WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.000 How you guys doing? Good? That was only like three goods. It wasn't a lot of goods. Great, good, good, great. Wow. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:21.760 If it is your, I met somebody, or each week I've been meeting people for the first time, and so if it's your first time to Watermark, I want to welcome you to joining our family. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:30.220 I think you'll see really quickly is what you see is what you get. It's chaos, community, gospel center. 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:36.500 We want to talk about what it means to have the gospel impact our lives, and our mission is to reach out where God has planted us. 00:00:36.540 --> 00:00:45.500 We believe that each one of you, God has placed you in places where people don't know the good news that we talk about today, and so that is our hope. 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:55.259 That would be the mission of the church, to reach out to the people in this area of Cybertort and the western side of the island, and so that's what we pray for, and that's who we are. 00:00:55.340 --> 00:01:03.019 My name is Tobin. I'm one of the teachers here, and we are looking at a passage today that fits into last week. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:08.700 We're talking about this question that we get often, when is Jesus going to come back again? 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:13.859 And last week we talked about when he is going to come back again, and the question was not answered. 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:23.799 It didn't answer when he's going to come back again, but it was the question of he's given us certain things, and what will he require of us when he comes back? 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:32.400 And we talked about everything that he's given us, every talent, every gift, our health, our sickness, our houses, our kids, everything. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:40.219 It's a gift from the Lord, and one day he's going to come back, and he's going to ask us how we use that gift of our children, 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:44.500 because the mandate is to set up shop. The mandate is to make his name great. 00:01:45.100 --> 00:01:53.920 The mandate is to present the gospel to all of creation, for the king will return one day and come back for his people, 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:59.860 and that's what we have before us. We're given our money to make his name great and to do these things, 00:01:59.859 --> 00:02:04.760 and that will be the question. And so today we get to this topic of another thing that we need to do 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.840 while we're waiting on him in these hard and difficult times. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:13.240 And the reason Christ gave the parable is at the very beginning of it. 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:15.599 It's the very first sentence, so it's one of those easy parables. 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:23.379 There's only two parables in all the gospels where it talks about why he spoke what he spoke immediately before or after the parable. 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:26.240 And this is one of them. We're going to talk about prayer today, 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:31.420 and I know that for some of us prayer is a strange thing. It's a weird thing, 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:36.480 and sometimes we hear prayer and we shut off and we don't know how to pray. 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:40.860 Sometimes it's really easy to pray. Sometimes it's difficult to pray. 00:02:42.580 --> 00:02:48.460 It was 1985, and this university student at Auburn University was going on a date, 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:53.740 and it was his third date with this girl that he really, really liked, 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:58.040 and she had invited him over to her house for dinner to meet the parents. 00:02:58.760 --> 00:03:03.939 And so this student thought that he would make a great impression on the parents and on this girl. 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:09.240 And so he goes to the florist shop, which is right in the center of the little community of Auburn, Alabama, 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:12.219 and he walks in and the florist says, can I help you? 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:16.400 And he said, yeah, I need to get some roses tonight. 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:18.920 And the florist goes, wow, okay. 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:27.840 I said, I need, he said, he needs two dozen roses. 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:36.140 One dozen roses to give to the wife because he wants to make a good impression on the mom of the girl that he's eating dinner with. 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:39.639 And then he has one dozen roses for the girl because it's his third date, 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:48.000 and he's hoping maybe they're going to kiss and be able to experience some of that lip action and things like that. 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:53.519 So he needs two of the best florists, and he's explaining these all things to the florist. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:55.519 And the guy's, that's great. Okay, that's good. 00:03:55.679 --> 00:04:03.099 And so he gets the two bouquets of roses, and he goes to the house of the girl that he's going to go on his third date with, 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:06.000 and he meets the mom at the door, and the dad's not there yet. 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:11.419 And so they're sitting around talking, and the dad shows up, and they have a meal. 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:18.040 And the dad asks the son, or asks the student, to pray for the meal. 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:23.680 And the student, who's going on the third date with this girl, who he wants to make a great impression with the parents, 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:28.339 and wants to get a kiss from the girl, prays this amazing prayer. 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:32.439 I mean, it's like four or five minutes long, and it's talking about God's kingdom, 00:04:32.719 --> 00:04:37.939 and it's talking about the blessings of this family, and peace on this family, 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:40.379 and everything that you can talk about. 00:04:40.919 --> 00:04:44.319 And amen, and they eat, and they have a night, and then after the dinner, they go out, 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:45.699 and they're walking on a date. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:50.219 And on the way outside the date, the girl, Mary Beth, the girl says, 00:04:50.220 --> 00:04:54.540 Wow, I didn't know you could pray so well. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:56.880 I didn't know you were so spiritual. 00:04:58.280 --> 00:04:59.560 And the student looked at her and goes, 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:02.160 I didn't know your dad was a florist. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:06.500 Think about that. 00:05:08.340 --> 00:05:09.140 You'll get it. 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:17.080 So sometimes it's really easy to pray when you make a bonehead mistake in the dad's florist, 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:17.860 and you're in trouble. 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:20.860 And other times it's very difficult to pray. 00:05:21.260 --> 00:05:23.540 And that's what we're talking about today. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:25.560 We're talking about the difficult times to pray. 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:29.620 And in Luke 18, Jesus tells them why to pray. 00:05:29.960 --> 00:05:31.340 He says, it's going to be difficult. 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:33.679 And I don't want you to lose heart. 00:05:33.799 --> 00:05:38.000 I'm going away, and I'm not going to be back for some time. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.199 For the sake of arguing, you still don't get this joke, do you? 00:05:43.599 --> 00:05:45.599 Ask the person next to you afterwards. 00:05:45.899 --> 00:05:46.759 Flowers, what is that? 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:47.019 Okay. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:53.679 Anyway, for the sake of this sermon, I'm just going to say prayer is just talking to God. 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:56.219 It's just sharing your heart, sharing what's on your heart. 00:05:56.620 --> 00:05:59.439 God already knows what's on your heart, and so prayer is just talking to God 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:02.779 and letting him know just what's going on in your heart. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:04.620 It doesn't have to be repetitive. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:07.639 The Scripture says not to be repetitive, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:09.719 But he says it's just sharing your heart. 00:06:09.779 --> 00:06:10.800 It doesn't have to be lengthy. 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:14.519 Sometimes people get into prayers, and they pray long prayers. 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:17.680 And Scripture doesn't say that we're to pray long prayers because, again, 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:20.439 God already knows what's on our heart. 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:22.079 It doesn't have to be with an amazing accent. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.879 It doesn't have to be in a Texas accent. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:30.259 Every culture is allowed to pray, and just because one language is better than other languages in prayer, 00:06:30.719 --> 00:06:34.079 or maybe not, if you're Australian, that's okay. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.399 You can learn how to do those things. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:38.560 My wife is giving me a look like. 00:06:40.419 --> 00:06:42.719 But we have a running joke here, so you all know that. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:47.740 But, you know, you don't have to pray in a certain way, and you don't have to use power words. 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:51.100 Have you ever been in a prayer group where you have people, and you said, 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:53.840 you've got to say these words, and these words will unleash God's power? 00:06:54.139 --> 00:06:58.019 And Scripture doesn't talk about that because God already knows everything. 00:06:58.139 --> 00:06:58.819 He knows your hearts. 00:06:58.900 --> 00:06:59.639 He knows your needs. 00:06:59.980 --> 00:07:02.160 And he just wants you to talk to him. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:08.079 The Old Testament is clear in the people that Jesus is talking to that they're there to pray regularly. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.280 Everybody who Jesus is talking to knows that they're to pray regularly. 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:13.060 The rabbis had these rules. 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:16.360 The rabbis said, every Jewish person, you have to pray three times a day. 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:19.660 Don't pray more than three times a day because you're going to wear God out. 00:07:19.840 --> 00:07:24.460 If you pray more than three times a day, God just gets tired of listening to all the prayers of all the people. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:27.480 And so the rabbis said, just pray three times a day. 00:07:27.580 --> 00:07:32.920 But Jesus says no because he knew that his disciples were going to enter into difficult times. 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:35.259 He knew that they were going to be alone. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.699 He knew that they were going to be in the darkness. 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:40.120 He knew that they were going to be living in hostile environment. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:47.360 And because the people were hostile to Christ, they were going to be hostile to us. 00:07:49.420 --> 00:07:51.879 And so Jesus shares this parable on prayer. 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:59.720 And this is one of those parables that has, it's one of the hardest ones for me to understand why he would pray this way. 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:02.340 It's a cultural thing that he talks about. 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:08.339 But for years and years, it really messed me up because he uses these illustrations and these comparisons. 00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:09.939 But he's not really comparing. 00:08:10.919 --> 00:08:12.179 He's contrasting. 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:15.239 He's contrasting. 00:08:15.919 --> 00:08:22.359 And so I want to look at this story really quickly and look at what we can learn from these three people that Jesus is talking about. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:24.099 And you see them in your bulletin. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:26.519 The first person we see in the story is a judge. 00:08:27.739 --> 00:08:28.899 This judge would have been an elder. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:30.399 He would have been a leader in the community. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:37.459 If you came into the city gates, the judge would have been sitting off to the side of the gates where all the business was transacted, where all the legal things happened. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:41.519 So the minute you walk in, there would have been two or three tiers of gates. 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:44.559 And in between these gates, there would have been little stalls. 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:46.600 And at these stalls would have been the judges. 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:48.939 And so you would come and you would transact business. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.559 You'd ask if you could come in and do business. 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:52.740 If you had something legal happen, you would go there. 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:54.419 And so the judges were the leaders. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.120 And they were seen and they were known by everybody. 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:02.060 And they would be very prominent, very powerful, and they would be very important in their culture. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:07.179 But in this story, Jesus tells the story of a judge who doesn't fear God. 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:12.080 He doesn't fear God. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.899 The Greek and the Hebrew says that he doesn't worship God. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:16.399 He has no sense of morality. 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:18.759 He has no moral compass. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:28.379 I don't know if you've ever met a person like this, but Jesus uses this example of the judge that he doesn't fear God. 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:29.100 He doesn't worship God. 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:31.879 We also learn that he doesn't respect people. 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:35.720 He doesn't feel compassion. 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:37.120 He doesn't feel love. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:38.519 He doesn't feel moved. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:42.319 In the Hebrew, it actually says he feels no shame. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:48.020 Now, that doesn't really mean a lot to many of us coming from a Western culture. 00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:56.420 But these words that Jesus spoke of this judge, the minute he shared them, everybody in the group who was listening to him would have been dumbfounded. 00:09:58.160 --> 00:10:04.660 Because Leviticus says those are the two requirements of any leader in any community. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:14.360 And they would wonder how someone could be made a judge if they didn't fear God and they didn't love people or respect them. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:21.059 I mean, in Jesus' day and in a culture, shame and respect were everything. 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:24.159 It's where how things got done in the culture. 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:30.959 If I did something wrong in Jesus' day, they wouldn't say, Tobin, that's bad. 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:33.039 How come you did that? 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.480 But they would say, Tobin, that's shameful. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:40.019 You brought shame on yourself. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:42.959 You brought shame on your family. 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:46.259 You brought shame on your city. 00:10:46.319 --> 00:10:51.339 I don't know if you've ever experienced that, but it happens a lot in Asian cultures. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:58.679 And so shame, or to say somebody had no shame, was one of the worst things you could say about a person. 00:10:59.939 --> 00:11:01.799 Because it meant they had no honor either. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:06.480 So if you have no shame, you have no honor. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:08.320 And so we have this business leader. 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:14.779 We have this, and I know that's hard to imagine in politics with somebody with no shame and no honor who doesn't fear God and doesn't fear people. 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:16.460 But it happened in Jesus' day. 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:17.759 It probably doesn't happen in our day. 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:19.659 That's a joke, too. 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:23.019 We'll catch you up at the end of this, okay? 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:26.500 Where we're going to go in here is I want to look at these passages really quickly. 00:11:27.459 --> 00:11:28.519 I want to look at three people. 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:29.360 I want to look at the judge. 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:30.500 I want to look at the widow. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.519 And I want to look at us. 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:35.419 And then what I want to do is I want to lead us into a time of prayer. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:37.079 Because it's about prayer. 00:11:37.339 --> 00:11:39.679 And then we're not going to come up and do announcements at the end. 00:11:39.719 --> 00:11:40.659 It's going to be just like last week. 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.399 I'm going to lead us into a time of prayer. 00:11:42.699 --> 00:11:45.579 And at the end of the prayer time, I'm just going to say amen. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:50.279 The worship team is going to stay up here, and they're going to continue playing music. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:54.339 If you want to sit here and spend some time with God, we want you to do that. 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:56.179 We want to create an environment for you to do that. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:12:02.279 There will be leaders and elders and staff up here who will all be happy to pray with you if you need someone to pray with you. 00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:07.159 If you don't need those things, then we'd ask for you, after you've listened to the music for a couple seconds, 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:11.799 just to get up and walk out slowly and allow the people here to worship the Lord. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.779 So that's where we're going, okay? 00:12:13.339 --> 00:12:17.659 So we're looking at this judge, and this judge is bad news. 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:20.639 He does shameful things, and it doesn't bother him. 00:12:20.719 --> 00:12:22.480 He has no sense of honor in his soul. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:26.199 He can't determine what is right or wrong because that isn't even an issue for him. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.959 He just thinks of himself. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:32.439 He doesn't think about protecting the people that he's been given charge of. 00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:33.839 All he cares for is himself. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:38.820 And basically the scripture says that the only thing that's going to move this guy is a bribe. 00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.600 You're not going to say do the right thing. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.600 You're not going to say shame on you. 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:44.980 You're not going to say God is watching. 00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:46.500 You're dishonoring God. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.519 None of those things are going to work on this guy. 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:50.540 The only thing that's going to work on this guy is a bribe. 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:54.160 That's how low and that's how bad he is. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.580 The interesting thing is in verse 4 and 5, he even says that of himself. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:08.780 He says, well, I don't really fear or worship God and I don't really respect or feel shame or pride towards people. 00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:12.639 I mean, he even admits that he's like that. 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:17.620 And all the people who heard this in Jesus' day would have been dumbfounded. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:19.659 But not really. 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:26.480 Because the scriptures tell us and other things tell us that most of the judges in Jesus' day were corrupt. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:30.779 If you went to Jerusalem, people didn't have shame. 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:32.000 They didn't have honor. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:38.500 That most judges, as you read extra-biblical accounts, they didn't take cases and do the right thing. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:41.620 In fact, we were told that you could bribe a judge for a steak dinner. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:51.000 And so the people hear this and they're dumbfounded, but the people hear it and they look all around them and they say, yeah, welcome to my world. 00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:53.700 That's what I live in right now. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.700 I'm surrounded by people with power, but they don't care. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.759 They don't have compassion. 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.639 They don't love. 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.299 They don't think about me. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:05.139 Then the story has this other person. 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:05.899 It's a widow. 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:10.799 Verse 3, there's a widow in the city and she keeps coming to him. 00:14:11.459 --> 00:14:12.279 Now, you've got to think about this. 00:14:12.479 --> 00:14:16.639 In Jesus' day, the widows were the lowest part of society. 00:14:17.859 --> 00:14:23.579 So the minute they heard widow or they saw widow, they realized that this woman had no power. 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:24.479 She was helpless. 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:25.359 She was innocent. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.819 She could do nothing. 00:14:29.099 --> 00:14:33.879 I mean, the fact that she's coming to court without a man because a woman would never go to court. 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:37.899 And the only reason a woman would go to court is because she has no husband or no man to represent her. 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:41.220 That means that she's really, really bad off and she's poor. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:44.159 She can't pay a bribe. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:54.120 But Isaiah says that according to the law, the widows and orphans are to have their cases heard first among the people of God. 00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:58.219 But the people don't care about that in this story. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.759 All the judge cares about is money in himself. 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:10.240 Her only tool, her only hope is perseverance and persistence. 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:13.919 Have you ever been in a place like that? 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:25.599 Where you had no resources, you had no connections, you had no natural ability, you had nothing going for you. 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:29.679 The only thing you had was God. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:38.319 And the only thing you could do was pray and come before him. 00:15:39.599 --> 00:15:49.519 But the passage says that this woman has nothing and so she comes day by day by day by day by day. 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:51.759 It's her only tool. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:57.580 It's interesting to hear the story of this judge in his mind because he's doing these thoughts. 00:15:57.740 --> 00:16:01.659 And he basically says, you know, he's probably already being bribed by the person. 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:06.120 Most people when they read this, they realize and they think that the woman has something legal going on. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:11.299 That she's owed money, but the judge, the person who owes her the money isn't paying it to her. 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:13.899 She's owed something, but she's not getting it. 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:18.759 And the reason she's not getting it is because the person who's keeping it from her is actually bribing the judge. 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:23.819 And so she knows that, but she can't bribe the judge. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.480 And she's helpless. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.019 She has no power. 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.980 She has no strength. 00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:29.379 And so she continues to come to the judge. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:35.740 And the judge basically then says to her and says to himself, and he's not speaking to God. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:40.139 Even though I don't fear God, even though I don't respect men, 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:43.939 yet because of the widow, she comes to bother me, I will give her legal protection. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:48.259 Unless otherwise by continually coming, she will wear me out. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:52.000 In Greek, the word is she's going to give me a black eye. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.319 And it doesn't mean that she's going to punch him because she's powerless, 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:57.720 but it means that she's just going to wear him out. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.600 You ever have people wear you out? 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.299 I mean, I have two kids, right? 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:06.799 I'm not going to tell you which ones they are, but one is asking for an iPhone. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.480 And they just continually ask for an iPhone. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:11.279 And one's asking for a bow and arrow. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:18.039 So for this whole summer, they have both given me the reasons why they both deserve an iPhone 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.259 and a bow and arrow. 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.980 And why it would be okay for them to bring them back to Hong Kong 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.519 because they'll use them very well. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:28.599 And I feel like every morning I get this plea. 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:31.079 Every morning I get this new idea. 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.700 Every morning I get either a picture of somebody holding a bow and arrow, 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.720 sitting by my cereal bowl, 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:38.799 or someone comes and they write a poem about how great bow and arrows are 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.319 and how everybody should have a bow and arrow. 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:44.059 And if you don't have a bow and arrow, then your parents are bad parents, right? 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:46.480 And so I'm starting to think, am I a bad parent? 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:49.460 Because I don't give my kid a bow and arrow or an iPhone. 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:52.579 But I know in my heart I want to be a good parent. 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:54.099 And I know that if I give that to them, 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.759 I don't know where I'm going with this, 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:59.000 but I know that if I give that to them, that's just bad. 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.220 No matter how persistent they are. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:05.160 Verse 6 and 7, Jesus says this. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.379 He says, 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.359 Hear what the unrighteous judge said. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:11.940 Now will not God, Yahweh, 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.079 bring about justice for his elect, for his children, 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.980 who cry to him day and night, 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:20.920 and will he delay over them long? 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:25.240 It's a double negative saying that in Greek it means he will never delay over his people long, 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.860 that he will always come to his people. 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.880 What Jesus is saying in these two verses is this. 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:32.240 He's saying that parable that I read to you, 00:18:32.300 --> 00:18:33.560 that parable that I told you in the beginning, 00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:35.920 is just the exact opposite. 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:41.259 I mean, God is not like that unjust judge. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:46.860 And you are not like that poor widow. 00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:49.740 I mean, you might feel like it sometimes. 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.839 You might feel like you have no recompense, 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.960 but that's not true. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:56.079 Because if you're a child of God, 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.200 if you're his chosen one, 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.140 if you're his people, 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.180 the Bible says that he's picked you, 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.099 and he's chosen you, 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.960 and he's been with you, 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:05.240 and he pursues you from the beginning of time. 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.420 Before creation was made, 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.779 God knew your name. 00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.759 Do you know that your name, 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.759 according to Isaiah 49, 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:12.160 is written on God's hands? 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.539 That's another sermon. 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:16.279 But as God's children, 00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:19.400 your name is written on God's hands. 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.700 And so Jesus goes to tell them 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:22.220 that everything you heard before 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:25.040 is not how God is. 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:28.600 Because you know that God cares for you. 00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:32.019 You know that God takes care of you. 00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:35.600 You know that God provides for you. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.360 You know that he's given his son for you. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:44.839 Isaiah 49 is this amazing story, 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.779 and it basically says this, 00:19:47.979 --> 00:19:49.939 that God is to you 00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:53.579 like a nursing mother is to a newborn child. 00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:57.279 And the psalmist says, 00:19:57.379 --> 00:20:01.619 how can a nursing mother leave her newborn child? 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:05.519 I don't know if you've ever had experience with nursing, 00:20:06.479 --> 00:20:09.059 but we've been experiencing that in our church a lot. 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:11.319 And there are certain things that happen 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:14.500 biologically, hormonally, physically, 00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:16.500 to women on their third day. 00:20:16.699 --> 00:20:18.479 And there's this sense of urge 00:20:18.479 --> 00:20:20.219 to go after that child 00:20:20.219 --> 00:20:23.000 to meet those needs that are in the woman. 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.479 I know I'm explaining too much. 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:28.359 Someone will explain that to you later on today also. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:32.979 But the passage says that God's love for you 00:20:32.979 --> 00:20:37.059 and his desire for you is the same. 00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:40.500 Do you realize that? 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:45.219 That God is passionately pursuing you. 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:47.699 He desires a relationship with you. 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:50.279 And there's no way that he's gonna give up on you. 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:52.199 There's no way that he's going to do that. 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:57.079 The passage says that God always answers prayers. 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:03.240 The God never delays when he can give you an answer. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:06.559 The unjust judge delayed, 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.939 even though he could fix things. 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:10.319 But Jesus says God is not like that. 00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:11.759 God cares for us. 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:15.019 And either his answers are yes, no, or wait. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:17.479 But when his answers are wait and no, 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:20.379 they're always for a very good reason. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:22.259 It's always for our good. 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.319 Good. 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.899 Have you ever prayed for something and you gotta know? 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:35.139 Are you waiting for something right now? 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:39.740 Jesus says, and the Bible says, 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:42.219 that God is pursuing you. 00:21:43.219 --> 00:21:44.579 That from eternity past, 00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:47.119 he has your best plan for you. 00:21:47.979 --> 00:21:49.979 And that whatever he gives you 00:21:49.979 --> 00:21:52.979 is the perfect thing. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.620 It's what you need. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:59.460 Whether the answer is a yes or a no or a wait, 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.660 God is not like the unjust judge 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:04.720 who is selfish and just wants a bribe, 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:07.319 but that he loves us 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:11.220 and he sacrifices everything for us. 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:17.039 The passage says that God isn't like the judge who waits 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:21.539 because Jesus says in verse 5, 6, and 7 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.900 that one day God will come back 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:26.740 and he will pass judgment 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:29.860 and he will make all things right 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:32.180 and he will fix all things in our life. 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.420 All the pain, all the frustration, 00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.620 all the hurt, 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.740 all the things that have been done wrong to you, 00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:38.740 all the brokenness, 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:41.140 that God says that he will come 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:45.080 and he will be the judge of those things 00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:47.180 and he will fix those things 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.019 and make them right. 00:22:51.320 --> 00:22:53.400 The passage says that we're not like the widow 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:56.740 because we're not all by ourselves. 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:58.880 We're not powerless. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.940 We're not weak. 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:04.420 We don't have somebody who stands up for us. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.099 But unlike the widow, 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:09.160 Jesus says we have a God in heaven 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:12.160 who stands before and judges 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.359 and proclaims justice in all of our lives. 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:18.640 And then ultimately that judge is gonna come forth 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.839 and you're going to experience him. 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:25.160 And all the pain and all the suffering 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:27.080 and all the unknown that we feel now 00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:28.519 will all be cleared up 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.400 and will all make sense. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.400 And that's why Jesus shares this passage 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.740 because he says it's about hope. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:36.060 Because he knew 2,000 years 00:23:36.060 --> 00:23:37.519 after he came out of the grave 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.320 that you and I would be sitting here 00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:42.620 and he knew that you would be wondering 00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:44.740 when is he gonna come back again? 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.680 Why are things so difficult? 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.740 What's going on? 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:52.400 Why is my life so terrible? 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:57.080 And Jesus' message to his disciples 00:23:57.080 --> 00:23:58.200 and his message to us 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:01.600 is that the answer to these things 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:06.300 is to pray and to seek his face 00:24:06.300 --> 00:24:07.440 because we have a judge 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.360 and we have a father 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:10.640 who has gone before us 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:12.880 and who is working in our lives. 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.920 I wanna ask some questions. 00:24:17.800 --> 00:24:19.259 And the question is this. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:22.559 What do you think of prayer? 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.779 Do you pray? 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.660 When do you pray? 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:41.460 Do we believe that God is good? 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.960 There's something that really bothers me here. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.200 What bothers me is this. 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:47.519 Why did Jesus compare God to an unjust judge? 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.180 I mean, he could have done 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.660 a more positive parable. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.740 It could have been a more uplifting thing. 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.900 It could have been a more encouraging thing. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:57.079 Why does he choose to judge 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:59.819 and compare God to an unjust judge? 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.480 Well, you might say it's 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.119 because that's just the exact opposite 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:09.440 and God's just the exact opposite 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.339 of the unjust judge. 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:14.079 But I think there's something else there. 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.819 I think that Jesus compares God 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.659 to the unjust judge 00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:21.539 because more often than not, 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:25.279 if we're honest, 00:25:26.439 --> 00:25:29.059 that's how we see God. 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.699 I mean, we're afraid to come to pray to him 00:25:33.699 --> 00:25:35.819 because we feel like he's unjust. 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:38.139 We worry about, 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.319 should we pray these things? 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:41.700 Will he listen to me? 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.899 Have you ever thought, 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.159 well, I don't know if I should pray 00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:46.119 because God's just gonna do 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.159 whatever he wants anyway. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.939 I don't need to pray. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.399 And Jesus says, 00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:54.759 if we walk around with life like that, 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:56.579 our view of God 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:59.879 is just like the unjust judge. 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:03.900 But he shares that God is not like that 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:06.220 and he desires for our best in our life. 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.420 The passage says 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.180 that if you want to see 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.440 what your thoughts of God are, 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:14.720 look at your prayer life. 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.240 We talk a lot about, 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.580 hey, how you tithe up here 00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.600 represents what you feel 00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:21.780 and understand about the gospel. 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:24.560 But what Jesus is saying here is 00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:26.400 how you pray 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:30.060 determines a lot to people 00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:32.300 about how you view God. 00:26:34.040 --> 00:26:34.800 When we pray, 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:36.180 do we come to him as a loving father 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.900 or do we come to him 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:38.820 as an unjust judge? 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:41.120 The Bible says that our prayer life 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:42.060 is a key mark 00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:43.640 of our relationship with God. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.400 And so as we come to him, 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.200 is he Abba Father 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.320 or is he the unjust judge? 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.820 I don't know where you're at 00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.780 in your prayer life, 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:00.320 I'm sure that some of us in here 00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:01.920 have never prayed before to God. 00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:04.040 You've heard the old story 00:27:04.040 --> 00:27:05.440 that there's never atheists 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.420 or people who don't pray 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:08.180 in classrooms and foxholes, 00:27:08.300 --> 00:27:09.040 but I'm sure that there are 00:27:09.040 --> 00:27:09.580 some people here 00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:11.740 who've probably never prayed to God. 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:14.480 I'm sure there's some people in here 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.800 who probably prayed to God, 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:18.060 but they feel like God 00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:19.440 has stopped listening to them. 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:22.180 And so they've become discouraged 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:24.740 and they've just stopped praying. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.840 And the thoughts that they have 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.619 and the thoughts that I have 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.399 is what's the use? 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.939 Why should I keep praying? 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:32.879 Because God's not going to listen to me. 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:37.039 But what Jesus is trying to share to us 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:39.939 in his passage is that's normal. 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:44.319 And that it's okay to feel that way. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:47.379 And the truth is that none of those things 00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:48.759 are true, 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:51.839 even though you might feel like them. 00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:55.720 The early church fathers called prayer 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:58.460 the breathing of your soul. 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.319 That when we prayed, 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:04.179 our soul was breathing. 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:06.519 And I thought about that a lot 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.960 because if you look at me up here, 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.259 you don't know what's going on. 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.779 Am I praying or am I not praying? 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:13.139 If you watch someone out there 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:14.240 and their kids are running around 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.899 and it's a dad and he has five kids, 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.480 you can bet that he's praying. 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.879 But if he doesn't have five kids 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.440 and he's sitting there, 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.799 you don't know what's going on in his life. 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.399 And the scripture says 00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:27.240 that as we breathe and we pray, 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.740 we come to the Lord, 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.920 our lives change. 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:35.580 I don't know when you're praying 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:39.279 and you don't know when I'm praying. 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.720 But the passage says 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.200 that we know when we're not praying. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:47.180 Christ goes on and he says this 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.580 as he's talking to his disciples. 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.580 When you fear, 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:55.560 you're not praying. 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.519 When you fear, 00:28:58.620 --> 00:28:59.500 is this going to work out? 00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:00.340 What's going to happen here? 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.419 What's happening in my life? 00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:02.819 When you fear, 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.859 what we're saying is, 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:06.179 God, you are not good. 00:29:08.439 --> 00:29:09.759 I don't believe that you have 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.419 my best interest in heart. 00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.759 The Bible says 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.799 when we're frustrated, 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:18.299 we're not praying. 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.980 When we're frustrated 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.919 about how things are going 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.679 and things aren't going 00:29:21.679 --> 00:29:22.359 the way we want 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.099 and we wonder 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.059 why aren't these things 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.699 happening here? 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.980 Scripture says 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.699 that we have a good God 00:29:27.699 --> 00:29:29.000 who judges all things, 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:30.179 who oversees us. 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.980 He's in control 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.880 of all those things 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:33.340 and if we get frustrated, 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:36.000 we don't believe 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.680 that he's good. 00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:39.660 We believe that he's unjust. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:42.180 When we worry, 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:46.940 the Bible says 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:48.140 we don't see God as good. 00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.759 We see him as unjust. 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.820 If we're worrying about our life, 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:54.160 if we're worrying about things happening, 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.940 if we're worrying about the future, 00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:57.100 if we're worrying about our job, 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.419 if we're worrying about relationships, 00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.740 the Scripture says 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.119 that all these things 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:04.039 we shouldn't be doing 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:06.339 because if we understood 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.779 that we had a just God 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:09.179 who takes care of us 00:30:09.179 --> 00:30:10.399 and watches over us, 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:12.559 then we wouldn't have to worry 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.740 about those things. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.619 The Bible says 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.819 that all of these reactions 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.279 that we've done, 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.539 all of these things we've done, 00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.659 basically say, 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:21.100 I don't believe 00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:22.240 that God is good. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.380 Instead, 00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:24.400 I believe that God 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.420 is unjust 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:29.759 and I'm not going to follow 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.620 an unjust God. 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:33.460 And what Jesus says 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.140 in this passage 00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.900 to you 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:36.380 and to me 00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:38.100 and to his disciples 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:40.500 is that everything 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.200 that you read 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.660 in verses 1 through 5 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:45.820 is just the opposite. 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.340 The God is pursuing you. 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.580 He's taking care of you. 00:30:52.300 --> 00:30:53.700 He desires your best. 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.120 He always comes to us. 00:30:57.060 --> 00:30:57.820 One day, 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.320 in the book of Revelations, 00:30:59.440 --> 00:30:59.940 we are told 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.460 that the judge will come back 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:03.480 and make all things new. 00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:05.980 Verse 8 says 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.100 that when the Son of Man 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:07.779 comes back, 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:10.559 will he find faith? 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.059 Translated, 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:14.099 what that means is 00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.539 one day, 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.879 God is going to come back 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:19.019 and he's going to make 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:21.200 all things right. 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.379 The question is, 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.759 what will we be doing? 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.660 What will we be doing? 00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:33.339 Will we see him 00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.200 as a good God 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.259 and just 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.220 and walking 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.879 and trusting 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:38.380 and praying 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.140 every moment 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:39.680 of every day? 00:31:41.560 --> 00:31:42.520 When I was talking 00:31:42.520 --> 00:31:42.960 through this 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.500 with a friend, 00:31:43.580 --> 00:31:43.820 he says, 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:43.960 well, 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.720 how do you pray? 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.820 And to be honest with you, 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.500 I just pray 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:48.080 usually four words 00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:50.100 or five words. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:50.980 Lord Jesus, 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:51.740 I need you. 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.760 And so that's how 00:31:53.760 --> 00:31:54.660 I pray through my day. 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.600 I walk through my day 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:55.900 and I say, 00:31:56.360 --> 00:31:56.720 Jesus, 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.360 I need you. 00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:58.020 And I start thinking 00:31:58.020 --> 00:31:58.900 about what's going on 00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.520 in this situation. 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:00.300 Lord, 00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:00.940 I need you 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:03.040 to help me 00:32:03.040 --> 00:32:03.620 in this area. 00:32:03.780 --> 00:32:04.000 Lord, 00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:04.940 I want your kingdom 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.600 to come 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.320 in this area. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.539 Can you help me 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:09.279 make this come? 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:14.039 The early church fathers 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.700 prayed a prayer 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.079 that said, 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:15.519 Lord, 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.659 Jesus Christ, 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:19.799 Son of the Most High God, 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.259 have mercy on me, 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.000 a sinner. 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.859 What Jesus is saying here 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.659 to us is that 00:32:27.659 --> 00:32:28.759 in the end times, 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:31.519 God will come back 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.059 and he'll make 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.000 all things new. 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:35.559 and the question is, 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.359 will he find us 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.160 praying to him 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.880 and trusting him 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:38.779 in that situation? 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.799 Or will we be 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.339 treating him 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.440 as an unjust God? 00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:44.359 What I'm going to do 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.079 is I'm going to lead us 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:46.019 through a prayer time. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.420 I'm going to ask 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.019 the worship team 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:48.039 to come forward now. 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:49.839 Again, 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.680 after this time, 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.319 we're just going to pray. 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:51.819 I'm going to pray 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.859 some prayers for us 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:54.899 and after this, 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.099 you will be dismissed. 00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.879 We'd like to try 00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.479 to maintain 00:32:59.479 --> 00:33:00.599 an attitude of prayer. 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:00.679 prayer. 00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:06.399 But I want you 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.399 just to follow me. 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.159 Let's pray. 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:19.679 Father, 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.579 we come before you 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.119 as your people 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:23.139 and we read passages 00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:23.939 like today 00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:25.799 and we wonder 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:27.579 why it is so hard 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:28.319 in our world 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:30.119 in the darkness, 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.220 in a world 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:31.980 that seems not 00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.099 to care about you, 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.119 to walk with you. 00:33:35.399 --> 00:33:36.539 We get discouraged. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:39.299 We fear. 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.859 We get anxious. 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:43.119 We get angry. 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:46.059 We get depressed. 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.419 We realize 00:33:48.419 --> 00:33:49.539 that all of these things, 00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:50.480 all of these things 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:52.019 point to our view of you 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.980 and that view 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:55.000 is that you're not good 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.980 and you're not in control 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:57.000 and that you're unjust. 00:33:58.319 --> 00:34:00.200 So, Lord, 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.839 we come to you 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.720 and we just need you. 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:03.720 Father, 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.099 we just pray 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.700 that you would 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:06.319 enter into our hearts 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.039 and our minds 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.619 right now 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:08.599 that you would show us 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.659 areas of our life 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.219 where we 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:11.980 are not walking 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.139 the way that we should. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:14.980 Lord, 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.500 I know that there are 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.159 some of us in here 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:16.799 who've probably 00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.619 never, 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.219 ever 00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:20.279 prayed to you. 00:34:21.299 --> 00:34:21.659 Lord, 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.500 I pray for my brothers 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.579 and sisters in here 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.199 and we're thankful 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.119 that they are here. 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.819 My prayer for them 00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:27.360 is that they would know 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.620 that they have a loving God, 00:34:28.680 --> 00:34:29.420 a good God, 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:31.180 who created them 00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:31.760 from the beginning 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:33.180 of creation, 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.220 knew them before 00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:35.200 the world was made, 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:37.579 who desires a relationship 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.280 with them 00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:40.320 just as a nursing mother 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:41.099 desires to be 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.720 with her children 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:44.140 whose name 00:34:44.140 --> 00:34:45.360 you want to write 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.500 on your hands 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.519 as your child. 00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:49.200 Lord, 00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:50.300 I pray for those in here 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:52.079 who have never 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:52.880 prayed to you. 00:34:53.120 --> 00:34:53.920 I pray that they would pray 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.740 just as I had prayed 00:34:54.740 --> 00:34:55.599 a long time ago. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.960 Father, 00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.619 if you're real, 00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:58.659 I don't know 00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:59.139 if you're real, 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:01.019 but if you are real, 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:02.619 I pray that you would 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.339 make yourself known 00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:04.219 to me this week. 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:07.139 Help me to be open 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:08.599 to what I experience. 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:10.440 Help me to be looking 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:11.860 for you speaking to me 00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:12.960 through creation 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.259 and through friends 00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:16.920 and through classmates 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.819 and through people 00:35:17.819 --> 00:35:18.779 in the workplace. 00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:19.779 Lord, 00:35:19.799 --> 00:35:20.639 if you were real, 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:23.519 would you speak to me 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:24.440 and show me yourself? 00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.699 Father, 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:32.739 for some of us in here, 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.900 I just realize 00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.639 that as we think 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.500 about this passage 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:38.099 and try to get our head 00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:39.000 around what does it mean 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.579 for us 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:42.139 to live with a just God 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:43.219 instead of an unjust God 00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:43.940 in our life, 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.780 I realize that 00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:48.099 for many of us in here, 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:50.039 we have a wrong view of you. 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:53.199 the reason we strive 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.139 and we move 00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.920 and we worry 00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:56.579 and we're anxious 00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:58.820 and we're very competent 00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:00.940 and we're very busy, 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.940 the reason, 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:03.779 if we're honest 00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.880 and truthful in our hearts, 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.139 is because we see you 00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:07.099 as unjust. 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:09.759 We don't really believe 00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.539 you're going to give us 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.320 what we need. 00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.739 We don't really believe 00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:14.719 that you're good. 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:17.379 and that belief 00:36:17.379 --> 00:36:18.719 shapes our soul 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:20.459 and our thoughts 00:36:20.459 --> 00:36:21.719 shape our actions 00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.719 and we might say 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:23.599 that we love you 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:25.579 but our hands 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:28.159 show something different. 00:36:30.259 --> 00:36:30.619 So Lord, 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:31.779 I pray for those of us 00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:32.219 in here 00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.179 who've done this 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:33.839 and your word says 00:36:33.839 --> 00:36:34.739 that we will always do 00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:36.339 that you've given us 00:36:36.339 --> 00:36:36.879 this passage 00:36:36.879 --> 00:36:37.739 because you know 00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:39.779 that that is our nature 00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:41.579 to be discouraged, 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.939 to walk away 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:46.139 Father, 00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:47.200 I pray for us. 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:50.059 I pray that we would realize 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:50.960 that we serve a God 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.599 who loves us 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.539 beyond belief, 00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:55.700 who's given his son, 00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:56.539 who's given everything, 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:58.119 who provides all 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.880 that we have 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:00.360 and that one day 00:37:00.360 --> 00:37:01.980 we'll make all things right. 00:37:03.740 --> 00:37:04.220 Father, 00:37:04.260 --> 00:37:05.000 we're so thankful 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.220 that you are a God 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.059 of second chances 00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:10.940 and that you pursue us 00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:11.480 us 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:14.039 over 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:15.860 and over 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.280 and over. 00:37:18.200 --> 00:37:19.119 So I pray for us, 00:37:19.220 --> 00:37:19.380 Lord. 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:20.500 I pray for those of us 00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.460 who are in that situation 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.740 and we don't even realize it. 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:25.519 I pray that we have 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.039 a spouse 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:26.880 or a friend 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.780 or a good mate 00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:28.559 who the next time 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.480 we start to worry, 00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:31.659 start to get anxious, 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:32.720 start to fear, 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.880 start to panic, 00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:36.159 that they would lovingly 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.039 turn towards us 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.440 and say, 00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:37.720 you know, 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:39.119 our God is a good God 00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:42.059 and you can trust him 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:45.500 because he's there for you. 00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:48.059 Lord, 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.779 we just confess 00:37:48.779 --> 00:37:49.439 and repent 00:37:49.439 --> 00:37:52.039 of our seeing you wrongly. 00:37:54.359 --> 00:37:54.879 And Lord, 00:37:54.899 --> 00:37:55.799 I pray for those of us 00:37:55.799 --> 00:37:57.279 who have just given up 00:37:57.279 --> 00:37:57.919 on prayer. 00:37:59.899 --> 00:38:01.399 I think of my good friend 00:38:01.399 --> 00:38:03.899 who's just losing a battle 00:38:03.899 --> 00:38:04.839 with cancer, 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.119 spouse, 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:08.500 and they've prayed 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.119 and they've prayed 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.079 for so long 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:10.900 and they still 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:13.179 have not seen you move 00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:13.679 and they wonder 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.420 if you're there, 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:16.079 do you care? 00:38:17.839 --> 00:38:18.059 Lord, 00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:19.339 I pray for those of us 00:38:19.339 --> 00:38:21.000 who've given up. 00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:24.319 I pray that we would see 00:38:24.319 --> 00:38:25.539 anew and afresh 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:27.099 who you really are. 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:30.139 I pray that we would be able 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:31.019 to read your word 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.539 and realize 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.179 that your son 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:33.219 came for us 00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:34.679 to give us hope 00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:36.980 in a new life 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.739 and sonship. 00:38:43.799 --> 00:38:44.119 Father, 00:38:44.199 --> 00:38:44.719 I pray that you would 00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.559 speak to us now. 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:59.719 Lord, 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.699 I was really challenged 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:06.239 one time in my life 00:39:06.239 --> 00:39:07.199 when someone looked at me 00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:07.739 and said, 00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.320 Tobin, 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:10.059 who do you think's been 00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.759 more faithful? 00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:14.019 God to his people? 00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:16.639 God to his people? 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:16.719 He's been faithful 00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:17.599 to his people 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:20.619 and I realized 00:39:20.619 --> 00:39:21.519 just at that moment 00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:22.800 that God 00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:24.940 has always been faithful 00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:28.579 and he continues 00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.519 to pursue us 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:30.280 as his people. 00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:30.380 God to his people. 00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:48.240 Father, 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:49.220 teach us to pray 00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:50.000 right now 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:50.980 as we come to you. 00:39:52.760 --> 00:39:54.360 Show us how we can honor you 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:54.980 and bring glory 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.619 to your name. 00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:56.340 Show us 00:39:56.340 --> 00:39:57.680 what it means 00:39:57.680 --> 00:39:58.720 to pray for your kingdom 00:39:58.719 --> 00:40:00.119 and that your will 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:00.679 would be done. 00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:09.219 Father, 00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.059 most of us, 00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:10.679 I just pray for 00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:11.819 our hearts. 00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:17.000 Some of us 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.839 are blinded 00:40:17.839 --> 00:40:19.159 to our blindedness 00:40:19.159 --> 00:40:21.839 and we have seen you 00:40:21.839 --> 00:40:22.699 as ungood 00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:23.299 and unjust 00:40:23.299 --> 00:40:24.139 for so long 00:40:24.139 --> 00:40:27.599 that we can't even 00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:28.119 begin to think 00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:28.359 of you 00:40:28.359 --> 00:40:28.819 as good 00:40:28.819 --> 00:40:30.079 and holy 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:31.559 and loving 00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:33.239 and caring. 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:44.859 Father, 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.619 I pray for some of us 00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:47.019 who have certain circumstances 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.699 in their life 00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:49.000 that they've held onto 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:50.500 as proof 00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:51.559 that you are not good. 00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:55.139 maybe it's a failed marriage. 00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.920 Maybe it's poor health. 00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:02.659 Maybe it's the loss 00:41:02.659 --> 00:41:03.320 of somebody 00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:05.320 that they have deeply 00:41:05.320 --> 00:41:06.619 loved and cherished. 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:10.099 Whatever that thing is, 00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:10.239 Lord, 00:41:10.259 --> 00:41:10.980 I pray for those 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.900 brothers and sisters 00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.619 right now 00:41:12.619 --> 00:41:15.480 that you'd give them 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:15.940 the strength 00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:17.199 just to release that, 00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:20.960 to realize 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:21.659 that they have 00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:22.359 a judge 00:41:22.359 --> 00:41:23.099 who is good, 00:41:23.199 --> 00:41:23.619 a father 00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:24.579 who cares, 00:41:25.159 --> 00:41:26.399 who knows them 00:41:26.399 --> 00:41:26.839 intimately 00:41:26.839 --> 00:41:27.779 and has come 00:41:27.779 --> 00:41:28.500 in every area 00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:29.419 and every form, 00:41:30.619 --> 00:41:31.179 has promised 00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:32.000 to provide 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:37.159 and those words 00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:38.079 are not just words 00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:38.799 but they are 00:41:38.799 --> 00:41:39.460 lived out 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:42.339 on Calvary. 00:41:42.340 --> 00:41:46.280 God, 00:41:46.280 --> 00:41:46.720 help us 00:41:46.720 --> 00:41:47.140 to whenever 00:41:47.140 --> 00:41:47.600 we doubt 00:41:47.600 --> 00:41:48.140 your goodness 00:41:48.140 --> 00:41:48.800 to look 00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.920 to the cross 00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:54.420 and realize 00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:55.019 that you are 00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:55.480 ultimately 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:57.519 all good 00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:59.460 no matter 00:41:59.460 --> 00:42:00.380 how we see you. 00:42:00.380 --> 00:42:14.640 Father, 00:42:28.700 --> 00:42:29.480 we need you 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:31.480 we need your grace, 00:42:32.340 --> 00:42:33.420 we need your power, 00:42:34.500 --> 00:42:35.679 we need your strength. 00:42:36.699 --> 00:42:37.480 Help us to be 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:37.840 a people 00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:38.599 who leave here 00:42:38.599 --> 00:42:39.199 with hope, 00:42:40.179 --> 00:42:41.740 a hope that 95% 00:42:41.740 --> 00:42:42.320 of Hong Kong 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:43.260 does not have, 00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:45.460 a hope in your son 00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:47.820 and that you are good 00:42:47.820 --> 00:42:49.539 and that you will 00:42:49.539 --> 00:42:50.639 make all things right. 00:42:52.139 --> 00:42:53.719 As we leave here today, 00:42:53.880 --> 00:42:54.039 Lord, 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.760 we pray that we would 00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.340 share that hope 00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:56.400 with those around us. 00:42:57.840 --> 00:42:59.019 Teach us to pray 00:42:59.019 --> 00:43:01.579 help us to realize 00:43:01.579 --> 00:43:02.239 that you are 00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:03.960 always answering 00:43:03.960 --> 00:43:04.800 in a part 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:05.539 of all these things 00:43:05.539 --> 00:43:06.039 and the only thing 00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:07.380 we probably can learn 00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:08.099 from the widow 00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:09.139 is to be persistent 00:43:09.139 --> 00:43:10.039 because you've called us 00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:10.699 to be persistent 00:43:10.699 --> 00:43:11.460 as your children. 00:43:14.659 --> 00:43:15.380 So we pray, 00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:15.599 Lord, 00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:16.340 persistently 00:43:16.340 --> 00:43:18.519 that your kingdom 00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:19.159 would come 00:43:19.159 --> 00:43:21.880 and your name 00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:22.719 would be made great 00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:25.699 and we as your people 00:43:25.699 --> 00:43:26.639 would be found faithful 00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:27.480 when you return. 00:43:33.799 --> 00:43:34.799 We pray all these things 00:43:34.799 --> 00:43:35.920 in your son Jesus' name. 00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:37.500 Amen.