two really. 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.440 Matthew says 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.160 in the 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.579 Sermon on 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:24.940 the Mount, 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.660 if your 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.299 brother sins 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.859 against you, 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.299 leave your 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.839 gift at the 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.240 altar and 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.879 clear off and 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.359 go and seek 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:30.859 forgiveness. 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:32.519 If your 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.099 brother sins 00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:33.599 against you, 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:33.939 then in 00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:34.719 Matthew 18 00:25:34.719 --> 00:25:35.219 he says, 00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:36.179 if you sin 00:25:36.179 --> 00:25:36.759 against your 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.139 brother, 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.059 you still 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.379 go. 00:25:43.459 --> 00:25:44.059 I mean, 00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.659 that's asking 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.079 a lot, 00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:45.439 isn't it, 00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:45.799 of people 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.240 like you 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.579 and me? 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.339 People who 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.119 somewhere in 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.639 our soul 00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.119 have a little 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.719 black book 00:25:51.719 --> 00:25:52.299 and we keep 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.779 the names 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.419 of the people 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:54.299 who've crossed 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.839 us in the 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.119 past. 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.799 We have to 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.319 let go of 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:56.439 it, 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:56.879 friends. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.419 Why? 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.159 Because Jesus 00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:00.740 says, 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:02.099 that believing 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.979 prayer is 00:26:02.979 --> 00:26:04.059 regulated by 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.699 our willingness 00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:05.419 to forgive. 00:26:07.939 --> 00:26:08.899 Our Father 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.479 who art in 00:26:09.479 --> 00:26:09.719 heaven, 00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.059 blah, 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:10.279 blah, 00:26:10.439 --> 00:26:10.699 blah, 00:26:11.699 --> 00:26:12.379 forgive us 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.059 our sins 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:15.859 as... 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:17.519 I thought 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:17.819 you'd know 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.179 it better 00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:18.659 than that. 00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:19.599 Yeah. 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.199 Amazing. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:22.799 So, 00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.579 how to pray? 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.779 Have faith 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.379 in God, 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.439 big God. 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.259 Secondly, 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:29.919 exercise 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:30.840 believing 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.480 prayer. 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.960 That is, 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.800 put into 00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.800 your prayers 00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:38.080 the idea 00:26:38.080 --> 00:26:38.900 that with God 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:40.200 all things 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.800 are possible. 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.300 Nothing 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:42.380 is impossible. 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.960 But please, 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.340 don't forget 00:26:46.340 --> 00:26:48.420 that to some 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.900 extent, 00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:50.539 the efficaciousness 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.300 of your prayers 00:26:51.300 --> 00:26:52.400 will be impacted 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:54.160 by your willingness 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.920 to forgive 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.380 others. 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:58.180 somebody once 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.520 said, 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.600 it's a kind 00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.220 of rewriter 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.080 of the Beatitudes, 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.080 blessed are 00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.520 they that 00:27:02.520 --> 00:27:03.400 expect little 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.000 for they 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.340 will not 00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:05.120 be disappointed. 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.560 Is that 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:07.860 us? 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.420 Do we have 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.940 a vision 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.740 for revival 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.540 in Clevedon? 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.620 Do you have 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.340 any sense 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:16.840 that God 00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:17.320 wants to 00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:17.920 work through 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.000 you to 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.480 make that 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:19.900 happen, 00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:20.620 through your 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.080 prayers, 00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:21.760 through your 00:27:21.760 --> 00:27:22.180 willingness, 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.060 as Clive has 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.679 reminded us 00:27:23.679 --> 00:27:24.299 to go and 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.079 invite people? 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.200 I wonder 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.700 how many 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.200 of you 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:29.359 will show 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:31.019 up a week 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.000 tomorrow, 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.200 that is 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.839 December 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:37.379 the 3rd? 00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.500 4th. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.279 December 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.000 the 4th, 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.720 where there 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.579 will be a 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:42.339 prayer meeting 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.500 for one hour 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.419 of your life 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:46.399 in this 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:46.779 building 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.419 somewhere, 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:48.579 might even 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.039 be in here 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.440 if enough 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.700 of you 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.200 show up. 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:53.160 and don't 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:53.880 come because 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:56.240 I don't know 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.779 whether my 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.279 prayers are 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:57.620 up to 00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.100 public 00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:59.500 exposure. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.340 Listen, 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.279 there will 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:02.700 be no 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.259 pressure on 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.980 any soul 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.380 in this 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:05.279 church to 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.059 pray aloud. 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:06.600 I know 00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:07.019 some of you 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.539 are terrified 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.240 by that. 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.059 Just come 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:13.000 along and 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.620 be there 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.759 with the 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.180 people who 00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.640 show up 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.360 and pray 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:19.080 with a 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:19.660 heart that 00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.059 says, 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.660 all things 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.240 are possible 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.900 with God. 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.140 What do 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.400 you think 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.019 might happen? 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.400 So in 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.019 my life, 00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.779 just to 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.220 conclude, 00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:31.180 I have 00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:32.720 seen some 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.580 amazing 00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:34.319 answers to 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.680 prayer. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.980 But 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.779 unfortunately, 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.259 by my 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.680 standards, 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.360 not enough. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.160 Okay? 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.259 I'm going 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:42.680 to tell you 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:42.840 one. 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.180 I just 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.600 told you, 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:43.779 you know, 00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:44.940 my theory 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.000 in recruitment 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.519 was if 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.799 you're no 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.019 good, 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:47.559 get people 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:47.860 who are 00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.400 good around 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:48.660 you. 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.519 I had 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:49.900 a youth 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.360 worker, 00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.019 Duncan 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.720 Dyson 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.300 was his 00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:53.519 name. 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.000 He runs 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.759 a charity 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.279 now in 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.940 Guatemala 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:57.660 ministering 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.120 to street 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.519 kids. 00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:02.440 And I 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.200 learned a lot 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.860 from Duncan, 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.440 although he 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:04.800 used to 00:29:04.800 --> 00:29:05.320 row a lot 00:29:05.320 --> 00:29:05.720 as well, 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.519 truthfully. 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.920 Because I 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.360 didn't have 00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:10.900 his faith 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.300 threshold. 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:11.860 It was my 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.320 problem, 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.900 not his. 00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:13.860 Right? 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:15.419 So he 00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:15.899 comes into 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:16.419 the staff 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:17.079 meeting one 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.619 morning and 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:17.899 says, 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:19.319 Mike, 00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:19.699 we need 00:29:19.699 --> 00:29:20.039 another 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.659 full-time 00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:21.519 member on 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.179 the youth 00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:22.479 team. 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:22.759 I'm like, 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:22.899 well, 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.159 you've got 00:29:23.159 --> 00:29:23.799 four people 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.219 already. 00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:26.719 He said, 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.000 well, 00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.879 here's the, 00:29:29.219 --> 00:29:29.740 gave me the 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.359 arguments for 00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.000 another staff 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.219 person. 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.819 I could see it. 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.059 I said, 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.299 look, 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:32.679 Duncan, 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.639 we might 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.039 be able to 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.299 scrape 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.059 together another 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.039 30 grand or 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.459 whatever it 00:29:36.459 --> 00:29:37.099 was to pay 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.819 this person, 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.619 but we're 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.079 living in 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.319 South 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.079 Buckinghamshire. 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.099 Housing, 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.079 you can't 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.419 buy a 00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:43.980 garage for 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.379 less than 00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.480 150 grand. 00:29:46.959 --> 00:29:47.299 I said, 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.639 I'm doing, 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.000 you know, 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:50.059 I said, 00:29:50.159 --> 00:29:50.379 you know, 00:29:50.419 --> 00:29:50.619 do you have 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.179 a plan for 00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:51.419 that? 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.799 He said, 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:51.959 yeah, 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.339 we'll pray 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:52.919 about it. 00:29:53.439 --> 00:29:53.759 I'm like, 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.219 oh, 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.899 you know, 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:55.919 oh. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:57.859 So I 00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.379 smiled 00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:59.019 sweetly at 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.159 him and 00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.339 said, 00:29:59.419 --> 00:29:59.619 yes, 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.240 of course. 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.000 Would you 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.419 like to 00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:01.819 pray for 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:01.959 it, 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.339 Duncan? 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.779 Serve you 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.079 right, 00:30:04.179 --> 00:30:04.419 you know, 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:04.639 him. 00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:05.959 So he 00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:06.579 prayed this 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.219 prayer that 00:30:07.219 --> 00:30:07.779 was right 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.099 out, 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.559 you know, 00:30:08.959 --> 00:30:09.559 in orbit 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.439 somewhere above 00:30:10.439 --> 00:30:11.199 planet Earth 00:30:11.199 --> 00:30:11.379 and 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:13.820 everyone in 00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.260 that room 00:30:14.260 --> 00:30:14.900 said amen 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.160 and very 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.680 few of us 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.180 meant it. 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.900 I said 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.300 amen, 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:21.740 I'm like, 00:30:21.820 --> 00:30:21.980 yeah, 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.940 good luck 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.280 with that, 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:23.560 mate, 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.000 you know. 00:30:25.040 --> 00:30:25.740 By the way, 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:26.580 amen doesn't 00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:27.360 mean good luck 00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:27.840 with that. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.420 It means 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.320 so be it. 00:30:36.020 --> 00:30:37.260 So we 00:30:37.260 --> 00:30:37.700 prayed it. 00:30:37.760 --> 00:30:38.340 That evening, 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:38.600 right, 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.320 that evening, 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.919 I get a 00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:41.639 telephone call 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.200 from a guy 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.980 called Desmond 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.460 Waite, 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.379 sadly dead 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:44.759 now, 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.439 been converted 00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.220 about three 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:47.659 months. 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.179 He says, 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.220 Mike, 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.579 I'm just 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.179 phoning you 00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:52.639 up to 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.019 tell you 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.659 my dad's 00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:54.000 died. 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.159 So I 00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:57.839 went into 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:59.119 defensive 00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.700 mode. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.139 I was like, 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.519 oh my 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:00.879 goodness, 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.700 new Christian, 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.220 his dad 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.039 just died, 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.399 you know, 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.259 what the heck. 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.359 So I 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:05.679 started to 00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:05.799 say, 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.019 well, 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.259 you know, 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:06.659 these days, 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:06.879 he said, 00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:07.079 no, 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.240 no, 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.359 no, 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:07.579 no, 00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:07.819 he said, 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.220 my dad's 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.539 been ill 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:08.819 for a 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.079 while, 00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:09.539 he said, 00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.799 I wanted 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.279 to phone 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.879 you because 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.419 he's left 00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:12.960 me and 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.500 my brother 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.179 a house. 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.439 I'm like, 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:15.819 wow, 00:31:15.919 --> 00:31:16.200 he said, 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.460 well, 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.159 it's quite 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.639 a large 00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.119 house. 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.980 I'm like, 00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:20.480 why is he 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:20.939 telling me 00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:21.279 this? 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.200 He said, 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.480 it's got 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.700 14 bedrooms. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:26.079 I'm like, 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.439 you sure 00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:26.879 that's not 00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.480 a hotel? 00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:30.779 He said, 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.000 then, 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.339 we're going 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.700 to sell 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.059 it and 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.720 the proceeds 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.119 are going 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:33.279 to be 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.759 shared between 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.019 me and 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.399 my brother. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.599 He said, 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:34.899 I don't 00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.119 know if 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.339 you've got 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:35.859 any housing 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.379 needs. 00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.900 But he 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.140 said, 00:31:38.260 --> 00:31:38.620 if you 00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:38.920 want to 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.280 get a 00:31:39.280 --> 00:31:39.640 house, 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.120 buy one 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:41.380 up to 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.600 350,000. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.360 With God, 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.180 nothing is 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.360 impossible. 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.860 Can we 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.480 start to 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.020 believe that 00:31:58.020 --> 00:31:58.420 together? 00:31:59.380 --> 00:31:59.680 Yes. 00:32:00.320 --> 00:32:01.000 Can we 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.540 start to 00:32:01.540 --> 00:32:02.500 pray like 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.160 we think 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.140 all things 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:05.000 are possible 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.599 with God? 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.279 Can we 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:07.940 start to 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.000 believe that 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.539 in this 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.660 town where 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.279 lots of 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.799 things feel 00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.039 a bit 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.619 messed up 00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:12.880 at the 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.200 moment, 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.140 that God 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:14.859 could become 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.440 the sovereign 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.960 Lord of 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.480 this town 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.119 that we 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.599 like to 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:17.960 live in 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.180 called 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:18.720 Clevedon? 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.539 Those of 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:19.900 you living 00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.240 in it. 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.380 If you 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:23.720 live in 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.140 Portis 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:24.319 said, 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:24.779 good luck 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.180 with that. 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.660 Just 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:27.960 kidding. 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.460 Listen, 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:37.180 from today, 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:40.200 God's 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.100 whispering in 00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:41.720 your ear 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.480 about any 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:42.819 of this 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.079 stuff. 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.299 From 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.860 today, 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.840 we could 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.360 start to 00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:46.980 play our 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.340 part, 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.500 not only 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.000 in our 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.360 own 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:49.960 transformation, 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:50.579 I mean, 00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:51.980 we're all 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.740 interested in 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:52.960 that, 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.259 aren't we? 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:53.420 You know, 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.140 millions of 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.420 books, 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.160 articles in 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.640 newspapers 00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:56.300 every day, 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:56.660 you know, 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:58.120 go and 00:32:58.120 --> 00:32:58.759 bury your 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.300 dog's 00:32:59.300 --> 00:32:59.820 liver at 00:32:59.820 --> 00:33:00.400 midnight, 00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:00.920 you know, 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.120 at the 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.759 crossroads, 00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:02.060 and you 00:33:02.060 --> 00:33:02.480 start to 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.160 feel better. 00:33:07.100 --> 00:33:07.700 I'm not 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.080 saying all 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.340 of that 00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:08.780 stuff's 00:33:08.780 --> 00:33:09.060 wrong, 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:13.660 but we're 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.280 all interested 00:33:14.280 --> 00:33:14.660 in stuff, 00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:15.160 but listen, 00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:15.720 we need to 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.440 get a 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.100 bigger vision. 00:33:19.040 --> 00:33:19.480 Town 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.320 transformation, 00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:22.300 the 00:33:22.300 --> 00:33:23.440 transformation 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.080 of our 00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:24.520 nation. 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:27.500 and its 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.700 impact on 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.200 the global 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.740 world. 00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:31.440 Friends, 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:31.940 let's pray. 00:33:33.800 --> 00:33:34.380 Our 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.720 gracious 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.100 Father, 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.660 we thank 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.200 you so 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:37.000 much for 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.480 your 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.000 word, 00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.620 and we're 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.200 immensely 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.840 grateful that 00:33:41.840 --> 00:33:42.800 you encourage 00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:43.259 us to 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:43.520 pray, 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:44.120 but Lord, 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.840 you do 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.480 put some 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.300 markers down 00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:46.880 for us. 00:33:48.340 --> 00:33:48.840 Father, 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:49.400 we want to 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.920 pray that 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.520 you'd open 00:33:50.520 --> 00:33:51.240 our eyes 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.540 and give 00:33:52.540 --> 00:33:52.880 us a 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:53.460 refreshed 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.200 vision of 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.740 yourself, 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.440 Lord, 00:33:56.520 --> 00:33:56.920 that you 00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.540 may become 00:33:57.540 --> 00:33:59.040 bigger to 00:33:59.040 --> 00:34:00.480 us in 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.240 such a way 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:01.759 that we 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.600 can pray 00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.740 in the 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.360 faith that 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:05.180 Jesus spoke 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:05.480 about, 00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.840 believing that 00:34:06.840 --> 00:34:07.280 what we 00:34:07.280 --> 00:34:08.000 pray for 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.619 might be 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.240 received. 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.220 Lord, 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:13.980 we want 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.079 to pray 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:17.240 for those 00:34:17.240 --> 00:34:17.820 of us who 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:18.800 bear grudges 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.360 of God 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.140 unforgiveness 00:34:20.140 --> 00:34:20.820 in our hearts. 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.240 Would you 00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:22.079 this morning 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.699 give us a 00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.699 fresh outpouring 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.279 of grace 00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:25.799 that we 00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.319 might be 00:34:26.319 --> 00:34:27.679 the initiators 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.759 of seeking 00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:29.360 forgiveness 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.079 and 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.799 reconciliation? 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:34.480 And Lord, 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.019 as if we 00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:35.440 needed 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.000 reminding, 00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:36.779 we say the 00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:37.440 Lord's prayer 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.079 so often 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.440 in the 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:38.739 house 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.259 together. 00:34:42.259 --> 00:34:43.019 Forgive us 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.579 our sins 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.440 as we 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:44.920 forgive 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:46.480 those who 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.159 sin against 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.659 us. 00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:49.539 Lord, 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.119 pour out 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:50.859 your grace, 00:34:51.819 --> 00:34:52.299 pour out 00:34:52.299 --> 00:34:53.079 your spirit, 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.599 that we 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.099 might be 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.759 people of 00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.119 peace, 00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:56.859 people of 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:57.619 reconciliation. 00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:00.339 And Lord, 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.279 we pray 00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:01.639 to, 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.559 for those 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.119 who sit 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:04.400 here 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.480 uncomfortably, 00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.359 when we 00:35:06.359 --> 00:35:07.099 read verses 00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:08.059 like Psalm 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.239 66 and 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.079 verse 18, 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.319 if I cherish 00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:12.019 sin in my 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.579 heart, the 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.440 Lord would 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.380 not have 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.079 heard me. 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.480 Lord, 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:19.880 help us 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.260 to come 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.079 clean before 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.719 you today. 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.039 Lord, 00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:26.019 we pray 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.559 that you'd 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.059 hear our 00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:27.760 prayers now, 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:28.740 not because 00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.460 we have any 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:29.960 merit, 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:32.119 but because 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.579 we bring 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:33.079 them in the 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.559 name of 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:33.900 Jesus, 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.400 who the 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.199 Bible tells 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:36.260 us sits 00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:36.719 at your 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:37.380 right hand 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:39.380 and lives 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:39.940 to make 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.699 intercession 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.380 for us 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:42.159 with God 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:42.699 the Father. 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:48.000 Father, 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.460 we pray 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.159 these things 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:49.519 in the 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:49.879 precious 00:35:49.879 --> 00:35:50.480 name of 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:50.819 Jesus. 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:51.939 And the 00:35:51.939 --> 00:35:52.500 people who 00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:53.239 agreed and 00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:53.799 wanted to 00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.500 give themselves 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.019 over to 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.859 prayer said, 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.419 Amen. 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:57.940 Amen. 00:35:57.940 --> 00:36:27.920 Thank you.