WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.359
 Good morning, everyone.

00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:05.560
 A very happy new year to all of you.

00:00:05.580 --> 00:00:07.339
 I think you can still say that, can't you?

00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:09.820
 I was saying to somebody in the congregation,

00:00:10.120 --> 00:00:12.800
 I generally say it through till about the middle of April.

00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:15.820
 I'm just kidding.

00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:20.500
 It's wonderful to see you all, and thank you for coming along.

00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:25.379
 Before I start to try and teach you,

00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:28.920
 maybe we could have a word of prayer together as we sit.

00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:30.100
 Why don't we bow our heads?

00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:34.780
 Gracious Father, at the beginning of this new year,

00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:38.320
 we want to pray that this coming year,

00:00:38.480 --> 00:00:40.700
 we might seek you earnestly.

00:00:42.660 --> 00:00:44.660
 Your word assures us, Father,

00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:46.900
 that if we come close to you,

00:00:47.680 --> 00:00:49.140
 you will come close to us.

00:00:49.219 --> 00:00:52.920
 And Father, may that be our prayer for this new year.

00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:57.820
 That, Lord, we might seek in new ways to come closer to you,

00:00:57.820 --> 00:00:59.820
 that you might come closer to us.

00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:05.299
 And we might know what it is to live in the light of the fullness of life

00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:11.420
 that Jesus told us was the birthright, almost, of his disciples.

00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:20.040
 So I pray now, in this time together,

00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:22.960
 in this house of God,

00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:27.659
 that we may come to your word with expectant hearts.

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 And Father, you would speak to us.

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 And Father, we might hear you and respond.

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 In Christ's name we pray.

00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:38.539
 Amen.

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 So, Ephesians chapter 19 and verse 2,

00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:49.719
 Paul asked the elders of the church in Ephesus,

00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:52.459
 I mean, this is not just your kind of run-of-the-mill people

00:01:52.459 --> 00:01:55.159
 who show up, you know, now and then to church.

00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:58.099
 These are the people who were there week by week

00:01:58.099 --> 00:01:59.199
 and led the church.

00:01:59.759 --> 00:02:00.899
 And Paul says to them,

00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:03.560
 kind of impudent in a way, I guess,

00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:08.340
 did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:14.180
 I don't know if there was anything visibly lacking about these men,

00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:18.159
 but Paul asked them the question,

00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:20.219
 and they honestly answered.

00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.120
 He said, no, we never heard of the Holy Spirit.

00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:28.140
 So, there's a wonderful story,

00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:29.980
 which I think is worth retelling,

00:02:29.979 --> 00:02:32.719
 about a pastor in the Midwest of America

00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:37.259
 who was greatly beloved by his congregations.

00:02:37.459 --> 00:02:40.679
 He visited the sick and kept his sermons brief.

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 People loved him for that.

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 Just saying.

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 But he had one habit

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 that his elders were very concerned about.

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 And it was this,

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 that at the same time every day,

00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:57.460
 five o'clock,

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 he would walk down from the church office

00:03:00.180 --> 00:03:04.199
 down to the crossing on the railway

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 that went through their town,

00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:08.000
 and he'd simply stand there

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 and watch the train go through.

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 And, you know, at first they thought,

00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:13.620
 is this train spotting?

00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:14.659
 And then they realized,

00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:16.019
 it's the same train every day,

00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:17.780
 so it's the same number every day.

00:03:17.979 --> 00:03:20.500
 So it wasn't much fun train spotting down there.

00:03:21.259 --> 00:03:22.939
 So they put their heads together.

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 And they decided to ask him

00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:28.079
 what was going on.

00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.520
 They were slightly frightened

00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:31.340
 that there may be some sinister reason

00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:32.319
 for him doing this.

00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:35.400
 So they called him in,

00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:36.259
 and they said to him,

00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:36.560
 Pastor,

00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:39.219
 why is it

00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:41.979
 that you go down to the train track

00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:43.340
 at the same time every day

00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:44.819
 and watch the train go through?

00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:47.180
 Pastor said,

00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:47.860
 oh, that's simple.

00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:48.159
 He said,

00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.120
 it's the only thing in this town that moves

00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:51.240
 that I don't have to push.

00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:59.379
 Having spent the greater part of my ministry

00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:01.300
 ministering to clergy,

00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:04.020
 I am sad to say

00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:05.219
 that there are some clergy

00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:07.939
 who end up slightly like that.

00:04:09.640 --> 00:04:10.640
 A little cynical,

00:04:12.040 --> 00:04:13.920
 occasionally a little bitter,

00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:18.160
 that whatever they expected of their ministry,

00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.199
 it's never, ever quite delivered.

00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:23.620
 I remember once giving a lift to a curate,

00:04:23.699 --> 00:04:24.660
 and he got in my car,

00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:26.800
 and he was going on a two-week holiday,

00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:28.360
 and I said to him,

00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:29.519
 you're looking forward to your holidays.

00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:30.100
 He said,

00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:32.439
 I'm glad to be rid of that lot for a fortnight.

00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:35.100
 I said,

00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:35.740
 what do you mean?

00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:36.100
 He said,

00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:37.180
 this would be a great job

00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:38.360
 if it wasn't for the congregation.

00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:40.860
 I said to him,

00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:41.960
 it would be no job

00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.699
 if there was no congregation.

00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:46.060
 You know,

00:04:46.099 --> 00:04:46.739
 calm down.

00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.079
 But what about the rest of us?

00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:52.699
 Isn't it true that many of us

00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:54.060
 occasionally

00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:57.199
 feel that

00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:59.539
 our Christian walk

00:04:59.539 --> 00:05:01.479
 feels more push

00:05:01.479 --> 00:05:03.479
 than being pulled along

00:05:03.479 --> 00:05:04.699
 by the power of God

00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:06.479
 in his Holy Spirit?

00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:09.400
 Are there not days,

00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:09.800
 friends,

00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:11.240
 where God seems

00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:12.720
 very distanced from us,

00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:13.939
 and sometimes days

00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:15.180
 can become weeks,

00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:16.300
 and weeks

00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:17.420
 can become months,

00:05:18.700 --> 00:05:19.840
 and months

00:05:19.840 --> 00:05:21.819
 can even become years?

00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:25.240
 I want to try

00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:27.100
 and address that today

00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:27.759
 with you.

00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.240
 At the beginning of the new year,

00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:31.900
 I'm not making any assumptions

00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:32.720
 about you.

00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:35.460
 I'm not assuming

00:05:35.460 --> 00:05:36.280
 that everybody

00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:37.660
 in the house this morning

00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:38.820
 knows God

00:05:38.820 --> 00:05:40.500
 through Jesus Christ

00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:41.740
 in the power of the Spirit.

00:05:42.780 --> 00:05:43.900
 I'm not assuming

00:05:43.900 --> 00:05:45.060
 that you're all depressed

00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:46.080
 and worried beyond,

00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.200
 I'm not making any assumptions,

00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:50.360
 other than the fact

00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:51.160
 that you're here,

00:05:52.260 --> 00:05:53.440
 and as far as I can see,

00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:54.200
 you're still breathing.

00:05:57.080 --> 00:05:58.680
 And neither is it my intention

00:05:58.680 --> 00:05:59.800
 to depress you

00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.620
 by cataloging

00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:02.540
 all the reasons

00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:04.000
 why we might face

00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:04.900
 this new year

00:06:04.900 --> 00:06:07.560
 with a sense of anxiety.

00:06:09.520 --> 00:06:10.640
 This new year

00:06:10.640 --> 00:06:11.720
 is upon us,

00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:13.260
 and I think what I can say

00:06:13.260 --> 00:06:14.520
 with some confidence

00:06:14.520 --> 00:06:16.660
 is that almost everywhere

00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:17.820
 you look at the beginning

00:06:17.820 --> 00:06:18.879
 of this new year,

00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:21.379
 there will be good reasons

00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:22.400
 for feeling

00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:24.140
 on the anxious side.

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 And no amount of food,

00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:29.560
 no amount of alcohol,

00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:32.740
 no amount of holidays,

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 no amount of spending,

00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:36.639
 no amount of,

00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:42.399
 no escapism of any kind

00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.259
 will help you

00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:48.259
 get rid of that anxiety.

00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:51.199
 I told you this before,

00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:51.480
 you know,

00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:53.519
 but there is economic anxiety

00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:54.220
 at the moment.

00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:55.260
 some of you

00:06:55.260 --> 00:06:57.440
 will be financially stressed,

00:06:58.020 --> 00:06:59.040
 and you will feel

00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:00.540
 that you have to keep quiet

00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:01.180
 about that.

00:07:02.440 --> 00:07:03.420
 There is environmental

00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:04.260
 challenges,

00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:06.140
 it's not for me to tell you

00:07:06.140 --> 00:07:06.840
 what you must think

00:07:06.840 --> 00:07:07.520
 of these things.

00:07:08.580 --> 00:07:09.300
 But clearly,

00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:11.080
 even in this last week,

00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:12.040
 we have had rainfall

00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:13.920
 like we've never had before,

00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.819
 and as we sit here

00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:17.040
 in the dry today,

00:07:18.140 --> 00:07:19.660
 river levels are still rising

00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:20.580
 a little further up

00:07:20.580 --> 00:07:21.460
 the River Severn

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 and places will be flooded.

00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:27.520
 There are eschatological concerns,

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 let me put that in English

00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:29.240
 for you.

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 Many, many writers

00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:34.220
 at this point in time

00:07:34.220 --> 00:07:35.319
 are asking themselves

00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.120
 this question

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 and by implication

00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:38.100
 asking us,

00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:39.720
 where will it all end?

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 And then there are

00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:44.560
 emotional challenges.

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 I read some academic

00:07:49.200 --> 00:07:51.180
 psychology papers

00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:54.220
 on the impact of COVID

00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:55.640
 upon the nation's

00:07:55.640 --> 00:07:56.580
 mental health.

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 Again, I don't want

00:07:58.320 --> 00:07:59.380
 to catalogue that with you,

00:07:59.440 --> 00:08:00.920
 but I didn't find one writer

00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:02.740
 who thought that

00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:04.440
 the long-term impact

00:08:04.440 --> 00:08:06.280
 of COVID-19

00:08:06.280 --> 00:08:08.080
 on our mental health

00:08:08.080 --> 00:08:09.580
 would be a positive thing.

00:08:10.520 --> 00:08:11.900
 And I think we're seeing

00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:12.980
 that now reflected

00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:14.400
 in the statistics

00:08:14.400 --> 00:08:16.240
 of people who are off work

00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:17.260
 with mental illness,

00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:19.040
 people who are waiting

00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:19.780
 for an appointment

00:08:19.780 --> 00:08:21.020
 on the national health

00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:22.620
 to have their mental illness

00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:24.160
 treated, etc., etc.

00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:26.900
 But then more personally,

00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.340
 the emotional challenges

00:08:28.340 --> 00:08:30.920
 are around broken relationships,

00:08:31.700 --> 00:08:32.779
 whether caused by

00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:34.340
 irrevocable breakdown,

00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:36.240
 by loss,

00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.100
 by loneliness,

00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.379
 whatever.

00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:40.799
 or again,

00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:43.320
 being ill at this time.

00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:44.480
 As we speak,

00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.559
 the junior doctors

00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:46.759
 are on strike.

00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:47.659
 The threat of illness

00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:48.439
 in myself

00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:50.419
 or in someone I love

00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:53.120
 seems a little more forceful

00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:54.779
 in these days.

00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:59.059
 We live in anxious times,

00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:01.360
 wars, famines.

00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:03.919
 Last weekend,

00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:05.620
 in the Times

00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:06.680
 colour supplement,

00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.539
 and also

00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:09.879
 in a number of blogs,

00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:11.580
 there appeared stories

00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:13.279
 of reconciliation.

00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.700
 Stories whose intention

00:09:15.700 --> 00:09:18.340
 is to lift our spirits

00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:19.379
 at the beginning

00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:20.300
 of a new year

00:09:20.300 --> 00:09:21.820
 with whatever

00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:22.940
 that new year

00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:24.039
 holds for us.

00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:26.000
 Take, for instance,

00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.220
 the story of Carl Benson

00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:30.139
 and John Pritchard.

00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:34.139
 Through no fault of his own

00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:35.279
 other than

00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.320
 his morality,

00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.059
 a woman he made pregnant

00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:41.840
 who left him

00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.980
 long before she had the baby

00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:45.620
 had a son

00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:47.200
 who became known

00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.220
 as John Pritchard.

00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:49.480
 He was put up for adoption

00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:51.940
 by the mother.

00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:53.940
 And for 50 years,

00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:54.700
 he lived happily

00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:55.300
 in the home,

00:09:55.420 --> 00:09:57.520
 believing that his father

00:09:57.520 --> 00:09:58.600
 was his father.

00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:02.260
 Turns out,

00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:05.000
 and he only discovered this

00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:06.000
 when his mother,

00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.160
 mistakenly thought

00:10:07.160 --> 00:10:08.340
 she was on her deathbed,

00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:09.000
 told him

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.940
 that the man he treated

00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:11.660
 as his father

00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:12.520
 for 50 years

00:10:12.520 --> 00:10:13.960
 was actually not his father.

00:10:15.380 --> 00:10:16.420
 All she did was

00:10:16.420 --> 00:10:17.720
 she gave him a name

00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:19.980
 and she gave him a place.

00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:22.560
 She gave him the name

00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:23.779
 and the place was Brighton.

00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:25.259
 He started to do some research

00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:26.100
 and discovered

00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:28.460
 where his father lived.

00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.620
 They met together.

00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:33.920
 And there was a great reconciliation.

00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:38.740
 I can see why stories like that

00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.840
 might lift our spirits.

00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:40.980
 It certainly lifted mine

00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:41.860
 to read about them.

00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:42.580
 I was moved

00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:43.580
 as I

00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:46.300
 heard them quoted

00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:48.360
 speaking about

00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.879
 the lost years.

00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:51.980
 50 of them.

00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:54.539
 50 lost years.

00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:56.360
 Eventually,

00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.080
 eventually,

00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.039
 after 50 years

00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:01.500
 of not knowing his father,

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.460
 he met his father.

00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.159
 And they speak

00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.279
 about lost time.

00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:09.800
 I've noticed this,

00:11:10.420 --> 00:11:11.220
 and some of you

00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.300
 will have noticed it too,

00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:13.460
 that the older we get,

00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:15.820
 the idea of time

00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:17.620
 seems to change within us.

00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:18.800
 On the one hand,

00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:20.479
 does it seem

00:11:20.479 --> 00:11:21.779
 that the passage of time

00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:23.379
 seems to accelerate to you?

00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:25.779
 The older I get,

00:11:25.839 --> 00:11:26.599
 the quicker it goes.

00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.319
 I can't believe

00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:28.120
 it's been Christmas

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.240
 and New Year again.

00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:33.919
 The second thing is,

00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:37.159
 and I think this is a wise thing,

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:38.240
 we become aware

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.319
 that whatever time

00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.259
 we have left,

00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:42.120
 we should,

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.620
 to use a Bible phrase,

00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:44.719
 use that time

00:11:44.719 --> 00:11:45.399
 aright.

00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:47.980
 psalm 90,

00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:49.519
 the psalmist writes this,

00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:50.500
 teach us to number

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:51.639
 our days aright,

00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:53.399
 so that we may gain

00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.240
 a heart

00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.340
 of wisdom.

00:11:57.079 --> 00:11:58.459
 I don't want to offend you

00:11:58.459 --> 00:11:59.240
 in any way,

00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.439
 but just getting older

00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:01.179
 on its own

00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:02.199
 doesn't make you wiser.

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.419
 Some of the most childish

00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:05.199
 people I know

00:12:05.199 --> 00:12:05.720
 are old.

00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.779
 But what about

00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:10.120
 those lost years?

00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:12.960
 What about

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.240
 the lost years

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:15.840
 of your walk

00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:16.460
 with God

00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.720
 as revealed to us

00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.240
 in Jesus?

00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.160
 I call this talk

00:12:22.160 --> 00:12:23.899
 a second touch.

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.300
 Could have called it

00:12:26.300 --> 00:12:27.500
 a first touch

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.399
 as far as

00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.560
 some of you are concerned.

00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:30.560
 For some of you

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.960
 do not even know

00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:32.480
 what it is

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.700
 to be touched by God,

00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:35.360
 not even for the first time.

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.200
 Some of you

00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.139
 have been touched

00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:38.820
 by God,

00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:40.560
 but your experience

00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:41.680
 has faded.

00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:44.200
 In the book of Isaiah

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:45.519
 chapter 64

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.399
 and verse 6,

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.460
 the prophet writes this,

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.200
 all of us

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.820
 have become like one

00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.860
 who is unclean

00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:52.360
 and all our righteous acts

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.180
 are like filthy rags.

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.740
 We all shrivel up

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:58.320
 like a leaf.

00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:04.340
 Is this a day?

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.879
 When you might be honest

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.759
 before God

00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:11.700
 and speak the truth

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.139
 to Him

00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.960
 that your faith

00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:15.740
 has become

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:16.720
 a little shriveled.

00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:19.440
 And what you would

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:20.320
 long for

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:23.019
 is another touch

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.560
 from God

00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:26.080
 that would re-energize

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.240
 your faith batteries,

00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:30.799
 which would give you

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.519
 incentive

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.440
 and power

00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.240
 to come close

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:33.639
 to God

00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.580
 that He might

00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.279
 come close

00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:35.740
 to you.

00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:38.580
 I want

00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:39.139
 briefly

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:39.820
 to give you

00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:40.740
 two examples

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:41.680
 from Scripture

00:13:41.680 --> 00:13:42.560
 of what I'm

00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.399
 talking about

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.860
 and then

00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:45.639
 one example

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:47.180
 from church history.

00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.879
 Spoiler alert,

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:50.000
 you Methodists

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.740
 are going to love it.

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:54.740
 the first one

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.759
 is in Mark

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.700
 chapter 8

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:58.759
 and verse 22.

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.419
 This is a story

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.879
 of a healing

00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.000
 of a blind man

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.480
 at Bethsaida.

00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.740
 Jesus and His disciples

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.340
 came there

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.180
 and a blind man

00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:10.919
 begged Jesus

00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.740
 to touch him.

00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:14.519
 He took the blind man

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.279
 by the hand

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.779
 and led him

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.639
 outside the village

00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.480
 and when he spat

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.639
 on the man's eyes,

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.279
 sorry,

00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.299
 that's not disgusting.

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.879
 What they thought

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.740
 in ancient times

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.659
 was that saliva

00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.339
 was healing.

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.379
 Reminds me

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.019
 that my granny,

00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:28.439
 I used to cut my knees

00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:28.919
 every day

00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:29.740
 playing football

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.480
 in the church,

00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:31.139
 sorry,

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.399
 in the school playground.

00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:33.539
 My granny

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.220
 always used to get

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.220
 the dog to lick me.

00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.959
 Never did me any harm

00:14:37.959 --> 00:14:38.480
 and it did make

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.439
 my legs heal

00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.419
 and it made the dog

00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.819
 a kind of voracious killer

00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.120
 but

00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:45.839
 so he touches him

00:14:45.839 --> 00:14:46.600
 and

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.399
 Jesus says to him,

00:14:48.439 --> 00:14:49.059
 do you see anything?

00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.579
 He said,

00:14:49.959 --> 00:14:50.859
 I see people,

00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:52.099
 they look like trees

00:14:52.099 --> 00:14:53.039
 walking around.

00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:55.500
 Once more,

00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:57.699
 once more,

00:14:58.619 --> 00:14:59.819
 Jesus put his hands

00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.719
 on the man's eyes

00:15:00.719 --> 00:15:01.599
 and then his eyes

00:15:01.599 --> 00:15:02.199
 were opened.

00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:03.739
 His sight

00:15:03.739 --> 00:15:04.639
 was restored.

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:06.879
 See,

00:15:06.939 --> 00:15:07.519
 I think

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.519
 that's why we need

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.399
 a second touch

00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.000
 at the beginning

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:12.639
 of this year.

00:15:12.719 --> 00:15:13.839
 We need our vision

00:15:13.839 --> 00:15:14.559
 restored.

00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.199
 We need our walk

00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:17.699
 with God

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:18.299
 strengthened.

00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:21.319
 We need our hope

00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:23.199
 rekindled.

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.359
 The second example

00:15:26.359 --> 00:15:27.000
 from Scripture

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.659
 is the reading

00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.339
 that we had

00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:30.359
 from Acts chapter 19,

00:15:30.619 --> 00:15:31.959
 this curious story

00:15:31.959 --> 00:15:34.239
 of the Ephesian elders.

00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.960
 did you receive

00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.820
 the Holy Spirit

00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.700
 when you were baptized?

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.379
 They're like,

00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:41.820
 what?

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:42.940
 We've never even

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.159
 heard of the Holy Spirit.

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.180
 And then this

00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:46.139
 remarkable thing

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.580
 happens

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:48.320
 and I think

00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.700
 some churches

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.899
 make more of this

00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.659
 than actually

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:53.139
 we should.

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.460
 But what happens

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:54.879
 is,

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.980
 they say we've been

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:56.460
 baptized,

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.080
 they were baptized

00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.120
 with John's baptism.

00:15:59.240 --> 00:15:59.820
 That doesn't mean

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.700
 that John himself

00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:01.660
 baptized them.

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:02.840
 John,

00:16:03.280 --> 00:16:04.300
 as far as we know,

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.160
 was part of a

00:16:05.160 --> 00:16:07.140
 quasi-monastic group

00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:08.260
 called the Essenes.

00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:09.820
 Those of you

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.000
 who've been

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.860
 to the Holy Land

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.340
 will know

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.020
 that if you

00:16:12.020 --> 00:16:13.680
 head out of Jerusalem

00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.260
 on the road

00:16:14.260 --> 00:16:14.980
 to Jericho

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.980
 and turn a right

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.440
 where you would

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:16.900
 turn left

00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:17.879
 to go to Jericho,

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.260
 you come to the

00:16:19.260 --> 00:16:20.320
 caves of Qumran.

00:16:21.920 --> 00:16:23.580
 Very significant caves

00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.620
 in that they found

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.160
 in them

00:16:25.160 --> 00:16:27.400
 Bible manuscripts

00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:28.720
 on parchment.

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:30.300
 that rather

00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:31.360
 reinforced the

00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:31.940
 translations

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:32.920
 of the Bible

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:33.540
 that we have

00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:33.960
 today.

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.920
 A very famous

00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:37.519
 part of John's

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:37.899
 Gospel

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:39.120
 called P46

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.620
 was found

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.460
 there in those

00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:41.940
 caves.

00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:43.540
 But John

00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:44.139
 would send

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.759
 his disciples

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.440
 out and his

00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.200
 disciples would

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:46.680
 baptize.

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.320
 So they knew

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.100
 the baptism

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.220
 of John.

00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.019
 Paul said

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.860
 John's baptism

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.500
 was a

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:55.480
 baptism of

00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.019
 repentance.

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.580
 He told the

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.399
 people to believe

00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:58.919
 in the one

00:16:58.919 --> 00:16:59.579
 coming after

00:16:59.579 --> 00:16:59.939
 him,

00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:00.840
 that is in

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.179
 Jesus.

00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:01.759
 On hearing

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.240
 this,

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.120
 they were

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.220
 baptized into

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.839
 the name

00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.420
 of the Lord

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:05.839
 Jesus.

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.400
 When Paul

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.000
 placed his

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.539
 hands on

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:09.740
 them,

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.400
 the Holy

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.079
 Spirit came

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.400
 on them

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:11.700
 and they

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.319
 spoke in

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:12.660
 tongues

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.559
 and prophesied.

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.680
 There were

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.539
 about twelve

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.339
 men in

00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:16.740
 all.

00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.019
 Look,

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:23.559
 some churches

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.139
 have built

00:17:24.139 --> 00:17:25.500
 something onto

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.180
 these verses

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.639
 which I

00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.139
 think isn't

00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.359
 right.

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:27.740
 And that

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.039
 is,

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:28.879
 you do

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.480
 not have

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.000
 to speak

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.539
 in tongues

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.460
 and prophesy

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.279
 to know

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.680
 that you've

00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.079
 been filled

00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.359
 with the

00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.019
 Holy Spirit.

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.639
 Not going

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.000
 to harm

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.720
 if you do

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.759
 speak in

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.119
 tongues

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:40.240
 and prophesy,

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.619
 but they're

00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:41.920
 gifts.

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.299
 They're not

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.799
 meant for

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.639
 all believers.

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.620
 God gives

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.300
 his gifts

00:17:46.300 --> 00:17:47.000
 as he

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.560
 wills.

00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:50.960
 Whatever

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.420
 the outward

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.180
 signs of

00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:53.700
 being filled

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.020
 with the

00:17:54.020 --> 00:17:54.680
 Holy Spirit,

00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:55.020
 and I

00:17:55.020 --> 00:17:55.360
 think they

00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:55.860
 should be

00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:57.160
 manifest in

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:57.840
 some way,

00:17:59.280 --> 00:17:59.900
 doesn't have

00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.640
 to be prophecy

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.440
 and speaking

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.020
 in tongues.

00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:02.380
 And I

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.380
 know there

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:03.820
 are people

00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:04.240
 in this

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.660
 church who

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:04.980
 are very

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.460
 hung up

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.440
 because they

00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:06.960
 think unless

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.660
 they speak

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.140
 in tongues,

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.900
 they're somehow

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.380
 second class.

00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:12.240
 I don't

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.540
 think you

00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.180
 can justify

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.540
 that.

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.240
 From Scripture.

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.140
 This happened

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.300
 in this case

00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:18.520
 at that time.

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:19.860
 It's not me

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.480
 saying I don't

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.100
 believe in the

00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:21.759
 gift of tongues

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.520
 today or the

00:18:22.520 --> 00:18:23.259
 gift of prophecy

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.700
 today.

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.720
 I'm really not

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.440
 saying that.

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.400
 What I am

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.200
 saying is it's

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.900
 a gift of the

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.200
 Spirit.

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.280
 Not all the

00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:30.280
 gifts, not all

00:18:30.280 --> 00:18:30.880
 God's people

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.640
 have all the

00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:31.980
 gifts.

00:18:33.780 --> 00:18:34.540
 And if you

00:18:34.540 --> 00:18:35.220
 think you do,

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.520
 pray for

00:18:36.520 --> 00:18:37.000
 humility.

00:18:41.280 --> 00:18:41.800
 So,

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:44.039
 these elders,

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.720
 let me remind

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.740
 you, these

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.839
 are elders.

00:18:49.419 --> 00:18:50.099
 This reminds

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:51.559
 us that you

00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.279
 cannot borrow

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:52.940
 strength from

00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:54.180
 status in

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:54.599
 church.

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.980
 I, some

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.579
 of you know

00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.319
 that before I

00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.099
 retired I was

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.440
 a bishop.

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.599
 And I can

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.339
 tell you there

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:04.980
 is an awful

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.339
 tendency to

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:07.079
 borrow strength

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:07.480
 from your

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.460
 status as a

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:08.680
 bishop.

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.500
 But I can

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.160
 tell you this,

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.940
 your spiritual

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.160
 leadership is

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.180
 always undermined

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.900
 when you borrow

00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.560
 strength from

00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:16.180
 status.

00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.799
 I had a

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.519
 colleague once

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.680
 and preaching,

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.100
 he would say

00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.880
 time and time

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.600
 again during the

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.259
 sermon, as a

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.920
 bishop, as a

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.560
 bishop, as a

00:19:25.560 --> 00:19:25.779
 bishop.

00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.140
 I said, you

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:27.539
 don't need to

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.240
 tell people you're

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.580
 a bishop.

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:29.880
 They can tell

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.600
 because of the

00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:31.660
 clothes you

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:31.880
 wear.

00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:34.340
 They've worked

00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:34.779
 it out.

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:39.619
 No, borrowing

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.259
 strength from

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:42.319
 status is a

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:42.980
 really difficult

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.460
 thing.

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.539
 And if you

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.859
 talk to people

00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:46.660
 who've held

00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:52.160
 high rank in

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:52.980
 the army or

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.920
 the navy or

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.460
 the army, they

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.319
 will tell you

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:57.460
 that though they

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.420
 can pull rank

00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.220
 any time they

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:01.500
 like to, the

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.099
 ones that are

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.799
 honest and are

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.519
 humble say they

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.180
 don't like to

00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.599
 do that.

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:08.359
 Friend, if you

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.819
 are placing

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:11.559
 some security

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.720
 in your status

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.619
 here on earth,

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.440
 I can promise

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.519
 you this, it

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:16.980
 will count for

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.000
 nothing in

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.259
 heaven.

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.319
 The last

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.139
 example I

00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:23.680
 want to give

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.220
 you, this is

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.599
 where the

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.879
 Methodists get

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.359
 aroused, is

00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:28.980
 John Wesley.

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.680
 John Wesley

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.500
 had been

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.339
 ordained in

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:34.759
 the Church

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.240
 of England

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.839
 for 12

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.179
 years, before

00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:39.459
 he was, in

00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:39.980
 his words,

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.579
 converted.

00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:43.299
 In a small

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.659
 meeting in

00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.399
 Aldersgate,

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.240
 London,

00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:47.599
 Wesley records,

00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:48.759
 one was

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.559
 reading the

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.299
 preface to

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:50.759
 Luther's

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.480
 commentary on

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.019
 the book of

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.399
 Romans.

00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.400
 insomnia.

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:55.100
 I mean, I

00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:55.640
 can't just say

00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:56.160
 about that

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.680
 preface.

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.080
 If any of you

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.740
 have problems

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.480
 with insomnia,

00:20:59.780 --> 00:21:00.420
 I would suggest

00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.060
 you get that

00:21:01.060 --> 00:21:01.640
 book and read

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.240
 the preface.

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.900
 I guarantee you

00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.040
 will be

00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:04.960
 unconscious within

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.500
 minutes.

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.519
 Wesley's reading

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.540
 this, and then he

00:21:10.540 --> 00:21:11.120
 says this,

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.859
 I felt my

00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:13.199
 heart strangely

00:21:13.199 --> 00:21:13.779
 warmed.

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.399
 I felt I

00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:16.219
 did trust in

00:21:16.219 --> 00:21:16.979
 Christ, Christ

00:21:16.979 --> 00:21:17.579
 alone for

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.099
 salvation, and

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.799
 an assurance

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.759
 was given me

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.639
 that he had

00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:22.500
 taken away my

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.299
 sins, even

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.599
 mine, and

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.459
 saved me from

00:21:25.459 --> 00:21:26.659
 the law of

00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.719
 sin and

00:21:27.719 --> 00:21:28.219
 death.

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.539
 You know, the

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.659
 Bible says that

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:32.579
 when a sinner

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.379
 repents, there's

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.039
 joy in heaven.

00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:34.939
 I would imagine

00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:36.939
 when God heard

00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:37.859
 John Wesley's

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.119
 words there, an

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:40.339
 Anglican clergyman,

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.019
 I think the

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.759
 champagne corks

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.159
 would have been

00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:44.919
 popping, don't

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:45.119
 you?

00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:46.919
 I think they

00:21:46.919 --> 00:21:47.319
 would have been

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:48.099
 great delight

00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:49.439
 that somebody who

00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:50.059
 could have drawn

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.699
 strength from

00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:51.699
 status, who

00:21:51.699 --> 00:21:52.139
 could have been

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:53.399
 far too proud to

00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:54.419
 kind of believe

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.099
 that simple

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:56.159
 gospel stuff,

00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:59.699
 was profoundly

00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.699
 changed by it.

00:22:02.439 --> 00:22:03.279
 Changed for the

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.339
 rest of his life

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.779
 here on earth.

00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:10.699
 And as a

00:22:10.699 --> 00:22:12.759
 result, God

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:14.299
 blessed the

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.319
 church across

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.759
 the world with

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.379
 the Methodist

00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:17.819
 church.

00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:22.819
 What an

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:26.879
 amazing story

00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.639
 that is.

00:22:29.219 --> 00:22:30.339
 Somebody once

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:32.019
 wrote, there is

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.199
 no bigger tragedy

00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:34.939
 than the tragedy

00:22:34.939 --> 00:22:36.399
 of the unopened

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:36.839
 gift.

00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:37.000
 gift.

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:43.099
 I wonder, I

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.679
 wonder at the

00:22:43.679 --> 00:22:44.399
 beginning of this

00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:47.079
 new year, if

00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:47.599
 there are not

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.339
 gifts that God

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.319
 has for you that

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.659
 as yet remain

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.399
 unopened.

00:22:56.199 --> 00:22:56.959
 Come on

00:22:56.959 --> 00:22:57.339
 people.

00:23:01.459 --> 00:23:02.419
 Be honest

00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:04.000
 enough to

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.579
 admit that you

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.579
 need in some

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.519
 cases a first

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.339
 touch and in

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.859
 some cases a

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.740
 second touch.

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.220
 Today is the

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.740
 day, well

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.819
 yesterday actually

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.859
 was the

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:16.539
 epiphany, but

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.279
 today is the

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.039
 day the church

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.859
 celebrates the

00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.559
 epiphany, the

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.419
 revelation of

00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.439
 God to the

00:23:21.439 --> 00:23:22.480
 Gentiles, which

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.500
 speaks to most

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.000
 of us.

00:23:25.639 --> 00:23:27.179
 Epiphany speaks

00:23:27.179 --> 00:23:27.879
 to us of the

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.859
 need for fresh

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.579
 revelation.

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.119
 At the beginning

00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.839
 of a new year

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.819
 which creaks with

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.539
 the noise of

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:35.059
 uncertainty and

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.579
 turbulence.

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.299
 Let me ask you

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.819
 a question.

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.940
 Is this your

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.359
 moment?

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:44.940
 Do you have

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.179
 any expectation

00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:47.720
 that right now

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.579
 God wants to

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.759
 speak right into

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.440
 your heart?

00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.839
 That you may

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.940
 seek forgiveness

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.059
 maybe for a

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.980
 habit that you

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.559
 would like to

00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.319
 break, maybe an

00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.179
 addictive habit.

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:03.799
 maybe you're in

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.580
 a relationship

00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.279
 where there are

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.840
 patterns of

00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.539
 behaviour that

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.380
 are just repeated

00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:08.640
 and destructive

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.720
 and you know

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.480
 you need a new

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.080
 start and

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.539
 forgiveness.

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.600
 Is it your

00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.519
 moment to seek

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.580
 a revelation of

00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:16.880
 God?

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.940
 To seek renewal

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:20.460
 in your Christian

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:20.840
 life?

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.820
 To discover a new

00:24:21.820 --> 00:24:22.980
 confidence in God?

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.480
 A new freedom in

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:24.779
 God?

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.799
 And maybe as

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.519
 important as

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.419
 any of these

00:24:29.419 --> 00:24:31.139
 a new hope

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:31.759
 in God.

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.559
 Don't let your

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.839
 life drift by

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.339
 wanting your

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.259
 real life with

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.159
 God to begin

00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:40.099
 at some stage

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.839
 in the future.

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.659
 That question

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.940
 that we asked

00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.599
 at the beginning,

00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.440
 Russ asked at

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:46.940
 the beginning,

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.319
 what do I want

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.419
 God to do in

00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:51.819
 my life in the

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.819
 next 12 months?

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.519
 It doesn't

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.879
 matter if your

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.960
 answer was a

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.659
 bit hazy.

00:24:58.939 --> 00:24:59.679
 Let me try and

00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:00.460
 focus it a bit

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:00.619
 more.

00:25:00.679 --> 00:25:01.319
 What do I want

00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.139
 God to help me

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.399
 to do in this

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:03.960
 next year?

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.179
 What do I want

00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:07.059
 God to help me

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:08.099
 to stop doing

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.240
 in this next

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.539
 year?

00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.619
 Do I want

00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.939
 hope or am I

00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:14.019
 happy just to be

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.059
 a kind of

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.379
 religious

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:18.159
 wishful

00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:18.779
 thinker?

00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.439
 Or would I

00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.339
 really like the

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.159
 hope that only a

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.100
 relationship with

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.220
 God can give

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.480
 me?

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.960
 And do I need

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.580
 the help of

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:28.180
 God's Holy

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:30.160
 Spirit just to

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.759
 help me to

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.100
 cope?

00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.519
 I might like to

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.840
 think just for a

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:37.200
 moment about

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.100
 those questions

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:39.720
 and come to

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.340
 your own

00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:40.900
 conclusion.

00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:41.740
 I can't make

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.320
 any of you do

00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:42.720
 anything.

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.759
 Do I need

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.259
 a second touch?

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.920
 What a great

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.100
 question to

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.019
 start the

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.859
 new year with.

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.539
 I can only

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.759
 pray that you

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.619
 will answer

00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:58.639
 that question

00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.259
 honestly.

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.859
 So I want to

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.680
 end by asking

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.440
 you to stand

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:03.920
 please.

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.879
 And what I'd

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.619
 like you to do

00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:11.099
 is just to take

00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.200
 two or three

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.099
 very deep

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.539
 breaths.

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:18.539
 and I'd like you

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.240
 to focus

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.639
 your minds

00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:22.440
 on the God

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.139
 in heaven who

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:23.940
 looks down on

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.220
 you,

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.200
 us,

00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.519
 both,

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:31.240
 and wants

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.779
 to know

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.159
 which of you

00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:35.519
 are serious

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.960
 in this,

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.740
 the beginning of

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.639
 this new year

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:40.420
 in wanting

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.380
 to grow

00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:42.120
 closer to

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.480
 God.

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.780
 I'm going to

00:26:44.780 --> 00:26:45.320
 end with a

00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:47.060
 prayer that

00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.440
 was written

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.960
 by a guy

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.680
 called Greg

00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.360
 Lavoie and

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.300
 it speaks to

00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:50.780
 the lost

00:26:50.780 --> 00:26:52.940
 years of

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.759
 our relationship

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.420
 with God,

00:26:54.520 --> 00:26:55.140
 those of us

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.259
 who've experienced

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.200
 such things.

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.900
 It goes like

00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.180
 this,

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.820
 to sinful

00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:00.580
 patterns of

00:27:00.580 --> 00:27:01.080
 behaviour

00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:02.340
 that never

00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:03.240
 got confronted

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.080
 and changed,

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.120
 abilities and

00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:06.640
 gifts that

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.220
 never get

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.240
 cultivated and

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.720
 deployed,

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.200
 until weeks

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.100
 become months

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.680
 and months

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.259
 turn into

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.740
 years,

00:27:13.060 --> 00:27:14.000
 and one day

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:15.840
 you're looking

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.519
 back on a

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.400
 life of deep,

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.519
 intimate,

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.960
 gut-wrenchingly

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.200
 honest conversations

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.140
 you never had,

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.240
 great,

00:27:24.580 --> 00:27:25.320
 bold prayers

00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:25.799
 you never

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.299
 prayed,

00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:28.320
 exhilarating

00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:28.820
 risks you

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.299
 never took,

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.059
 sacrificial

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.799
 gifts you

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.559
 never offered,

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.299
 lives you

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.099
 never touched,

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.159
 and you're

00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.039
 sitting in a

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.539
 recliner with

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.159
 a shriveled

00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:39.579
 soul and

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.559
 forgotten dreams

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.679
 and you

00:27:41.679 --> 00:27:42.419
 realise there

00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.000
 was a world

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.579
 of desperate

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.259
 need and a

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.819
 great God

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.619
 calling you

00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.679
 to be part

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:47.240
 of something

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.799
 bigger than

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.339
 yourself.

00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:53.519
 You see the

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.339
 person you

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.700
 could have

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:56.619
 become but

00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.220
 did not.

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:59.180
 you never

00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.920
 followed your

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.400
 calling,

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.140
 you never

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:03.299
 got out of

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.799
 the boat.

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.240
 Father God,

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.579
 I want to

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.220
 pray for

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.200
 people in

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.940
 church now.

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.140
 Lord,

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.000
 then if any

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.740
 of those

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:15.240
 descriptions

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.059
 fit them,

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.420
 Lord,

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.519
 help them to

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.200
 know now

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:20.240
 that the only

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.200
 prescription to

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.039
 those descriptions

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:25.420
 is you and

00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:25.960
 your Holy

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:28.799
 Spirit and

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.559
 your ability

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.980
 to work in

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.519
 us and

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.240
 through us.

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.700
 And Lord,

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:37.019
 that grace is

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.879
 unconditional.

00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:40.200
 All we have

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.740
 to do is to

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.420
 say, yes,

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.159
 touch me,

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.559
 Lord,

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.799
 that I may

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.680
 see clearly,

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.659
 that my vision

00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:49.680
 may be restored,

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.279
 and this

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.279
 year will be

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.100
 a significant

00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:53.080
 year for me

00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:54.160
 in my walk

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.620
 with you.

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.740
 And a

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.660
 significant year

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.140
 for this

00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.660
 church as

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.360
 it seeks to

00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.299
 grow into

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:01.980
 the likeness

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.560
 of Christ.

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.019
 So we

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.360
 stand,

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:07.779
 Father,

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.759
 in silence

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.680
 now and

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.039
 pray,

00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:11.920
 come,

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.240
 Holy Spirit.

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.340
 Amen.

00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:13.380
 Amen.

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:28.220
 So, Lord,

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.220
 we pray,

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:32.039
 we believe,

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.420
 help our

00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.240
 unbelief.

00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:36.980
 And the

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.360
 people who

00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:37.980
 agreed say

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.799
 together in a

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.580
 loud voice,

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.019
 Amen.

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.220
 Amen.

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.440
 Amen.