WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.780 Hi, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the lead pastor of Church of the Messiah. It is wonderful 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:20.780 that you would like to check out some of the sermons done by Church of the Messiah, either 00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:24.920 by myself or some of the others. Listen, just a couple of things. First of all, would you pray 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:31.520 for us that we will open God's Word well to His glory and for the good of people like yourself? 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:37.939 The second thing is, if you aren't connected to a church and if you are a Christian, we really, 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:42.579 I would really like to encourage you to find a good local church where they believe the Bible, 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:48.760 they preach the gospel, and if you have some trouble finding that, send us an email. We will 00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:54.560 do what we can to help connect you with a good local church wherever you are. And if you're a 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.340 non-Christian checking us out, we're really, really, really glad you're doing that. Don't 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:04.680 hesitate to send us questions. It helps me actually to know, as I'm preaching, how to deal with the 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.780 types of things that you're really struggling with. So God bless. 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:22.340 Just bowing our heads, let's pray. Father, sometimes, Father, we read your Word and don't see ourselves 00:01:22.340 --> 00:01:28.380 in your Word. But Father, we confess that the problem is not that your Word isn't addressing 00:01:28.380 --> 00:01:36.939 us, but that, I don't know, there's something blind in our eyes and clogging our ears and dull 00:01:36.939 --> 00:01:42.760 with our conscience. Father, we ask that you help us to hear your Word. It's a Word directly 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:48.140 to us, a Word that speaks to us as we really are, at the center of who we are, not only at the center 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:53.500 of who we are, but the real life that we actually live day by day. And so, Father, we ask that your 00:01:53.500 --> 00:02:00.379 Holy Spirit would do that gentle but very important work in us all the time and this morning now as we 00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:05.079 spend some time looking at your Word. And we ask these things in the name of Jesus, your Son and our 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:14.400 Savior. Amen. Please be seated. So the psalm today is going to talk about haters, having to live your life 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:21.780 with people who hate you. And there might be a... Obviously, hate's a very, very strong word, 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:29.480 and for some cases, it might not be hate, but it might be constant irritation. It might be severe. 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:36.000 It might be real dislike, or it might literally be haters. And one of the things is some of us might 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.360 say, well, you know, I don't think I'm dealing with any haters right now. I don't think I'm dealing 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:45.300 with anybody who wants me to fail, who wants me to land, you know, on my face, not pick myself up. 00:02:45.760 --> 00:02:50.680 I don't know if I'm dealing with people who want to defeat me. I don't know if I'm dealing with haters. 00:02:51.260 --> 00:02:56.440 Well, actually, every... Probably every single one of us in this room, in fact, are dealing with haters. 00:02:57.720 --> 00:03:03.940 Because there's a range of topics that we, as those of us who are here who are historic, 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:09.699 biblical Christians, that if we were to say it out loud, people would hate us. 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:20.539 And so it's not unusual that if you're in a Starbucks, or a Tim Hortons, or some other place, 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:25.400 and you discover you meet another person who holds some of the same views as you, you talk like this. 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:29.819 And you sort of look around a little bit. Because we don't want to be hated. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:35.519 Don't bring it up at our workplace. We don't want to be hated. Now I know there's a few people here who, 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:40.280 I don't know, you're built out of titanium, and you go through a life scene, whatever you want. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:45.939 But for most of us, most of us Canadians, we, in a sense, do have to live with haters. 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:53.159 And we live with them by avoiding them. So this psalm is a psalm that actually talks about how do you 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:58.740 live in a world where there are people who are hating you. And it has some surprising, 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:06.600 counterintuitive advice. So let's look and see what it says. We're looking at Psalm 86. Psalm 86. 00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:13.120 And here we go. It begins like this. Once again, I'm not sure if it's on the screen, 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:18.639 but it begins by saying, A Psalm of David. Just want to remind you, those, if you read the psalms 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:22.540 for yourselves, and you know, like in my version right now, there has this thing in the bullet print, 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:27.740 Great is Your Steadfast Love. That's just the editors thinking that that's a good title for it. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:33.319 But right underneath it, there's usually emboldening bullet print, not always, because they don't always 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:38.379 have an ascription, but something like a Psalm of David. I think I've said this before, but not for 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:44.160 a few weeks. One of the differences between a Hebrew Bible, like a Jewish Bible, and ours, 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:51.840 is they count that as the first verse. So their verses, where there's an ascription at that at the 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:58.240 beginning, their psalms will always be off from ours by a verse. And if that's why, that's why 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:03.379 they consider it. But it's original, a Psalm of David. And then it continues, verse one. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:10.400 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Now just pause here before I go any 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:17.019 further. David is the king of Israel, and he's just said he's poor and needy. 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:27.060 So is this political posturing? We all know of people like politicians who try to pretend that 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:32.399 they're working class and just scraping by, and they have lots of mansions that are worth millions 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:37.759 and millions of dollars. I've done funerals for people who live in a mansion in Rockcliffe, 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:42.659 and when they're talking about the deceased, they talk about how they're just managing to get by like 00:05:42.659 --> 00:05:49.819 everybody else, as if they're working, living in some of the poor areas of the town, but they 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:57.620 go to elite school. Is that what David's doing here? He's not. And you'll go on and you'll later, 00:05:57.779 --> 00:06:01.860 like for instance, towards the end of the psalm, he's going to refer to himself as God's servant, 00:06:01.860 --> 00:06:09.420 a son of God's maidservant. What's going on here isn't political posturing. It's not make believe 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:15.420 and pretend. It's, which you'll see as you go through the whole psalm, everybody is poor and 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:21.560 needy in regards to God. It doesn't matter if you're one of the richest people on the planet, 00:06:21.939 --> 00:06:29.120 you are poor and needy. You need God for life, you need him for your breath, you can't buy your way 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:35.660 into heaven. And so there's a, this is a type of a humbling phrase of David's, which is important 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:42.860 to notice. It's not a cynical phrase, it's heartfelt, and it's heartfelt in the context of the living God. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:48.959 So I'll read that verse again. Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:58.160 Preserve my life, for I am godly. Save your servant who trusts in you, you are my God. Be gracious to me, 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:06.800 O Lord, for to you, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, 00:07:06.880 --> 00:07:15.140 O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love 00:07:15.140 --> 00:07:23.740 to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer. Listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:31.759 trouble, I call upon you, for you answer me. So verses one to six are sort of covering some important 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:36.000 things about him in terms of his heart and his attitude, and he's getting to the point right here 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:42.579 at verse seven. I'm in trouble. And we're going to see later on in the psalm that the trouble is that 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:48.439 he's dealing with haters. Haters who don't just want him to fail, they actually want to kill him. 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:53.639 And that's the trouble that he's dealing with. Now, a couple of things, you know, about this. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:03.100 Now, the first thing is, you know, I think every one of us, as soon as I said we have to deal with 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:08.480 haters, that maybe some of you right now are consciously dealing with somebody. Maybe it's a 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:16.720 parent, maybe it's a neighbor, maybe it's your boss, that really does, is out to get you and hates you. 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:23.060 And maybe we're just avoiding saying certain things so we don't develop haters. But here's the other 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:30.960 thing about this psalm. You'll notice that David keeps talking about his need for grace and mercy. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:37.779 And the reason he's doing that, there's a couple of things that we can get from that. The first one is 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:46.039 this. There might very, and so this whole psalm is going to teach us how to pray into a situation 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:52.000 where people hate us. And that sounds like something we're going to look forward to hearing more about. 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:58.480 We need to also remember that there might very well be people praying this psalm because of us. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:09.040 In other words, there's people in our office or our neighborhood who perceive us as hating them. 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:14.060 And maybe they're in another church, maybe they're somewhere else, maybe they hear about this online 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:18.860 and they watch it and they're thinking, I really need to hear this because that's, I need to deal 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:26.400 with that George. You know, I need to deal with that, you know, Andrea. That's just something in here. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:35.419 There's implicit within this call for grace and mercy, this double-edged thing that we need to 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:40.240 understand that it might be us that others are praying about. Now, before I say anything else, 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:45.519 I'd like to, if you could put up the first point, Claire, that would be very good. The biggest lesson 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:51.019 of this whole psalm, but especially these first few verses, is this. Life is difficult, 00:09:51.019 --> 00:10:03.240 so prayer is necessary. Life is difficult, so prayer is necessary. In Canada, and probably in the United 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:08.159 States, and probably in many other countries, the basic assumption that we're brought up with is that 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:17.779 life should be easy. And so when life is not easy, what's the problem? And many Christians, those of you 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:21.879 who are maybe watching this or are here, and you don't know much about Christianity, a lot of times 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:27.000 Christians, when life isn't difficult, when life is not easy but difficult, they say they're under demonic attack. 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:35.699 Well, maybe they are. But they're operating from the assumption that life should be easy, not that life is 00:10:35.699 --> 00:10:43.519 difficult. And often, if life isn't easy, maybe our finances aren't as easy, our relationship, our work, etc. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:51.039 And then for some of us who are prone to depression, we start to think that the problem is with us. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:57.720 And we can be overwhelmed with great guilt, because our money isn't the way we would like it, 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:02.039 our relationships aren't the way we would like it, our living situation isn't how we would like it, 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:06.439 and we can start to beat ourselves up. And we can say, you know what, why am I such a bad person? 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:11.600 Why am I so incompetent? Like, why can't I lead well? Why can't I manage well? Why can I do this well? 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:20.100 And we beat ourselves up. But underneath that, we're assuming that life is easy. The more common 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:28.260 Canadian response to when life is not easy is it's somebody else's fault. Dang the government, like, 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:34.960 dang my boss, my parents, my kids, my wife, my husband, it's all their fault. If I could just have 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:41.060 a better one of those, life wouldn't be difficult, it would be easy, because somehow or another, 00:11:41.160 --> 00:11:47.400 we actually think that life should be easy. But that's something that idols tell us. And it's not 00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:52.759 true. Now, the Bible's not telling us this, so we will be depressed. It's not telling us this, 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:57.400 so we can be like, you know, the sort of person who does the exam, and they think, oh, I probably only 00:11:57.400 --> 00:12:02.700 got a, you know, a D plus. So that way, if they get a B, they're really happy, you know, whereas if they 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:06.440 think they got an A and they got a B, they're unhappy, if the Bible's not telling us this is a 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:16.280 weird way to be happy, life is difficult. Like, raising kids can be difficult. I have great kids, 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:20.640 by the way. You know, it can be difficult in a marriage. Being in a church could be, you know, 00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:26.480 being a scholar. Life is difficult. And so the message of the psalm is because life is, that's how 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:31.920 you should just begin to expect that life is going to be difficult. And so prayer is necessary. 00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:38.279 And this is a really important lesson to me. In fact, if you could pray for me, this would be the 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:44.779 case. I too often fall into the habit that I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, oh, no, I guess 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:50.940 I better pray. Or I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, and I'm in really trouble, so I pray. But if life is 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:59.380 difficult, not impossible, just difficult, so we need to pray, then we should begin with prayer, 00:13:00.260 --> 00:13:05.580 and continue with prayer, and end with prayer, because life is difficult. 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:16.280 The idols of our age try to tell us that life should be easy, therefore worship us. The Bible says, 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:22.679 listen, I'm not causing you to be depressed. Life is difficult, so prayer is necessary. Now, 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:30.019 the other thing which is going on in this, if with the whole language of him being, like, asking for 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:34.539 grace and mercy, is another very, very important thing to think about when we're thinking about life 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:41.799 as difficult. And part of the reason that life is difficult is because of, part of the reason my life 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:48.079 is difficult is because of me. What I mean is this, there's a fellow by the name of John Maxwell, 00:13:48.079 --> 00:13:52.419 he's, like, famous for a lot of power of positive thinking and leadership stuff, and by the way, he 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:57.559 has a lot of stuff that's worth reading, by the way, and I have to confess, he was very helpful for 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:05.959 a season in my life, and he really was. But John Maxwell, one of the things he famously said was, 00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:11.139 he said to an audience one day, you know, if I could kick the person who's causing me the most 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:17.740 trouble, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week. In other words, he'd have to be kicking himself, 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:23.419 because a lot of times I bring my own trouble upon myself. And this is, once again, why we need to 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:28.460 pray to God, that I not make my own life more difficult than it needs be, in the sense that I 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:36.700 wake up, or be more attentive, or just be a better person. But life is difficult. So, now, just, by the way, 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:41.379 sometimes I mention movies in this, on eSermons, and when I mention a movie, it is not a movie 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:47.040 recommendation, okay? So, one of the things that's, over the last couple of months, some Saturday 00:14:47.040 --> 00:14:52.460 nights, Louise and I, with the two of our kids, will watch a movie together on Saturday night, 00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:57.740 and often we'll let them pick the movie. And a couple of weeks ago, trying to decide what to watch, 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:06.159 and we decided to watch Mad Max Furiosa. This is not a movie recommendation to people, necessarily. 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:14.139 If you don't like violent movies, don't watch this movie, okay? Anyway, to our surprise, like, 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:18.680 everybody liked it. Even Louise liked it. I liked it. I'm fine with sort of violent, some types of 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:26.120 violent movies, or lots of action, or fighting. So, those of you who know this movie, Mad Max Furiosa, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:30.480 you know that it just came out. It's a prequel to a movie that came out a couple of years ago. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:37.879 So, last night, we watched the movie that it was a prequel for called Mad Max Fury Road. Now, 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:43.740 there's this really funny scene. It's very short. It's close to the end of the movie. So, there's, 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:51.860 you know, Furiosa, and Tom Hardy, and Nicholas Holt, and some young women, and they're fleeing a group of 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:58.879 really unbelievably fearsome-looking, cruel, violent people, and they know that if they get caught by 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:03.800 these cruel, violent people, they're either going to be... Everybody except the young women are going 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:09.759 to be killed, and the women are... The young women are going to become sex slaves, and they're being 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:14.360 chased, and it looks like they're going to get caught, and they're in this war rig in the back, 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:23.200 and there's this one young woman at the back, and she's doing... Doing hand signs, and her eyes are 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:28.899 closed, and she's nodding. And Lady A, we'll call her Lady A, looks at her and says, 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:36.580 what are you doing? Like, what are you doing? Lady B doesn't pay any attention, just doing this, 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:41.759 closing her eyes, doing hand motions, and stuff like that. Lady A says, are you praying? 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:51.379 And the woman stops her praying and says, yes. Lady A says, who are you praying to? And she answers, 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:59.279 whoever's out there to listen, which I think is really, really funny. Maybe you guys don't think 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:03.259 it's funny. I just thought it's such a funny answer. So, you know, we say we're going to pray. Well, 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:08.559 the question then is, if life is difficult, so prayers, who do we pray to? Well, that's the next 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.740 few three verses. It's just, I mean, in a sense, the whole psalm is letting us know the God that 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:17.799 we pray to, but the next three verses in particular are important. Look at them, verses 8 to 10. 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:28.639 David prays, there is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:34.980 Now, just sort of pause. At a first reading, this makes it look as if David believes that there are 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:41.339 many gods, and in a world of many gods, there's also the Lord. That's what it looks like, but that's 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:45.099 not what he's saying, and I'm going to loop back to it, but you'll see in a moment why that's not 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:50.059 what he's saying. I'll read verse 8 again. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:56.599 there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, 00:17:56.599 --> 00:18:05.319 and shall glorify your name. Just pause. It's beyond the scope of this one verse, but the psalmist 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:10.839 here is not saying, David is not saying that every single person will come to a saving faith in Jesus, 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:20.459 but it's a very important verse, as Steve, who's with the church, will tell you. It's reminding us 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:27.500 that it's God's heart that people from every people group on the planet and in all of history, 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:32.259 that he is calling people from every people group to a saving faith in Jesus, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:40.100 and that the church is something which is worldwide, that in a sense we can't just think of ourselves 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:45.259 here as Canadian Christians. We need to remember there's Nigerian Christians, Singaporean Christians, 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:50.440 Chinese Christians. It's one of the reasons why the work that Colin and Gail are doing, 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:55.779 here as missionaries, is so important, is to reach out to international students, not only because 00:18:55.779 --> 00:19:00.120 some of these international students will stay in Canada and become Canadians, but some of them 00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:06.079 will go back to mainland China, or they'll go back to Iran, and sort of reach out to them and share 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:11.500 the gospel with them as part of how we bring all the nations to come to worship and glorify the Lord. 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:16.559 So just read verse 9. So verse 8 again, there is none like you among the gods, O Lord, 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:19.960 nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come, 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:23.160 and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.400 And here's the correction to verse 8. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:29.279 For you are great and do wondrous things. 00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:32.900 You alone are God. 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:37.539 Clarifying what he meant in verse 8. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:41.740 He means he knows there's lots of, in a sense we would say he knows there's lots of different religions. 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:50.740 But in all of the religions of the world, in all the gods that the religions worship, there's no God like the Lord that he's talking to. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.819 You are the only God. 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:55.819 If you could put up the first point, Claire, that would be, the next point, that would be very helpful. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:20:01.319 And it's this, as a Christian we would say the triune God is the only God. 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.720 The triune God is the only God. 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.539 The God revealed in the Bible is the only God. 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:12.339 Now, obviously, that's one of those statements that if I was to say it very loud in the average coffee shop, 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.039 I would get haters. 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:17.859 Because it's a very un-Canadian thing to say. 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:20.480 It is considered to be impolite. 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:23.099 It is considered to be imperialistic. 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:25.399 It's considered to be implausible. 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:33.460 But just because the fashion makes us want to be silent, fashion isn't an argument. 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.660 Never is. 00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:49.860 And in fact, there's very, very good reasons to say that the triune God is the only God. 00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:51.180 Just a couple of things. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:57.299 First of all, the very fact that the text uses the word gods rather than religions is very helpful. 00:20:57.820 --> 00:21:02.200 When we look at religions, we might say, well, like most, lots of religions like candles. 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:04.740 Or lots of religions like silence. 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.799 Or lots of religion like prayer. 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:08.240 Or lots of religions like this. 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:12.560 And it can sort of get us a little bit confused about all of these things. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:17.880 But if you talk about gods, you'll see that that's actually a far better way to talk about the issues. 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:22.840 Because all of the gods that peoples on the earth believe, they can't all exist. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.060 It's just impossible. 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:28.900 Because they describe, the gods that are described, are radically different. 00:21:29.540 --> 00:21:33.660 It would be a little bit as if I was to say that I'm married to Louise. 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:38.920 And some of you might think that that means that I'm married to an elephant. 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.220 Some to an alien. 00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:42.080 Some to the Rocky Mountains. 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:48.460 Or some to the person named Louise who's, you know, beautiful and, you know, this tall and all of that. 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:51.320 Like, the difference between the gods is just as big. 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:56.600 The difference between Brahmin and the difference between pagan religions with many gods. 00:21:56.599 --> 00:22:03.219 And the difference between some types of philosophical Hinduism where God is everything or God is in everything. 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:06.079 Or where there's, frankly, just lots of different idols. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.719 And the God of the Trinity. 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.879 They're radically different descriptions of God. 00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:18.819 And it can no more be true that they're all describing the same being than for me to describe my wife as either a person, an alien, the Rockies, or an elephant. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.779 Like, the differences are just as big. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:24.939 Nobody would say that those are all describing the exact same thing. 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:29.920 And so, it's completely reasonable to say that they can't all exist. 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:32.400 We can maybe say that maybe none of the gods exist. 00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:34.160 That's what our atheist friends say. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:38.580 But you can't very well say that they're all describing the same being. 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:46.019 And in this psalm, if you go back and look at verse 8, when it talks about God being, the Lord being his works, 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:48.259 it's referring to the fact that he's created all things. 00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:51.340 When you look at verse 9, it's talking about the nations. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:53.660 It's implying that he's sovereign over all things. 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:58.440 And when it looks at verse 10, and it talks about his wondrous—how does it say here in verse 10? 00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:00.720 You do wondrous things. 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:02.240 It's talking about his miracles. 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:04.820 The fact that he comes and he speaks by revelation. 00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:07.700 Or he does things like deliver the nation of Israel. 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:12.120 Or now, for us as Christians down the road, the death and resurrection of God. 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.660 You see, why— 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:18.840 Why do I say that only the triune God exists? 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:21.200 Well, there's two basic reasons. 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:24.300 The first one is love, and the second thing is evidence. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.019 In our culture, love is huge. 00:23:29.040 --> 00:23:35.840 In fact, you know, in a few more verses, we're going to talk about how the psalmist is asking us to pray to fear God. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:42.259 And for Canadians, that's just not something that makes any sense to them, that you should fear God. 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:45.579 Fear just seems to be something you have when you don't have love and intimacy. 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.439 And love is very, very important. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:50.379 We say, you know, love is love, and all of those things. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:53.039 It's a very, very profound value for us. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.919 Well, once again, think of love in the gods. 00:23:54.920 --> 00:24:03.620 Only the Christian faith has a God that you could really say is a God of love. 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:06.000 Well, why is that? 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:10.920 Well, if God is ultimately everything, how can everything be love? 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.279 Like, you need another person for love. 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:17.200 Like, I can love Louise because she's not me. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:21.180 I can love my kids because they're not me. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.779 I can love you because you're not me. 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:26.579 And if everything is God, then that, by definition, can't be love. 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:36.059 And if you think of Allah, if Allah is all alone and there's no God, how can he be a God of love? 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:39.019 Who is there for him to love? 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:42.039 Does that mean that he's needy? 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:48.480 He really wants to love somebody, and he can't find anybody to love, so he creates people so he can love? 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:51.160 Well, if that's the case, that's like a very imperfect type of love. 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.420 That's not even really love at all. 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:54.620 We would sort of think that's a bit cringy. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.279 Don't you think? 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:58.220 That if you had a God that's so lonely that he has to create people? 00:24:58.340 --> 00:25:08.120 It would be sort of like if you discovered that, you know, somebody to get some partnership, they get an inflatable, you know, a guy gets an inflatable woman and sits and has supper with them or something. 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:12.220 That's really weird, like having an inflatable woman that you can hug at night. 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:15.100 Like, you probably need to see a therapist. 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:24.199 But the triune God, Christians say that when you know the triune God is to know love loving. 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:36.059 Because from all eternity, you have the Father loving the Son, loving the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit loving the Son and the Father, and there's this constant interplay. 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:40.400 There's only one God, the triune God, the unity of God, but there's three persons. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:48.440 And so only in Christianity is it actually the case that you can have a God that can really be described as a God who is loving. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.640 Only in Christianity. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:59.280 If you value love and you want there to be a God of love, there's only one option in the entire planet and the entire history of the planet. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:02.019 And that's the God that's revealed by Jesus. 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:09.200 And this gets us to the second thing, which is evidence, which is that Jesus changes everything if what is said about him is true. 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:11.460 He really did die on the cross. 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:13.579 He really did get buried. 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:18.079 On the third day, the tomb was empty, but the grave clothes were there. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.819 And on the third, they never found his body, and Jesus appeared alive. 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:26.480 And there's good historical reasons to believe that all of these things are true. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:32.180 And if Jesus actually did die on the cross and rise from the dead, it changes everything. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:36.519 It's the most reasonable thing in the world to believe what he says. 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:39.779 And he reveals the Trinity to us. 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:42.960 He reveals God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:45.700 It's completely reasonable to believe this. 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:49.099 Those are part of God's wondrous works. 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:53.059 God is love-loving. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:57.440 God is love-loving. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:03.399 Now, we still have to get to this part about how does this all fit with dealing with haters. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.419 Well, the psalm is very wise. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:11.039 First, it's just reminded us life is difficult, so prayer is necessary. 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:17.440 Secondly, it's reminding us that there is a God that does exist. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:22.400 There is a God that you can pray for, pray to, and this is a God of love. 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:27.740 And by the way, just a small but very important point. 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:33.740 One of the problems we have when we're dealing with haters is that when we deal with haters or enemies 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:40.640 or just people who really want us to fail, they can seem so huge. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:49.100 I know that sometimes when I'm dealing with a conflict, that other person can seem so big, 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:55.759 it's hard for me to have any mental or emotional space to do other things, 00:27:56.440 --> 00:28:01.320 to get the emails done that I need to get, to just to do anything, 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:04.380 to even concentrate on a book that I'm reading or to work on a sermon. 00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:06.259 These things can become really huge. 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:10.140 Because you see that often when we have people who are hating us, 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:13.079 we're really opposed to us, they seem really big. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.440 And when they seem really big, it means that God is small. 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:21.599 So one of the really wise things that this psalm is doing is reminding us of proportion. 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.220 God is big. 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.119 The hater is small. 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:28.920 And so to spend time thinking about God 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:34.660 is a way to put other human beings and other events that are troubling us 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:36.220 in their proper perspective. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.100 They're not that big. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.259 I mean, they might be bigger than me. 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.500 And maybe they're going to win against me. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:46.440 But I can pray to the God who does exist who's way bigger. 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:48.660 He's the one who created all things. 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:50.420 He's sovereign over all things. 00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:54.100 He reveals his words and does miracles. 00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:55.980 That's the God who really does exist. 00:28:56.100 --> 00:28:58.200 And everything else is small. 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:01.779 But what the psalm is going to do now, it's going to be very, very wise. 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:03.500 Because you see, one of the things that we want, 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:05.860 there's two types of things that we want in our lives. 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:08.539 One of them is that we want surface change. 00:29:09.080 --> 00:29:09.220 Right? 00:29:09.300 --> 00:29:10.539 We want to have, you know, 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:15.259 I used to have a problem of really putting people down in conversation. 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.880 And I wanted to stop that. 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:18.460 That's like a surface type of change. 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:20.400 That, you know, you're going to say something 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:23.960 and you just have that ability to zip your lip for a second. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.279 You know? 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:28.420 And there's that type of surface change, immediate change, which we'd like. 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:30.900 But what we also want is deep change. 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:34.620 We want to be changed at the level of our being, 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.980 at the level of deep habits, 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:40.000 the level of deep character, 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:42.320 of the level of deep affections. 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:44.920 We want that double change, 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:47.640 the immediate and the deep. 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:50.200 And so now, for the rest of the psalm, 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.480 the first three verses are going to, 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:54.880 the next three verses are going to talk about deep change. 00:29:55.280 --> 00:29:58.460 And then the last four verses are going to talk practically 00:29:58.460 --> 00:30:01.660 about five things we can pray for dealing with haters. 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.080 But let's look at the deep change. 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.540 And it's really interesting, 00:30:04.540 --> 00:30:07.800 because the deep change is going to go in a direction 00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:09.620 which we would never have expected. 00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:11.180 Let's look at what happens. 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.860 Verse 11. 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:15.620 Teach me your way, O Lord, 00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:18.299 that I may walk in your truth. 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:23.440 Unite my heart to fear your name. 00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:25.860 Whoa. 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:26.740 Fear your name. 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.880 We're going to talk about it. 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:30.000 Unite my heart to fear your name. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:32.640 I give thanks to you, O Lord, my God, 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:34.460 with my whole heart, 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:37.240 and I will glorify your name forever. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:41.200 For great is your steadfast love toward me. 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:46.019 You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:50.759 If you could put up a point. 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.519 We're going to put up the point, 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.720 and then I'll go back to look at the verses. 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:55.160 The point of this thing is, 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:59.980 be formed for day-to-day life and for eternity. 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:02.279 In a sense, the Bible is forming us 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:05.779 for day-to-day life and for eternity. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:09.619 Now, just to go back and look at these verses 11 to 13, 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.519 like, on one level, 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:12.259 if you get nothing else out of the sermon, 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:16.279 verses 11, 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:18.359 and you get over a little bit in a moment 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.980 this fear of the Lord thing. 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.720 Actually, I'm going to say this one thing. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.720 If, I don't know, 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.740 I mean, there's lots of things 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:27.440 if I could get modern Christians 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.740 and Canadian Christians to do. 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:30.000 I guess there's lots of things I'd do, 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:30.720 but you know one of the things 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.299 that would be really high on my list? 00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.619 I know I'm weird. 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:35.739 I don't think enough Christians 00:31:35.739 --> 00:31:37.119 pray for the fear of the Lord. 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:43.119 I don't think that's part of our worship services. 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:45.779 It's not part of our worship songs. 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:48.019 I don't think it's part of how we think. 00:31:48.139 --> 00:31:49.719 It's not often part of counseling 00:31:49.719 --> 00:31:51.819 and spiritual advice. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:54.439 And it's so all the way through the Bible. 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:56.719 If there's one thing I would encourage Christians to do 00:31:56.719 --> 00:31:58.279 is just, you know, 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.319 maybe you're going to be fearful of doing it at first, 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:02.339 but there is something really powerful 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:04.559 about praying to fear God. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.619 I know this is something 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:07.899 that's not fitting in with our culture, 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.859 but I, you know, forget the culture. 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.460 Like, don't care what Oprah says. 00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:14.299 Just, like, pray, or The View, 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:16.619 or Jordan Peterson, or whatever. 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:18.899 Like, be equal about, you know, people. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.339 Like, pray for the fear of the Lord. 00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:21.539 Like, if you just think about it, 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.779 well, I'll try to get over the, 00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:24.480 talk about the fear of the Lord more in a moment, 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:26.900 but just, if all you get out of the sermon 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:28.160 is that you're going to maybe 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:30.400 put in your Bible somewhere 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:32.140 that every day or once a week 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.120 you're going to pray verses 11 to 12 00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:35.259 or 11 to 13. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.519 Like, what a brilliant thing to pray. 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:39.079 Teach me your way, O Lord. 00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.299 Like, I can, like, this, 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.120 David has put, 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.420 God has written a prayer for you to pray. 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.720 Teach me your way. 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:48.140 Like, a way means in terms of how to live, 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.539 how to do each day. 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:52.079 Teach me that, Father. 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.200 Teach me your way. 00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.880 You're the one who's created all things. 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.059 You sustain all things. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.640 You're sovereign over all things. 00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:59.440 You're the miracle-working God. 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.500 As we're going to see in a moment, 00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:01.720 you're the God who redeems. 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:03.019 You are love, 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:05.600 and you are love itself loving. 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:07.759 So teach me your way, O Lord, 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.960 and that I may walk in your truth. 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.500 What a good thing to pray. 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:13.360 Like, you know, we live in a world 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:15.680 that increasingly values lies. 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.319 Misinformation, disinformation 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:22.259 are two really fancy words for lying. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:27.660 That's what misinformation is. 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.640 It's lying. 00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:30.980 Disinformation is lying. 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:34.559 You know, we live in a culture 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:36.539 that says the end justifies the means. 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:38.980 So if lying gets what you want, 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.319 go ahead and lie. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:42.460 But that's not the way of Christ. 00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:43.840 That's not the way of God. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:47.380 God is inviting you to be a people of truth, 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:49.420 people of the truth, 00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:50.660 and people of truth, 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:52.539 that I may walk in your truth. 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:54.720 Unite my heart to fear your name. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.279 Now, if you think about it, 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:59.200 if I was, like, this is a whole other sermon. 00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:00.700 Just this last little bit 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:02.519 and the first bit of verse 12. 00:34:03.060 --> 00:34:04.259 Many of us here, 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.720 many of us here, 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:07.160 would say there's been times 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.720 in our hearts, 00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:09.099 our hearts have been broken. 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:11.079 Our hearts have been bruised. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.840 Our hearts are scattered. 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:15.380 Our hearts have a hole in them. 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.360 Something has happened 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:18.640 to rip something right out of our heart. 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:21.140 Our hearts feel like they're poisoned. 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.480 Our hearts, like, 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:25.059 that's a really big thing. 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.440 Our hearts don't feel whole 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.720 and they don't feel united 00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:29.680 and they don't feel healthy. 00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:31.440 This is talking about 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:33.160 the very center of who we are. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.099 And the Bible here is saying 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:37.220 that it's asking God 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.840 to unite my heart. 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:42.880 Knit my heart back together 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.740 so it is whole and healthy. 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:46.159 What a good thing to pray. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:47.759 Well, what is this thing 00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:48.739 about fearing your name 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.699 that's fearing the Lord? 00:34:49.959 --> 00:34:51.159 And here's the whole, 00:34:51.459 --> 00:34:53.339 here's part of what you're praying for 00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:53.799 when you're dating. 00:34:53.979 --> 00:34:54.679 Like, and why is the word, 00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:55.519 well, here's the word, 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:58.099 the word is there, 00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:59.219 is partially fear. 00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:01.019 Is that because what you want 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.939 to really know 00:35:01.939 --> 00:35:02.979 is when you, 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.579 you want to know 00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:05.099 how moral God is, 00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.619 how just God is, 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:10.179 how God is love-loving. 00:35:10.859 --> 00:35:12.839 And if you start to really see 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:15.559 that, like, goodness is untamed 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.539 and it's deep 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.240 and it's real 00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:18.220 and it's of God 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.880 and to do something 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:21.400 which is not good, 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:24.039 to have that sense of horror 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:25.160 of what you've done, 00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:27.059 to know the importance of truth 00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:28.360 and then when you say a lie, 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.100 to not just say 00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:30.019 that it's just a lie 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:32.019 but to have a sense 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:33.120 of the horror 00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:34.900 of the fact that I have lied. 00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:36.660 That love is so important 00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:37.840 and so to show indifference 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:39.120 or hatred 00:35:39.120 --> 00:35:40.420 and to have a sense 00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:42.700 of the horror of that. 00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.740 To understand the importance 00:35:45.740 --> 00:35:46.200 of others 00:35:46.200 --> 00:35:47.320 and to be selfish 00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:48.559 and to have a sense 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.740 of the horror of that 00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:52.039 and to know God 00:35:52.039 --> 00:35:52.800 and to know Him 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.640 so that you know Him 00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:54.380 in these ways 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:55.660 and that you can start to see 00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:56.840 when you do things 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.519 that are not that 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.940 and have an appropriate emotion. 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.680 I mean, that's part of, 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:02.079 those are good words. 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:05.440 And it has a sense 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.199 of reverence 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:06.940 and honor 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:08.880 to know love, loving. 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.940 Why wouldn't you want 00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:11.819 to honor and glorify 00:36:11.819 --> 00:36:13.639 love, loving? 00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:15.619 And also, 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:17.119 it's implying, 00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:18.299 this is why all of the things, 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:19.559 it talks about God's love 00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:20.559 and His steadfast thing 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.679 and about knowing Him 00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.799 and knowing His grace 00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:24.420 and it talks about fearing Him. 00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.239 It's one of the most profound things. 00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:26.980 As we all know, 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.000 one of the hard parts 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.860 about parenting 00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:31.059 is us not being able 00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.840 to understand 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:33.019 that a parent 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.360 is different than the child. 00:36:34.700 --> 00:36:35.840 And it's too easy 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.480 for us to see 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:38.280 the child reflecting on us 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:39.700 or have our fears 00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:40.480 and foibles 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:41.720 transferred 00:36:41.720 --> 00:36:43.340 and translated onto them 00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:44.620 or want what we think 00:36:44.620 --> 00:36:45.620 is going to be successful 00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:46.579 for our kids. 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.980 My parents did not want me 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.740 to be a minister. 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:54.059 They were Irish immigrants. 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.700 I'm the oldest son. 00:36:56.160 --> 00:36:57.000 I was really good 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.200 in math and science. 00:36:58.820 --> 00:37:00.160 Up until my conversion, 00:37:00.160 --> 00:37:01.200 I told everybody 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:01.779 I was going to be 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.379 an engineer. 00:37:02.859 --> 00:37:04.379 They were in seventh heaven 00:37:04.379 --> 00:37:05.779 to hide the idea 00:37:05.779 --> 00:37:06.619 that they'd have a son 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.579 who was an engineer. 00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.439 I was going to be a minister? 00:37:09.879 --> 00:37:10.679 Like, they were Christians, 00:37:10.819 --> 00:37:11.859 but they were disappointed. 00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:17.739 And so it's so easy 00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:19.259 for us to confuse ourselves 00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.119 with other people. 00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:21.239 It's even more easy 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:22.539 for us to confuse ourselves 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.500 with the invisible, 00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.619 immortal, 00:37:24.899 --> 00:37:25.559 transcendent, 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.539 but imminent God. 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:27.920 And the fear of God 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:29.059 is a growth 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.579 in knowing 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:31.079 where I begin and end 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:32.800 and where God begins and ends 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:34.840 and that I am not God. 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.739 Wouldn't that be better 00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.679 if more people knew 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.619 that they weren't God? 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.880 Shouldn't that be something 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:46.300 we should pray for ourselves? 00:37:48.219 --> 00:37:49.639 It would horrify us 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:50.960 if we saw that somebody else 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:52.000 said he thinks he's God. 00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:54.279 No, that should cause a fear 00:37:54.279 --> 00:37:55.619 that that would ever be within us. 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.559 This is why it's such 00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.539 a brilliant thing 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:59.619 to know him and honor him 00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:01.539 and the horror of idols. 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:05.099 Don't we all want this? 00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:07.119 And it's all done 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.199 in the context of hope. 00:38:08.299 --> 00:38:09.239 Look at verse 13. 00:38:09.339 --> 00:38:10.440 It's the context of hope. 00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:11.400 You know, we can pray 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.579 verses 11 to 13 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.380 in a way that 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:14.980 David couldn't pray it. 00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.179 David has this prophetic 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:17.679 vision or sense 00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:20.079 and the verb tenses here 00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:21.179 are this prophetic tense. 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:22.079 Look at verse 13. 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:22.779 For great is your 00:38:22.779 --> 00:38:24.139 steadfast love toward me. 00:38:24.139 --> 00:38:25.819 You have delivered my soul 00:38:25.819 --> 00:38:26.980 from the depths of Sheol. 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:28.799 Now, David hasn't died yet 00:38:28.799 --> 00:38:29.599 and he's not talking 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.619 about metaphors. 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:32.440 But the verb tense there 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.460 is there's a tense 00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:34.299 in ancient Hebrew 00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:35.339 and a tense in Greek 00:38:35.339 --> 00:38:37.199 where something in the future 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:38.359 is so certain, 00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:40.279 the only way to communicate 00:38:40.279 --> 00:38:42.000 the certainty of the future 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:43.599 is to use a past tense. 00:38:46.379 --> 00:38:48.139 Canada was founded in 1867. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.460 Jesus has come back. 00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:51.539 Now, Jesus has come back 00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:52.139 would be a bit confusing 00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.299 confusing in English. 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:54.879 English doesn't have that sense. 00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.900 But that's what 00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:57.480 they're talking about. 00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:57.960 This is so, 00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:58.920 David is so certain 00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.859 that he's going to be delivered 00:38:59.859 --> 00:39:01.019 from Sheol by God. 00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:04.279 Now, we as Christians 00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:05.420 understand that in some ways 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:06.219 he's prophetically 00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:07.000 seeing Christ 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:08.019 that he doesn't understand 00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:09.879 and we can say that 00:39:09.879 --> 00:39:10.519 in Christ. 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:12.359 You know, 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:15.179 there's an Anglican minister 00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:16.319 who is also a Puritan 00:39:16.319 --> 00:39:17.819 and he has a hymn 00:39:17.819 --> 00:39:19.559 and I'm just changing 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:20.319 the line a little bit. 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:21.220 I love this line. 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:22.780 What's the significance 00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:23.600 of the cross? 00:39:24.220 --> 00:39:24.900 In the cross, 00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:27.059 love to the loveless shown 00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:29.480 that loved and lovely 00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.820 shall you be. 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.180 That's what Jesus 00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:33.180 is doing in the cross. 00:39:34.960 --> 00:39:37.059 Love to the loveless shown 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:38.680 that loved and lovely 00:39:38.680 --> 00:39:39.700 you shall be. 00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.140 So, 00:39:41.660 --> 00:39:45.519 five ways to pray, 00:39:46.100 --> 00:39:46.340 right? 00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:46.640 So, 00:39:46.780 --> 00:39:48.240 life is difficult 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:49.700 so prayer is necessary. 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:50.460 Begin with prayer, 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.600 continue with prayer, 00:39:51.720 --> 00:39:52.360 end with prayer. 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:53.680 The triune God 00:39:53.680 --> 00:39:54.519 is the only God. 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:55.840 He's the one 00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:56.740 that you should pray to. 00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:57.400 He is big, 00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.620 everything else is small. 00:39:59.160 --> 00:40:00.079 We ask God 00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:01.980 not just for the superficial things 00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:02.620 which we're going to pray 00:40:02.620 --> 00:40:03.300 for right now, 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:04.120 but we ask for those 00:40:04.120 --> 00:40:05.559 deep changes in our character, 00:40:05.700 --> 00:40:07.160 the deep changes in our heart, 00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:09.120 the wholeness of our heart, 00:40:09.220 --> 00:40:10.559 the unitedness of our heart. 00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:11.940 The heart would be alive 00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:12.920 and strong 00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:14.100 and rooted in him 00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:15.639 and now we still have to pray 00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:16.519 for the situation. 00:40:17.019 --> 00:40:17.139 So, 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:17.559 in a sense, 00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:18.099 if you could put up 00:40:18.099 --> 00:40:19.139 the fourth point right now 00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:20.179 rather than a few verses, 00:40:20.319 --> 00:40:21.059 the fourth point is 00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:21.819 how to pray 00:40:21.819 --> 00:40:23.219 when faced with haters. 00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:25.400 And the first thing, 00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:27.659 given all that we've just said, 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.639 is 4A, 00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:29.579 if you could put it up, 00:40:29.799 --> 00:40:30.000 Claire, 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.860 pray for the fear of the Lord. 00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:34.619 Pray verses 11 to 13. 00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.719 And pray, 00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:39.179 the 4B is pray honestly. 00:40:39.179 --> 00:40:41.159 Look at verses 14 to 15. 00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.440 O God, 00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:43.319 insolent men, 00:40:43.699 --> 00:40:45.739 can be translated as arrogant men, 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.159 insolent, 00:40:47.379 --> 00:40:48.059 arrogant men 00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:49.659 have risen up against me. 00:40:50.099 --> 00:40:51.799 A band of ruthless men 00:40:51.799 --> 00:40:52.980 seeks my life 00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:55.199 and they do not set you before them. 00:40:55.399 --> 00:40:55.739 In other words, 00:40:55.779 --> 00:40:57.699 they have no time for God whatsoever. 00:40:58.279 --> 00:40:58.859 But you, 00:40:59.099 --> 00:40:59.480 O Lord, 00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:00.440 are a God 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:01.739 merciful and gracious, 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:02.859 slow to anger 00:41:02.859 --> 00:41:03.460 and abounding 00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:04.420 in steadfast love 00:41:04.420 --> 00:41:05.119 and faithfulness. 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.839 Now, 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:08.519 I mean, 00:41:10.160 --> 00:41:13.460 sometimes people 00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:14.620 really are out to get you. 00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:16.519 Like if you think 00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.240 people are out to get you, 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:18.320 maybe you should talk to somebody 00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:19.100 and you talk to them 00:41:19.100 --> 00:41:19.320 and say, 00:41:19.400 --> 00:41:19.960 you know what, 00:41:20.180 --> 00:41:21.620 maybe when your dad said that to you 00:41:21.620 --> 00:41:22.600 it's not because he hated you. 00:41:22.700 --> 00:41:23.840 Like maybe he just meant that. 00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:24.780 But really sometimes, 00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:25.760 you just need to be honest. 00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:26.920 I'm dealing with haters. 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:28.280 I'm dealing with people 00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:29.620 who want me to not succeed. 00:41:29.800 --> 00:41:30.960 I'm dealing with people, 00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:32.480 everybody in my office 00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:33.400 is trying to climb 00:41:33.400 --> 00:41:34.579 the greasy pole 00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:35.240 and the best way 00:41:35.240 --> 00:41:36.320 to climb a greasy pole 00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:37.380 is to kick other people 00:41:37.380 --> 00:41:38.760 who might want to climb above you 00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:40.500 so you can climb on their faces. 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:42.860 And that's what I'm dealing with. 00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:44.780 And you pray into it. 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:45.519 Right? 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:46.639 Pray honestly. 00:41:47.480 --> 00:41:48.400 Verse 15 00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:50.119 is going to be 00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:51.860 pray for strength to act. 00:41:52.539 --> 00:41:54.460 Look at the first part of verse 15. 00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:55.539 But you, O Lord, 00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:56.980 are a God merciful and gracious. 00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:58.360 Sorry, 00:41:58.579 --> 00:41:59.260 verse 16. 00:41:59.420 --> 00:42:00.180 Turn to me 00:42:00.180 --> 00:42:01.539 and be gracious to me. 00:42:01.980 --> 00:42:03.380 Give your strength. 00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:04.539 to your servant. 00:42:04.700 --> 00:42:05.380 Pray for strength. 00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:07.320 Right? 00:42:07.400 --> 00:42:07.860 First one is 00:42:07.860 --> 00:42:08.860 pray for the fear of the Lord. 00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:09.720 Pray honestly. 00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:10.240 Third, 00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.480 pray for strength to act. 00:42:11.660 --> 00:42:12.000 Fourth, 00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.420 pray for God's help. 00:42:14.780 --> 00:42:15.660 Verse 16. 00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:16.360 Turn to me 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.340 and be gracious to me. 00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:18.340 Give your strength 00:42:18.340 --> 00:42:18.980 to your servant 00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:20.480 and save the son 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.619 of your maidservant. 00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:23.660 That's asking God's help 00:42:23.660 --> 00:42:24.400 to save him. 00:42:25.160 --> 00:42:25.860 And finally, 00:42:25.860 --> 00:42:33.539 if I give my life to Christ 00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:35.559 and I understand 00:42:35.559 --> 00:42:38.019 that Jesus 00:42:38.019 --> 00:42:40.640 takes, 00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:44.140 Jesus died on the cross 00:42:44.140 --> 00:42:45.500 because he wants me 00:42:45.500 --> 00:42:46.840 to be the father's, 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:48.099 the child of the father 00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.960 adopted 00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:50.680 by his grace 00:42:50.680 --> 00:42:51.880 and the power 00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:52.820 of the Holy Spirit. 00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:55.320 And if I come 00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:55.840 to realize 00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:56.800 that that's the heart 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:57.480 of the father, 00:42:57.640 --> 00:42:58.400 the heart of the son 00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:58.720 and the heart 00:42:58.720 --> 00:42:59.460 of the Holy Spirit 00:42:59.460 --> 00:43:00.000 for me, 00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:02.840 it should be my heart 00:43:02.840 --> 00:43:03.480 for others. 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:05.860 And that we can see 00:43:05.860 --> 00:43:06.780 in the final verse. 00:43:07.160 --> 00:43:08.100 Pray that the Lord 00:43:08.100 --> 00:43:08.800 will turn 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:09.800 the hearts 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:10.559 of the haters. 00:43:11.580 --> 00:43:12.580 Look at verse 17. 00:43:12.780 --> 00:43:13.600 Show me a sign 00:43:13.600 --> 00:43:14.280 of your favor 00:43:14.280 --> 00:43:15.940 that those 00:43:15.940 --> 00:43:17.100 who hate me 00:43:17.100 --> 00:43:18.400 may see 00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:20.160 and be put to shame 00:43:20.160 --> 00:43:21.440 because you, 00:43:21.660 --> 00:43:21.780 Lord, 00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:22.580 have helped me 00:43:22.580 --> 00:43:23.360 and comforted me. 00:43:24.019 --> 00:43:24.980 So because you have 00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:25.320 helped me 00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:26.300 and comforted me, 00:43:26.640 --> 00:43:27.900 it's a good thing 00:43:27.900 --> 00:43:28.540 that others 00:43:28.540 --> 00:43:29.940 who are hating me 00:43:29.940 --> 00:43:31.040 will be ashamed 00:43:31.040 --> 00:43:31.920 of what they're doing 00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:34.240 and hopefully 00:43:34.240 --> 00:43:35.340 out of that shame 00:43:35.340 --> 00:43:36.980 turn to Christ. 00:43:38.600 --> 00:43:39.760 Very wise way 00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:40.180 to pray. 00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:41.620 Very wise psalm. 00:43:41.619 --> 00:43:43.500 Encourage you 00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.019 to pray 00:43:44.019 --> 00:43:45.059 into deep change. 00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:46.239 To know Jesus 00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:46.819 who's died 00:43:46.819 --> 00:43:47.839 on the cross for you. 00:43:47.920 --> 00:43:48.920 He died for you. 00:43:49.500 --> 00:43:50.599 Love to the loveless 00:43:50.599 --> 00:43:51.500 shown that you might 00:43:51.500 --> 00:43:52.859 loved and lovely be. 00:43:53.019 --> 00:43:53.960 That's why he died 00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:54.539 for you. 00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:55.920 And to give yourself 00:43:55.920 --> 00:43:56.699 to that love. 00:43:57.299 --> 00:43:58.359 And to use the words 00:43:58.359 --> 00:43:59.779 of verses 11 to 13, 00:43:59.940 --> 00:44:00.980 not all the things, 00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:01.400 to remember 00:44:01.400 --> 00:44:02.519 how big God is 00:44:02.519 --> 00:44:03.639 and to pray 00:44:03.639 --> 00:44:05.980 that God 00:44:05.980 --> 00:44:06.839 would show you 00:44:06.839 --> 00:44:07.440 his way, 00:44:07.559 --> 00:44:08.259 that you'd walk 00:44:08.259 --> 00:44:09.039 in his truth, 00:44:09.119 --> 00:44:09.779 that he'd unite 00:44:09.779 --> 00:44:10.279 your heart 00:44:10.279 --> 00:44:11.179 to fear your name, 00:44:11.179 --> 00:44:12.039 that you can pray 00:44:12.039 --> 00:44:13.359 with your whole heart 00:44:13.359 --> 00:44:14.500 not only every day 00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.579 but into all eternity. 00:44:16.539 --> 00:44:17.519 Brothers and sisters, 00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:18.259 let's do that. 00:44:18.319 --> 00:44:19.239 Let's stand right now. 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:29.839 Father, 00:44:29.940 --> 00:44:30.319 we give you 00:44:30.319 --> 00:44:31.079 thanks and praise 00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:32.059 that Jesus came 00:44:32.059 --> 00:44:33.119 and died on the cross, 00:44:33.239 --> 00:44:33.539 that you, 00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:33.899 Father, 00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:35.419 and Father, 00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:35.719 Son, 00:44:35.779 --> 00:44:36.500 and Holy Spirit, 00:44:36.619 --> 00:44:37.259 three persons, 00:44:37.399 --> 00:44:37.819 one God, 00:44:37.879 --> 00:44:39.239 that you are love-loving, 00:44:39.239 --> 00:44:42.059 and that you showed love, 00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:43.219 Father, 00:44:43.339 --> 00:44:43.939 in the cross 00:44:43.939 --> 00:44:44.459 and the person 00:44:44.459 --> 00:44:45.119 of your Son, 00:44:45.939 --> 00:44:46.699 so that loved 00:44:46.699 --> 00:44:47.239 and lovely 00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:47.979 we will be. 00:44:48.739 --> 00:44:49.779 We were loveless 00:44:49.779 --> 00:44:50.819 because we turned 00:44:50.819 --> 00:44:51.679 our back on you, 00:44:51.799 --> 00:44:52.679 but your Son 00:44:52.679 --> 00:44:53.699 came and sought us 00:44:53.699 --> 00:44:54.259 that loved 00:44:54.259 --> 00:44:55.159 and lovely 00:44:55.159 --> 00:44:55.939 we might be. 00:44:56.779 --> 00:44:57.659 And we ask, 00:44:57.919 --> 00:44:58.039 Father, 00:44:58.659 --> 00:44:59.919 that you help us 00:44:59.919 --> 00:45:01.079 to see you as big, 00:45:02.479 --> 00:45:03.439 haters as small 00:45:03.439 --> 00:45:04.779 in comparison to you, 00:45:04.959 --> 00:45:05.799 that you would help us 00:45:05.799 --> 00:45:07.699 to begin with prayer 00:45:07.699 --> 00:45:09.099 and continue with prayer 00:45:09.099 --> 00:45:10.279 and to end with prayer. 00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:12.119 And we ask, 00:45:12.399 --> 00:45:12.500 Father, 00:45:12.619 --> 00:45:13.500 that you would 00:45:13.500 --> 00:45:14.679 teach us your way, 00:45:15.419 --> 00:45:16.199 help us to walk 00:45:16.199 --> 00:45:16.939 in your truth, 00:45:17.839 --> 00:45:18.619 unite our hearts 00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:19.599 to fear your name, 00:45:20.379 --> 00:45:21.419 so that with our 00:45:21.419 --> 00:45:22.559 whole hearts 00:45:22.559 --> 00:45:24.919 we might glorify 00:45:24.919 --> 00:45:25.939 and praise you 00:45:25.939 --> 00:45:27.079 each day 00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:28.099 and every day 00:45:28.099 --> 00:45:29.759 into all eternity. 00:45:30.579 --> 00:45:31.980 And we ask these things 00:45:31.980 --> 00:45:32.879 in the name of Jesus, 00:45:33.019 --> 00:45:34.039 your Son and our Savior, 00:45:34.259 --> 00:45:35.480 and all God's people said, 00:45:36.259 --> 00:45:36.579 Amen. 00:45:36.579 --> 00:45:37.860 I invite you 00:45:37.860 --> 00:45:39.159 to take a posture of prayer 00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:41.400 as we go into a time of, 00:45:41.699 --> 00:45:41.960 oh wait, 00:45:42.039 --> 00:45:42.480 so there's not 00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:43.699 any intercessions 00:45:43.699 --> 00:45:44.219 at this time. 00:45:44.319 --> 00:45:44.539 Actually, 00:45:44.579 --> 00:45:45.099 I'm going to just say 00:45:45.099 --> 00:45:45.500 a short prayer. 00:45:45.719 --> 00:45:46.539 Take a posture of prayer 00:45:46.539 --> 00:45:47.179 and we'll just say 00:45:47.179 --> 00:45:48.480 a very brief 00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:51.279 extemporaneous prayer. 00:45:52.159 --> 00:45:52.599 Father, 00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:56.319 we give into your hands 00:45:56.319 --> 00:45:58.279 our city 00:45:58.279 --> 00:46:00.099 and our nation. 00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:01.719 We thank you, 00:46:01.860 --> 00:46:02.019 Father, 00:46:02.119 --> 00:46:02.920 for those who are 00:46:02.920 --> 00:46:03.440 in government. 00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:04.980 We thank you, 00:46:05.119 --> 00:46:05.280 Father, 00:46:05.380 --> 00:46:06.079 for those 00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:07.800 who are in the civil service. 00:46:08.260 --> 00:46:08.940 We ask, 00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:09.280 Father, 00:46:09.360 --> 00:46:10.200 that you help them 00:46:10.200 --> 00:46:11.200 to do their jobs 00:46:11.200 --> 00:46:13.320 honorably and honestly, 00:46:14.059 --> 00:46:15.139 to be very good 00:46:15.139 --> 00:46:16.000 at what they do, 00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:18.099 and that you would use them 00:46:18.099 --> 00:46:19.159 for the true flourishing 00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:20.039 of this land, 00:46:20.599 --> 00:46:21.340 of this city. 00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:22.659 We ask, 00:46:22.880 --> 00:46:22.980 Father, 00:46:23.099 --> 00:46:24.539 for our neighbor 00:46:24.539 --> 00:46:25.179 to the south 00:46:25.179 --> 00:46:25.700 in the midst 00:46:25.700 --> 00:46:27.159 of a very important election. 00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:28.659 And we know, 00:46:28.799 --> 00:46:29.000 Father, 00:46:29.759 --> 00:46:31.799 that tempers 00:46:31.799 --> 00:46:33.019 and spirits 00:46:33.019 --> 00:46:33.940 are very high. 00:46:34.960 --> 00:46:36.079 And we commend 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:37.000 that country 00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:37.859 into your hands, 00:46:38.039 --> 00:46:38.179 Lord. 00:46:38.819 --> 00:46:39.779 They are important 00:46:39.779 --> 00:46:40.899 in and of themselves 00:46:40.899 --> 00:46:41.719 and they are important 00:46:41.719 --> 00:46:42.659 for the rest of the world. 00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:44.299 And, 00:46:44.339 --> 00:46:44.779 Father, 00:46:44.839 --> 00:46:45.599 we ask that you would have, 00:46:45.839 --> 00:46:46.699 just as we will have 00:46:46.699 --> 00:46:47.819 an election next year, 00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:48.079 and, 00:46:48.399 --> 00:46:48.539 Father, 00:46:48.759 --> 00:46:49.719 and for our American 00:46:49.719 --> 00:46:50.619 brothers and sisters, 00:46:50.739 --> 00:46:51.859 we pray for both countries, 00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:52.199 Father, 00:46:52.259 --> 00:46:53.559 that you have mercy on us 00:46:53.559 --> 00:46:55.299 and that you do not give us 00:46:55.299 --> 00:46:56.440 the governments we deserve. 00:46:56.440 --> 00:46:58.619 But that you would give us 00:46:58.619 --> 00:46:59.519 a far better government 00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:00.179 than we deserve. 00:47:00.820 --> 00:47:02.079 That you would raise up 00:47:02.079 --> 00:47:03.760 men and women in office 00:47:03.760 --> 00:47:04.440 who would seek 00:47:04.440 --> 00:47:05.019 the true good 00:47:05.019 --> 00:47:05.700 of their people, 00:47:06.380 --> 00:47:07.659 the true good Father 00:47:07.659 --> 00:47:08.980 of the world community, 00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:10.360 that would seek 00:47:10.360 --> 00:47:11.220 true prosperity 00:47:11.220 --> 00:47:12.159 and justice 00:47:12.159 --> 00:47:13.559 and righteousness 00:47:13.559 --> 00:47:14.099 for all. 00:47:15.059 --> 00:47:15.800 And we ask, 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:16.059 Father, 00:47:16.139 --> 00:47:16.980 for each of us 00:47:16.980 --> 00:47:18.480 that you help us 00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:19.320 to be very faithful 00:47:19.320 --> 00:47:19.960 in the task 00:47:19.960 --> 00:47:20.880 that you have given us, 00:47:21.740 --> 00:47:22.820 that you help us 00:47:22.820 --> 00:47:23.880 to be faithful in prayer 00:47:23.880 --> 00:47:25.679 and sharing the gospel, 00:47:26.440 --> 00:47:27.099 help us, 00:47:27.300 --> 00:47:27.320 Father, 00:47:27.380 --> 00:47:28.720 to be financially generous, 00:47:29.159 --> 00:47:30.760 to have a deep life 00:47:30.760 --> 00:47:31.240 of prayer 00:47:31.240 --> 00:47:32.260 and to read your word. 00:47:33.200 --> 00:47:34.000 And show us, 00:47:34.220 --> 00:47:34.300 Father, 00:47:34.360 --> 00:47:35.400 how we can do things 00:47:35.400 --> 00:47:36.220 both in the church 00:47:36.220 --> 00:47:37.019 and in the world 00:47:37.019 --> 00:47:38.139 and in our community 00:47:38.139 --> 00:47:40.460 that bring you glory 00:47:40.460 --> 00:47:41.720 and are good 00:47:41.720 --> 00:47:42.280 for this city. 00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:44.840 We commend into your hands, 00:47:45.039 --> 00:47:45.159 Father, 00:47:45.280 --> 00:47:46.599 our partner churches 00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:47.380 around the world, 00:47:47.500 --> 00:47:48.099 in particular, 00:47:48.260 --> 00:47:48.800 I think today, 00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:49.099 Father, 00:47:49.179 --> 00:47:49.840 of the missionaries 00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:50.599 that we support. 00:47:50.599 --> 00:47:51.779 And I commend 00:47:51.779 --> 00:47:52.679 into your hands 00:47:52.679 --> 00:47:54.599 B as he prepares 00:47:54.599 --> 00:47:56.360 to go to Asia. 00:47:57.239 --> 00:47:57.920 We commend 00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:58.619 into your hands 00:47:58.619 --> 00:47:59.559 N and K 00:47:59.559 --> 00:48:00.679 in Northern Africa, 00:48:01.259 --> 00:48:02.279 Trish in Uganda, 00:48:02.579 --> 00:48:03.380 Norm and Audrey 00:48:03.380 --> 00:48:04.239 in Angola, 00:48:04.539 --> 00:48:05.639 Judah and Jesse 00:48:05.639 --> 00:48:08.639 in Colombia, 00:48:09.179 --> 00:48:09.699 and also, 00:48:09.880 --> 00:48:10.059 Father, 00:48:10.259 --> 00:48:11.199 for Samir 00:48:11.199 --> 00:48:12.339 and his work 00:48:12.339 --> 00:48:13.699 in Afghanistan 00:48:13.699 --> 00:48:15.000 and amongst 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:16.699 Afghani refugees. 00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:17.880 Father, 00:48:17.880 --> 00:48:18.440 we ask 00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:19.280 that you would 00:48:19.280 --> 00:48:20.360 help these missionaries, 00:48:20.480 --> 00:48:20.800 that you would 00:48:20.800 --> 00:48:21.579 bless the churches 00:48:21.579 --> 00:48:22.660 that they partner with 00:48:22.660 --> 00:48:23.619 and are involved with, 00:48:24.099 --> 00:48:24.700 in particular, 00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:25.220 Father, 00:48:25.320 --> 00:48:26.460 for the underground church 00:48:26.460 --> 00:48:27.140 in Afghanistan 00:48:27.140 --> 00:48:27.980 and Iran. 00:48:28.460 --> 00:48:29.400 We ask your blessing 00:48:29.400 --> 00:48:30.220 upon them. 00:48:30.360 --> 00:48:30.980 These are brothers 00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:32.099 and sisters in Christ. 00:48:32.740 --> 00:48:33.380 And we ask 00:48:33.380 --> 00:48:33.960 that you help us 00:48:33.960 --> 00:48:34.500 to be faithful 00:48:34.500 --> 00:48:35.519 in praying for them. 00:48:35.960 --> 00:48:36.579 And we ask 00:48:36.579 --> 00:48:37.280 all these things 00:48:37.280 --> 00:48:38.200 in the name of Jesus, 00:48:38.340 --> 00:48:38.720 your Son 00:48:38.720 --> 00:48:39.340 and our Savior. 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:40.360 Amen.