WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.520 So, what we will do is, I'm going to pray for us, but I don't want it to just be me praying. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:12.419 Part of actually what we want to do in the life of the church is we need to, as we're 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:17.960 going through this series on prayer, we need to come before God as a congregation and pray 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:18.359 together. 00:00:18.460 --> 00:00:22.940 So, I'm going to lead us in prayer, but don't just kind of switch off at this moment. 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:24.539 Really engage with this. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:30.759 You can feel free to say amen, feel free to just agree in your heart with what God wants 00:00:30.759 --> 00:00:32.100 us to pray for. 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:36.879 So, I ask you to just bow your heads and let me pray for us. 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:49.820 Oh, great and awesome God, the one who stretched out the galaxies and the stars, what is man? 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:55.060 What are us human beings that you think about us? 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:59.799 What are we that you actually even care for us? 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:01.659 And yet you do. 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:09.060 And yet you came from heaven to identify yourself with us and more than that, to take the weight 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:16.900 of our sin upon yourself, to take the punishment for us that we could come and we could call 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:17.920 you Abba Father. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:23.760 Father, thank you so much that you're our great high priest, the one who enables us to 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:25.340 enter into your presence. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:29.700 Thank you that we have this privilege of being called your children. 00:01:30.240 --> 00:01:32.859 Thank you for the privilege of prayer this morning. 00:01:34.420 --> 00:01:37.680 Oh, forgive us, Lord, how lightly we take the privilege of prayer. 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:43.760 Forgive us, Lord, because we are a prayerless church in many ways. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:48.180 We're a church who prays as a last resort, not as a first resort. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:50.380 Forgive us. 00:01:51.020 --> 00:01:52.800 We worry about our bank accounts. 00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:54.200 We worry about our careers. 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:55.700 We worry about our convenience. 00:01:56.540 --> 00:01:58.900 We have made luxuries our necessities. 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:02.040 And we complain when life doesn't work our way. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:08.319 And yet we fail to see many who have far less than us have a greater faith, a greater joy, 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:10.620 a greater peace, a greater love. 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:12.439 And we long for that, Lord. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:15.040 So please change us. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:19.040 In your mercy, in your great love, would you change us, Lord? 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:25.359 Would you forgive us where we are judgmental and critical, where we see everyone else's 00:02:25.359 --> 00:02:27.079 problems but we don't see our own? 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:34.379 Would you show us grace as we remember even this Good Friday of what it costs you to bring 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:35.199 us to yourself? 00:02:36.739 --> 00:02:42.879 Father, detach our hearts from the treasures that consume us so we may see the beauty of 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:43.479 your glory. 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:45.719 Show us your glory, Lord. 00:02:46.139 --> 00:02:47.560 Show us who you really are. 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:53.580 Make your face to shine upon us, that your presence would fill us, would capture our 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:58.479 hearts so we're more consumed with you than what everyone around us is chasing after. 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:05.539 Give us strength to be faithful because it's hard to stay focused on you when there are 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:07.199 so many other distractions, Lord. 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:08.960 So we ask for you. 00:03:09.460 --> 00:03:10.719 We ask for your presence. 00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:12.300 Show us yourself. 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:17.400 And Lord, we want to pray, Father, also in this city. 00:03:17.880 --> 00:03:23.620 We want to pray for inner city ministries, which is that amazing ministry serving ethnic 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:25.420 minorities in Jordan and Yamate. 00:03:25.600 --> 00:03:27.880 Lord, thank you for the work that they're doing. 00:03:28.320 --> 00:03:31.200 Thank you that they're a beacon of light in that area. 00:03:31.740 --> 00:03:37.860 Lord, we pray that for all those kids and mothers and fathers from the Nepalese and South 00:03:37.860 --> 00:03:41.760 station communities that they're reaching out to, Lord, we pray that they would experience 00:03:41.760 --> 00:03:43.800 your favor and your blessing. 00:03:44.320 --> 00:03:47.180 And many people will come to know you through that ministry. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:53.240 Please, would you open up the hearts of the dads there who often prevent their families 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:55.360 from coming to church and coming to faith? 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:57.360 Would you show them mercy? 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:03.040 And even as they struggle with funding, would you provide for them with the resources they 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:05.280 need so they can carry on that ministry? 00:04:06.980 --> 00:04:11.200 Father, we also want to pray in this city for the different faith groups that there are 00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:11.460 here. 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:15.480 We want to pray for the Jewish community that meets up in Robinson Road. 00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:18.580 We want to pray for the Muslim community across this city. 00:04:18.660 --> 00:04:21.740 We want to pray for the Hindu community and the Buddhist community. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:28.199 Father, you've shown us that you are the only way, that Jesus is the only way to reach you. 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:32.220 And yet there are many who are desperately seeking you in this city. 00:04:32.840 --> 00:04:34.699 Would you show yourself to them? 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:36.720 Would you reveal yourself to them? 00:04:36.780 --> 00:04:41.079 Would you make us a people who are willing to go out of our comfort zones and the church 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:46.780 in Hong Kong, a church that is willing to go out beyond the four walls to reach out 00:04:46.780 --> 00:04:50.319 to people that they might find you as they seek you, Lord? 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:52.759 Lord, you're a God who saves. 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:59.599 So we ask that you would save many people in this city through your beautiful, glorious 00:04:59.599 --> 00:05:00.079 name. 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:01.420 Amen. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:07.039 Let me invite Echo and Grace to come and read to us. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:15.360 The scripture reading comes from Daniel chapter 9. 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:18.500 Please follow along in your bulletins or on the screen. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:27.120 In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, by descent Amid, who was made king over the 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:28.300 realm of the Chaldeans. 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:34.659 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, 00:05:35.159 --> 00:05:40.300 according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:44.279 desolations of Jerusalem, namely, 70 years. 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:51.679 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleased for mercy with fasting 00:05:51.679 --> 00:05:52.979 and sackcloth and ashes. 00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:57.219 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, 00:05:57.220 --> 00:06:06.300 O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:08.200 him and keep his commandments. 00:06:08.940 --> 00:06:15.780 We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments 00:06:15.780 --> 00:06:16.660 and rules. 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:22.800 We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:27.420 our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:35.259 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:40.600 of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:45.900 who are far away in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery 00:06:45.900 --> 00:06:47.500 that they have committed against you. 00:06:48.340 --> 00:06:53.879 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:55.139 we have sinned against you. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:07:03.539 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him, and have not 00:07:03.539 --> 00:07:09.779 obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:10.979 servants, the prophets. 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:19.259 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice, and the 00:07:19.259 --> 00:07:24.800 curse and oath that are written in the law of Moses, the servant of God. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:28.579 Have been poured out upon us because we have sinned against him. 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:35.180 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our rulers who ruled 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:38.719 us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:44.199 For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:44.779 Jerusalem. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:52.139 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us, yet we have not 00:07:52.139 --> 00:08:00.159 entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by his 00:08:00.159 --> 00:08:00.659 truth. 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:06.139 Therefore, the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:11.860 For the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:12.379 his voice. 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:19.600 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:25.779 and have made a name for yourself, as at this day we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:33.559 O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:39.620 your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers. 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:45.279 Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:51.679 Now, therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:57.399 and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:01.759 O my God, incline your ear and hear. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:07.440 Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that is called by your name. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:13.760 For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 00:09:14.760 --> 00:09:16.240 O Lord, hear. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:17.840 O Lord, forgive. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.300 O Lord, pay attention and act. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:28.020 Delay not for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:38.799 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 00:09:39.079 --> 00:09:48.460 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:54.900 At the time of the evening sacrifice, he made me understand, speaking with me and saying, 00:09:55.620 --> 00:10:00.000 O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:06.639 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy, a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:08.740 for you are greatly loved. 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:12.100 Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:13.980 This is the word of God. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:15.160 Amen. 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:25.700 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Chris. 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:27.139 I'm one of the leaders here. 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:30.420 We've been going through this series on prayer. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:38.420 We've been looking at the Sermon on the Mount, and then we've paused for three or four weeks 00:10:38.420 --> 00:10:44.000 just to really go deeper into this issue of prayer and what it means to be a praying church. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:49.620 Because I don't know if around you, but as you look around at the world, 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:53.460 I mean, this week has just been a very interesting week, even on the news. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:56.519 We've had Brexit has been postponed. 00:10:57.340 --> 00:11:03.399 We've had the leaders of the Occupy Central movement found guilty and facing jail sentences. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:09.200 We've had calls to boycott Brunei-run hotels because of introducing Sharia law. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:12.480 Everywhere we look around, there is segregation. 00:11:12.900 --> 00:11:13.780 There is division. 00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:19.420 It just shows us that we live in a world where we desperately want harmony. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.440 We desperately want peace. 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:23.900 We desperately want to be able to be together. 00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:25.800 But there's something that is wrong. 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.360 There isn't harmony. 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:29.640 There isn't peace. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:35.879 And as we look today at this prayer of Daniel, we're going to see, and this is an incredible prayer, 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:43.360 we're going to see that Daniel is going to show us something about what it means to be a people who intercede, 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:47.320 who pray in the midst of a broken situation. 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:54.799 And just by way of background, Daniel is an old man. 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:59.659 This is written a few hundred years before Christ. 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:07.500 He's been in exile in Babylon with many of his Jewish companions for over 50 years. 00:12:07.959 --> 00:12:16.120 The last time he saw his homeland in Jerusalem, it was burning and being destroyed by the Babylonians themselves. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:23.019 And as we looked at last week with Nehemiah, who was also in this foreign land, 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:27.600 this Daniel had been faithful to God throughout the whole of his life. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:36.279 He'd been so faithful, he'd even been willing to be thrown to the lions rather than disown his God. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:46.680 Every day he spent time with his God in prayer and reading the Scriptures for the last 40 years, 50 years, maybe longer. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:53.960 And you know, no one has a strong relationship with God who goes through the trials of life 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:57.180 unless they are a person of God's Word and a person of prayer. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:02.759 But one day, Daniel is doing his Bible reading plan. 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:07.920 And he gets to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 25. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.519 Do you know people in the Bible read the Bible, right? 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.180 Did you know that? 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:20.779 So he reads this bit of Jeremiah, which was written just like 70 odd years before. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:24.799 And he realizes something. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:35.799 He realizes that God had been speaking through Jeremiah, saying that the end of this mess that the Jewish people were in is going to come. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:39.039 The end of this exile in Babylon is going to come. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:42.259 And it's going to last only 70 years in total. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:48.439 And so Daniel goes and looks at the calendar and he says, whoa, 70 years is almost up. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:52.159 So God is going to deliver his people. 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.580 God is going to restore. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:55.120 God's going to do something. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:00.039 His sovereign plan, he's promised he's going to rescue us. 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.519 And so what does Daniel do? 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:07.899 Does he kind of sit back, watch TV and go, hey, let's just wait for God to turn up? 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:10.079 No, he doesn't. 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:13.379 He says, then I turned my face to the Lord. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:21.740 Literally, I gave my face to the Lord, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:25.120 You see, Daniel's not just kind of giving thanks. 00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:26.319 God, thank you that you're faithful. 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.120 And let's just see what happens. 00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:33.980 No, he sees that when God brings his word, that is also a call for action from him. 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:41.080 And he's on his knees in urgent petition and prayer for God to do what God has said that he will do. 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:44.840 He's requesting God to restore. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:51.920 Do you know when you read a promise in the Bible, it's actually meant to lead you to pray that God would bring that promise to bear. 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:56.980 But I don't know if you've wondered actually how strange that is. 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:03.420 Because if God is sovereignly going to work out his plan, why do you need to pray? 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.240 He's going to do it anyway. 00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:06.740 Right? 00:15:08.180 --> 00:15:09.740 And don't we often feel like that? 00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:12.120 Things just going to happen regardless of whether I pray or not. 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:14.300 So, I mean, it doesn't really make much difference. 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:22.480 But the thing is, Daniel knows that God is sovereign, which means he will work out his purposes. 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:26.779 And there will some things that he will do regardless of whether I pray about them or not. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:32.420 He's going to bring the sun up tomorrow, probably regardless of whether I pray about it or not. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:36.979 I'm going to die regardless of whether I pray about it or not. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:43.740 There are some things he calls people like Abraham regardless of whether people have prayed about Abraham coming or not. 00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:45.639 Because he's sovereign. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.799 He works out his plans and purposes. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:57.459 But there are also some things that God will only do in response to the prayers of his people. 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:00.219 That's the way he has chosen to work. 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:11.139 And so, Daniel knows that a few hundred years before this time, that Solomon had dedicated the temple in Jerusalem. 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:19.460 And he'd also prayed a prayer where he said, God, he predicted that God's people would be taken into exile. 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:26.199 And he says, if they hear and if they turn from their sin and from their wicked ways, 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:29.759 and if they say we have sinned and we've acted wickedly, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:36.759 then God will hear from heaven and he will forgive their sin and he will heal and he will restore them. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:44.039 And Daniel knows that the healing of God's people only comes when God's people get on their knees and they pray. 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:48.799 Do you know, there are things God wants to bless this church with. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.500 There are things that God wants to bless your life with. 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:54.059 There are things that God wants to bless your family with. 00:16:54.299 --> 00:17:00.840 There are things that God wants to bless this city with that he will only do when we get on our knees and we pray 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:03.259 and we repent and we turn to him. 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.440 Do you know that? 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.380 One person knows that. 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:13.299 You see, James 4 says, you do not have because you do not ask. 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:18.120 Meaning that there are some things you won't get until you ask for them. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:24.740 And so we must pray, which is what we looked at two weeks ago. 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:33.799 But last week, we also saw that we need to have a conviction of who we're praying to. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:38.019 Do you notice that Daniel doesn't start his little prayer going, 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.759 hey mate, I'm just kind of needing a little bit of help down here. 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:48.299 He goes and he says, just like Nehemiah, it's almost word for word what Nehemiah said last week. 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:54.619 He says, I pray to Yahweh, my God, O Lord, the great and awesome God, 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:59.500 who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commands. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:09.539 You see, Steve, who preached last week, he mentioned the way that God is this great and awesome God, 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:11.559 and that changes the way we pray. 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:15.980 I was so blessed by the sermon last week from Steve. 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.659 It just opens our eyes. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:25.279 But you know, I never use the word awesome for anything other than what I see God doing, 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.019 what I see who God is. 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.859 Do you know why I don't? 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:36.639 The reason I don't is because the word awesome means it causes awe, it causes trembling and fear. 00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:41.539 But we live in a culture which is starved of awe. 00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:45.539 You know, we delight in YouTube mediocrity. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.399 And so we have cheapened the word awesome to go things like, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.719 that selfie is awesome. 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:56.579 That burger is awesome. 00:18:56.579 --> 00:19:03.179 Now, I don't know the last time you got down trembling in fear before McDonald's, Big Mac. 00:19:04.679 --> 00:19:07.319 But you see, we've cheapened the word, right? 00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:09.879 But here's what is awesome. 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:16.819 Do you know this last week, astronomers discovered they just took a picture of a black hole 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:20.639 that is 40 billion kilometers across. 00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:23.980 It's bigger than the size of our solar system. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:29.180 And it's 500 million trillion kilometers away. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:31.559 I can't count that high. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:37.180 And then it says in scripture that God is the one who stretches out the heavens, 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:39.160 stretches out space like a tent. 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:43.319 He takes tent pegs and knocks them in one side, knocks them in the other side. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:47.720 And in between is hundreds of hundreds of millions of trillions of kilometers. 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:50.740 I can't get my head around that. 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.920 That is who God is. 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:55.360 He is great and he is awesome. 00:19:57.100 --> 00:20:03.600 And in prayer, why Daniel wants us to start with this is because we're so consumed with ourselves 00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:07.660 that we lose perspective on life and we get wrapped up in the trivial. 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:11.160 You know, John Piper said this, 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:20.900 The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all-attracting place at the center. 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:25.900 We are all starved for the glory of God, not for self. 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:30.780 No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. 00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:38.380 Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor than there is in beholding yourself. 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.880 Do you see what he's saying? 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:46.800 He's saying when we come in prayer, if you see who God really is, 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:51.960 that is going to bring a totally new perspective to your life. 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:54.080 And we see the glory of God. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:56.819 We see in the light of who he is and what he's done. 00:20:57.199 --> 00:21:00.759 And then we begin to pray like Daniel begins to pray. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.740 And he begins to intercede for his people. 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.480 Do you see? 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.339 We need to pray. 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.000 We need to see who we're praying to. 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:12.199 But now I've got three things that I want us to just flesh out from this prayer. 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:17.039 And the first is Daniel identifies with the sinful. 00:21:19.939 --> 00:21:23.539 This is, I find this very challenging, this part. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.019 He says, 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.039 He says, 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:27.000 We have sinned. 00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:33.439 We have done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 00:21:33.699 --> 00:21:34.779 He then says later on, 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:36.399 We've not listened to the prophets. 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.079 He says, 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.939 We've not obeyed the voice of our God. 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.419 He says, 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:41.899 We've not entreated the favor of the Lord our God. 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:45.440 Now it's very interesting he uses the word we. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:50.000 Because we've already said that Daniel is a pretty righteous guy. 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:53.480 In fact, in the whole of scripture, other than Jesus, 00:21:54.040 --> 00:21:57.180 Daniel is pretty much the only guy who doesn't have much on him. 00:21:57.180 --> 00:22:02.060 And so, why does he say, 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:05.720 Daniel, the best of the best, 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.799 why does he say, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.440 We have sinned? 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:12.160 Because he's actually talking about the rest of the generation before 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:16.720 who didn't listen to what God wanted to say through Jeremiah and other people. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:19.740 It wasn't him. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.579 It was everybody else. 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.299 So why does he say, 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.660 We? 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:30.680 Because he sees this broken down city of Jerusalem out there in front of him. 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:34.579 And he knows that he is part of this people, 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:38.480 this generation that is under God's judgment because of sin. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.600 And this is his people. 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.000 He belongs to them. 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:44.920 He's not just an individual by himself. 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:49.180 Now I think we struggle with this 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:51.460 because we're actually a pretty individual kind of lot. 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:53.460 I'm from a western country. 00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:55.380 We breathe individualism. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:23:00.080 You know, but actually I think we understand the idea of being collective. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:04.620 You know, if you work for a well-known successful company, 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:09.140 for example, like Apple or Google or Morgan Stanley, 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:12.940 you're very happy to introduce yourself and say, 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.860 Hi, I work for Apple. 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:18.720 You see, you're very happy that their success 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:24.539 helps you to feel like you can live in their success, right? 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.460 You want to be associated. 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.800 You want to be identified with them 00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:31.000 because that kind of gives you a little bit of glory, right? 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:37.380 Even if you actually haven't really contributed anything to the company, right? 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:41.160 But when something goes wrong, 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:45.259 don't we all normally then start pointing the finger 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.680 and start saying, 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.579 Well, it wasn't me. 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:48.240 It was them. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.940 It was the bosses. 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.700 It was the corporate culture. 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.960 It's everybody else. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.720 It's not me, right? 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:57.299 We're collective and corporate when it suits us, 00:23:57.319 --> 00:24:00.100 and then we're individual when it suits us, right? 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:04.039 And the reason we often fail to pray 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:07.360 is for many things that God calls us to 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:09.460 is because actually we think, 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.759 this isn't my problem. 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.819 This is their problem. 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.700 Daniel is not going. 00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:19.579 It wasn't me, 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.640 as he looks at all the mess around him. 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:22.860 Neither. 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.980 He's not actually here. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:26.799 He's not repenting instead of the people. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.000 It's not like, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.880 God will forgive me 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:33.799 because my wife prayed that I would be forgiven 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:35.059 so I don't really need to repent. 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.059 It's not that. 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.440 But he's saying, 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:39.519 this mess that we're in is us. 00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.519 It's not just them. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.400 Now, what does this mean for us? 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.880 Because this is challenging. 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:50.860 C.S. Lewis wrote a really great little book called 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:53.440 The Trouble with X Is. 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:55.400 You can get a hold of it. 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.059 It's quite fun. 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.279 He says, 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:00.039 don't we all in our lives have someone 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:02.779 that we can all see their flaws? 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.900 Everyone can see that that person has an issue. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.579 Okay? 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.120 And we say things like, 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:12.380 the problem with X is they just talk too much. 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:16.019 Or the problem with X is he's just insensitive. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.299 Or he's just defensive. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.500 Or don't we? 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.380 Or he's just a gossip. 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.500 We say it all the time. 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:23.920 And the thing is, 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:26.200 you may even try and talk to that person 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.779 about their thing, 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.400 and they just don't see it. 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:31.079 They're just blind to it. 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:32.240 You can say it a hundred times, 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.039 they don't get it. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:36.279 And so what we do 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:38.420 is the only person in the room 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:40.400 who doesn't understand that X has a problem 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.039 is themselves. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.039 Right? 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.079 Anyone know what I'm talking about? 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.140 You do this with your spouse, 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.180 you do this with your colleagues, 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.480 you do this with everybody else. 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:50.019 But then he says, 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:53.019 as we look at this, 00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:55.320 what we do is we complain about those people 00:25:55.320 --> 00:25:57.259 and we segregate ourselves from other people. 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:59.680 Because we don't actually want to be around those people 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:02.100 that we see all these big problems with. 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:04.700 And so we divide ourselves off. 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:07.799 I read on internet forums about Western expats 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:09.519 who say things like, 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.539 the problem with Hong Kongers 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.420 is they just have no social awareness 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.120 when they're walking. 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.960 And then I read Hong Kong forums 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:19.519 and they say the problem with mainlanders 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.560 is they're just rude. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.680 And then I read mainland forums 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:24.560 and they say the problem with Westerners 00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:25.680 is they're just arrogant 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.460 and think they can tell everyone else what to do. 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.960 Everyone else is the problem is. 00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:30.560 Right? 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.779 And then what we do 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.519 is we bring that down into the church. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.259 And I look at another church 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.640 and I say, 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.740 well the problem is 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:39.880 they just don't teach the Bible properly. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.519 And then the problem is, 00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.400 someone else will say, 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:44.880 the problem is they just are not filled with the spirit enough. 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.240 And then someone else will say, 00:26:46.300 --> 00:26:48.360 the problem is they just don't reach out enough. 00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:50.160 And then if you don't want to, 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:52.740 if you want to go even a bit lower into our CGs, 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.320 you go then, 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.980 the problem with that person in my CG 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:57.240 is they're just not committed enough. 00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:59.200 And then you go to the problem with that person 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.100 is they're just a gossip. 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:03.780 And then if you put all of this ingredients in together, 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:06.180 every person in every CG, 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.460 in every workplace, 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.700 in every family, 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.759 in every city, 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.200 in every part of the world, 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:13.059 thinks that everybody else is the problem. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.160 Have you noticed that? 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.500 Which is why we're so divided 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.940 in so many ways. 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.819 But C.S. Lewis says, 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.059 you know, 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:25.339 the real challenge of this 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:27.759 is do you know 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.960 that you are somebody's ex? 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:34.940 The problem with Chris is 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:38.180 that he's just thoughtless at times. 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:41.120 The problem with Chris is 00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:43.920 he just doesn't say what he thinks at times. 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.740 The problem, 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.000 do you see? 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.940 This is what Daniel is going. 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:50.059 Daniel, 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:52.640 a person more than anyone else 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.940 in the whole of God's people 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.980 who could pray like the Pharisee, 00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:58.500 I thank God that I'm not like other men, 00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:01.140 especially like that tax collector over there. 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.860 He doesn't say that. 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.360 He says, 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.740 we have sinned. 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:06.259 We have rebelled. 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.019 We. 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:09.180 He identifies himself 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.420 as a fellow sinner 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:12.319 with everybody else. 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:14.400 He's not minimizing 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.620 the real sins and flaws 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.500 of everyone else, 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:18.079 but he's just being honest. 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:19.740 He's saying this is us, 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.940 not just this is them. 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:22.880 Does that make sense? 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:25.940 This is actually 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.320 really profoundly affected 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.200 the way I pray. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.920 I was on the MTR. 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:35.620 Everyone was rushing off the MTR 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.760 like we do in Hong Kong. 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:40.220 And one lady decided 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.280 halfway along 00:28:41.280 --> 00:28:42.920 that she wanted to turn left 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.340 when everyone else 00:28:44.340 --> 00:28:45.320 was going straight ahead. 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.340 And so a guy in front 00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:48.780 just bumped into her 00:28:48.780 --> 00:28:50.940 and as he was trying 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.480 to get his way, 00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.720 the lady turned around 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.279 and said, 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:54.000 are you crazy? 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.140 The guy kind of started 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.700 walking off going, 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.200 don't you know the exit's that way? 00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.299 And so everyone 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.920 was feeling kind of like 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:01.440 angry. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.400 And normally I'd be judging them 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:06.000 for being so impatient. 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.940 But as I'd been thinking about this, 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:09.180 I stopped and I thought, 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:12.420 God, forgive us 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.620 that we live in a city 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:17.100 where we are so impatient 00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:19.539 that actually 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.900 we only care 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.000 for getting our own way. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:25.400 And I know that 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:26.360 even though I might not 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.819 react exactly the same, 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.380 I know that same root 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.180 of impatience 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:31.339 is in my heart too. 00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.460 It just comes out 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.420 in different ways. 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:37.100 And but for the grace of God, 00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:38.360 but for a different 00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:39.440 education system, 00:29:39.600 --> 00:29:40.960 but for my parents, 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:42.059 that would be me. 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:45.879 So let me ask you, 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.559 when you see, 00:29:46.679 --> 00:29:49.179 when you see issues 00:29:49.179 --> 00:29:50.220 in the church, 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:53.460 when you see issues 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:53.919 in the church, 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.099 often I find people 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.940 come up to me 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:57.359 and they'll say things like, 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:59.240 the church isn't doing this. 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.379 Or the church isn't doing 00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.039 this properly. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:04.059 And it's great to hear 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.059 people spotting issues. 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.500 issues. 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.159 But I wonder, 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.740 before you ever complain, 00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:11.599 do you ever go, 00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:13.039 Father, 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:15.980 not the church 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.740 is like this, 00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:18.500 but we are like this. 00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.440 This is us. 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.720 We are maybe 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.679 too living for our comfort. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.399 We need to change. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.759 We need you 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:29.220 to work in our lives. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.059 Forgive us. 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.539 us. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.119 Because that 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:34.319 is what God says. 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.679 We are his people. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.759 And Daniel 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.759 is saying 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.879 that when he sees 00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:43.639 Jerusalem broken down, 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.019 and when you see 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.139 the brokenness 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:48.019 around you, 00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:49.000 when you see 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.159 sin around you, 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.259 when you see 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.179 the things which 00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:53.379 make you just want to go, 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.859 ah, 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.480 I can't stand that. 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.599 That is a window 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.639 for you to stop 00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.319 and reflect 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.619 and to go, 00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:01.859 instead of going, 00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:02.740 I can't believe 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.879 people are like that, 00:31:04.159 --> 00:31:05.259 to actually go, 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.179 I'm part of this culture. 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:09.460 I'm part of this church. 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:11.240 I'm part of this family. 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.579 My heart is capable 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.960 of the same things. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.419 Forgive me. 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.899 Forgive us. 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:21.019 And when you do that, 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.019 do you know what happens? 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.500 In your heart, 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.919 your heart begins to melt. 00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:27.240 And you begin to break down 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.519 those segregating walls 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.660 between us 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:30.500 because we see 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.299 that we are all 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:32.279 broken sinners 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.920 in need of a savior 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.480 to show us mercy 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.740 and grace, 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:38.619 to restore the broken 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.940 areas of our lives 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.859 just like the walls 00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.539 of Jerusalem. 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.980 The problem with X 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.720 is sin, 00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:46.079 which is also 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:47.920 a problem with me. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:51.180 And that is devastating 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.279 for your pride. 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.480 It's devastating 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.940 for your self-righteousness, 00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:56.580 which is all at the root 00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:57.620 of all the division, 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.680 all the animosity 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:01.360 in our society, 00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:02.640 in our world. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.900 So we pray, 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:06.660 we identify ourselves 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:08.580 with others 00:32:08.580 --> 00:32:09.580 and their sin. 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.600 That's a hard thing 00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.400 to get for us, 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:12.800 I think, 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.940 because we're so individual. 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:16.259 But then I want to move on. 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:18.460 We identify with the sin 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.340 in our world, 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.340 but then we move on 00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:20.820 to talk about 00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:21.880 the righteous God. 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.180 Because if we left it 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.580 just there, 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.600 we'd feel kind of like 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.980 on a big downer. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:29.960 But there's two things 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.860 we need to see here. 00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:34.839 What Daniel admits 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:35.860 is that there is 00:32:35.860 --> 00:32:37.180 this massive gap 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:38.259 between a holy, 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:39.500 awesome God 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.920 and a people 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.640 who are wicked 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.680 and rebellious 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:44.120 in everything that we do. 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.140 Which is why 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:47.440 throughout this passage, 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.400 do you notice, 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.319 what's the repeated 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:50.480 character trait 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.640 that God talks about here? 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:54.200 Does anyone know? 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:57.340 He repeats again 00:32:57.340 --> 00:32:57.940 and again 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:59.920 about God's righteousness. 00:33:01.100 --> 00:33:01.559 You see that? 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.059 He says, 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.000 to you, O Lord, 00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:04.140 belong righteousness, 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.279 but to us, 00:33:05.340 --> 00:33:06.019 open shame. 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:06.740 He says, 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.299 the Lord our God 00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.900 is righteous 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:09.120 in the works he's done. 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:09.799 He says, 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.380 O Lord, 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.080 according to your 00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:12.539 righteous acts. 00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:14.580 Do you know what? 00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:15.380 The word righteous 00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:16.360 doesn't mean 00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:16.940 just a kind of 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:18.299 morally good person. 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.400 The word righteous 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.779 means you act 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:23.600 rightly in relationship. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:25.400 So, 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.440 all relationships 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:27.819 are not the same, 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.120 though. 00:33:28.840 --> 00:33:29.120 So, 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.880 for example, 00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.160 if you are a parent 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:33.120 and you act righteously 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:34.100 towards your children, 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.600 you might snuggle up 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.279 to them at night 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.860 and read them 00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:37.819 bedtime stories. 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.779 That's being righteous 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.600 with your children, 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:40.740 acting rightly. 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.460 If you are an employer 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.460 or a boss 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:46.960 and you snuggle up 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.779 and start reading 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.920 bedtime stories 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.960 to your employees, 00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:51.420 that probably isn't 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.059 being righteous. 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:54.299 being righteous 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:55.379 is there 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.220 treating your 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.299 colleagues fairly, 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.399 giving them 00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:59.480 good job descriptions, 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.720 clear guidelines, 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:01.819 creating a culture 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.960 where people can 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.740 flourish and grow. 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.700 That is a righteous 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.759 boss. 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.539 If you are 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:09.019 a righteous judge 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:11.940 and a triad 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:13.000 goes and steals 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.380 somebody's car, 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.619 the righteous judge 00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.039 doesn't say, 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.199 well, 00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:17.880 it doesn't matter, 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.440 it's fine, 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.259 it's only a car. 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:19.700 No, 00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.300 no, 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.300 a righteous judge 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.020 will punish 00:34:22.020 --> 00:34:23.360 fairly and rightly 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.260 because that is 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.280 what is righteous. 00:34:25.600 --> 00:34:26.420 It's the right thing 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:26.920 to do. 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.740 When it says 00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:31.060 that God is righteous, 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.560 it means 00:34:32.560 --> 00:34:34.040 that he has always 00:34:34.040 --> 00:34:35.080 done what is right 00:34:35.080 --> 00:34:36.460 according to his character, 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.540 according to his promises. 00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:39.760 It says, 00:34:40.160 --> 00:34:42.040 God is a righteous judge 00:34:42.040 --> 00:34:43.080 and you and I 00:34:43.080 --> 00:34:44.560 deserve to be in a mess 00:34:44.560 --> 00:34:46.100 because of what we're like. 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:48.279 That's why he says 00:34:48.279 --> 00:34:49.480 God should punish us. 00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.039 He's righteous. 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.900 He punishes us 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:51.839 for our wickedness. 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.960 All of us. 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.139 He should leave us 00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.519 like the city of Jerusalem 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:00.159 in a broken mess. 00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.159 You know, 00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:02.739 some people say, 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:03.519 why can God 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:05.319 not just forgive people? 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:05.539 You know, 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.460 like a good father 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:07.400 will forgive 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.119 like their children 00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:09.199 when they're a bit wayward. 00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:11.079 But they don't realize 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.659 that God 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:13.119 is a righteous father 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.440 who longs 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.579 to bring justice 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.380 and love 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:17.119 and forgiveness 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:18.019 and mercy 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.079 and restoring 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.799 his children. 00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:21.219 But he's also 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.539 a righteous judge 00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.599 who must punish 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:24.319 wickedness 00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:25.559 and injustice. 00:35:28.359 --> 00:35:29.400 And how do you 00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:30.500 get those two together? 00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.799 The end of the passage, 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.319 which we actually 00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:33.940 didn't read, 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:35.099 tells that actually 00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:36.480 an angel comes to Daniel 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:36.779 and says, 00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.980 I've heard your prayer. 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:40.000 I've heard what you're saying. 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.960 And I will show mercy. 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.740 I will listen 00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:43.500 to your prayer. 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.860 But there's only 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.240 going to be 00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:46.039 full restoration 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:47.340 for this sinful people 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.659 when a Messiah comes. 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.380 When someone 00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:51.840 who is more righteous 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.840 even than you, 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.280 Daniel, 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.500 is going to come. 00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:55.639 We need a greater 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:57.179 Daniel for us. 00:35:59.260 --> 00:35:59.679 You know, 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.880 in the book of Ezekiel 00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:02.380 it says, 00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.639 I looked for a man 00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:05.019 to stand in the gap 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:06.119 before me 00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.179 in the land 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:08.240 that I shouldn't 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:08.860 destroy it. 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.500 God is looking 00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.059 for someone 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.360 who is totally righteous. 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.740 So that he can 00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:14.059 represent the rest 00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.679 of us. 00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:17.240 But he found none. 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.260 And so then, 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:22.019 500 years later, 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.840 John the Baptist 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:23.360 comes. 00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:24.500 And he's preaching. 00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.099 And he's calling 00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:26.840 people to repent 00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:28.000 and he's baptizing them. 00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:28.980 And so somebody 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:29.679 comes along, 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:31.119 they confess their sin 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:32.340 and he baptizes them. 00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:33.360 Next person 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:33.860 comes along 00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.380 and they confess 00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:35.039 all the stuff, 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:35.780 all the wickedness 00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:36.179 they've done 00:36:36.179 --> 00:36:37.159 and he baptizes them. 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.039 And he looks around 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.760 and the next person 00:36:38.760 --> 00:36:39.340 who comes there 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.220 and he sees it's Jesus. 00:36:40.219 --> 00:36:42.579 And he goes, 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.980 you're not supposed 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.859 to be getting baptized 00:36:44.859 --> 00:36:46.279 because you are not a sinner. 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:47.379 Like, 00:36:47.439 --> 00:36:48.939 I should be baptizing you. 00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.919 And Jesus says, 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.639 I've come, 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:53.059 I need to be baptized 00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:53.879 to fulfill 00:36:53.879 --> 00:36:54.939 all righteousness. 00:36:55.879 --> 00:36:57.000 To fulfill the fact 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.459 that God 00:36:57.459 --> 00:36:58.679 is a righteous father 00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:00.339 who wants to restore us 00:37:00.339 --> 00:37:01.139 into relationship 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.779 with himself 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.719 but he's also 00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:03.759 a righteous judge 00:37:03.759 --> 00:37:04.899 and I'm going to be 00:37:04.899 --> 00:37:05.639 that person 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:07.059 who's going to make it 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:08.019 so that my mercy 00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:09.079 can come upon you. 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:11.599 You know, 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:13.480 this is a little tricky 00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.519 for us to understand 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.199 sometimes 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.380 but I heard a story 00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:17.420 about a medical student. 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:17.900 I know we've got 00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:19.059 a lot of medical students here. 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.799 A medical student 00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:22.239 who was researching 00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:24.420 into sexually transmitted diseases, 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:25.579 STDs. 00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.059 And so he went down 00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:27.619 to the hospital 00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.380 to try and find 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:29.299 a particular doctor 00:37:29.299 --> 00:37:30.920 and as he goes down there 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.619 to this doctor, 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.779 to find the doctor, 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.759 he sees the long line 00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:36.460 of all the patients there 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.119 who were suffering 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:38.779 from the STDs. 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:40.000 It was kind of like 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:41.079 the line of shame. 00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:43.340 And as he looked over there 00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:44.119 he saw the nurse 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.819 and he said to the nurse, 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.860 hey, I'm wanting 00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:47.139 to find the doctor. 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:48.619 And she just said to him, 00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:48.980 yeah, yeah, 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:50.019 just get in the line. 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.380 And he said, 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:51.699 no, no, no, 00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:52.380 you don't understand. 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.319 I'm a student. 00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.579 I'm a student here. 00:37:54.679 --> 00:37:55.079 And she said, 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:55.659 that's fine. 00:37:55.799 --> 00:37:56.739 Just get in the line. 00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:58.000 And he said, 00:37:58.079 --> 00:37:58.420 no, no, no, 00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:58.900 you don't understand. 00:37:58.980 --> 00:37:59.400 I'm a student. 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.159 I'm researching 00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:01.880 kind of STDs. 00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:03.039 I'd love you to just 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.920 kind of help me 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:04.739 to get to see the doctor. 00:38:04.739 --> 00:38:05.079 And she says, 00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:06.119 like, everyone's got 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:06.759 their story. 00:38:07.479 --> 00:38:09.299 Just get in the line. 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.639 And as he's standing 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:13.699 there in the line, 00:38:14.379 --> 00:38:16.659 then his classmate 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.619 walks past, 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:21.199 looks at him, 00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:24.259 and is kind of shocked 00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:27.899 and kind of walks on 00:38:27.899 --> 00:38:28.579 very quickly. 00:38:28.859 --> 00:38:29.799 A few minutes later, 00:38:29.800 --> 00:38:31.120 one of his professors 00:38:31.120 --> 00:38:32.380 walks past, 00:38:33.700 --> 00:38:34.539 sees him there 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.180 in the line, 00:38:36.060 --> 00:38:37.220 and carries on. 00:38:39.220 --> 00:38:40.019 You see, 00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:45.460 when Jesus, 00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.160 at the heart 00:38:47.160 --> 00:38:48.280 of the gospel message, 00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:52.539 is a great 00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.440 and awesome God 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:56.580 who came down 00:38:56.580 --> 00:38:58.360 to identify with us 00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.080 and to stand 00:38:59.080 --> 00:38:59.680 in the line, 00:39:00.720 --> 00:39:02.039 though he was righteous 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:03.260 and he had no sin, 00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:05.440 he got in the line 00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:07.340 for you and for me, 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:08.900 though we are rebelled, 00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:09.740 though we are wicked, 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.620 though we are sinful. 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:14.600 He was at his baptism, 00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:15.620 he got in the line 00:39:15.620 --> 00:39:16.600 for you and for me. 00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:18.440 At Calvary, 00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.760 when he went to the cross, 00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:20.760 he identified, 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:22.660 not just with your success 00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:24.940 to kind of get the glory, 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.780 but he identified 00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:26.780 with our shame 00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:27.640 and our sin 00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:30.139 for you and for me. 00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.539 He had every right 00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:31.819 to say, 00:39:31.879 --> 00:39:32.519 it wasn't me, 00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:33.299 it was them. 00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:35.879 But he didn't. 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.179 And he didn't just 00:39:37.179 --> 00:39:38.299 identify with us, 00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:39.279 he took 00:39:39.279 --> 00:39:41.239 the righteous judgment 00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:42.179 of God 00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:43.199 upon himself, 00:39:43.319 --> 00:39:43.839 so he took 00:39:43.839 --> 00:39:45.199 your place in the line, 00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:46.339 so you didn't have 00:39:46.339 --> 00:39:47.299 to be in the line, 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:48.239 so that you could 00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:49.400 actually experience 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.559 the righteous 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.980 Father's mercy, 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:52.559 love, 00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.159 and grace 00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:54.039 to restore you 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.860 to himself. 00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.500 No matter what 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.099 you've done, 00:39:58.739 --> 00:40:00.259 he bridged 00:40:00.259 --> 00:40:01.079 the gap 00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.840 between us 00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:02.460 and God. 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:04.019 He was the one 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.880 who was shamed 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.840 so that you never 00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:06.639 have to be 00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:07.900 in his eyes. 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:09.239 No matter what 00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:09.840 you've done, 00:40:10.779 --> 00:40:11.779 his grace 00:40:11.779 --> 00:40:12.719 is there 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.980 and it's the only 00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:14.599 way for God 00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:15.639 to be truly righteous. 00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:17.079 You know, 00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:17.820 Romans says, 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:19.039 who is to 00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:19.980 condemn us? 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:22.059 Jesus Christ 00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.539 is the one 00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:23.099 who died, 00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:23.740 more than that 00:40:23.740 --> 00:40:24.519 who was raised, 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.300 who is at the 00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:26.320 right hand of God 00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:28.019 interceding for us. 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.460 Do you know 00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:30.159 what that means? 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:31.199 That means 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:32.000 when you see 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:33.099 all the stuff 00:40:33.099 --> 00:40:34.360 that I have done, 00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:34.800 when you see 00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:35.440 all the stuff 00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:36.199 that everyone else 00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:36.659 has done, 00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:37.579 it means 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.599 that we have 00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:39.099 somebody 00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:40.820 who has done 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:41.780 what it takes 00:40:41.780 --> 00:40:42.780 for us to be 00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:43.840 restored so that 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:44.420 we don't have 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:44.900 to face 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:45.619 God's judgment. 00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:48.059 Doesn't have to 00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:49.059 face our judgment 00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:50.039 of others either. 00:40:51.259 --> 00:40:51.759 And because 00:40:51.759 --> 00:40:52.579 Jesus stood 00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.079 in the line 00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:53.679 and identified 00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:54.279 with us, 00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.239 it means you 00:40:55.239 --> 00:40:56.199 are not beyond 00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:57.139 God's redemptive 00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:58.099 restoring power. 00:40:58.699 --> 00:40:59.759 Because he 00:40:59.759 --> 00:41:00.739 stood in the line, 00:41:01.019 --> 00:41:01.699 your family 00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:02.400 is not beyond 00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.219 the redemptive 00:41:03.219 --> 00:41:04.360 restoring power 00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:04.980 of God. 00:41:05.299 --> 00:41:06.219 Because he 00:41:06.219 --> 00:41:07.079 stood in the line 00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.799 and identified 00:41:07.799 --> 00:41:08.559 with us, 00:41:08.860 --> 00:41:09.599 it means that 00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:10.840 your workplace 00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:11.900 is not beyond 00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.659 the redemptive 00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:13.619 restoring power 00:41:13.619 --> 00:41:14.259 of God. 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:16.299 This city 00:41:16.299 --> 00:41:17.619 is not beyond 00:41:17.619 --> 00:41:18.480 his redemptive 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.000 power, 00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:20.519 because Jesus 00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.599 stood in the line 00:41:21.599 --> 00:41:23.639 so that we 00:41:23.639 --> 00:41:24.340 don't have to 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:25.179 live in that 00:41:25.179 --> 00:41:25.719 mess. 00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.360 He's able 00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:28.480 to save 00:41:28.480 --> 00:41:29.599 to the uttermost 00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.519 those who 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.239 draw near to 00:41:31.239 --> 00:41:31.739 God through 00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:32.039 him, 00:41:32.199 --> 00:41:32.659 since he 00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:33.880 always lives 00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:34.599 to make 00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:35.440 intercession 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:35.860 for them. 00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:36.639 He is always 00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:37.840 pleading with 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.659 our Father 00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:39.619 for mercy 00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:40.619 for us 00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:42.799 because he 00:41:42.799 --> 00:41:43.360 has died. 00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:45.519 Now how 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:46.079 does that 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:46.619 change the 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:47.019 way you 00:41:47.019 --> 00:41:47.480 pray? 00:41:47.480 --> 00:41:47.539 pray? 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:49.840 It changes 00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.480 the way 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.099 we pray. 00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:52.400 It transforms 00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:53.360 our prayer 00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:55.420 when we 00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.300 realize that 00:41:56.300 --> 00:41:57.760 though we 00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.300 should be 00:41:58.300 --> 00:41:58.860 under God's 00:41:58.860 --> 00:41:59.240 judgment, 00:41:59.440 --> 00:41:59.960 we are no 00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:00.420 longer, 00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:01.420 because it 00:42:01.420 --> 00:42:02.119 humbles us 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:02.860 to own the 00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:04.219 sin of our 00:42:04.219 --> 00:42:05.019 church as 00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.579 ours, 00:42:06.380 --> 00:42:07.659 to own 00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:08.460 the sins 00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:09.260 of our city 00:42:09.260 --> 00:42:10.099 as ours, 00:42:10.099 --> 00:42:10.519 because we 00:42:10.519 --> 00:42:11.039 live in this 00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:11.480 culture, 00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:12.380 we're part of 00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:13.059 this culture. 00:42:13.400 --> 00:42:14.139 Culture is not 00:42:14.139 --> 00:42:15.360 formed by just 00:42:15.360 --> 00:42:16.260 general people, 00:42:16.260 --> 00:42:16.700 it's formed 00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:17.400 by individuals 00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:17.900 like you 00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:18.320 and me. 00:42:19.780 --> 00:42:20.260 But it 00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:21.160 also changes 00:42:21.160 --> 00:42:22.660 us to 00:42:22.660 --> 00:42:23.180 plead for 00:42:23.180 --> 00:42:24.080 God's mercy, 00:42:24.280 --> 00:42:25.140 but also to 00:42:25.140 --> 00:42:25.700 pray for 00:42:25.700 --> 00:42:26.620 God's favor 00:42:26.620 --> 00:42:29.600 upon those 00:42:29.600 --> 00:42:29.900 that we 00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:30.360 would never 00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:31.180 normally pray 00:42:31.180 --> 00:42:31.540 for, 00:42:32.380 --> 00:42:33.340 upon those 00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:34.120 who all 00:42:34.120 --> 00:42:34.840 you can see 00:42:34.840 --> 00:42:35.140 in their 00:42:35.140 --> 00:42:35.600 life is 00:42:35.600 --> 00:42:35.800 their 00:42:35.800 --> 00:42:36.540 brokenness. 00:42:38.140 --> 00:42:38.680 Here's what 00:42:38.680 --> 00:42:39.240 verse 17 00:42:39.240 --> 00:42:39.660 says. 00:42:40.300 --> 00:42:40.860 It says, 00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:52.780 Do you 00:42:52.780 --> 00:42:53.079 know what? 00:42:53.120 --> 00:42:53.780 The sanctuary 00:42:53.780 --> 00:42:54.579 is the 00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:55.099 temple of 00:42:55.099 --> 00:42:55.440 God, 00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:56.180 the place 00:42:56.180 --> 00:42:56.500 where the 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.240 presence of 00:42:57.240 --> 00:42:57.820 God was 00:42:57.820 --> 00:42:58.340 to dwell. 00:42:59.059 --> 00:42:59.660 And Daniel 00:42:59.660 --> 00:43:00.559 is asking 00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:01.780 that God, 00:43:02.019 --> 00:43:02.360 like in the 00:43:02.360 --> 00:43:02.860 language of 00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:03.140 the book 00:43:03.140 --> 00:43:03.579 of Numbers, 00:43:03.660 --> 00:43:04.079 that God's 00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:04.760 face would 00:43:04.760 --> 00:43:06.300 shine upon 00:43:06.300 --> 00:43:07.120 this place 00:43:07.120 --> 00:43:07.800 and restore. 00:43:07.800 --> 00:43:09.160 How does 00:43:09.160 --> 00:43:09.920 your face 00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:10.500 shine? 00:43:11.860 --> 00:43:12.480 Unless you 00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:13.060 put lotion 00:43:13.060 --> 00:43:13.900 on, you 00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:14.039 know. 00:43:15.080 --> 00:43:15.740 You know, 00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:16.700 your face 00:43:16.700 --> 00:43:17.700 shines when 00:43:17.700 --> 00:43:18.380 you smile. 00:43:19.900 --> 00:43:20.920 Your face 00:43:20.920 --> 00:43:21.680 shines when 00:43:21.680 --> 00:43:22.380 you smile. 00:43:23.400 --> 00:43:24.039 And so what 00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:24.780 Daniel is 00:43:24.780 --> 00:43:25.860 asking for 00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:26.780 is for God 00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:27.600 to replace 00:43:27.600 --> 00:43:28.580 the brokenness 00:43:28.580 --> 00:43:29.600 around us 00:43:29.600 --> 00:43:30.800 with a 00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:31.960 God's own 00:43:31.960 --> 00:43:32.740 smiling 00:43:32.740 --> 00:43:33.840 presence, 00:43:35.220 --> 00:43:36.320 the beaming 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:37.360 radiance of 00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:38.140 an awesome, 00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:39.180 glorious, 00:43:39.559 --> 00:43:40.480 sovereign God 00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:41.380 who wants 00:43:41.380 --> 00:43:42.340 to restore 00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:43.180 sinful, 00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:44.320 broken people 00:43:44.320 --> 00:43:44.980 like you 00:43:44.980 --> 00:43:45.740 and like me 00:43:45.740 --> 00:43:46.340 and like 00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:47.059 people around 00:43:47.059 --> 00:43:47.700 us. 00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:49.400 No matter 00:43:49.400 --> 00:43:49.900 what you've 00:43:49.900 --> 00:43:50.300 done, 00:43:50.599 --> 00:43:51.160 no matter 00:43:51.160 --> 00:43:51.800 how far 00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:52.260 away, 00:43:52.460 --> 00:43:53.180 he wants 00:43:53.180 --> 00:43:53.740 to call 00:43:53.740 --> 00:43:54.460 you back 00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:55.300 because when 00:43:55.300 --> 00:43:56.740 God smiles, 00:43:57.280 --> 00:43:57.720 restoration 00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:58.640 comes. 00:43:59.579 --> 00:43:59.760 Do you know, 00:43:59.820 --> 00:44:00.099 you can have 00:44:00.099 --> 00:44:00.539 a terrible 00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:01.800 day and 00:44:01.800 --> 00:44:02.220 then someone 00:44:02.220 --> 00:44:02.920 you love, 00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:03.940 you meet 00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:04.200 them and 00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:05.260 they just 00:44:05.260 --> 00:44:06.000 smile at you 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:06.880 and your 00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:07.300 day is 00:44:07.300 --> 00:44:07.699 fine. 00:44:08.619 --> 00:44:09.039 It just 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:09.699 brings healing. 00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:11.659 When God 00:44:11.659 --> 00:44:12.320 smiles, 00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:13.599 he restores 00:44:13.599 --> 00:44:14.119 us. 00:44:14.760 --> 00:44:15.139 And when 00:44:15.139 --> 00:44:16.000 because of 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:16.599 Christ we 00:44:16.599 --> 00:44:17.400 turn back 00:44:17.400 --> 00:44:18.059 to him, 00:44:18.199 --> 00:44:18.980 no matter 00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:19.860 where we've 00:44:19.860 --> 00:44:20.159 been, 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:20.880 you will 00:44:20.880 --> 00:44:21.539 experience 00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:22.639 his smile 00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:23.679 upon you, 00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:25.059 radiating, 00:44:25.639 --> 00:44:26.380 showing his 00:44:26.380 --> 00:44:27.579 favor and 00:44:27.579 --> 00:44:28.380 his love 00:44:28.380 --> 00:44:29.179 upon you. 00:44:29.719 --> 00:44:30.239 I don't 00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:30.579 know if you 00:44:30.579 --> 00:44:31.460 really realize 00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:31.920 how much 00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:33.039 God smiles 00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:34.099 upon you 00:44:34.099 --> 00:44:34.440 as his 00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:34.900 child. 00:44:35.820 --> 00:44:36.340 Most of 00:44:36.340 --> 00:44:36.659 us think 00:44:36.659 --> 00:44:37.139 he's just 00:44:37.139 --> 00:44:37.639 the righteous 00:44:37.639 --> 00:44:38.340 judge. 00:44:38.759 --> 00:44:39.079 We don't 00:44:39.079 --> 00:44:40.019 see that 00:44:40.019 --> 00:44:40.619 because of 00:44:40.619 --> 00:44:41.539 Christ he's 00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:41.980 the righteous 00:44:41.980 --> 00:44:43.039 father who 00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:43.420 wants to 00:44:43.420 --> 00:44:44.199 smile upon 00:44:44.199 --> 00:44:44.599 you. 00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:46.259 He wants 00:44:46.259 --> 00:44:46.800 to call 00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:47.239 you back 00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:48.000 to himself. 00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:51.599 But here's 00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:51.940 what this 00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:52.400 does and I'm 00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:52.579 going to 00:44:52.579 --> 00:44:53.039 close with 00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:53.400 this. 00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:57.779 When you 00:44:57.779 --> 00:44:58.900 see that 00:44:58.900 --> 00:44:59.759 God smiles 00:44:59.759 --> 00:45:00.599 upon you 00:45:00.599 --> 00:45:01.239 in spite of 00:45:01.239 --> 00:45:01.840 the fact that 00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:02.900 you belong to 00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:03.539 a whole group 00:45:03.539 --> 00:45:04.220 of people who 00:45:04.220 --> 00:45:04.599 are messed 00:45:04.599 --> 00:45:04.920 up and 00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:05.420 broken and 00:45:05.420 --> 00:45:06.000 you can see 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:06.660 it every day 00:45:06.660 --> 00:45:07.019 because you 00:45:07.019 --> 00:45:07.800 see it in 00:45:07.800 --> 00:45:08.680 everybody else 00:45:08.680 --> 00:45:09.720 and then you 00:45:09.720 --> 00:45:10.440 can see that 00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:11.180 in yourself 00:45:11.180 --> 00:45:13.460 but you see 00:45:13.460 --> 00:45:13.940 that he is 00:45:13.940 --> 00:45:14.660 gracious to 00:45:14.660 --> 00:45:14.960 you. 00:45:16.260 --> 00:45:17.059 What that 00:45:17.059 --> 00:45:17.860 means is you 00:45:17.860 --> 00:45:18.619 will then begin 00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:19.900 to pray and 00:45:19.900 --> 00:45:21.260 intercede for 00:45:21.260 --> 00:45:22.480 the people that 00:45:22.480 --> 00:45:23.820 annoy you and 00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:24.960 you dislike the 00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:25.440 most. 00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:26.460 For the people 00:45:26.460 --> 00:45:27.240 around you that 00:45:27.240 --> 00:45:28.119 all you can see 00:45:28.119 --> 00:45:28.800 is the problem 00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:30.139 is with them. 00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:32.300 I've shared 00:45:32.300 --> 00:45:32.940 this before 00:45:32.940 --> 00:45:36.240 but I had 00:45:36.240 --> 00:45:36.760 a boss 00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:37.440 who I 00:45:37.440 --> 00:45:37.820 hated 00:45:37.820 --> 00:45:39.680 like really 00:45:39.680 --> 00:45:40.060 hated. 00:45:41.019 --> 00:45:41.680 She would 00:45:41.680 --> 00:45:42.300 hire and 00:45:42.300 --> 00:45:42.980 fire people 00:45:42.980 --> 00:45:43.700 without any 00:45:43.700 --> 00:45:44.539 concern for 00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:45.100 them at all. 00:45:46.300 --> 00:45:46.960 She was the 00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:47.560 kind of person 00:45:47.560 --> 00:45:48.240 she would lie 00:45:48.240 --> 00:45:48.580 to us. 00:45:48.640 --> 00:45:48.980 She didn't 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.840 pay us for 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:50.820 a couple of 00:45:50.820 --> 00:45:51.220 months. 00:45:51.680 --> 00:45:52.460 She tried to 00:45:52.460 --> 00:45:53.180 cheat us out 00:45:53.180 --> 00:45:54.700 of wages. 00:45:55.200 --> 00:45:56.080 She embezzled 00:45:56.080 --> 00:45:57.019 a whole year's 00:45:57.019 --> 00:45:58.400 funds so none 00:45:58.400 --> 00:45:58.980 of us could get 00:45:58.980 --> 00:45:59.840 a pay increase. 00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:02.039 All the 00:46:02.039 --> 00:46:02.699 prophets went. 00:46:04.139 --> 00:46:05.099 I loved her 00:46:05.099 --> 00:46:05.539 greatly. 00:46:06.240 --> 00:46:06.820 No I 00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:07.240 didn't. 00:46:08.260 --> 00:46:08.820 And if you 00:46:08.820 --> 00:46:09.219 would ask me 00:46:09.219 --> 00:46:09.820 the problem 00:46:09.820 --> 00:46:11.079 with her 00:46:11.079 --> 00:46:12.000 is I would 00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:12.380 have given 00:46:12.380 --> 00:46:13.400 you a list 00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:14.179 about as long 00:46:14.179 --> 00:46:14.579 from this 00:46:14.579 --> 00:46:15.219 ceiling down 00:46:15.219 --> 00:46:15.639 to here. 00:46:16.559 --> 00:46:17.280 And it was 00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:17.880 justified 00:46:17.880 --> 00:46:19.079 totally. 00:46:19.079 --> 00:46:22.480 my heart 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:24.679 was so hard 00:46:24.679 --> 00:46:25.380 though towards 00:46:25.380 --> 00:46:25.659 her 00:46:25.659 --> 00:46:27.480 because it 00:46:27.480 --> 00:46:27.840 didn't even 00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:28.500 cross my 00:46:28.500 --> 00:46:29.039 mind to 00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.460 pray for 00:46:29.460 --> 00:46:29.659 her. 00:46:29.940 --> 00:46:30.279 Why would 00:46:30.279 --> 00:46:30.759 I pray for 00:46:30.759 --> 00:46:31.219 someone like 00:46:31.219 --> 00:46:31.619 that? 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:33.539 And then 00:46:33.539 --> 00:46:34.019 one day 00:46:34.019 --> 00:46:34.920 God convicted 00:46:34.920 --> 00:46:35.360 me. 00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:37.340 He said 00:46:37.340 --> 00:46:37.619 you know 00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:38.039 when you 00:46:38.039 --> 00:46:38.440 pray 00:46:38.440 --> 00:46:40.319 you pray 00:46:40.319 --> 00:46:40.759 that even 00:46:40.759 --> 00:46:41.799 though you 00:46:41.799 --> 00:46:42.259 know that 00:46:42.259 --> 00:46:42.699 you're a 00:46:42.699 --> 00:46:42.920 sinner 00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:44.340 you pray 00:46:44.340 --> 00:46:44.759 that God 00:46:44.759 --> 00:46:45.599 would shine 00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:46.279 his smile 00:46:46.279 --> 00:46:46.940 upon you 00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:47.980 that you 00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:48.539 would experience 00:46:48.539 --> 00:46:49.139 his grace 00:46:49.139 --> 00:46:49.880 and his mercy 00:46:49.880 --> 00:46:50.759 in your own 00:46:50.759 --> 00:46:51.219 life. 00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:52.320 That you 00:46:52.320 --> 00:46:52.639 would know 00:46:52.639 --> 00:46:53.300 his presence 00:46:53.300 --> 00:46:53.900 in your own 00:46:53.900 --> 00:46:54.279 life. 00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:54.960 And you 00:46:54.960 --> 00:46:55.360 know what 00:46:55.360 --> 00:46:55.739 you do 00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:56.320 experience 00:46:56.320 --> 00:46:56.679 that. 00:46:57.679 --> 00:46:58.480 But you 00:46:58.480 --> 00:46:59.019 don't want 00:46:59.019 --> 00:46:59.639 that for 00:46:59.639 --> 00:47:00.539 anybody else. 00:47:02.199 --> 00:47:02.800 Because 00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:03.279 actually 00:47:03.279 --> 00:47:04.179 you are 00:47:04.179 --> 00:47:04.739 more like 00:47:04.739 --> 00:47:05.300 her than 00:47:05.300 --> 00:47:06.039 you realize. 00:47:06.880 --> 00:47:07.599 Because you're 00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:08.519 actually totally 00:47:08.519 --> 00:47:09.500 self-centered. 00:47:10.259 --> 00:47:10.679 It's all 00:47:10.679 --> 00:47:11.239 about you. 00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:16.099 And at 00:47:16.099 --> 00:47:16.599 that point 00:47:16.599 --> 00:47:17.000 I actually 00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:17.460 got on my 00:47:17.460 --> 00:47:17.860 knees and 00:47:17.860 --> 00:47:18.099 started 00:47:18.099 --> 00:47:18.739 repenting. 00:47:19.420 --> 00:47:20.099 I asked 00:47:20.099 --> 00:47:20.519 God to 00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:21.119 change my 00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:21.480 heart. 00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:23.519 And what 00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:24.159 happened was 00:47:24.159 --> 00:47:24.500 I then 00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:24.980 began to 00:47:24.980 --> 00:47:26.279 pray for 00:47:26.279 --> 00:47:26.639 her. 00:47:28.019 --> 00:47:28.599 I began 00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:29.219 to pray 00:47:29.219 --> 00:47:29.880 that God's 00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:30.639 smile would 00:47:30.639 --> 00:47:31.259 shine upon 00:47:31.259 --> 00:47:31.579 her and 00:47:31.579 --> 00:47:32.400 restore the 00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:33.259 brokenness 00:47:33.259 --> 00:47:33.880 in her 00:47:33.880 --> 00:47:34.380 life. 00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:35.799 I asked 00:47:35.799 --> 00:47:36.219 that God's 00:47:36.219 --> 00:47:37.039 presence would 00:47:37.039 --> 00:47:37.500 come to 00:47:37.500 --> 00:47:37.779 her. 00:47:38.360 --> 00:47:39.099 I repented 00:47:39.099 --> 00:47:39.559 of my 00:47:39.559 --> 00:47:40.079 own 00:47:40.079 --> 00:47:41.239 self-centeredness 00:47:41.239 --> 00:47:41.819 that I saw 00:47:41.819 --> 00:47:43.219 reflected in 00:47:43.219 --> 00:47:43.579 her. 00:47:44.699 --> 00:47:45.099 And you 00:47:45.099 --> 00:47:45.440 know what 00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:46.000 happens? 00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:49.179 what happens 00:47:49.179 --> 00:47:50.019 is that my 00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:50.599 heart begins 00:47:50.599 --> 00:47:51.340 to change. 00:47:53.019 --> 00:47:53.199 You know 00:47:53.199 --> 00:47:53.780 someone said 00:47:53.780 --> 00:47:54.079 there's a 00:47:54.079 --> 00:47:54.719 difference between 00:47:54.719 --> 00:47:55.360 someone who 00:47:55.360 --> 00:47:56.300 intercedes for 00:47:56.300 --> 00:47:56.760 someone and 00:47:56.760 --> 00:47:57.139 someone who 00:47:57.139 --> 00:47:57.679 prays for 00:47:57.679 --> 00:47:58.019 someone. 00:47:58.880 --> 00:47:59.519 Someone who 00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:00.000 prays for 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:00.320 someone they 00:48:00.320 --> 00:48:00.900 just pray. 00:48:01.260 --> 00:48:01.679 Someone who 00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:02.559 intercedes is 00:48:02.559 --> 00:48:03.139 willing to be 00:48:03.139 --> 00:48:03.760 part of the 00:48:03.760 --> 00:48:04.320 answer to 00:48:04.320 --> 00:48:04.860 their prayer. 00:48:06.340 --> 00:48:06.800 And so what 00:48:06.800 --> 00:48:07.460 God did in 00:48:07.460 --> 00:48:08.480 me he actually 00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:10.519 showed me I 00:48:10.519 --> 00:48:11.039 need to go and 00:48:11.039 --> 00:48:11.559 bless her. 00:48:12.320 --> 00:48:12.960 I need to 00:48:12.960 --> 00:48:13.900 actually go and 00:48:13.900 --> 00:48:14.420 be a 00:48:14.420 --> 00:48:15.519 demonstration of 00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:16.300 God's smile in 00:48:16.300 --> 00:48:17.039 her life. 00:48:17.619 --> 00:48:17.980 And so I'd 00:48:17.980 --> 00:48:18.420 go and it was 00:48:18.420 --> 00:48:19.059 Easter I went 00:48:19.059 --> 00:48:19.400 and bought her 00:48:19.400 --> 00:48:20.099 Easter X. 00:48:20.880 --> 00:48:21.700 Before I would 00:48:21.700 --> 00:48:22.460 avoid her. 00:48:23.079 --> 00:48:24.000 But actually from 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:24.559 that I would be 00:48:24.559 --> 00:48:25.260 asking how are 00:48:25.260 --> 00:48:25.680 you doing? 00:48:26.340 --> 00:48:27.260 I'd be trying to 00:48:27.260 --> 00:48:27.980 reach out to 00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:28.220 her. 00:48:28.780 --> 00:48:29.619 I couldn't do 00:48:29.619 --> 00:48:30.160 that in my 00:48:30.160 --> 00:48:30.760 strength. 00:48:31.139 --> 00:48:32.119 That is only 00:48:32.119 --> 00:48:33.079 what the grace 00:48:33.079 --> 00:48:34.220 of God can do 00:48:34.220 --> 00:48:35.079 in your heart. 00:48:36.420 --> 00:48:37.320 I began to be 00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:37.940 more gracious, 00:48:38.220 --> 00:48:38.880 more patient. 00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:39.079 patient. 00:48:42.019 --> 00:48:44.000 Some of us, we 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:45.079 make the excuse 00:48:45.079 --> 00:48:46.220 I'm not good at 00:48:46.220 --> 00:48:46.559 praying. 00:48:47.960 --> 00:48:50.440 Some of us say I 00:48:50.440 --> 00:48:51.320 don't have time to 00:48:51.320 --> 00:48:51.619 pray. 00:48:52.980 --> 00:48:54.039 But all of us have 00:48:54.039 --> 00:48:54.559 the time to 00:48:54.559 --> 00:48:55.000 complain. 00:48:56.420 --> 00:48:57.280 All of us have 00:48:57.280 --> 00:48:57.880 the time to say 00:48:57.880 --> 00:48:58.559 the problem with 00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:01.200 X is, in fact, we 00:49:01.200 --> 00:49:02.099 spend a lot of time 00:49:02.099 --> 00:49:03.720 doing that, mentally 00:49:03.720 --> 00:49:04.740 and verbally. 00:49:04.739 --> 00:49:07.359 And so God 00:49:07.359 --> 00:49:09.019 wants every time 00:49:09.019 --> 00:49:10.039 you start doing 00:49:10.039 --> 00:49:10.639 that, you start 00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:11.719 seeing yourself, that 00:49:11.719 --> 00:49:12.639 is God wanting to 00:49:12.639 --> 00:49:13.559 tap you on the 00:49:13.559 --> 00:49:15.259 shoulder to say, 00:49:16.039 --> 00:49:17.939 first of all, do 00:49:17.939 --> 00:49:18.739 you see actually the 00:49:18.739 --> 00:49:20.419 problem with X is a 00:49:20.419 --> 00:49:21.000 problem that's 00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:22.059 reflected in me? 00:49:22.479 --> 00:49:23.479 Father, would you 00:49:23.479 --> 00:49:25.019 forgive me? 00:49:25.399 --> 00:49:26.799 Would you forgive us 00:49:26.799 --> 00:49:28.579 that we're people who 00:49:28.579 --> 00:49:29.699 are actually selfish 00:49:29.699 --> 00:49:30.899 and self-centered? 00:49:32.179 --> 00:49:33.159 It's then God 00:49:33.159 --> 00:49:34.099 tapping you on the 00:49:34.099 --> 00:49:34.479 shoulder. 00:49:34.739 --> 00:49:35.639 To say, would you 00:49:35.639 --> 00:49:36.659 now, being someone 00:49:36.659 --> 00:49:37.479 who has received 00:49:37.479 --> 00:49:39.139 grace, be someone 00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:40.019 who can be an 00:49:40.019 --> 00:49:42.179 instrument to pray 00:49:42.179 --> 00:49:43.159 that God's smiling 00:49:43.159 --> 00:49:44.739 presence would come 00:49:44.739 --> 00:49:46.259 upon this church, 00:49:46.579 --> 00:49:47.519 upon this city, 00:49:47.879 --> 00:49:48.899 upon your workplace, 00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:50.579 upon whoever it is? 00:49:52.099 --> 00:49:54.000 Because that, in a 00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:55.039 world which is broken 00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:56.879 and divided and 00:49:56.879 --> 00:49:59.199 segregated, is power 00:49:59.199 --> 00:50:01.339 to change this 00:50:01.339 --> 00:50:02.919 culture, to bring 00:50:02.919 --> 00:50:03.919 revival in your 00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:05.599 heart and to be a 00:50:05.599 --> 00:50:06.760 different kind of 00:50:06.760 --> 00:50:08.820 people, all because 00:50:08.820 --> 00:50:10.400 Christ got in the 00:50:10.400 --> 00:50:11.340 line for us. 00:50:12.340 --> 00:50:13.720 We can know him as 00:50:13.720 --> 00:50:14.360 our righteous, 00:50:14.619 --> 00:50:15.500 gracious father. 00:50:15.500 --> 00:50:15.679 God bless you who 00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:16.219 would call him the 00:50:16.300 --> 00:50:21.280 song in company or 00:50:21.780 --> 00:50:23.199 God. 00:50:23.280 --> 00:50:24.280 We can know him 00:50:24.280 --> 00:50:24.960 as if we 00:50:24.960 --> 00:50:25.280 have until 00:50:25.320 --> 00:50:25.940 people 00:50:25.940 --> 00:50:26.679 have 00:50:26.679 --> 00:50:26.840 competed 00:50:26.840 --> 00:50:27.119 over the 00:50:27.179 --> 00:50:28.480 plans when 00:50:28.480 --> 00:50:29.340 husband comes to 00:50:29.340 --> 00:50:29.440 oblivion.